The notion of getting all the video entertainment you want without paying a massive cable bill—a.k.a. cord cutting—has gone from a tech-world fantasy to a viable mainstream option in what seems like a matter of months.

The reason? The recent emergence of new streaming services like Dish Network’s Sling TV, which includes a sampling of the most popular “basic” cable channels, and HBO Now, the only streaming service to include HBO shows, has coincided with Amazon and Netflix coming into their own as producers of serious television. The result is that virtually every class of TV watcher can find most of what they need without paying a cable bill.

But with all this choice comes the challenge of understanding these new and unfamiliar services—and figuring out which combination of them would serve your needs at the lowest price.

One approach is to use one of the cord-cutting “calculators” at sites like The Verge and Slate, which allow users to pick out which services they’re interested in and then tally up your savings relative to cable. These are useful, but they generally don’t take into account a key cord cutting enabler: the ability to purchase shows a la carte through iTunes and Amazon, usually within a day of their original airing. This isn’t new technology—iTunes has been selling television downloads since 2005—but it changes the streaming calculus because it means you can easily and cheaply plug any gaps in whatever bundle of streaming options you choose.

Another often-ignored cord cutting technology is the indoor TV antenna, the modern equivalent of the old-school “rabbit ears,” which can cost under $10 and gives free access to network content. It’s not on-demand (unless you shell out extra for a recording device), but for live events like the Super Bowl or the Oscars, having an antenna could be a lifesaver.

Read next: 7 Streaming TV Packages That Will Let You Cut the Cord For Good

In designing our guide, we took all of these factors into account and simplified things, designing five bundles of online television programing—one of which, we think, will suit just about any type of TV viewer. For each bundle, we show you the price, the projected savings compared to the 2014 average basic cable price of $66.61, and how many additional a la carte TV seasons (estimated $30 per show) you could buy before cable would be more cost-effective.

This option is for you if you like to follow the latest network and non-premium cable shows, like The New Girl, The Voice, The Flash, or Modern Family. Hulu Plus ($7.99 per month) offers current programs from FOX, NBC, ABC, the CW, as well as delayed or archived content from cable channels like Comedy Central and FX. You can add CBS shows, like Big Bang Theory, for another monthly fee of $5.99.

That still leaves a significant gap in cable content, which can be closed using Dish Network’s Sling TV. Sling offers AMC (Mad Men, Walking Dead), TNT (Falling Skies), TBS (Conan), A&E (The Returned), and ABC Family (The Fosters), among others, for $20 a month.

Sling is a good deal for serious TV fans, but if you’re not going to watch at least eight different shows on those channels per year, it’s cheapest to just get your Mad Men/Walking Dead fix by buying individual seasons on iTunes or Amazon Instant Video. That strategy, ironically, is pretty much what Dish Network’s chairman recommended back in 2012—before his company owned its own streaming business.

The Plan: Hulu, CBS All Access, Sling TV

Price: $407.76 per year ($33.98 per month).

Savings: $391.56 per year ($32.63 per month).

You could buy about 13 additional show seasons before cable becomes more cost effective.

First, the best TV moved from networks to cable. Now a similar transition is moving top talent from cable to the streaming world. Netflix ($8.99 per month for HD streaming) has House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt—all of which have received almost universal acclaim—and Amazon ($99 per year for video and a variety of other services) isn’t too far behind with comedy Alpha House, crime drama Bosch, and the Golden Globe-winning Transparent.

Even if you’re only going to watch a few of these shows, the only way to do it is with a subscription, so buying just the programs you want to see isn’t an option this time. The same is true for another prestige network, HBO, which offers its shows exclusively through cable or a new $15 per month streaming option called HBO Now (unless, of course, you don’t mind waiting months to buy the latest of Game of Thrones episodes on iTunes). With these three services in hand, you should be able to fill in any gaps with a few single-season purchases.

The Plan: Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Now

Price: $386.88 per year ($32.24 per month).

Savings: $412.44 per year ($34.37 per month).

You could buy about 13 additional show seasons before cable becomes more cost effective.

This is the option for TV fanatics who want everything and the kitchen sink. We’re talking network TV, cable shows, HBO, movies, and streaming exclusives, all on demand whenever you want.

Believe it or not, you can still have all this for significantly less than the price of cable. Even after subscribing to HBO Now, Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, and Amazon Prime Video, you’ll still be more than $250 in the black. Don’t care for Girls or Game of Thrones? You can replace the HBO option with Sling TV for $60 more per year ($5 more per month); about the same price as buying two individual TV seasons.

The Plan: HBO Now, Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, and Amazon Prime Video

Price: $554.64 per year ($46.22 per month).

Savings: $244.68 per year ($20.39 per month).

You could buy about 8 additional show seasons before cable becomes more cost effective..

If you have unpredictable tastes, but only focus on one show at a time, it might be most cost efficient to just buy all your television a la carte. For the price of a year of cable, the average viewer can buy 26 seasons of TV. Assuming these are all 45 minute shows with 14 episodes, that’s almost 300 hours of content. If you can’t ever imagine yourself watching more than that, then this plan is for you. Don’t forget to grab a TV antenna for major live events like the Oscars or the Super Bowl, or if you just want the option of kicking back and watching prime time now and then.

The Plan: Indoor TV antenna

Price: $8.55 per year ($0.71 per month).

Savings: $790.77 per year ($65.89 per month).

You could buy about 26 additional seasons of television before cable becomes less expensive.

If you want—or need—to see a significant number of your local teams’ games, I’m going to stop right here. This is one area where streaming services can’t yet fully deliver. Local games are generally exclusive to regional sports networks, and you’ll still need cable for that. There’s also the issue of some online services being a little more unstable than die-hard fans might like. Dish’s Sling TV failed for many customers during this weekend’s NCAA Final Four action, leading the company to issue an apology.

However, if you’re a more casual sports fan or a supporter of an out-of-market team, cord cutting is still a worthwhile option. Sling TV—assuming it can hold up under the strain of future events—will give you ESPN and ESPN 2 in addition to a handful of basic cable channels for $20 a month, and for another $5 you can get even more sports options, including ESPN U, ESPNEWS, and the SEC Network. Add in an indoor TV antenna and you’ll also have access to network sports.

For supporters of teams outside your local area, some sport-specific streaming options might also be attractive. Each major sports league offers some sort of online viewing option for somewhere in the neighborhood of $110 a year, with the caveat that local games are blacked out. (NFL fans can pay only $69.99 to watch any team they like, but must make do with replays.)

The Plan (option 1): Sling TV with sports package and an indoor TV antenna.

Price: $308.50 per year ($25.70 per month).

Savings: $490.82 per year ($40.90 per month).

You could buy about 16 additional seasons of television before cable becomes less expensive.

The Plan (option 2): Sling TV with sports package, indoor TV antenna, and one sport-specific streaming package.

Price: $418.50 per year ($34.88 per month).

Savings: $380.82 per year ($31.74 per month).

You could buy about 12 additional seasons of television before cable becomes less expensive.

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Summary: Cutting the cord is easier than ever. Here are five different ways to ditch cable—and save hundreds of dollars in the process.


One way to stop a runner in her tracks: shin splits. Trust me, I know. As a former Division 1 All-American sprinter, I’ve experienced that annoying pain in my shins—caused by inflammation of the muscles or tendons around the shinbone—one time too many. For me it felt like a thousand needles were being jammed into my shins, which, as you can imagine, is quite unpleasant. And I’m not alone, research shows that up to 20% of runners experience shin splints.

Feeling a similar twinge? You may want to press pause on your running for a bit—or at the very least cut back on your mileage until that aching subsides. Icing the area is also a good idea. If the pain persists, it might mean you have a stress fracture; see a doc to rule that out.

Haven’t been saddled with the “S” word yet? Lucky you. Stay healthy with these four tips.

Chances are, you’ve been wearing the same pair of runners for the past two years (admit it!), and that is a big no-no. You should aim to replace your shoes every 300 to 500 miles, or every six months. This will help ensure you have enough cushion and support in those kicks to keep you running comfy and safely. A good way to spot shoddy, worn-out shoes: visual wear and tear on the tread.

RELATED: 7 Running Injuries and How to Avoid Them

New to running? Don’t take on too many miles in the early stages. You need to allow some time for your muscles to adapt and recover from the demands you are placing on them. Instead, build gradually. While it is not a hard-and fast-rule, an often-followed model is to add no more than 10% per week to your total weekly mileage.

Related: The 50 Most Gorgeous Running Races in America, State by State

Shin splits is an overuse injury, so if all you are doing day in and day out is running, you are leaving yourself wide open for injury. Consider trading one to two pavement pounding sessions with something a little more low-impact, like swimming. Your body will thank you.

RELATED: How to Use a Foam Roller to Roll Out Your Shins

Grab a foam roller or a lacrosse ball and get your roll on, paying attention to not just your shins, but your calves and feet as well; tightness in these areas can be a culprit behind shin splints. You might also consider adding toe raises and heel drops to your workout routine, both of which strengthen and stretch the lower leg. (Click here to see how to do heel drops.) My recommendation is to work this type of recovery into your regimen before the pain kicks in. Think prehab, not rehab.

Tamara Pridgett is a former All-American sprinter from The University of Arizona and a NASM certified personal trainer. She currently resides in New York City.

This article originally appeared on Health.com

Summary: Remember to replace your shoes


INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana woman facing 20 years in prison after she took pills to end her pregnancy was not present in the stately Indiana Court of Appeals courtroom Monday afternoon. But dozens of activists, who say Purvi Patel’s case is proof of the risks of criminalizing pregnancy outcomes and puts women of color disproportionately at risk, packed the seats to show their support.

Where the three-judge panel stood was less clear. They asked probing questions of both sides, clearly mindful of the policy implications for both pregnant women and their dependents, as well as for criminal law.

33 year-old Purvi Patel, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terminating her own pregnancy, is back in court this week as the Indiana Court of Appeals hears her plea to have the ruling overturned.

in an emergency room bleeding and showing signs of advanced pregnancy without a baby. Doctors called the police,

According to the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, Patel is the first woman in the country to be convicted and sentenced under a feticide law for having an abortion.

