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http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/27/brexit-threat-to-spains-secret-little-britain
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721011045id_/http://www.theguardian.com:80/politics/2016/may/27/brexit-threat-to-spains-secret-little-britain
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‘I don’t want to go back with nothing’: the Brexit threat to Spain’s little Britain
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20160721011045
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Related: EU referendum: millions of British expats urged to register to vote
Seventy miles down the Costa Blanca from Benidorm, where the youth of Britain traditionally go to perform rites of passage raucously, lies a very different but even more British-dominated beach resort.
In theory, it is only 40 minutes from Alicante airport. But it is so new as an entity that most maps fail to recognise its existence. Taxi drivers and ambulances alike get lost amid the confusion of roundabouts and unmarked sidestreets. My own satnav became hysterical. The place is called Orihuela Costa. It is part of the same municipality as the charmingly medieval city of Orihuela, 15 miles inland, but the two should definitely not be confused. The one is very Spanish; the other emphatically not.
The characteristic sound of Orihuela Costa is not, however, the all-night yelling and 4am pukes associated with Benidorm; rather the clack and murmur of a game of bowls. There are very few conventional tourists, there being only one sizable hotel. The young are largely invisible. Instead, it constitutes a massive retirement village.
Despite its anonymity, this is the largest British enclave in Spain, and probably the largest in the world, if one excludes Perth and Sydney as containing aspirant Australians rather than expats. These people have no interest whatsoever in becoming Spanish or, in most cases, learning the language beyond the tourist basics of hola-gracias-adiós, and in some cases not even that. One resident thought that perhaps half his neighbours had never even been to Orihuela city. Some people give up motoring because they are scared of driving on the right.
What they want is to maintain the pleasures of British life in a happy, supportive environment with 300 days of sunshine a year. As such, it is brilliantly successful. But there is trouble in paradise: this cosy way of life may be a month away from screeching to a juddering halt.
Back home the posturing of the EU referendum may inspire indifference. The Costa crowd are capable of indifference themselves: here they are, like the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock, blithely camped on the edge of terra incognita, thinking they can re-create an idealised England while knowing remarkably little about their surroundings or their hosts.
Related: Brexit will leave 2 million Britons in legal limbo abroad, say peers
The newcomers have got the hang of one Spanish cliche all right: mañana. But now their situation is starting to hit home – not because Spain does not want them, but because their compatriots could make their situation untenable. The referendum is creating great concern, some alarm, and in one or two cases near-panic. If Britain votes to leave, these Britons will very likely have to leave too, physically as well as politically. If Orihuela Costa were in the UK, its demographics – elderly, white, C1/C2s with a taste for bowls and golf – would make it a prime target for Ukip. Here the thinking is spectacularly different.
At the Emerald Isle bowls club, the Spanish national championships were under way. This is lawn bowls, not to be confused with the Lancastrian crown green version, American 10-pin bowling or French petanque. The last two are big here, too, but according to Bob Donnelly, the Manchester-born director of Spanish Lawn Bowls, his version is No 1, with 17 clubs on the Costa Blanca, containing more than half the country’s 3,000 participants.
“All British?” I inquired when we sat down by the bar. “All British,” he agreed. But then people from neighbouring tables joined in: “What about that bloke with the Australian accent?” “And there was that Belgian.” “And Giuseppe!” OK, it was agreed, almost all British. But no Spaniards. Or hardly any.
Donnelly, now 76, came out here as a 48-year-old after working as a refrigeration engineer. (“It wasn’t the cold in the fridges I minded, it was the cold outside.”) Fluent in Spanish, he is appalled by the prevailing expat indifference: “It’s abysmal. I cannot get anybody to assist me on committees where we have to deal with the authorities and speak Spanish.” But why bother? The locals make the effort instead.
The statistics are flaky, but the area is thought to have 50,000 dwellings, far more than the city itself. Nearly half of these would be holiday homes or buy-to-lets. The most authoritative estimate is that 30,000 people actually live along this 10-mile stretch of coast, of whom 80% are non-Spanish. And of those, perhaps two-thirds are British or Irish.
Thirty years ago this was scrub and sand, with a few marginal citrus groves. When the developers came by, the farmers thought they had won the lottery. It began as a boomlet, but then came the Thatcherite sell-off of council houses and the seemingly eternal rise in British property prices. Ex-council tenants back home who had been looking forward to little beyond a state pension found themselves, like the farmers, living inside a pot of gold.
Even now the deal is amazingly favourable: £40,000 for a basic flat; £100,000 for a very pleasant home and garden; £150,000 for a detached house with a pool. For many, this is affordable even without selling up in the UK. The area is attractive, too: there are no high-rises, and the vernacular architecture is a not unpleasant sort-of Californian faux-Moorish.
Furthermore, almost all the daily necessities are cheaper here. Cars, car insurance, nearly all food: a slight premium on Heinz baked beans (piled 8ft high in the biggest supermarket) and jars of Marmite, but not much. “You can live on a British state pension and still eat out three times a week,” said Kevin Reardon, owner of the Leader, one of the dozen-odd English weekly papers. The restaurants are mostly somewhere between so-so and dire, but there is a good choice of cuisines. Only Spanish food is noticeably under-represented.
People who move within the UK when they retire often find themselves lonely. You would struggle to do that here. Neighbours look out for each other, and the papers are full of news from the sub-cultures. And it’s not just bowls; there is something to suit just about everyone – chess or cribbage; bridge or a brass band; golf or gardening; mountain walks or morris dancing. In the British way, much social life revolves around charity events – mostly, it seems, for animal rescue. The one thing one might miss is astringent political debate.
Bob Donnelly cared enough to send out a circular asking members of the bowls club for their views on the referendum. The initial response was not huge, with just 22 forms returned. But the vote was overwhelming: two for Brexit, 20 for staying in. There was one over-riding reason: healthcare. The European Health Insurance Card, available on application to everyone in Britain, gives an automatic right to emergency treatment anywhere in the EU. But registered expats get the full package free (with a contribution from the UK government) and they think it’s fantastic.
“I had a blackout on my scooter and woke up in a ditch,” said the bowls club president, Tony Capewell, from West Bromwich. “I thought they’d just patch me up. They kept me in hospital for a week doing tests. They were brilliant.” Allen Bowen from Wales was even more fulsome. He has had multiple health issues lately. “Everyone gets a private room. The doctors are wonderful, and they all speak English. Plus the food’s very nice. I even go in to the cafe to eat if I’m nearby. They talk about Syrians, but if Britain comes out of Europe they’ll have about two million pensioners coming back demanding to go on the NHS. But it won’t be as good.”
And something about the lifestyle, or the health system, seems to work. The average age at Emerald Isle is even higher than at most British bowls clubs. At first it reminded me of the Sydney bowls club known as the Diddy-Di (most conversations in the bar there began with a mention of absent friends: “Oh, did he die, did he?”). But Donnelly introduced me to two of the youngest-looking near-90-year-olds I have ever met. This might not be Eldorado; it could be Shangri-La.
One local resident is steeped in politics. Bob Houliston bought a house here in the 1980s while he was still a full-time EU official. He remains a passionate pro-European: “I can’t believe we will leave. You’ve got to see it in the sweep of history.” For the past decade, though, he has been enmeshed in less elavated concerns. He got elected to the council as president of a new party, Claro, which was designed to give the residents of Orihuela Costa a say, and he spent four years saying it for them: “Orihuela City was milking this place disgracefully, using the tax they got on new buildings to fund their own developments.”
Related: British expats lose legal battle for right to vote in EU referendum
As is normal when it comes to local planning, the whiff of corruption is never far away. The Costa Blanca News splashed with a report that the public prosecutor was demanding long jail sentences for two ex-mayors charged with fraud, bribery and extortion. For a while Houliston held the balance of power, but found himself outmanoeuvred, and last year missed re-election by 30 votes, thanks to a combination of expat apathy, registration issues and, so he says, a mysterious shortage of coastal polling stations.
Houliston kindly organised – for my benefit and at short notice – a public meeting in a pizza restaurant, which, due to a shortage of civic facilities, is much used by expat societies. Upstairs a choir was practising. He warned me not to expect more than a dozen people. In fact, 40 turned up. Try getting that for an EU debate in England on a hot afternoon for a guest not called Boris.
An initial vote put the score as 31 for staying in and six for coming out. At least there were some anti-Europe voices present: I had spent the previous 48 hours trying to find a single one. A German TV crew who were down at the bowls club on a similar mission unearthed one Brexiteer, then discovered to their horror that he was only here on holiday.
The antis mostly made points exported wholesale from the UK. “I’m not too happy about 90m Turks coming to England. We’ll finish up with a Muslim state,” said Geoff Kangley from Sheffield. “It won’t affect us,” said Keith Giles from Surrey, “but I don’t want future generations to lose sovereignty.” “I’m trying not to be selfish here,” insisted Eve Suffield from Cheshire. “My son’s trying to run a business in England and there are so many regulations that are not required by the British government.” One anti referred to being “in this country”, meaning Britain, which seemed both rather sweet and very telling.
But the majority were very aware where their interests lie. The glories of Spanish healthcare were often mentioned. Some talked about the fear that their UK pensions would be frozen (as is now normal for those living outside the EU) and that they would lose out on annual increases. Others touched on the most likely, most terrifying and most immediate double-whammy they would face: if Britain votes to leave, the pound will go down, making Spain more expensive, but British demand for their houses will disappear, making them effectively unsaleable.
Related: The British abroad: expats, not immigrants | Ritwik Deo
I said I would like to hear a case for Europe that was not just about what was in it for them. A man called Bob Hammond, also from Surrey, then rose (there are a lot of Bobs here, and a lot of Surrey.) He talked about his little suburb, his urbanización. “In the cul-de-sac where I live, there are British people, Swedish, German, Norwegian, Irish, some Spanish, someone from Russia. We all get on. English is the common language we speak. That’s why I feel the EU has given me so much, my children so much. And I think of myself as European.” It was the first speech of the meeting to be applauded, which did not quite drown out a comment from the front row. “Yeah, and they’re all living in three houses.”
Down in the bar, one woman was taking a less idealistic but very heartfelt view. “I’m just not sleeping,” Linda Harris told me. “I’m getting four hours a night. Because we have no idea what might happen. I don’t want to have go back to the UK with nothing.” We were joined by a friend of hers from Belfast who refused to give her name. She had just finished choir practice and was entirely unperturbed by the arguments; she described the referendum as “an academic exercise” and would not bother to vote.
“You’ll be sorry if you’re standing in rags at the quayside on 24 June waiting for the rescue boat,” I said lightly. “I most certainly hope not,” she replied. “We’ve got a concert on the 25th.”
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In Spain’s biggest British enclave, the EU referendum looms large over an expat Shangri-La based on bowls, beaches and high-quality free healthcare. But is there any real love for Europe there?
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/11025421/New-Hyundai-i20-revealed.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721011147id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/motoring/11025421/New-Hyundai-i20-revealed.html
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New Hyundai i20 revealed
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20160721011147
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Hyundai has revealed the first official images of its new i20.
The current i20, which is positioned to rival superminis like the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Vauxhall Corsa, is one of Hyundai’s best-selling cars in Europe. Hyundai hopes to build on that success with the new model, and one of the ways it’ll do that is with an extra dose of style.
The new car's wheelbase has been extended to provide more interior space
The new i20 has been designed and developed in Europe, with the majority of the styling work having been done at Hyundai’s design centre in Germany. The Korean company hopes that the European influence this’ll give to the i20’s looks will make it a hit throughout the continent.
There are few details of the substance of the new car as yet, but Hyundai is already touting space as another of the new i20’s biggest selling point. The company says its wheelbase will be 45mm longer than the outgoing version, and claims that this will give better combined front and rear legroom than any of its rivals, as well as a larger boot.
The car will also be offered with a full-length panoramic sunroof
Hyundai adds that the new model will be the only car in its class to feature a full-length, opening panoramic sunroof; it’s also promising further luxury touches such as an integrated rear-view parking camera and LEDs for both front and rear lights.
The new i20 will officially be revealed at the Paris Motor Show on October 2.
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Images of new supermini are published ahead of a full debut at the Paris Motor Show
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/08/ba-air-hostess-who-boarded-flight-steaming-drunk-caught-by-colle/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721011407id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/2016/04/08/ba-air-hostess-who-boarded-flight-steaming-drunk-caught-by-colle/
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'Steaming drunk' flight attendant who boarded BA plane caught by colleagues after pretending to read book, but held it upside down
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20160721011407
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Four people claimed they could smell alcohol on her breath, including the duty manager at security check-in and a policeman who later interviewed her.
However Miss Whitmore claimed the officer, Police constable Michael Jackson, could only smell alcohol on her as the interview was conducted in a bar area of the airport.
Miss Whitmore questioned why she was not breathalysed or arrested for trying to fly drunk but because she was not scheduled to be working the flight she was due to board, Pc Jackson had no legal power to do so.
She was taken off the flight but booked onto a later one, with plans being put in place for her to be breathalysed at Heathrow. However Miss Whitmore went home instead and a friend reported her as being sick.
Miss Whitmore said she wasn't aware she should have notified someone that she was going home and not getting on the 6.30pm flight to Heathrow.
Lucinda Harris, representing British Airways at the tribunal in Reading, Berks., said that the airline's facility for testing alcohol levels was at Heathrow and all staff suspected of being drunk were obliged to attend it, regardless of which airport they are based at. Miss Whitmore replied: "Had I known that at that point, I would have travelled down to Heathrow and had the test."
Miss Whitmore admitted having drunk two glasses of wine the previous evening, having her last drink before 10pm. She claimed that when she arrived at Newcastle airport she simply felt unwell and fell over after suffering "a funny turn."
She said she felt like her eyes were going to pop and she could feel palpitations.
CCTV footage taken from the airport of the moment Miss Whitmore fell over was played to tribunal judge Stephen Vowles.
Miss Harris said: "When one looks at the CCTV footage of you falling, there's no suggestion there that you lost consciousness at any point.
"What appears to happen is you drop a ticket, you go down to pick it up, and then you fall over.
"Throughout the period you are trying to get back up. It does not appear, as you seem to present it, there was a collapse and you fall unconscious."
Even after being shown the CCTV footage Miss Whitmore insisted: "I don't remember any of that at all."
However she disagreed with suggestions that she was "zig-zagging" across the travelator.
"I agree I'm not completely walking in a straight line, but I'm not staggering," she told the hearing.
Miss Whitmore, who is now training to be a nurse after being sacked from BA, said her memory of events immediately afterwards was hazy and she could not recall a lot of what had happened.
She said it was not until she sat down again in a bar area of the airport that she began to feel better.
Miss Whitmore said during the course of her disciplinary hearing with BA that she felt unwell because she was going through the menopause and had suffered a syncopal episode.
However her GP did not say in a follow-up report that symptoms of the menopause include memory loss and falling.
Asked if she had told anyone on the day that she was feeling unwell, Miss Whitmore said: "No I didn't, because I experienced it before. It comes over in waves. I knew if I just sat down for a short while I would be okay."
Miss Harris pointed out that it was the first time Miss Whitmore had said she felt this way.
"It's the first time I had actually fainted," she replied.
She said there were inconsistencies in accounts given by eye-witnesses, but Miss Harris replied: "The ones who think you were under the influence, their stories don't change.
"What's striking is even the witnesses you put the most reliance on, they report that at no point do you say you were unwell.
"You were given the chance to say you had been unwell, you'd fainted, whatever. There was no explanation for your behaviour on the day.
"You have stumbled, fallen, drawn quite a bit of attention to yourself. You've got various members of the public looking at you. Someone is sufficiently concerned to come and take you through security.
"You don't at that point provide an explanation for your behaviour."
Miss Whitmore replied: "I was feeling poorly and I was desperate to go to work. It's the behaviour of somebody who's not very well."
Miss Harris said this suggestion however was "implausible."
She said: "Given you are employed by BA, who take such accusations very seriously, you are told you are thought to be drinking. At no point do you offer an alternative explanation for your behaviour. Is that fair?"
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A British Airways flight attendant sacked for turning up to work drunk tried to cover up the fact she had been drinking by pretending to read a book - only to be caught out as she was holding it upside down, an employment tribunal heard on Friday.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/americanfootball/11195543/NFL-executive-vice-president-says-London-based-team-will-happen-as-Government-prepares-to-offer-tax-breaks.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721082322id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/sport/othersports/americanfootball/11195543/NFL-executive-vice-president-says-London-based-team-will-happen-as-Government-prepares-to-offer-tax-breaks.html
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NFL executive vice-president says London-based team 'will happen' as Government prepares to offer tax breaks
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20160721082322
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George Osborne vowed to do everything possible to help an NFL team make the historic switch, something the Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid, said on Tuesday could involve exemptions to the UK’s prohibitively high income taxes.
The NFL’s executive vice-president of international, Mark Waller, claimed the planets were aligning for the formation of a London-based franchise.
Admitting he had staked his career on it coming to pass, he told Telegraph Sport: “I would expect that if we continue to do the work that we’ve done and do it the way that we’ve done it then, if it’s not inevitable, it will happen.”
He stopped short of demanding specific tax breaks, which the Government has previously granted to the likes of Usain Bolt to ensure his participation in major events held in the UK.
But Waller added: “Any team that comes here, the players that are going to be on that team are going to need to feel that it’s economically attractive to them as if they were playing in the States.”
He revealed the major obstacle was actually logistical and that the NFL would have to solve the problems associated with teams travelling to and from the UK.
“Ultimately, there’s no value to anybody in putting a team here and then finding that the rigours of the season do not allow it to compete at the highest level,” he said, claiming the next five years were crucial in ensuring that would not be the case.
Wembley is staging three NFL matches this year, two having already been played and the third scheduled for Sunday week between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys.
The Jaguars are seen as the most likely franchise to relocate to London, a move the NFL has ruled out until at least 2020.
Waller said the plan was to stage four or more matches there in 2016 – Rugby World Cup games at Wembley have ruled that out next year – and admitted it was crucial for three games in three weeks to be played there as that is what would be required of any franchise.
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NFL’s executive vice-president says planets are aligned for formation of a London-based franchise as Government admits a US franchise could be offered tax breaks
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/9817338/Dramatic-Madrid-metro-rescue-unconscious-woman-pulled-from-track.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721131016id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/worldnews/europe/spain/9817338/Dramatic-Madrid-metro-rescue-unconscious-woman-pulled-from-track.html
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Dramatic Madrid metro rescue: unconscious woman pulled from track
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20160721131016
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The 52-year-old woman fell onto the tracks at Marques de Vadilla station on Monday afternoon after losing consciousness.
An unnamed off-duty policeman jumped down onto the track and pulled her out of the path of an oncoming train as other passengers waved to alert the driver to stop.
The woman was given first aid on the opposite platform by a doctor who was also at the station, according to police.
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CCTV footage shows the moment a woman fainted and fell head first onto Madrid's underground tracks as a train approached - only to be saved by an off-duty policeman.
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http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/jennifer-lawrence-why-do-i-make-less-my-male-co-stars
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721175530id_/http://www.msnbc.com:80/msnbc/jennifer-lawrence-why-do-i-make-less-my-male-co-stars
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Jennifer Lawrence: 'Why do I make less than my male co‑stars?'
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20160721175530
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When Sony Pictures was hacked last year, many movie fans learned for the first time that actress Jennifer Lawrence was paid substantially less than her male co-stars in the movie “American Hustle.” As it turns out, that was news to the Oscar winner too.
In a personal essay published Tuesday for LennyLetter, a feminism-themed newsletter co-founded by actress Lena Dunham, entitled ”Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co‑Stars?” Lawrence speaks candidly about the challenges she faces in Hollywood as a woman, including the gender stereotypes she says impacted her ability to secure equal pay.
“It’s hard for me to speak about my experience as a working woman because I can safely say my problems aren’t exactly relateable. When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with d—-, I didn’t get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself,” Lawrence wrote.
RELATED: Actress Jessica Chastain calls out over-sexualization of female superheroes
“I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early. I didn’t want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I don’t need. (I told you it wasn’t relatable, don’t hate me),” she added. Lawrence also writes that she didn’t push harder on getting paid her fair share because she didn’t want to be perceived as “difficult” or “spoiled.”
Lawrence is actually Hollywood’s highest paid woman, according to Forbes. In the last year alone, she earned $52 million, but that is still $30 million below Hollywood’s highest paid male actor, Robert Downey, Jr. In fact, besides Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson, the top 10 earners in the movie business are all men.
Of course, the wage disparity between men and women is a factor in every professional sector of American life. But in Hollywood, which has a reputation for liberal politics and progressive social values, some may be surprised by how pervasive the salary gap is.
Actress Patricia Arquette raised the issue earlier this year during her well-received Academy Awards acceptance speech (she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Boyhood”).
“To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America,” Arquette said to rapturous applause from the Oscar crowd.
Lawrence, as one of the most sought-after and bankable stars in Hollywood, has a huge platform to bring attention to Hollywood’s preference for paying men more. Only time will tell if she can have an impact on the industry’s bottom line.
One thing is for certain: Lawrence is done playing nice. “I’m over trying to find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable!” she wrote. “F— that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.”
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Lawrence penned a personal essay on Tuesday entitled "Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co‑Stars?" in which she speaks candidly about the challenges she faces.
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http://www.tmz.com/2016/07/20/jon-gosselin-tgi-fridays-charity/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160721191925id_/http://www.tmz.com:80/2016/07/20/jon-gosselin-tgi-fridays-charity/
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Jon Gosselin: My Friday's Checks Go to Charity ... Or At Least They DID
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20160721191925
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Jon Gosselin is proud of the work he puts in at T.G.I. Friday's, and says he donated his pay to multiple charities.
Jon went on the "Kannon and Sybil" radio show Wednesday in Dallas and was pissed his cover was blown. TMZ broke the story ... he's been clocking in at a Friday's in Lancaster, PA.
Check out the audio ... Jon's clearly frustrated and says he's calling it quits. For him, it's a trust issue with his co-workers. That being said, he also says he loves the gig.
Sources at the restaurant tell us Jon hasn't said anything about quitting -- he only requested a week off. We're told he'll be back in the kitchen after his vacay.
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Jon Gosselin is proud of the work he puts in at T.G.I. Friday's, and says he donated his pay to multiple charities. Jon went on the "Kannon and…
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http://time.com/4413692/state-troopers-charged-punch-suspect/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160722034024id_/http://time.com:80/4413692/state-troopers-charged-punch-suspect/
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2 State Troopers Who Punched Suspect Charged With Assault
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20160722034024
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Two state troopers who were captured on video repeatedly punching a suspect as he slowly exited his vehicle following a long police chase in New Hampshire have been arrested and charged with assault, officials said Tuesday.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Joseph Flynn, 32, and New Hampshire State Police Trooper Andrew Monaco, 31, face criminal charges stemming from their use of force in an arrest in May, New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster said in a news release.
The two officers can be seen in aerial footage allegedly beating 50-year-old Richard Simone, Jr. immediately after the driver who led them on a multi-state pursuit gets out of his white pickup truck and slowly gets on his hands and knees.
Flynn was charged with two counts of simple assault and Monaco was charged with three counts of simple assault, Foster said. They were released on personal recognizance and are set to be arraigned in September. Both have been suspended without pay, according to the Washington Post.
The police chase began in Massachusetts when authorities tried to stop a truck being driven by Simone, the Post reports.
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Video of the violent arrest had gone viral
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http://time.com/4414623/alligator-disney-lane-graves-parents-sue/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160722034315id_/http://time.com:80/4414623/alligator-disney-lane-graves-parents-sue/
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Family Won't Sue in Toddler's Death
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20160722034315
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The parents of the 2-year-old boy who died after being snatched by an alligator at a Disney resort in Orlando in June have decided not to sue Disney over the toddler’s death.
Matt and Melissa Graves issued a statement to KETV, an Omaha, Neb.-based ABC affiliate, on Wednesday, more than a month after an alligator dragged their son Lane into the water by Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Graves said they plan to “keep his spirit alive” by establishing the Lane Thomas Foundation in Lane’s honor.
“In addition to the foundation, we will solely be focused on the future health of our family and will not be pursuing a lawsuit against Disney,” the Graves said.
Disney officials were previously aware of potential dangers posed by alligators, according to reports. In 2015, David Hiden, a San Diego attorney, notified a Disney World manager that an alligator had “rapidly” come after his son, who was wading in the lagoon of the Coronado Springs Resort, CBS News reported. According to Hiden, the manager said the alligators were “harmless.”
Walt Disney Resort President George A. Kalogridis said in a statement that the company continues to provide ongoing support for the family.
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"We will solely be focused on the future health of our family," his parents said
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How Megan Bomgaars Thrived with Down Syndrome & Became a Star : People.com
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Megan Bomgaars has Down syndrome, but that's not keeping her from living her dreams.
The 23-year-old, who grew up dreaming of a career as a dancer or singer, got to walk the red carpet for the first time last month at a Television Academy event honoring her and the rest of the cast of her A&E reality docu-series
"It was so new to me," Bomgaars says in the current issue of PEOPLE. "But I could definitely get used to it."
And that experience is just the latest milestone surpassed by the University of Colorado student.
Cast of A&E's Born This Way
Raised in Colorado Springs by her single mom, Kris, Bomgaars was never one to shy away from the spotlight.
"She believes in herself," says Kris, 46. "She won't let anything hold her back."
Megan says she made a lot of friends when she won a spot on her high school's nationally competitive cheerleading team, but her life really changed when she was given the class assignment to write and perform a speech.
JFK Jr. on the cover of PEOPLE
a speech that has now been viewed on YouTube more than 400,000 times.
"I'd never written a speech before," says Bomgaars. "I found my voice."
As the speech went viral, Bomgaars started fielding requests to speak around the world.
Last year, she was invited to the White House by First Lady
, and in March she traveled internationally for the first time to address hundreds at a World Down Syndrome Day event in Trinidad and Tobago.
"I do get nervous," Bomgaars says of being the center of attention. "But then I just look at my mom. She's the one who has helped me get through the big steps in my life."
Megan Bomgaars and her mom Kris
Bomgaars' mother is also looking to help her daughter find financial independence.
After seeing other speakers selling products at their events, Kris and Megan developed Megan's handmade clothing line,
"We needed something that could provide self-employment for Megan," says Kris. "I knew most of the jobs Megan would be presented with in life involved cleaning up after people or minimal social interaction. Those wouldn't be a good fit."
There's one place Bomgaars says she feels is a good fit: Los Angeles, where she and her mother temporarily relocated while filming season 2 of
Kris and Megan Bomgaars in 1996
"I want to live in California," says Bomgaars. "But my mom doesn't want me to move away."
Bomgaars also hopes to one day start a family with her boyfriend of seven years, Brendan, who also has Down syndrome.
Kris worries about Megan's desire for motherhood and fears leaving her daughter alone when she dies, but she acknowledges her daughter "has the same dreams I did" and wants to help her daughter achieve those dreams.
And Bomgaars has a lot of dreams left to fufill: "I want to sing. I want to produce TV. I want to write a book," she says. "I think I can do it all."
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"I think I can do it all," the reality star says
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Mike Pence is pulling Donald Trump's campaign to the fringe
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Mike Pence was seen as the safe choice to be Donald Trump's running mate, a Midwestern governor known for being boring. But in the days since he was named as the Republican running-mate, a series of past statements revealed Pence may trump Trump for outrageousness.
Before becoming a Congressman, Pence became well-known in his home state of Indiana for his syndicated radio show. On air for three hours every weekday, Pence said a lot of stuff. And some of that stuff is coming back to bite him.
Most of his program was run-of-the-mill populist conservatism, unpopular with Democrats but far from outrageous with the Republican base he was chosen to appeal to. But some of his opinions belong more on the fringe of politics.
"Time for a quick reality check. Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn't kill," Pence wrote in an essay he posted on his campaign website in 2001, recently uncovered by Buzzfeed.
"In fact, two out of every three smokers does not die from a smoking related illness and nine out of ten smokers do not contract lung cancer."
A law he passed last year required mothers to pay for cremation or burial of a dead fetus regardless of how far along the pregnancy was – whether she had a miscarriage or an abortion.
The law, which was struck down by the courts, would have prohibited abortions if the fetus had a disability or serious anomalies.
In 1999 Pence wrote a column saying the Disney film Mulan was an attempt to sway public opinion on women in the military.
"Despite her delicate features and voice, Disney expects us to believe that Mulan’s ingenuity and courage were enough to carry her to military success on an equal basis with her cloddish cohorts," Pence wrote.
"Obviously, this is Walt Disney's attempt to add childhood expectation to the cultural debate over the role of women in the military."
Meanwhile, a column he published in 1992 likened a proposed ban on out-of-state rubbish being dumped in Indiana landfills to Nazi Germany.
"German Jews of the 1930s would know exactly what to call the Coats-Bayh assault on the private property of unpopular individuals engaged in an unpopular enterprise," he wrote.
In 2000 Pence campaigned for Congress on cutting funding for HIV care and treatment services that "celebrate and encourage the types of behaviours that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus".
"Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behaviour."
In a 1997 letter to the Indianapolis Star, Pence wrote that kids in day-care were "getting the short end of the emotional stick", hardly a position likely to endear him to working mothers.
The conventional thinking is Trump chose Pence to shore up his wavering support among right-wing voters. But for every vote Pence picks up for the ticket in conservative Wyoming, he may lose two in moderate Ohio. Before getting picked for vice-president, Pence was in a neck-and-neck gubernatorial race in Indiana.
The first rule of picking a vice-president is the same as the Hippocratic Oath. First, do no harm. Right now it's looking like Trump has been anchored with a running mate even less likable than him.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2016
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Mike Pence was seen as the safe choice to be Donald Trump's running mate, a Midwestern governor known for being boring. But in the days since he was named as the Republican running-mate, a series of past statements revealed Pence may trump Trump for outrageousness.
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Labour leadership: voter registration extended after website crash
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Labour has extended the deadline for people to sign up to vote for its new leader after its website crashed and dozens of supporters of Jeremy Corbyn began to raise concerns about being excluded.
The party issued an apology on Twitter after its online registration form for supporters suffered technical difficulties on Wednesday morning, with just hours to go before the midday cut-off point. The deadline was then extended until 3pm as people continued to experience problems signing up.
Related: Labour’s leadership contest has energised the electorate. There’s no going back | Anne Perkins
The glitch happened as the party struggled to cope with almost 250,000 new members and supporters, each of whom is being checked to make sure they are not “entryists” from other parties trying to influence the result. Around 88,000 have still not been vetted.
Amid concerns among MPs and within some of the candidates’ campaigns about the credibility of the process, Labour has already weeded out 1,800 applicants and has another 800 under investigation. These include more than 200 people who stood as Green candidates, a Conservative MP, and filmmaker Ken Loach, who is a founder of the socialist Left Unity party.
The first batch of ballots will be sent out to longstanding members from Friday, with a YouGov poll suggesting Corbyn is way out in front with around 53% of support. Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper are now vying for second place, while Liz Kendall appears to be far behind.
More ballot papers and emails will then go out over the coming weeks, with 48 officials in Newcastle and a further 30 in London working round the clock to verify all the new applications in time.
The party will continue disqualifying applicants it believes do not share Labour values even after the deadline for signing up has passed.
A number of Corbyn supporters are worried about the possibility they will be excluded after receiving notifications of further checks or hearing nothing back after trying to sign up.
Related: Poll puts Jeremy Corbyn on course for leadership victory – should we trust it?
One British man living in Switzerland who voted Labour at the election and wants to support Corbyn, said he was told his application was not being progressed, and then heard nothing back after he sent proof of citizenship.
“I am reading a lot about the fight against ‘entryism’, but because I made it explicit in my application to join the Labour party that I intended to vote for Jeremy Corbyn I believe they are obstructing my application,” he said. “The Labour party legally have access to the electoral register and could have confirmed the required information inside the seven days between my application and the rejection date.”
Other people attempting to register as supporters received emails on Tuesday telling them they had until noon on Wednesday to reactivate their membership in order to secure a vote.
Brian Marley, a Brighton-based writer who received a confirmation email from Labour in June, said he then received an email telling him he needed to reactivate his membership if he wanted to vote.
He said he was surprised to receive the latest message and believed it was part of a “dirty tricks” campaign to eliminate newcomers and returning Labour members who were eager to back Corbyn.
At least one other Labour supporter reported what appeared to be similar concerns:
Why is Labour telling me I must 'reactivate my membership' before I can vote? Trying to cut off 'registered supporter' votes?
However, Labour said the emails about reactivating membership were simply sent out to a list of former members and would not affect any pending applications. The party said a second email was sent out clarifying any confusion.
Dozens of Corbyn supporters have also written on the Guardian readers’ live blog with worries that their applications will not be accepted.
One reader, Stuart Ellis, said he had joined up as an affiliated supporter through Unite on the day after the election, having been involved in leftwing politics in his youth and helping the Lib Dems fight the Tories in his local seat, but never actually becoming a member of any political party.
He received his membership card around a week later and went to a few hustings, his local Labour party meeting and a few leadership events.
But he was then surprised to receive an email from Unite on Tuesday afternoon saying his application was being subject to checks by the Labour party.
“I assumed my membership was kosher until this morning when I saw the email. I’m not sure if it’s happening to all affiliated members and supporters, or if I’ve been picked out of a hat for a random audit, or if something seems fishy about my circumstances or if something about my particularly weird political background triggered a warning light,” he said.
Other Corbyn supporters complained that the party said it could not find them on the electoral register, even though they voted three months ago, while many were worried that a brief flirtation with the Greens at the last election would disqualify them from having a say.
A senior Labour source said there was absolutely no reason for people to be worried unless they were clear supporters of other parties, and applicants were likely to receive their ballots as normal, even if they had not been given explicit confirmation. A party spokeswoman said the process was “fair and robust”.
Amid the confusion, some within Labour, including the MPs Barry Sheerman and Simon Danczuk, both Kendall supporters, called for a pause in the contest to stop “entryists” signing up to vote for Corbyn despite not being true party supporters.
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Party apologises for technical issues hours before midday deadline for voters to apply for a say in its election, amid concerns over credibility of process
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Shell oil spill near Louisiana dumps 90,000 gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico
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While stories about each and every little thing Donald Trump said and did dominated the news cycle over the weekend, a major environmental catastrophe unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico — and you probably didn't hear about. Oil company Royal Dutch Shell has begun the massive task of cleaning up nearly 90,000 gallons of crude oil that leaked from a company oil derrick roughly 90 miles off the state's coast, the Associated Press reported Friday.
