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[ "Warner Bros. has lined up some bonafide A-list stars for its A Star Is Born remake.\nThe only problem is, you might not actually recognize them. At least not right away.\nThe photo above is our first look at the upcoming movie. Take a good hard look at it. Pore over its every detail. Zoom in if you have to.\nThen make your best guess as to who, exactly, the people in it are. Here's a hint: you've definitely heard of both of them.\nFigure it out?\nIf you guessed \"Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga,\" ding ding ding.\nBut you probably didn't guess \"Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga,\" because there's no reason you would have. This doesn't look anything like either of them.\nCooper's slimmed down a lot to look more \"rock star\" than \"action star,\" and he's sporting a bushy beard that we're not entirely sure is real.\nMeanwhile, Lady Gaga — a.k.a. Stefani Germanotta, the name she'll be using in the film's credits — looks nothing like herself without the outrageous clothes or heavy makeup.\nMind you, this isn't a knock on either of them; we're very curious to see what comes of this film, especially since it marks Cooper's directorial debut. Germanotta, meanwhile, will be providing original music.\nCooper's A Star Is Born is the fourth version of this film in the past century, following the 1937 original, the 1954 remake starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and the 1976 remake starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.\nThe finer details change from version to version, but the spine stays the same: an older, more established male star helps usher a younger female star into the spotlight, and the two strike up a passionate romance — only to have their relationship threatened by their diverging careers.\nIn addition to Cooper and Germanotta, the new A Star Is Born also features Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott. The project is shooting now in Southern California (including a stop at Coachella) for release on September 28, 2018." ]

[ "Bradley Cooper joined Lady Gaga on stage at Coachella Festival as production began on the remake of musical A Star Is Born.\nThe film, which will mark Cooper's directorial debut, will be the first lead film role for the musician who will be credited with her real name, Stefani Germanotta.\nA first look image has been released showing Cooper's character playing guitar next to Gaga as she sings.\nGaga invited her fans to appear in the film as extras for scenes that were filmed at the Empire Polo Club.\nThe film, a remake of the Judy Garland-starring classic musical following an up-and-coming star struggling to break into the music industry, will also star Sam Elliott and Andrew Dice Clay. Another remake starring Barbara Streisand followed in 1976.\nGaga became the second ever female artist to headline the Indio-based festival having replaced Beyoncé who was forced to pull out after learning she is pregnant with twins. The singer tore through her hits, including \"Telephone\" and \"The Edge of Glory,\" and debuted new track \"The Cure\" which was released on iTunes.\nA Star Is Born is due to be released September 2018.", "LAS VEGAS — Bradley Cooper has unveiled the first trailer for his directorial debut “A Star is Born” for CinemaCon attendees Tuesday evening to hearty applause.\nCooper stars in his remake of “A Star Is Born” alongside Lady Gaga as a burgeoning singer. He says his co-star is a revelation in the film.\nCooper told the audience of theatre owners and exhibitors that he knows that this movie is a big swing, but says you can’t control what moves you.\n“A Star is Born” is three years in the making, and features live-singing on real stages at festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella.\nIt hits theatres on Oct. 5.", "Lady Gaga has released the first image from the remake of A Star is Born.\nThe singer took to Instagram to reveal the promotional picture of her and Bradley Cooper. The film was announced last year when the singer revealed on Twitter that she’d be starring in the film with Cooper, who will also be directing.\nGaga captioned the image: “I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I’m so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen.\n“The story of “A Star is Born” is so special and I’m so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true. Can’t wait for you to meet Ally. She has her first scene in 5….⏰”\nGaga’s proved that she’s an acting force to be reckoned with after snatching the Best Actress in a Limited Series, Series, or Motion Picture award at this year’s Golden Globes, for her role as the countess in American Horror Story: Hotel. With no fewer than six Grammys under her belt, A Star Is Born is pretty much perfect for the multi-talented performer.\nBeyoncé was initially in talks to take on the leading part of Esther, but eventually pulled out. According to rumours, she may have backed out over money disputes. But it could also have something to do with the world tour she’s currently on clashing with filming, which begins early next year, according to Empire.\nThe original A Star Is Born came out way back in 1937, before it was rebooted in 1954 and lead by the legendary Judy Garland (who could forget her heartbreaking rendition of The Man That Got Away?). The film’s last remake was in 1976, starring Barbra Streisand.\nGaga recently unveiled her new single ‘The Cure’ during her headline set at Coachella.\nMore news:\n5 times Lady Gaga stood up for the LGBT+ community\nFurious viewers slam BBC for cutting LGBT lyrics from Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ for a second time", "A star is born—and it's Lady Gaga.\nWarner Bros. has just given us our first look at the singer's big screen acting debut, playing the starring role in the upcoming movie musical remake of A Star is Born.\nAfter the studio dropped the image, Gaga also posted the pic on her Instagram. The first-look shows the Million Reasons singer belting out a tune alongside Bradley Cooper's character, who is rocking a beard and playing guitar.\nGaga captioned the photo, \"I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I'm so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen. The story of A Star Is Born is so special and I'm so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true. Can't wait for you to meet Ally. She has her first scene in 5...\"", "ABC Image Group LA(INDIO) — Lady Gaga is making the most of her Coachella appearances. The “Million Reasons” singer will also be shooting scenes for her upcoming A Star Is Born remake, along with co-star/director Bradley Cooper.\nOn Sunday, Warner Brothers tweeted a message inviting fans to “Be there when @ladygaga films for A #StarIsBorn on the #Coachella grounds nxt wk!used,” and a link with all the details. The singer also used Coachella’s mobile app to relay the offer.\nShooting will take place Tuesday and Wednesday on the festival grounds, and participants are instructed to wear Denim and boots for the scene that will depict a country concert, according to the announcement. Attendees also are ordered to “Leave those pink Joanne hats at home” — a reference to the bright pink cowboy hat Gaga sports on her Joanne album.\nParticipants must be at least 18 years of age and admission to the filming costs $10, with all proceeds going to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.\nThis will mark the third remake of A Star Is Born, which originally came out in 1937. The first remake, in 1954, starred Judy Garland. A second, featuring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, was released in 1976.\nA Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, is slated for a 2018 release.\nLady Gaga is also scheduled to give a second Coachella performance next Saturday.\nCopyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.", "Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella\nIn between releasing her new single “The Cure” and her Coachella set, Lady Gaga has one more surprise up her sleeve: filming scenes from her upcoming movie A Star Is Born at Coachella. Bradley Cooper is directing and co-starring in the remake of a remake of a remake, which charts the ascension of a talented songstress and simultaneous descent of the hitmaker who helped build her career. Gaga and Cooper will be filming concert scenes for the movie Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19, according to Deadline. The Coachella app instructed attendees to dress up in their best country garb and cheer on Gaga’s fictional set: “All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!” Coachella’s country-music advisory confirms once and for all that Gaga will be a country crooner in the remake and Cooper will be her rocker mentor turned lover. “A star is born, so a star must die,” and somewhere in between those stars have to stop by Coachella.\nUpdate: A first look at the movie comes courtesy of BuzzFeed:\nA STAR IS BORN will \"introduce\" Stefani Germanotta (@ladygaga), costarring & directed by Bradley Cooper. FIRST LOOK: pic.twitter.com/KarSyEIEL8 — Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) April 17, 2017\nThe plot of Cooper’s Star is Born will follow the same rise-decline plot of the former adaptations. Gaga has written and will record new music for the movie. Per the press release:\nCooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory. In addition to playing Ally, Germanotta… has composed and will perform original songs in the film.\nA Star Is Born’s cinematographer Matthew Libatique shared a behind-the-scenes shot of preparation for the Coachella footage on Instagram:", "Lady Gaga shared the first image on Monday from her film remake of A Star is Born, also starring and directed by Bradley Cooper.\nThe classic Hollywood tale of two stars colliding, one whose career is on the upswing and the other’s waning, has been made three times previously, most recently in 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.\nLady Gaga, who will be billed under her real name, Stefani Germanotta, wrote beside the image of herself and Bradley on Instagram: “I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I’m so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen.”\nShe added, “The story of ‘A Star is Born’ is so special and I’m so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true.” She signed off by saying: “Can’t wait for you to meet Ally. She has her first scene in 5...”\nThe film marks Cooper’s directorial debut and, in addition, he is co-producing the project and co-writing it. He will also play country music legend Jackson Maine who is struggling to keep his career on track. Lady Gaga is hopeful singer Ally who Jackson not only takes under his wing but also becomes romantically involved with.\nFans in Indio, California for last weekend’s Coachella music festival kickoff - at which Lady Gaga was one of the headliners - received an added bonus when they were offered $10 tickets to feature as extras in scenes being filmed at the site for the new film. All proceeds from the sales will go to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.\nA Star is Born is due for release next September.", "(CBS SF) – Just days after Lady Gaga stepped off the Coachella stage, the singer shared a photo from her new film, A Star Is Born on social media.\nThe Instagram shows the singer and her co-star Bradley Cooper playing the guitar. “I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I’m so lucky to call my friend,” the caption reads. “I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen.”\nThis will be the fourth version of A Star Is Born. The original was released back in 1937 and starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. Then in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason. The 1976 version starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.\nThe Warner Bros remake marks Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut and also stars Sam Elliott and Andrew ‘Dice’ Clay. Gaga will be credited by her real name, Stefani Germanotta.\nA Star Is Born tells the story of an up and coming star, guided by a seasoned pro who’s own career is headed downward.\nThe film is set to release in theaters on September 28, 2018.\n©2017 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved.", "Singer will star in remake of 'A Star Is Born'\nLady Gaga has invited fans to attend the filming of her new movie with Bradley Cooper, a remake of A Star Is Born.\nGaga headlined Coachella on Saturday night (April 15) and she will return to the festival site to shoot scenes for the upcoming movie. It’s the fourth adaptation of the film, following the 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand, 1954’s version starring Judy Garland and the 1937 original.\nThe singer will film scenes for the musical-drama at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California (where Coachella is held) this week, with fans able to attend as extras.\nThe scenes will depict a “country western music concert” and fans have been asked to wear “comfortable denim and boots”.\nFans must pay a $10 fee, with proceeds going towards Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. More information can be found here.\nDuring her Coachella headline set Gaga debuted a new song and ran through hits from across her back catalogue, including ‘Just Dance’, ‘Telephone’, ‘Born This Way’ and set-closer ‘Bad Romance’.\nDuring ‘The Edge Of Glory’, she paused for a moment to declare to the crowd: “Playing to 100,000 people – not too shabby!” Midway through the set, Gaga also shared something new with her fans, playing a new song she had “been working in the studio on” called ‘The Cure’. Later, as she was leaving the stage, she told the audience: “My new single ‘The Cure’ will be on iTunes tonight.”", "Lady Gaga turned to Instagram today to share a first image of herself and co-star Bradley Cooper (Broadway's THE ELEPHANT MAN) in the highly anticipated reboot of A STAR IS BORN. Check out the pic below!\nLady Gaga will star opposite four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (\"American Sniper,\" \"American Hustle,\" \"Silver Linings Playbook\") in a remake of the iconic musical drama A STAR IS BORN. The film, scheduled to hit theaters on Sept. 28, 2018 will also be helmed by Cooper, who will be making his directorial debut. Lady Gaga's role in \"A Star is Born\" will mark her first lead in a feature film. In addition, she will compose new songs for the film, which she will also perform.\nladygaga: am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I'm so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen. The story of \"A Star is Born\" is so special and I'm so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true. Can't wait for you to meet Ally.