Patel’s new defense attorney, Lawrence Marshall, co-founder of the Center on Wrongful Convictions, told the three-judge panel that the charges made no sense and improperly relied on each other to result in conviction. Feticide, he said, should have referred to Patel’s conduct before delivery, but according to the state, the fetus didn’t die in utero, and under Indiana law, neglect of a dependent only begins after birth. Instead, Patel was convicted of both because, the state said, she ended her pregnancy and did not seek medical care for what they said was a newborn.

RELATED: Appeal for Indiana woman convicted for having an abortion

Marshall also said that to satisfy the neglect of a dependent charge — which carries the greater penalty — the state should have proved to the jury that Patel could have saved the baby’s life if she had called 911. “Not a single expert ever said in any sort of declarative way that, yes, this infant would have survived had Ms. Patel done differently,” Marshall said.

Another problem with treating the feticide law as an illegal abortion statute, Marshall said, is that unlike the state’s abortion law, which does not criminalize earlier abortions, all pregnancies are treated the same whether they are one week in or a day before birth.

At various points throughout the argument, the judges seemed attuned to the public health notion that applying too harsh a standard to pregnant women for their pregnancy outcomes — say, for smoking cigarettes — could discourage them from seeking medical care. “Accepting the state’s interpretation would… expose countless women to prosecution,” said Marshall.

Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik pressed Ellen Meilaender, who argued the state’s case, on whether the legislature intended pregnant women to be prosecuted under a feticide statute. (It was passed after a pregnant bank teller was shot.) She responded that the plain language of the law doesn’t exempt women themselves.

RELATED: Women are already being prosecuted for having abortions

Referring to restrictions on abortion passed in the state of Indiana that specify that the pregnant woman won’t be criminalized, Judge Terry Crone asked, “Do you think [the legislature] is consciously saying, ‘We’re not going to prosecute abortion of children because of gender or race or partial birth abortion, but we are going to prosecute them for any other kind of abortion?‘ “

Meilaender responded that the legislature had years to clarify the law to exempt women after another woman, Bei Bei Shuai, was prosecuted for feticide. The idea that women could be prosecuted, she said, “would be consistent with ways in which the Indiana legislature has expressed respect for unborn life.” She said that Patel’s neglect stemmed from refusing to seek medical care, and that lying to doctors at the hospital showed she was aware of the criminality of her actions.

Meilaender declined comment after the hearing, as did Marshall. Lisa Sangoi, an attorney at the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, which filed a brief on Patel’s behalf, argued that the precedent set by prosecuting her was troubling.

“Anything a woman does and doesn’t do can potentially affect her pregnancy,” she said. “To hold a woman criminally culpable for her perceived pregnancy outcomes really takes us down a very slippery slope. What happens to the women in Flint, Michigan who are drinking the water there? Or the woman who needs to support her family and continues to work in her stressful job in the eighth month of her pregnancy and has a complication? Do we then prosecute them?”

A decision could take months, and advocates said an appeal to the state Supreme Court is likely.

Summary: Purvi Patel faces twenty years in prison for an illegal abortion. Here's what judges said about her appeal.


ON a warm summer evening, there’s no better way to unwind than sipping a nice cold cocktail, made with the help of an app.

A great one to start with is 8,500+ Drink & Cocktail Recipes, which, as its name suggests, offers so many choices that you’re bound to find many you like.

This app isn’t high-tech: It is basically a list of cocktails that you can browse or search. There are no fancy photos or detailed instructions. But the app lets you search for recipes by category or ingredients, which is especially helpful if you want to stick to spirits you already have on hand. You can also mark favorite recipes to make it easier to find them again later.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The app is free for iOS and Android, though you may find the pop-up advertisements bothersome.

Modern Classics of the Cocktail Renaissance is more interesting, with a small but carefully curated list of drinks that have been popular in recent decades.

The recipes are straightforward and include fascinating snippets of the drinks’ histories, as well as insights into some of their ingredients.

You can ask for suggestions based on what ingredients you have available. And you can get advice on other ingredients you might want to buy to expand the range of cocktails you can make. The app looks elegant, feels professional and could be a handy tool to impress guests at your next party. It is available only for iOS, costs $10 and contains about 100 recipes.

If your tastes are more old-fashioned, Martin’s Index of Cocktails comes from the same app maker as Modern Classics but reaches farther back in history. This app contains more than 2,400 recipes dating as far back as the 1850s, offering interesting alternatives to the kinds of cocktails that are familiar today. This app also costs $10 and is for iOS only.

Cocktails – Virtual Drink Mixer and Recipes is distinguished by a clever trick: It uses the camera on your device to look at the glass you’ve chosen to drink from. You then select a cocktail recipe, and the app superimposes a guide on the glass showing how much of each ingredient you need to pour in.

This could be a great option if you’re a cocktail measurements klutz. It also simplifies the process of making a batch of drinks to share, instead of just a single glass. The app features a database of common glass shapes and sizes (labeled, somewhat confusingly, in German, though the rest of the app is in English), but you can also enter the measurements of your own glassware and it will use this data to calculate the correct proportion of ingredients. Virtual Drink Mixer and Recipes is for iOS only and costs $1.

Cocktails: Become a Real Bartender is also worth checking out. This app has only about 400 recipes, but it is lavishly illustrated, well designed and easy to navigate. It includes detailed step-by-step instructions for mixing cocktails, including visual hints about adding ice, filling glasses and so on.

The app also has a few unusual features, like letting you search for cocktails by their color or view instructions on an Apple Watch — a useful option if your hands are covered in, say, lemon juice. This app is free for iOS.

Finally, Android users should try the free Cocktails Guru app. Like Real Bartender, it focuses on images and detailed instructions. It, too, has a few extra features, like showing you cocktails that are similar to the one you’re looking at. Cocktails Guru even includes tips on mixing drinks the way professional bartenders do. If you create a profile in the app, you can add comments to existing recipes and even upload images of the cocktails you’ve mixed.

Scrivener, a well-loved and useful app for writing anything from a short article to a novel, is finally available for iOS. The mobile version is as comprehensive as the older desktop version and works especially well on the iPad. But since your scribbles are all saved to the cloud, you can also edit your text on your iPhone, wherever the muse seizes you. Scrivener is $20 and worth every cent.

A version of this article appears in print on July 28, 2016, on page B6 of the New York edition with the headline: Recipe for the Home Bartender: Scroll, Tap and Pour. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Summary: Making a good cocktail can be tricky, but many apps can help you become an expert mixologist.


There isn't a blanket way to turn off Google's A/B testing, but users on a Google Search Help Forum have reported that logging out of their Google account and back in again reverts the links back to blue.

A Reddit user also reported that disabling "Your searches and browsing activity" in Chrome's settings turns the links back to blue. To disable the feature go to the Google home page and click on the grid icon in the top right hand corner and select "My Account".

In the "Personal info & privacy" box select "activity controls". In here you can toggle a bar that turns of "Your searches and browsing activity".

Chrome extensions such as Stylist can also be used to restyle any web page, including Google's flagship one.

Google declined to comment about the new feature.

Summary: Google users have noticed something different about the search results being returned at the moment:


Armed men have abducted an Australian academic and an American professor in the Afghan capital.

The pair worked at the American University of Afghanistan and were snatched by men disguised as National Security officers, media reports say.

One report said both were doctors who did work at a Kabul hospital not far from where they were taken on Sunday night, Kabul time.

A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs told AAP the Australian embassy in Afghanistan was seeking to verify reports of the kidnapping.

The US State Department is aware of the reports.

"We are aware of reports of a US citizen kidnapped in Kabul. Due to privacy considerations, we have no information to offer," the State Department said in a media statement.

ABC America said Kabul's police chief Abdel Rahman Rahimi had confirmed the abductions.

The university is a private, not-for-profit university, which has received millions from the US Agency for International Development.

Afghanistan remains locked in a violent insurgency and Western embassies typically warn their citizens against all but essential travel in the country, citing threats of attack and kidnapping.

Summary: Two professors, one Australian and one American, have been abducted from the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, ABC America says.


For a job applicant, the path to getting an offer can seem endless. First you wait to have your resume acknowledged, then you wait to get called for an interview (or several), and finally you wait to find out if you landed the gig. Just how long does the whole process take? Recruiting software company Jobvite crunched the numbers to find out exactly how long you can expect to be in job-hunting limbo.

Overall, the average job-search process takes just over six weeks— 43 days, to be exact— but that varies considerably by industry. According to Jobvite’s 2014 data, jobs are filled most quickly by hospitality and retail employers, at 36 and 40 days, respectively. Healthcare jobs are getting a lot of buzz because the industry is growing rapidly, but job seekers should be prepared to wait it out: It takes just over two months — 65 days, on average — for healthcare employers to fill positions.

That 43-day average is also low for people looking for a high-level job. According to Jobvite, jobs with either “vice president” or “director” in the title take a lengthy 76 days to fill. That’s even longer than the 71 days it takes to fill C-level jobs. If you’re just starting out in the workforce but have your sights set on the management track, you’ll also need to be patient, because even assistant gigs take an average of 53 days to be filled.

Jobvite also looked at the competition for jobs. An average of 59 people apply for each open position, but only 12% manage to snag an interview. On average, it takes a little over a week to start the interview process. If you make it through the interview, your fortunes get a little better: 17% of applicants who are interviewed are offered a job. That part of the process takes an average of more than three weeks, so be patient. And even if you aren’t a company’s first pick, there’s reason to hold out hope, because roughly one in 10 people who are offered a job turn it down.

Don’t be afraid to follow up while you’re waiting, as long as you do it in a polite and professional fashion, advises Jobvite vice president Matt Singer. “Friendly persistence is key, even after an interview,” he says. A short email that thanks the interviewer for their time, or continues a conversation topic you discussed in the interview, keeps you at the forefront of the hiring manager’s mind without sounding pushy, Singer says.

Read next: Postman, Farmer, Flight Attendant: The Most Endangered Jobs of 2015

Summary: If you want a top title, you’ll have to be patient


Warning: This post contains spoilers for the sixth season of Game of Thrones.