Shell first noticed the leak only after a helicopter reported a 2 by 13-mile sheen across the Gulf of Mexico near the oil giant's Brutus platform.
The spill has been contained, a U.S. Coast Guard press release reported Thursday.
"The likely cause of the sheen is a release of oil from subsea infrastructure and in response, we have isolated the leak and shut-in production," the company said in a statement, the Wall Street Journal reported. "No release is acceptable, and safety remains our priority as we respond to this incident."
Locals around the site of the latest spill remained unconvinced, telling ThinkProgress that the official line from Shell and others was more of the same.
Related: 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill:
Shell oil spill near Louisiana dumps 90,000 gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico
In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning Wednesday, April 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
** RE-TRANS WITH ALTERNATE CROP ** In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning Wednesday, April 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, a boat with an oil boom tries to contain oil spilled from the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, approximately seven miles from where the rig sunk, on Friday, April 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A cattle egret sits on a crew swing on the deck of the Joe Griffin at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Oil, scooped up with a bucket from the Gulf of Mexico off the side of the supply vessel Joe Griffin, is seen in the hands of an AP reporter at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana Monday, May 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The shoreline of the Chandeleur Islands, home of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, is seen off the Southeastern coast of Lousiana Tuesday, April 27, 2010. The barrier islands are at risk from a growing oil spill and leak in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig last week. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this Wednesday April 21, 2010 photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, a fire aboard the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon burns 52-miles southeast of Venice, La. Helicopters, ships and an airplane searched waters off Louisiana's coast Wednesday for missing workers after an explosion and fire that left an offshore drilling platform tilting in the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard, Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Lloyd)
In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning Wednesday, April 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, a boat with an oil boom tries to contain oil spilled from the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, approximately seven miles from where the rig sunk, on Friday, April 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Shrimping and fishing boats are seen docked at sunrise in Venice, La.,Tuesday, April 27, 2010. The The seafood industry in the Gulf of Mexico could be adversely affected by the growing oil slick that resulted from the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig last week. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FILE - In this April 2010 file photo, oil can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, as a large plume of smoke rises from fires on BP's Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig. Deep-water drilling is set to resume near the site of the catastrophic BP PLC well blowout that killed 11 workers and caused the nation's largest offshore oil spill five years ago off the coast of Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
A dispersant plane passes over an oil skimmer as it cleans oil from a leaking pipeline that resulted from last week's explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana Tuesday, April 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
This April 28, 2010 image made from video released by the Deepwater Horizon Response Unified Command, shows an in situ burn in the Gulf of Mexico, in response to the oil spill after the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard, Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Sawyer)
A Brown Pelican is seen flying away from a group of birds on the Chandeleur Islands off the coast of Louisiana, Friday, April 30, 2010. The wildlife along the Louisiana Coast are vulnerable to the looming oil spill from last week's collapse and spill of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Out of work fishermen hired by BP PLC lay oil booms in preparation for the looming oil spill from the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A dying catfish that has been picked at by birds floats on the surface of the water in the Breton Sound of the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Lousiana Monday, May 3, 2010. Fish and wildlife are vulnerable to the oil spill resulting the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, a boat with an oil boom tries to contain oil spilled from the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, approximately seven miles from where the rig sunk, on Friday, April 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A rig drilling a relief well and support vessel are seen in the Gulf of Mexico, La., Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at the site of the recent collapse and spill of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
With a sheen of oil as far as the eye can see, the sun rises as the Joe Griffin arrives at the rig explosion site carrying the containment vessel which will be used to try to contain the Deepwater Horizon oil, Thursday, May 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Oil is seen swirling beneath the Joe Griffin as it arrives at the rig explosion site carrying the containment vessel, which will be used to try to contain the Deepwater Horizon oil, Thursday, May 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
An oil-soaked bird struggles against the side of the HOS Iron Horse supply vessel at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Oil is seen in the water from the bridge of the Joe Griffin at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Tuesday, May 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool)
A Louisiana National Guard helicopter carrying Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal flies over wetlands as workers lay oil boom, bottom, on Elmer's Island in Grand Isle, La., Thursday, May 20, 2010. Jindal was on an aerial tour to view oil from last month's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that has started drifting ashore along the Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A seagul flies over the Chandeleur Islands, home of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, is seen off the Southeastern coast of Lousiana Tuesday, April 27, 2010. The barrier islands are at risk from a growing oil spill and leak in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig last week. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Louisiana National Guard motor grader grades a beach as oil laps onto the shore on Elmer's Island in Grand Isle, La., Thursday, May 20, 2010. Oil from last month's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico has started drifting ashore along the Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Tug boats pull a tank, center, containing oil and water skimmed from the surface of the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana, Friday, May 21, 2010. Oil from last month's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf has started drifting ashore along the Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A worker rakes oil and debris that washed up onto a beach in Grand Isle, La., Saturday, May 22, 2010. Oil from last month's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico has started drifting ashore along the Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Workers collect oil and debris that washed up onto a beach in Grand Isle, La., Saturday, May 22, 2010. Oil from last month's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico has started drifting ashore along the Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
"You sit down for dinner and you watch the news and you see another spill with tens of thousands of gallons of oil and reports that no one is hurt or the leak has stopped," Colette Pichon Battle, executive director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy, told the progressive advocacy group. "Just from experience, that that's probably not true."
She added that the poorest residents of coastal communities and Native Americans were likely to feel the brunt of any damage.
The incident was also striking for a comparable lack of coverage it received, especially given its location in the same area where the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion caused immense ecological devastation in 2010. The fallout from the largest oil spill to occur in U.S. waters are still being felt today.
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A major environmental catastrophe unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend -- and you probably didn't hear about.
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What 'conservatives gone wild' looks like in North Carolina
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Guest host Ezra Klein noted on the show last night that some key legislative fights were “down to the wire” in North Carolina, as the state legislative session neared its adjournment. After the show aired, there were some important developments, so let’s take a moment to recap – and explain why this matters in the larger context.
First up are the most sweeping voter-suppression efforts seen anywhere in the United States in generations, which, much to the disappointment of voting-rights advocates, garnered the support of literally every member of the Republican majority in both chambers, who voted to keep more North Carolinians from being able to participate in their own democracy.
As lawmakers rushed to adjourn for the summer, lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to drastic changes in how voting will be conducted in future elections in North Carolina.
After more than two-and-a-half hours of debate, the House voted 73-41 on party lines late Thursday to agree with dozens of changes made by Senate Republicans to a bill that originally simply required voters to show photo identification at the polls. It was approved by the Senate earlier Thursday, 33-14, also on party lines.
As we’ve discussed, the proposal is remarkable in its scope, including a needlessly discriminatory voter-ID provision, new limits on early voting, blocks on voter-registration drive, restrictions on extended voting times to ease long lines, an end to same-day registration, new efforts to discourage youth voting, and expanded opportunities for “vigilante poll-watchers to challenge eligible voters.”
How many North Carolina Republican lawmakers supported these suppression tactics for no apparent reason? Each and every one of them.
State Rep. Mickey Michaux (D-N.C.), who fought for voting rights in the 1960s, told the GOP majority, “I want you to understand what this bill means to people. We have fought for, died for and struggled for our right to vote. You can take these 57 pages of abomination and confine them to the streets of hell for all eternity.”
And then, of course, there are the new limits on reproductive rights.
Late last night, they were approved, too.
The state Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill that imposes new regulations and restrictions on abortion providers.
Senators voted 32-13 Thursday evening, sending the measure to Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican who has said he will sign the measure as it was passed.
For his part, the Republican governor, just six months into his first term, promised voters as a candidate last year that he would oppose any new restrictions on women’s reproductive rights in the state. Now, however, McCrory is prepared to sign this bill anyway – his public vow apparently came with fine print that voters might have missed
The result is a new regulatory measure, known as a TRAP law, that will likely close 15 of the 16 clinics where abortion services are provided.
Let’s also not lose sight of the context for this radicalism. For the first time since the Reconstruction era, Republicans control the state House, state Senate, and governor’s office, and as we recently talked about, GOP officials had an opportunity to govern modestly and responsibly, making incremental changes with an eye on the political mainstream.
What the state has instead seen is what Rachel described as “conservatives gone wild.” North Carolina Republicans gutted unemployment benefits despite a weak economy; they imposed the most sweeping voting restrictions anywhere in the United States; they cut funding for struggling public schools; they blocked Medicaid expansion despite the toll it will take on the state hospitals and poor families, they repealed the Racial Justice Act; and then they closed nearly every women’s health clinic in the state.
And really, that’s just a partial list.
It’s a microcosm of a national political crisis of sorts – North Carolina, a competitive state perceived as a burgeoning powerhouse with some of the nation’s finest universities, became frustrated with a struggling economy, so it took a chance on Republican rule. The consequences of this gamble are proving to be a frightening step backward for the state.
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Guest host Ezra Klein noted on the show last night that some key legislative fights were "down to the wire" in North Carolina, as the state legislative session
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EgyptAir MS804: Three orphans left behind after parents killed returning from cancer treatment
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"Ahmed sold everything to save his wife and ease her grief," said Mohamed al-Shenawi, a family friend who said he urged the couple not to travel to Paris.
"I advised him to accept the command of God and look for treatment in Egypt but he insisted on travelling.
"He traveled to Paris with his wife, leaving his three children with his mother. They spent a month and then they returned onboard the plane which didn't arrive and now will never arrive.”
The couple had been married eight years.
Their son, who is in primary school, and two infant daughters will stay with Mr Ashery's mother. Both of Mrs Ashery's parents died some years ago.
Their hometown of Mahalla was united in mourning at their loss. The nearby town of Mit Badr Halawa lost four people. A total of 30 Egyptians were killed in the crash.
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An Egyptian husband and wife who sold everything to pay for lifesaving cancer treatment were killed onboard Flight 804 and their deaths leave their three young children as orphans.
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Extinction is not always a bad thing, say scientists
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A relative of the puffin, as well as the penguin, the great auk (pinguinus impennis) was once widespread across the North Atlantic, even in British waters, its pairs mated for life.
The auk’s bill, at 4in, was almost as long as its stubby 6in wings, which it used to propel itself underwater.
The creatures were excellent divers and, it has been claimed, could hold their breath for 15 minutes and reach depths of more than 3,000ft. They were also able to accelerate underwater, and then shoot out of the sea to land on a rocky ledge, above the waterline.
At home in the water, they would swim more than 300 miles from shore. But they were extremely cumbersome on land and easy prey for hunters, who slaughtered them for meat, eggs, feathers and oil. Despite measures introduced in the 18th century to protect them, their numbers plummeted and in 1844, the last confirmed pair were killed on an island off the coast of Iceland.
The birds – whose closest living relative is the razorbill – were never scientifically observed and described, and their behaviour is only known from the accounts of sailors. However, scientists have since found new details about the creatures, from excavating fossils on the Funk Islands, off the coast of Newfoundland.
The new model has been assembled by combining all known information about the bird. Joanne Cooper, the museum’s bird curator, said: “The great auk was simply unlucky. They are a very adaptive species, which was going strong until people reached their breeding colonies.
“They would have had to re-evolve and learn to fly in order to have avoided becoming extinct.”
Although it does not appear to be the case in relation to the great auk, the new exhibition, entitled Not the End of the World?, considers whether extinction can be a positive force by increasing biodiversity and allowing other species to thrive.
For instance, the extinction of the giant Irish elk around 11,000 years ago has been credited with benefiting rival species, by giving them a freer rein over food and better access to potential mates.
A model of the elk’s antlers – at 12ft across, the largest known of any deer – will also be displayed, along with recreations of dinosaurs, the dodo and the alaotra grebe, a small Madagascan waterbird which only officially became extinct in 2010. Modelling the bird was difficult as only one photograph is known to exist.
Another flightless bird, the giant elephant bird, will also be featured, as will some modern species on the brink of extinction, including the tiger and the orang-utan.
The exhibition will also tell the story of some species such as the Lord Howe Island stick insect, which was feared extinct after rats escaped from a shipwreck and seemed to wipe them out. However, a remote colony was later discovered by rock climbers exploring an outcrop south of the island in the Tasman Sea. The species is now being bred in Australia for reintroduction.
Alex Fairhead, the exhibition developer at the Natural History Museum, in South Kensington, London, said: “Extinction has driven the earth’s biodiversity and is the reason why we have the variety of life around us today. It can be a creative force just as much as a destructive one.”
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They are the natural treasures that have been lost from the world forever, but the extinction of a species may not always be a bad thing according to the Natural History Museum.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/03/19/tom-hanks-tweets-lost-property-across-new-york-in-a-strange-new/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723135503id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/technology/2016/03/19/tom-hanks-tweets-lost-property-across-new-york-in-a-strange-new/
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Tom Hanks tweets lost property across New York in a strange Twitter habit which has left fans baffled
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20160723135503
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Bridge of Spies, which Tom Hanks starred in, was recently up for Best Picture at the Oscars - and Mark Rylance, who won Best Supporting Actor, credited his win in part to working with 'Hanx'.
Accepting the award, the 56-year-old actor said, "For me to have the chance to work with one of the greatest storytellers of our time Steven Spielberg has been just such an honour..." he said.
"I’m so pleased that our film has been nominated so many times... I think if you ever wonder about acting with Tom Hanks, 'would it help?' The answer is yes... I don’t know how they separate my acting from your acting [the other nominees]… it’s a wonderful time to be an actor."
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Lost anything around New York City?
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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/israeli-turkish-reconciliation-gaza-160303052254804.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723141008id_/http://www.aljazeera.com:80/indepth/opinion/2016/03/israeli-turkish-reconciliation-gaza-160303052254804.html
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What the Israeli-Turkish reconciliation says about Gaza
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20160723141008
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The oft-postponed and much discussed reconciliation between Turkey and Israel appears to be approaching its endgame. The strictly bilateral understandings on compensation and an apology by Israel for the deadly assault on the Mavi Marmara passenger ship almost six years ago have been finalised.
As both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently got elected for the office, there is no question about their power and influence in the foreseeable future. Like it or not, if there is to be an agreement, Erdogan and Netanyahu will have to overcome their mutual antipathy in pursuit of a mutually advantageous strategic payoff.
The long-awaited rapprochement now centres on an unlikely competition for advantage in the all but abandoned Gaza Strip, against a background defined by the regional fallout from Turkey's mistakes in Syria and the slow if deliberate turnaround in Israel's view of the permanence of Hamas' presence.
Turkey has long insisted that closing the file on the Mavi Marmara should include an end to Israeli restrictions on trade with Gaza.
In this context Turkey has demanded, and Israel has rejected, "unrestricted access" to Gaza for Turkish assistance and trade.
ALSO READ:Â Gaza Flotilla - a war crime, but a minor one
For many years, Turkey has tried to play an economic role in Palestine, both in Gaza and more successfully in the West Bank. To that end, the Turkish think-tank the Center for Multilateral Trade Studies at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), together with the powerful Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), has recently prepared an ambitious $5bn Gaza reconstruction plan, that includes a port.
When Hamas first raised the idea of rebuilding the simple port destroyed by Israel during the Second Intifada, it was dismissed as impossible.
"We have made a strategic plan," explained Guven Sak, the foundation's managing director who prepared the report. "A Gaza port will be one of the most important projects of this plan."
In Israel, the prospect of a port in Gaza has travelled a tortuous road. When Hamas first raised the idea of rebuilding the simple port destroyed by Israel during the Second Intifada, it was dismissed as impossible.
Now after many years and much conflict, the issue has been placed squarely on the desk of Netanyahu.
The engine driving this change is, as always, Israel's security establishment.
After Hamas established uncontested control of Gaza in June 2007, Israel, together with the international community, adopted a draconian policy of restricting imports into Gaza and banning all exports, in the hope of fatally weakening the Islamist government.
Eight years and three wars later, Hamas is still in the chair, presiding over a besieged population of close to two million people and is heading full steam in a race to the bottom.
Gaza - and Palestine as a whole - is paying an extraordinary price for this policy. According to the Untied Nations, Gaza will be "uninhabitable" by 2020 if current conditions persist.
The UN report didn't reveal anything that Israel's defence and intelligence officials - the architects of this policy - do not already know. But they now warn that Palestinians will not be the only ones to pay the price for Gaza's engineered descent into penury.
OPINION:Â The future of Gaza looks bleak
At a recent closed briefing on Gaza by the head of Israeli military intelligence, Major General Herzl Halevi reportedly said that, "If there won't be improvement [in Gaza], Israel will be the first to feel it when things explode".
Halevi explained that the critical difference between Hamas' military capabilities, which continue to increase, and its intentions. Hamas, he said, does not want another round of hostilities with Israel and is working to prevent rocket fire into Israel. Gaza's reconstruction, he told the Knesset, is the best way to prevent another war.
In recent weeks numerous reports, inspired by progress with Ankara and the dawning realisation that Israeli security can be improved by opening Gaza to trade and commerce, have highlighted the role of a Gaza seaport as the keystone of a new, more benevolent, if self-interested, strategy.
For more than a year, Israeli security and trade officials have studied the numerous security and administrative aspects of a Palestinian seaport, defining at least five options and outlining the security and operational challenges that each presents. The options range from an offshore port and airport on the Dutch model, to privileged use of the Israeli port of Ashdod or the Egyptian port of al Arish.
that security issues regarding the port's administration can be addressed, and they made clear that the security implications of a seaport are manageable. What is now required is for Israel's politicians, notably Netanyahu and his minister of security, Moshe Yaalon, to address the issue.
Hamas' political leadership, which has long understood both the strategic and political advantages of a maritime outlet, has made supportive noises.
"The Strip needs and wants a seaport, and that issue has also been conveyed to the Turks. The siege on Gaza will not be lifted without the establishment of a seaport," senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said at a recent symposium in Turkey.
"What does the world fear? That we'll smuggle weapons? We have no intention to smuggle weapons and the world is invited operate any monitoring mechanism it wishes on this port," he added.
Egypt is the other key player contesting for influence in Gaza. In Cairo, two views prevail: One opposes a seaport if Hamas is to reap the benefits promised by an end to the siege. The other favours any move - including a port - that reflects Israel's continuing responsibility for Gaza's welfare and security as the internationally recognised occupying power.
Trumping each view is the continuing antipathy between Ankara, which has yet to recognise the Abdel Fattah el-Sisi government, and Cairo, which opposes Erdogan's support for the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and his desire to be viewed as Hamas' patron and Gaza's saviour.
However, a tentative engagement between the rivals, hastened by regional upheavals, may occur at the April Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Istanbul.
If Erdogan and Sisi can resolve their differences and end their zero-sum game in Gaza, another impediment to Israel's endorsement of a Mediterranean seaport in Palestine will be removed.
Geoffrey Aronson writes about Middle Eastern affairs. He consults with a variety of public and private institutions dealing with regional political, security, and development issues.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.
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The long-awaited rapprochement now centres on an unlikely competition for advantage in all but abandoned Gaza Strip.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/funds/11297291/Time-to-buy-a-double-discounted-Russia-fund.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723142243id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/finance/personalfinance/investing/funds/11297291/Time-to-buy-a-double-discounted-Russia-fund.html
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Time to buy a 'double discounted' Russia fund?
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20160723142243
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On the global league table of deaths, Russia is 10th. For births, it is 200th. The burden of such an extreme demographic pattern will undermine wealth growth. The booms that accompanied the maturing of economies in the West may never arrive in Russia. Even the vast natural resources under Russia may be too little to offset such a chilling headwind.
Some disagree. In these pages last year, Mark Dampier, head of research at fund shop Hargreaves Lansdown, named Neptune's Russia and Greater Russia fund, which has been on the Hargreaves “Wealth 150” list since 2005, as his tip for 2014. It has been among other poor performing Russia funds this year, losing 51pc of investors’ money (HSBC’s Russia fund lost 44pc, Baring’s shed 53pc and Pictet fell 48pc).
These UK-based funds have been hit by falls in the Russian stock market but also because of the collapse of the currency.
Mr Dampier said: “Unpopular regions which buyers have deserted are usually a rich area for contrarian investors.” As its unpopularity has grown, it’s become even cheaper in 2014.
Neptune Russia and Greater Russa over one year
This unpopularity also creates a “double discount”. Certain types of funds, namely investment trusts, mostly trade at a discount to the value of the shares they hold. If demand is high for a fund, it can move to a premium.
The JPM Russian Securities investment trust was this week on a discount of 15.5pc compared with a 12-month average of 11.8pc, according to Hargreaves. Once the panic subsides it may, in theory, return to 12pc.
Of course, this also adds an extra level of risk, as if investing in Russia wasn’t already risky enough.
I won’t invest in Russia. I’m happy to buy unloved stock markets but only when the bet is underpinned by a long-term growth story. Take Brazil. Its stock market is as cheap as Italy’s or Portugal’s, based on a p/e ratio where earnings are averaged over 10 years (known as the cyclically-adjusted price to earnings ratio or 'Cape', it is judged as a more reliable measure by some than a standard p/e). On this measure, Russia before the sell-off was on 6 and Brazil on 10 – both very cheap.
Elsewhere you’d pay a markup for emerging markets, because of their promise of rapid future growth. Mexico is on 19 and Indonesia is at nearly 30.
Brazil is cheap and has prospects, with an incredibly young population and a vibrant technology industry. It’s a punt that worked for me a decade ago when my holding in Invesco Perpetual Latin American fund – 60pc invested in Brazil – surged. Fortunately, I took some profits ahead of the rocky ride for Brazilian shares seen in the past three years. Be it with the Invesco fund or a cheaper tracker fund (I also hold the db x-trackers MSCI EM LatAm Index), I’ll be buying Brazil for 2015.
Telegraph Investor: a round-up of investing ideas sent once a week
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Russia is cheap (and getting cheaper) but our Opportunist column finds better value elsewhere
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/technology/25949/leica-100-years-of-capturing-the-moment.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723143154id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/luxury/technology/25949/leica-100-years-of-capturing-the-moment.html
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Leica: 100 years of capturing the moment
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20160723143154
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A century ago Oskar Barnack, an optical engineer working at microscope maker Leitz Werke Wetzlar in Germany, revolutionised photography. On the side, Barnack was a keen but sickly photographer who struggled with carting around the huge plate cameras of the time and wanted something more serious than the Box Brownie that was just appearing in the States.
He spent years trying to develop a more portable but high-quality camera before coming up with the Ur-Leica, the first record of which appears in March 1914. The first 35mm camera, it used film normally associated with motion pictures.
It would be another 10 years though before the launch of the Leica 1, a mass-produced 35mm camera. It and its upgrades were soon adopted by enthusiasts and a new generation of photography professionals alike and over the next century, through the introduction of its M series Rangefinder cameras, Leica became legend and the most premium of premium brands.
The key to using these small 35mm negatives was the use of the high quality lenses, which has been a Leica trademark. But the key to the success of Leica cameras was the fact that they were small, light and discreet. Taking pictures was no longer a performance. The Leica allowed photographers to all but disappear. You could take to the street and take to the air. A young Henri Cartier-Bresson bought a Leica and a 50mm lens and started his life-long prowl, always using that same Leica and lens combination, hitting the streets of Paris, then Eastern Europe and then Mexico and onto India and China. Robert Frank shot The Americans on a Leica. Robert Capa used a Leica. William Eggleston shoots with them still and owns more than 300 Leicas. No camera marque, not Nikon or Contax or Hassleblad or Rolleiflex, can boast an as-used-by list like Leica’s.
The company has more than survived the shift to digital photography and the video function on the M 240 is developing a cult following. But in some ways Leica cameras, ironically given their place in the history of street photography, are now as much luxury good as creative tool. The Queen apparently is a keen Leica user. The company was even briefly part-owned by Hermès and it has produced exquisite limited edition cameras with the brand as well as with Paul Smith. A one-off Leica M design by Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson was sold at auction last year for $1.8m dollars. Leica cameras are fetish objects, beautifully crafted and designed and increasingly “referenced” by other camera makers, especially Fuji.
Their design hasn’t changed much in half a century and they belong to an era before Instagram and selfies. They suggest a certain seriousness – you can’t point and shoot with a classic Leica, there is no auto-focus – and so they are beloved of Hollywood stars who want to suggest polymath creative urges. And can actually afford to buy one. Brad Pitt shot Angelina Jolie for the cover of W magazine with his Leica a few years ago.
In truth you buy a Leica camera not because of the lenses or the looks, as lovely as they are, but because of the legacy: Leica allowed photographers to capture something more essentially true, what Cartier-Bresson called the “decisive moment”.
The Ur-Leica, first made in 1914, was the first stills camera to use 35mm film and it revolutionised photography. Leica is holding a number of events this year to celebrate the centenary. For more information go to en.leica-camera.com/news/100years
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A look back at the century since Leica revolutionised photography with the first 35mm camera
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/05/19/this-wristband-will-give-you-an-electric-shock-if-you-go-into-yo/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723151143id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/technology/2016/05/19/this-wristband-will-give-you-an-electric-shock-if-you-go-into-yo/
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This wristband will give you an electric shock if you go into your overdraft
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20160723151143
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It is not clear when the finance monitoring tool will be available, as it is up to the banks to decide to offer the service to their customers. Intelligent Environments provides software to banks and financial services companies that underpins their mobile apps.
"We're the technology behind the Atom Bank, which will be the first digital bank," said Webber. "All of our customers are interested in this capability."
The company's clients include the Bank of Ireland, Sainsbury's Bank, Lloyd's Bank and Toyota's financial services business. The software is available from now, but it will take at least six months before banks offer it to their customers, if they decide they should.
Webber said millennials thought the new software was "very, very exciting and something they would certainly like to try". But that older people, aged 50 and above were more wary.
"The baby boom generation was certainly more circumspect about it," he said.
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If overspending is one of your greatest vices, this wristband that helps break bad habits could be your saviour.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/10989121/Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-12-things-we-learned-from-the-trailer.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723152255id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/culture/film/film-news/10989121/Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-12-things-we-learned-from-the-trailer.html
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50 Shades of Grey: 12 things we learnt from the trailer
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20160723152255
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3. Christian Grey, when he appears, has a desk-chair posture quite like Don Draper's in Mad Men; however, the view from his window is much, much better. It wouldn't do to be outdone.
4. "I want control in all things. I don't do romance. My tastes are very...singular." Christian Grey whispers like the voiceover of a perfume advertisement, possibly for "Eau de Violent Undertones". His mid-phrase pauses are so hammy they are worthy of Bill Nighy.
5. Then the fall. Ana symbolically ditches her cardigans in favour of outfits that say "Showgirl Works Casual": notably, a sparkly sequin mini-bolero.
6. Sex with props is much too serious to laugh about. Or smile about. So nobody, smiles, ever.
7. Christian Grey doesn't simply look cross the whole time, he looks startled.
8. The sexiest things in the world ever are closing lift doors and helicopters taking off. People normally kiss when those things happen.
9. Christian Grey's headboard (no doubt an industrial model) has the deepest padding of any headboard, ever.
10. Beyonce played very slowly no longer sounds like joyful female empowerment – not one bit.
11. The only fitting colours for a modern, chic, sexually charged upholstery and wallpaper are blue, bluey grey, grey-y blue and greige.
12. Christian Grey doesn't punch "like a girl" – he even includes an over-compensatory run-up.
IN PICTURES: Fifty Shades of Grey, the trailer
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Iona McLaren analysed the Fifty Shades of Grey trailer so you don't have to
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/09/chaos-in-brazil-as-dilma-rousseff-impeachment-vote-anulled/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723170811id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/2016/05/09/chaos-in-brazil-as-dilma-rousseff-impeachment-vote-anulled/
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Chaos in Brazil as Dilma Rousseff impeachment vote 'annulled'
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20160723170811
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The Senate was due to start its own voting process on Wednesday, with a majority expected to vote for Rousseff to be suspended. It was not clear whether Maranhao's order would stand or would be challenged, possibly in the Supreme Court.
In her first reaction, Rousseff interrupted a speech to supporters to say that she'd just got unconfirmed news of her impeachment hitting a roadblock.
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The impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was thrown into confusion Monday when the speaker of the lower house of Congress annulled an April vote by lawmakers to launch the process.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/11702024/The-7-songs-that-bring-in-the-money-for-buskers.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723174334id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/culture/music/11702024/The-7-songs-that-bring-in-the-money-for-buskers.html
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The 7 songs that bring in the money for buskers
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20160723174334
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2. Trumpets by Jason Derulo
Putting a spin on an R & B or rap song works well, says Jack Frimston, 23, of three-piece London buskers The Tailor Made, who play on the Underground and on the Southbank, and this one is recent, well known and poppy enough for people to know the words.
3. Talk Tonight by Oasis
If you do want to play the busker's classics, it's best to mix them in with some B-sides and less well-known options, says Laneheart, who normally does 8pm slots at commuter stations and tends to play low-key ballads. "This normally goes down well, because Oasis fans think 'oh that's not one that everyone knows.'"
4. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
"Be upbeat and lively", says Frimston. He says this one is pretty much guaranteed to get passers-by bopping along.
5. Too Close by Alex Clare
This is good because despite being a rock song, it lends itself well to acoustic playing, says Chester Bingley, 44, who has busked all over Europe. "Some things you try and they just don't work on an acoustic guitar, but this one did."
6. What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
It's important to know your audience, says Frimston. "We played lots of One Direction outside the O2 ahead of a Vamps concert and the crowds loved it."
7. Summertime by George Gershwin
Classics go down well, says Bingley. "Older songs will appeal to a wider section of the audience. If you play more modern songs you're pitching more to younger people."
1. Valerie by The Zutons
Frimston says songs that have been played a lot don't do as well. "Choosing something that has been overdone is a bad idea. Stay clear of stuff like that, because everyone knows it. It's boring."
2. I Feel Fine by The Beatles
Unless you've got several vocalists, the Beatles are tricky, says Bingley. "It just doesn't sound right without the harmonies."
A controversial one, this. For some buskers it's a tried-and-tested classic that can be the saviour of a flagging set; for others it's a dull, unimaginative dirge. On balance, says Bingley, it's a cliche because audiences love it. "That's a very good reason for people to play it."
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Buskers are working hard during the summer festival season. Here are 7 songs they'll be playing to entertain the punters - and 3 they should avoid
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/picturegalleries/9942472/Budget-bangers-10-cars-you-can-run-on-a-shoestring.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723190215id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/motoring/picturegalleries/9942472/Budget-bangers-10-cars-you-can-run-on-a-shoestring.html
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Budget bangers: 10 cars you can run on a shoestring
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20160723190215
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In his most recent Telegraph Motoring column, consumer expert James Foxall explains how to beat depreciation by buying an old car: 'A friend of mine swears this method of motoring has saved him thousands over the years. His ground rules are: never spend less than £500 or it’ll probably be more trouble than it’s worth; go for mass-market cruisers such as Ford Mondeos; get as long an MoT as possible; avoid eBay, use local ads instead; and don’t buy on impulse,' said James.
With that in mind, we've picked 10 cars that you can buy for £500-£1,000 and run on a shoestring. Just make sure that it's got a long MoT, solid mechanicals and that the tyres and fluids look OK. And remember, at this end of the market, there's always going to be a degree of luck involved
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Worried about what today's budget means for your wallet? You could always save money by running an old car.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9269590/PMQs-Ed-Miliband-teases-David-Cameron-over-LOL-texts.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723190352id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/politics/david-cameron/9269590/PMQs-Ed-Miliband-teases-David-Cameron-over-LOL-texts.html
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PMQs: Ed Miliband teases David Cameron over LOL texts
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20160723190352
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The Labour leader said he was sure that Mr Cameron, who has yet to meet new French President Francois Hollande, could just send a text message signed LOL.
The Conservative leader was earlier embarrassed by revelations to the Leveson Inquiry that he signed off text messages to former News International chief executive Rebecca Brooks with LOL, thinking it meant "lots of love".
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The Labour leader couldn't resist slipping in a joke about the prime minister's texts to Rebekah Brooks.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB888367202726314000
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160723215430id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/SB888367202726314000
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Quest for Shareholder Value Ranking America's Best And Worst Companies
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20160723215430
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Nobody ever said it was easy to track down shareholder value.
The most experienced professional investors often fail in their efforts to discover hidden treasure as they trek through a forbidding jungle of financial statements, market analyses and insider jargon.
Success, however, can be enormously rewarding. Even individuals who do most...
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N obody ever said it was easy to track down shareholder value -- what both investors and portfolio managers need is a guide. Using the Shareholder Scoreboard, investors can see how the stocks in their own portfolios measure up and, perhaps, identify potential investment opportunities.
| 1.176471 | 0.509804 | 1.686275 |
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/addiction-specialist-was-sent-to-help-prince-but-arrived-after-death-1462389992
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Medical Intervention to Help Prince Didn’t Occur in Time
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20160723230219
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A planned medical intervention to help Prince couldn’t take place before the musician died of an apparent drug overdose, an attorney for a California addiction specialist said Wednesday.
William Mauzy, attorney for Dr. Howard Kornfeld, who runs an addiction-recovery facility in Mill Valley, Calif., said Wednesday that the doctor had been called by associates of Prince to help the musician treat his alleged drug use on April 20, the...
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A planned medical intervention to help pop star Prince in connection with his use of painkillers failed to reach the musician before he died.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/review-elgato-game-capture-hd60-article-1.2040443
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160724033305id_/http://www.nydailynews.com:80/entertainment/tv/review-elgato-game-capture-hd60-article-1.2040443
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Review: Elgato Game Capture HD60
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20160724033305
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In an era when the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One both offer their own internal game DVRs, you might think that external recording software would no longer be of use.
You’d be wrong. The Elgato Game Capture HD60 still has its place, a far more potent device than the hardcore game streaming crowd will truly appreciate. This is a high-tech game DVR that simply offers more than the basic internal records of the PS4 and Xbox One, and while the price tag is rather hefty ($180), there’s plenty of value here if you’re interested in some serious game recording.
The Elgato is sleek and easy-to-use, yet loaded with functionality. It captures in 1080p, a step up from the 720p that both console game DVRs utilize, and it can capture much larger clips than those DVRs as well, easily handling hours of footage. Naturally, all video can be uploaded or streamed to YouTube and Twitch, and the included software can also create videos specifically for Facebook, Twitter or iTunes usage.
All of this from a matte-finished black box that’s barely larger than your smartphone. The HD60 unit can fit easily in your back jeans pocket and comfortably in a slim laptop bag, and when it’s connected to your PC, it’s hardly an eyesore, taking up little space.