\nA singular talent, Lady Gaga earned an Oscar nomination earlier this year for her moving song \"Til it Happens to You,\" from the documentary \"The Hunting Ground.\" Among her many music honors, she has also won six GRAMMY AWARDS and earned another nine Grammy nominations. Her multi-platinum hits range from \"Bad Romance,\" \"Poker Face\" and \"Just Dance\" to the chart-topping anthem \"Born This Way.\" In 2014, she proved her crossover appeal with \"Cheek to Cheek,\" partnering with the legendary Tony Bennett on a duet album of standards, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart. On the acting front, Lady Gaga starred in the 2015-16 season of FX's hit series \"American Horror Story,\" earning widespread acclaim and winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Made for Television Movie. She had earlier been seen in the Robert Rodriguez films \"Machete Kills\" and \"Sin City: A Dame to Die For.\"\nA STAR IS BORN image courtesy of Warner Bros\n'Joanne' cover art courtesy of Facebook/Lady Gaga\nRelated Articles", "We’ve come a long way from Janet Gaynor’s demure caplet dresses. In 1937, the actress was the first to play the lead in the musical film A Star Is Born . Back then, the character’s name was Esther Victoria Blodgett, and she was a Hollywood star on the rise who fell in love with a struggling actor named Norman Maine. After Gaynor took on the part, there was Judy Garland, who was cast in the 1954 version of the classic movie, sometimes seen on screen in a voluminous ball gown. Next it was Barbra Streisand, who played Esther (Hoffman this time) in 1976 alongside Paul Williams. In that remake, Streisand wore shimmering disco frocks and crochet as she climbed the ladder of success as a singer.\nNow, with a similar plotline to the 1976 iteration, Lady Gaga is reprising the role in the Bradley Cooper–directed film A Star Is Born , due out September 28, 2018. Today Gaga, née Stefani Germanotta, shared a first glimpse of the highly anticipated movie on Instagram. The image shows a scene in which the fictional Ally is singing on stage next to Jackson Maine (Cooper) while wearing a curiously on-trend costume. Gaga is dressed in a pair of Miaou pinstripe pants and a well-worn T-shirt tied at the front. The look channels a slew of It girls who have taken a recent liking to the cult label’s well-fitting jeans and trousers: Bella and Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, Sofia Richie and so on and so forth.\nThe film is apparently shooting on the grounds of Coachella during the next couple of days and undoubtedly more images and information surrounding Gaga’s big-screen debut will be released. But thanks to her sneak peek today we do know one thing for sure: In 2018—after Gaynor, Garland, and Streisand—the new Star’s style will be a sign of the times and the It girls who are always on today’s main fashion stage.", "Last year, it was revealed that Lady Gaga would join Bradley Cooper for a remake of the 1937 film A Star Is Born. The film is also Cooper’s directorial debut. Today, Gaga took to Instagram to share the first look of the movie. The photo, which was actually taken at Coachella this weekend, shows her singing into a microphone alongside a guitar-wielding Cooper. In the caption, she wrote, “I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I’m so lucky to call my friend. I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen. The story of ‘A Star is Born’ is so special and I’m so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true.”\nGaga’s acting career has taken off in recent years, most notably with her stint on American Horror Story, but this is her first time leading a major motion picture. It appears as if she’s trying to keep her acting and music careers somewhat separate, since she’ll be credited in the movie by her birth name, Stefani Germanotta.\nIn an ironic twist, this is the second time this year that Gaga will be taking over for Beyonce. Bey was originally attached to this project a few years ago, but Gaga stepped into the movie after she dropped out. Fast-forward to this weekend, when production on the movie began at Coachella… where Gaga was performing as a replacement for Beyonce.", "Bradley Cooper arrives at the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2018, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at Caesars Palace on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)\nBradley Cooper arrives at the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2018, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at Caesars Palace on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)\nLAS VEGAS (AP) - Bradley Cooper has unveiled the first trailer for his directorial debut \"A Star is Born\" for CinemaCon attendees Tuesday evening to hearty applause.\nCooper stars in his remake of \"A Star Is Born\" alongside Lady Gaga as a burgeoning singer. He says his co-star is a revelation in the film.\nCooper told the audience of theater owners and exhibitors that he knows that this movie is a big swing, but says you can't control what moves you.\n\"A Star is Born\" is three years in the making, and features live-singing on real stages at festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella.\nIt hits theaters on Oct. 5.", "There are a lot of Hollywood films being remade in Bollywood these days. Some of them hit the blocks while others die a silent death. The latest remake that has caught our attention is of the romantic drama film, The Fault In Our Stars, which is based on the popular novel by John Green. After too many rumours doing rounds on the internet, finally have some clarity on this remake.\nAccording to the latest reports in a popular daily, the film will mark the directorial debut of casting director, Mukesh Chhabra, who was the one to introduce Sushant Singh Rajput to the film industry. While SSR has been confirmed as the lead, makers are yet to finalise an actress opposite Sushant.\nA source close to the makers revealed to the daily, “Mukesh was the one who introduced Sushant to Abhishek Kapoor for Kai Po Che! He had always wanted to work with him and felt he would be perfect for this film. He is currently on the lookout for his leading lady. Though inspired by the Hollywood film, the script will be adapted to Indian sensibilities.”\nOn the other hand, when Mukesh was asked about the film, he confirmed, “Yes, I am on board for The Fault in Our Stars’ remake. I'm working on the script at the moment. Sushant is the leading man and we are still in the process of casting the heroine.”\nWe are quite excited about this one, and you??", "Image via Getty\nLady Gaga will make the best use of her time at Coachella by shooting scenes there this week for the remake of A Star Is Born with Bradley Cooper.\nAdvertisement\nDuring her Coachella set on Sunday, Gaga debuted her new single “The Cure,” a sparkle of a song that’s more on the peppy synth side of pop than what we’re used to from her.\nDays later, she’ll be shooting scenes for the long-brewing remake of A Star Is Born, which Cooper is directing.\nAdvertisement\nRegular people have been invited to participate as extras for concert scenes shooting on April 18 and 19, so as to take advantage of the sea of music lovers and flower crowns gathered in the dessert of Indio, California.\nBillboard reports:\nThe solicitation for extras (which you can read here) invites Little Monsters to “be in the audience as Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga films scenes on the actual Coachella stages. Help cheer and applaud their performances on camera... the scenes for these days will portray a Country Western music concert. All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!”\nThese future memories cost $10 per ticket and everyone’s phones will reportedly be trapped in a Yondr pouch to prevent photo and video leaks while filming.", "Lady Gaga will rise to fame once again in \"A Star is Born,\" which began filming on Monday, Warner Bros. announced in a statement.\nAlongside Bradley Cooper, Gaga -- who will be credited by her birth name, Stefani Germanotta -- is starring in the musical remake, which tells the story of Jackson Maine (Cooper) who discovers the unknown singing talent of Ally (Gaga). Warner Bros. released the first image of the two, featuring a brunette Gaga singing and Cooper playing the guitar.\nThe singer, who took to the stage at Coachella Music Festival and released a surprise single \"The Cure\" last weekend, is now in full acting mode.\n\"I am so excited to star in my first movie alongside someone I'm so lucky to call my friend,\" Gaga wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. \"I always wanted to be an actress on the big screen. The story of 'A Star is Born' is so special and I'm so grateful to Bradley for making my dream come true. Can't wait for you to meet Ally. She has her first scene in 5 ... ⏰\"\nWarner Bros. tweeted a link last week for fans to join Gaga and Cooper at the Coachella stages on April 18 and 19 during filming in Indio, California. According to the announcement, Coachella will transform into a country Western concert for scenes in the film. Attendees are asked to sport their best denim and cowboy boots.\nBe there when @ladygaga films for A #StarIsBorn on the #Coachella grounds nxt wk! Sign up now: https://t.co/2T7FDjkzmz — Warner Bros Pictures (@wbpictures) April 15, 2017\n\"A Star is Born\" is slated to release on Sept. 28, 2018, according to Warner Bros.", "Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga will be filming scenes for A Star Is Born at Coachella this week. On Sunday, April 16, festivalgoers received a message through the Coachella app announcing how they could nab a chance to appear in the upcoming Cooper-directed musical.\nOn Tuesday and Wednesday, a country-music concert scene will be filmed at the Southern California festival. Attendees are asked to wear country-western garb and must consent to having their phones locked away inside special smart cases.\nIn this Aug. 15, 2016, file photo, Bradley Cooper arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of War Dogs. (Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) More\nAn official announcement on the AEG ticketing site reads: “All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home), and come out to show your support!”\nAttendance costs $10, with all proceeds going to Gaga’s Born This Way foundation. The nonprofit is dedicated to youth support and building better communities.\nA Star Is Born is just getting underway, and cinematographer Matthew Libatique shared an inaugural social post last week.\nIn this Aug. 3, 2016, file photo, Lady Gaga attends Tony Bennett’s 90th-birthday celebration at the Rainbow Room in New York City. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) More\nThis will be the fourth time Hollywood has told the story of A Star Is Born, starting in 1937. A 1954 remake starred Judy Garland, and a 1976 take featured Barbra Streisand. The tale follows a young starlet whose career is bolstered by a big-name love interest whose own fortunes are on the downswing.\nA Star Is Born is expected to hit the screen in September 2018.\nWatch more:\nRead more from Yahoo Movies:\nTell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below.", "The musical remake is Cooper's first project as a director and is scheduled to hit theaters on September 28, 2018.\nBradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are double dipping at Coachella this week, using the music festival as the backdrop for their upcoming Warner Bros. musical, “A Star Is Born,” while Gaga is also there for the small matter of headlining night two, Deadline reports.\nREAD MORE: ‘Good Time’ First Look: Robert Pattinson’s Indie Hot Streak Continues With Safdie Brothers’ Cannes Contender\nCooper is directing and will also play the aging rocker at the movie’s center. Gaga plays an up-and-coming singer-actress whose rise to fame coincides with Cooper’s downward spiral and alcohol abuse. The project marks Cooper’s first film as a director.\nOn Sunday, Coachella’s mobile app sent a message to attendees at the fest, saying they had an opportunity to appear in scene from the movie, according to the Los Angeles Times. “A Star is Born” was first made in 1937 by William Wellman before being remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and later in 1976, starring Barbra Streisand. The shoot at Coachella will take place on Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19. The scene being shot will feature a country western concert. Festival goers must be at least 18 years old to appear in the scene.\n“All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!” the announcement reads.\nREAD MORE: Alex Gibney Doc ‘No Stone Unturned’ Pulled From Tribeca Film Festival and Hot Docs\nWarner Bros also tweeted about the shoot.\nBe there when @ladygaga films for A #StarIsBorn on the #Coachella grounds nxt wk! Sign up now: https://t.co/2T7FDjkzmz — Warner Bros Pictures (@wbpictures) April 15, 2017\nSix writers have writing credits on the screenplay, including Cooper. The latest draft was written by “Munich” and “Forrest Gump” writer Eric Roth. “A Star is Born” is scheduled to hit theaters on September 28, 2018.\nStay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.", "When it comes to B-town, our directors are obsessed with remakes. Maybe directors totally get moved by Tollywood and Hollywood scripts or maybe B-town directors are just short of ideas. Anyways, keeping these thoughts aside, we are yet again all set to make a remake of a popular Hollywood film.\nWell, you obviously know which movie we are talking about. ‘The Fault In Our Stars' has been in news for a very long time. Earlier it was reported that Shahid Kapoor's brother Ishaan Khattar and Jhanvi Kapoor will be making their Bollywood debut with this film, but soon the buzz about the same fizzled out.\nHowever, now it looks like everything is back on track and Sushant Singh Rajput has been locked in for the project and will be seen stepping into Ansel Elgort's role.\n© 20th Century Fox\nThe film is set to go on floors next year and will be directed by popular casting director Mukesh Chhabra.\nA source confirmed the speculations to a leading daily and said, “Mukesh was the one who introduced Sushant to Abhishek Kapoor for ‘Kai Po Che'! He had always wanted to work with him and felt he would be perfect for this film. He is currently on the lookout for his leading lady. Though inspired by the Hollywood film, the script will be adapted to Indian sensibilities.