One of the biggest surprises of the seventh episode of Game of Thrones‘ sixth season came when Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) was brutally stabbed by the Waif after the nameless girl snuck up on her disguised as an old woman. After receiving multiple wounds, Arya was able to escape her attacker’s hold long enough to jump over the side of the bridge on which they were standing. She then stayed underwater long enough for the Waif to presume she was dead before emerging to straggle through the streets of Braavos.

While this scene seemed to bode extremely ill for the young Stark, many fans believe that not all was as it appeared. Specifically, some are speculating that Arya’s behavior before the attack indicates her actions were all part of an elaborate ruse. “We are led to believe Arya got stabbed, however there are some problems with what happened this episode,” Reddit user iPlayNL wrote. “First off, Arya seemed different from the start. Her scene with the merchant, her walk all seemed very confident, which is unusual after the events this season. … Also, where did she get the money from? Why was she not carrying Needle [her sword] with her? How come after all she knew about the faceless man she just stood there on a bridge not paying any attention?”

Another Redditor expanded upon the same basic theory, positing that Arya’s interaction with actress Lady Crane in the sixth episode was integral to her plan. “We can assume she knows enough from training to figure the waif will attack to the body,” passingwisdom wrote. “So I believe she has 1 or more pigs blood pouches around her body. She knows where and how to do this because last episode… she saved the actress. The actress then provided her help to make the scene on the bridge large and realistic. … She then leaves the water and leaves a trail of blood…. to lead her [enemies] to her. Expecting an unarmed (because she choose not to show needle during the fight scene) and injured girl; they will instead walk down a dark alley and be met with an uninjured girl who knows how to fight in the dark and carrying a sword.”

Others believe the person stabbed on the bridge wasn’t Arya at all, but rather Jaqen H’ghar disguised as her. “That wasn’t [A]rya. She would have been carrying needle,” froschkonig wrote. “She wasn’t aware that [Jaqen] said not to make her suffer, so making a big show of her suffering doesn’t make sense. It was [Jaqen] testing the waif, and by stabbing her in the stomach and not just slashing the throat, she disobeyed orders just like arya did. [Jaqen] is gonna lay some faceless justice down.”

Whatever the truth, the consensus remains that Arya will live to see another day — and hopefully finally make it back to Westeros.

“No One,” the eighth episode of Game of Thrones‘ sixth season airs Sunday at 9 p.m. EST on HBO.

Summary: Things may not have been what they seemed


Sen. Bernie Sanders has all but eliminated Hillary Clinton’s polling lead among Democratic voters nationwide, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll has found, offering signs that she continues to struggle with the primary electorate at a time when she wanted to build strength for the general election.

Mr. Sanders for the first time is close to tying Mrs. Clinton, as 48% of Democratic primary voters picked him as their first choice...

Summary: Sen. Bernie Sanders has all but eliminated Hillary Clinton’s primary polling lead, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds, though the Democrats’ presidential front-runner still appears to have an advantage over her potential GOP opponent.


One of Herbalife’s largest investors sold more of the company’s stock, just weeks after the U.S. government told the protein shake maker to reorganize its business, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In an SEC filing on Wednesday, Fidelity, the second largest investor in Herbalife hlf , said it had cut its stake in the firm to 7.4 million shares, a 14% reduction from the 8.6 million shares it reported owning at the end of June.

“The fact that Fidelity is selling is a good sign,” said Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager who bet $1 billion that Herbalife’s stock would collapse.

The mutual fund’s portfolio managers, including Steve Wymer of Fidelity Growth Company Fund, have been cooling on Herbalife in recent months. Boston-based Fidelity funds cut their stake in Herbalife by 26% in the second quarter, disclosures show.

Sales after the Federal Trade Commission fined Herbalife $200 million on July 15 could suggest sentiment may be souring more quickly on the $6 billion market cap nutrition and weight loss company.

The FTC ordered Herbalife to hire a monitor to track product sales and said the company had been deceiving hundreds of thousands of hopeful people.

Ackman, who has lobbied the government to shut Herbalife down, has called the company a pyramid scheme.

“There is no longer a bull case to be made for this stock,” Ackman said on Thursday evening. With the stock price up 22% this year, he is sitting on several hundred million dollars of paper losses.

Ackman made his remarks after a screening of “Betting on Zero,” a film that details his four-year battle with Herbalife.

Herbalife declined to comment, but the company’s stock has rallied about 10% since the FTC fine was announced.

Other large investors, including Credit Suisse, Blue Mountain Capital Management and TIAA Cref Investment Management have also cut their stakes in the second quarter, according to new regulatory filings.

Some investors have loaded up on Herbalife, however, including William Blair Investment Management, which bought 1.5 million shares during the second quarter, SEC filings show.

Billionaire Carl Icahn, Herbalife’s largest investor, has five representatives on the board. He owned 17 million shares on March 31 and has not yet released second-quarter holdings.

Summary: There is no case for the stock, says hedge fund manager.


“Manhattan is a tough place,” says Donald Trump in the voiceover to the opening credits of The Apprentice. “If you’re not careful, it can chew you up and spit you out.” The camera cuts to a homeless man lying prostrate on a bench, presumably to underscore The Donald’s message that the man really should have been more careful. “But if you work real hard, you can really hit it big, and I mean really big,” he continues. Cue montage of Trumpian bigness, private planes, fancy parties and a series of objects emblazoned with the word TRUMP in gold letters.

This short sequence is essentially the Cliffs Notes for the American Dream. Hard work will lead seamlessly to stratospheric success, while homelessness is essentially just another word for carelessness.

This story, or some version of it, is the mighty engine that propels the American experiment. Greatness is within all of our grasp, and there are no problems, just “opportunities.” (The filthy bathroom in my local supermarket actually displays a sign saying: “If this restroom fails to meet your expectations, please inform us of the opportunity”—as if reeking puddles of urine are merely an inspirational occasion for personal growth.)

It’s the basic trope of every inspirational meme, every graduation speech. Reach for the stars. Never give up. Be the hero of your own life. Little by little, the American Dream has become the American Basic Expectation.

As a Brit in America, all this star-spangled exceptionalism feels alien. There is no “British Dream” (other than a nice cup of tea, and someone else’s misfortune). Telling a British toddler that they, too, could one day be Prime Minister would likely give them nightmares. Even the actual U.K. prime minister probably didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming prime minister.

At its best, the American Dream can be both moving and inspiring, but it is also problematic, not least because it is largely false. Research shows that in reality, American social mobility is among the lowest in the developed world. Far from being the Land of Opportunity, a child born poor in America is more likely to remain poor than in any other comparable country. The fact that Trump’s own rags-to-riches tale featured a likely inheritance in the tens of millions from his father, is relatively typical. An estimated 40% of the billionaires on the Forbes billionaires list also inherited a sizable portion of their wealth.

But because the insistence that this is a meritocracy has been so deeply ingrained, we have internalized the idea that we are all exactly where we deserve to be. In this story, success is the result not of luck or privilege, but our own personal qualities, talents and hard work. Similarly, failure can never stem from systemic obstacles or difficult circumstances—the fact that good jobs are increasingly scarce, wages are hitting poverty levels and rents are sky-high—but is simply a mark of personal inadequacy. The man on the park bench isn’t homeless because the system has failed, but because he has.

While Americans are wonderful at big dreams (you can become the President!), they are surprisingly bad at more modest ones (you can have paid vacation/ affordable healthcare/ a fair wage.) It is a genuine possibility that an American woman might make it to Mars before she gets federally mandated paid maternity leave. But in reality, the bulk of our wellbeing is not made up from the remote possibility of stratospheric success but from these more low-key aspirations.

On a more personal level, the subtle insistence that we should somehow all be striving for greatness can be surprisingly psychologically corrosive. One of the defining measures of happiness is the size of the gap between our expectations and our reality. The American Dream has become the mass production of unrealistic expectations. The constant thrum of the “you can be anything you want to be” mantra has created a low level sense of inadequacy and anxiety in American life, where anything short of greatness can start to feel like failure.

But really, small concrete, gains are as important, if not more important to our happiness than big dreams. So perhaps our next generation of graduation speeches should encourage us to do something truly inspirational. Dream small.

Summary: It sets unrealistic expectations


A warehouse worker who heard gunshots in an armed raid that killed his boss said he was scared in his own home after the ordeal.

Anil Kumar told jurors at Birmingham Crown Court he was tied up in the attack that led to Akhtar Javeed's death outside his fast food business in the Digbeth area of Birmingham.

Father-of-four Mr Javeed, 56, was shot four times during the robbery.

Suraj Mistry, 26, and Lemar Wali, 18, deny murder.

A third man, 25-year-old Tahir Zarif, is thought to be in Pakistan.

More updates on this story and others in Birmingham and Black Country

Mr Kumar told the court he was sitting at a table in a meeting room when two gunmen entered the warehouse at about 18:30 GMT on 3 February.

Giving evidence with the help of a Hindi interpreter, he said they had seen a car pull up in the car park before one of the men showed them a gun.

"At first we thought somebody was making fun of us and they showed it to us again and at that time we just raised our hands," he said.

Mr Kumar said Mr Javeed was bound by the wrist and taken outside while he was tied together to two other staff members in a separate office.

He told the court he then heard gunshots before the men left the scene.

He said: "I was frightened and after that I was frightened for months, even when in the house I was scared."

The prosecution told the court Mr Mistry, of Laundon Way, Leicester, and Mr Zarif, of Osmaston Park Road in Derby, were the men filmed entering the warehouse, with Mr Wali, also of Osmaston Park Road in Derby, acting as the driver.

As well as facing a charge of murder, Mr Mistry and Mr Wali are also accused of conspiracy to rob the warehouse and possession of a pistol with intent to cause fear or violence.

Summary: A warehouse worker who heard gunshots in an armed raid that killed his boss said he suffered from the ordeal for months afterwards, a court hears.


Cảnh vật vã khóc than tại Bắc Hàn sau khi ông Kim Jong-il qua đời thật như một cơn sốt lan rộng.