It works with the Xbox One and Nintendo Wii U right out of the box, and after a few quick settings tweaks, it’ll run with your PS4 just fine, too. Setup is generally simple. The HD60 connects to your PC or Mac via a micro-USB, then you run the console through the device’s HDMI input, and run the device’s HDMI output back to your TV. It’s painless, and works well even if you have a home theater setup.
Easy-to-use Elgato software drives the recording/streaming experience on your PC. What appears on that screen is slightly behind what’s on your TV, but that lag has a purpose. By buffering a bit, Elgato allows you to record clips you may have missed, after they happen. To an extent, you can do this on the Xbox One and PS4, but you can typically only backtrack a few minutes; the HD60 is capable of going back substantially longer. It’s far easier to be in the moment during gameplay, then consider a clip worth posting substantially later.
All the clips you record with the Elgato look as impressive as you’d expect as well. The 1080p recordings look just as good as they do when you’re in gameplay, although incredibly busy moments, such as a crazy battle in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare or a wild action sequence in Sunset Overdrive may show a bit of pixelation. Still, overall, the capture quality is some of the finest on the market.
The HD60’s shortcomings are few. There’s that rather high price, and there’s the fact that you need a PC or Mac to use this device. While setup is simple, if you’re not serious about your video capture, you’ll almost certainly find this fact annoying. For most gamers, the game DVRs on your consoles will likely be just fine.
But if creating clips in full 1080p glory is important to you, there’s no better place to look than the HD60.
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In a next-gen era of internal game DVRs, you might think that external recording software would no longer be of use.
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http://www.aol.com/article/2016/07/16/white-former-atlanta-policeman-charged-in-the-death-of-unarmed-b/21433198/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160724043517id_/http://www.aol.com:80/article/2016/07/16/white-former-atlanta-policeman-charged-in-the-death-of-unarmed-b/21433198/
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White former Atlanta policeman charged in the death of unarmed black man
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20160724043517
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ATLANTA, July 16 (Reuters) - A white former Atlanta police officer was charged on Friday in the shooting death of an unarmed black man who he said was fleeing the scene of a crime and put his life in danger, claims that were refuted by investigators, a prosecutor said.
The charges come amid national unrest and Black Lives Matter protests over the deaths of two black men in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge at the hands of white officers and a national debate about race and the use of force by police.
James Burns, who was fired from the Atlanta Police Department on Tuesday, was charged in Fulton County with felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of violation of his police oath, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
District Attorney Paul Howard said he had requested an arrest warrant to be issued for Burns. It was unclear late on Friday if Burns had turned himself in to police.
Burns responded to a call about a suspected burglar breaking into cars on June 22. When he arrived at the scene, Devaris Caine Rogers, 22, jumped into a car and began to drive, an investigation report said.
Burns said Rogers drove toward him and that he fired into the vehicle because he thought he was in danger. Investigators said they found that Rogers made no attempt to strike Burns with the car he was driving and that Burns was never in danger.
"Burns was safely standing at the rear of his own patrol vehicle," Howard said.
A police review concluded that Burns could not have known if Rogers in fact was a suspect in a crime, police spokesman Warren Pickard said.
Pickard told Atlanta TV station 11Alive that the shooting could not have been racially motivated because there was no reason to think Burns knew Rogers was black.
Efforts have been made across the nation to ease racial tensions after several deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police in cities such as Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri over the last several years.
In Atlanta, ongoing protests over the deaths in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis drew crowds of thousands and have shut down major thoroughfares for hours.
The Atlanta mayor and police chief are considering city-wide curfews if the protests continue. They plan to meet protest leaders on Monday in an attempt to ease tensions. (Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Paul Tait)
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The charges come amid Black Lives Matter protests over the deaths of two black men in Minneapolis and Baton Rouge at the hands of white officers.
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http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/11/labour-mp-helen-goodman-criticised-for-tweet-about-jeremy-hunts-wife
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160724141813id_/http://www.theguardian.com:80/politics/2015/oct/11/labour-mp-helen-goodman-criticised-for-tweet-about-jeremy-hunts-wife
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Labour MP Helen Goodman apologises for tweet about Jeremy Hunt's wife
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20160724141813
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Labour MP Helen Goodman has apologised after sending a tweet asking why, “if China is so great”, Jeremy Hunt’s wife – who is from China – had come to England.
Wish to absolutely totally apologise for earlier tweet.
Her tweet came after the health secretary referred to his wife’s nationality when suggesting that the government’s tax credit cuts would encourage Britons to work as hard as people in some Asian economies.
But it sparked an immediate backlash on Twitter, prompting Goodman, the MP for Bishop Auckland, to weigh in. However, in the face of criticism from figures across the political spectrum, two hours later Goodman deleted the tweet and apologised.
Goodman, who is a member of the Treasury select committee, was criticised by the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, among others.
.@HelenGoodmanMP @Jeremy_Hunt Helen that is a terrible thing to say. I hope you delete and apologise to Mrs. Hunt. Have you been hacked?
Terrible tweet from @HelenGoodmanMP. Never attack politicians families. I hope she apologises.Clearly she missed the 'Kinder Politics' memo
A Labour spokeswoman said: “This does not represent the views of the Labour party. Helen will be reminded of her responsibilities as an elected Labour politician.”
Labour peer Angela Smith told the BBC’s Westminster Hour: “It is absolutely bizarre, I do not understand it at all. I do not know what she is trying to say, or the meaning behind it. But, yes, if that is her tweet, she should apologise ... Presumably, Mrs Hunt lives in the UK because she is married to Mr Hunt and she is in love with him and wants to be with him, so end of story.
“But I think there is a lesson for all here: that our partners and our families are not in the public domain to be criticised or commented on.”
She added that there would be a “queue around the block” if everyone who “said something stupid on Twitter” was made to apologise. Labour MEP Claude Moraes also criticised Goodman.
Having in the past worked in immigration law & family reunification finding that Labour MP @HelenGoodmanMP hasn't yet deleted her tweet sad.
Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference last week, Hunt said the controversial welfare changes would strengthen the nation’s work ethic.
“My wife is Chinese, and if we want this to be one of the most successful countries in the world in 20, 30, 40 years’ time there’s a pretty difficult question that we have to answer which is essentially: are we going to be a country that is prepared to work hard in the way that Asian economies are prepared to work hard, in the way that Americans are prepared to work hard? And that is about creating culture where work is at the heart of our success.”
In July last year, Goodman was criticised for saying that the most interesting things about the then newly promoted female Conservative ministers Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry and Penny Mordaunt were their looks.
A tweet appeared on her account that read: “All are puppets who’ll change nothing and their appearance really is the most interesting thing about them.” The tweet was later deleted.
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MP for Bishop Auckland asked why health secretary’s Chinese wife moved to the UK ‘if China is so great’
| 30.142857 | 0.809524 | 2.142857 |
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france-skoda-club/improve-cycling-without-leaving-home/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160725012518id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/cycling/tour-de-france-skoda-club/improve-cycling-without-leaving-home/?
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7 ways to improve your cycling without leaving home
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20160725012518
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After working behind the scenes at all-conquering British Cycling for eight years, Evans is better placed than most to identify the best training practices for Olympic champions and budding amateurs alike. Here, Evans identifies seven areas where riders should focus for improved riding.
“I would recommend some basic body work that gives you strength in the trunk so you can go out and sit on your bike for five, six, seven hours or whatever your objective is,” says Evans. “We need to be thinking about form and technique rather than how many weights you are lifting.
“Simple things such as squats, press-ups, planks, side-planks – stuff that can be done anywhere, not necessarily the gym – are all important. That’s why Phil Burt, the head physio at British Cycling, has prescribed them to the team because they’re in hotel rooms around the world travelling to races and they need to do these exercises wherever they are.
“It’s all about understanding how your body works and how you move. If you’re doing a lunge, it’s easy to wobble all over the place. If your knee is tracking from side to side when you’re doing a lunge then it will do the same when you are riding a bike. So it’s all about thinking how you move and getting the brain to tell which muscles how to fire.”
“The way we are taught to stretch at school always appears a bit of an afterthought at the end of the session and therefore it’s always rushed. Doing the static stretching on isolated muscle groups is often uncomfortable and most people don’t enjoy it. Yoga, though, is a fantastic way of relaxing the mind first and then working the body.
“In yoga we can work the whole kinetic chain within each movement and that requires good co-ordination and dynamic stability, which goes back to the idea about the role of gym work.
“A lot of the moves in yoga require you to balance well. If you’re cycling down a potholed descent during a sportive, you need to make subtle dynamic adjustments to your posture, so yoga classes, as well as being a nice mental break during the week, can be a much nicer way of stretching.
“A rider shouldn’t be thinking: ‘Am I maintaining the right position? Do I have a flat back? Are my arms relaxed? Can I wiggle my fingers while under effort?’ They need to be relaxed at all times, so the philosophy behind yoga matches the philosophy people should be applying for their bike riding.”
“If you took somebody on a hill walk they would think about where they were going; what line they are picking and they would adjust their weight the whole time. But they get on a bike and sit on it like a sack of potatoes and don’t interact with the bike or understand how to interact with it. That comes down to general movement patterns – gym work, yoga and technical drills on rollers will all help reinforce this.
“A lot of new riders find it difficult to eat or drink while riding. But if you can practise on rollers and gain confidence then you can then start to move things from your pockets, start drinking, sit up and ride no-handed, open an energy bar and even, after time, learn to put a jacket on and take it off. These things can all be done during a 30-minute session.
“Rollers are such a useful training aid, because they can help you hold your line which, when out riding, especially in a group, will make it safer for you and for others. They’re an undervalued piece of kit, but there’s a reason why British Cycling use them with the youngsters.”
“If you're spending time on the bike and it’s not set up correctly for you then you’re fighting a losing battle. Nowadays, quite a few people are getting into the participative part of the sport through riding with mates rather than the traditional route of a cycling club where other members can help with bike set-up.
“Having someone who knows what they are doing advise you on what a good bike set-up is for your body shape will help prevent potential overuse injuries, while also improving comfort.
“This is one of the best things you can do for your preparation.”
“Don’t take things for granted – a bike doesn’t last forever, pedals don’t last forever, cleats don’t last forever. Worn cleats, for example, can cause instability in the foot and lead to injuries. If your cleats are worn down the in-shoe pressure moves further than it should and that can cause the ankle to stabilise it which, in turn, makes the knee move around. This is how knee injuries start.
“Mechanically, too, keep on top of things such as the chain – through having a loose chain you lose transmission and, let’s face it, most people don’t have too many Watts they can afford to spare.
“Tyre pressure, too, is important so check that before every ride. Quite a few people tend to over-inflate them. Hard tyres may give the feeling of being fast, but a slightly softer tyre is more compliant and rolls better.
“If you are doing an event – L'Étape du Tour, RideLondon or whatever – you don't want to discover you have a mechanical issue with the bike on the start line. The best bike in the world is one you don't have to think about. It should just be there beneath you doing what it is meant to do.”
"With nutrition – pre-ride, during and afterwards – timing is everything. Typically you should eat breakfast two or three hours before a ride, little and often during the ride and then get something down you as soon as you can afterwards.
“If you can eat or drink straight after then you don’t necessarily need an expensive sports nutrition product, Yazoo milkshakes or that kind of thing have exactly the right amount of carbohydrate and protein. The best time to get this into your body is within 20 minutes of finishing your exercise, because your body is craving it and will take in the carbs and protein easily. This is crucial particularly if you are doing back-to-back rides.
“Once you have had that milkshake, get out of those sweaty cycling clothes and get showered before getting something more substantial down you – it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just good sensible food. Eggs on toast are good because they are quick and easy and have carbohydrates and protein, which you will need to replace after a ride.”
“If you’re riding just twice a week then recovery is not such a huge factor – even if you’re riding back-to-back over the weekend. As long as you get the nutrition right during and after the first ride, then there’s plenty of time during the week when the body can recover ready to train the following weekend.
“Say you manage two three-hour rides each week then that’s six hours a week, which for some people is a substantial amount, but there’s plenty of time inbetween to be able to recover.
“If you are doing stretching exercises or using a foam roller on the legs, then that’s good, too. Most people need to do these exercises to combat sitting at a desk all day long and then sat bent over a bike for however many hours each week. So the stretches are corrective exercises really to ensure a decent posture and so on.”
• For further information or to discuss coaching, contact Charlie Evans at bikelifecoaching.co.uk
• Ride a little bit of the Tour de France in Britain this summer with ŠKODA – find your cycling route here
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Former British Cycling coach Charlie Evans offers his expert advice on how small tweaks to your routine can improve the way you ride
| 66.565217 | 0.565217 | 0.913043 |
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http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/19/water-rationing-may-become-a-way-of-life-in-california-drought.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160725035727id_/http://america.aljazeera.com:80/articles/2015/3/19/water-rationing-may-become-a-way-of-life-in-california-drought.html
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Water Rationing May Become Norm in California
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20160725035727
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LOS ANGELES â After the driest January on record and dire predictions of the worst and most persistent drought in 1,000 years, California is once again cracking down on water wasters and reminding residents that water rationing may be a way of life for years to come.
The State Water Resources Control Board sounded an alarm this week by mandating tougher restrictions, forcing local water agencies that donât already limit outdoor watering to institute a two-days-a-week maximum. All restaurants are now required to serve water only upon request and hotels must offer guests the option of not having towels and linens laundered every day.
A majority of the stateâs 415 urban water districts already have drought emergency plans, but the stateâs call to action is expected to generate tougher rules and stiffer enforcement statewide. Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to announce $1 billion in emergency drought funding. Last year he called on Californians to reduce their water use by 20 percent, but residents cut back only 10 percent.
Local water districts âare now required to begin reporting to us all enforcement activity,â said George Kostyrko, spokesman for the state agency. âHow many complaints, how many they respond to, how they handle it, do they fine them.â
The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies the Los Angeles area, will vote next month on whether to cut water allocation, said Marty Adams, the senior assistant manager of water at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. âDepending on how much of a cutback, thatâll helps us decide whether we need to do more,â he said.
The agency is evaluating its current drought emergency plan to add another drought stage that would require cutting lawn watering from the current limit of three days a week to two days a week.
âWeâre already evaluating it,â Adams said. âIt could get worse this summer.â
More will be known next month, after the final snowpack survey is released April 1. The East Bay Municipal Utility District has been limiting outdoor watering â which uses up to 18 percent of water supplies statewide â since August, and its board will consider tougher rules in April. âItâs time to step up and increase conservation,â said spokeswoman Tracie Morales.
The agency will consider excessive-use fees for residents who use more water than the community average.
The district received 2,447 reports of water waste since August but has not issued any fines. Instead, offenders were paid a visit at home or received e-mails and phone calls. âWe found that the carrot works better than the stick,â Morales said.
Customers used 13 percent less water last year than the year before, but conservation slipped after the driest January on record and only one rainstorm in February.
The stateâs actions aim to jolt residents and raise awareness of the dire conditions California faces.
âWe are experiencing the lowest snowpack and the driest January in recorded history, and communities around the state are already suffering severely from the prior three years of drought,â said State Water Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus in a press release. âIf the drought continues through next winter and we do not conserve more â the consequences could be even more catastrophic than they already are.â
She called this weekâs action âjust a tuneup and a reminder to act.â She said the board will consider more severe actions in coming weeks.
âWe are very concerned about individual property owners being mindful that we are in the fourth year of a drought,â Kostyrko said. âIf we get into a fifth year of drought, weâll definitely be more prescriptive.â
Statewide, water use from July to January was down 9 percent compared with the same period the year before. In December, it was down 22.5 percent.
âWe have a lot more to go,â Kostyrko said.
Visalia, in the San Joaquin Valley, has had mandatory restrictions since 1991. It tightened them last year when it moved to a stage 4 drought emergency and is poised to enact deeper cuts again this year.
The City Council is considering barring all outdoor watering during three winter months instead of two, prohibiting washing of buildings except for paint priming and requiring drought-resistant landscaping for all new commercial and residential construction.
The city also wants to add a fourth part-time employee to enforce restrictions.
Visalia issued 2,831 notices of violations last year and 189 citations, with fines ranging from $100 to $500. The first two months of this year, 485 notices and 52 citations were issued, said Kim Loeb, the natural resource conservation manager for the city.
âMost people will get the message when they get their first notice of violation,â he said. âItâs working. We need to keep at it ⦠We all have a long way to go.â
Water use dropped 10 percent last year but picked up again during record dry winter months.
The push for conservation through fines is raising questions of the potentially disproportionate financial impact on low-income Californians.
âThere are equity issues that are deeply ingrained in the water policy landscape that precede the drought, but the drought exacerbated them,â said Colin Bailey, the executive director of the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water.
Conservation incentives, for example, are given to those who can afford to install low-flow devices in their homes or replace their lawn with drought-resistant plants, he said. âThereâs inequity in the way theyâre structured,â he said.
Revenue drops when water usage goes down, but infrastructure costs are fixed, and everyone pays, whether they conserve water or not. âWeâre likely to see low-income households struggling to meet the requirements of the penalties,â he said.
âThe more important focus needs to be on big water users rather than individual households that donât have low-flow toilets or water-efficient dishwashers,â said Sejal Choksi-Chugh, the interim executive director of Baykeeper, a nonprofit water pollution watchdog for San Francisco Bay that advocates for alternative water sources and recycling wastewater.
Until now, the state has left it up to water agencies to manage restrictions. She said the latest action is good but is âworried itâs a little late.â
âThey should prepare us not just for dealing with this current drought but really to be thinking long term as well,â she said. âIf this drought lasts 10 years, we better be in a good position to say where the water is going to be coming from.â
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State takes tougher approach, and water districts are considering stricter enforcement
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-coal-industrys-slump-usual-buyers-go-underground-1444772623
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160725050528id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/in-coal-industrys-slump-usual-buyers-go-underground-1444772623
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Who Wants to Buy a Coal Mine?
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20160725050528
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Tom Clarke received a cold reception when he first approached Patriot Coal Corp. earlier this year.
The company and its advisers were trying to sell some of its Appalachian mines after filing for bankruptcy protection. At first they doubted Mr. Clarke’s conservation group, whose mission is “to conserve Virginia’s natural resources to address climate change,” would have the money and know-how the deal required, according to people...
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As producers scale back, shed mines and lay off employees, the financial investors and large industry buyers that figured prominently in the last coal shakeout are largely sitting out this round.
| 2.352941 | 0.294118 | 0.294118 |
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http://fortune.com/2016/07/22/dmca-lawsuit/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160725092521id_/http://fortune.com:80/2016/07/22/dmca-lawsuit/
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A Guide to Geeks Suing the U.S. Government Over the DMCA Copyright Law
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20160725092521
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Two men—a professor and an inventor—filed a remarkable lawsuit against the Justice Department this week, claiming a controversial copyright law violates their free speech rights. Their complaint asks a federal judge to strike down the law as unconstitutional.
The case is a big deal because the law affects everyone from academics to cyber-security researchers to consumers. Companies, including Intel and Sony, also have a stake because they often invoke the law to protect their intellectual property.
To get a better idea of what the case is all about and why it matters, here’s a plain English Q&A describing the main issues.
What is this copyright law that’s so controversial?
The dispute is about one part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the “DMCA“), a 1998 law intended to protect intellectual property rights, while also encouraging innovation and free expression on the internet.
This week’s lawsuit doesn’t take aim at the whole DMCA, but instead at one part of it that makes it a federal crime to interfere with copyright protection software or to engage in some types of reverse engineering. The law also creates a process where the Copyright Office grants exemptions every three years for certain activities—such as turning a CD into a digital file, or tweaking a phone’s software to use it on a different cell network.
Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.
Critics say the law is too broad and can ensnare activities that have nothing to do with copyright infringement, while companies claim they need it to stop piracy and hacking.
Who is bringing the lawsuit?
One plaintiff is Matthew Green, a computer science professor at Johns Hopkins University. He claims the DMCA interferes with his ability to conduct or publish cyber-security research since he is afraid of being sued.
The other is an engineer named Andrew “bunnie” Huang. He says the DMCA prevents him from building a selling a product that would let people enhance video streams by, for instance, adding live comments. Huang says he is afraid Intel intc will sue him because his technology relies on getting around software restrictions that block people from viewing HDMI signals.
What are the free speech issues?
Green and Huang say the DMCA violates their First Amendment right to free speech. Specifically, they say the section of the law in question is too broad because, under the goal of protecting copyright, it sweeps up too many lawful activities.
The men also say the section is an illegal “prior restraint” that forces them to get permission before they can speak—in this case “speaking” means publishing security books or writing code. They add the Copyright Office’s exemption process is too slow and cumbersome to address these concerns.
How SoundCloud Addresses Copyright Concerns
The U.S. Justice Department, whose job it is to argue in favor of laws passed by Congress, has yet to respond to the lawsuit. When it does, the agency will probably say the law protects copyright without harming speech (especially because of the exemptions), or that the case doesn’t really involve free speech in the first place.
The men are asking the court to issue an order saying the section of the law violates the Constitution, and to strike it down. They also want a declaration stating the Justice Department can’t prosecute them, and that what they’re doing counts as an exemption.
Obviously, no one can no for sure what the court will do. But it’s worth noting Green and Huang are not cranks or copyright pirates, but are a well-respected professor and engineer, respectively. The case is also being run the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group that has considerable legal fire-power. The group likely sought out Green and Huang to be the face of the case because they are sympathetic plaintiffs.
Why Taylor Swift and the Music Industry’s New Attack on YouTube Is a Mistake
Finally, it’s likely corporations and trade groups will ask to intervene in the case, with big tech companies siding with Green and Huang, and the entertainment industry asking to preserve the law. (The music and TV industry, in particular, have argued the DMCA rules against fiddling with software are necessary to prevent people from distributing their content without permission.)
Those opinions could shape the outcome.
Yes, this case is likely to create further calls for Congress to reform the DMCA, and this could open a whole can of worms. While the anti-circumvention rules at stake here have long been contentious, they are just one part of a larger debate over the DMCA.
If Congress decides to re-examine the DMCA, you can be sure the entertainment industry will use the occasion to try and erode the law’s “safe harbor” rules, which protect websites from getting sued for copyright infringement so long as they abide by certain measures.
Finally, if you want to read more about this case, the EFF has helpful posts on the constitutional arguments and on how the law affects remix culture. Ars Techica has a good summary too, and Huang explains why he is suing on his “bunnie” blog.
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The case could have a big impact on the tech and entertainment industries.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/arts/television/cyberattack-the-mr-robot-story-so-far.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160726235514id_/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2016/07/10/arts/television/cyberattack-the-mr-robot-story-so-far.html?emc=edit_wg_20160711&nl=watching&nlid=17854493&te=1&_r=0
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Cyberattack: The ‘Mr. Robot’ Story So Far
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20160726235514
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That’s how Elliot Alderson, a troubled programming genius, welcomed viewers last summer to the convoluted world of “Mr. Robot.” With the show returning July 13, here’s a brief refresher:
Elliot, an engineer at a cybersecurity firm called Allsafe and a “vigilante hacker,” was recruited by a man known as Mr. Robot into fsociety, an anarchist group partly inspired by entities like the Occupy movement and Anonymous. The cabal’s goals included wiping out all debt and taking down E Corp, an Allsafe client that is the world’s largest corporation.
Elliot referred to the conglomerate as “Evil Corp,” and soon other characters did as well. That’s one clue that much of what viewers saw reflected Elliot’s unreliable perspective, which stemmed from mental and emotional ailments including depression, social anxiety, morphine addiction and, most crucially, dissociative identity disorder.
Mr. Robot was revealed to be a delusion based on Elliot’s dead father. His fsociety comrade Darlene was actually Elliot’s sister. “I am Mr. Robot,” Elliot said near the end of the season, realizing that he, in fact, was the mastermind of the culminating “5/9 hack.”
The attack disrupted the world’s economies, but we do not yet know how it happened. In the season finale, Elliot woke up in an S.U.V. days after the hack to find the world in chaos and his nemesis and possible collaborator Tyrell Wellick, a cruelly ambitious former E Corp executive, missing. In a scene after the credits, Phillip Price, the E Corp chief executive, revealed that he knew who was responsible for the cyberattack.
“The 5/9 hack was an explosion, and now we’re seeing the bits and pieces going every which way,” said Sam Esmail, the show’s creator. “Hopefully, we’ll see them come back together.”
A version of this article appears in print on July 10, 2016, on page AR15 of the New York edition with the headline: Cyberattack: The Story So Far. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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A refresher course on the ins and outs of the show’s first season.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10510434118654100
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Can You Really Buy a Couch Online?
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20160727105434
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When I got married two years ago, the best man stood up at the wedding to offer his condolences to me -- not about the man I was marrying but the couch I was inheriting.
"You will know if you have ever sat on the blue couch," he told the crowd at the reception, "because you will immediately feel scratchy and itchy all over."
He wasn't the only one that loathed my husband's 11-foot-long curved blue sectional....
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Internet shoppers often will stop short of buying a couch online. It's something you want to touch and feel and sit on. Can it be done?
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-kohls-this-sale-may-be-the-best-of-all-1452546518
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160727111618id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/for-kohls-this-sale-may-be-the-best-of-all-1452546518
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For Kohl’s, This Sale May Be the Best of All
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20160727111618
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Slowing sales growth and declining profitability aren’t a great recipe for a successful public company, even if it comes with steady cash flow. For Kohl’s, that may be why the private life looks a bit more comfortable.
The department-store chain is weighing whether to take itself private or break up the company, among other options, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Kohl’s directors are concerned it could become an activist...
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If it goes private, Kohl’s will be able to undergo the somewhat painful process of sales moving online outside the public eye.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/britain-and-europes-fate-1466462715
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160727160801id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/britain-and-europes-fate-1466462715
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Britain and Europe’s Fate
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20160727160801
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The British people go to the polls Thursday in their most important vote since they elected Margaret Thatcher in 1979. While we hope Britain votes to remain in the European Union, the reasons have less to do with the sturdy British than with the damage an exit could do to a Europe that is failing to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
America’s interests lie in a free and prosperous Europe, and we’ve long thought this is best served with Britain as part of the European Union to balance France and Germany. The British...
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A faltering Continent needs the U.K. more than vice versa, the Wall Street Journal writes in an editorial.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/arts/design/17wyeth.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160727201550id_/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2009/01/17/arts/design/17wyeth.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=0
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Andrew Wyeth, Painter, Dies at 91
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20160727201550
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“Pa kept me almost in a jail,” Wyeth recalled, “just kept me to himself in my own world, and he wouldn’t let anyone in on it. I was almost made to stay in Sherwood Forest with Maid Marion and the rebels.”
By the 1920’s, N.C. Wyeth had become a huge celebrity visited by other celebrities like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Mary Pickford. The insularity, the familial competition, the theatrical personalities in and around the house, the atmosphere of commercial success and popular fame with its taint of artistic compromise — the presumption that realistic representation was intrinsically a virtue: all these factors shaped Andrew Wyeth’s life and evolution.
While he admired his father’s intensity, which he hoped to match, his imagery differed from his father’s. N.C.’s work was full of action and drama. Andrew’s work often had no people in it. He painted snowy landscapes under leaden skies, a barn with a door ajar, an abandoned house, tire tracks, a wedding tent in an empty field, fishermen’s nets hung to dry in the breeze: images of absence, silence, loss, abandonment, desolation but also expectation. One of his famous paintings was a God’s eye view of soaring turkey buzzards. Another showed an empty dory on a beach with a swallow swooping past.
He liked the idea that figures might be implicit in the image. He suggested that “Christina’s World” might have been better had he “painted just that field and have you sense Christina without her being there.” Occasionally, as when he painted Christina head-on, he turned her face into a kind of landscape, the weathered features being a topography.
His subjects were family, friends and his immediate surroundings in Pennsylvania and in Maine, the reflections of the circumscribed existence he chose for himself. Repeatedly he painted, besides Christina, his friend Walt Anderson; Ben Loper, a black handyman, who posed for “A Crow Flew By,” and Karl and Anna Kuerner, neighbors whose farm became the Pennsylvania counterpoint to the Olson’s place in Maine. Karl was an avid hunter and a former German machine-gunner in World War I who died in 1979, at 80. There were rumors that he was a Nazi sympathizer, which drove Wyeth during World War II to search the Kuerner house for a wireless spy transmitter.
Wyeth said he was intrigued by the combination of cozy domesticity at the Kuerners’ and the knowledge that Karl had gunned down soldiers. One portrait of Karl shows him cradling a rifle. It was done in a room at the house with a moose rack on the wall. Wyeth recalled that while he was painting Anna walking into the room to summon her husband to dinner, the barrel pointing directly at her. He quickly rubbed out the antlers and painted her in. Wyeth’s wife later titled it “America’s Sweethearts.”
Wyeth described several other portraits of Karl as surrogate portraits of N.C., whom he had never painted. His father died in 1945 with a grandson, Newell, the four-year-old son of N.C.’s son Nathaniel and daughter-in-law Caroline, when their car stalled on a railroad crossing. It was struck by a train, an event that Wyeth linked to such melancholic and metaphoric pictures as “Winter,” of 1945. “The German,” a portrait of Kuerner in a helmet, was painted in 1975 when he was dying of cancer. Wyeth said he was painting cold eyes “that have looked down a machine-gun barrel, squinted great distances,” adding, “those are my father’s lips — cruel.”
The young Wyeth’s hero, after his father, was Winslow Homer. He saw Homer’s watercolors in the early 1930’s. At the time he was painting laborers and landscapes in ways that related to American scene painters like Thomas Hart Benton and John Steuart Curry but increasingly he emulated Homer’s impressionistic watercolors. He moved to Maine, made a pilgrimage to Homer’s studio at Prout’s Neck, and the vigorous, shimmering watercolors he began to paint aspired to Homer’s fleeting effects of light and movement.
He first showed them at the Art Alliance of Philadelphia in 1936. His father picked the works for him. The next year, through an associate of his father’s, the Macbeth Gallery in New York gave him his first one-man show, which sold out at the opening. Wyeth made $500. At the same time he began to work in egg tempera, a technique that appealed to his fastidious, traditional and tight-lipped side, with its dry, chalky, ghostly effects. His father was skeptical about the medium, but Wyeth was encouraged to pursue it by a strong-willed 17-year-old woman he met in 1939 in Maine. Betsy James grew up picking nasturtiums from Christina Olson’s garden and playing in the Olson’s ice-house. On meeting Wyeth she took him immediately to see the Olson house. “I wanted to see if he would go in,” she recounted. “A lot of people wouldn’t — the smell, the odor — and this was a summer day.”
They were married in 1940 and Betsy became his business manager and as strong an influence on him as his father, with whom she often battled for Andrew’s favor. “I was part of a conspiracy to dethrone the king — the usurper of the throne,” she told Mr. Meryman, Wyeth’s biographer. “And I did. I put Andrew on the throne.” She oversaw the publication of illustrated books, started a reproduction business, produced a film documentary about Wyeth and created a Wyeth archive. Over the years, especially concerning the so-called Helga paintings, she also aggravated critics who thought she manipulated Wyeth’s image inappropriately, an impression underscored by remarks like, “I’m a director and I had the greatest actor in the world.”
After “Christina’s World” Wyeth’s fame skyrocketed. In 1949, Winston Churchill asked for Wyeth watercolors to decorate his room at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston. Harvard gave Wyeth an honorary degree in 1955. He made the cover of Time in 1963 when President Johnson gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He painted portraits of Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon. A show of his work toured the country in 1966 and 1967, attracting huge crowds at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Whitney Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. The Brandywine River Museum in Pennsylvania opened in 1971, its main attraction a collection of Wyeths, donated by Mrs. Wyeth. In 1976, Wyeth was given a retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum.
Prices for his temperas escalated to $100,000 in 1962, triple that by 1980. And later during the 80’s, Japanese collectors were paying more than $1 million for a Wyeth.
In 1986, Leonard E. B. Andrews, a Pennsylvania publisher of newsletters, among them Swine Flu Litigation Reporter, made front-page news reportedly spending $6 million for 240 paintings by Wyeth that had never been exhibited. They were pictures of a woman, nude and clothed, named Helga Testorf. She was a sturdy blond married mother of four, a postwar refugee from Germany who worked as a housemaid to Wyeth’s eccentric sister Carolyn in Chadds Ford. Wyeth had been painting her in a room at the Kuerner house for more than a decade, without his wife’s knowledge, his wife said, before the works became known. When asked what the pictures were about, Mrs. Wyeth fueled prurient speculation by saying, “love.”
Big money, the implication of sex and Wyeth’s celebrity propelled Helga onto the covers of Time and Newsweek. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, which rarely organized shows of living artists, leapt to do an exhibition of the Helga pictures in 1987. The catalogue, with reproductions of Wyeth’s soft-core renditions of his recumbent model, became a Book-of-the-Month Club best seller.
Mr. Andrews quickly turned around and sold the works and a few others to a Japanese collector reportedly for $45 million, capitalizing on the publicity he had helped to orchestrate and on the National Gallery’s prestige. J. Carter Brown, the gallery’s director, having attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the show thanks to the hoopla, then professed to be shocked by Mr. Andrew’s profiteering.
At that point, Wyeth denied there was ever any sexual relationship. Mrs. Wyeth explained that “love” was meant only to suggest the creative frisson between artist and model and that in fact she had seen a few of the works before, so they did not entirely come as a surprise, while maintaining that most of them really had been kept secret from her — that they were her husband’s way of breaking loose from her and were genuinely upsetting to their marriage.
Critics lambasted the Wyeths and Mr. Andrews as hucksters. Wyeth, horrified, responded by saying the critics “were just looking to bop me on the head.”
Later Wyeth exhibitions were comparatively low key, and caused less of a fuss, perhaps also because an increasingly eclectic art world, which celebrated Norman Rockwell, found space to accommodate painters like Wyeth. In later years, he became a familiar sight around Chadds Ford, driving his beat-up GMC Suburban through the fields and riverbeds with a sketch pad on the seat. Menus at the inn in Chadds Ford, where he had his regular seat at a corner table, were decorated with his sketches of Washington and Lafayette.
He lost a lung, survived a near-fatal illness, and had a hip operation, but kept working, energized partly by disdain for his detractors. “I’m not going to let them disrupt my old age,” he said.
“I am an example of publicity — a great deal of it,” he also said. “I’m grateful because it gives me the freedom to go and try to do better. But I never had any great idea that these people are understanding what I’m doing. And they don’t.”