\"\nWell, it would be interesting to see how the famous novel is adapted as per Bollywood standards and if the narrative will be loved by the viewers or not. Now that Sushant will be seen playing Gus's character, we are not sure about how much he fits the character. Maybe Ishaan was the right choice for the role. Or perhaps Sushant might surprise us with his acting in this one.\n© 20th Century Fox\nConfirming the same Chhabra said, “Yes, I am on board for The Fault in Our Stars remake. I'm working on the script at the moment. Sushant is the leading man and we are still in the process of casting the heroine.\"\nWhat's left for us is to see who is signed in as the leading lady, maybe that would change our entire perspective. Till then, let us know if you think Sushant is the right pick. And who do you think should be locked in for the female lead?\nPhoto: © Twitter (Main Image)", "It makes sense that to be as accomplished as Lady Gaga, you'd need to be a skilled multi-tasker, and the singer is doing just that this week by filming concert scenes for the A Star Is Born remake on April 18th and 19th, taking advantage of the massive crowds already in Los Angeles for Coachella.\nGaga and her team put out an open call for extras to be concertgoers in scenes filmed on the Coachella stages in the days after her headlining show there. Fans will need to swap out flower crowns, tie-dye and gratuitous fringe for the country western vibes the film requires (on second thought, the fringe can probably stay).\nBillboard reports:\nThe solicitation for extras (which you can read here) invites Little Monsters to \"be in the audience as Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga films scenes on the actual Coachella stages. Help cheer and applaud their performances on camera... the scenes for these days will portray a Country Western music concert. All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!\"\nAs the director of the film, Bradley Cooper will also be there, but don't expect to get any snaps of him as extras will need to turn in their phones prior to filming.\nTickets to be part of the scene cost $10, which is also a rather brilliant way to shore up funding for the film, to be honest, as extras are usually paid to be there and not the other way around.\n[h/t Jezebel]\nImage via Getty", "By: Roxanne Steele\nHope you had a beautiful Easter weekend! Brad Paisley headed back to Franklin, Tennessee on Saturday to film his new music video for “Heaven South” and of course the fans turned out! The streets had to be shut down!\nOkay tomorrow at 5 in the Franklin TN town square, we are playing a song and shooting a video. I need country fans. You're all invited. — Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) April 15, 2017\nWe can’t wait to see the video Brad!\nI love this sweet picture Justin Moore shared of his baby girls on Easter.\nHappy Easter from my family to yours pic.twitter.com/02IeoqaQjb — Justin Moore (@JustinColeMoore) April 16, 2017\nChris Stapleton got everyone excited this weekend when he dropped a new song off his new album which is set to be released on May 5th.\nListen to \"Broken Halos\", the lead track on From A Room: Volume 1. https://t.co/82Pke3eqGm — Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) April 14, 2017\nSpeaking of new music, Harry Styles was the musical guest on SNL and played his new song that lots of people say is about Taylor Swift! Check it out!\nAll the stars were out at Coachella over the weekend! Selena Gomez and The Weeknd continue their love affair!\nA post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Apr 15, 2017 at 6:04pm PDT\nRihanna shined bright like a diamond!\n\" I can't go home yet, cuz enough people ain't seen my outfit \" A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Apr 16, 2017 at 1:01am PDT\nLady Gaga headlined Coachella and stole the show!\nShe also filmed scenes from her upcoming movie A Star Is Born at Coachella! Bradley Cooper is directing and co-starring in the remake of a remake of a remake… Gaga will be a country crooner in the remake and Cooper will be her rocker mentor. Can’t wait to see this film!\nA STAR IS BORN will \"introduce\" Stefani Germanotta (@ladygaga), costarring & directed by Bradley Cooper. FIRST LOOK: pic.twitter.com/KarSyEIEL8 — Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) April 17, 2017\nDid you have any favorites moments from the weekend? Feel free to share them with me!", "The Hollywood movie was a huge success and became number one at the box office\nBollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has been selected to star in the Bollywood remake of the 2014 Hollywood film The Fault In Our Stars.\nIt is confirmed that Sushant will do the leading role in the Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood romantic film.\nThe Hindi remake will be produced by Fox Star Studios and the shoot will start in the first half of 2018. The film also marks the directorial debut of casting director Mukesh Chhabra.\nConfirming the news, Chhabra said in a press statement “Yes, I am on board for The Fault in Our Stars remake. I’m working on the script at the moment. Sushant is the leading man and we are still in the process of casting the heroine.”\nThe Fault in Our Stars is a 2014 American romantic film directed by Josh Boone. It was based on the novel by John Green. The movie portrays the life of a young girl suffering from cancer. Later she meets a boy at a support group and falls in love with him.\nThe film was a huge success and became number one at the box office during its opening weekend. The movie has grossed over $307 million worldwide.", "Image Group LA/ABCWhen Lady Gaga starred in American Horror Story, she was credited as Lady Gaga. But for her first big movie role, she’ll go by her birth name.\nWarner Bros. Pictures, the company producing Gaga and Bradley Cooper‘s remake of A Star Is Born, has announced that the singer is going by Stefani Germanotta for the role.\nAccording to Warner Bros., filming is now underway on the movie, which will feature Cooper as Jackson Maine, a fading country star who discovers Ally, a talented nobody played by Gaga — uh, Stefani. The two start an affair, but when Jackson makes Ally a star, he can’t handle the fact that her fame is surpassing his own. The movie opens September 28, 2018.\nAs previously reported, Gaga is filming some scenes for the movie this week on the grounds of the Coachella festival, where she performed this past weekend, and will perform again this coming weekend.\nDuring her set this past weekend, Gaga debuted a brand-new song called “The Cure.” A rep for the singer confirms to ABC Radio that the song is a stand-alone single and isn’t from A Star Is Born, or some previously-unknown upcoming album. It also won’t be added to any additional release of Gaga’s current album, Joanne.\nCopyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.\nComments", "0\nAfter years of stops and starts with different filmmaker and star combos, Warner Bros.’ remake of A Star Is Born has finally started production. Back in 2011, WB favorite Clint Eastwood was attached to direct with Beyonce starring, but they had trouble nailing down a male lead as Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, and Tom Cruise passed in favor of other projects. Then Beyonce’s pregnancy put her involvement into doubt, and eventually Eastwood himself moved on. But the project gained new momentum in 2015 when Bradley Cooper not only signed on to star, but to make his directorial debut on the film, and he swiftly landed Lady Gaga as his leading lady.\nFilming has begun with Cooper and Gaga (real name Stefanie Germanotta) as well as supporting cast members Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott, with Gaga composing and performing original songs in the film. The official synopsis is as follows:\nCooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.\nA Star Is Born was first made in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, revolving around an aging, self-destructive actor who helps an aspiring actress reach her dreams of stardom. Then came a 1954 remake with Judy Garland and a 1976 remake starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand, both of which switched the profession from acting to singer-songwriter.\nThe country music genre focus is a tad surprising, and it’ll certainly be interesting to hear what kind of tracks Gaga writes for the film. Matty Libatique (Black Swan, Iron Man) is serving as cinematographer for Cooper’s directorial debut, and they’re going to be shooting some scenes at Coachella to capture performances pieces, which should fit in quite nicely. Cooper is producing the film alongside Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Todd Phillips, and Lynette Howell Taylor. Cooper also co-wrote the script with Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Will Fetters (The Best of Me) based on a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson.\nTake a look at the debut image below. Production will take place entirely in Southern California and A Star Is Born will hit theaters on September 28, 2018.", "The Coachella music festival kicked off in Indio, California this week, with iconic pop star Lady Gaga delivering a headlining performance on Saturday night. The pop star will remain at the festival throughout this week, with the singer filming scenes for a remake of A Star Is Born alongside her co-star Bradley Cooper, who makes his directorial debut on the project. Production has started today on the remake, and if you're at Coachella this week, you can be a part of the action as an extra, while helping to support a worthy cause. Warner Bros. has also released the first official photo from A Star Is Born, featuring both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.\nWarner Bros. revealed on Twitter that fans can sign up to be an extra at AEG Festival Ticketing, with tickets costing $10. All proceeds will go directly to Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, with the Coachella shoot happening on Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19 at the Empire Polo Club (81800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201) with gates opening at 11 AM each day. The film marks Lady Gaga's first major film role, although she did have a brief cameo in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and appeared as herself in Muppets Most Wanted. Here's a description of the shoot from the ticketing website.\n\"We are happy to have you join us for A Star is Born! Be in the audience as Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga films scenes on the actual Coachella stages. Help cheer and applaud their performances on camera. The scenes for these days will portray a Country Western music concert. All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support! Tickets are just $10, with all proceeds going directly to the Born This Way Foundation. Maximum 8 Tickets per person, and you must be 18 or older to attend. Cell Phones will be locked in a Yondr Pouch so it will always be with you, but you won't be able to record photos or sound.\"\nFilming begins today on Warner Bros. Pictures' reimagining of the musical A Star is Born, starring Bradley Cooper and introducing Stefani Germanotta, known across the globe as Oscar-nominated music superstar Lady Gaga, in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (American Sniper, American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook) is helming the film, marking his directorial debut. Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally's career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.\nIn addition to playing Ally, Germanotta, who earned her Oscar nod for the song \"Til It Happens to You\" from \"The Hunting Ground,\" has composed and will perform original songs in the film. The main cast also includes Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott. A Star is Born is being produced by Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor; with Basil Iwanyk and Ravi Mehta serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Will Fetters & Bradley Cooper and Eric Roth, based on a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson. The film was in development for many years, with stars such as Christian Bale, Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise once being eyed for the project at various points in development.\nCollaborating with Cooper behind the scenes are Oscar-nominated director of photography Matty Libatique (Black Swan), production designer Karen Murphy, three-time Oscar-nominated editor Jay Cassidy (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook, Into the Wild), and costume designer Erin Benach. A Star Is Born is being filmed entirely in Southern California. Warner Bros. Pictures presents A Jon Peters Production, A Bill Gerber Production, A Joint Effort Production, A Star Is Born. Slated for release on September 28, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Take a look at the first official photo", "By Abby Hassler\n(RADIO.COM) – Mother Monster (a.k.a. Lady Gaga) gave a thrilling headline Coachella performance Saturday night. Before she leaves the grounds, the iconic singer will shoot scenes from her A Star is Born reboot with her co-star Bradley Cooper.\nThe official solicitation for extras reveals the scenes will portray “a Country Western music concert.” The advertisement adds, “All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!”\nCooper is making his directorial debut for this film remake and will join Gaga onstage April 18 and 19 to film. Tickets are only $10 and all cell phones will be locked away so no extras can record photos or sound during the shoot.\nWarner Bros Pictures even posted on social media about the scenes, writing, “Be there when @ladygaga films for A #StarIsBorn on the #Coachella grounds nxt wk! Sign up now.”