Nhưng người dân thực sự cảm nhận mất mát hay chỉ là vì họ nghĩ mình phải ra vẻ như thế?

Cả quốc gia Bắc Hàn như nhận được ám hiệu từ người dẫn chương trình truyền hình nhà nước mặc áo đen và không thể kiềm được nước mắt.

Cảnh tượng khóc than gợi nhắc giây phút xót thương theo sau cái chết của người cha, Kim Nhật Thành năm 1994. Đây có phải là nỗi đau chân thực?

Thật khó biết, theo lời Anthony Daniels, một nhà phân tâm học thường viết với bút danh Theodore Dalrymple. Ông thăm Bắc Hàn năm 1989 trong đoàn đại biểu Anh quốc tham dự Lễ hội Quốc tế Thanh niên và Sinh viên.

"Tất cả là sự trộn lẫn tội nghiệp giữa sợ hãi, khủng bố, lo lắng về tương lai, sự cuồng tín của đám đông và cũng có thể có cả nỗi đau từ đáy lòng."

"Việc kiểm soát thông tin lớn đến mức rất có thể người dân bị sốc thật"

Ông nhớ lại vào năm 1989, tại đây nước này người ta chẳng hề biểu lộ cảm xúc - ngoại trừ sự cuồng tín của đám đông.

"Khi tôi có mặt ở sân vận động khổng lồ và Lãnh tụ Vĩ đại (Kim Nhật Thành) bước vào, tất cả đứng dậy và bắt đầu thờ phụng thành kính và la hét."

"Có thể họ sợ hãi nếu họ không làm thế, nhưng cũng rất có thể nhiều người thực sự trung thành với Lãnh tụ Vĩ đại."

"Ta còn nhớ khi Stalin chết, người dân khóc than trên đường phố, dù rằng ít dạt dào như ở Bắc Hàn."

Tại phương Tây, có vài trường hợp khi người dân thực sự thấy phải bộc lộ tình cảm, theo lời ông Daniels.

Sau khi Công nương Diana tử nạn, một số người thấy thật không phải nếu chỉ trích nỗi buồn đau của đám đông. Nhưng dù sao cảm giác bắt buộc phải khóc cũng khác hẳn so với ở Bắc Hàn.

Trong tác phẩm về Bắc Hàn, 'Nothing To Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea', Barbara Demick nói đến cái chết của Kim Nhật Thành năm 1994: "Tấn kịch đau khổ có cả tính chất cạnh tranh. Ai có thể khóc to nhất?"

Bà để ý một sinh viên ở Bình Nhưỡng chẳng thấy cảm xúc gì trong khi xung quanh vật vã than khóc.

Cảnh người dân Bắc Hàn khóc trên truyền hình khi nghe tin lãnh tụ Kim Yong Il qua đời

"Cả tương lai của anh tùy thuộc khả năng khóc được không. Không chỉ sự nghiệp, tấm thẻ đảng Lao Động, mà cả sinh mạng. Đó là chuyện sống hay chết."

Anh ta được cứu thoát sau khi tự kéo căng mi mắt và nhãn cầu cho đến khi mi mắt rách toạc. Thế là, anh ta bắt đầu khóc hệt như mọi người.

Còn theo ông Kerry Brown, đứng đầu chương trình Á châu của Chatham House, nhiều người có lẽ thực sự phản ứng tự nhiên, vì cái chết của lãnh tụ đặt ra những câu hỏi về bản ngã, an toàn và khả năng sống sót của họ.

Đây là một đất nước cảm thấy luôn đứng ở bờ vực chiến tranh, được lãnh tụ yêu quý chăm sóc. Nhưng chúng ta không biết gì nhiều về cảm xúc thực của người dân cũng như ta biết rất ít về cuộc đấu tranh quyền lực trong ban lãnh đạo.

"Việc kiểm soát thông tin lớn đến mức rất có thể người dân bị sốc thật. Nghĩa là có sự cuồng loạn thực, nhưng ta không biết có nên gọi đó là nỗi đau theo cách hiểu của phương Tây hay không," ông nói.

Ông cho hay người dân được nhắc nhở luôn đang ở trong chiến tranh với Mỹ, và "những chiến thắng vĩ đại" trong quá khứ là nhờ tài lãnh đạo, vì thế khi người đứng đầu hệ thống qua đời, từng người dân đều cảm nhận mất mát.

Nhưng ông Kerry Brown nói nỗi đau của năm 1994 gây sốc hơn, vì vị trí của Kim Nhật Thành trong xã hội lớn hơn nhiều.

Vì vậy, giai đoạn đau thương này sẽ không sâu sắc hay chân thành như lần trước.

Summary: Tìm hiểu xem cảnh vật vã khóc than tại Bắc Hàn vì ông Kim Jong-il qua đời thật có phải vì người dân thấy mất mát to lớn.


A sex worker jailed over her involvement in the "brutal and sustained" bashing death of a Queensland man she organised to meet via Craigslist could be released within a year.

Peta Lorang-Goubran, 35, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to unlawfully killing 37-year-old Mark "Zeb" Spencer in October 2014 at his Gold Coast home, amongst other offences.

The mother-of-three wept as Justice David Boddice said she had been involved in a "cynical exercise" whereby she would advertise her sexual services to clients while another man robbed them.

Justice Boddice sentenced her to seven years' jail, but ordered she be eligible for parole from June 2 next year given the time she has already spent in custody.

Crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy said Mr Spencer had met Lorang-Goubran the year before his death and started a casual sexual relationship that ended acrimoniously.

But Mr Spencer had no idea it was her he was contacting when he responded to a Craigslist ad from a woman offering sex in exchange for drugs and when she arrived at his home Lorang-Goubran brought with her a man who would allegedly beat him to death.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly struck Mr Spencer nine times in a brutal and protracted assault.

After Mr Spencer's death, Mr McCarthy said a bloodied tennis racquet and baseball bat were found nearby, with a pathologist finding his facial injuries had obstructed his airways.

"The severity of the blows was enough to snap the baseball bat in two," he said.

The Crown acknowledged Lorang-Goubran hadn't actually carried out the attack but would have known Mr Spencer's death was a "probable outcome" of the scheme.

Justice Boddice noted her dysfunctional upbringing and "genuine contrition" but described Mr Spencer's death as an act of "senseless violence".

The other man is still before the courts.

Outside court, friend Tim Stewart said Mr Spencer had been a very fun and kind man.

"He liked to have a good time, he was full of life," he said.

Summary: A prostitute has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Queensland over the death of a man she organised to meet via Craigslist.


Penn Jillette is best known as half of the magic-and-comedy duo Penn & Teller. He's also an author, actor, radio host, and co-creator of The Aristocrats. But he's recently taken on a more unexpected role: weight-loss authority. In fact, he's now the author of Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear. "I've written eight books, but this is the only book people asked me to write," Jillette explains. "They said to me, 'How'd you lose the weight?' Because when you lose a third of your body weight, it's pretty noticeable." So, what's the secret? Well, it started with potatoes, mostly because they're funny.

Friday, August 5 I was wicked fat. I was over 330 pounds. I don't know the exact weight, because I didn't weigh myself at the heaviest. I got really sick. My blood pressure was, you know, like U.K. voltage, over 200 — insane.

In just a few months in early 2015, I lost 100 pounds. The way I did it was very extreme. I did a monodiet for two weeks, which could have been anything. I did potatoes because they're funny. Could have been corn, could have been beans, but I didn't want a lot of fart jokes. A monodiet is not very entertaining, or social. No one ever calls up and says, "Hey, Penn, I just landed in Vegas, let's have a potato." For the next three months I did salads, and vegetables, no fruit, no nuts, and then essentially I was on the Dr. Joel Fuhrman diet. Now it's been 17 months at my target weight and the goal is to keep it off. I've changed everything about how I eat. Turn on the TV, look at the billboards, read magazines — see all that food? I don't eat any of that. I eat no animal products, no refined grains, and extremely low salt, sugar, and oil.

See photos of Penn Jillette's transformation:

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 947 -- Pictured: (l-r) Illusionists Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller perform on June 19, 1996 -- (Photo by: Margaret C. Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 1068 -- Pictured: (l-r) Magicians Penn & Teller (l-r) Penn Jillette, Raymond Teller perform on January 8, 1997 -- (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Magicians Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller attending 'Comic Relief III Benefit' on March 18, 1989 at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Penn Jillette, Jimmy Wayne and Teller present the 'Album of the Year Award (Photo by Ron Wolfson/WireImage for Bragman Nyman Cafarelli)

Magician Penn Jillette and comedian Gilbert Gottfried attend the premiere of Tales From The Crypt on August 9, 1996 at the Worldwide Theater in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Magicians Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller attending 45th Annual Tony Awards on June 2, 1991 at the Minskoff Theater in New York City, New York. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

HOLLYWOOD - JULY 20: Comedians Penn Jillette (left) and Teller arrive for the Los Angeles premiere of the 'The Aristocrats' on July 20, 2005 at the the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Penn Jillette during CineVegas Film Festival 2005 - 'The Aristocrats' - Premiere at Brenden Theatres in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. (Photo by Arun Nevader/WireImage)

NEW YORK - JULY 26: (L-R) Comedians Al Goldstein and Penn Jillette attend the premiere of 'The Aristocrats' on July 26, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

Penn Jillette at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California (Photo by John Sciulli/WireImage)

LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 08: Penn Jillette (left) and Teller of the comedy/magic duo Penn & Teller, arrive for the unveiling of music artist Prince's 3121 live entertainment venue at the Rio Hotel & Casino November 8, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prince will headline shows at the nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights and will book his own performers on Wednesday nights. He is also a partner in the new 3121 Jazz Cuisine restaurant at the resort. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

(NO TABLOIDS) Penn Jillette during 'The Producers' Grand Opening at The Paris Hotel and Casino Resort at the The Paris Hotel and Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage)

LAS VEGAS - JUNE 16: Actor/illusionist Penn Jillette (L) and illusionist Criss Angel pose during the fourth anniversary party for 'Vegas Magazine' on the closing night of the CineVegas film festival at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino June 16, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for CineVegas)