Wyeth added: “Let’s be sensible about this. I put a lot of things into my work which are very personal to me. So how can the public feel these things? I think most people get to my work through the back door. They’re attracted by the realism and they sense the emotion and the abstraction — and eventually, I hope, they get their own powerful emotion.”
A version of this article appears in print on , on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Andrew Wyeth, Realist and Lightning Rod, Dies. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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Mr. Wyeth, whose precise realist views of rural life sparked endless debates about the nature of modern art, was 91.
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http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-raises-the-prospect-riots-republican-convention
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728033212id_/http://www.msnbc.com:80/rachel-maddow-show/trump-raises-the-prospect-riots-republican-convention?
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Trump raises the prospect of 'riots' at Republican convention
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20160728033212
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In the race for the Republican presidential nomination, the primary/caucus process is playing out for the most obvious of reasons: the party’s voters are choosing the person who’ll be at the top of the Republicans’ 2016 national ticket. A member of the Republican National Committee’s Rules Committee, however, said yesterday that voter input is nice, but ultimately irrelevant.
According to this RNC Rules Committee member, even if one candidate – say, Donald Trump – crosses the majority threshold and enters the Republican convention with the delegates needed to secure the nomination, the party could still choose to block that candidate anyway.
Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that his supporters would respond with “riots” if he fails to secure the nomination at July’s convention in Cleveland.
“I think you’d have riots,” Trump told CNN on Wednesday. “I think you’d have riots. I’m representing a tremendous many, many millions of people.”
When literal, physical violence became more common at Trump events – with the candidate himself seemingly encouraging the pugnacious confrontations – many feared the escalation came with a subtext: this is the kind of violence we might see in Cleveland if Trump and his supporters believe they’ve been mistreated.
In fairness, Trump didn’t explicitly say he’d cause or incite riots, and in context, his comments may have been more of a prediction than a warning.
Perhaps, though in the same CNN appearance yesterday, Trump added, “I think bad things would happen, I really do. I believe that. I wouldn’t lead it but I think bad things would happen.” The Republican frontrunner didn’t elaborate on what “bad things” might include, though it came on the heels of his rhetoric about “riots.”
As Benjy Sarlin explained, “In that context, the message to Republicans was clear on Wednesday: Nice convention you got there, shame if something happened to it.”
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What happens if Donald Trump effectively wins the Republican nomination, but the party blocks him? The candidate has explicitly raised the prospect of violence.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/23/council-leader-orders-delegation-to-fly-back-from-denmark-after/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728042219id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/2016/06/23/council-leader-orders-delegation-to-fly-back-from-denmark-after/
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Council leader orders delegation to fly back from Denmark after they were asked to stay in Legoland Wild West cabins
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20160728042219
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Councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes, the Aberdeenshire Council co-leader, travelled to Billund for a North Sea Commission event alongside other members of staff last weekend.
But the group were at the amusement park for less than two hours before Mr Kitts-Hayes decided they would return home due to the standard of the cabins.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Mr Kitts-Hayes described the cabins as “disgusting”, as he said the group tried to find alternative accommodation before leaving. “The accommodation was disgusting. It was worse than a B&B - it was a shed,” he said.
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A council leader ordered a whole delegation to fly back from an estimated £5,000 taxpayer-funded trip to Denmark because they were asked to stay in Wild West cabins at Legoland, it has emerged.
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http://time.com/money/2823512/why-im-not-buying-the-retirement-gloom/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728043613id_/http://time.com:80/money/2823512/why-im-not-buying-the-retirement-gloom/
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Don't Buy Into the Retirement Gloom
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20160728043613
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This story was originally published at Next Avenue.
Gray wave. Age wave. Geezer tsunami. (Pick your favorite — or most hated — euphemism.) Catchphrases like these capture the realization that we’re living longer and that older Americans make up a growing share of the population. As economist Laurence Kotlikoff and columnist Scott Burns say in The Coming Generational Storm: “The aging of America isn’t a temporary event. We are well into a change that is permanent, irreversible, and very long term.”
Living longer should be a trend worth celebrating. But many people believe that America’s boomers can’t afford retirement, let alone a decent retirement. They fear that aging boomers are inevitably hurtling toward a lower standard of living.
And here’s their evidence: We’ve just been through the worst downturn since the 1930s, decimating jobs and pensions. Retirement savings are slim. Surveys show that boomers aren’t spending much time planning for retirement. The prediction that the swelling tab for Social Security and other old-age entitlements will push the U.S. government and economy into a Greece-like collapse seems almost routine.
Don’t buy into the retirement gloom. I’m not.
Here’s why: The signs of a grassroots push to reinvent the last third of life are unmistakable. Call it the “Unretirement” movement — and it is a movement.
Unretirement starts with the insight that earning a paycheck well into the traditional retirement years will make a huge difference in our future living standards. You — and your skills and talents — are your best retirement investment. What’s more, if society taps into the talents and abilities of sixty-somethings and seventy-somethings, employers will benefit, the economy will be wealthier and funding entitlements will be much easier.
The Unretirement movement is built off a series of broad, mutually reinforcing changes in the economy and society that are transforming an aging workforce into a powerful economic asset. Boomers are the most educated generation in U.S. history and they’re healthier, on average, than previous generations. A century-long trend toward a declining average age of retirement has already reversed itself and — it’s safe to say — you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
“Many people aren’t slowing down in their 60s and 70s,” says Ross Levin, a certified financial planner and president of Accredited Investors in Edina, Minn. Adds Nicole Maestas, economist at the Rand Corp., the Santa Monica, Calif.-based think tank: “Yes, America has an aging population. The upside of that is a whole generation of people who are interested in anything but retirement.”
Just ask Luanne Mullin, 60. She has done marketing for a dance company, opened a theater company and run a recording studio. These days, Mullin is a project manager at the University of California, San Francisco, overseeing the construction of scientific laboratories (she does mediation at the school on the side).
“I think there’s more and more of us at 60 who are saying, ‘OK, what’s my next career? What do I want to do that’s fulfilling?’” Mullin told me. “I’m all for what’s my next big thing.”Mullin loves her work, but she’s also wrestling with the same questions as many of her peers. “What is this aging thing?” she wonders. “Am I living fully? Is this the second half of life I dreamed of, or if not, how do I pull it together?”
For many in their 50s and 60s, the transition to Unretirement is much tougher — especially for those who are involuntarily unemployed, like Debbie Nowak.
She didn’t see the layoff coming. Nowak worked for more than 30 years in customer relations for the pensions and benefits department at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., In November 2011, at 58, she lost her job there.
Nowak, who has a high school diploma, let herself grieve until the holidays were over. In the New Year, she got her severance, went on unemployment and began thinking about embracing something completely different from her old job. “I never thought of myself as a risk taker,” she says. “After 30 years, I thought I should take a risk.”
Nowak had a stained glass hobby, making window panes, mosaic trays, and other objects. That led her to the idea of working in the wood finishing and furniture-restoring business. Last year, she got a certificate from The National Institute for Wood Finishing at Dakota Community Technical College in Rosemount, Minn. To pay for it, Nowak took out a loan and the state chipped in from its displaced workers fund.
Today, she has a part-time job at small furniture-restoration company. “It’s a crap shoot, a risk I was willing to take,” says Nowak. “This is also a way to produce additional income in retirement.”
As Mullin and Nowak demonstrate, we’re living though a period of experimentation while redefining retirement. Many people are stumbling about, searching for an encore career, a part-time job or contract work that offers them meaning and an income.
Some find it extremely tough to get hired, cobbling together a job here and a contract there, assuming they’re healthy. Especially vulnerable are less-educated workers who never made much money or never had jobs with employer-sponsored retirement and health benefits.
The rise of Unretirement calls for a whole cluster of changes in how society rewards work, creates jobs, shares the wealth and deals with old age. Unretirement will affect where Americans live out their lives, too, as they seek communities and services equipped for them.
Taken altogether, boomers will construct a new vision of their retirement years, which will impact how younger generations will think about their careers.
“People tend to learn from examples or stories handed down from previous generations — but there are few stories to navigate the new context of old age and retirement for the baby boomers,” writes Joseph Coughlin, the infectiously enthusiastic head of MIT’s AgeLab, a multi-disciplinary center. “When there are no set rules you make them up. The future of old age will be improvised.”
This blog aims to take a first draft at the Unretirement improv act. I’ll particularly focus on the personal finance and entrepreneurial start-up implications of the movement. I’ll talk about successes and failures, the impediments of age discrimination and the lessons people learn as they search for meaning and income in their next chapters.
Most of all, I hope to hear from you and find out about your experiences so I can address your questions in future columns. Send your queries to me at cfarrell@mpr.org. My twitter address is @cfarrellecon.
Peter Drucker, the late philosopher of management, noted that every once in a while, society crosses a major divide. “Within a few short decades, society rearranges itself — its worldview; its basic values; its social and political structure; its arts; its key institutions,” Drucker wrote in Post-Capitalist Society. “Fifty years later there is a new world.”
The transformation of retirement into Unretirement marks such a divide. Welcome to a revolution in the making.
Chris Farrell is economics editor for APM’s Marketplace Money, a syndicated personal finance program, and author of the forthcoming Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community, and The Good Life. He will be writing on Unretirement twice a month.
‘Partial Retirement’ Is On the Rise
A Manual for Encore Careers
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In the emerging Unretirement movement, you are your best investment.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/07/24/mon-fears-new-ships-to-back-up-royal-navy-will-be-built-overseas/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728050448id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/business/2016/07/24/mon-fears-new-ships-to-back-up-royal-navy-will-be-built-overseas/?
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Fears new ships to back up Royal Navy will be built overseas
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20160728050448
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Defence analysts estimated the total cost of building the vessels ships was £1bn, but said although final fitting out with military equipment could be done in the UK, this would only represent a fraction of the total.
“This is a classic MoD dilemma,” said Richard Scott, a naval analyst at IHS Janes. “Does it go out to the global market and get the best deal, but when British shipyards are facing problems there’s a strong case for the work staying at home.”
Britain’s policy is to build warships in the UK, an issue which hit the headlines ahead of the Scottish devolution vote, with then defence secretary Philip Hammond saying the MoD would only buy warships that were built within the country's borders.
However, because the support ships are part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, whether they are counted as warships is a grey area, with the RFA fleet manned by civilians, although the ships are owned by the MoD.
“These ships will be carrying sensitive equipment for the new carriers and the F-35 jets which will fly off them,” said one military source. “It’s hard to argue that they are not a vital part of the Navy.”
A spokesman for the MoD said: “All complex warships are built in the UK. There will be an international competition to build the solid support supply ships, which UK companies will be able to enter, with a separate UK-only competition for customisation work and trials. This approach ensures the best value for money for taxpayers.”
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A new class of ships for the Navy to support Britain’
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/finance-watch-1464308908
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728155944id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/finance-watch-1464308908
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Finance Watch - WSJ
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20160728155944
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COMMODITIES OPEC Is Expected to Choose New Chief
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is likely to choose a new secretary-general at its meeting next week, the only concrete action the cartel is expected to take, said national delegates of the group.
OPEC is zeroing in on a successor to its current secretary-general, Abdalla Salem el-Badri, who has been set to retire since 2013 but has stayed on because the fractious...
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Finance Watch: A roundup of news items about business and finance.
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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36825037
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160728181702id_/http://www.bbc.com:80/news/uk-england-36825037
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Hate incidents following EU poll creating 'real fear' in communities
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20160728181702
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Racist abuse incidents since the Brexit vote have been creating "real fear" amongst ethnic minorities in Yorkshire, religious and community leaders said.
Leeds mosque leader Qari Asim said victims had been spat at or physically attacked but it went unreported because of a lack of confidence in police.
The Muslim Community Safety Forum said police figures did not give a true reflection of the current situation.
West, South and North Yorkshire Police urged people to report hate incidents.
Data supplied to the BBC showed that over the last year, race hate crimes had gone up 13% in Yorkshire.
However, the data also showed that there was no strong link between the EU referendum vote and a rise in the number of racially motivated hate crimes being recorded.
For example, in June 2016, 472 race hate crimes were dealt with by forces in North, South and West Yorkshire - the same number as in March 2016, three months before the referendum was held.
Wakefield councillor Nadeem Ahmed said he had been subjected to racist comments whilst out with his family.
Mr Ahmed, leader of the Conservative group, said for every incident flagged up to police many more went unreported and has urged victims to take a stand.
He said: "If I would have been on my own I wouldn't have been that angry, but my wife and children were in the car - they didn't need to hear that sort of language."
The claims comes as a new report published by the Muslim Community Safety Forum said there needed to be better awareness of how victims can report a hate crime.
Dr Asim, Imam of Leeds Makkah Mosque, said people needed to work together to create a more stable neighbourhood.
He said: "People have voted to leave Europe because they think it's going to make their life better, economically, politically and socially.
"If that doesn't happen in six months' time, I fear there are going to be worse crimes and hate crimes committed against European and South Asian communities."
Angela Williams, Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We have had a slight increase in incidents reported to us, but only really small increases.
"We believe that they are not being reported through to us, which is the issue. We're trying to raise awareness for people to come forward."
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Racist abuse incidents in Yorkshire since the EU referendum are creating "real fear" amongst ethnic minorities, religious and community leaders say.
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http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/international-audiences-have-confidence-one-us-candidate
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International audiences have confidence in one U.S. candidate
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20160728213206
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It seems like ages ago, but the United States’ international reputation took a severe hit during the Bush/Cheney years. As the war in Iraq dragged on, there were anecdotal reports about Americans traveling abroad with Canadian flags sewn onto their belongings, hoping to avoid confrontations with critics of U.S. policies and leaders.
The world is wary of Donald Trump. Across a wide swath of advanced countries, large numbers of people say they simply don’t trust Trump to do the right thing in world affairs, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
Even in the United States, Trump has struggled to prove his readiness on foreign policy, but those looking in from the outside seem especially skeptical.
In 13 or the 15 countries included in the Pew Research Center report, people had more confidence in Russia’s Vladimir Putin than Trump.
For Hillary Clinton, the numbers were largely reversed. Though the Democrat fared poorly in China and Greece, in most of the 15 countries surveyed, people said the former Secretary of State could be counted on “to do the right thing regarding world affairs.”
It matters that Trump’s rhetoric is completely wrong, but it matters just as much that his election would intensify the very problem he claims to have identified.
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Republicans have spent the last several years insisting that international perceptions of the U.S. are of the utmost importance. For Trump, that's a problem.
| 8.75 | 0.642857 | 0.785714 |
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http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/21/upshot/100000004525876.mobile.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160729013624id_/http://www.nytimes.com:80/interactive/2016/07/21/upshot/100000004525876.mobile.html?
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Who Will Be President?
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Last updated Thursday, July 28 at 6:41 PM ET
The Upshot’s elections model suggests that Hillary Clinton is favored to win the presidency, based on the latest state and national polls. A victory by Mr. Trump remains quite possible: Mrs. Clinton’s chance of losing is greater than the probability that an N.B.A. player will miss a free throw.
From now until Election Day, we’ll update our estimates with each new poll, as well as collect the ratings of other news organizations. You can chart different paths to victory below. Here’s how our estimates have changed over time:
We’ll send an occasional email about major polling changes and updates to The Upshot’s election model.
To forecast each party’s chance of winning the presidency, our model calculates win probabilities for each state. In addition to the latest state polls, our forecast incorporates a state’s past election results and national polling.
The table below shows our model’s estimate for Democrats and Republicans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We have put the states into five groups based on their voting history relative to the nation since 2004.
Our estimates in states that tend to vote ...
The New York Times is one of many news organizations to publish election ratings or forecasts. Some, like FiveThirtyEight or the Princeton Election Consortium, use statistical models, as The Times does; others, like the Cook Political Report, rely on reporting and knowledgeable experts’ opinions. PredictWise uses information from betting markets.
We compile and standardize these ratings every day into one scoreboard for comparison. First, every organization’s estimate for who will win the presidency:
Note: The 538 model shown is its polls-only forecast. Qualitative ratings reflect the rating for the state in the middle of each organization’s forecast, weighted by electoral votes.
Second, each organization’s state-by-state ratings. Viewed together, the differences between the models become much clearer.
We’re showing just the most competitive states by default. Select the button below to see how our ratings compare everywhere.
Some combinations of electoral votes are much more common than others. The chart below shows the estimated likelihood of each outcome.
The interactive diagram below illustrates Mr. Trump’s challenging path to the presidency. Here, we assume Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump will win the states where our model shows them to be the most strongly favored, and we let you control the outcome of the 10 most competitive states. Above all, this diagram illustrates how important Florida is to Mr. Trump. It is extremely difficult for him to win without it.
Select a winner in the most competitive states below to see either candidate’s paths to victory.
Clinton has ways to win
Trump has ways to win
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The Upshot’s presidential forecast, updated daily.
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http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/07/28/09/54/cop-numbers-stretched-in-melb-s-west-boss
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Cop numbers stretched in Melb's west: boss
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20160729140959
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Melbourne's rapidly growing fringe areas are stretched for police resources but numbers at local stations won't increase for "a number of months", says Victoria's chief commissioner.
Frustrated locals in the city's west are continuing their own night-time street patrols after a wave of violent carjackings and home invasions across the city.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has promised more police are on the way.
"We're recruiting those at the moment but it will take a number of months to get those police out there," he told 3AW on Thursday.
He identified Melton as "quite stretched" and said police in Cranbourne were "flat-chat" but said hot-spots have been saturated with additional resources such as task forces and the dog squad.
Mr Ashton would not condone the local community conducting street patrols or following the lead of some European and English towns that hire private security guards.
"It's not something we're keen to see here; we'd like police to continue to have that function," he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the government had supported Victoria Police's request for extra numbers.
"One thousand people will go through the academy over the next 12 months," he told 3AW on Thursday.
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Police in rapidly growing areas of Melbourne are stretched but numbers won't significantly increase for a few months, says Victoria's chief commissioner.
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Great White Shark attacks spear fisherman
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A terrifying video has emerged of a spear fisherman having an extremely close encounter with a great white shark off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa.
After diving deep into the ocean the diver turns and sees a great white shark swim right past his face. Newsflare
The footage, captured in August, shows the creature appearing seemingly out of nowhere right next to the diver, requiring him to ward it off with his speargun.
The diver reaches the surface as he flees the shark and warns other divers of the danger. Newsflare
• Great White shark attacks tourist cage in South Africa
Luckily, both divers managed to get out of the water unharmed, and the shark swam off.
The diver looks back down to see the shark is right beneath his feet. Newsflare
Describing the incident online, the filmer wrote: "I dived down on the edge down to 19m and when I levelled out on the bottom I looked first to my right, and then as I looked to my left the Great White was right next to me, that could quite easily been the end of me."
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Watch the terrifying moment a spear fisherman comes face to face with a great white shark while diving off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa
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http://fortune.com/2016/07/26/logmein-snaps-up-citrix-gotomeeting/
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In Conferencing Convergence, LogMeIn Snaps up Citrix GoToMeeting
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20160729192123
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LogMeIn logm , the Boston company that offers a web conferencing service, is acquiring Citrix-owned rival GoToMeeting. The deal is valued at about $1.8 billion.
The combined conferencing business, should take in $1 billion in (pro forma) revenue in its first year, the companies said. And it will have bigger reach to help compete with Cisco’s csco WebEx, Microsoft msft Skype for Business, and Blue Jeans Network. Business-focused paid services are all feeling intense pressure from free or near free consumer video conferencing alternatives like Google goog Hangouts and Microsoft Skype.
By selling its video conferencing business, Citrix ctxs will be able to focus more on its key products like XenApps and XenDesktop, which help IT departments manage users desktops and applications. Last year, Citrix came under pressure from investor activist firm Elliot Management to focus and cut costs.
Long-time Citrix chief executive Mark Templeton ended up stepping down soon thereafter and in November the company acknowledging spinoff plans. Two months later, Citrix named former Microsoft executive Kirill Tatarinov chief executive, replacing interim chief executive Robert Calderoni.
LogMeIn and Citrix described this deal as a Reverse Morris Trust, which means it’s supposed to be a tax-free transaction for Citrix ctxs shareholders.
LogMeIn’s Mike Simon Steps Back
For more on enterprise software, watch:
The sales process, according to the press release, started in November when Citrix created a wholly owned subsidiary called GetGo for its conferencing business and distributed shares of that unit to Citrix shareholders. After that the business could be more easily sold.
Following completion of the deal, the GetGo subsidiary will become a subsidiary of LogMeIn. Got it?
Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.
Citrix shareholders will get about 27.6 million LogMeIn shares on a diluted basis. Citrix shareholders will own 50.1% of the new combined web conferencing business.
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It's conferencing convergence time!
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/logistics-operators-c-h-robinson-hub-report-profit-gains-1469647736
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Logistics Operators C.H. Robinson, Hub Report Profit Gains
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Two of the biggest logistics operators in the U.S. reported improved profits in the second quarter as cost cuts and the declining price of fuel offset weaker shipping demand.
The earnings gains came as freight companies are bracing for a tepid fall shipping season, when demand usually peaks as retailers push more goods through supply chains ahead of the holidays. Persistently high inventories in the retail sector and ongoing weakness in manufacturing, along with excess transport capacity and declining freight rates, have weighed on the logistics business in recent months.
C.H. Robinson reported a $143 million net profit, or $1 per diluted earnings per share, in the quarter ending June 30 that was 4.3% ahead of last year. The company’s core truckload brokerage business saw net revenue—the revenue after direct transportation purchasing costs—fall 1.4% to $330 million despite a 3% increase in freight volume.
Overall revenue at the Minneapolis-based company declined 6.9% from the same quarter a year ago.
In a call with investors Tuesday, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. CHRW 0.56 % Chief Financial Officer Andrew Clarke said “lower pricing in some of our key services makes it more challenging to grow net revenue.”
Separately, Hub Group Inc., HUBG -0.37 % which specializes in intermodal shipping—the business of moving goods through a combination of rail and truck transport— reported second-quarter net income of $20.7 million, or 61 cents per share, up nearly 12% from the same period in 2015.
The Downers Grove, Ill.-based operator saw revenue decline 5% to $856 million, falling across all segments of Hub’s business. The company attributed the decline to falling fuel costs, which in general are passed through to customers as fuel surcharges.
Shipping industry experts say they expect downward pressure on freight rates to continue for the rest of the year even if demand picks up in the fall.
“Things are not great but not bad, they’re either stabilizing or growing a little bit,” said Jonathan Starks, an analyst with FTR. “But growing a little bit means that pricing can be tough because it takes good growth to drive pricing.”
Shares in both companies tumbled in trading on Wednesday. C.H. Robinson’s stock was down 5.8% in trading at midday, to $68.01 a share. Hub’s stock was off 3% at $40.01 a share.
Write to Erica E. Phillips at erica.phillips@wsj.com
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Logistics operators C.H. Robinson and Hub Group reported improved profits in the second quarter as lower costs helped offset weaker shipping demand.
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Seattle a Leader in Job Growth
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20160730021648
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SEATTLE—As the national labor picture slowly improves, this area is outpacing most others in job growth.
Of the nation's 49 metropolitan areas with populations over 1 million, only two—both in California—have seen their unemployment rate fall more than Seattle's over the past year. And neither of those areas has seen its unemployment rate go as low as Seattle's 5.9%.
The secret to Seattle's success is its mix of industries—a...
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As the national labor picture slowly improves, Seattle is cleaning up in the race for jobs and outpacing most other cities in doing so.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/sports/olympics/usa-cycling-hoping-olympics-help-raise-its-profile.html
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U.S.A. Cycling Hoping Olympics Help Raise Its Profile
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20160730025206
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Kristin Armstrong could win her third straight Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. The women’s pursuit team is favored to capture gold. Several Americans could land on the BMX podium.
Will anybody in the United States notice? Or even care?
That is perhaps the biggest challenge facing U.S.A. Cycling as the Rio Games arrive. One of the nation’s most popular participatory sports is dealing with aging athletes, declining membership and a vast disconnect between amateur riders and their elite counterparts.
It has left U.S.A. Cycling officials to wonder just where they stand in the sport’s structure.
“There is no doubt we need to adapt as an organization,” said Derek Bouchard-Hall, who took over as the governing body’s chief executive last year after a successful career in private business.
To usher U.S.A. Cycling into the future, Bouchard-Hall spent several months examining the organization’s shortcomings before proposing a three-prong approach to shake things up.
First, he is championing a renewed emphasis on amateur cycling, rather than funneling so much of U.S.A. Cycling’s resources to elite athletes. The idea is that by fostering growth at the grass-roots level, the sport in the United States will become more robust in the long term.
Second, he wants to broaden the coverage of U.S.A. Cycling to encompass not just racers but the everyday cyclist, those who ride in mass events, such as a bike ride across Iowa taking place this week, and the Gran Fondos pseudo-races that have become popular.
Finally, he wants an organization that is more open, transparent and willing to adjust to feedback, a customer-focused approach that stems from his previous job with the bike retailer Wiggle.
U.S.A. Cycling is not abandoning elite athletes. Instead, Bouchard-Hall believes the amateur cyclist and elite cyclist go hand-in-hand, the growth of one helping the other.
“People say, ‘Where do you put your efforts, the amateurs or the elite?’ The answer is both,” he said. “This is a balance that all national governing bodies in America face.”
The Rio Olympics may offer an opportunity to kick-start his plan.
NBC will focus on more glamorous sports like gymnastics and swimming that traditionally push the attention needle at the Summer Games. But any visibility at the Olympics is priceless for U.S.A. Cycling, whether it comes through highlights of Armstrong in the time trial or Connor Fields on the BMX track, or online streams of cycling events throughout the Games.
The publicity is crucial for U.S.A. Cycling, which has always struggled to raise money. Part of the organization’s support comes from the United States Olympic Committee and is based on success at world championships and other major competitions. But according to recent U.S.O.C. tax returns, sports such as shooting, rowing and sailing often receive more money than cycling.
“Where we suffer is our federation doesn’t have the funds,” said Sarah Hammer, who anchors the women’s pursuit team. “Something like swimming, they can generate their own through sponsors.”
U.S.A. Cycling has rarely had that ability, even when Lance Armstrong — no relation to Kristin — was in the spotlight.
Some worry that matters could get even tighter for elite athletes if Bouchard-Hall redirects some of their scant funding to support the growth of grass-roots cycling. But he quickly dispels that notion, pointing toward fund-raising and sponsorship plans to help fill those coffers.
More important, Bouchard-Hall said, people should understand that his plan to revitalize U.S.A. Cycling is a long-term approach that will eventually benefit elite athletes, too.
By growing the sport at the local level, Bouchard-Hall hopes U.S.A. Cycling will turn around its slow membership decline. More young people will pick up cycling, reversing a trend toward an aging demographic. And some day, the best of those athletes will advance far enough in the sport that they will compete at world championships and the Olympics.
“We’re not even participating in track cycling in some of the disciplines, which is unfortunate,” Bouchard-Hall said. “We believe we’re a really important part of the racing ecosystem, but we also believe it’s the right thing to do to foster participation at all levels.”
U.S.A. Cycling received a small bump four years ago from the London Games, where it won four cycling medals — the fifth most of any nation. But Bouchard-Hall hopes for a bigger return from Rio, where the time zone will make viewing easier for American fans.
The difficulty lies in trying to build on the visibility.
“We’re not a sport that generates a lot of attention without big megastars and big money,” Bouchard-Hall said. “When we had Lance, we got a lot of attention, cycling got a lot of publicity. But our Olympians, as great as those stories are within the sport — and people who follow the sport do love them — they don’t translate well outside of them. What we need to do is get out the stories, and that’s a difficult challenge.”
It is also a rare opportunity. The Olympics are a once-every-four-years event that will provide Bouchard-Hall a chance to promote his vision for the future of U.S.A. Cycling.
“You have to be able to change as an organization when everything around you is changing,” said Mark Gullickson, the long-tenured director of U.S.A. Cycling’s mountain biking program.
“I think Derek was faced with some really tough challenges,” Gullickson said, “and we’re still in the early phases of where you’re headed. But I think we’re making changes that we need to make if you really want to change the direction of the program to meet the needs of the members.”
A version of this article appears in print on July 28, 2016, on page B12 of the New York edition with the headline: U.S.A. Cycling Hopes for Success to Raise Organization’s Profile. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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One of America’s most popular participatory sports is dealing with aging athletes, declining membership and a vast disconnect between amateur riders and their elite counterparts.
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http://time.com/4347115/julia-child-big-mac-hamburger-day/
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Julia Child on McDonald's Big Mac
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As far as food holidays go, National Hamburger Day—which falls on Saturday—isn’t exactly the fanciest out there. (National Truffle Day, for example, fell at the beginning of the month.) But in 1973, when TIME took a look at the McDonald’s “hamburger empire” in a cover story, that didn’t stop the magazine from giving the iconic sandwich its due. At the time, the fast-food chain had just recently surpassed the U.S. Army as the nation’s “biggest dispenser of meals,” even though some people saw that success as what TIME called “a devastating comment on American values.” So, the magazine asked the nation’s top voices on food to render a verdict on McDonald’s once and for all.
Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter
Instructed to keep in mind that they were eating samples from a fast-food joint and not from “an aspirant to Guide Michelin accolades,” they were given a chance to weigh in on whether popularity corresponded to taste. Here’s what Julia Child had to say:
“The buns are a little soft. The Big Mac I like least because it’s all bread. But the French fries are surprisingly good. It’s remarkable that you can get that much food for under a dollar. It’s not what you would call a balanced meal; it’s nothing but calories. But it would keep you alive.”
The other reviewers were Craig Claiborne, James Beard and Gael Greene.
Read the rest of the reviews, here in the TIME Vault: Ratings From the Gourmets
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A meaty gem from the archives of TIME, in honor of National Hamburger Day
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http://time.com/money/4104789/bethany-mclean-shaky-ground-fannie-freddie-talking-money/
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Financial Crisis Expert on How She Protects Herself from Systemic Meltdowns
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As co-author of best-sellers All The Devils Are Here and The Smartest Guys In The Room, journalist Bethany McLean unpacked the 2008 financial crises and the Enron scandal. Her new book Shaky Ground scrutinizes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—the mortgage giants that were supposed to be reformed but remain weird, public/private hybrid “government-supported entities.” McLean’s books always focus on the big picture, but she offers some personal views, too, in the latest installment of “Talking Money.”
Given that you’ve made a career of revealing financial malfeasance, do you basically trust no one? I’m picturing cash stuffed under the mattress.
[Laughs.] Honestly, it’s problematic as I get older. For many years I had so little money, I never had to worry about it. But now I’m almost 45, with children—and you do have to worry about it. I would say I’m phenomenally risk-averse. So it’s not like I’m publicly voicing pessimism but and secretly taking huge gambles on the market. I’m voicing pessimism—and terrified to do anything. [Laughs.]
Really, I have a hard time being interested in anything involving my own money. Give me a financial statement for a company that’s incredibly complex, and I’m really happy and excited. Ask me to look at my own bank account and I have this shudder of horror. I just don’t, don’t want to deal with it.
And yes, I do think my work has made that worse. I’m so aware of how much I don’t know, and how many conflicts of interest there are.
So what do you do at tax time, you just turn it over to an accountant and sign the paperwork?
I thought it would be intimidating to be Bethany McLean’s accountant.
As if I would be checking every line? [Laughs] No! No, no, no, no, no.
When I was sharing an apartment with roommates, out of college, they would just go into my bag because they’d know there would be five-dollar bills, ten-dollar bills, kind of floating around. Not in a wallet — I didn’t own one. They would tell me; they weren’t stealing. But they all think it’s amusing that I’ve become someone who investigates money. I literally didn’t own a wallet until two years ago.
[Laughs] I don’t know! Some sort of total aversion to organizing money – my own money.
Mostly ETF and index funds, not individual stock positions. But beyond that I honestly don’t know what it is that I own.
And that’s partly a professional decision, to avoid conflicts?
It is. But if you told me I had to pour all the energy I dedicate to investigating companies and focus on managing my own money, I would find that utterly horrifying. I don’t have any interest applying what I learn to my financial life. Which frustrates my husband to no end.
Shaky Ground explains that Fannie and Freddie persist in a “conservatorship” structure that makes it unclear what might happen if there’s another financial/real estate rupture. I’m curious whether you own a house—and whether you’re personally worried?
We do own a house. For a long time I was perfectly happy to rent, but something happened—not a financial decision, more of an emotional one. Chicago, where we live, is a house-owning kind of place. So maybe it’s situation- and geographic-dependent for me. But I like the fact that this is my house.
Here’s what scares me. Homeownership is way down since the financial crisis, and rental rates in a lot of places are skyrocketing. So we may have an affordable housing crisis in the making. My worst case is that we don’t focus and come up with a smart housing policy that addresses the status of Fannie of Freddie until there’s another crisis. We don’t want decision-making in a crisis.
It doesn’t sound like I should ask you for personal-finance tips, but got anything?
What caused the credit crisis was really the conflation of homeownership and credit creation—cash-out refinancing [people borrowing against their homes]. A healthy homeownership policy would disentangle those two things.
If politicians aren’t going to do that, people should do it for themselves. If you are going to invest in a home, it’s a home. I remember seeing, after the financial crisis, this tattered banner advertising: “Let your home take you on vacation”—meaning borrow against your house for extra money. Resist!
READ MORE: Talking Money with Podcasting Pioneer Roman Mars
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Bethany McLean, best-selling chronicler of financial scandal, explains how she protects herself from systemic meltdowns—and how you can, too.
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The Rock Launches YouTube Channel
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The Rock is on a roll.
The movie and TV star (see: Central Intelligence, HBO’s Ballers) finally made his move onto YouTube official, releasing the first video on his brand-new channel on Monday. He teased the channel this spring, but it’s only now that we’re getting a peek at the kind of content we can expect from the larger-than-life celebrity.
In the video, entitled “The YouTube Factory,” The Rock takes a trip to a secret YouTube content production lair beneath an island volcano. Guided by YouTube star Lilly Singh, the two check in on a number of production rooms within the facility: a cat room, a Rock impersonator room, a beauty video tutorial salon. Other big names in YouTube success make cameos, like Gigi Gorgeous, Grace Helbig and Alex Wassabi.
“Who knew that there was so much fresh, innovative, non-pornographic material online? It’s crazy,” The Rock explains by way of intro to his latest project.