\nCheck out the post below:\nBe there when @ladygaga films for A #StarIsBorn on the #Coachella grounds nxt wk! Sign up now: https://t.co/2T7FDjkzmz — Warner Bros Pictures (@wbpictures) April 15, 2017\n©2017 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved.", "The latest remake ofhas had its share of fits, starts, and recastings (Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Beyonce at one point), which makes it kind of strange that Bradley Cooper is the guy who finally got it off the ground. Cooper is making the film his directorial debut and he isn't doing anything easy. Not only is he starring in one of the lead roles, but he has Lady Gaga, going by her legit name Stefani Germanotta, in the role made famous by Hollywood greats Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Tough acts to follow, and now we're getting our first look at Cooper and Germanotta making music together.The media blew up when set photos revealed Germanotta performing concert scenes at Coachella music festival, but that was all in preparation for the new music she'll be providing for the film. This version will be a little different than previous versions, as it will center on the country music scene and feature Cooper as a fading country music star who latches on to a rising young act, only for their torrid love affair to worsen when her star eclipses his. Here's the synopsis:While she's made appearances in other movies (most notably Machete Kills! ) and even earned Emmys on the small screen, this will be Germanotta's first major film role. Like I said, she's got some tough acts to follow, but at least changes have been made to the script to allow her to make the character her own.has no release date yet but features Andrew Dice Clay (!!!) and Sam Elliott as part of the cast.", "After headlining a successful Night 2 at Coachella, Lady Gaga, alongside co-star Bradley Cooper, will be filming scenes for their upcoming movie “A Star Is Born” in Indio. On Sunday, festival goers were notified on Coachella’s mobile app that they had the chance to be in a scene for the upcoming Cooper-directed musical, according to the Los Angeles Times.\nBased on William Wellman’s 1937 movie, “A Star is Born” is about a singer (Lady Gaga) who falls in love with an aging rocker (Cooper) who launches her successful career as his own is in a downward spiral. The film was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and 1976 with Barbra Streisand, in what would be Gaga’s role.\nFilming will take place on Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19 and the scenes will portray a country western concert. Attendees must be 18 years or older and fans are asked to dress in western-themed attire. “All you Monsters that can attend should get decked out in your most comfortable denim & boots, throw on a Stetson (leave those pink Joanne hats at home) and come out to show your support!” reads the announcement.\nIt costs $10 to attend and all proceeds will be going directly to the singer’s Born This Way Foundation. Warner Bros. also tweeted out information on how to sign up.\nEarlier this week cinematographer Matthew Libatique also shared a photo from set, “Always a thrill when you finally get to shoot in prep,” read the caption, as production is underway.\nThe latest version of the script was written by Eric Roth (“Munich,” “Forrest Gump”); previous versions were written by Cooper and Will Fetters. Cooper is producing with Billy Gerber, Todd Phillips, Lynette Howell Tayor and Jon Peters, with Basil Iwanyk on as executive producer.\n“A Star Is Born” is slated to be released on September 28, 2018.", "Lady Gaga convinced Bradley Cooper to sing live for “A Star Is Born.”\nThe pop star told the actor that a pet peeve of her’s was watching actors lip-synch to pre-recorded music in movies.\n“‘What I can’t stand in movies is when it’s playback,'” Cooper said Gaga told him, before debuting a new trailer for the film at CinemaCon.\nThe film is an oft-told tale that has been made and remade several times over the years — with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Kris Kristofferson, and James Mason essaying the lead roles. Like Streisand’s 1976 version, this “A Star Is Born” is set in the world of music. It marks Cooper’s directorial debut, and the Oscar-nominated actor said he spent three years working on the Warner Bros. production.\nIt’s not just Gaga hitting the high notes on screen. Cooper made a deal with Gaga. She would teach him to sing, and he would help the pop star get comfortable emoting on camera. To add to the authenticity, Cooper and Gaga performed at Coachella and at Glastonbury, where they shared the same stage as Kristofferson.\nIn the film, Cooper plays an alcoholic country and western singer, while Gaga is an aspiring musician who is insecure about her looks and her songwriting abilities. The trailer bills her as Lady Gaga, not as Stefani Germanotta. Initial publicity materials for the film listed Gaga by her given name.\nWarner Bros. has moved back “A Star Is Born” nearly five months from May 18 to Oct. 5 because it believes the drama could factor into awards-season consideration.\nCooper came on as director following his work with Clint Eastwood on “American Sniper.” Eastwood attempted to get the film made for years with Cooper in the role of the fading movie star and Beyonce as his co-star. Eastwood eventually left the project, but not before suggesting to Cooper that he try directing.\nIn addition to “A Star Is Born,” Warner Bros. highlighted “Mowgli,” a new version of “Jungle Book,” “Ocean’s 8,” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”\nRELATED CONTENT", "Actor Allu Sirish will star in a remake of Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan's comedy ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi.\nTo be bankrolled by Madhura Sreedhar Reddy, the film will mark the debut of Sanjeev Reddy as the director. Sirish took to his micro-blogging page to announce the project and tweets, \"So my next film is #ABCD (American Born Confused Desi), a Malayalam remake. Directed by debutante Sanjeev Reddy & produced by @madhurasreedhar. Other details soon!\"\nIn the remake, Sirish will reprise Dulquer's role of a US-bred spoilt rich guy, who gets caught in a tricky situation on his return to India.\nThe principal shooting of the film will commence in June and the makers are currently on the lookout for actors to essay other roles. It is learnt that the team is planning to retain the same title for the Telugu remake too.", "Here's what's being talked about in pop culture:\n• \"The Fate of the Furious\" opened on top, taking in $100.2 million domestically over the Easter weekend — while scoring another $432.3 million in global markets, shattering the record. [Box Office Mojo]\n• Lady Gaga usesd her headlining stint at Coachella to introduce her new single, \"The Cure.\" And she'll be back on the same stage during the week, to film scenes with Bradley Cooper for the upcoming remake of \"A Star Is Born.\" [The Huffington Post, Billboard]\n• Stephen Colbert will be releasing a new book, based on the \"Midnight Confessions\" segment of \"The Late Show.\" [Vulture]", "Lady Gaga has enjoyed her fair share of applause over the years, but Stefani Germanotta may be on the edge of acting glory too, if this first picture from A Star Is Born is anything to go by. Helmed by Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper, the upcoming musical will star American Horror Story's Lady Gaga in her first headline movie role, stripped of her usual artpop trappings, and taking on a more honest and vulnerable part.\nA Star Is Born [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]\nNo longer beautiful, dirty, rich, this new reimagining of the classic story will see Germanotta dancin' in circles around Hollywood as #BradleyCooper's alcoholic star fights to help Gaga succeed, even while his own career fails.\nOriginally made in 1937, #AStarIsBorn has since been remade twice, once with Judy Garland in 1954 and again in 1976, this time starring Barbra Streisand. Does Lady Gaga have what it takes to go cheek-to-cheek with the star quality of these iconic performers?\nRemember when Lady Gaga was inspired by old-school Hollywood glamor in 'American Horror Story: Hotel'?\nWe may have exaggerated slightly when we suggested that there's a million reasons why the latest remake will succeed. However, we remain confident that A Star Is Born will be the surprise musical hit of 2017, despite the fact that this will be Bradley Cooper's first directorial project.\nWarner Bros. Pictures have also released an official synopsis for A Star Is Born, which teases a complicated dynamic between Gaga and Cooper's characters:\n\"Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.\"\nAmerican Horror Story [Credit: FX]\nAt one point, Clint Eastwood was set to direct Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' co-star, Beyonce Knowles, in the lead role. However, the country influence in Germanotta's latest album Joanne suggests that the Oscar-winning songwriter is better suited for the remake.\nSee also:\nThe fact that Stefani Germanotta has chosen to be credited with her real name for A Star Is Born implies that #LadyGaga is determined to be taken more seriously in the acting world, transcending her previous genre roles from the likes of #AmericanHorrorStory, Muppets Most Wanted, and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.\nWill Lady Gaga leave us starstruck in A Star Is Born, or will it flop and leave us speechless? It's impossible to know for sure until Bradley Cooper's directorial debut hits cinemas on September 28, 2018, but if Germanotta pulls this off, I'll be so happy I could die.\nPoll Can Lady Gaga pull off a headline movie role? No, her talent is just a perfect illusion\nYes, Lady Gaga has already proved that she is 'Supreme'\n(Poll Image Credit: FX)" ]

[ "Yea I remember. There was this creepy stick figure watching me and then I woke up from it" ]

[ "Sleep paralysis.", "I don't know exactly when it was, but I remember it was the classic \"going to the toilet in a dream\" dream", "Woke up in the middle of a dream where I had fallen backwards into a lake, had sleep paralysis and thought I was still in your lake. When you get sleep paralysis you feel like you can’t breathe so for about a minute I genuinely thought I was drowning and going to die.", "When suffering from sleep paralysis", "Yup. This is the one. The one I see in my nightmares every night", "My Sleep Paralysis Demon", "When they say that they got up and punched their sleep paralysis demon. Do you even know what sleep paralysis is?", "Sleep paralysis is terrifying", "Yes, it can happen, technically you are still asleep but think you are awake, its like sleep paralysis dreams. Usually happens when REM sleep is interrupted.", "Bees crawling into my skin. All I could do was stare in shock. Not sure if I was sleep paralysis or not.", "Yes in my dreams", "Was in darkness, then a bunch of knives started cutting me and my blood flooded and I drowned in it. I’ve had that dream like every night for a month and I wake up screaming every time. It’s fucked up what little sleep I had", "Nope. Just was violently woken up and thrown off an airplane with a parachute. I don't have the slightest idea where I am.", "That was years ago and I don't really remember it. I mostly remember it being boring since I didn't have a bed to skip through the night.", "Yes, and eventually I did leave them. Try to evaluate your relationship and self to see what is causing your relaxed mind to conjure up such imagery while sleeping. It could be nothing more than a dream or it could be that you have come across red flags, or that maybe you feel bad about yourself. Either way take a moment and think about your present situation.", "The cave sounds are my sleep paralysis demons", "A lot of times, weird, some times the dream was just like playing a videogame", "Experiencing sleep paralysis for the first time", "My sleep paralysis demon bout to get thicc", "Oh yeah. Had a dream where I had a night with twin sisters. Hands down my best dream. Was quite disappointing and depressing to wake up tbh", "Nope. Not letting those memories back in my head.", "Yeah sleep paralysis sucks ass", "\\- Sleep\n\n\\- No nightmares\n\n\\- Lucid dreams\n\n\\- Option of wet dreams\n\n\\- No interruptions.\n\n\\- The best amount of sleep to make you feel refreshed.", "Paralysis demons are people too.", "I had one the other night. \n\nI fell asleep watching The Office. The background noise must have influenced my dream. Cause I was in The Office. Ryan starts poking my stomach and it scared the *fuck* out of me in the dream. Woke up to my cat walking on me. \n\nAll I could think after I woke up was “why did that scare me?”", "no thanks,my sleep paralysis demon buddy kisses me goodnight every night", "Sleep paralysis. Look it out. Not fun stuff.", "sleep paralysis right after a night terror.\n\n*never want that again.*", "Remember your dreams", "I unlocked sleep paralysis thanks to lucid dreaming. I started reading a lot about it (how to wake up, how to handle it) and I always prevented seeing what is gonna happen. I remember my first paralysis was me dreaming how I am in a bedroom, sleeping with friends. It was in the middle of the night. I heard knocking on the door, but no one moved. The knocking continued. I tried to ask if anybody hears that, but I couldn't talk, just a little mumble. I told myself something here is not quite right. Tried to get up, but I couldn't move. Immediately told myself \"be aware that's paralysis\". The door started opening really slow. I started doing the methods of waking up (moving my fingers and toes, positive thinking of someone who I love) and I opened my right eye. I could see with my right eye real life and with my left eye I could see the dream was still on. Really weird and shocking experience for me.", "HAHA , yes I have, I laughed and said \" Still here!\" after I got to one and I am pretty sure they shot me up a bunch right at that moment because it was the last thing I remember", "Yes, I dreamt I was a homeless person in Paris who became best friends with a puppy sized tarantula. Some people were out to get me, and my Spider saved my life by getting killed in a trap meant for me. Woke up grieving for him...\n\nI have odd dreams don't judge" ]

[ "Dodge" ]

[ "Super Bowl Sunday", "commercial use of space", "That which does not kill us", "commercialism", "bowling", "super", "Song of Songs", "that which burns", "that which purifies", "bowl", "commercial activities", "no commercial advertising", "Us", "commercial banking", "that which is heard", "Commercial Revolution", "commercial paper", "commercial buildings", "Commercial Avenue", "USE", "commercial zone", "Commercial Square", "commercial customers", "This is Us", "commercial interests", "commercial invoice", "commercial warfare", "commercial agreement", "Commercy and Liverdun", "commercial nurseries", "commercial law", "commercial policy" ]