LAS VEGAS - MAY 14: Actor/illusionist Penn Jillette autographs a Gibson guitar at the Gibson display in the Distinctive Assets gift lounge during the Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 14, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Distinctive Assets)

LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 410 -- Pictured: Penn Jillette performs on March 17, 2011 (Photo by Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Comedians Penn Jillette (L) and Teller arrive at the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 19, 2011. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 06: Penn Jillette (L) and Teller of the comedy/magic team Penn & Teller arrive at Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appetit's Grand Tasting event at Caesars Palace May 6, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 15: Magician / comedian Penn Jillette visits 'Unmasked' at SiriusXM Studio on August 15, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images)

ALL-STAR CELEBRITY APPRENTICE -- 'The Mayor of Stress Town' Episode 1310 -- Pictured: (l-r) Lisa Rinna, Penn Jillette -- (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

ALL-STAR CELEBRITY APPRENTICE -- 'The First Leaf That Hits the Ground' Episode 1307-- Pictured: (l-r) Penn Jillette, Gary Busey, Eric Trump -- (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Penn Jillette filming on location for 'Celebrity Apprentice All Stars' on November 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: Penn Jillette and Lisa Rinna attend NBCUniversal's '2013 Winter TCA Tour' Day 1 at Langham Hotel on January 6, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: Actor Penn Jillette attends the NBCUniversal 2013 TCA Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 6, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/NBC/Getty Images)

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: Actor Penn Jillette attends the NBCUniversal 2013 TCA Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 6, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/NBC/Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 05: Performers/magicians Penn Jillette and Teller attend a ceremony honoring Penn & Teller with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 5, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Penn Jillette and Teller attend the 'Tim's Vermeer' special screening at Museum of Modern Art on January 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 29: Illusionist Penn Jillette visits the SiriusXM Studios on July 29, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS -- Episode 77 -- Pictured: Penn & Teller (l-r) Penn Jillette and Teller during an interview on July 28, 2014 -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 26: Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller perform during 'Penn & Teller On Broadway' Preview Performance at 54 Below on June 26, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Mack/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 01: Teller and Penn Jillette attend with their Sardi's Caricature unveiling at Sardi's on July 1, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 02: Illusionist Penn Jillette attends TimesTalks Presents Penn & Teller at The Times Center on July 2, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 02: Penn & Teller check out Culture Club when they perform on NBC's 'Today Show' at Rockefeller Plaza on July 2, 2015 in New York City. (l to r: Penn Jillette; Raymond Teller) (Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage)

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 06: Penn Jillette of the comedy/magic team Penn & Teller attends the 10th anniversary celebration of Carrot Top's residency at the Luxor Hotel and Casino on December 6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Penn Jillette and Teller of 'Director's Cut' poses for a portrait at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Getty Images Portrait Studio Hosted By Eddie Bauer At Village At The Lift on January 22, 2016 in Park City, Utah

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Penn Jillette (L) and Teller of the comedy/magic team Penn & Teller perform during the 2016 NHL Awards at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 12: Magicians Penn Jillette (L) and Teller of Penn & Teller visit Hollywood Today Live at W Hollywood on August 12, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 02: Magician and actor Penn Jillette signs copies of his book 'Presto: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Magically Disappear' at Barnes & Noble, 86th & Lexington on August 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

This diet really starts Thursday night, but it's technically Friday. I couldn't sleep because my schedule was all screwed up by getting up at 5 a.m. New York time (which is 2 a.m. Vegas time, which is an hour before I go to bed) to do radio interviews and appear on The View. So, when I should have been sleeping I got up and ate a bit. I had a handful of unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts with Tabasco sauce. Just splashed on into my hand. I guess I had two handfuls. I love eating spicy in the middle of the night.

The peanuts were very filling so I didn't eat the rest of the day. One thing I learned from my lifestyle change is that I don't have to eat all the time. When I don't eat, I get focused and clearer and ... well, happier. I took the day off from eating. I still drank a lot of seltzer and decaffeinated coffee, but I didn't really have any meals. I had a book signing in Boston that night and had to do about an hour speech and Q&A and doing it without eating made it really easy to be fast and funny and focused. Also, I was talking about radically changing my relationship with food, and what better way to talk about that than to do it after a day of no relationship with food?

Saturday, August 6 I finally fell asleep even on the new time schedule. I got up feeling great and flew to Chicago. There was a lot of travel, trains, and cars, and hotels, and I was in a coffee shop working on a comic book that I'm writing before another speech and book signing. It had been about 36 hours without food, and I wanted to eat. Sometimes Mexican places are great. I went to a Mexican place and asked if they had "vegan" beans and rice. There was a language problem. I asked if they had "vegetarian, no meat or cheese." They said yes. I sat down and ordered a "vegetarian burrito." It came and I said, "Is this rice vegetarian?" and she said, "Yes, I'm completely sure; it's just chicken stock." I figured I'd skip the rice, but what about the burrito? I took one bite, and it was so salty and greasy. Two years ago I would have loved it, but now it was like chemical salt with crankcase oil. I didn't eat any of it. I waited until she wasn't looking, paid with a huge tip, and snuck off.

I went to the Indian place across the street, and they had a vegan menu. I ordered vegetable vindaloo, dal makhani, and plain rice. She asked if I wanted it mild. I said, "No, very spicy." She didn't believe me because my heritage is Newfoundland and we aren't known for our spices, but I pushed, and she delivered it very spicy. It tasted so good. One of the wonderful things about not eating all the time is that, when you do eat, food tastes great. Hunger really is the best spice.

I finished my little speech and went to the Chicago airport. Eating at airports for me is fresh fruit. I found two containers of fresh pineapple. I can eat well in America.

Sunday, August 7 Really still kind of Saturday night. I was so happy to be home in Vegas and have the food I eat that I went a little crazy. I had watermelon. Usually when I eat watermelon it's a joke amount, like a whole watermelon, cut up and very cold. Watermelon is magic. It's like candy but really good for me. There seems to be no limit to the amount of watermelon I can eat.

I took two tablespoons each of flax and chia seeds and put them in a coffee grinder to grind them up and then drank it in a glass of water. Everybody thinks it's stupid, because you're supposed to add flax to food. But it's like drinking cereal, and I love it.

My dessert in the middle of the night was the idea for which I will win the Nobel Prize. I invented this. I took a lot of blueberries, like four big containers (this one is expensive), rinsed them off and then put way, way, way too much cayenne pepper on them. Way too much. Lots. I shook that around and then added way too much cocoa powder, no fat, no sugar. It's like a Mexican flourless chocolate blueberry cake. It's my favorite food. I went to bed with my mouth on fire and my belly full.

I slept and got up and had a day off. The first day off in months. At about 9:30 at night, I had an insane amount of watermelon. Then I had my flax and chia and a whole container of cherry tomatoes while I waited for my soup. My wife had left me some dill pea soup. It's my comfort food now, grilled cheese for the 21st century. I heated it in the microwave and had a big, big bowl of it. Really healthful, really tasty, warm and happy. I finished it off with the great cocoa spicy blueberries. Again, a lot.

Monday, August 8 At about 4:30 in the afternoon I took a container of spinach and spring vegetables, cut up an onion on top, and poured some apple-cider vinegar on it and called it a salad. My wife makes great salads. I don't, but this was fine.

I don't really cook at home. I pretended to know how to cook to go on cooking shows, because that's how I sold my show. A chef friend taught me how to cook for TV, and I did very well. Cooking for TV is very different. Throw away everything that's not perfect. Also, be extreme with the fat, sugar, and salt, because when people are taking one mouthful you've got to jack it up even more. So essentially what you want for TV cooking, where you're going to be judged on one mouthful, is you want to take a stick of butter, roll it in salt, put a little powdered sugar on it, and serve it to them. But call it something else. So I learned to cook for TV and got pretty good at it, but would never cook like that at home. It would kill people.

I had another glass of flax and chia and two big bowls of bean, corn, and tomato stew that my wife had left for me. I put nutritional yeast on top to bring the funk and some Tabasco for a kick. I ended that with a lot of blackberries covered in cinnamon. I eat a lot of food.

Tuesday, August 9 Late Monday night I was hungry after our Vegas show at the Rio. I was in bed, so I got up and had a hummus wrap with Tabasco. This was store-bought and a bit too salty. That wasn't enough, so I had a bunch of spoonfuls of peanut butter. This is my downfall — too salty, too sugary, too high fat, oil, and salt, but so good. I ate so much it would make you sick. It made me happy.

At about three in the afternoon, I had a lot of watermelon, a lot of blueberries with cayenne and cocoa, and my flax and chia. I should have had more, but cooking is too much work. I'll go to the Rio and let them do it.

Backstage, at 6:30 p.m. before our show, I had room service bring me brown rice, to which I added nutritional yeast and Tabasco, about three pounds of steamed spinach that I had with vinegar, steamed carrots, asparagus, broccoli, and four ears of plain corn. You may notice throughout this diet that there's no alcohol. I've never had a sip of the stuff, or a recreational drug, or caffeine. I'm essentially just a Mormon, except for the no-god thing.

At 12:15 a.m., I had watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe, and then air-popped popcorn while watching Preacher with friends. Just entertainment eating. Not really what I should be doing, but I like it. Oh, and this week I took off six pounds and I'm down to target weight. I loved all the food, and I feel great.

I was full, but I still had some peanut butter for bedtime.

Summary: Magician Penn Jillette has recently taken on a more unexpected role: weight-loss authority.