“Dude, you just created what could potentially be the biggest channel on YouTube,” Singh tells him.
If you’re hungry for more Rock videos, there’s also a brainstorming session with Lilly Singh to dig into. But it looks like he’s just getting started with his foray into short-form Internet video, so there should soon be much more to watch.
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In the first video, The Rock learns the ropes from the platform's biggest stars.
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http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/07/30/10/11/qld-man-faces-court-over-death-of-baby
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Trio facing charges over Qld boy's death
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20160731164019
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Three people charged with the manslaughter of a Caboolture toddler failed to get him medical treatment despite his obvious injuries, police allege.
Mason Jet Lee was found dead at a house on Deanna Street about 12.30am on June 11.
Two men, aged 37 and 17, and a 27-year-old woman were arrested and charged with Mason's manslaughter on Friday night.
Detective Inspector Paul Schmidt said police were yet to determine how the 21-month-old's injuries were caused but would allege the trio failed to provide medical treatment.
"The injuries sustained by the child would have been obvious, would have been deteriorating and would have been significant over a period of time leading up to his death," he said on Saturday.
"What the allegation is (is) they've failed to provide reasonable medical care which brought about his death."
Specifically, police will allege Mason died as a result of inflammation from a ruptured small intestine.
Det Insp Schmidt said the toddler's life could have been saved had he got medical treatment.
Mason's stepfather, Andrew O'Sullivan, briefly appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.
He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody until his case is next heard in court on August 8.
The 17-year-old man charged with Mason's manslaughter was remanded in custody and had his case adjourned to Monday when he appeared in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on Saturday.
The woman faced the Toowoomba Magistrates Court and was also remanded in custody with her case adjourned to Monday.
Meanwhile, Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition has called on the Palaszczuk government to hurry up and explain how the child protection system failed Mason and other children.
Opposition child safety spokeswoman Ros Bates said urgent action was needed on the "growing crisis" in investigation delays.
Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman has already said an independent expert panel was reviewing Mason's case, while Health Minister Cameron Dick has called for a director-general's report into how it was handled.
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A man has faced court over the death of a 21-month old boy north of Brisbane last month.
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36880864
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Australian teen abused in detention speaks out
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20160801090847
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A teenager who has become the face of a juvenile detention scandal has thanked Australians for their support.
Images of Dylan Voller cuffed to a mechanical restraint chair drew widespread condemnation after they were aired on television.
Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday convened a royal commission to examine treatment of juvenile inmates in the Northern Territory.
In a public letter, Voller said he wanted to make up for his past actions.
"I would just like to thank the whole Australian community for the support you have showed for us boys as well as our families," Voller wrote.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to the community for my wrongs and I can't wait to get out and make up for them."
The Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s Four Corners programme this week showed footage of teenage offenders stripped naked, assaulted and tear gassed at the Northern Territory's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
Voller, who has been convicted of crimes including car theft, robbery and assault, was targeted in a number of incidents.
One of the guards who worked at the juvenile detention centre revealed that Voller had been placed in the restraint chair on multiple occasions.
"I know of three times he was in the restraint chair," said youth detention guard Ben Kelleher.
"Dylan was never so still, he was never so sheepish as he was when he was in that chair. I think he had admitted defeat when it happened.
"I turned up for one shift and Dylan was in the chair and the other two times they were on incident reports I read once I got to work," he said.
In the letter released by his lawyers, Voller also thanked Four Corners for "helping to get the truth out there".
He is eligible for release in August. It will be the first time he has experienced freedom as an adult.
His lawyer called for the young man's immediate release and said his client was "scared for his safety".
The prime minister has refused to widen the scope of the proposed royal commission beyond the Northern Territory, despite pressure from Indigenous groups to do so.
Youth detention rates are three times higher in the Northern Territory than elsewhere in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Although the institute does not break down Indigenous youth incarceration rates specifically for the Northern Territory, young Indigenous people across Australia are 26 times more likely to be in detention than non-Indigenous youth.
The Northern Territory's attorney-general, John Elferink, has been stripped of his corrections portfolio in the wake of the scandal.
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The Australian teenager who has become the face of a juvenile detention scandal has apologised for his actions.
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Phase One Unveils iXU 180, Smallest 80-Megapixel Aerial Camera
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Danish camera maker Phase One Industrial has unveiled a new aerial camera that could help take drone photography to the next level.
The lightweight iXU 180 is the world’s smallest 80-megapixel medium format aerial camera, the company said in a statement. The camera can be integrated into small oblique systems that can fit inside a gyro mount, giving drone operators more flexibility for aerial photography.
The company’s last 80-megapixel camera, the IQ 180, has already produced stunningly detailed aerial footage. Here’s a look at a time-lapse video filmed with the iXU 180’s predecessor:
iXU 180 will begin shipping in mid-April. A Phase One spokesperson said the camera is priced at $60,000.
Read next: Someone Flew a Drone Into a Fireworks Display and This Is What Happened
Listen to the most important stories of the day.
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Phase One is out with a super small, hi-res aerial camera
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TIME Launches India Awards
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To recognize notable achievements in manufacturing in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, TIME magazine is launching the TIME India Awards in early 2016.
The awards encompass three categories—excellence in manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship—and the winner in each category will be announced at a ceremony in the Indian financial capital Mumbai on Feb. 13 by Norman Pearlstine, Chief Content Officer for Time Inc.
TIME has partnered with top management consulting firm McKinsey & Company to organize the awards. TIME and McKinsey will work together to create a shortlist of three finalists in each category, which will be announced in late January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The three winners from among the nine finalists will then be selected by a jury comprising eminent business leaders from around the world and across industries. “We are pleased to be working with McKinsey to identify the people and companies that are changing the Indian economy, which is the fastest-growing in the world, from the inside out,” Pearlstine said in a statement. “These are dynamic and challenging times for every economy and India is responding proactively and progressively.”
The Indian economy is growing rapidly—in the third quarter of 2015 it surpassed China as the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Manufacturing is growing especially quickly—a fact the TIME India Awards align with, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes his “Make in India” initiative, which aims to boost manufacturing by international companies in India while also promoting homegrown manufacturing.
Rajat Dhawan, senior director at McKinsey & Company in India, said in a statement that the country’s economy is shaping up to be “a bright spot of growth on the global firmament” in the years to come. “Manufacturing in India has the potential to power this growth, and in the process transform millions of lives.”
The selection process for the 2016 awards is underway. We have built up a list of achievers selected after careful vetting of over 3,000 companies.
The three award categories are defined as follows:
Step 1: The process begins with building a long list of strong contenders and analyzing their financial performance in terms of shareholder returns and growth. We then arrive at our first cut of nominated companies to be invited for participation in the award process. The nominees will be sent a detailed evaluation form, which will be vetted to check operational and financial performance. We will use proprietary databases and inputs from manufacturing experts to guide the process.
Step 2: This list will be whittled down to select the top three nominees for each category. This evaluation for this will be rigorous and will include detailed interviews with the shortlisted companies.
Step 3: The final stage of our evaluation is by an elite Indian / Global jury that will deliberate on the three nominations and pick a winner in each category. The winners will be announced at the gala event in Mumbai on February 13.
For inquiries about submissions, you can contact Time India here:
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Looking for innovation in the world's fastest-growing large economy
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7 Great American Vacation Spots (That Won't Bust Your Budget)
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Our mission: to find a geographically diverse group of top U.S. destinations where your summer travel dollars can — with a little bit of planning — go a very long way. Then: recommend particular attractions, eateries, and places to stay that will make the most of your visit without breaking the budget.
If Bristol, Tennessee, is the birthplace of American county music, Nashville is where it moved after growing some sideburns (or curves). Soak up live performances any night of the week and spend your days investigating Nashville’s many other artistic, gustatory, and historical delights.
Do: During the daytime, get heady on harmonies at the Johnny Cash Museum — where you can see the singer’s handwritten lyrics and Martin guitar ($15 entry) — and the Country Music Hall of Fame, which just underwent a $100 million expansion ($25; $2 off with a visitmusiccity.com coupon). Then hit a Grand Ole Opry live radio show (from $29.50, three days a week) for big names like Blake Shelton, as well as old-school and up-and-coming performers. For a taste of Nashville’s noncountry scene, check out the Stone Fox for the nightly live performances, many with no cover charge, and $1-off happy-hour specials. If visual art is more your speed, you can enjoy works by Goya, Hopper, and Wyeth at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, located in a renovated Art Deco post office ($10), and take tours of 135-year-old letterpress shop Hatch Show Print — during which you make your own print to take home ($15).
Eat: Go for a handmade pasta, like garganelli verdi with heritage pork ragout ($17), at Rolf and Daughters, which opened last year in a 100-year-old factory building in Germantown. Then there’s Pinewood Social, a restaurant/karaoke bar/bowling alley, great for treats like hot sweetbreads ($13) and pork-belly salad ($12). But no matter what else you eat, don’t leave town without trying Prince’s Hot Chicken, which is nothing short of a buttery, crunchy, fiery revelation ($7.65 for a half chicken). It’s a few miles northeast of downtown, on the way back from Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage estate. Newcomer 400 Degrees, near the Hall of Fame, is a close second ($5.86 and up).
Sleep: If your timing is flexible, you can snag discounts at hotels that reward you for longer stays. The Hutton, where rooms typically range from $200 to $300 per night, offers 15% off three-night stays and 20% off four-night stays this summer. Save even more by staying farther from downtown: A new branch of Homewood Suites in the Vanderbilt area, just west of center city, costs 30% less than the downtown Homewood Suites in August — $180 a night compared with $260.
Splurge: Good cowboy boots ain’t cheap, but you can allay the sticker shock by checking out the bargain section of French’s Shoes and Boots. Before bed, grab a nightcap at The Patterson House, a gorgeous speakeasy (and celebrity hangout) serving up class, sass, and incredible cocktails.
Portland has a well-earned hipster rep, but it’s also become a buzzy culinary hotspot. Isn’t it time you went to taste the hype for yourself?
Do: Get your bearing with a free walking tour from Secrets of Portlandia, billed as a “stand-up comedy about Portland’s history and culture (twice a day through September 3). You’ll get a rundown of various neighborhoods, see the city’s best known street art, get bar and restaurant recommendations, and more. Still feeling a little of that World Cup fever? Get tickets for the Portland Timbers, the popular local Major League Soccer team. Of, if you’re after a more intellectual pursuit, head to Powell’s City of Books, the flagship of the world’s largest independent chain of bookstores. The store is always hosting interesting readings and book clubs, so check the calendar to see what’s on while you’re in town.
Eat: Portland is a foodie favorite known for two things: creativity and affordability. Start your noshing with the city’s famous food carts. Go to Foodcartsportland.com (or download their 99 cent app) to get the scoop on where to find the most mouthwatering options. One to try: Gastro Mania, home of the $8 foie gras burger. Check Under the Table with Jen, a local food blog run by Jen Stevenson, for sit-down eats. For an evening of wine, cheese, and charcuterie, Stevenson recommends Cyril’s: “It has a ‘secret’ patio, and they just added a bocce court.” Finally, don’t leave town without a stop at the legendary Voodoo Doughnuts, one of the originators of the creative doughnut craze.
Sleep: Portland has some great hotels, but if you’re traveling mid-summer, you’re unlikely to find a well-located place for less than $250 a night. For a more affordable option, try the Everett Street Guesthouse, which is an easy walk to many restaurants and cafes and a six-minute drive from downtown. Rooms start $100, including breakfast.
Splurge: If you’ve ever watched IFC’s Portlandia, the Portland-based comedy starting former SNL cast member Fred Armisen and musician Carrie Brownstein, you remember the “Put a Bird On it” sketch. That scene was filmed at Land, a store/gallery that carries a range of affordable gifts and artworks made by local craftspeople. No matter your taste, you’ll likely find a goodie worthy of a spot in your suitcase.
New Mexico perfectly captures the spirit of the Southwest — and is full of fun, affordable activities. Start in Albuquerque, then drive an hour northeast to Santa Fe, home to one of the most vibrant art scenes in the country.
Do: With among the highest concentrations of Native Americans in the country, New Mexico is a great place to learn about Navajo and Zuni Pueblo culture. In Albuquerque, catch a dance performance and read about the history of the state’s 22 tribal communities at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center ($6 admission). If you’re visiting in August, try to catch the Santa Fe Indian market, where more than 170,000 people gather each year to learn about and buy contemporary Native American arts and crafts. For a dose of 20th century Americana, check out Santa Fe’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum ($12 for adults, free for youth under 18) — and don’t leave the state without catching a dramatic sunset on North America’s longest aerial tram, the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque ($20).
Eat: Enjoy the kitchy décor and savory diner-food-with-a-twist at Owl Cafe in Albuquerque; try the sumptuous green chili cheeseburger ($5.25) and the onion loaf ($4.95) — a plateful of thin, golden rings piled high. Up in Santa Fe, there’s something for everyone at Harry’s Roadhouse, where the saucy and delicious tacos, burritos, and enchiladas can all be made vegetarian. Generally, top-rated Mexican food abounds, so you just have to remember one rule: Dip those sopapillas in honey.
Sleep: Even nicer hotels in Albuquerque are much less expensive than their counterparts in other cities: The Hotel Parq Central, top-rated on TripAdvisor, charges less than $150 a night for stays in August. Santa Fe is considerably pricier, so go for a bed and breakfast instead, like the whimsically decorated El Paradero Inn, where rooms are available from $155.
Splurge: Take advantage of the hot-but-dry desert weather at the outdoor Santa Fe Opera, which shows original works alongside classics like Carmen. Ticket prices range based on dates and seats from $30 to $300.
Don’t be misled by the Jersey Shore GTL stereotype. While there is certainly plenty of fist pumping in some New Jersey beach towns, Long Beach Island is more of an old-school family getaway, complete with salt water taffy, mini-golf, and 18 miles of beach.
Do: Climb the 217 steps of the Barnegat Lighthouse for panoramic views of the island and Barnegat Bay ($3 entry fee). You may even be lucky enough to be in town when the lighthouse is open for a “night climb,” which happens just a few times per summer (check the schedule). When you’re ready to hit the water, try a lesson at LBI Surfing. Non-surfers may want to try an SUP—stand-up paddling—class instead. Group lessons are $55 per person. Finally, don’t forget to grab a beach pass; they start at $5 a day.
Eat: You’re on vacation, so eat some fried food. Locals like The Clam Bar in Beach Haven. Try the fried flounder and fry platter for $12.95 or go old school with Clams Casino ($9.95). The line can get long, but you can always call ahead for take-out (and no matter what you do, mind the no cellphone policy!). For another fun indulgence, head to the infamous Chicken or the Egg, once featured on the Man vs. Food show on the Travel Channel. You’ll have plenty of egg dishes to choose from, of course, but the casual eatery is also known for its chicken wings, which come with a choice of 16 sauces.
Sleep: Rather than overpay for a funky beach hotel, look into renting your own place. A recent search of AirBnB turned up 1-bedroom condos starting at $160 per night, and a 4-bedroom cottage for a manageable $190 a night. Bonus: Many rentals come with bikes, grills, and beach chairs.
Splurge: Go to the original Ron Jon Surf Shop, opened in 1961. You know you want a new pair of board shorts or sunglasses, so pick them up at this massive, wonderfully cheesy beach emporium.
America’s national parks are a shared treasure — and Yellowstone is the granddaddy of them all. Check an important item on your domestic bucket list and pitch a tent here.
Do: Swim, hike, and horseback ride through the two-million-plus acres of our country’s first national park, containing the world’s largest collection of geysers and hot springs — which come in every color of the rainbow. Bring binoculars to get the best view of Yellowstone’s wild fauna, including bison, elk, bobcats, coyotes, moose, mountain lions, wolves, and bears. And of course, catch a glimpse of Old Faithful erupting. The park’s $25 entrance fee is good for a week’s stay, and seniors older than 62 (and their families) and military families can get in for free.
Eat: Nothing beats the smell of barbeque mingling with the fresh outdoor air, so cook outside in one of the park’s designated picnic areas for pleasure — and savings. If you need a break, grab a seat in the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room, located right next to the famous geyser, and order the smoked bison and pheasant and chicken sausage ($15.95) or make your way to Roosevelt Lodge for some farm-raised trout ($18.75).
Sleep: Hotels and cabins are available within the park, but you should decrease the hit to your wallet and up the excitement by pitching a tent in one of Yellowstone’s tent and RV campgrounds. Whereas a room at the Old Faithful Lodge can go for $124 a night in August, camping sites are only $21. There are five grounds where you can reserve spots online, and seven that are first-come, first-served.
Splurge: Bring along some high-quality thermal underwear — the park is surprisingly cold at night, with average lows in late August dipping below 40 degrees. And if you make any gift shop purchases, avoid this book, unless you want to spend your evenings dreaming about bear attacks.
Despite its reputation as a party city, New Orleans is much more than beads and bachelor bacchanals. The city is rich with culture, food, lore, and one of the most American of musical genres — jazz.
Do: Get to know New Orleans and its history intimately with one of Free Tours By Foot’s two-hour walking tours, after which you tip the guide whatever you’d like. Start with the French Quarter tour, where you’ll learn about the city’s founding (details are delightfully macabre and salacious) and see historic spots like the Tennessee Williams house. Then branch out with the cemetery or Garden District tours, where you might glimpse a celebrity pet. In the evening, unless you are a dead serious jazz enthusiast, forgo the long line and $30 ticket prices at Preservation Hall and enjoy a live performance at effervescent (and free-of-cover) Fritzel’s.
Eat: Trying the sweet, fluffy beignets at Cafe du Monde ($2.65 for three) is a crucial rite of passage for NOLA visitors, as is ordering a po’boy from one of the city’s many worthy shops. Wash down the grease with the quintessential New Orleans cocktail, the Sazerac, at the quintessential New Orleans bar: the Napolean House ($7).
Sleep: Skip chain hotels like the Marriott or Hyatt, where prices typically top $200 a night, and soak up local charm by staying at a family-owned bed and breakfast. At the 1830s Creole-style Bourgoyne Guest House on Bourbon Street (just north of the hubbub) you’ll pay only $95 a night for studios overlooking a quiet inner courtyard. The plates in the attached kitchenette come in handy to collect crumbs from a late-night muffaletta.
Splurge: Reward yourself for hours of walking — or dancing at The Spotted Cat — with dinner at romantic, atmospheric SoBou. An appetizer of sweet potato beignets is fancied up with foie gras fondue, duck debris, and chicory coffee ganache ($12).
Always one of America’s most exciting cities, Chicago really comes alive in summer, when residents can finally shed all those layers and get out and enjoy their town.
Do: No matter what part of the city you’re itching to explore, you’ll find an intriguing itinerary at ChooseChicago.com. The site runs down a weekly calendar of what’s going on, and suggests routes through 51 different areas. You’ll also find a bevy of free activities throughout the city this summer, including 30 concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. For more culture, seek out one of the dozens of shows put on by small theater companies every weekend. Tickets usually range from $15 to $35 and Chicagoreader.com offers current listings. Finally, no one with even a passing interest in America’s Game should skip Wrigley Field. Check the schedule and get tickets—some at as little as $20—at the Cubs’ website.
Eat: Start with the classic: a Chicago-style hot dog topped by sport peppers, tomato slices, and bright green relish from Hot Doug’s on the North Side. Or, for the type of neighborhood joint locals love, Stephanie Callahan, of food blog Stephanie Eats Chicago, suggests Home Bistro in Lakeview. “It’s a cozy, BYOB place that always has the best ingredients and freshest flavors,” she says. Want a $20 a person dinner (including tax and tip)? Get away from the downtown Loop for a range of ethnic food, including Mexican, Indian and Vietnamese.
Sleep: Hotels in the city center are pricey in summer, but you can save by choosing a B&B. Check out options in Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods, such as Andersonville, Old Town, or Wicker Park. The Wicker Park Inn, for instance, has rooms in July for $159 a night and occasionally offers special rates as low as $99.
Splurge: Reward yourself for a day of serious sightseeing with an al fresco cocktail at Shanghai Terrace, in the Peninsula Hotel. A Green Tea Mojito or Sour Cherry Old Fashion goes down even easier with a cool breeze and sweeping skyline view.
Need more ideas for summer sojourns? Take our quiz: Which Movie Matches Your Travel Style — and Dream Destination?
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Our mission: to find a geographically diverse group of top U.S. destinations where your summer travel dollars can — with a little bit of planning…
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Marwan Koukash: Salford owner to decide future at the end of the year
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Salford owner Marwan Koukash has said he will decide his future at the Super League club at the end of the season.
Koukash first questioned his ongoing involvement after Salford failed to overturn a six-point deduction for breaching salary cap rules.
The deduction has put them in danger of relegation, as they now go on to play in The Qualifiers.
"The immediate future is we just need to concentrate on ensuring we've got Super League status," he said.
"As for me, I'm absolutely tired physically, mentally and emotionally and I just want to wait until the end of the year.
"My family suffered recently and I just need that time to think it over. I'll decide at the end of the season what I will do."
If he does choose to end his three-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Red Devils, Koukash has already decided what will happen in the future.
"I've always said I'm a custodian of the club and it will always belong to the fans," he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"I will never sell the club onto another owner. I will put in place fan ownership, the season ticket holders will become the shareholders and they will elect a president, chairman and board."
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Marwan Koukash says he will decide if he wants to stay as Salford Red Devils owner at the end of the season.
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Activists picket outside Gracie for Hispanics in City Hall
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A group of angry Latino activists picketed outside Mayor de Blasio’s Puerto Rican Day heritage party at Gracie Mansion on Tuesday night to protest what they say is the paltry amount of Hispanics in high-ranking City Hall positions.
The Campaign for Fair Latino Representation, a coalition of advocacy groups, braved the bitter cold outside Gracie for two hours.
“We’re disappointed with [de Blasio’s] appointments,” said Manny Gonzalez, the president of the National Latinos Officers Association, which is part of the coalition. “They’re lagging. There are some agencies that don’t even have any Latino representation.”
The group says that there is a lack of high-ranking Latinos in 30 city agencies. In addition, it is concerned about the lack of Latinos in top NYPD spots.
According to its stats, the NYPD has only six Latino chiefs out of 82, nine full inspectors out of 113, and 18 deputy inspectors out of 166.
Inside the packed party, de Blasio did not address the protesters.
“If you live in this city, you feel the Puerto Rican soul of this city,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
A spokeswoman for the mayor said he’s committed to “increasing the representation of Latinos, African-Americans, and Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the Administration.”
“We have been very clear in our intention to build an administration that is representative of all New Yorkers and we are proud of the diverse team that we have built to date,” said Carmen Boon.
Officials said de Blasio increased the number of Latino agency heads from 9 to 14%, and the number Latino appointees from 10 to 12%.
Actress Rosie Perez, a long-time de Blasio supporter, attended the party and voiced her support for the mayor.
“I haven’t liked a mayor since David Dinkins as much as I like this mayor,” she said. “He understands the plight of all of us.”
De Blasio, who has been arriving on time to events since he was tardy to a memorial for Flight 587 victims, took the stage at the Puerto Rican heritage party close to 40 minutes behind schedule.
His late arrival at the Memorial sparked outrage among victim’s families after he missed a moment of silence to honor the dead, but this time his lateness was barely noticed.
The Latin band Zon del Barrio played throughout, and guests danced the time away.
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A group of angry Latino activists picketed outside Mayor de Blasio’s Puerto Rican Day heritage party at Gracie Mansion on Tuesday night to protest what they say is the paltry amount of Hispanics in high-ranking City Hall positions.
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Settlement next on recognition agenda
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Australians shouldn't run screaming when a treaty with indigenous people is mentioned, Labor leader Bill Shorten says.
Constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians was on the agenda at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land this weekend, with some advocating for a treaty instead and others calling for indigenous groups to settle individually with the government.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Mick Gooda said he didn't believe Australia would be ready for a referendum by next May, the 50th anniversary of the historic 1967 referendum.
Mr Shorten said May remained his preference, but the referendum council was taking longer to consult, which could affect timing.
But a successful referendum wouldn't be a panacea, he told reporters in Arnhem Land.
"It shouldn't be beyond the wit and wisdom of our nation to be able to recognise our first Australians in the nation's official birth certificate, but that is not in and of itself going to resolve every issue of the last 200 years," he said.
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Treaties and settlements are all part of an overarching conversation on how indigenous people should be recognised in the constitution, Bill Shorten says.
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Earthquake Clues From Ancient Temples in the Himalayas
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Adorned with hand-carved sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, the seventh-century stone and wooden temples scattered across northwestern India are marvels from an era when ancient kings ruled the Himalayas.
But if you look carefully you’ll notice many have tilted pillars, slanted rooftops and warped stone floors. To the average visitor these may seem like wear and tear from centuries of aging, but to archaeoseismologists they are telltale signs of massive earthquakes that once devastated the region.
A pair of researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology used the damaged temples to better understand the range and extent of damage caused by a quake that struck a nearby district in 1905 and another that hit a more distant region in 1555. They say the marks imprinted by these disasters provide clues of potential temblors to come.
The archaeoseismologists reported their findings Tuesday in the journal Seismological Research Letters. In it they wrote that the 1905 Kangra quake killed 18,815 people, and described the other in 1555 as “a destructive earthquake in Kashmir, which ruined towns, killed several hundred people, and changed the course of the River Vesha, a tributary of the Jhelum.”
Their work focused on temples in two towns, Chamba and Bharmour, which are in the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India, about 40 miles apart. The Chamba temples are about 30 miles north of Kangra and the Bharmour ones are about 40 miles northwest of the district. Both towns are about 90 miles south of Kashmir, which is a very seismically active region.
This area has remained relatively quiet for some time, but powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 or larger have ravaged the regions that surround it. One of the deadliest struck the eastern part of Kashmir in 2005, killing more than 85,000 people in northern Pakistan.
The temples, which provide a look into the lives and culture of the ancient people of the Himalayas, are sandwiched between Kashmir and Kangra. Yet, they escaped the 1905 and 2005 earthquakes generally unscathed, and there were no evident signs of the quakes in the area’s geological record.
“The Chamba kings built many temples at different places during their long reign,” Mayank Joshi, lead author of the study, said in an email. “Both earthquakes didn’t generate any deformation and destruction in the Chamba area. This factor led us to study earthquake history of the area.”
By analyzing broken bricks, cracked walls and deformed doorsteps in the temples in both towns and then comparing that data with historical accounts of natural disasters, the researchers linked the earthquakes with damage in the ancient structures.
They were able to tell the difference between deformation done by earthquakes and that incurred through old age. The tremors created damage with consistent patterns, like shear marks, that were seen on multiple pillars and walls. The damage in the unaffected temples they examined did not have similar patterns.
They concluded that the 1905 Kangra earthquake damaged the Bharmour temples, but left the Chamba temples untouched. They also found that the 1555 Kashmir earthquake shook the temples in Chamba, but did not affect the ones in Bharmour. This latter finding helped provide a clearer picture of how far the historic 1555 earthquake was felt, improving upon the few reports that survived nearly 500 years after that event.
Dr. Joshi suggested that because Chamba is surrounded by faults, the area has the potential to become active again. He added that because the findings show that the area had not experienced any major earthquakes in the last 461 years, it could be overdue for a catastrophic quake.
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Damage to Hindu temples built in northern India the seventh century could provide clues about potential earthquakes to come in the region.
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SLS2: Who goes into the Super 8s in top gear?
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With the 23 regular-season games done and dusted, the SLS2 panel ponders who will flourish in the Super 8s to come.
Leeds Rhinos back-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan and former Great Britain and Bradford Bulls player and coach Brian Noble join Tanya Arnold and also discuss the future of rugby league in York, and this week's Challenge Cup semi-finals.
There's also a try of the week and an archive classic involving a hirsute Richard Agar and a young Danny Brough with the York City Knights from Rugby League Raw in 2004.
Catch SLS2 every Tuesday on the BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.
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With the 23 regular-season games completed, the SLS2 panel ponders who will flourish in the Super 8s.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/kit-and-accessories/Luxury-travel-accessories-Orlebar-Browns-anniversary-swimwear/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160802001308id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/travel/kit-and-accessories/Luxury-travel-accessories-Orlebar-Browns-anniversary-swimwear/
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Luxury travel accessories: Orlebar Brown's anniversary swimwear
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20160802001308
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Orlebar Brown's tailored swimwear apparel has attracted quite a following since the British brand's 2007 foundation. In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the company this year is releasing 12 limited-edition designs that reference glamorous beach resorts and experiences from times past, using pictures from the Getty Images collection. Capturing 'An OB Way of Life', the shorts retail at £195, with 10 per cent of all sales going to The Blue Marine Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting marine environments.
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British swimwear brand Orlebar Brown is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a limited-edition range of swimming shorts.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/10993451/Tour-de-France-2014-The-Telegraph-Cycling-Podcast-talks-to-Charly-Wegelius-and-Sir-Dave-Brailsford.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160802005107id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/10993451/Tour-de-France-2014-The-Telegraph-Cycling-Podcast-talks-to-Charly-Wegelius-and-Sir-Dave-Brailsford.html
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Telegraph Cycling Podcast
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20160802005107
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Vincenzo Nibali sealed the first Italian Tour de France victory since 1998 with a solid time trial performance in the Perigord region.
All French eyes were on the battle for the two remaining podium places. Jean-Christophe Péraud, the veteran AG2R-La Mondiale rider came out on top, nudging his younger compatriot Thibaut Pinot into third place. It is the first time since 1984 that two French riders have made it onto the podium. Elsewhere in the top 10, a puncture for Romain Bardet appears to have cost him fifth place. The American Tejay Van Garderen nudged him down to sixth.
As expected, the 54-kilometre time trial on the 20th stage was won by the world time trial champion Tony Martin.
In this, the penultimate Tour de France edition of The Telegraph Cycling Podcast supported by Jaguar, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe report from the time trial and assess the final moves in the overall standings. We hear from Garmin-Sharp team owner Jonathan Vaughters about his team's stage win on Friday and Tour de France boss Christian Prudhomme.
• Follow the Tour de France with our brilliant liveblog • Interactive stage-by-stage guide to the Tour de France • Follow us: @JohnMacLeary | @tomcary_tel | @TelegraphSport • In pictures: Team-by-team guide to the 101st Tour de France • Tour de France on TV
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The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, supported by Jaguar, assesses final moves in the standings and talks to Garmin-Sharp owner Vaughters and Tour de France boss Prudhomme
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http://www.aol.com/article/2016/06/14/drones-set-to-replace-waterboys-seriously/21395303/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160802021324id_/http://www.aol.com:80/article/2016/06/14/drones-set-to-replace-waterboys-seriously/21395303/?
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Drones set to replace waterboys, seriously
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20160802021324
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Ah Drones, our friendly neighborhood, whizzing, flying robot buddies. Think of all the wondrous uses we've found for this modern marvel. They'll race and/or battle one another for our entertainment; in the near future, they'll bring us all of the crap we buy online; they're a nifty tool for snapping creative selfies (just ask Martha Stewart); and they're great for murdering lots of humans, particularly if you don't want to risk sending another human being into a foreign land.
But enterprising students from the Design and Innovation Program at La Jolla Country Day School may have come up with the silliest—by their own admission—use for drones yet: replacing the trusty old sideline water bottle.
SEE ALSO: Meet Baseball's Top Outfield Thrower
You see, the La Jolla Country Day athletic department wanted to figure out a way to ensure that players were gulping down enough water during games. For the kids that were nailed to the pine, it wasn't really an issue. For the starters, though, it remained a nagging concern.
"There was an abundance of water on the sidelines," Andrew Smith, a senior and one of the Hydrone's creators, told NBC San Diego. "The bench players could drink as much water as they needed to. The players on the field that were actually doing the hard work had no way to get water immediately."
So, with a helping hand from Camelbak, a company that describes itself as "the originator and world leader in hands-free hydration systems," they went straight to the drawing board, tossing out ultimately rejected plans for a cannon that would blast water bottles all over the field and a wearable shirt that would contain packets of water, a technological step or two away from the urine-recycling Stillsuit worn by the Fremen in Frank Herbert's "Dune."
Related: Breathtaking photos captured by drones
Drones set to replace waterboys, seriously
Smith's eureka moment came when he realized that they could slap a water bottle on to a drone with a handy-dandy hose attached to "let the athlete drink from it directly," he said. Lest you worry that exhausted athletes grabbing at drones might accidentally lead to a horrific accident in which sweaty, fumbling fingers are sliced clean off, they've got propeller covers already installed and "We have a system where, if you pull too hard on the hose, the hose just detaches and the drone won't come crashing down on you."
SEE ALSO: NFL Player Falls Victim To Bitcoin Scam
For now, it's only being used on practice fields, given that they still haven't figured out how to ensure that it's capable of knifing across the field on a particularly blustery, stormy day, though Smith is confident that the Hydrone will eventually be able to handle inclement weather. "With automatic stabilizers in the flight computer for the drone it could easily combat sudden gusts of wind," he said.
But Smith and his fellow co-inventor, Tomas Miralles, are getting a patent slapped on the Hydrone tout de suite, even if CamelBak isn't ready to go into full production mode yet. Most importantly, the Hydrone netted the pair an A in class.
The post Drones Set To Replace Waterboys, Seriously appeared first on Vocativ.
Follow AOL Sports on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Ah Drones, our friendly neighborhood, whizzing, flying robot buddies. Also: our new waterboys.
| 34.631579 | 0.947368 | 9.263158 |
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203986604577255750107057014
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160802150531id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/SB10001424052970203986604577255750107057014
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Psychos on Wall Street
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20160802150531
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The easiest way to explain the never-ending string of Wall Street scandals and implosions is to observe that a surprising percentage of people in the financial industry are psychos.
The latest edition of CFA Magazine, a trade publication for chartered financial analysts, features an article claiming one out of 10 people working on Wall Street are psychopaths.
Sherree DeCovny, the former investment broker who wrote the piece, says the estimate came from researchers, including a psychologist who treats Wall Street professionals.
In the 2005 book, "The Sociopath Next Door," Harvard University psychologist Martha Stout claims one out of every 25 people in America is a sociopath. She defines sociopath as a person with no conscience.
"Sociopath" and "psychopath" describe a similar range of anti-social traits, including a lack of empathy, no regard for consequences and unbridled risk-taking. Ms. DeCovny defines them this way: "Back when we were little children…and we were learning right from wrong, they didn't get it."