[ "Let us stipulate at the outset that at 57 Stephen Fry is a world-class wit, unquestionably a learned fellow and surely a decent one — because really, anyone of whom Emma Thompson is that fond can't be entirely irredeemable, can he? That said, the 36-year-old Stephen Fry who inhabits the infuriating latter stretch of More Fool Me is a world-class git. Thank God he's rehabilitated himself since. Now that the shudders have subsided, return with me to the Fry so many admire — star of Peter's Friends and Wilde, conjoined comic genius (with best friend Hugh Laurie) famed for Jeeves and Wooster among much else, king of the voice-over and meister of Twitter, jovial host of the BBC's brainy, hiccup-inducing quiz game QI and self-lacerating chronicler of his life as a bipolar funnyman. This Stephen Fry is a man I very much wanted to know better, so I more or less threw myself at the chance to have a look at this latest volume — the third! — of his memoirs. More fool me; should've started with Moab Is My Washpot or The Fry Chronicles, which I pledge to do just as soon as I've scrubbed the 1993 edition of Stephen Fry out of my brain. In those earlier chronicles I hope to find more of the modest, measured fellow whose sober — if somewhat too self-deprecating — musings flank the other's coke- and fame-addled early-'90s diaries. To his credit, today's more sensible Fry includes those diaries in More Fool Me as a kind of cautionary tale to friends and frenemies alike. \"I had no idea,\" he admits in the scant few pages of reflection that follows them, \"that I was quite so busy, quite so debauched, quite so energetic, quite so irredeemably foolish.\" Quite. In barely three months of diary entries, from August to November of 1993, Bad Stephen writes a novel; sits for a portrait; attends the London premiere of The Fugitive and is embarrassed to be seated with the B-list celebs; attempts the book for an Elton John jukebox musical; races about England benevolently signing books and meeting blushingly with personal bankers; does a speechy thing or two for Prince Charles; tries out a new bespoke tailor; dines with Dennis (aka Mr. Margaret) Thatcher at the Garrick Club and pronounces him, with a blithe arrogance worthy of any Cambridge grad, \"better read than I had ever imagined.\" Eventually he purchases at auction two letters in Oscar Wilde's hand — but not without both citing and complaining of the price, and not before dropping roughly as many names, familiar and obscure, as he does pounds sterling. Fear not, he footnotes the obscure ones so as to evoke suitable awe. Some of my visceral reaction to this chronicle of escalating obnoxiousness is attributable, I'm certain, to my own not-so-closeted Wodehousian aspirations, and to the fact that I'm currently a mild pea green about the bankers and the tailors, the private clubs and the country house. But if I envy the man's gifts and covet (I think) the glamour of his London life, I also regret the shocking callowness of his private voice in those years of plenty. A misguided, misspent early midlife is one thing to recount and repent. The blithe snobbery, the casual cruelty, the condescension to those less gifted that's on such vulgar display in this all-too-dense diary of excess — they all demand more examination, more reflection, more humanity than Fry provides. I still want to know the fleetly hilarious Fry I see on QI, the immensely empathetic Fry I follow on Twitter, the wary but kind-eyed Fry who looks out from the cover of More Fool Me. He makes an appearance now and again amid the defensive self-dismissals of the framing material — and even, rarely, between the the endless lines of insufferable early '90s self-regard that make up the diaries. The Stephen Fry who's moved to tears by an early look at Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility screenplay, who agonizes over a limp and under-rehearsed benefit performance, who's cut to the quick when Alyce Faye Cleese confesses that she and her husband John find Fry's novels less worthy than his shorter work — that's the man I hope and believe has survived and matured and remains among us. I wish he were more in evidence here." ]

[ "Burger King is hoping its new lower fat “satisfries” will boost restaurant sales. Burger King, which sells more than 50 million orders of french fries a year, is number three in fast food behind Wendy’s and McDonald’s. Satisfries contain 40 percent less fat than McDonald’s french fries, but will cost the consumer 20 to 30 cents more per order. Brian Sozzi, CEO of Belus Capital Advisers in New York, tells Here & Now that satisfries — which will be crinkled — will attract new customers to Burger King. But he adds the product is still fried in the same oil as the regular version. “It’s still a french fry,” Rozzi said. “So I think it’s going to be remain a hard sell, to the consumer who likes to take care of themselves, that this is actually healthy for them.” Guest\n\nBrian Sozzi, CEO of Belus Capital Advisers in New York.\n JEREMY HOBSON, HOST: Well, while we're talking health, Carey and Robin, have you heard the news today from Burger King, which is that they are introducing a low-fat French fry? ROBIN YOUNG, HOST: Yeah, sure. CAREY GOLDBERG: The Satisfries. (LAUGHTER) HOBSON: They are crinkled fries, and the chain is calling them Satisfries, as you said. They have about 20 percent fewer calories than traditional fries but will cost consumers 20 to 30 cents more. For more we're joined by Brian Sozzi, he is CEO of Belus Capital Advisers in New York, that is an independent research firm. Brian, welcome. BRIAN SOZZI: Thanks for having me, Jeremy. HOBSON: Well, first of all tell us about the Satisfry. What exactly is it? SOZZI: The Satisfry is Burger King's latest marketing ploy. They've already reinvented a category on their dollar menu to include French fries. So this is their latest push to get people, in my opinion, interested in a category that has gone forgotten within many restaurants. All the innovation this year has been on products, let's say hamburgers and hot dogs, and the fries are an afterthought. Here's Burger King trying to better compete with their - with the likes of McDonald's. HOBSON: And the Satisfry apparently delivers 40 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories than the fries that are sold by McDonald's. SOZZI: Go figure, but those are the stats. But the bottom line is, here first of all, this is still a fry. It is a fried product, and the strange thing is these fries are actually made in the same oil as other Burger King fries. You really have to question some of the stats that Burger King is pumping out to people. HOBSON: Well, why is Burger King doing this? Is this being driven by consumer demand? Because of course people are moving towards healthier options in many cases. SOZZI: I think there's a big profit motive here, too. I mean, the French fry is a forgotten category, but here when you take - when you reduce calorie count in an item, you are removing ingredients, and you can save some money. That's number one. And the number two is when you put a lot of marketing, you create a lot of buzz, as they have, especially around a product that's not healthy, and now you've suddenly made it available to the health and wellness crowd, you can charge a higher price point and make more money. So there's a big profit motive here, in my opinion. Well, and I think of it in the context of the new egg white McMuffin and the McWrap. A lot of the fast food companies are starting to do things like this. One of the only categories that are growing industry is health and wellness: How can we make things healthier for people? You see it in Panera. We've talked to Chipotle, and they're trying to re-engineer their menu to make it even healthier, to include more organic ingredients. So this is the fast food industry, those old stalwarts, trying to grab a piece of this very fast-growing pie, but the reality is this is still a French fry, and I think it's going to remain a hard sell to the consumer that likes to take care of themselves that this is actually healthy for them. HOBSON: But do you think that the other fast food companies are going to try to introduce something similar to compete? SOZZI: The interesting thing was Burger King, they actually locked up McCain, the supplier for this product. So McDonald's is not going to be able to come out with the exact same product. They are more focused on improving their value offering and some of their more premium offerings. And unfortunately, the fry for them is going to remain an afterthought. So yes, Burger King I think has maybe a window of opportunity here just to drive some interest in this type of product. HOBSON: Now these fries are also crinkled, and I wonder, do you think that the crinkled fry is going to be making a comeback? SOZZI: It offers a point of differentiation, but it's not just - the crinkle visually looks different, but it gets - it gets the consumer excited and trying to make the product look more like a premium experience. It can't hurt. It's something di", "The news of Jony Ive's promotion was first revealed, oddly enough, in a long, fawning profile of Ive in the Telegraph, written by British comedian and TV host Stephen Fry. \"Until now, Ive's job title has been Senior Vice President of Design,\" Fry wrote. \"But I can reveal that he has just been promoted and is now Apple's Chief Design Officer. It is therefore an especially exciting time for him.\" 9to5mac.com obtained the official memo sent from Apple CEO Tim Cook to staff announcing the promotion, which also heaped praise on Ive: \"Jony is one of the most talented and accomplished designers of his generation, with an astonishing 5000 design and utility patents to his name. His new role is a reflection of the scope of work he has been doing at Apple for some time. Jony's design responsibilities have expanded from hardware and, more recently, software UI to the look and feel of Apple retail stores, our new campus in Cupertino, product packaging and many other parts of our company.\" As Ive moves to his new role, Apple's Richard Howarth becomes the company's new vice president of industrial design, and Alan Dye becomes the new vice president of user interface design. The memo says the two will handle \"day-to-day managerial responsibilities\" previously handled by Ive. The Wall Street Journal reports Howarth is a 20-year Apple veteran and that Dye has been with the company for almost 10 years. In his profile of Ive, Fry said that in his new role, Ive will travel more and \"bring his energies to bear... on the Apple stores that are proliferating around the world.\" Ive is also deeply involved in the construction of the new Apple Campus 2 near Silicon Valley, which Fry called \"the largest private construction project in America.\" Though most coverage of Ive's promotion discusses it in positive terms, a few news outlets are speculating that it might be the beginning of the end for Ive at Apple. At Business Insider, James Cook wrote: \"But what if this change isn't a promotion? What if it's an exit path for the British designer that could see him travel back to England, spend more time with his family, and eventually leave Apple? Many of the company's closest followers aren't seeing this as a promotion. Rather, they think it's the end of a crucial era for Apple.\" Cook said the announcement in The Telegraph was made on Memorial Day, when stock markets were closed, avoiding a possible \"sudden dip in stock when traders saw the news.\" And at Stratechery.com, Ben Thompson wrote, \"In my estimation, whether Ive intends it or not — and I think he likely does, for what it's worth — this is the beginning of the end of his time at Apple.\" Thompson pointed out that this might be the right time for Ive to begin making his exit, fresh from the successful launch of the Apple Watch, and at a moment when Apple doesn't seem to have any significant new products launching for at least a few years.", "Fancy, flaky, sometimes funky-colored finishing salts are a big gourmet trend. Now Wendy's, whose also-ran fries lag behind McDonald's for flavor, is trying a sprinkle of sea salt to liven things up. But the taste upgrade comes at a health cost. The fast-food chain's new fries actually have a lot more sodium than the old ones. That's despite the fact sea salt sold in this country typically has larger grains than regular table salt and can deliver more flavor with less shaking. Wendy's new fries are called \"natural-cut fries with sea salt.\" According to a company announcement, today marks the launch of the first redesign of its fries in 41 years. Read More But the sodium amounts ought to set off a few alarms for the millions of us who already go overboard on the salt. Wendy's confirmed to us that the new medium sized fry goes from 350 milligrams to 500 milligrams. Young, healthy people shouldn't be putting more than about 1 teaspoon of salt, or 2,300 milligrams of sodium, into their bodies each day, the CDC reminds us. But let's be real. Nobody we know is walking into a fast-food joint looking for health food. And the differences between sea salt and America table salt (rock salt) are minor. \"Basically this is all marketing,\" Mark Kurlansky, author of Salt: A World History, tells Shots in an e-mail. \"Sea sounds a lot better than rock [salt]. But if the product is pure, it is the same,\" he says. Wendy's is clearly aiming for taste and coolness here. The chain has launched a Facebook campaign to promote the new fry today, calling it \"Fry For All.\" \"Wendy's has never had the best french fry,\" marketing chief Ken Calwell admits to USA Today. \"If it's not your strength, you can start with a clean sheet.\" The new fries are supposed to be better tasting because they leave a bit of the skin on and, of course, have a sexier salt. Ocala, Fla., food blogger Rick Allen, who tasted the fries back in August when they popped up in the state, gives them an enthusiastic thumbs-up: \"These fries are very much like Mom used to make; or better yet, like they used to make and sell at the county fair!\" But as more products feature sea salt, is the trend about to wash up? Lynn Dornblaser, new products guru at Mintel, tells USA Today. \"Sea salt has the potential to grow as fast as low-carb did.... Hopefully, it won't decline as fast.\" UPDATE: A Wendy's spokesman confirmed that the sea salt granules the company uses for the new product are larger than table salt. \"Although less sea salt is needed, we used an independent lab for testing and found the sodium level increases,\" he said.", "Jim Carrey's new book — \"Memoirs and Misinformation\" — is anything but a typical memoir. Instead the novel, written with Dana Vachon, centers around a character named Jim Carrey, a successful comedian who deals with wildfires and the possibility of an apocalypse on his quest for relevance and artistic recognition. Debuting on The New York Times bestseller list this week, the work of fiction namedrops other stars such as Nicolas Cage and Gwyneth Paltrow. Carrey and Vachon met a decade ago on Twitter. \"Memoirs and Misinformation\" was inspired by conversations between the two \"exploratory,\" \"inventive\" people that began eight years ago, Carrey says. The first two to three years of talking built trust between the co-authors, Vachon says. \"We had a long conversation that lasted a few years and eventually evolved into this kind of explosion of ideas and Apocrypha about my life,\" Carrey says. \"And we decided that memoirs just aren’t where it’s at because they’re kind of fictitious anyway.