'For mountain- and road-biking, this place is nirvana," Justin Crocker, manager of the Bike Center in Middlebury, Vt., told me over the phone. I had called his shop in search of an escape from the monotony of the stationary bike and treadmill. After six weeks of rehab from knee surgery, I had logged enough miles to travel to Florida and back without ever leaving the stale, sticky confines of my New York City gym. It was time for fresh air, blue skies and rolling hills. And that meant Vermont. I had visited Middlebury and the surrounding countryside of Addison County for the first time this past February, when it was minus 7 degrees - at noon. The region was blanketed with snow then, and the plows had been out that morning. Cycling had hardly been on my mind. But I knew that this "land of milk and honey" - as the broad, fertile valley between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain was called by its 18th-century settlers - was a place I wanted to return to, if for no other reason than to eat wholesome food. On that wintry night, my girlfriend, Jeanette, and I had one of those meals you remember for years. It was at Mary's Restaurant - the cozy fireside dining room inside the Inn at Baldwin Creek, a 1783 farmhouse a few miles outside the small town of Bristol. Memories of good eating, and Crocker's description of sublime bike loops - from gentle farm roads with views of Lake Champlain to Tour de France-like climbs up mountain gaps - were enough to draw me to the rural byways of mid-Vermont. Five months later, it was a balmy 77 degrees when we turned onto Route 125, also known as the Robert Frost Memorial Drive. The scenic road, with frequent "Moose Crossing" signs, winds through the Green Mountain National Forest and offers hikers plenty of options, from a short stroll to the misty edge of Texas Falls to the more rugged Long Trail. Nestled in this pocket of northern hardwood forest is the Moosalamoo region, a 20,000-acre tract of government and private land where trailheads abound. The area's 70 miles of trails are managed by the Moosalamoo Association, a nonprofit group that was formed in 1989. "It's certainly one of the best hiking places in Vermont," said Bruce Brown, a former park ranger who co-founded the Moosalamoo Association along with Tony Clark, a hiking enthusiast and owner of the Blueberry Hill Inn. The secluded inn, an antique-filled 1813 house at the foot of Hogback Mountain, is a popular lodge for hikers who want to be pampered. It has an outdoor sauna to soothe weary muscles, a pond to cool off in, guest rooms with handmade quilts and a dining room that serves four-course dinners. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN. A good time to visit the Moosalamoo area is the end of July, when its fields of wild blueberries are in bloom, waiting to be picked by hungry hikers. One of the region's most famous hikers was Robert Frost, Vermont's poet laureate, who lived for 23 years in a cabin on a farm in Ripton. The fields and forests in the area were the fodder for his poetry. It's one thing to read Frost's writings while seated on a sofa; it's another to do so standing under a gray birch tree, which is exactly what you do on the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail: a 1-mile nature walk where "The Road Not Taken" and other Frost gems are printed on signs posted along the way. After more than six hours in the car, the literary stroll through woods and meadow restored the spirits of this traveler. A mug of root beer at the drive-in A&W stand on Route 7, just outside Middlebury, also helped. Time has altered this lonely vestige of 1950s Americana, but only slightly: The waitresses who carry trays to your car now wear inline skates. This particular Friday was the start of alumni weekend at Middlebury College, and "No Vacancy" signs were plentiful, including at the Waybury Inn in East Middlebury. But I stopped in anyway to see this historic hotel, whose exterior was filmed for the opening scene of the "Newhart" sitcom. Inside, the sign for Bob Newhart's fictitious Stratford Inn hangs near the pub. Built as a stagecoach stop and boardinghouse in 1810, the Waybury has attracted a varied clientele over the years, from farmers who, drunk on hard cider, brawled after late-night socials in the ballroom to members of New England's upper crust who ate hot fruit compote in the Club Room, where Frost had his favorite table and Paul Newman, Lee Iacocca and Jack Nicholson have been among the guests. We ended up staying at the Barsen House Inn in Addison, a newly opened B&B near Lake Champlain. It's set on four beautifully landscaped acres overlooking a pond. Middlebury, with wonderful boutiques, art galleries and riverside restaurants, is 20 miles east of Addison - a quick, pleasant trip through sparsely populated farm country. Addison, the nearest town to the Champlain Bridge that leads to New York, is also a convenient base for exploring the Lake Champlain region. There are two state parks along the lake, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and Button Bay, and both offer tent and lean-to camping. Button Bay has a swimming pool to compensate for its muddy shore. DAR's shoreline has shale stones, which make for a somewhat better beach. On the park's grassy bluffs, the producers of the Harrison Ford/Michelle Pfeiffer movie "What Lies Beneath" built the film's haunted lakeshore home; it was torn down after the filmmakers were done, and replaced with a stone pavilion. Nearby is Dead Creek, a nature preserve where you can kayak through wetlands or watch for herons, ospreys and other birds. Vergennes is also a short drive. Just up the road is the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, where you learn about a rich maritime history. You can also climb aboard a replica of Gen. Benedict Arnold's Revolutionary War gunboat, Philadelphia, a 54-foot gondola sunk by the British in the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. Visitors leave the museum with an appreciation of Arnold's heroic military feats before his name became synonymous with "traitor.

" A FORMAL WELCOME. The Basin Harbor Club, a regal 700-acre resort, is nestled along the lakeshore here. Created in 1886, Basin Harbor is a link to the Gilded Age. Men must wear a jacket and tie in its formal dining room, where guests dance to a swing quartet. Games such as croquet and shuffleboard are still in fashion here. But the resort has modern touches, too, such as Pilates classes and a giant floating trampoline on the lake. Another way to get out on the lake is by renting a canoe, rowboat, sunfish or paddleboat. (There is also an 18-hole golf course and an Olympic-sized pool.) The next day, we headed into Middlebury and Crocker's bike shop. As if to prove his point, the roads on the way in were a flurry of bike activity. Crocker fitted us with two new Raleigh hybrid (half-mountain, half-touring) bikes and suggested a moderately challenging 30-mile loop that would take us along Route 7, then off on a smaller road that dips into the forest and hugs the shores of Lake Dunmore. We were tempted to take another route that would be all farmland, all the time. But Crocker warned, "You'll get a good whiff of Vermont.

" It was, after all, a state-authorized manure-spreading day. So we choose to circumnavigate the lake, a trip that still offered plenty of views of pastoral dairy farms. Along the way, we were beckoned by a 10-foot concrete squirrel in a red-striped shirt. It was the lawn art for Kampersville, an RV campground where there's a general store. After refueling on snacks and water, we were back on the road, but a light drizzle was now falling. The rain soon turned to a downpour, forcing us to abandon our plan of riding a dirt road most of the 15 miles back; instead, we kept to the pavement. Though we were drenched, it was still more fun biking in the rain, along fields and through woods, than spinning our wheels in a sweaty, oxygen-deprived gym. Sidebar: Hitting the spot GETTING THERE: Take New York State Thruway (Route 87) to exit 25 and head northeast on Route 8 and then take 9 N north. In the town of Ticonderoga, near the historic fort, you can take a "shortcut" and board one of the oldest ferry crossings in North America - the Fort Ti Cable Ferry - which runs every seven minutes ($7 one way for cars, vans). This connects to Route 74 in Shoreham, Vt. Or you can stay on 9N until Crown Point and then take Route 17 over the Champlain Bridge to Addison, Vt. WHERE TO STAY: Waybury Inn (East Middlebury): Located along Middlebury Gorge, this 14-room inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is on the doorstep of the Green Mountains. Rates: $125 to $215, includes breakfast. (802) 388-4015 www.

com Barsen House Inn (Addison): A charming B&B on four tranquil, hilltop acres overlooking Lake Champlain in the town of Addison. Rates: $85-$150, including hearty breakfast. (888) 819-6103 www.

com Blueberry Hill Inn (Goshen): A hikers' Shangri-la with miles of wooded trails just outside the door. Rates: $100-$160 per person, per night, includes breakfast and dinner. (800) 448-0707 www.

com. Basin Harbor Club (Vergennes): Beautiful lakeshore grounds, great children's programs and impeccable service keep families coming back. Rates: $240 to $470 per night, per person, includes all meals and children's activities. (800) 622-4000 www.

com WHERE TO EAT: Mary's at Baldwin Creek Inn (Bristol): Wednesday nights in July and August, Mary's offers Farmhouse Dinners where chef Doug Mack showcases food from a featured farm. (802) 453-2432 www.

com Storm Café (Middlebury): Bistro serving inventive American cuisine with deck overlooking Otter Creek Falls. It's located inside a former woolen mill with colorfully painted beams. Try the spicy steamed mussels with wine garlic, cilantro and chili paste. (802) 388-1063 Roland's Place (New Haven): Atop this 1796 home is a glass-enclosed cupola where guests can arrange, for $60 per person, to eat a four-course meal in this cozy romantic hideaway with mountain views. Try the smoked emu appetizer and Atlantic salmon. (802) 453-6309 Christophe's on the Green (Vergennes): Upscale rustic restaurant serves fine French country dishes with a twist. Try the sautéed lamb morsels served with a paloise sauce of mint and shallots. (802) 877-3413 Bridge Restaurant (Addison): Serves tasty diner fare and great pie, voted best in the county by readers of the Addison Eagle. (802) 759-2152 For more information, call Addison County Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-733-8376 or log on to www.

Summary:
GREEN MOUNTAIN GETAWAY   Vermont's Addison County is a rustic haven for outdoor enthusiasts
   BY RICHARD WEIR

   'For mountain- and road-biking, this place is nirvana," Justin Crocker, manager of the Bike Center in Middlebury, Vt., told me over the phone.
      I had called his shop in search of an escape from the monotony of the stationary bike and treadmill. After six weeks of rehab from knee surgery, I had logged enough miles to travel to Florida


Kurdish militants have claimed responsibility for a car bombing in Turkey's southeastern city of Van saying it was in response to the removal from office of two dozen mayors from Kurdish-run municipalities.

The blast on Monday, close to local government offices, wounded around 50 people, including four police officers and four Iranian citizens thought to have been visiting during the Muslim Eid holiday, officials said.

The claim of responsibility was posted on Tuesday on a website close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group which has been used to claim previous attacks in Turkey.

Summary: A car bombing in southeastern Turkey has been claimed by Kurdish militants.


Radha Agrawal had made it.

It was 2001, and after four years of study and 11 gruelling interviews, she had just started work as an analyst at a Wall Street investment bank. Her six-figure salary was quite a coup for a 22-year-old communications graduate just out of university. Then, two months later, 9/11 happened.