Sometimes these people turn out to be Jeffrey Dahmer and drill a hole through your skull. But if you send them to Harvard and dress them in a fine suit, they could become your boss, your CEO or your senator. They excel in any arena where aggressive behavior is rewarded and where grandiose levels of confidence can result in rousing applause.
I have come to know many psychopaths, from Ponzi-schemers to book-cooking corporate executives. They are always charming and narcissistic. They display wonderfully glib senses of humor and spin the truth like a roulette wheel.
It is often difficult to argue that these people are indeed sick until the day they have to exchange their Armani suit for an orange jumpsuit.
I only know one man who openly admits he's a psychopath. I called him to see what he thought of the numbers Ms. DeCovny reported.
"First of all, it's not one out of 10," says Sam Antar. "It's probably eight out of 10."
Mr. Antar was the chief financial officer of Crazy Eddie, an electronics retailer in the New York area that became one of the more infamous stock-fraud cases of the late 1980s.
Mr. Antar pleaded guilty to felonies, but received no jail time, for assisting prosecutors in charges against his cousin, Eddie Antar, who famously advertised that his prices were just "In-sanne!" (frequently parodied on Saturday Night Live in the Dan Aykroyd-John Belushi era.)
"The reality is, to succeed on Wall Street you've got to be a psychopath in one form or another," Mr. Antar says.
Mr. Antar now teaches law-enforcement organizations how to spot psychos. He thinks of himself as a psychopath in remission, but he admits he could snap back at any time, much like a relapsing alcoholic.
"The only reason I started calling myself a psychopath is because it got me a complete walk from the Feds," he admits.
It may be part of the human condition to venerate psychos, mistaking their grandiosity for leadership.
Ms. DeCovny suggests financial firms screen for psychopathic traits when they are interviewing prospective employees and regularly monitor anti-social behaviors amid their ranks. "Don't we need to learn from the financial crisis?" she asks.
We do. And we won't.
If you work on Wall Street, chances are good you are not a psychopath, but chances are also good you report to one.
Mr. Antar sees it this way: "It's a bunch of crooks dealing with other crooks."
And the smartest ones win.
Al Lewis is a columnist for Dow Jones Newswires in Denver. He blogs at tellittoal.com; his email address is al.lewis@dowjones.com
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A financial-industry trade publication features an article claiming one out of 10 people working on Wall Street are psychopaths. One former CFO says, "It's probably eight out of 10."
| 19.810811 | 0.972973 | 9.513514 |
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118515183503474554
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160802170601id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/SB118515183503474554
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At Ford, the 'Outsider' Is Optimistic
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20160802170601
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DETROIT -- When former Boeing Co. executive Alan Mulally took over as Ford Motor Co.'s chief executive officer last September, Ford was on the way to losing $12.6 billion for 2006. It doesn't project a return to profitability until 2009. High gasoline prices are hammering sales of the sport-utility vehicles that once drove Ford's U.S. profit. The new CEO also confronted the complexity of running a family-controlled company that had long operated as a collection of fiefdoms.
Mr. Mulally is trying to make the most of his...
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Ford CEO Alan Mulally discusses the challenges of running a troubled company in an industry that is new to him.
| 4.857143 | 0.666667 | 1.047619 |
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/big-money-managers-must-stop-stampedes-1466615233
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160803154800id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/big-money-managers-must-stop-stampedes-1466615233
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Big Money Managers Must Stop Stampedes
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20160803154800
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Fund managers aren’t too big to fail, but that doesn’t mean their actions can’t have a big impact on the financial system.
Global rule setters decided against treating asset managers like super-large banks or insurers last summer. However, the Financial Stability Board did plow on with efforts to understand how they can hurt wider markets if they are forced to sell heavily due to the demands of skittish investors in difficult...
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Asset managers escaped ‘too-big-to-fail’ rules, but they still pose stability risks.
| 4.1 | 0.65 | 0.85 |
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http://time.com/4433270/cara-delevingne-st-vincent-girlfriend/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160804013721id_/http://time.com:80/4433270/cara-delevingne-st-vincent-girlfriend/
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Model on Girlfriend St Vincent Annie Clark
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20160804013721
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In an interview with British Vogue, the magazine’s September cover star Cara Delevingne opened up about her relationship with Annie Clark, the singer-songwriter known as St. Vincent.
The Suicide Squad star has been attached to Clark since last year. The model turned actor and certified VIP bacon club member always understood bacon, but now she knows the meaning of life.
“I’m completely in love…..Before, I didn’t know what love was – real love,” she told Vogue. “I didn’t understand the depth of it. I always used to think it was you against the world. Now I know the meaning of life is love. Whether that’s for yourself or for the world or your partner.”
“As a child I used gay as a bad world, as in, ‘that’s so gay’. All my friends did,” Delevingne added. “[Her parents] have been so, so supportive. I’m obviously in love, so if people want to say I’m gay, that’s great. But we’re all liquid – we change, we grow.”
There’s no word on whether she discusses the finer points of bacon in the article, but you can read the full interview in British Vogue’s September issue, out Aug. 4.
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She knows what true love is now thanks to St. Vincent
| 23.181818 | 0.818182 | 1.181818 |
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http://time.com/money/4403023/reducing-social-security-benefit/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160804013827id_/http://time.com:80/money/4403023/reducing-social-security-benefit/?xid=frommoney_soc_socialflow_facebook_money
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5 Ways You're Reducing Your Benefits
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20160804013827
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Social Security is a critical program that provides a financial foundation for seniors across America, and its importance may grow in the coming decades.
As of May, based on a statistical snapshot provided by the Social Security Administration, 40.6 million retired workers are receiving a monthly Social Security benefit. By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau is forecasting that the elderly population will have nearly doubled to 83.7 million from where it stood in 2012, and nearly all of these elderly persons should be receiving a Social Security benefit. If today’s reliance on Social Security is any indication — nearly 6 in 10 retired seniors count on Social Security to comprise the majority of household income — the strains on the program are only going to increase.
These “strains” are a concern because the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees’ recently-released report for 2016 calls for the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust to burn through its $2.8 trillion in excess cash reserves by 2034. Assuming Congress enacts no new laws to boost payroll tax collection or reduce benefits, a benefit cut of up to 21% could be needed across the board to ensure the solvency of benefit payments through 2090.
In other words, seniors need to ensure they’re doing everything they can to get top dollar from Social Security, especially with so many relying so heavily on the program. Unfortunately, there are plenty of pitfalls that are keeping seniors from realizing their full benefit-earning potential. If you’re not careful, these five pitfalls could reduce your Social Security benefit, too.
The most obvious way you could be shorting yourself of a healthy Social Security benefit is by claiming benefits before hitting your full retirement age, or FRA.
Social Security benefits can be claimed beginning at age 62; this is the age that a little more than 2 in 5 seniors will choose to file. However, for each year that seniors wait to claim Social Security benefits, their payment increases in value by roughly 8%. This holds true until age 70, which is where benefit increases max out. An eligible beneficiary is entitled to 100% of his or her benefit upon reaching their FRA, which is a dynamic number that varies based on birth year. For baby boomers this translates to between 66 years and 67 years of age. Thus, if you’re taking benefits at age 62, you’re lopping as much as 25% to 30% off of your FRA for each month for the rest of your life.
Waiting may not be the best approach for everyone, but the earlier you file, the lower your benefit payment will be.
Calculator: Social security retirement income estimator
Another easy way to lower your Social Security benefit is simply by not working at least 35 years and instead retiring early.
The Social Security Administration calculates your monthly benefit payment by taking two figures into account. The first is your average earnings, which means that working in a better-paying job over your lifetime should help pump up your Social Security benefit once you retire.
The other is the length of your work history. Although you need just 40 lifetime work credits to qualify for Social Security benefits (which essentially amounts to 10 years of very part-time work), the SSA averages your income over a 35-year period in its monthly benefit calculations. For each year under 35 that you’ve worked, it averages in a goose egg ($0). The more goose eggs you have, the lower your average annual income will be, and the more your benefit will be reduced. The moral of the story is simple: try to work at least 35 years to maximize your monthly benefit.
Read More: Kansas Man Turns $10,000 into $8 Million
A lack of retirement savings could coerce a number of baby boomers, Gen Xers, and even millennials to work well past the traditional retirement age and into their late 60s or even 70s. But working after you file for benefits can have surprising consequences.
If you’re still working but begin receiving Social Security benefits before reaching FRA, you could be subject to having some or all of your Social Security benefits withheld. In 2016, the SSA limits your full-year earnings ability to $15,720 if you claim benefits before reaching your FRA. For every $2 earned in excess of $15,720, $1 is deducted from your benefits. If you’ll reach FRA in 2016, but aren’t quite there yet, your earnings ability limit rises to $41,880. Should you reach this mark, for every $3 earned in excess of $41,880, $1 is deducted from your benefits. The SSA does not withhold benefits if you file for benefits on or after your FRA.
The good news is that the benefits withheld could translate into a bigger monthly payment after you hit your FRA. Unfortunately, if you were counting on an income boost between age 62 and your FRA, and you plan to work, you may want to rethink that strategy.
Read More: Shark Tank Just Revealed a Trillion-Dollar Idea
Reducing your take-home is also easy if you don’t have a withdrawal plan in place during or before retirement.
It’s an oft-overlooked fact, but Social Security benefits are taxable. Per the Internal Revenue Service, individuals can earn up to $25,000 annually, and joint filers up to $32,000 annually, without having any of their Social Security benefits subject to federal taxation. However, if individual filers earn between $25,000 and $34,000 annually, and joint filers earn between $32,000 and $44,000, half of their Social Security benefits become subject to taxation. Earn more than $32,000 as an individual tax filer or $44,000 as a joint filer, and 85% of Social Security benefits are taxable. Not to mention, 13 states tax Social Security benefits, including four that have no exemptions on income.
The point is that if you haven’t thought about how you plan to access your nest egg during retirement, the tax implications of your distributions, combined with your Social Security income, could come back to haunt you. This is where a Roth IRA, which allows your money to grow completely free of taxation and doesn’t count toward your annual income, could come in handy.
Read More: 5 Dividend Secrets to Build Wealth After 50
A fifth way you could be unknowingly reducing your lifetime benefits is by failing to coordinate your claim with your spouse.
It’s a common misconception that a Social Security decision is all about you, when in reality your decision to file for benefits could have ripple effects for your spouse and/or children. On top of the 40.6 million retired workers receiving a monthly benefit are almost 6.1 million people (widows, widowers, children, and in rare cases, parents) receiving survivor benefits from eligible workers who’ve passed away. If you happen to be the high-income earner of your family and you choose to file for benefits early, you’re reducing the survivor benefit potential for your spouse and/or children if you pass away before your spouse does.
The solution here is pretty simple: Talk to your spouse and formulate a game plan that benefits you both.
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No one's going to look out for you but you.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/fashion/weddings/anna-kostuk-cyrus-shirzadi.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160804030354id_/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2016/07/31/fashion/weddings/anna-kostuk-cyrus-shirzadi.html?&_r=0
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Anna Kostuk, Cyrus Shirzadi
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20160804030354
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Anna Catherine Kostuk and Cyrus John Shirzadi were married July 30 at the University of Chicago Rockefeller Chapel. The Rev. Britto M. Berchmans, a Roman Catholic priest, performed the ceremony.
Mrs. Shirzadi, 30, is the associate creative director for partnerships at TED Conferences, the organization that stages talks and conferences. She graduated from Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smiths, N.Y.
She is a daughter of Teresa T. Thomas of Stoughton, Mass., and Gerard B. Kostuk Sr. of Barrington, Ill.
Mr. Shirzadi, 29, is a stock analyst at SRS Investment Management, a hedge fund in New York. He graduated with honors from the University of Chicago.
He is the son of Diane M. Shirzadi and Fereydoon Shirzadi of Fox River Grove, Ill.
The couple met in a high school geometry class in Barrington and began dating in 2009, after both found themselves living in New York.
A version of this article appears in print on July 31, 2016, on page ST11 of the New York edition with the headline: Anna Kostuk, Cyrus Shirzadi. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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The bride and groom, who met in a geometry class, were married in Chicago.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/preacher-season-one-finale-amazon-prime-review-going-out-with-a/
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Preacher's season finale went out with a bang - review
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20160804180113
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Just as we'd got to know these characters, came shock number two – the entire town was blown to smithereens in an enormous gas-explosion, killing everyone except for Jesse, Tulip and Cassidy. The series undeniably went out with a bang.
This first season felt like it was stuck in the same gear at times, but this bold cleaning of the slate bodes well for the future. With no Annville to return to, the show will be forced to take on a new structure, as the trio drive off into uncharted territory. The last few minutes offered a promising glimpse of this possible close-knit road trip format. In Tulip’s words: “We’re just gonna, like, drive around, shootin’ people, gettin’ wasted and lookin’ for God?” Sounds good to me.
Season one of Preacher is available now on Amazon Prime UK
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The season finale of AMC's supernatural comic-book adaptation Preacher was everything we wanted it to be;
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http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/08/03/12/22/man-jailed-in-wa-over-fatal-bar-brawl
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160805020327id_/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/08/03/12/22/man-jailed-in-wa-over-fatal-bar-brawl
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Man jailed in WA over fatal punch in a bar
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20160805020327
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Jed Beaumont had defeated brain cancer twice, was pursuing a career as a chef and had a child on the way when he was fatally punched and stomped on the head during a bar fight.
The 33-year-old New Zealand man, who worked at Yongah Hill Detention Centre in Western Australia, was left in a coma after the attack at the Commercial Hotel in Northam in April last year and died three weeks later.
The man responsible was 24-year-old Hubert Benjamin Humes, who still claims he joined the fight to defend his cousin despite a jury rejecting his assertion and finding him guilty of manslaughter.
Humes was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Wednesday to nine years in prison and must serve a minimum of seven years behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.
Justice Bruno Fiannaca said the victim was vulnerable and unable to protect himself from the punch.
"Your attack on him was cowardly," he said.
Justice Fiannaca accepted there was some degree of remorse and empathy, but it was obscured because Humes sought to justify his conduct.
It was not the first time Humes has had a brush with the law for violent behaviour.
Humes was warned by a judge about his behaviour when he was handed a suspended prison sentence in May 2012 for twice punching a man and causing him grievous bodily harm.
Justice Fiannaca said Humes' attack on Mr Beaumont suggested he had not learned his lesson, so personal deterrence was an important factor in sentencing.
He noted Humes was a moderate risk of reoffending if he could not control his behaviour.
In a victim impact statement previously read to the court, Luke Beaumont said his brother had a heart of gold and had his life brutally taken.
"Our family has been cruelly ripped apart," he said.
Luke said his happy childhood memories were now sad and future happy times would be overshadowed by his brother's death.
Mr Beaumont's sister, Eliza, described the victim as her best friend.
"Living without him is unbearable," she said.
Justice Fiannaca described the family statements as eloquent and moving, noting their horror and emptiness.
"It will be with them forever," he said.
Mr Beaumont's parents followed proceedings via a link in New Zealand while Humes had many supporters in court.
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A man has been jailed for at least seven years for fatally punching and stomping on a New Zealand man at a pub in Western Australia.
| 16.703704 | 0.851852 | 1.518519 |
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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/29/sports/baseball/mets-break-long-streak-without-a-grand-slam.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160805065433id_/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2011/06/29/sports/baseball/mets-break-long-streak-without-a-grand-slam.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=waldstein%20grand%20slam&st=cse
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The New York Times
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20160805065433
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DETROIT — For a franchise that was once credited with a one-run single when Robin Ventura hit a ball over the fence with the bases loaded, the grand slam has been most elusive for the Mets. For more than two seasons, it was as unattainable as a no-hitter.
The Mets had gone 299 games and 280 plate appearances with the bases loaded since their last grand slam, while their opponents had hit 18 during that span.
So when the opportunity arose in the fourth inning Tuesday night — with Jason Bay at the plate, no less — the chance of a Mets grand slam was slim.
The chance of it happening twice in the span of seven batters had to be microscopic.
But the suddenly free-swinging Mets defy the odds almost daily now, and they certainly did so again when Bay ended the long drought in the fourth and Carlos Beltran followed suit in the fifth with two of the most improbable swings of the season.
The blows by Bay and Beltran led the way as the Mets slammed the Detroit Tigers, 14-3, in front of 28,480 stunned fans at Comerica Park. And amid all the offense, the Mets (40-39) inched above .500 for the first time since April 6, when they were 3-2.
The previous Mets grand slam had been hit by Angel Pagan on Aug. 1, 2009, against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field, so many games, and so many stranded runners, ago.
“To go from that to two in one game is pretty unforeseen,” Bay said.
Nearly 24 months and 300 games elapsed between Pagan’s and Bay’s grand slams, but it took only 19 pitches between Bay’s and Beltran’s.
The victim of Tuesday’s slams was reliever Daniel Schlereth on a really bad night for the Tigers. For the Mets, it was the latest in a series of offensive outbursts.
Jose Reyes, who did not hit a home run, did everything but. He had a triple, a double, two singles, a stolen base and scored two runs, and for the second straight game he had four hits. In doing so, he came the first Met since — who else? — Jose Reyes to have consecutive four-hit games. Reyes also did it June 24 and 25, 2006.
“Of course, the guy that leads the game off,” Manager Terry Collins said, “I mean, I don’t know what to say.”
In other words, Reyes’s banging out all manner of hits has become routine. The grand slams, however, were the most striking thing to happen not just on this night, but the whole year. As R. A. Dickey (4-7), who pitched seven innings to earn the win, put it: “The fact that you’re talking to me is a little bit ridiculous. If I even see my name in the story, I’ll boycott.”
It was only the second time the Mets have hit two slams in the same game, and Beltran has been a part of both. The other occasion was July 16, 2006, when he and Cliff Floyd did it against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in the same inning. It was the ninth grand slam for Beltran, who extended his team lead in home runs (11) and runs batted in (53).
The Mets had not even hit as much as a solo home run since Bay’s last shot against the Oakland Athletics on June 21. But with two outs in the fourth inning, Josh Thole hit his first home run of the season, signaling that this was a game to erase long home run droughts.
Reyes followed with a triple to right and scored on Willie Harris’s single. Then Beltran singled, as did Daniel Murphy to score Harris. That was when Schlereth replaced starter Rick Porcello. Pagan walked and Bay stepped up.
Perhaps no one on the Mets has personified the team’s struggles with hitting home runs more than Bay, who averaged 29 home runs a season until he became a Met, then had just nine since joining the team in 2010. The Mets went into the game with only 47, the fifth fewest in baseball.
But Bay worked the count to 2-1 against Schlereth, waited for a fastball, then sent a towering drive down the left-field line. The only questions for the seemingly cursed Mets were, would it stay fair, and if it did, what craziness would follow to somehow disallow it?
“The way things were going for me,” Bay said, “it would probably hit a bird and go foul.”
That would have been as unlikely as Ventura losing credit for a game-winning grand slam in Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series because in the celebration he never touched home plate.
Bay, unlike Ventura, was able to touch home plate, and no birds were harmed in the making of this game. But the craziness continued an inning later.
In the fifth, Beltran got his turn. After more than two years worth of slamless plate appearances with the bases loaded, the Mets hit two in two consecutive opportunities. That’s production.
“I love R.B.I.’s,” Beltran beamed, “so it was good.”
The slams were part of an overall offensive eruption by the Mets during their last three games. Including two games against Texas, they have scored 36 runs with 49 hits, including a season-high 18 Tuesday. The 36 runs in three games were the most since they scored 36 on Aug 22-24, 2005, at Arizona. The bats have obviously come around.
All that is left now is the no-hitter.
Starter Jon Niese passed a battery of tests at Henry Ford Hospital that he underwent to help determine the cause and nature of his recurring rapid heartbeat. According to John Ricco, the Mets’ assistant general manager, the initial results showed that everything was normal with Niese’s heart. Ricco said the team was still awaiting the results of one more test, though.
A version of this article appears in print on June 29, 2011, on page B10 of the New York edition with the headline: Mets’ Stretch Without a Slam? Gone. Gone. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
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The Mets had gone 299 games since their last grand slam, but Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran hit one in consecutive innings.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/money-saving-tips/12000528/From-Specsavers-to-Tesco-the-cost-of-glasses-on-the-high-street-compared.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160805104222id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/finance/personalfinance/money-saving-tips/12000528/From-Specsavers-to-Tesco-the-cost-of-glasses-on-the-high-street-compared.html
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From Specsavers to Tesco, the cost of glasses on the high street compared
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This is the generic name given to lenses that darken when exposed to ultraviolet light. Opticians may have their own brand names, such as Transitions or Reactions lenses.
Simply put, it’s for the convenience of not carrying around a pair of sunglasses. In most cases photochromic lenses are not suitable for driving as the windscreen will affect the reaction.
These lenses filter out reflected light, which reduces glare.
The sun protection and reduced glare could prove useful around water, for frequent drivers and for those who often use a computer.
The cost of the frame is just the start of the optical purchase Photo: Chloe McCormick and Nicholas O'Donnell-Hoare
Lenses are treated with a special coating to make them more resistant to scratching.
The anti-scratch treatment is often offered to those with reading glasses as they are moved around a great deal. Paying for the coating could prove cost effective; scratches cannot be removed so scratched glasses will need to be replaced.
Some people are prescribed thick lenses, which can be heavy. Sarah Farrant of the College of Optometrists said thicker lenses could also cause distortion, while, for those who are significantly short sighted, thick lenses can make their eyes look small.
Thinner lenses are lighter and more comfortable. They also offer an improved cosmetic appearance and, in the case of "aspheric" lenses (lenses with an outward curve), better vision.
• How to save hundreds on eye tests, glasses and contact lenses
Bifocals allow the wearer to see over both long and short distances. The two parts of the lens are clearly separated by a line.
Varifocals (or "progressives") are more advanced. They have blended vision zones and allow wearers to see over long, intermediate and short distances. While there are no lines, they take time to adapt to as wearers need to get comfortable with the visual transition.
According to Michael Potter at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, with varifocals and bifocals it is a case of getting what you pay for. The more you spend, the more bespoke the lenses will be. Wearers will have better vision zones and less distortion, and, in the case of progressive lenses, easier and quicker adaptation.
Ms Farrant said it was hard for consumers to understand the huge differences in varifocal price.
“Lots of people naively believe a varifocal is a varifocal but they’re colossally different. The lens could cost £50 or £500 and look the same, but it’s about outward vision,” she said.
Jennie Jones of the Optical Consumer Complaints Service said the difficulty consumers faced was the fact that they were placing their trust and money in the hands of a healthcare professional in a retail setting.
She said: "The complexities of the products available, coupled with the individual lifestyle and health needs of each consumer, mean there are often hundreds of variables and options available. As consumers we have to trust those who are advising and supplying those products to us."
The industry is regulated by the General Optical Council, which is replacing its current code of conduct with new "standards of practice" to make clear what is expected of registered opticians. The new regulations cover sales and professionalism. Two clauses read as follows:
16.3 Ensure that incentives, targets and similar factors do not affect your professional judgement. Do not allow personal or commercial interests and gains to compromise patient safety.
16.5 Be honest in your financial and commercial dealings and give patients clear information about the costs of your professional services and products before they commit to buying.
• Have a question for our experts? Email moneyexpert@telegraph.co.uk
• The best of Telegraph Money: get our weekly newsletter
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Our table shows the cost of basic glasses and various enhancements at the major opticians' chains
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Farmers take to CBD to protest tree laws
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More than 300 farmers have gathered outside Parliament House in Brisbane to protest against the Palaszczuk government's vegetation management laws.
Carrying signs reading, "No Farmers, No Food" and "Fair Laws For Farmers", the march started at Queens Park and the chanting crowd passed a handful of environmental activists along George St who were holding signs in favour of the laws.
March organiser AgForce president Grant Maudsley said the protest was timed to coincide with the Royal Brisbane Show, which starts on Friday, because of the number of farmers and their families visiting Brisbane.
"We've got farmers in Brisbane for Ekka so it was logical for us to protest now because we are all here," Mr Maudsley said.
AgForce claims the new laws will make it harder for farmers to work the land, mean fewer jobs and increase the price of produce.
"We haven't asked for a roll-back of major laws, we just want to grow some crops, a bit of high value agriculture and grow our businesses."
He said the Katter Party had shown their support but he was still waiting to hear from independent MPs Rob Pyne and Billy Gordon to support blocking the bill although he was confident that at least Gordon was onboard.
"They (Katter Party) are on side. They're fine, they're with us," Mr Maudsley said.
"We need Billy Gordon. The feedback from his community is that there is no one telling him he should pass the laws as they exist."
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Several hundred farmers have marched on Queensland's Parliament House to declare their opposition to the Palaszczuk government's proposed tree clearing laws.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/5431035/Birmingham-City-owner-takes-pitch-to-save-Daily-Sport.html
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Small, with greased-back hair, the 60 year-old is wearing a Versace shirt and velvet slippers. "Lending my money is high risk, but morally, I wanted to save jobs."
We embark on a tour of his 10-acre estate, taking in the pool, tennis courts and deer park. It is opulent – over the top, even. But the likeably down-to-earth Sullivan only has one house and a single car, despite wealth topping £500m.
Sullivan founded the Sport in 1986, sparking a red-top war . The "sex and sensation" titles, known for their nude girls and jokey content, once sold 660,800 copies each Sunday. Now it shifts just 70,000 a day.
So what went wrong after Sullivan sold out to Sport Media Group in 2007? The problems started with its £1m relaunch as a cross between "Nuts, Zoo, Bravo and Sky Sports" and sales plummeted. Sullivan bemoans the transformation into a titillating lads' mag with shock-and-horror real-life stories and a centre spread with four women in a bath – too unnatural for Sport readers.
But his return to media was not purely altruistic. He was also tempted by the challenge of reviving failing titles with the power of his personality. "I hope that within three months we'll be up year-on-year," he says, indulging in a peculiar tick – licking his finger and dabbing at his neck, arms, face. "I've got a great conscience. I didn't want people to think I'd sold it to make money and left it to fail."
Immediately, Sullivan shut the loss-making Irish version and sold off lads' mag, Front. He has only visited the Sport's Manchester HQ once in 23 years, preferring to cultivate an "air of mystery" from afar, but the saviour and his cheque book have already decided that the new version will picture "more wholesome" women. He also wants to tackle political issues, endorsing UKIP for the EU elections, and has brought back money-off vouchers for his chain of Private Shops.
Circulation is up 8pc since he took over but it is an uphill struggle. For all his swagger, Sullivan admits he has no idea if it will work. "But I firmly believe that there will always be newspapers and the Sport will be one of them," he says. "Newspapers have created their graves by being negative."
There is one thing for news publishers to be grateful for: pornographic publishing is doing even worse.
"Sex shops are a dead business," says Sullivan, who made his first million through mail-order porn and was briefly jailed for living off immoral earnings. "There is so much foreign stuff through the mail that shops can't keep up."
In the 1980s, Sullivan dabbled in blue movies but now he seems reluctant to talk about the sex industry. He drops his time at Watford Grammar and BA in economics from Queen Mary's into conversation – hinting at the juxtapositions of his past as well as the complexities of his character.
Despite being nicknamed the "Sultan of Sleaze" in an unauthorised biography, most of Sullivan's working time is now absorbed by Birmingham City FC, owned with business partner David Gold, famed for his Ann Summers chain.
Sullivan would "love to buy West Ham", currently up for sale, but not while he still owns Birmingham. "The fans really want the Sultan of Brunei or someone," Sullivan says. "I've no desire to spend my sons' inheritance on football and we just don't have the money to compete with bigger clubs."
A workaholic, he puts in 16-hour days and never stops thinking about transfers or circulation. Property is also on his mind now there are fire-sale prices across the market. "I'm back buying. People will stay at home so I'm looking at places like Newquay."
Sullivan is also mulling an entry into politics, but was held back from standing as a UKIP candidate for Europe by the high-profile police inquiry into his dealings at Birmingham FC. He strongly denies any wrongdoing.
"It started off as a bung inquiry and then became about tax," he moans, rubbing his face. "It's awful. I've been interviewed four times, and there's another in eight weeks."
It is these issues that have also prevented the lifelong Tory voter from donating money to the Conservatives, he claims.
So what does he think of his detractors? "Oh, British people are prudes," he laughs. "But hypocrisy is what I don't like – people who gave me a hard time and then are seen at orgies, taking drugs."
He is now at pains to cast himself as a family-orientated man, frequently mentioning his two young sons and his current girlfriend, the glamour model Eve Vorley.
"The most important thing is that my boys grow up to be nice people," he says. "I've never had a cigarette or drug. I don't drink. In my own way, I'm a very clean, liberal and moral person."
Some titbits about Mr Sullivan
Car: I've a Rolls-Royce Phantom but my partner has a Bentley.
Best holiday: Dubai, Las Vegas, France.
Motto - five words: "What's in it for me?"
Favourite newspaper: I read all the tabloids at breakfast.
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David Sullivan, a publisher with a past in pornography, hopes to steer tabloid back to its glory days, writes Rowena Mason
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Ranking the best and worst NFL uniforms
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Sports are made for great debate. Who is the greatest player of all-time? Which defense is the best ever? What quarterback would you want most with two minutes remaining and the Super Bowl on the line? SEE MORE: 27 players who have been arrested multiple times One of the most interesting debates always centers around the uniforms. In the National Football League, 32 teams are trying to better the other franchises. Why? For jersey sales and brand recognition. Some hit the mark and others fall woefully short. It seems some teams are changing looks every couple of years, while others have had the same uniform forever. For the purposes of this power ranking, we aren't going to include when teams throw in some crazy throwbacks. The teams will be judged on their home, road and alternates, not some nonsense like the Philadelphia Eagles trotted out a few years back with blue and yellow. The same goes for the Pittsburgh Steelers and those hideous bubble bee/prison jumpsuits they have going on occasionally.
At one time, Tampa Bay has a good look. When Warren Sapp was in town, the Buccaneers had the pewter look with a cool logo and some pretty standard font. Now? The logo is massive, the numbers look digital and the uniform is too jumbled. A word of advice would be to return to the days of Bucco Bruce. What’s old is always new again, and those original Tampa Bay uniforms are sweet as sugar. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
This team has never really gotten it right. Originally, the Bengals had the word “BENGALS” across the helmet from their inception in 1967 until 1981. Then, they shocked the football world by going for stripes on their helmets, which they still have today. Look, the helmets are alright, but the pants are brutal. Please stop will all the stripes and get a cleaner appearance. It might help Andy Dalton play respectably in the playoffs. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Another uniform which needs an overhaul. The helmet is one of the worst in the league. Why not get an angry Falcon on the side or maybe some color in that bad boy? Go back to the red helmets and change the number font to something readable. Also, those pants. Either commit to the stripe or completely change the pants. Stop sitting on the fence. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
So much of what was said above for Atlanta can be said here. The helmet for Arizona is beautiful, but the jersey is a wreck with all the lines and little details. Get rid of the damn logo on the neckline. We don’t need it. Also, the same complaint as above with those freaking pants. Stop it. You aren’t a high school team. Just give us a stripe to break up the color and move on. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Alright, the Panthers are a team that values tradition. Normally, that gets big points in my book, but not these uniforms. The Panthers need to ditch that all blue top forever and use that only as an accent. The black and white tops are fine, and the logo isn’t bad. However, the helmet stripe is terrible and the colors are too passive. Give me a deeper blue and something to catch the eye. Just a bland look. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The complete opposite of a bland look, taken way too far. Jacksonville has nice colors, but the helmet is ridiculous and the pants are atrocious. Teams are always trying to be edgy and hip, and it ends in total disaster most of the time. The Jaguars looked good in the days of Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith. They also won back then. Don’t be afraid to have a basic helmet with some pizzazz in the top. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston is basic, but gets downgraded for that huge collar they are totting around. The Texans could also try to spice up the helmet a bit. It seems like they wanted to be really conservative and didn’t want to make any errors. While Houston succeeded on that front, the uniform lacks anything to remember it by. Overall, it’s simply another jersey that nobody wants to buy except hardcore fans. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tennessee has a weird uniform. They have alternating shades of blue and a helmet that doesn’t really display who they are as a team. The Titans would do better to alter the helmet, especially with that crappy stripe. When you have a stripe that goes halfway, it’s like you didn’t commit. Don’t be a quitter, Titans. Figure out the helmet and then work on getting the blue shades figured out. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
This uniform has the simplest fix in the world; go back to the original shade of green. Look at those old shots in the 1950’s and 60’s of Chuck Bednarik. See that? It’s beautiful. The green pops and shimmers in the sun, giving life to those uniforms. Now, the uniform looks dark and sometimes doesn’t even appear green. The sleeve patches also need to go. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
The Vikings have great colors, but the pants and sleeve piping knock it down some. Minnesota has enjoyed the same purple and gold color scheme since coming into the NFL in 1961, changing the look just a bit over the years. Still, the pants have that nonsense striping and the sleeves look strange. It would be nice to see the Vikings fix these issues so we can get them back into the top half of the league. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay, File)
The Patriots may be the Super Bowl champions, but the uniforms aren’t getting the job done. The logo is alright, neither great nor terrible. The colors are fine, although there really isn’t much to write home about. The piping on the sides needs to be eradicated as well. However, the pants are solid and the numbers look nice, so they get style points there. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
This would be much higher except for two things: the asinine “BROWNS” on the pants and “CLEVELAND” across the chest. Did anybody see those uniforms and not realize it was the Browns, who happen to play in Cleveland? I hate that. It’s like when people have empty space on the wall and jam a crappy picture up there. LEAVE IT ALONE. We all like a little wall space. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Denver has a decent uniform, although those pesky pants once again hurt the grade. You need to commit, folks. The helmet logo is pretty cool and the blue and orange colors are excellent. While the old helmet logo of the horse jumped through the “D” was awesome, these uniforms are solid. So why 20th? The stripes are garbage and the numbers are bulky. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The purple and black is a really solid look, but the number font is very odd and the pants are a tire fire. Instead of having all black with some “B” logo, get rid of that craziness and put a nice accent on them. The helmet is nice for the most part, giving us a raven who looks like he means business. Still, there is work to be done in the other aspects of the uniform. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Seahawks have some really cool lime green parts to the uniform. It also has a great helmet, one of the best in the NFL. The bird looks appropriately angry and takes up the right amount of space. However, I really have issues with the team when it goes blue-on-blue. It just looks washed out and like a pair of pajamas. Get rid of that combo and move up the list. (AP Photo/Matt York)
I loved the look when Dan Marino was there. Now? The helmet has that ridiculous stripe down the middle and the pants have a futuristic look to them. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just go simple. The Dolphins have a nice teal look with a hilarious dolphin on the helmet wearing a non-matching helmet. It was great. Today, it’s just another face in the crowd. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
The Bills have taken massive steps forward since the days of Drew Bledsoe. They got rid of the ugly piping, changed the helmet from red to white and made the numbers much more simplistic. Buffalo would move into the top 10, without question, if it decided to go back to the rogue, grazing buffalo on the side of the helmet instead of the bootleg logo it has now. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
This is a great uniform. The logo is great. The colors are great. The pants are great. So why the ranking? Because of the f*****g alternate uniform they rolled out. Why? Why would you ruin such a great thing with those ridiculous black and red things that should be donated to the Salvation Army? Please, somebody step in and stop the madness that is those ugly rags. (AP Photo)
The Saints have always had one of the better logos in the league on their helmets. It is understated yet makes a statement about where the team is from. New Orleans needs to do something about the lack of gold in the jersey, though. The Saints have gotten away from having a stripe on their pants and the jersey has too much black. This is a uniform with ample potential.