\" At some point in the conversation, the duo decided to do something with all of the creative ideas flowing between them. From American history to the legend of King Arthur, Carrey believes all stories have been embellished. By creating a surreal world with elements of reality within it, writers can paint a \"truer portrait,\" Vachon says. Their friend Gillian Adler, a professor of medieval literature at Sarah Lawrence College, pointed out that they aren't the first writers heading down this path. \"Dante did it in 'The Inferno,'\" Vachon says. \"And I think we ended up composing an inferno.\" When Carrey and Vachon met, Carrey had just completed a painting of Malibu in flames. The painting put \"Inferno\" and the image of a fiery apocalypse on their minds from the beginning, Vachon says. Many people question what celebrities will think about the book, but using contemporary celebrities in fiction is a time-honored tradition, Carrey says. Through satire, \"Memoirs and Misinformation\" touches on issues in Hollywood such as cultural appropriation and white actors playing people of color. Other parts of the book speak to the quest to stay relevant — a universal feeling heightened by social media. Social media instilled a desire and obsession of relevance in people, a hope that strangers will hit the follow or subscribe button, Carrey says. Everyone became the character Truman from his classic film \"The Truman Show,\" where he played a man who discovers his entire life is being filmed and watched by a worldwide audience. When fans ask Carrey what happened after Truman leaves the bubble at the end of the movie, he points out that everyone in real life decided to enter a bubble. \"Ultimate loneliness is this hyper-connectedness, but we never really get to know the real people because they’re forming themselves by the likes of others,\" Carrey says. \"Jim Carrey in the book represents that. He represents ego, represents dealing with the extreme weather patterns of fame.\" The character Jim Carrey also represents people's mistaken conceptions of fame. Very few people understand the \"extraordinary event\" of everyone knowing who you are at all times, Carrey says. Fame comes from the Latin word \"fama.\" In Virgil's \"Aeneid,\" the character Fama is described as a monstrous bird with an eyeball and a mouth underneath each of its feathers. \"Fame is a very frightening thing,\" Vachon says. \"I think that to have navigated it as successfully as Jim has gives him a lot of authority to describe it in the way that we’ve chosen to here.\" The main character named Jim Carrey isn't exactly Carrey in real life. But like fictional Jim Carrey, real-life Carrey has also struggled with the idea of irrelevance at times. At the start of a career in Hollywood, people begin \"fighting against the world\" with a team, he says. But at some point, the team tries to keep the star in a box. For Carrey, he was boxed in as a comedian who makes people laugh. When he wanted to take on the issue of school shootings in his work, he says his team told him going too far outside what he's known for would hurt him and that people think he's crazy. \"It’s partly my fault. It’s anybody who gets famous’s fault,\" he says. \"We sell the world a character and we make them believe it’s a constant — and no character can be a constant. No form of behavior can be a constant.\" The personas celebrities create are fiction, Vachon says, which is another reason fiction was the best genre to explore the idea of fame. The book is packed with human emotions, including comedy. The character Jim Carrey does an adaptation of a Hungry, Hungry Hippos opposite of a digitally-created rhino — a version of Rodney Dangerfield. In this part of the story, as the main character enters this production chamber, the reader also enters \"a place of uncertain reality,\" Vachon says. Once the duo entered this space, they found themselves living in an unreal yet real place as well", "Margaret Jones' memoir, Love and Consequences, recounts her early days selling drugs in South Central Los Angeles as well as her eventual escape to college and publishing. If it sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. The story is just the latest in a string of frauds that have rocked the publishing industry. Robert Siegel talks with Sara Nelson, editor-in-chief of Publishers Weekly. MELISSA BLOCK, Host: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block. ROBERT SIEGEL, Host: And I'm Robert Siegel. Margaret Jones is a part white, part Native American girl who grew up on the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles. Margaret Seltzer is all-white, born and raised in affluent Sherman Oaks, California. Jones was raised by an African-American foster mother, affectionately called Big Mom. Seltzer who is now 33 was raised by her biological parents. While Seltzer was attending private school, Jones was running drugs for the Bloods. The two would seem to have nothing in common, except Seltzer's imagination. Jones is a fraud, as is her acclaimed new memoir \"Love and Consequences,\" unwittingly published by Riverhead Books. Seltzer actually wrote it and she played the part convincingly, here she is in an unaired interview for NPR's program TELL ME MORE describing her decision to sell drugs. (SOUNDBITE OF UNAIRED INTERVIEW) MARGARET SELTZER: I think I thought it was an honor. You look around and everybody's doing dirt bad and you have hand- me-down shoes and clothes and the kids at school are making fun of you. And you have a chance to get some little money and some nice clothes? So I'll have a little bit and have something? You've had nothing your whole life, something looks pretty good. SIEGEL: Riverhead Books has recalled Seltzer's book and cancelled the promotional tour. Joining us now is Sarah Nelson, editor-in-chief of Publishers Weekly. Welcome Dr. Nelson. SARAH NELSON: Hi. SIEGEL: Another black eye for publishing, two years after James Fry revealed that he fabricated parts of his memoir \"A Million Little Pieces.\" How does this sort of thing happen? NELSON: Well, I actually think that there is a significant distinction between the Fry case and this. I mean this seem to be shaping up to being an actual hoax, I mean, where she set out to make up a story out of whole cloth and I understand that when she was asked some questions, she presented some documents and photographs and introduced some of the executives to people she claimed who were her foster family and the people that she knew. So, it seems that she set out consciously to do this. I'm still not completely convinced that that was the case, for example with James Fry, clearly they didn't ask enough questions. But I also think that if somebody is hell-bent on perpetrating a hoax, there's very little you can do about it. I mean, it's significantly different from somebody who just kind of looks away when you ask him a tough question. SIEGEL: Although this isn't just a matter of receiving a manuscript over the (unintelligible) and deciding to publish it, there was a close relationship between... NELSON: Right. SIEGEL: ...the person who submitted it, the young woman, and an editor. NELSON: Right. SIEGEL: What do you think in the industry today, passes for due diligence in that relationship. And what, in your view should pass for due diligence? NELSON: Well, I think that apparently, her editor or someone within the publishing house did ask her for documentation and asked to be introduced to, you know, members of the foster family. So I think that's a start. And I think that's a good start, but I think, yes, I mean, you raised a very good point. I mean, if you sit in a room with somebody or talk on the phone with somebody every day for three years, which believe is about what they are saying, I'm not sure it's such a good thing that the details never changed, which is one of the things that the editor said. SIEGEL: You mean since most people's memories are not so... NELSON: Right SIEGEL: ...unchanging. NELSON: That's right. (Unintelligible) a lot of people that were taken in by this. I mean, you guys went and interviewed her, you hadn't run it yet, but you probably were planning to and, you know, we reviewed it quite favorably at Publishers Weekly and didn't raise an eyebrow about the unbelievability of the story or anything like that. So I mean, it's not our responsibility to do that, but I think it's demonstrated how easily one can be led. SIEGEL: Let me ask you a slippery slope question her which is, in many memoirs, it seems to be generally accepted now or okay to have a composite character here and there, or perhaps to embellish this memory or that one? Is the current standard for a memoir that it's supposed to be rock-solid true from start to finish? NELSON: Well, I'm not sure that I agree that the standard is that it's okay to embellish. I think there's embellishing and there's embellishing and there's misremembering and there's mi", "A few weeks ago, when I saw T-Mobile's commercial (embedded above) for its new Samsung Vibrant phone, I thought it was ridiculous bordering on the edge of dumb. In it, the movie Avatar is shown and the movie merges onto the screen of the company's latest smart phone. Who would want to see a movie that many of us experienced in 3-D on giant IMAX screens on a diminutive 4-inch screen (and without the 3-D)? Isn't that missing the point of James Cameron's titanic, outsized vision? Then, T-Mobile loaned me the phone. Unlike most smart phones, Samsung's Galaxy S series of phones (available on all the major carriers under different names) has a \"Super AMOLED\" screen.  While text is no sharper than the iPhone 4's touted \"Retina Display,\" movies and photos pop because AMOLED screens are able to offer more saturated colors. Avatar, which is included with the T-Mobile phone, turns out to be so gorgeous it practically leaps off the little screen. Some of the sequences may fool your eyes into thinking you're watching 3-D imagery. It really is a show-stopper and a very smart move on T-Mobile's part to include it with the phone. Would other smart phones pass that kind of test on a movie that's so closely associated with big-screen entertainment?", "If you’re a cook, you’re likely in possession of a broken-spined, batter-stained, dog-eared copy of Mark Bittman’s cookbook, “How To Cook Everything.” If you’re new to cooking, or are ready for a new copy, Bittman has released a 20th-anniversary edition of the iconic cookbook — updated with a focus on flexibility and sustainability. One of the basic tenets of his book is that once you learn a technique, you can use that technique on any type of food. For instance, if you figure out how to bread and fry eggplant, you can bread and fry any vegetable.  “You might need a little tweaking here and there … but it’s not like you need to relearn each individual food and each individual technique every time you cook,” Bittman says. “That once you have the fundamentals down, everything else is kind of a variation.” He says success in the kitchen comes down to three things: “knowing what to do, having the stuff on hand, and then shopping for something fresh and wonderful.” “The key is really getting good ingredients and not screwing them up,” Bittman says.  Interview Highlights  On updating his cookbook to focus on flexibility and sustainability  “I like to think over the years I’ve learned how to better and better transmit that information about how simple cooking is, and how the way to cook is to go find good ingredients and not screw them up and so on. Sustainability is not something we really talked about 20 years ago, and certainly not 40, 50 years ago, but now it’s obviously an issue and when you talk about meat-eating, for example, it’s not just a question of is meat good for you? It’s a question of should you be eating as much meat as most Americans do? And the answer’s no. So I’ve tried to adjust my personal cooking, and then the way that I talk about and write about cooking to that notion.” On the idea of eating rice and beans at least once a week  “I almost literally eat whole grains and legumes for lunch every day, and they’re never the same. Beans can kind of be as simple as sort of soupy black beans with cumin and garlic, maybe a little chopped onion, South American Caribbean style, or you can do with an elaborate spice mix and maybe some mustard seeds fried in oil at the end. And often I do things that are simple as beans with garlic and rosemary, lemon and olive oil. You think of a culture, everybody cooks legumes. Legumes are the most important protein source in the world. Honestly, you could probably do a thousand variations on basic bean recipes. I don’t do that. I think there are 20, but that’s plenty.” On what’s important to have in your pantry  “Don’t put a number on it. When you start cooking, you need some equipment and you need some stuff in the pantry. I mean, you need olive oil, you need soy sauce, you need vinegar, you need garlic. You need those kinds of things on hand all the time. But since many of those things keep more or less forever or let’s say keep for a year, as you need them, you accumulate them. So you can have five or 10 different kinds of dried beans in the pantry at the same time and the same number of grains, and you can have anchovies and capers and dried shrimp and bonito flakes … and all of those things because they just keep and then you have the option.” On how to stay flexible when cooking “There’s a joke that some old food writer friends and I have that there are really only 10 recipes in the world — and in a way it’s true. Going back to that eggplant example, if you can fry something, you can pretty much fry anything. If you can roast something, you know once you get these basics down, once you learn how to judge doneness, it’s all just kind of playing with the possibilities. My job is to just show people how to do the basics and then give them ideas for the possibilities.” On why he wants to change the way we talk about food  “I think we’re starting to talk about food in the right way. Food is as important to humans as anything. I mean that is literally true. You can’t say that about too many things. So to talk about our favorite restaurants is not the same thing as to talk about where food comes from and how it’s produced. And I think where food comes from and how it’s produced is really, really critical. And we are seeing that. That agriculture has an impact on both climate and also on our diets. We can only eat what we’re provided with. We can only eat what’s grown, and if what’s grown is corn for junk food and for animal feed and for ethanol, well then we’re going to drive cars and eat a lot of junky meat and a lot of junky food, and there’s a better way to do these things and that should be part of the conversation. “We are doing ourselves a disservice, I mean, I don’t want to be too preachy, but until we start raising kids appreciating what real food is and appreciating wh", "On-air challenge: Tonight I'm going to be on the Fox sitcom \"Brooklyn Nine-Nine.