Like so many other people caught up in the aftermath of tragedy, Agrawal found herself re-examining her priorities. “It was in that moment that I realised that the mystery of life is you never know when it’s going to end,” she says. “And you have to pursue your passion now.”

I hated investment banking. It was the most harrowing experience of my entire life

Her experience on Wall Street was short lived. Six months after she started the high-pay, high-stress job, her whole team was laid off as a result of 9/11. But that was okay. “I hated investment banking. It was the most harrowing experience of my entire life,” says Agrawal, who had always wanted to work in the film and television industry. She got a break as an agent for TV commercials, which, she says, taught her how to sell and market products.

From there she became something of a serial social entrepreneur: her career has involved everything from bringing gluten-free pizza to the masses (long before being gluten-free was a thing) to creating vegetable superheroes designed to help tackle kids’ nutrition issues.

But Agrawal, who is still based in New York City, is probably best known for her latest creation: Daybreaker, early-morning community-building dance parties, which have caught on around the world. They’re now a regular fixture in 15 cities, from New York to Toronto and São Paulo. The newest location of the event, Hong Kong, will debut on October 16.

The New York nightclub scene of 2013 was too focused on alcohol and the latest designer drugs – and everyone was always on their mobile phones

Agrawal has always liked to let her hair down on the weekend and go out dancing. But not in the New York nightclub scene of 2013, which was too focused on alcohol and the latest designer drugs, she says, adding that everyone was always on their mobile phones.

Over late-night falafels, Agrawal and a friend, Matt Brimer, were commiserating over how they felt dancing was no longer the communal experience that it once was.

“So, what if we could just strip it all away and get back to basics with just dancing, community, and connection? What if we did it in the morning when everyone’s cup is full?”

It was in those moments that the idea of Daybreaker was conceived: an early-morning community dance party without any alcohol or drugs. Of 300 people invited to the first one in New York City, which was held on December 10, 2013, 180 showed up.

We look at it through the lens of ‘Does this suck for me?’ And then we ask ourselves, ‘Does it suck for a lot of people?’

Held in unique spaces, including nightclubs, cruise boats, parks, and even cathedrals, the events are two hours in length and start with an additional optional hour of yoga. In less than three years, membership has grown to 300,000 community members.

‘Does this suck for me?’

Whether it’s gluten-free pizza or daybreak dances, Agrawal says that everything she has done has stemmed from asking herself two questions: “Is this something I am passionate about?” and “Is this something people suffer from?” If the answer to those two questions is yes, then it is an idea she will consider pursuing. “Every single thing we build, we look at it through the lens of ‘Does this suck for me?’ And then we ask ourselves, ‘Does it suck for a lot of people?’”

When she talks about “we”, she means herself and the informal network of friends and family surrounding her, most notably her identical twin sister, Miki. Almost all of her business ventures have at some point involved both of them. “We’re twins, so we’re constantly inspiring each other,” says Miki Agrawal.

Much of the passion and need to build community ventures came from their parents who were both first-generation immigrants to Montreal, Canada, where the girls grew up with their older sister: their father from India, their mother from Japan. Their father always talked about the duty to give back as part of Hinduism and part of his culture, remembers Agrawal. “He constantly pushed us to prove to ourselves, to prove to him, to prove to each other, that we were serving the world,” she says. Social entrepreneurism was a natural extension of that.

Agrawal’s first project, one she and Miki undertook together, didn’t come from need so much as desire: the desire to make better, healthier pizza in New York City. “The idea was to turn pizza on its head and add a gluten-free crust and organic toppings and sugar-free sauces,” says Agrawal.

People thought that organic meant it tasted like dirt

They started the restaurant Slice, The Perfect Food (it is now called WILD and has three NYC locations) more than a decade ago, and, at the time, most people had never even heard the term “gluten-free” or even understood what the word “organic” meant. “People thought that organic meant it tasted like dirt. So, there was a lot of education that had to happen there,” says Agrawal.

An unexpected piece of the pie

Another challenge turned out to be kids and their aversion to vegetables. Agrawal noticed that when kids would come into the restaurant, they would always order the same thing: plain cheese pizza. So she set about designing a kids’ menu for the restaurant that included vegetable superheroes like Brian Broccoli and Colby Carrot, whose strengths came from their particular nutritional value.

The new menu proved to be a hit, and kids started ordering pizza with vegetable toppings, “much to their parents’ surprise,” she says.

This sent Agrawal in a whole new direction. She turned the superheroes and their story into a kids’ multimedia company called Super Sprowtz and raised just under $5 million in private funding to build a children’s nutrition education programme reaching more than one million kids, many through school lunch offerings. These programmes have had the support of such notables as Michelle Obama and Shaquille O’Neal.

Never one to wait for one thing to finish before tackling something else, Agrawal was already at work with her sister and a mutual friend on a new product for women. “We were commiserating over how difficult it was being a female entrepreneur, because we had to jump out of meetings to change our tampons or pads. We would be rushing places and we would forget,” says Agrawal.

I always say I couldn’t have a boss. Entrepreneurism was really the only path for me

Out of those frustrations, they created period-proof underwear called Thinx. With the absorbent, washable and reusable underwear, there was no need for pads or tampons. In 2013, Thinx raised $65,000 on crowdfunding site Kickstarter and grew from there, raising additional funds from friends and family. Today, it is a global brand with 35 employees and has a partnership with Uganda-based AFRIPads, which makes reusable sanitary pads. Miki Agrawal is the CEO.

‘It’s not a perfect experience’

But despite Agrawal’s many successes, there have been some hiccups along the way. For instance, with Daybreaker, the balloon drop doesn’t fall perfectly every time and the confetti cannon can get clogged. But that’s okay, she says. “It’s not a perfect experience, but neither is community. It is ever-changing and ever-evolving. What we focus on is delivering a beautiful production that is really high energy.”

For Agrawal, it’s no surprise that she ended up an entrepreneur even after her stint in banking and her father’s insistence that she become a doctor (he has since come around). “I always say I couldn’t have a boss. Entrepreneurism was really the only path for me because I was never in a mould. I was always against a mould.”

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Summary: Radha Agrawal started her career on Wall Street, but hated it. So she’s spent her career as a serial social entrepreneur


The man accused of fatally setting a Brisbane bus driver on fire was a mental health patient and Queensland's health minister Cameron Dick says a review will determine if he had received proper treatment.

Mr Dick has revealed Anthony O'Donohue, 48, who has been charged with murder over Friday's attack that killed Brisbane City Council driver Manmeet Alisher, had received public mental health services.

Mr Dick says privacy laws prevent him from saying when O'Donohue was last treated, or revealing any other details about his care.

But he says an independent review, led by forensic psychiatrist Professor Paul Mullen, will thoroughly assess the adequacy of that care.

Prof Mullen is due to report back to the government in eight weeks, and the minister has promised to release the findings as far as he's able under the law.

The external probe will run in parallel with an internal review by the Metro South Hospital and Health Service, which treated O'Donohue.

"It's important that there be an independent review of the delivery of services," Mr Dick told reporters.

He said there was "a very robust clinical and legal framework" for the treatment of mental health patients in Queensland, but the review would identify any deficiencies.

Mr Alisher, 29, was burnt to death behind the wheel when he stopped to pick up passengers at a Moorooka bus stop.

Police have said there's no obvious motive for the attack and have ruled out terrorism or racial factors.

Mr Alisher's brother Amit Alisher has arrived in Brisbane from India and hopes to fly home with his brother's body later this week before telling his frail parents of the heart-breaking news. At this stage they believe their son has been in an accident and is in a coma.

Indian leader Narendra Modi has phoned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to express his shock and concern about Mr Alisher's death.

O'Donohue has been charged with murder and arson, and also 11 counts of attempted murder relating to other people who were on the council bus.

Passengers who witnessed the attack and were trapped on the burning bus before taxi driver Aguek Nyok kicked out a back door remain deeply traumatised.

Mr Dick said he was devastated for the Alisher family and has also paid tribute to the paramedics and others who responded to the incident.

Summary: The man accused of the fiery murder of a Brisbane bus driver was a mental health patient and his treatment will be reviewed, Queensland's health minister says.


West Australian Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph McGrath has been appointed a judge of the WA Supreme Court.

Attorney General Michael Mischin said Mr McGrath had more than 20 years of experience as a litigator and almost seven years as the DPP.

Mr McGrath's appointment to the WA Supreme Court will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Ralph Simmonds earlier this year.

Senior prosecutor Amanda Forrester will act as the DPP until the position is advertised.

Summary: Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph McGrath has been appointed a judge of the WA Supreme Court, following the retirement of Justice Ralph Simmonds.


A former Adelaide gymnastics coach convicted of child sex offences against two teenage girls has avoided jail.

Shaun Allan Todd, 32, began sexual relationships between 2008 and 2011 with the two girls from the gym he coached at while they were aged 15 and 16.

District Court Judge Steven Millsteed gave Todd two years and 11 months in prison but wholly suspended the sentence, saying the risk of him reoffending against young females was "remote to non-existent".

But the judge said the offending was still serious and Todd would no longer be able to pursue a career as a physical education teacher and gymnastics coach.

"A career in teaching and reinvolvement in youth gymnastics are options that are no longer open to you," Judge Millsteed said in his sentencing on Monday.

One victim was 16 when Todd started having sex with her and the court heard he believed this was the legal age of consent.

The judge accepted this evidence given the age of consent in most Australian states is 16, with only South Australia and Tasmania ruling it as 17.

But the second victim was 15 and Todd, then aged 26 and a teacher at the gym she attended, was well aware that his relationship with her was illegal.

"You knew full well that it was unlawful to sexually interfere with anyone under the age of 16," Judge Millsteed said.

Neither victim said they held ill-feelings towards Todd, the court heard, but one believed the relationship had negatively affected her.

"Young people don't realise the impacts that sexual activities will have on them until later in life," Judge Millsteed said.

"They were not young children but even children at the age of 15 or 16 must be protected from sexual exploitation."

A psychologist found Todd, who is now engaged to a 22-year-old woman, was immature for his age and had low self-esteem but did not have a "paedophelic interest".