For the most part, this is a jersey that has never changed. The lion looks happy and ready to play (maybe not what you want as an NFL team, but I digress), the silver and blue is terrific together and the pants are generally solid. The Lions could make the numbers a little less funky and the get rid of some of the excess lines, but overall there is little to complain about. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Washington is in controversial discussions all the time because of its name, but the jersey is an absolute beauty. The helmet is classic and has the best striping in the league. The jersey has awesome colors in burgandy and gold, something that shows up throughout the socks, pants and tops. It is one of the few things the Redskins have gotten right in recent years. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski, File)
Back in the glory days of the 1950’s and 60’s, the Giants wore their current uniforms and looked classy. Fast forward to now, and they are still great. The “ny” on the helmet has a certain timelessness, and the blue uniforms are simply fantastic. The Giants could get rid of those red jerseys for the rest of time and probably never be criticized, although they haven’t worn them recently. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
The Jets had great uniforms when they were busy winning the Super Bowl in 1968 with Joe Namath at the helm. Then they were to a ton of dark green and the “JETS” logo on the helmet for 20-plus years, before finally going back to the originals under Bill Parcells and almost winning a title. There is nothing special, but the green and white colors are terrific along with the logo. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The Rams were the first team to have a logo painted on the side of their helmets. Betcha didn’t know that. St. Louis has kept the look through the years, changing the horns from white to yellow to gold over the years. Still, it is a beautiful scene. Also, the blue and gold of today has class and pizzazz, something that is hard to pull off. It needs to be appreciated. (AP Photo/Whitney Curtis)
The Colts have done it right since the days of Johnny Unitas and Lenny Moore. There is nothing more clean and crisp than the blue and white color scheme along with the horseshoe on the helmet. It should also be acknowledged that the Colts haven’t panicked for some extra sales and created a crappy alternate uniform. These are truly one of the best. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
If the Chargers would ever do the right thing and make the powder blue kits their actual, full-time jerseys, there would be no need for a power ranking. Instead, they continue to insist on the nice but not-as-perfect dark blue uniforms with gold trim. San Diego also has lightning bolts down the pants, something I’m not totally against. I like the look, but would love it with the powder blues. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
The Bears have done a great job with their uniforms over the years. The “C” on the helmet has gone from white to orange over the years, and the GSH has been added since the death of founder George Halas in the early 1980’s, but those are the only changes. In fact, the initials are absolutely fantastic, adding class and substance to an already glowing uniform. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Speaking of class, the Chiefs uniform exudes it. Kansas City has a wonderful helmet and the shade of red throughout the uniform is perfect. The white and red pants are both good, and the numbers/letters are clean and legible. The Chiefs also have a sublime patch to honor both their founder and the creator of the American Football League, Lamar Hunt. It’s right over the hearts of the players. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
If you walked up to a random person who knows nothing about sports and showed them the Cowboys’ helmet, they would know which team it belonged too. Dallas has done an incredible job of coming up with a perfect uniform and marketing the heck out of it, getting itself known as America’s Team. Give the Cowboys all kinds of credit for getting the job done. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Raiders have been really, really bad since going to the Super Bowl in 2002. Yet, they have been able to continually look good with those classic silver and black uniforms. Oakland is known as the renegade stop for football players, and those colors embody that. The Raiders also have a fantastic helmet, showcasing the angry raider ready for battle. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
The Steelers are so unique by only having one logo on their helmet. Additionally, the black and gold is just awesome, playing off each other so well. It would be great if the uniform numbers went back to the Terry Bradshaw-era style, but that probably is just a pipe dream. The pants and tops are perfect, and the number on the front of the helmet is a really cool touch. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Packers are tops. Green Bay has a classic look that has not changed, at all, through the years. The pants are simple, the helmet has a traditional logo and the jerseys are easy to read and beautifully done. The best part? The incredible combination of green and yellow. It is perhaps the best uniform in all of sports, looking amazing against the backdrop of Lambeau Field. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)
More from AOL.com: Watch this NFL running back's 'Walking Dead'-themed wedding photoshoot Bogus photo suggests Tony Romo gained a little weight during the off-season Son of ex-NFL linebacker faces charges for the murder of his parents
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One of the most interesting debates always centers around the uniforms and in the NFL, 32 teams are trying to better the other franchises.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/08/04/chuba-akpom-told-to-stay-at-arsenal-and-stake-his-claim-for-prem/
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Chuba Akpom told to stay at Arsenal and stake his claim for Premier League opener against Liverpool
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Akpom spent last season on loan at Hull City and, although a return of only seven goals hardly suggests that he is the answer, he was part of a team that won promotion via the Championship play-offs. At 20, he is clearly also still developing and did score in both of Arsenal’s pre-season games in the United States.
Unless he succeeds in adding a centre-back over the next week - and Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi remains the main target – Wenger also faces a similar selection quandary in defence. Gabriel is certain to start against Liverpool as one centre-back but Wenger must then decide between playing either Rob Holding or Calum Chambers or asking Nacho Monreal or Mathieu Debuchy to move from their more familiar full-back positions as cover.
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Chuba Akpom has been told that he will not be loaned out at the start of the new Premier League season and will get a further chance this weekend to stake his claim to lead Arsenal’
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Wal-Mart May Buy Amazon Challenger Jet.com for $3 Billion
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Brick and mortar retailer Wal-Mart in talks to buy Amazon challenger Jet.com, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. The deal could be valued as much as $3 billion.
Launched a year ago, Jet.com has received a huge amount of hype after getting hundreds of millions in funding and a nearly $600 million valuation before selling a single purse, microwave, or bottle of laundry detergent on its e-commerce site. Founded by Diapers.com founder Marc Lore, Jet originally launched its membership-based e-commerce site in July 2015 to take on brick and mortar warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco while also competing against Amazon’s bulk products business. For a $50 annual membership, Jet members could buy diapers, cleaning supplies, and sporting goods, promising prices 10% to 15% below elsewhere online.
But in October, Jet dropped its $50 membership fee, which at the time was one of its only ways to make a profit. Because of the discounted prices of around 10% on items, Jet doesn’t make a profit on its sales. But the company said that customers were still happy with 4% or 5% discounts, allowing the company to make some money from selling items like toilet paper and diapers.
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The company has also weathered reports that it was bleeding cash with no clear path to profitability, and scuffled with high profile brands.
But a few weeks ago, Lore told Fortune that Jet’s sales have tripled in the past six months and the company expects profitability in 2020. In December, it sold $33 million in merchandise compared with $90 million in May. The company is on a $1.1 billion run rate, he added.
Lore also said at the time that he is unlikely to raise another round of funding until later this year. In November, the startup raised $618 million in new funding on top of nearly $300 million raised previously. At the time, Jet was valued at $1.35 billion, according to reports.
For more on Wal-Mart, watch:
For Wal-Mart, Jet.com would be more arsenal to compete against e-commerce giant Amazon. Wal-Mart’s $13 billion e-commerce business is slowing and the company is under pressure from investors to grow. In the first quarter of this year e-commerce sales rose only 7% in the quarter. “Growth here is too slow,” Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon said on a pre-recorded call following earnings.
According to recent data from eMarketer, Wal-Mart is the second largest U.S. online retailer, with $12.5 billion in sales in 2015, a far cry from the $82.8 billion Amazon pulled in.
Wal-Mart has been looking to beef up its online marketplace, and said recently it would be adding 1 million items per month to its site. By acquiring Jet.com, Wal-Mart would get more than just an e-commerce site, it would also potentially buy the e-commerce experience of Lore, who sold Diapers.com (whose parent company was Quidsi) to Amazon in 2010 for $545 million. Lore ended up spending a few years with Amazon before founding Jet.com.
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According to a report, Wal-Mart is looking to purchase the e-commerce company.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9076757/Sting-to-become-a-grandfather-after-his-sons-secret-wedding.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160807195953id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/celebritynews/9076757/Sting-to-become-a-grandfather-after-his-sons-secret-wedding.html
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Sting to become a grandfather after his son's 'secret' wedding
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As Sting rolls back the years on tour around the country, he has received a timely reminder of his real age.
Mandrake can disclose that the 60-year-old rock singer will become a grandfather. His son Joe Sumner is preparing for the birth of his first child, two months after he surprised friends by announcing that he had married his girlfriend, Kate Finnerty.
Sumner, 35, who sings with the rock band Fiction Plane, married Finnerty in Big Sur, the tourist destination in California. Many of their friends learnt about the wedding on Facebook.
It is not known whether Sting, or Joe’s mother, the actress Frances Tomelty, 63, were at the ceremony. Sting did not attend the funerals of his parents in 1987 because the media attention would, he said, be disrespectful to their memory.
Sumner graduated in environmental science from Richmond, the American International University in London, after he attended school in the United States.
Sting has four children by his second wife, the American film producer Trudie Styler, 58. When he was asked in 2001 how he would feel about becoming a grandfather, he replied: “I’m not sure I’m ready. I would accept it. Trudie is dying for another baby.”
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Sting, the rock singer, is due to become a grandfather after his son, the musician Joe Sumner, marries in California, to the surprise of some of his friends.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11374252/Yellow-car-photobombs-tourist-pictures-in-pretty-Cotswold-village.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160807200348id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11374252/Yellow-car-photobombs-tourist-pictures-in-pretty-Cotswold-village.html
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Yellow car photobombs tourist pictures in pretty Cotswold village
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The bright yellow Vauxhall Corsa is owned by local resident Peter Maddox, who claims he has nowhere else to park the banana-mobile.
Retired dentist Peter, 82, said: "What choice do I have? There is nowhere else I can put the car."
But local photographers have complained the yellow car is ruining the idyllic shot of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's beautiful location.
Photographer Lee McCallum sparked a debate when he called the car "Bibury's elephant in the room".
He tweeted a photo of the scene from his tour company Kooky Cotswolds account which read: "Bibury's elephant in the room. The picture postcard street photobombed by the ugly little yellow car - every day."
Lee does not object to the car being parked there and claims it reflects the "weirdness of the Cotswolds".
But Lee, 40, added: "Who owns the car? Why is he parking there? Does he know that his car is appearing in so many photos that are appearing all over the world?
"I know the National Trust isn't entirely happy about it, but they can't do anything about it."
Peter Maddox with his yellow Vauxhall Corsa (SWNS)
Semi-professional photographer Robin Lawrence, of nearby Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos., said: "That flipping yellow car! You have an area of outstanding beauty and as a photographer, you are hampered by the car."
Robin, 53, added : "It gets in the way of photographs. I have cursed the yellow car today."
Mike Fletcher, a journalist and photographer from the village, said: "Arlington Row is the most photographed cluster of English cottages in the world so the owner of the bright yellow car either hasn't registered that it's probably causing a lot of extra work on photoshop to take it out, or simply doesn't care.
"I hope it's the former as it makes me laugh each time I see it to think that someone could be that oblivious to how it doesn't fit the surroundings."
Mike, 41, also tweeted: ?"I live in Bibury. Car is always photobombing tourist pics."
Tourist Wendy Harris claimed the car spoiled the picture she took of the spot during a visit in 2013.
Supermarket worker Wendy, 59, from Gloucester, said: "I didn't get the perfect picture because the car was there, unfortunately.
"I took photographs from other angles without it, but then you can't get all the cottages in. Legally, he isn't doing anything wrong but aesthetically, he certainly is.
"I'd tell the owner 'Get a different coloured car.'! Anything but yellow! Speaking as somebody who did once own a yellow car, I wouldn't have parked it in such a place."
Slovakian architect Beata Cachovanova, 31, travelled to Bibury to see the world-renowned Arlington Row, but was sadly disappointed.
Bibury's elephant in the room. The picture postcard street photobombed by the ugly little yellow car - every day. pic.twitter.com/As3dVq3PE3
She said: "It was there and I could not move it. I come across this problem a lot - something spoiling the perfect picture."
Peter, who has lived in a cottage above Arlington Row - on the aptly-named Awkward Hill - for the last 12 years, has no garage.
He said: "They can come and talk to me. I would just tell them there is no where else for me to put it."
Peter bought the bright yellow Corsa a year-and-a-half ago and uses it to do his shopping in the nearby town of Cirencester, Glos.
He added: "She's a lovely car. I saw it and went 'Ahh'. I love it here. It's very nice. The tourists don't bother me - I don't hear them."
Residents of Arlington Row described the twitter spat as a "storm in a teacup" and sprang to Peter's defence.
Retired Francome Robinson has lived in one of the National Trust cottages for the past 23 years.
Francome, 71, said: "Tourists should get a life. They must realise that we live here. These are our homes. Peter has every right to park there and there isn't anywhere else he can park.
The elephant in the room (SWNS)
"There are plenty of places people can take photographs from without getting the yellow car in."
Resident Terence French, 62, who works in security, described the issue as "a storm in a tea cup".
He said: "The residents are annoyed that this has been brought up. It's unbelievable.
"We put up with a lot from tourists here. This is absolutely ridiculous. There are more important things in life."
Locals also claim they expect more respect from the tourists that visit Bibury.
Arlington Row resident Christine Charlton said that tourists open her door if it is unlocked and peer in the cottage windows.
She said: "This is not Disney World. There's nowhere else to park and Peter is quite elderly. I think it is totally ridiculous."
The National Trust said that they had no influence over where Peter parked his car as he is not an Arlington Row tenant.
Spokesman Allan King said: "He is, we believe, parking on the highway which he is entitled to do. Because he is not our tenant or parking on our land, we wouldn't comment on the car.
"We look after the appearance of Arlington Row and try not to have modern intrusions."
Although the National Trust paints the houses on the famous street in colours based on historical evidence, they have no power as to what colour cars residents are allowed.
Residents have a car park at the rear of the row that does not obstruct the view of the cottages.
Arlington Row began life as a monastic wool store but was converted into a row of weavers' cottages in the 17th century.
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Photographers take to Twitter to complain about snaps of Cotswold village of Bibury being ruined by the 'ugly, yellow car'
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/london-mayor-election/11695323/How-much-is-a-pint-of-milk-A-celebritys-guide-to-normal-peoples-lives.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160807200735id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/politics/london-mayor-election/11695323/How-much-is-a-pint-of-milk-A-celebritys-guide-to-normal-peoples-lives.html
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How much is a pint of milk? A celebrity's guide to normal people's lives
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20160807200735
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The road from football to politics is not running smoothly for Sol (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
So in the spirit of education, here are some other basic bits of knowledge that us proles deal with in our day-to-day lives. Celebrities and politicians may be wise to do some swotting up before their next big interview. You can thank me later, Sol.
This one has been tripping up politicians around the world for years, so you'd think they would make sure they knew the answer. Not so. Politicians who have been caught out by the price of milk question include former farming minister Jim Paice, who admitted on Farming Today that he did not know the price of a pint of milk "because my wife buys most of it." Oh dear.
This is actually six pints of milk, which costs £1.48 (Photo: Paul Grover)
Boris Johnson was another who lacked basic milk knowledge - though he headed off the issue in his unique ebullient way, with a "so what?"
Need to know: A pint of milk costs around 49p, if you're buying it from Tesco.
Ed Miliband came a cropper with this one last year. When asked for the average price of a family's grocery shop he estimated a value a good £30 lower than the real amount.
When Gwyneth Paltrow attempted to do the 'food stamp challenge' earlier this year, in which people attempt to live on $29 a week to show the difficulty of living on food stamps, she didn't exactly cover herself in glory, posting a picture of low-calorie, high-priced items including garlic and fresh parsley.
This is what $29 gets you at the grocery store—what families on SNAP (i.e. food stamps) have to live on for a week. pic.twitter.com/OZMPA3nxij
Need to know: A food shop for the average family of four costs £100. And if you're boasting on social media about doing a low-cost shopping challenge maybe buy something that might actually fill you up.
Piers Morgan admitted earlier this year that being fired from the Daily Mirror a decade ago had been a harsh re-introduction to reality. He hadn't sent a letter himself for ten years, and tried to lick the back of a stamp - only to be told by his amused (and probably slightly exasperated) former PA that stamps are sticky now.
Stamps: sticky now (Photo: Reuters)
Need to know: Stamps are self-adhesive, and have been since 2001. And a first-class stamp costs 63p, in case you get caught by that one, too.
Apparently U.S. teen reality star Kylie Jenner can't do her own laundry. She is only 17, but like few other 17-year-olds, she's moving into a $2.7m 4,851 square foot house in Los Angeles suburb Calabasas. So she should probably learn pretty quickly.
There's no way she'll wash and iron that dress herself (Photo: Rex)
Few other stars have been questioned on the topic, but I'll bet there are a fair few who've never done a dark wash or ironed a shirt in their lives.
Need to know: Separate your lights and darks, whack in some washing powder and you're good to go. Beginners should tread carefully with the tumble dryer if they'd like their clothes to remain the size they are.
This is a particularly controversial one, given that it's the figure that thousands of pensioners across the country have to live on.
Nick Clegg came a cropper in 2008 when a viewer question saw him estimate the basic state pension at a third of its real value.
The retiree who had asked the question was underwhelmed. "It is just a bottle of wine or a lunch to him," he said. Oh dear.
Not the man to ask for help with your pension (Photo: Getty Images)
Need to know: The maximum basic state pension is currently £115.95 per week, but under new pension rules the full new State Pension will be no less than £151.25 per week, with the actual amount to be set later this year.
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As Sol Campbell admits he doesn't own an Oyster card and rarely takes the Tube, here are some tips for other celebrities on staying in touch with reality
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/7511134/Hitler-sketches-that-failed-to-secure-his-place-at-art-academy-to-be-auctioned.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160807205435id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/culture/art/art-news/7511134/Hitler-sketches-that-failed-to-secure-his-place-at-art-academy-to-be-auctioned.html
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Hitler sketches that failed to secure his place at art academy to be auctioned
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Hitler moved to Vienna as a young man in 1905 and lived a bohemian life, making small amounts of money by selling pictures he copied from postcards.
At one point he ended up in a hostel for the homeless and later he claimed it was in Vienna where the fires of his anti-Semitism were ignited.
Michael Liversidge, Emeritus Dean of Arts at Bristol University, where he has taught art history since 1970 and was head of department for 21 years, has studied the pictures.
He said: "Of course, remembering the Hitler diaries which turned out to be turkeys, one has to be careful though these do look authentic and presumably have been checked out as to their provenance.
"They look quite typical of an aspiring student hoping to get into art school - tentative and not very certain about his perspective when he's using pencil and pen, making basic errors by getting the top and the bottom of a candlestick wrong in relation to each other and so on.
"And he doesn't yet have much in the way of technical skill, but it's not so bad that one can't imagine him learning - especially when he's bolder with the charcoal or black chalk.
"But there's no latent genius here, and not much beyond a moderate GCSE. Probably if the artist was at school today you wouldn't encourage him to keep the subject up at A Level.
"So if they are part of a portfolio submitted with an application to study at a major European art academy, the selectors were right to reject him - they just don't suggest he was more than pretty marginal and mediocre for a potential art school entrant then or now.
"If they are what he sent in he definitely wouldn't have been worth interviewing for a place.
"Now, of course, they have an altogether different historical interest for us, but sadly that isn't one that has anything to do with art."
Richard Westwood-Brookes, who is selling the archive, said: "We know Hitler was twice turned down by the Vienna Academy of Art.
"The second time in 1908 he wasn't even invited to take the exam. These works make up a collection that he would have submitted.
"They are the type of pictures that a student would produce to show a range of techniques.
"Of course it is possible that Hitler's rejection from the Vienna Academy of Art was something that helped shape his character and turn him into the monster he became.
"It's the first time the pictures have come to light and can be seen by the general public.
"The vendor is an artist based on the continent and has had them for many, many years."
The 12 pictures are expected to sell for up to £6,000 each.
The sale at Mullock's auction house in Ludlow, Shropshire, takes place on April 16.
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Drawings believed to be those that Adolf Hitler submitted in a failed attempt to gain entry into the Vienna Academy of Art are to be auctioned.
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http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/driven-hospital-virginia-man-tased-shackled-and-dies-police-custody
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160807225649id_/http://www.msnbc.com:80/msnbc/driven-hospital-virginia-man-tased-shackled-and-dies-police-custody
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Driven to hospital, Virginia man tased, shackled and dies in police custody
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20160807225649
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When three Virginia police officers put Linwood Lambert in a squad car around 5 a.m. on May 4, 2013, they said they were taking him to the ER for medical attention because he was speaking delusionally. Just over an hour later, Lambert died in police custody.
He was never given medical care, though the officers of South Boston, Va. did drive him to the hospital. He was not initially put under arrest, though the officers ultimately arrested him, shackled his hands and legs, and tased him repeatedly. While in custody he was agitated and ran from the officers. Ambulance workers say police later claimed he fought them at a time when videos show he was actually unconscious. Police dispute that account and deny allegations of excessive force.
Over two years later, there have been no charges and no full public accounting of what happened. But a new investigation, including police videos obtained exclusively by MSNBC, shows the deadly trip for the first time.
A RIDE TO THE HOSPITAL
Linwood “Ray” Lambert, a 46-year-old man who worked in construction, was staying at a Super 8 motel in South Boston, a town of about 8,000 people in Southern Virginia. In the middle of the night of May 4, 2013, police received calls about noise complaints at the hotel. When three officers came to Lambert’s door just before 5 a.m., they say he was acting paranoid, hallucinating and telling them there were bodies buried in the ceiling.
Since Lambert was unarmed and not suspected of any crime, the officers did not arrest him. They thought he needed medical care, so they told him to come on the short trip to Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital.
“Why are you trying to kill me, man? Don’t do it, please don’t do it, please officers.” Linwood Lambert pleads to officers The officers cuffed Lambert’s hands for the ride, but assured him, “we’re not locking you up, we’re going to the ER”
“Why are you trying to kill me, man? Don’t do it, please don’t do it, please officers.” Linwood Lambert pleads to officers
The three officers, Cpl. Tiffany Bratton, Officer Clifton Mann and Officer Travis Clay, departed the hotel in three police cars. Video from one shows an officer calling the hospital, asking for the mental health care worker on duty.
On the ride, Lambert looks increasingly agitated. The video shows him asking about a light in the backseat, and then about a squad car trailing them. An officer tells him, “you good, trust me.”
A few minutes later, though, everything changed.
As the officers pulled up to the hospital, Lambert kicked out the squad car window.
Video from inside the car shows officers yelling at him to stop. When they cracked the passenger door, Lambert jumped out, sprinting roughly 20 feet towards the ER entrance and crashing into the building’s glass doors.
The officers ran after him and began tasing him. In response, Lambert’s body goes stiff and, with his hands cuffed, his arms could not break the fall when he hit the cement. The three officers surrounded him on the ground.
One ordered him to “stay down;” another, Officer Bratton, told him, “Every time you get up, I’m going to pop you.”
Lambert told them, “I didn’t do nothing,” and can be heard moaning in the recording. The officers tell Lambert to lie down, stay down, get on his belly, and roll over – while warning they will taser him again.
“I’m going to light you up again – roll over, roll over, turn over!” Bratton says.
Lambert remained on the ground, saying OK, but the officers tased him again. They restrained his legs with shackles.
Then, as Lambert appears subdued on the video, the officers warned Lambert they would taser him again. “I’m going to hit you again,” Bratton tells him.
Then Lambert says, “I just did cocaine.”
For the first time that night, officers tell Lambert he is under arrest, calling it in for disorderly conduct and destruction of property.
Lambert pleads to the officers, “Why are you trying to kill me, man?,” and asks them to stop the tasing, saying, “don’t do it, please don’t do it, please officers.”
MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts, 11/11/15, 4:25 PM ET
Tom Sweeney, a lawyer for the family of Linwood Lambert, who died while in police custody after being repeatedly tased outside of a hospital.
As videos from the hospital and police cars show, the entire scene plays out right in the doorway to the ER, with nurses and hospital staff watching. But then the officers make a fateful decision – to take Lambert away without getting him medical care, the original reason they took him into custody.
Instead, they hauled him back into the squad car and began a new round of tasing.
Police video shows Lambert shackled and subdued in the car, apparently restrained, as officers warn him again and tell him to sit up.
“Act like you got some sense,” says one officer. Another warns, “sit up or I’m going to tase you again.” Reaching into the car with two Tasers, the officers tase Lambert as he slumps down in the seat.
At one point, Officer Clay made contact with Lambert’s neck inside the car, and the officers discuss whether Lambert was trying to bite him. The video does not appear to show a direct bite occurring. Clay went to the ER later that morning, at 7:35 a.m., to get treatment “for a possible bite,” according to police records. In his incident report, he writes that Lambert “was biting at me.”
In addition to the video, nurses on the scene say they saw “three officers” tasing Lambert “at one time,” according to hospital records obtained by MSNBC.
A single, 5-second Taser discharge carries 50,000 volts and generally incapacitates a person, because it temporarily turns the human body into an electricity conductor. Law enforcement experts caution against repeat tasings.
Yet the three officers discharged their Tasers a total of 20 times over roughly half an hour. (The figures are from company device reports issued by Taser International, obtained by MSNBC.)
Those discharges amount to roughly 87 total seconds of potential tasing – a level capable of inflicting serious injury or death, according to federal guidelines. While the videos clearly show multiple tasings connecting with Lambert, not every recorded discharge necessarily makes human contact.
Most of those discharges were from Officer Bratton, who used her Taser 15 times, including 10 times in a two-minute span.
When the final tasing inside the car ended, Officer Clay drove Lambert back to the jail, and Officer Bratton drove back separately.
Officer Mann remained briefly at the hospital, where he was recorded talking to a hospital worker, who asked if the police were going to bring Lambert inside.
“We were,” the officer said, chuckling, “now he’s going to jail.”
“He’s bleeding like a hog,” he said, “we thought he was crazy, and then he finally told us he was on cocaine.”
As the officers make the short drive to jail, the squad car video shows Lambert unconscious. The officers notice his state when arriving at the jail, where they checked Lambert’s pulse, attempted CPR and called for help.
Then an ambulance came and took Lambert back to Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital – the same ER the officers had originally brought Lambert to for treatment.
Hospital records show Lambert was flatlined on arrival at 6:06 a.m. – just over an hour after his trip with police began. He was pronounced dead at 6:23 a.m.
Lambert’s sister, Gwendolyn Smalls, learned of his death when police called her that Sunday morning.
“We got the phone call that he had died, while in police custody,” she told MSNBC. “We were all shocked.”
She says police refused to provide basic information about what happened that night. She kept calling the police and hospital, asking for details, but says she was only told that her brother was repeatedly combative, and then he died at the hospital. Police did not provide her the videos, or information from them.
Smalls ultimately filed a civil suit against the police this summer, alleging excessive force, wrongful death, denial of medical care and other claims, which the police categorically deny. That $25 million suit led to a court order forcing police to give Smalls the videos from that night.
She watched them for the first time last month, at her father’s house. “It was horrible,” she said, “a nightmare.”
Lambert’s father, Linwood Lambert Sr., 66, told MSNBC he doesn’t have the words to describe what he saw.
“I can’t say what I was thinking, it was awful,” he recalled. “You wouldn’t do any human or any species like that. I don’t think anyone could hate someone that bad to inflict pain such as what they did,” Lambert said. “I don’t see anything that he did in that tape,” Lambert added, “that would provoke them to do what they did.”
Gwendolyn Smalls’ lawyer, Tom Sweeney, argues the police broke the law because they used excessive force for the situation.
“The mere breaking of a door,” he said, “does not warrant the use of hundreds of thousands of volts being shocked into a person’s system on multiple occasions by multiple parties.”
Sweeney also stresses it is illegal to taser someone who is restrained and in custody.
“When someone is restrained,” he said, “you’re not allowed to taser them.”
The South Boston Police Department’s own rules state Taser use “is no longer justified once the subject has been restrained.”
When a tasered suspect needs medical help, those rules state officers may “take the suspect to the emergency room at the Halifax Regional Hospital,” and should do so “before” taking the suspect to jail. (The rule is General Order Number 211, effective since May 2007.)
Federal guidelines also strictly limit Taser use.
The Justice Department states that police should limit tasings to people showing “active aggression” – not passive individuals, or those “fleeing” without posing a separate danger. The guidelines discourage repeat tasering, noting that exposure lasting over 15 seconds can “increase the risk of serious injury or death and should be avoided.”
“The mere breaking of a door does not warrant the use of hundreds of thousands of volts being shocked into a person’s system on multiple occasions by multiple parties.” Tom Sweeney, lawyer for Gwendolyn Smalls
In fact, a 2011 federal review of “in-custody deaths” related to Tasers found “many are associated with continuous or repeated shocks.”
Taser International notes that most lab testing of Tasers hasn’t “exceeded 15 seconds,” and cautions police to “use the shortest duration” of tasing that is “objectively reasonable for lawful objectives.”
Jim Cavanaugh, a former ATF agent and NBC law enforcement analyst, reviewed extensive videos of the tasing incident. He concluded the officers deployed “improper use of force in every regard.”
“It’s excessive force through excessive use of a Taser,” he said, “on a prisoner who is in a dire medical condition, and is restrained already, and that’s very disturbing.”
Cavanaugh added, “it just hurts me to watch officers do that to the guy.”
South Boston police declined to comment to MSNBC about the incident. Their lawyer, Jim Daniel, said “cases in litigation ought to be decided in the court system,” not through public comments.
In court filings in response to that civil case, the police deny all allegations that Lambert was mistreated. They say the use of force and repeat tasings were “appropriate and necessary,” because Lambert damaged property and posed a danger.
As for the most severe charge, wrongful death, police point to Lambert’s autopsy, which lists “acute cocaine intoxication” as his cause of death.
Lambert admitted to cocaine use that night, and the autopsy found he had “less than 0.01 mg/L” of cocaine in his blood – a relatively low level that could still account for an overdose.
Timeline – May 4, 2013 4:28 a.m. Virginia police arrive at motel for noise disturbance 4:58 a.m. Police say they find Linwood Lambert talking delusionally and take him to the hospital. He is not under arrest 5:03 a.m. At hospital, Lambert kicks squad car window and runs towards ER Approximately 5 a.m. - 5:28 a.m. Police repeatedly tase Lambert and shackle his legs Lambert says he did cocaine Police put Lambert under arrest Police take Lambert from hospital doorway and put him back in squad carPolice tase Lambert inside car repeatedlyPolice drive Lambert to jailLambert appears unconscious as car arrives at jail, police attempt CPR and call for help 5:28 a.m. Ambulance takes Lambert from jail back to hospital 6:06 a.m. Lambert flatlined on arrival at hospital Sources: Police and hospital video obtained by MSNBC; Hospital incident report; Medical Examiner’s Report & Autopsy; court filings; police statements from court filings and hospital records. “Having a level of 5 mg/L or higher would be more consistent with death due to cocaine intoxication,” said Dr. Lewis Nelson, a medical toxologist and emergency medicine specialist at NYU. “Low levels don’t rule out cocaine as a cause of death,” Nelson told MSNBC, noting that a .01 level is “consistent with recreational use but could also be consistent with overdose.”
Virginia police arrive at motel for noise disturbance
Police say they find Linwood Lambert talking delusionally and take him to the hospital. He is not under arrest
At hospital, Lambert kicks squad car window and runs towards ER
Approximately 5 a.m. - 5:28 a.m.
Police repeatedly tase Lambert and shackle his legs
Lambert says he did cocaine
Police put Lambert under arrest
Police take Lambert from hospital doorway and put him back in squad car
Police tase Lambert inside car repeatedly
Police drive Lambert to jail
Lambert appears unconscious as car arrives at jail, police attempt CPR and call for help
Ambulance takes Lambert from jail back to hospital
Lambert flatlined on arrival at hospital
Sources: Police and hospital video obtained by MSNBC; Hospital incident report; Medical Examiner’s Report & Autopsy; court filings; police statements from court filings and hospital records.
The autopsy also found Lambert had three wounds suggestive of tasering on his body, and cited police accounts that he was “tased at distant and contact range.”
Sweeney argues, however, that the autopsy was conducted without complete information about how many times Lambert was tased.
“There’s a reference in the coroner’s report to tasing,” he said. “There’s no reference to the fact that Mr. Lambert was tasered multiple times, by multiple police officers at the same time while he was in the back of a police car, and subsequently died shortly after that,” he said.
Sweeney wants to present independent medical testimony on how the repeated tasings may have contributed to Lambert’s death.
The case is in the discovery stage, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday. If it goes to a trial, a judge would tell jurors to weigh all legitimate evidence regarding potential causes of death. (Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital declined to comment on the incident, when contacted by MSNBC in person and via email, citing open litigation against the police department.)
Sweeney also argues a jury will be skeptical of how the entire police interaction evolved, since Lambert was taken into custody for medical help, not as a criminal suspect.
Lambert did have a lengthy criminal record, including drug felonies and driving felonies, though Sweeney says that history is legally irrelevant in a case alleging excessive force.
“The police didn’t know that when they were tasing him,” Sweeney said, “you can’t use the fact that he had interactions with the law before to justify unlawful use of force – you don’t lose your constitutional rights because you’ve been involved with the law before.”
In filings to date, the police do not mention Lambert’s previous criminal record.
In legal filings and statements, South Boston police have focused more on Lambert’s condition on the night in question. The officers not only maintain the tasings were legally justified – a question of force – but also that the tasings did not seriously injure Lambert that night – a question of medical fact.
In depositions taken in early October, officers said Lambert’s injuries were either minor or not urgent. Officer Clay said Lambert could have any injuries treated at the jail, a more suitable place “if he needed more medical attention.”
Officer Bratton was asked how she decided Lambert did not need immediate medical attention, based on his condition when officers left the hospital. She said he looked like “he needed a Band-Aid.”
Sweeney has a different view of the night’s events, arguing the tasing was especially objectionable because it was so evident Lambert needed medical help.
“The video is a horrifying thing to watch,” Sweeney said, because Lambert is clearly “in trouble, in noticeable respiratory distress,” and yet police still taser him repeatedly and deny him medical care.
Smalls is even more emphatic.
“Taser is what killed my brother,” she says, “the continuous hold of fifty thousand volts of electricity going into his body.”
While the legal case turns most on the conduct that night – did officers use excessive force, did Lambert repeatedly provoke them? – MSNBC’s investigation also found medical records indicating police made statements after Lambert’s death that appear to be contradicted by their own videos – and by later accounts of the night.
In the hospital’s official rescue incident report, ambulance workers state police told them Lambert was “combative” at two instances when the video appears to show otherwise.
First, it states police said Lambert was “very combative” when they encountered him at the hotel, although ultimately “were able to detain [him] with assistance from other officers.”
But the video shows Lambert walking out the hotel with the officers voluntarily.
MSNBC Live, 11/11/15, 1:32 PM ET Virginia man tased and shackled, dies in police custody A new investigation, including police videos obtained exclusively by MSNBC, shows Linwood Lambert’s trip for the first time. In addition, the officers neither asserted Lambert was under arrest at the time, nor do their later statements allege a physical altercation at the hotel.
MSNBC Live, 11/11/15, 1:32 PM ET
A new investigation, including police videos obtained exclusively by MSNBC, shows Linwood Lambert’s trip for the first time.
Second, the hospital report states that after leaving the hospital, police say they took Lambert “to the jail where he again was combative. After they finally got him to the ground he was in the prone position and he calmed down. Then they realized that the patient was not breathing and they started CPR.”
That claim of another combative, physical altercation also appears to be false – the video shows Lambert was unconscious on arrival at the jail, and officers can be seen dragging his limp body out of the car.
“The story in the ambulance record is markedly different than what actually happened,” Sweeney told MSNBC, citing the ambulance workers’ account of police statements. “I’m not saying they lied,” Sweeney said of the officers, “but that he is combative and alive at the jail is demonstrably untrue.”
However the misinformation made it into the hospital report, it was some of the only information Lambert’s family received about that night.
When they first filed their lawsuit, Sweeney notes, he “only had those medical records” for an account of what happened at the jail, (not the video or extensive police statements).
It is important to note the officers also filed incident reports within days of Lambert’s death, obtained by MSNBC, which depict the jailhouse events consistent with the videos. The reports accurately note Lambert was “quiet on the ride to the jail” and “not breathing” on arrival. In addition, police briefs filed this year do not allege an altercation at the jail.
Smalls, Lambert’s sister, believes the police sought to make Lambert sound more combative than he actually was.
Ultimately, she says real justice won’t come from her civil suit. She wants to see the officers held accountable in jail.
Virginia State Police conducted an investigation of the incident. A State Police spokesperson, Corrine Geller, told MSNBC State Police “initiated the investigation at the request” of South Boston Police Chief James Binner, and it “turned its findings over” to two prosecutors “for final review and adjudication.”
The original prosecutor, Halifax County attorney Tracy Quackenbush Martin, has been investigating the case since 2013.
“The investigation remains open,” she told MSNBC this week.
She said a second prosecutor, Michael Herring, was appointed this year to work for her on the case, in order to enhance “public confidence” in the process, given his experience with similar matters in the past.
According to police records from March 2015, obtained by MSNBC, a South Boston police officer said Ms. Martin told him she thought the officers were not at “criminal fault” for Lambert’s death.
The officer, Lt. D. W. Barker, wrote that Martin met with him and another police official about the investigation, and “advised that she had looked into the matter and felt that the officers had no criminal fault in the investigation,” but she also wanted another prosecutor “assigned to the case to review everything behind her.”
Ms. Martin did not dispute Lt. Barker’s statement in an interview with MSNBC this week, but said “it would be premature to comment on a preliminary opinion when the investigation is still pending. I will withhold a final judgment until my investigation is complete.”
Over two years after the State Police investigation and Martin’s investigation, there have been no charges in the case.
All three officers have been promoted.
MSNBC’s Jamie Novogrod contributed to this report.
Watch the longer raw footage in the video below:
MSNBC Live, 11/11/15, 1:05 PM ET
Watch more of Linwood Lambert’s interaction with police officers from South Boston, Virginia, on the night he was taken into custody and died.
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A new investigation, including police videos obtained exclusively by MSNBC, shows the deadly trip for the first time.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/belgium/mons/articles/a-weekend-break-inmons/
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A weekend break in... Mons
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Sitting on its mound or mont, the Belgian town of Mons is waking up to its new role as one of two European Capitals of Culture 2015 (the other being Pislen in the Czech Republic). As part of the celebrations, it is rediscovering a rich cultural past, restoring industrial heritage and enhancing some of the innumerable former monasteries dotted around its streets. It’s a town with an eye on the future, too, its “Creative Valley” incubators seeking to overcome recent industrial decline, a theme that’s also evident in many of the events of Mons 2015 (slogan “Where technology meets culture”). Visit mons2015.eu for Mons Street Review, an interactive revision of Google street view, with Mons streets invaded by strange creatures and installations.
Sitting on its mound or mont, the Belgian town of Mons is waking up to its new role as one of two European Capitals of Culture 2015.
The easiest option is by train on Eurostar (0871 964 0551; eurostar.com) from London St-Pancras International to Bruxelles Gare du Midi, with a connection (45 minutes) to Mons (the onward ticket is included in the Eurostar fare, from £59 return). Of all the 2015 projects, only the station is running extremely late: currently a pile of prefabs awaits the new station designed by Santiago Calatrava now set for 2017. Alternatively, fly with British Airways (0844 493 0787, britishairways.com), Easyjet (0330 365 5000, easyjet.com) or Brussels Airlines (0333 222 0777, brusselsairlines.com) to Brussels, then use the train for your onward connection.
Opened two years ago in a former convent, Hôtel Dream (1) at rue de la Grande Triperie 17 (00 32 65 32 97 20; dream-mons.be) is cheerfully quirky. Ask for one of the Gothic rooms, some with vaulted ceilings, bits of arch or lacy stone Neo-Gothic windows, or a theme room (the modern rooms are bland in comparison). Double rooms from €112.50.
Check availability: Hôtel Dream, Mons
Hôtel St-James (2) at place de Flandre 8; 00 32 65 72 48 24; hotelstjames.be) is an attractive converted townhouse . It’s next to the ring road, but its 21 black-and-white rooms are stylish and well soundproofed. Double rooms from €90.
Check availability: Hôtel St-James, Mons
Hôtel St-James is an attractive converted townhouse .
Part old brick house, part new building, Infotel (3) at rue d’Havré 32; 00 32 65 40 18 30; hotelinfotel.be) makes up for its lack of design kudos with a central yet quiet position in a courtyard on a street leading to the Grand’ Place. If you don’t mind the lack of a lift in the old building, beamed attic rooms have a kitchen and views over the city. Double rooms from €65.
Read more: the best hotels in Brussels
After checking in at your hotel, head for dinner at Vilaine Fille, Mauvais Garçon (4) at rue de Nimy 55 (00 32 65 66 67 62; vilainefillemauvaisgarcon.be). Despite the name – ugly girl, bad boy, the title of a Gainsbourg song – it’s a stylish and minimalist place matched with inventive modern cuisine. I had a crunchy duck confit ball in stinging-nettle sauce, monkfish with razor-clam risotto and chocolatey vilaine fille dessert.
If you’ve still got the energy, see what’s on at L’Alhambra (5) at (rue du Miroir 4; alhambramons.com), a 1920s cinema turned bowling alley turned music venue, with rock and electro concerts and soirées that go on into the early hours.
Be sure to stroke the head of the small cast-iron monkey on the facade of the town hall.
As with any self-respecting Belgian town, all roads lead to the Grand’ Place, ideal starting point for exploring the old town and its fine brick and stone houses. The square is the hub of the crazy Doudou festivities that take place each year on Trinity Sunday (May 31 this year), when St George fights the Ducasse or “Doudou”, a scaly-green dragon. One side is a vision of municipal pomp with the 15th-century Gothic town hall (6), Neo-Classical Théâtre Royal, St-George’s Hall, used for exhibitions, and the tourist office; the other side a line of tall brasseries and cafés. Be sure to stroke the head of the small cast-iron monkey on the facade of the town hall, with your left hand – said to bring good luck – and then walk into the cobbled courtyard, going through the small tunnel to the Jardin du Mayeur or mayor’s garden, exiting on the left towards the Belfry.
With its onion-bulb roof, the Unesco-listed grey stone Baroque Belfry (7) is visible for miles, especially now it’s floodlit at night, though it’s surprisingly hard to spot from up close. A discrete staircase, ruelle César, climbs up from rue des Gades, through the remains of a turret to a small park where the belfry sits on the site of the former castle. The belfry, which has been closed for 30 years, is set to reopen in July with interactive displays, a panoramic lift and occasional chances to watch the carillon-player.
With its onion-bulb roof, the Unesco-listed grey stone Baroque Belfry is visible for miles.
Visit the lofty Gothic Collégiale St-Waudru (8) on rue du Chapître, dedicated to Waudru or Waltrude, founder of the city in the 7th century. Just downhill, a tall red-brick former chapel opens on 7 April as the Artothèque (9) at rue Claude de Bettignies; artotheque.mons.be) a storage, restoration and research centre for all the town’s museums. Below the church on place Léopold, you can see the beginning of La Phrase, perhaps my favourite emanation of Mons2015, a line of hand-painted black and white text that by December will form a 10-kilometre loop of poetry winding round the city.
Wander back to the Grand’ Place via pedestrianised shopping streets like rue de la Chaussée or rue des Friperies and rue de la Coupe for a light lunch, perhaps mussels or Belgian specialities at Ces Belges et Vous or mussels, salad or game at Copenhague Taverne.
The undoubted highlight of the opening season is the exhibition “Van Gogh in the Borinage: the Birth of an Artist” (until May 17) at the glass-fronted Beaux-Arts Mons, or BAM (10) at rue Neuve 8 (bam.mons.be; €15). Drawings, letters and early paintings trace Van Gogh’s decisive stay among the mining communities of the Borinage area around Mons in 1878-80. The houses where he lived at Cuesmes and Confontaine are set to open to the public later this year.
The undoubted highlight of the opening season is the exhibition “Van Gogh in the Borinage: the Birth of an Artist.”
Time for an apéritif at Le Quartier Latin, a peket at Tango Factory or one of the other lively bars on place du Marché aux Herbes (11).
Have dinner at La Madeleine (12) at rue de la Halle 42 (00 32 65 35 13 70; lamadeleine.be) renowned for its excellent fresh fish and shellfish, or sample young chef Lisa Calcus’s modern take on market produce at Les Gribaumonts (13) at rue d’Havré 95 (00 32 65 75 04 55; lesgribaumonts.be).
Visit Les Abattoirs (14) at place de la Grande Pêcherie (abattoirs.mons.be, €5), a 1850s slaughterhouse that now houses an arts centre and gallery. “Mons Superstar!” (until 12 April) rediscovers forgotten Mons scientists and inventors.
Around the corner, the Carré des Arts (15) at rue des Soeurs Noires 4a) is an the art, theatre and music school complex that will be used for several events during Mons2015. From 12 March, it will house Café Europa, combining a convivial café, digital workshops and a lab where you can print out objects on 3D printers and screens connected to Café Europas in other European cities.
Mons is a town with an eye on the future, too.
1. The tourist office is at Grand’ Place 22 (00 32 65 33 55 80; visitmons.be)
2. One-way systems and pedestrianised areas mean it’s easiest to get around Mons by foot, unless you’re visiting sights outside town, such as Silex’s, UNESCO-listed Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes, where a new visitor centre opens in April.
3. The local speciality is côte de porc à la berdouille: pork chop in mustard sauce
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A guide to short breaks in Mons, Belgium, including the best things to see and do, plus recommended bars and restaurants.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/11188756/Vodafones-6bn-Spanish-takeover-of-Ono-tarnished-by-tax-fraud-allegations.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160808112129id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/11188756/Vodafones-6bn-Spanish-takeover-of-Ono-tarnished-by-tax-fraud-allegations.html
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Vodafone's £6bn Spanish takeover of Ono tarnished by tax fraud allegations
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Tax authorities had already been probing the claims for nine months when Vodafone agreed to acquire Ono in March, according to Spanish reports. Investigators informed Ono in June, prior to the completion of the Vodafone takeover in July, the reports say.
Vodafone’s own inquiry is being carried out by Deloitte and the City law firm DLA Piper. It is believed to be focused on what Mr Castellano, Ms Portela and Mr Sagasta knew about the alleged tax fraud and the official investigation, and when. Forensic auditors are trawling executive emails for evidence.
It is understood Vodafone was not told about the investigation before the takeover was completed and no trace of the alleged off-balance-sheet fraud was uncovered by its due diligence process.
A Vodafone spokesman said: “As soon as Vodafone became aware of the issue we instigated a forensic audit to investigate the facts relating to the alleged fraud.
“As this matter remains under investigation, we cannot comment further.”
Mr Castellano, a former chief executive of the retail giant Inditex, has called the decision to withhold bonuses for former Ono executives “absurd and unjust” and said he will sue Vodafone.
He said: “They have not paid me a bonus and it is false that we have had involvement in irregularities.
Mr Castellano said trading in international calling minutes represented only 1.6pc of Ono revenues and claim any fraud would have had little impact on its financial performance. He suggested Vodafone was looking for excuses to downgrade the value of Ono.
The scandal casts a shadow over Vodafone’s plans to become a major provider of fixed line telecoms services. It is expanding its networks across Europe via acquisitions and by building new infrastructure so it can offer consumers bundles of mobile, broadband, phone and television services.
It snapped up Ono from its private equity owners amid competition from John Malone’s cable group Liberty Global. The deal valued the Spanish company at 7.5 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation in 2013, which Vodafone said “comfortably” met its takeover criteria.
It is understood the scale of the alleged fraud at Ono is not yet clear to Vodafone’s investigators.
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Investigators called in to probe wholesale trading as £50m in bonuses for Ono management is held back over what they knew about the scandal when Vodafone bought the company
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/indonesia-blows-up-23-foreign-fishing-boats-to-send-a-message-1459852007
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160808120421id_/http://www.wsj.com:80/articles/indonesia-blows-up-23-foreign-fishing-boats-to-send-a-message-1459852007
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Indonesia Blows Up 23 Foreign Fishing Boats to Send a Message
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Indonesia destroyed 23 foreign fishing boats on Tuesday, as worsening relations over the disputed South China Sea drive countries to take tougher action to defend their maritime sovereignty.
Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said her agency sank 10 Malaysian and 13 Vietnamese boats that were caught fishing illegally in Indonesian...
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Indonesia destroyed 23 foreign fishing boats Tuesday, as worsening relations in the disputed South China Sea drive rival states to take tougher action to defend their maritime sovereignty.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11755552/Michael-Gove-left-on-crutches-by-the-lack-of-Sunday-NHS-services.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160808121350id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/nhs/11755552/Michael-Gove-left-on-crutches-by-the-lack-of-Sunday-NHS-services.html
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Michael Gove left on crutches by the lack of Sunday NHS services
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Ms Vine argues that the incident proves the need for the “reformation” of the NHS that Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has set out, which most notably included plans to create seven-day service in all departments.
Sarah Vine and her husband Michael Gove, outside Parliament
She says that her husband, “like most people, doesn’t have a spare half-day to sit around awaiting the pleasure of the hospital radiographer”, and calls for all departments to work longer hours to provide for people like him.
Her comments come as the British Medical Association hit back at the Health Secretary’s proposals, stating that they amount to a “wholesale attack” on the “precious institution”.
They claim that all patients, regardless of the severity of their complaint, will be seen in 24 hours, despite a clause in consultant’s contracts which allows them to opt out of non-emergency work during weekends or evenings.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article wrongly implied that all NHS radiology departments close on Sundays. They are in fact open 24 hours a day for emergencies in many hospitals other than the minor injuries unit attended by Mr Gove. We are happy to make this clear.
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Michael Gove's wife has called for all NHS services to be available 24/7, after her husband was let down by the lack of Sunday services
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-in/8415449/New-footage-of-tsunami-obliterating-Japanese-city.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160808121711id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/worldnews/asia/japan/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-in/8415449/New-footage-of-tsunami-obliterating-Japanese-city.html
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New footage of tsunami obliterating Japanese city
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The footage shows the devastation wrought to the fishing community of Kesennuma by a 33ft tsunami triggered by Japan’s strongest ever earthquake.
The port, around 300 miles north-east of Tokyo and formerly home to 74,000 people, was left in ruins after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck on on 11 March 2011.
According to the latest police death toll, the catastrophe killed 7,197 with almost 11,000 still officially listed as missing.
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New video of the moment the sea surged into the port of Kesennuma, Japan, after the country was struck by an earthquake has been posted online.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/10798785/True-cost-of-Labours-pension-tax-raid-and-others-since-Seventies.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160808124152id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/finance/personalfinance/pensions/10798785/True-cost-of-Labours-pension-tax-raid-and-others-since-Seventies.html
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True cost of Labour's pension tax raid (and others since Seventies)
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A document published quietly last week shows that Labour’s raid on pensions in 1997 is now costs taxpayers nearly £10bn a year – double the amount Gordon Brown had initially outlined.
The Treasury is able to collect this money because Mr Brown abolished the tax relief pension funds earned on dividends from stock market investment.
The policy, one of Mr Brown’s first as Chancellor, has played a starring role in the collapse of final salary pensions in Britain. In the late Nineties, many of these funds were in surplus – in other words they had more than enough money to meet current and future payments to retired workers.
But that situation lastly only briefly, with rapid increases in life expectancy and a less benign investment leaving many companies facing bulging deficits today. Without the tax credits on dividends, pension funds went into terminal decline, and now just one in 12 staff are in a final salary scheme, according to figures published by the Daily Mail, down from 34pc in 1997.
In reality, Mr Brown’s raid, which has raised nearly £118bn to date, was far from the only government policy to cripple British pensions over the last few decades.
The data published last week by the Office for Budget Responsibility, which offers independent analysis of the Government’s financial policy, looks back at 40 years of tinkering by chancellors from just before the general election in 1970 to George Osborne’s revolutionary “Budget for savers” last March.
The document isn't limited to pensions, either. Take a look for yourself. However, it will suffice to say that the receipt from Mr Brown’s 1997 pension tax raid sticks out as one of the highest-yielding Government tax policies of the last 20 years.
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Gordon Brown's £10bn-a-year pensions grab from 1997 among policy-by-policy data showing four decades of tinkering by British chancellors
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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/opinion/sunday/trump-the-bad-bad-businessman.html
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Trump, the Bad, Bad Businessman
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20160808194419
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The greatest scoop of my journalism career started at a poker table with a tip from an agitated banker.
It was a Thursday night in late May 1990. I was a 32-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter who had written dozens of articles about Donald J. Trump’s business affairs. I was closing in on the biggest one of all — Mr. Trump was on the brink of financial ruin. He was quietly trying to unload his assets. His Atlantic City casinos were underperforming, and prices for his casino bonds were plummeting, suggesting that he would have trouble making interest payments.
“Donald Trump is driving 100 miles per hour toward a brick wall, and he has no brakes,” the banker told me. “He is meeting with all the banks right now.”
The next day, I called sources at the four banks I knew had large Trump exposures. The first three calls yielded “no comment,” but the fourth hit pay dirt, and I was invited to visit the bank late that afternoon.
Behind a large mahogany desk sat the bank’s chief lending officer. He explained that all of the banks would have to agree to a huge restructuring of Mr. Trump’s loans or Mr. Trump would have to declare personal bankruptcy. Unknown to the banks when each had lent him money, Mr. Trump ended up personally guaranteeing a staggering $830 million of loans, which was reckless of him, but even more so for the banks.
In a front-page Wall Street Journal article on June 4, 1990, I wrote: “Donald J. Trump’s cash shortage has become critical. The developer is now in intense negotiations with his main bank creditors that could force him to give up big chunks of his empire.” One banker said, “He will have to trim the fat; get rid of the boat, the mansions, the helicopter.”
Amid all the self-made myths about Donald Trump, none is more fantastic than Trump the moneymaker, the New York tycoon who has enjoyed a remarkably successful business career. In reality, Mr. Trump was a walking disaster as a businessman for much of his life. This is not just my opinion. Warren Buffett said as much this past week.
Between 1985 and 1991, working mainly for The Daily News and The Wall Street Journal, I covered Mr. Trump’s travails and interviewed him dozens of times. On several occasions he threatened to sue me, though he never did. But he didn’t hide his opinion of me. In “Trump: The Art of the Comeback,” his 1997 book, he wrote: “Of all the writers who have written about me, probably none has been more vicious than Neil Barsky of The Wall Street Journal.”
At the time, he was a glamorous New York City personality and an Olympic-level self-promoter who had persuaded banks and bondholders to extend him billions of dollars of credit to buy everything from a yacht to the Plaza Hotel to the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle.
He was also a skilled negotiator with an almost supernatural ability to pinpoint and attack his adversaries’ vulnerabilities, as several of his Republican primary opponents discovered. Since his financial emergency in the 1990s, he appears to have sworn off taking on large amounts of debt, and instead has used his brand to collect fees on real estate and other projects. This has greatly limited his downside risk, but has also capped the amount he can earn, since he often does not own the underlying equity on the projects that bear his name.
Since leaving journalism in 1993, I have been a Wall Street real estate analyst and a hedge fund manager. I have studied how businesses thrive and why they fail. Mr. Trump’s political rise has been maddening for me to watch, and I sometimes feel like the character played by Kevin Bacon in the movie “Diner” who screams the right answers to a TV quiz show as the contestants get them wrong.
“The issue isn’t that he’s crass,” I want to shout. “It’s that he’s a bad businessman!”
Hanging on my office wall is a letter written on gold-leaf stationery, dated March 22, 1990. “Dear Neil,” it reads. “From your first incorrect story on Merv Griffin — to your present Wall Street Journal article, you are a disgrace to your profession! Sincerely, Donald J. Trump.” (Mr. Griffin was a Trump rival.)
The article I had just written took a skeptical look at the ability of Mr. Trump’s newly opened Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City casino to make the interest payments on its bonds. I quoted an analyst saying, “Once the cold winds blow from October to February, it won’t make it.” Mr. Trump complained to the man’s employer. Within days, the analyst was fired. But his prediction would prove prescient.
At 70, Mr. Trump is 12 years older than I am. As I watched his career soar in the 1980s and the inordinate amount of press attention he attracted, I was struck by two things: His list of real estate accomplishments were minuscule compared with those of more successful New York developers who garnered far less publicity, and he lied a lot. He made up the prices he was getting for his condominiums, the value of bids he had turned down for various properties and his prospects for luring corporate tenants to his buildings.
And, of course, he lied about his wealth.
Then and now, we in the media helped enable the Trump myth. He made great copy. Early on, I noticed that any article I wrote about him — whether for the tabloid Daily News or the serious Wall Street Journal — would get great play. This invariably led me and others to dig deeper for Trump news.
Oddly, he seemed less interested in making money than in creating the perception that he was wealthy. This is why, I believe, he continually floated plans to build the world’s tallest building. People would notice. His feuds with Forbes magazine over his net worth were legion.
Once, in April 1990, as I was trying to glean the extent of his financial distress, he produced as evidence of his financial strength a letter from an accounting firm saying he had close to $400 million in cash and cash equivalents. The letter did not include liabilities, however, and less than two months later, Mr. Trump was negotiating a lifeline with his bankers.
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The real estate and casino developer I covered as a reporter in the 1990s was a disaster.
| 69.722222 | 1 | 2 |
high
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high
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mixed
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11622718/Immigration-nation-where-are-the-Britains-migrants-coming-from-and-why.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160809011103id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11622718/Immigration-nation-where-are-the-Britains-migrants-coming-from-and-why.html
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Immigration nation: where are Britain's migrants coming from, and why?
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20160809011103
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Around 29,000 came from Australia, 27,000 from Poland, 22,000 from France and 20,000 from the USA. Malaysia and Portugal are the 14th and 15th most popular countries of origin, with 9,000 and 8,000 migrants from each respectively.
So what drew them to Britain? Three-quarters of immigrants to the UK are people migrating to work or study, the Office for National Statistics said in its study of long-term international immigration.
According to the ONS, most British expats are coming back to Blighty for work-related reasons, with 46,000 doing so last year. The next most common reason is "going home to live" - with 14,000 returning home for that, followed by 11,000 coming back to accompany or join relatives, and 5,000 British expats coming home to study.
"Generally, immigration of British citizens remains relatively stable, both in terms of the overall level and the main reasons for immigrating," the ONS notes.
So what work are these immigrants doing? A look at the Home Office's figures on what skilled work visas were issued, by industry sector, reveals that most of them were for people going to work in the IT or communication sector. Other fields like science and finance follow closely behind.
It should be flagged up here that these figures would apply to migrants outside of Europe, as those in the EEA do not require a visa to enter the UK.
Any change to immigration policy by the government, like tightening up visa rules, will affect how many people come in. So what factors could have changed things over time?
Immigration regulations were relaxed in 2006 for citizens and their family members in the European Economic Area (i.e. the European Union and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), as they were then allowed to live and work in Britain without explicit permissions. Bugalra and Romania joined the European Union that year, with transition arrangements in place to control migration.
• Emigration nation: who are the thousands fleeing Britain each year?
• Immigration rises to highest ever level under David Cameron - live
In 2008, the United Kingdom's visa system was bolstered, with tier 1 ("high-value migrant"), tier 2 ("skilled migrants") and tier 5 ("temporary worker") being implemented to regulate immigration for work for nationals from outside of Europe. The age at which person can enter the country as a spouse is raised from 18 to 21, which would impact on those coming to Britain to join a partner.
• New laws won't solve Britain's problem with immigration • The unsayable truth about immigration: it's been a stunning success
In 2009, as the recession hit, "tier 4" of Britain's points-based visa system was introduced for students, with student visas peaking at more than 300 thousand for the first time. After student immigration rules were tightened in 2011, the number of student visas issued fell.
Immigration does not mean there's a constant stream of people coming into Britain, as some do later leave. What originally attracted them? Work - again - appears to be the main reason.
According to the ONS' International Passenger Survey (INS), 86,000 former immigrants who had come to Britain, and left in 2014, said they originally had come to the country for work-related reasons. Around 65,000 said it was because they had completed their studies. Of those who had previously immigrated to the UK for work, 49,000 (57 per cent) were EU citizens, 13,000 (15 per cent) were citizens of the old or "new" Commonwealth, and 12,000 (14 per cent) were citizens of other foreign countries.
Britain's migrants have been coming here mainly to work, or study, although David Cameron has seized upon the number of coming to look for work as proof that the European principle of free movement is being abused, saying this week: "Freedom of movement was always supposed to be the freedom of movement to go and take a job, and that is the freedom of movement I support."
The Prime Minister is trying to balance keeping Britain "open for business" with his desire to make it "less attractive place to come and work" for illegal immigrants. The flow of immigrants into Britain will continue to be much watched, and emotive, issue.
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As Gillian Duffy once asked, where are they flocking from? Our map shows the top countries of origin
| 39.952381 | 0.47619 | 0.761905 |
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8044586/Having-faith-helps-patients-live-longer-study-suggests.html
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160809012056id_/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/health/news/8044586/Having-faith-helps-patients-live-longer-study-suggests.html
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Having faith 'helps patients live longer', study suggests
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20160809012056
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He added it was the “personal relationship between the patient and God, regardless of religious creed rather than formal church attendance that positively affected survival”.
It did not matter what relgion a person believed in.
In their study, researchers selected 179 patients who had received a liver transplant between January 2004 and December 2007.
The group, the majority whom were male and middle aged, also completed a “religiosity” questionnaire before being monitored for the next four years after their transplant.
Almost two years later, religious patients were three times as likely to survive as those who did not hold such faith.
After three years, almost seven per cent of the actively "seeking-God" patients had died compared to more than a fifth of non religious believers.
The researchers concluded that the “search for God factor” coupled with a patient’s length of stay in an intensive care unit were “independently associated with survival”.
One participant, who was not identified, told the researchers that they “recovered” their life through the will of God, which made them “feel strong and calm”.
The study pointed to previous research, which it said showed people with HIV as well as heart patients, kidney dialysis patients had better survival chance if they were religious.
Last month researchers from Penn State university found that losing faith was bad for a person’s health as leaving a strict religion made people more likely to increase their drinking and smoking and were more susceptible to negativity and stress.
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Believing in God can help people live longer, a study has suggested.
| 21 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
medium
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low
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abstractive
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http://time.com/4247479/republican-debate-donald-trump-general-election/
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http://web.archive.org/web/20160809033317id_/http://time.com:80/4247479/republican-debate-donald-trump-general-election/
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Why Donald Trump Won't Change
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20160809033317
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Melania Trump said in a recent interview that she wanted her husband to perhaps tone down his rhetoric, maybe start acting a bit more presidential. From the start of Thursday night’s debate, it was clear that she was not Donald Trump’s principal adviser.
It was a debate that highlighted the GOP’s descent into the Twilight Zone, where facts don’t matter and displays of bravado substitute for policy. Within minutes of the start of the debate in Detroit, Trump was assuring supporters that his, um, hands were adequate—and it only escalated—or spun into the sewer—from there.
It was a spectacle unlike any other in modern debate history, with facts playing a minor role, records cast aside and personalities taking primacy over political purity.
“Look at those hands. Are they small?” Trump asked the crowd, holding his mitts up. “And he referred to my hands—if they are small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there is no problem.” The audience roared.
Read More: Watch Trump Talk About His Private Parts at the Debate
It should come as little surprise he was talking about his manhood. After all, this is a man who months ago said that Hillary Clinton got schlonged in 2008.
There was every reason for Donald Trump to pull back. He’s close to winning the nomination. His core supporters love him. Now is the time when every political manual would advise the candidate to pull his punches, soften his image, start looking ahead to the general election.
Not Trump. Donald Trump doesn’t read those political tomes about campaigns past, he reads The Art of the Deal, which advises acolytes to break all the rules and encourages dramatic overpromising in the form of “truthful hyperbole.” And on Thursday, he showed that Citizen Trump will not stop being himself just because he’s on the cusp of becoming Nominee Trump. If anything, he’s going to be even more Trumpian.
He doubled-down on that persona, including his rough words for rivals “Lyin’ Ted” and “Little Marco.” If Barack Obama’s campaigns were a therapy session for the nation’s aspirations, Trump is offering a master class on ad hominem attacks.
Read More: Trump Faced His Toughest Debate Opponent: Megyn Kelly
At moments, the debate seemed like a deposition over a class action fraud suit over Trump’s non-accredited university and at others a college fraternity house. It took almost no time before Trump was responding to Rubio’s mockery of his hand size, Rubio calling Trump a con artist, Cruz saying Trump funded Democrats—and Ohio Gov. John Kasich trying to play the stern mediator of a messy, messy divorce.
This is now the tone of the campaign, one embraced by these men who want the highest office in the land.
“Marco is going to continue to aggressively make his case that Donald Trump is a con man,” Rubio senior adviser Todd Harris said. “If Trump pops us and says we sweat, we’re going to hit him back and point out the fact that he doesn’t sweat is because his pores are clogged with tanner. We would prefer that the tone and tenor of this race would be elevated and substantive, but if the media was interested in covering that debate, then everyone would be watching PBS.”
More than anything else, it was Trump’s night. He spoke for more than 26 minutes in the two-hour event, seven more than the next-closest candidate, and almost twice as long as Rubio. The Floridian’s advisers said they’d continue to use the zingers in pursuit of coverage, especially with two weeks to go until Rubio faces a make-or-break contest in his home state.
Yet the rules of politics no longer apply. Trump is likely to face the first female nominee for President, and he started by talking about his private parts. “Is this the debate you want playing out in the general election?” Cruz said as Rubio and Trump shouted over each other. Republican voters, for the moment, seem OK with that.
Read More: This Was the Biggest Disagreement at the Republican Debate
From his perch on the corner of the stage, Kasich did his best to rise above the fray, declining time and again to criticize his rivals on stage. He was pleading for civility and pitching himself as a sunny optimist. With his home state voting on March 15 in a win-or-quit election for him, he’s betting Midwest modesty has a win for him.
But Kasich the superego was overshadowed by Trump the id. He has earned a pass time and again on vulgarities, hypocrisies and in the name of “telling it like it is.” Thursday night was no different, as he brushed past the vagaries of his positions and instead insulted his opponents.
As moderators pried for substantive details and challenged his outlandish math to balance the budget, Trump simply spoke louder and more quickly. Presented with a separate series of three video clips of his shifting positions—sometimes within a matter of hours—Trump relentlessly denied ever changing his mind.
But just as quickly, he admitted reversing his stance in opposition to H-1B visas. “I’m changing, I’m changing,” he said. It is not clear that Trump ever believed the lines he was saying in interviews over the years, or if he just speaking off the cuff. An hour after the debate, Trump released a statement flipping his position again, saying he’s always been opposed to the visa program for skilled economic immigrants.
“You have to be flexible because you learn,” Trump said, in a line that will be used against him endlessly over the coming weeks by the desperate effort to stop him launched this week by the Republican mainstream.
The night made for unbelievable spectacle inside a grand old theater in battered Detroit. It was yet another success for Fox News, which has staged some of the most capable debates of this campaign. But it might foretell a failure for the party to come together once there is a nominee. All four candidates publicly declared they would support the eventual GOP pick, although it was clear from the lack of enthusiasm that Trump shouldn’t count on much help from those on stage with him.
By the end of the night, Trump was interrupting his rivals with a staccato “wrong.” It kept the candidates on their toes and had, at times, knocked them off-balance. It might be masterful at a negotiating table, but it was hardly the posture Americans have liked in the past in a president.
“Wrong,” Trump bleated on stage in the debate’s final moments as Rubio criticized him as a weak-on-specifics contender. “Wrong.” The more he said it, the more right it seemed.
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Thursday's debate showed he's sticking with it.
| 133.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
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