Summary: A former gymnastics coach who had sex with two teenagers in Adelaide has been given a suspended prison sentence.


US President Barack Obama has ordered intelligence agencies to review cyber attacks and foreign intervention into the 2016 election and deliver a report before he leaves office on January 20, the White House says.

In October, the US government formally accused Russia of a campaign of cyber attacks against Democratic Party organisations ahead of the presidential election, and Obama has said he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin about consequences for the attacks.

The review and its timeline are a signal that Obama wants the issue addressed before he hands power to President-elect Donald Trump, who cast doubt on Russia's hacking role and praised Putin during the campaign.

Obama's homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, told reporters the report's results would be shared with lawmakers and others.

"The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process ... and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress," she said during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the review would be a "deep dive" that would look for a pattern of such behaviour over several years, as far back as the 2008 presidential election. He noted that Obama wanted the review completed under his watch.

During his campaign for the White House, Trump called on Russia to dig up missing emails from his opponent, Hillary Clinton, from her time as secretary of state under Obama, a fellow Democrat.

That move prompted critics to accuse him of encouraging foreign actors to conduct espionage.

The New York businessman has said he is not convinced Russia was behind the attacks, but people he has nominated for top national security posts in his new administration have taken a harsher stance toward Moscow.

Russian officials have denied all accusations of interference in the US election.

Obama has come under pressure from Democratic lawmakers to declassify more intelligence on the alleged hackings.

A government source said the review was sparked in part to respond to those demands as well as to determine how much material related to the subject could be made public.

When she was working as a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation official in 2008, she said, the agency alerted the presidential campaigns of then-Senator Obama and Republican Senator John McCain that China had infiltrated their respective systems.

Summary: President Barack Obama has ordered an urgent review into the 2016 cyber attacks during the presidential election.


Shrieks and chants emanating from the crowd along the Viale Piave outside Dolce & Gabbana’s fashion show Sunday here indicated that something new is afoot in this nation’s fashion week. Italy’s chic tailoring and artisanal leatherwork are increasingly being overshadowed by attention-getting social-media strategies and pure crowd-pleasing entertainment.

Great fashions were on the runways, of course. Bottega Veneta scored big with classic clothes for grown-ups, and Lauren Hutton on the runway. People will be talking about Gucci’s mesmerizing weirdo looks for some time to come. If anything, Gucci went deeper into the freak sensibility, showing eccentricities such as a pink floral man’s dress. That kept the drama on the brand’s runway, but elsewhere, clothes were often upstaged by theatrics.

Outside Dolce, hundreds of teenage girls crowded the doors hoping for a glimpse or a selfie with Cameron Dallas, a 22-year-old Californian whose jar-of-pickles-eating YouTube video has more than 14 million views (and it isn’t his biggest hit). Inside the venue, the presence of more than a dozen young digital-media stars was announced via the brand’s Instagram feed. They waited in a green room attended by Stefano Gabbana himself.

“It’s a symbol of the new generation. These guys are popular,” said Mr. Gabbana, 53. “Fashion should be fun.”

Italy’s fashion brands have taken note of the social-media hubbub now driving fashion marketing in the U.S. Diego Della Valle, the billionaire chairman and chief executive of Tod’s, has overhauled the design and show strategy for the label, which is famous for its airy light car shoes and luxe leather goods.

“I think the typical show is finished,” Mr. Della Valle said in a meeting at his wood-paneled office as a waiter served champagne and shards of Parmesan cheese. “Now we have the young bloggers. They need something to post.”

Having severed the label’s connection with designer Alessandra Facchinetti earlier this year, Mr. Della Valle opted against the routine runway show and launched instead an event he calls a “happening.” Performers’ hands and feet tiptoed in Tod’s shoes or caressed Tod’s handbags. The choreography created moments for photos and videos on social media, and a chance to ogle the goods. Mr. Della Valle promised even more drama at the next fashion week in February.

Chiara Ferragni, whose style blog The Blonde Salad is stripped across the top with ads from brands such as Moschino and Saint Laurent, was mobbed by young girls as she left Versace’s show on Friday. Donatella Versace ’s collection of smart daywear included more of her sexy power tailoring, and featured an all-star model casti with Naomi Campbell, Edie Campbell, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, and Bella and Gigi Hadid.

Searching for her own balance between spectacle and fashion collection, Miuccia Prada showed edits from a short film by David O. Russell (known for “American Hustle” and “Silver Linings Playbook”) as the backdrop to her runway, while Mr. Russell sat front row. The result was confusion: it was impossible to watch the film, called “Past Forward,” and the models simultaneously.

The collection was a brainy mix of geometric prints and new poly-blend knitwear that borders on indestructible. The full film, a collaboration between Mr. Russell and Ms. Prada that looks like a noir thriller, will be posted on prada.com in late October.

Probably the biggest happening of Milan’s fashion week was Philipp Plein ’s “Alice in Ghettoland” extravaganza for 3,000 guests who watched musical artists Fergie and Fat Joe perform on a stage surrounded by what looked like a candy village for gnomes. Shirtless male models washed a car covered in foam while models including Paris Hilton pranced around the arena. None of it made any sense, least of all the giant gnome whose chest was emblazoned ‘PIMP,’ but the spectacle was made for social media.

Mr. Plein’s blinged-out streetwear featured gold chains looping around peekaboo dresses and denim. “Trends are nowadays born on the street on the young kids who don’t have money,” he explained backstage. “Designers take it and make it expensive.”

Fashion magazine editors took note of the digital influencers crowding front rows. At Dolce & Gabbana, Zara Larsson, a Swedish singer with 1.9 million Instagram followers, and Sarah Snyder, widely known as Jaden Smith ’s girlfriend, were among the group chosen for their social media followings. When a publicist shared a four-page cheat-sheet with the influencers’ names and bios, a half-dozen editors from magazines including Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, and Marie Claire eagerly asked to borrow it and snapped photos of each page.

Write to Christina Binkley at christina.binkley@wsj.com

Summary: At Milan Fashion Week, Clothes Weren’t the Stars: Designers from Dolce & Gabbana to Tod’s staged elaborate spectacles to generate social-media buzz; Gucci is poised to continue its trend-setting run


President-elect Donald Trump and his emerging team are confident their proposed tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks will spark a dramatic upswing in economic growth.

Two forces will make that tough: an aging population and stagnant productivity.

For years, Wall Street and government forecasters have waxed pessimistic on the economy’s capacity for sustained growth, pointing to multiple reasons it has diminished since the 1990s. Perhaps most important, demographic trends have produced slower growth in the working population. And the U.S. and other advanced economies are grappling with sluggish gains in productivity, for reasons that aren’t wholly clear.

As a result, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts roughly 2% annual growth for gross domestic product pretty much as far as the eye can see.

But Mr. Trump says his tax, trade and other policy proposals will generate average annual GDP growth of 3.5% or more—a pace the U.S. hasn’t seen in more than a decade. The last stretch of sustained growth above that level ended in 2000.

“My economic plan rejects the cynicism that says our labor force will keep declining, that our jobs will keep leaving and that our economy can never grow as it did once before,” Mr. Trump said in September.

His pick for Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, reiterated that target last week. “Our most important priority is sustained economic growth, and I think we can absolutely get to sustained 3% to 4% GDP,” he told CNBC.

Economists agree that tax cuts and infrastructure spending could give the U.S. a boost, especially in the short term. But doubt runs deep on both the left and the right that Mr. Trump can hit his ambitious target for long-run growth.

With the right package of policy changes “you can have a measurable impact on GDP growth,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the conservative American Action Forum think tank and a former CBO director. “Can you get a full percentage point? That’s a lot.”

Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, shares that skepticism. “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, because it’s economics and not science,” he said. “But it’s as close to that as I’m comfortable asserting.”

The recovery that began in mid-2009 has been long by historical standards but also weak, with annual growth averaging just 2.1%. There are many forces that have been blamed for that tepidness, from the household-debt overhang after the housing bubble to Obama administration regulations.

But over the long run, an economy’s potential growth rate all comes down to how much people are working, and how productive they are. Deceleration in labor-force growth as the baby-boom generation begins to retire and workforce participation declines, plus a marked slowdown in productivity gains since the IT-fueled boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, help explain the tepid recent growth trend and have prompted professional forecasters to lower their expectations for growth.

To be sure, economic forecasts are often wrong, and growth in the short run can exceed or undershoot what economists consider its long-run potential. During the current expansion, the quarterly growth rate for U.S. output has bounced around a range from negative 1.5% to positive 5%.

Fiscal and monetary policies that push growth beyond its potential level for too long, however, carry the risk of overheating the economy and generating uncomfortably high inflation. Achieving consistently stronger GDP growth would require some combination of expanding the workforce and boosting productivity growth—daunting tasks, especially on the demographic front.

Since Election Day, Federal Reserve officials have signaled they hope the new administration will pursue productivity-focused policies. Chairwoman Janet Yellen advised Congress in mid-November to “choose policies that would improve that long-run growth and productivity outlook.”

Mr. Trump has proposed overhauling the tax code, promoting domestic energy production, rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, and reducing both the burden of government regulations and the trade deficit. His campaign described as conservative its estimate that his policies would mean average GDP growth of 3.5% a year.

Growth of 4% or even 5% a year is achievable “when we get the policies right,” said Stephen Moore, a conservative economist and economic adviser to Mr. Trump. He said tax and regulatory reforms and increased energy production can bolster business investment and draw workers back into the labor force.

“There’s so much low-hanging fruit out there,” he said.

Others have their doubts. In the short run, J.P. Morgan Chase forecasts a modest boost to GDP growth in the second half of 2017 and 2018 from fiscal stimulus. But Michael Feroli, the bank’s chief U.S. economist, said he would be “very surprised” if trend growth approached Mr. Trump’s target.

While there’s some scope for policy changes to boost long-run growth, “I think we’re talking in the range of a few tenths of a percent,” Mr. Feroli said.

Mr. Trump won’t likely be daunted by such skepticism. After all, Mr. Moore said, experts dismissed his chances of winning the presidency, too.