\" In today's puzzle I'm going to tell you my experience in filming the show. Anytime you hear an error of fact, logic, or word usage, say \"Buzz!\" and explain why. And just so you know, no specialized knowledge is needed. As I mentioned, I'm going to be on the ABC sitcom \"Brooklyn Nine-Nine\" tonight. It's a police situation comedy set in Brookline, Mass. Andy Samberg plays detective Jake Peralta, whose girlfriend and fellow detective Amy Santiago loves the crosswords I edit for the New York Post. Tonight's episode is called \"The Puzzle Master.\" Jake and Amy investigate a series of arsons, for which I play a suspect. Last December I flew to San Francisco, so I'd be near the Universal Studio in Hollywood, where \"Brooklyn Nine-One-One\" is filmed. The set recreates several square blocks of make-believe Brooklyn. I had to join ASCAP, the actors' union, in order to do the show. I have several lines in the episode. And at one point I'm seen stepping out one of the bluestone houses that Brooklyn is famous for, before glancing around suspiciously and walking down the street. Everyone on the set — the actors, writer, producer, and makeup artists — were super-nice. That especially goes for Andy Samberg, who happens to share a last name with NPR's Susan Samberg. The show airs at 8:30 am tonight. I look forward to seeing how it turned out. Last week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Eric Iverson of Eagan, Minn. Pick an even number between 1 and 10 that's 1 more than four and 2 more than ten. Answer: Eight is 1 letter longer than four, and 2 letters longer than ten. Winner: Gary Lees, Key Biscayne, Fla. Next week's challenge: Name part of the human body. Insert a speech hesitation, and you'll name a country. What is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, April 12 at 3 p.m. ET. LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: And it's time to play The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) GARCIA-NAVARRO: Joining me, as always, is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION'S puzzlemaster. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Lulu. And you missed some fireworks last Sunday. GARCIA-NAVARRO: I was about to say I am so sad I missed that April Fools' Day fun last week. But, you know, our mailbox was pretty full within a couple of minutes. And I've been reading some of the emails. And I wanted to share some of the thoughts of our listeners. SHORTZ: OK. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yeah. John Bender apparently missed the bit when we said it was a joke. And he wrote, you're taking The Puzzler (ph) off after 31 years? I set an alarm to listen to it every Sunday. I can't believe six more minutes of news is that damn important. Please register my dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, some still didn't like our prank, even after they found out that it was a prank. Barbara wrote in to tell us, I did not find your April Fools' joke about Will Shortz's segment amusing. I faithfully listen every Sunday. I turned off my radio after the announcement that he was canceled... SHORTZ: Whoa. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Later, my friend let me know that it was fake news. So there you go, Will. Lots of fans out there. I think we know now not to mess with The Puzzle. SHORTZ: Yeah. Don't mess with The Puzzle. I had three emails just in the five minutes between the initial announcement and our saying April Fools'. GARCIA-NAVARRO: (Laughter) All right, Will. Because we are indeed not canceling The Puzzle, remind us of last week's challenge. SHORTZ: Yeah. It was an April Fool-ish (ph) puzzle. It came from listener Eric Iverson (ph) of Eagan, Minn. I said, pick an even number between 1 and 10 that's one more than four and two more than 10. And the answer is eight because it's one letter longer than four and two letters longer than 10. GARCIA-NAVARRO: We got over 1,100 correct responses. And our randomly selected winner is Gary Lees of Key Biscayne, Fla. Congratulations. GARY LEES: Thank you. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Gary, were you taken in by the April Fools' Day joke? LEES: I think I've been listening to The Puzzle for the 31 years that you've just mentioned. And there's always a trick that Will plays in anticipation of April Fools' coming up, so I knew it was an April Fools' joke from the beginning... SHORTZ: Good for you. LEES: ...And I'm glad that it was an April Fools' joke because this has been a lifelong dream of mine. This has been my bucket list. And I get to play, and it wasn't off the air, so... GARCIA-NAVARRO: And you were saying before you came on air that you were a little nervous. LEES: Oh, yes. I'm very anxious. I had a sleepless night last night just anticipating the - making myself sound like a mo", "This week on Fresh Air, we're marking the year's end by revisiting some of the most memorable conversations we've had in 2009. What's it like to go from being a very big deal in Britain to being mostly unheard-of in America? In so many words, British actor and comedian Russell Brand told audiences at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards that it wasn't so great. But that was last year. One film, one memoir and several well-publicized antics later, Brand has established that he's one character who's pretty hard to ignore. Jason Segel, the actor and writer behind the recent film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, told Fresh Air earlier this year that he actually rewrote the part of his character's romantic nemesis to better suit Brand. Initially intended to be a bookish Hugh Grant type, the character became an over-sexed, self-absorbed rock star — a role Brand had no trouble selling on screen. For all his brashness, Brand says there's a tortured soul wrapped up in those leathers. \"In spite of being deeply flattered by the idea that I could be perceived as a living-in-the-moment, hedonistic, bacchanalian warrior for truth and beauty, I'm as neurotic as the next man,\" Brand tells host Terry Gross. In his memoir, My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-up Brand reveals plenty of that introspective self, describing his struggles with drug addiction and his early comedic career. Yet even as Brand tackles heavy subject matter, he never stops sporting his snarky sense of humor — or his signature leather, chains, and eyeliner. And post-rehab, he's still getting himself into trouble. Take, for example, his accidental gift to actress Helen Mirren: a pair of his dirty underwear. This interview was first broadcast on April 6, 2009. LANGUAGE ADVISORY: This excerpt contains language that some readers may find offensive. Chapter One: April Fool On the morning of April Fools' Day, 2005, I woke up in a sexual addiction treatment center in a suburb of Philadelphia. As I limped out of the drab dog's bed in which I was expected to sleep for the next thirty wankless nights, I observed the previous incumbent had left a thread of unravelled dental floss by the pillow — most likely as a noose for his poor, famished dinkle. When I'd arrived the day before, the counselors had taken away my copy of the Guardian, as there was a depiction of the Venus de Milo on the front page of the Culture section, but let me keep the Sun, which obviously had a Page 3 lovely. What kind of pervert police force censors a truncated sculpture but lets Keeley Hazell pass without question? \"Blimey, this devious swine's got a picture of a concrete bird with no arms — hanging's too good for him, to the incinerator! Keep that picture of stunner Keeley though.\" If they were to censor London Town they would ignore Soho but think that the statue of Alison Lapper in Trafalgar Square had been commissioned by Caligula. Being all holed up in the aptly named KeyStone clinic (while the facility did not have its own uniformed police force, the suggestion of bungling silent film cops is appropriate) was an all too familiar drag. Not that I'd ever been incarcerated in sex chokey before, lord no, but it was the umpteenth time that I'd been confronted with the galling reality that there are things over which I have no control and people who can force their will upon you. Teachers, sex police, actual police, drug counselors; people who can make you sit in a drugless, sexless cell either real or metaphorical and ponder the actuality of life's solitary essence. In the end it's just you. Alone. Who needs that grim reality stuffed into their noggin of a morning? Not me. I couldn't even distract myself with a wank over that gorgeous slag Venus de Milo; well, she's asking for it, going out all nude, not even wearing any arms. The necessity for harsh self-assessment and acceptance of death's inevitability wasn't the only thing I hated about that KeyStone place. No, those two troubling factors vied for supremacy with multitudinous bastard truths. I hated my fucking bed: the mattress was sponge, and you had to stretch your own sheet over this miserable little single divan in the corner of the room. And I hated the fucking room itself where the strangled urges of onanism clung to the walls like mildew. I particularly hated the American gray squirrels that were running around outside — just free, like idiots, giggling and touching each other in the early spring sunshine. The triumph of these little divs over our indigenous, noble, red, British squirrel had become a searing metaphor for my own subjugation at the hands of the anti-fuck-Yanks. To make my surrender to conformity more official I was obliged to sign this thing (see page 6). I wish I'd been photographed signing it like when a footballer joins a new team grinning and holding a pen. Or that I'd got an attorney to go through it with a fine-tooth comb: \"You're gonna have to remove that no bumming clause,\" I imagine him saying. Most", "Kim Deal has been The Breeders' only constant (if a band that's prone to years-long breaks can have such a thing) since the group formed back in 1989, so calling any lineup \"definitive\" is a fool's errand. Still, The Breeders' current iteration — sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, Jim Macpherson and Josephine Wiggs — ought to be a pretty big deal to fans. These four aren't all founding members, but they're together in one place and releasing new music for the first time since 1993's classic Last Splash. Of course, Breeders fans are accustomed to hiatuses, lineup changes and long gaps between releases, and the arrival of a new song called \"Wait in the Car\" marks the first new music from any iteration of the band since 2009. Even better, the track is a blurt of jolting joy that opens with a welcome exclamation — \"Good morning!\" — before rumbling through two minutes of sunny menace.", "Shipwrecks, hitmen and cowboy hats. Slate.com's Mark Jordan Legan tells us what the critics are saying about Fools Gold, Bruges, and Wild West Comedy Show. ALEX CHADWICK, host: Back now with DAY TO DAY. Matthew McConaughey's bare chest opens in theaters across the country today. How did the critics like it and the other movies? Here's Mark Jordan Legan with Slate's Summary Judgment. Mr. MARK JORDAN LEGAN (Slate.com): For of those you looking for a little escape, maybe slip away to a movie set in Belgium, the land of gourmet chocolate and peat bogs. Yes, award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh writes and directs the crime comedy \"In Bruges,\" where two professional hitmen run off to the Belgian city to lay low after a job goes badly. Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell star. (Soundbite of movie, \"In Bruges\") Unidentified Man (Actor): (As character) What is you've done, Raymond? Mr. COLIN FARRELL (Actor): (As Ray) Murder, Father. Unidentified Man: (As character) Why did you murder somebody? Mr. FARRELL: (As Ray) For money. Unidentified Man: (As character) Who did you murder for money, Raymond? Mr. FARRELL: (As Ray) You, Father. (Soundbite of gunshots) Mr. LEGAN: Most of the critics applauded \"Bruges,\" even though the L.A. Weekly complains: a blurry mess of mixed motives - the Chicago Sun Times raves: an endlessly surprising, very dark human comedy; and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer shouts: thoroughly engaging, if at times gleefully violent. And for those of you who want nothing to do with Belgium - and seeing how the Smurfs were created there, you may have an argument - how about a documentary that takes you across the heartland of America? Yes, Vince Vaughn hosts four young comedians as they perform 30 shows in 30 days. It's \"Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland.\" (Soundbite of movie, \"Wild West Comedy Show\") Mr. VINCE VAUGHN (Actor): And what do you do here in Lubbock? Unidentified Man: My fiancée. Mr. VAUGHN: Very nice. Mr. LEGAN: The critics are split on Vaughn's comedic travel log. Entertainment Weekly was amused, cheering: a Lucy Goosey what-the-hell spirit that's easy and fun to hook into. But the Associated Press snarls: ends up feeling about as long and draggy as the title itself. So if middle America and Europe don't do it for you, how about a lush, tropical, sun-drenched getaway adventure with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in \"Fools Gold\"? Yes, they teamed up before in \"How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days,\" and if you paid to see that, then you are morally obligated to go watch McConaughey play a modern day treasure hunter who teams up with his ex-wife to find a Caribbean sunken treasure. (Soundbite of movie, \"Fools Gold\") Mr. MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY (Actor): (As Ben Finnegan) If we don't go after that treasure, it's gonna haunt us for the rest of our lives, and you know it. You really see (unintelligible). Ms. KATE HUDSON (Actress): (As Tess Finnegan) Why not? You're a liar. Mr. MCCONAUGHEY: (As Ben Finnegan) I mean, this is such an inappropriate time to dwell on that. Mr. LEGAN: The nations reviewers want these two to walk the plank. Variety yawns: a listless romantic comedy. The Village Voice voices: it isn't merely bad, it's so desperate that the actors can scarcely conceal their contempt for the material. And the New York Times sighs: dull and noisy. Well, it isn't easy to be an evenly tanned fortune hunter. Me? I need sunscreen repeatedly applied to my pale writerly body - and that's indoors. And my idea of a treasure hunt is finding an extra large pair of cargo pants on sale. CHADWICK: Mark Jordan Legan is a writer who buys his pants in Los Angeles.", "James Villas was the long time food and wine editor of Town & Country magazine. But his heart belongs to Southern food, the food he was raised on. In his newest cookbook, “Southern Fried,” Villas seeks to correct negative attitudes toward Southern fried foods. He says fried food is often prepared incorrectly, which is why people think all fried food is unhealthy. If prepared correctly, fried food “will not be soggy and greasy and those things that people associate with fried food.” Villas told Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson. “We Southerners are raised on how to fry food correctly, and if you fry food correctly, it’s not only healthy, it’s fun.” Villas shares recipes for “Fried Chicken Drumettes Parmesan” and “Carolina Okra Beignets”: Fried Chicken Drumettes Parmesan Reprinted with permission from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, from “Southern Fried” by James Villas. Copyright © 2013. James’ Note: Most Southerners believe correctly that wings are the sweetest part of the chicken, and nothing is relished more on buffets and at cocktail parties than a platter of fried, spicy wings (“drumettes”) enhanced with tangy Parmesan cheese and intended to be eaten with the fingers. If the wings are especially meaty, they may require a minute or so longer in the fat, but be careful not to fry them so much that the interiors dry out. Do feel free to experiment with various herbs and spices in this recipe. The wings are just as good at room temperature as they are hot. Ingredients: 12 to 15 chicken wings 1 cup all-purpose flour 1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon paprika 1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard 1⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 cup milk Peanut oil for deep frying Instructions: To prepare the chicken wings, remove and discard the tips, separate the first and second joints with a sharp knife, and set the pieces aside. In a shallow baking dish, combine the flour, cheese, paprika, mustard, oregano, and salt and pepper and stir till well blended. Dip the chicken pieces in the milk, dredge in the flour mixture, tapping off excess flour, and place on a plate. In a deep fryer, electric frypan, or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of oil to 365°F on a deep-fat thermometer. Fry the chicken pieces in batches for 8 minutes, turn with tongs, fry till golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes longer, and drain on paper towels. Serve the drumettes hot or at room temperature. Makes 4 or 5 servings. Carolina Okra Beignets\n James’ Note: These spicy beignets were inspired by the ones Bill Neal fried up when he opened Crook’s Corner restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and, quite frankly, you’ll never taste a more delicious okra dish. Just remember never to crowd the skillet when frying the beignets, and don’t try to keep them warm in the oven, which only makes them soggy. When shopping for fresh okra, always look for small, firm pods with no dark spots. Ingredients: 1 pound small, firm, fresh okra 2 medium onions, minced 1⁄2 small green bell pepper, seeded and minced 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1⁄4 cup fine dry bread crumbs 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed 1 large egg 1 tablespoon half-and-half 1⁄2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce Vegetable shortening for deep frying Instructions: Rinse the okra, remove the stems, and thinly slice the pods. In a bowl, combine the okra, onions, and bell pepper and toss till well blended. Add the flour, bread crumbs, and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and toss again. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, half-and-half, and Tabasco till well blended, pour over the okra mixture, stir till well blended, and let stand for about 30 minutes. In a large, heavy skillet, heat about 1 inch of shortening to 375°F on a deep-fat thermometer, drop the okra mixture by tablespoons into the hot fat, fry till golden brown and crisp on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes, and transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. If you like, sprinkle with a little extra salt. Serve piping hot. Makes 4 servings. Guest\n\nJames Villas, author of “Southern Fried” and former food and wine editor of Town & Country magazine.\n JEREMY HOBSON, HOST: It's HERE AND NOW. And to introduce our next guest, I want to play a clip from one of my favorite movies, \"My Cousin Vinny.\" Joe Pesci, aka Vinny, is questioning a witness at a trial in Alabama. (SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, \"MY COUSIN VINNY\") JOE PESCI: (as Vinny Gambini) How do you cook your grits? Do you like them regular, creamy or al dente? MAURY CHAYKIN: (as Sam Tipton) Just regular, I guess. PESCI: (as Vinny Gambini) Regular. Instant grits? CHAYKIN: (as Sam Tipton) No self-respecting Southerner uses instant grits. I take pride in my grits. HOBSON: Well, we are joined now by a self-respecting Southerner who is particular about his grits as well. James Villas was the longtime food and wine editor of Town & Country, and he is the author of a new c", "Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee marked Abraham Lincoln's birthday by sharing a charming, if banal, aphorism attributed to Lincoln: \"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.\" The problem is there's no evidence Lincoln ever wrote or said it, which critics on Twitter were only too delighted to point out. The RNC took down the tweet, but all that trouble could have been avoided if they'd first checked in with Garson O'Toole. That's the pen name of a man who has tracked down the true origins of hundreds of quotes on his website, Quote Investigator. O'Toole has collected some of those investigations into a new book called Hemingway Didn't Say That: The Truth Behind Familiar Quotations. He says, \"It's a lot of fun to uncover these hidden histories, and I'm also very glad when I get to give credit to the person who actually said it.\" Interview Highlights On why quotes often get wrongly attributed to Mark Twain Mark Twain is known for having a fantastic sense of humor, and if you preface a quotation by saying it's from Twain, then people are prepared to laugh at it, to think that it's wonderful. Many quotations, they're anonymous or from lesser-known comedians reassigned to Twain. There might be a joke and somebody would say it's Twain-like and then the next person will say, \"No, actually, it's from Twain.\" On the origin of the quote \"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt,\" which has been wrongly attributed to both to Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain The earliest evidence that I was able to find was a 1907 book by Maurice Switzer. And it seems to contain a lot of original material and it includes the statement \"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.\" So it's slightly different phrasing, but I believe that is what evolved to generate the modern common version. On the quote by author Anne Rice that even she mistakenly attributed to Franz Kafka \"Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion.\" ... It was in an introduction to a collection of stories by Franz Kafka, and she was talking about how she'd been inspired by him. It was her perception of the way Kafka thought when he was writing his stories, but somebody reading that introduction thought that it must have been Kafka that said this instead of Anne Rice and so it started being distributed in that way. I got an email from an individual who said that on Facebook Anne Rice had posted this quotation and she had attributed it to Kafka. And so that was enormously confusing to me because I thought that if anyone would be able to recognize that quotation, it would be the person who created it. So I sent a Facebook message to Anne Rice; she replied very quickly and said she would look into it to try to find out who actually created it. And then she came back with another reply saying that she'd discovered that in fact it was her words and that she had written it in this introduction, and as evidence of that she gave me a URL that pointed to my website. ... And it's understandable: She's written a large number of words and she'd written this more than a decade in the past. On why he feels this work is important Many of these quotations are cultural landmarks. They affect the way we think about, say, environmentalism. Let me find this quote: \"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.\" That's been attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson; it's considered a Native American proverb; an Amish saying. But the earliest evidence I found: There's an activist named Wendell Berry and he was discussing good stewardship of the environment ... and I think he deserves credit for this kind of a cultural landmark. Editor Melissa Gray and digital producer Nicole Cohen contributed to this story.", "Chapter 1 1 At the end of a hot November day Miss Baines and Mrs. Williams of the Ladies&; Frocks Department at Goode&;s were complaining to each other while they changed out of their black frocks before going home. &;Mr. Ryder&;s not so bad,&; said Miss Baines, in reference to the floor manager; &;it&;s that Miss Cartright who&;s a pain in the neck, excuse my French.&; Miss Cartright was the buyer, and she never seemed to give them a moment&;s peace. Mrs. Williams shrugged and began to powder her nose. &;She always gets worse at this time of the year,&; she pointed out. &;She wants to make sure we earn our Christmas bonus.&; &;As if we could help it!&; said Miss Baines. &;We&;re run off our feet!&; Which was quite true: the great festival being now only six weeks away, the crowds of customers were beginning to surge and the frocks to vanish from the rails in an ever-faster flurry, and when Mrs. Williams was washing out her undies in the handbasin that night she had a sudden sensation that her life was slipping away with the rinsing water as it gurgled down the plughole; but she pulled herself together and went on with her chores, while the antipodean summer night throbbed outside all around her. Mrs. Williams, Patty, and Miss Baines, Fay, worked together with Miss Jacobs on Ladies&; Cocktail Frocks, which was next to Ladies&; Evening Frocks, down at the end of the second floor of Goode&;s Department Store in the centre of Sydney. F. G. Goode, a sharp Mancunian, had opened his original Emporium (&;Ladies&; and Gents&; Apparel&;All the Latest London Modes&;) at the end of the last century, and had never looked back, because the people of the colony, he saw straightaway, would spend pretty well all they had in order to convince themselves that they were in the fashion. So now his grandchildren were the principal shareholders in a concern which turned over several million Australian pounds every year, selling the latest London modes, and any modes from other sources which looked likely. Italian modes were in the ascendancy at present. &;I got it at Goode&;s,&; as the caption said, on that insufferable drawing of a superior-looking lady preening herself in a horribly smart new frock before the envious and despairing gaze of her friend&;the frocks and the poses might change with the years, but that ad always ran in the bottom left-hand corner of the women&;s page in the Herald: I believe the space was booked in perpetuity, and the caption had long since become a city-wide catchphrase. Goode&;s stayed ahead of the competition by means of a terrific dedication to the modes. They sent the buying talent abroad for special training at the great department stores of London and New York. When the new season&;s clothes came into the shop twice a year the staff worked overtime, pricing and displaying, exclaiming the while. &;Never mind if it does retail at £9.17.6,&; said Miss Cartright, &;this model will vanish within a fortnight&;you mark my words!&; And this they duly did.", "Note: NPR's First Listen audio comes down after the album is released. However, you can still listen with the Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page. Nashville instrumental guitarist William Tyler never has to nail down the meaning behind the songs on his new record, because a word never crosses them. But his freedom from explicit meaning is a gift for listeners, as well. These songs stretch out past the limits of most lyrics and approach a rare sense of mystery. Tyler has made subtle but essential tweaks to his sound since 2013's shambolic Impossible Truth. Modern Country is tighter, richer in production and more focused melodically. It's less Nashville DIY in its aesthetic, a shift heralded by the presence of a full band, his new love of German-sounding synths, and the tasteful inventiveness of Wilco drummer and Tyler tourmate Glenn Kotche. If Tyler has focused his sound and composition, though, he's simultaneously pushed his arrangements to new levels of complexity. \"Gone Clear\" launches from a tense acoustic number into a hail of bells and guitar tapping. It sounds more like Steve Reich than Leo Kottke, and it reveals both the breadth of Tyler's palette and the deliberateness of his composition. It seems a fool's errand to write an album about the disappearance of an American ideal. You can imagine all sorts of grandstanding about what we've lost — rhymes about trains and innocence and regression in our politics. Yet this is the project of Modern Country. Tyler wrote it while living in Oxford, Miss., making this his first album not recorded in his home base of Nashville. Like so many records, it's a celebration of a certain vision of America, tinged by a sense of loss. But it also marks a powerful aesthetic contribution to the canon of people making art about this country. Tyler has provided several commentaries on the record. Last month, he released a trailer. \"We stand at the precipice of the twilight of empire,\" he says in a labored voiceover as images of trains and highways run by. He's offered specific historical inspirations for certain songs, too. The rollicking guitars and softly droning synths of \"Kingdom Of Jones\" tell the story of Jones County, Miss., which seceded from the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Sky Blue Sky drumming and easy acoustics of \"Sunken Garden\" recall the sort of garden that flanked early roads in the 1930s South. The title of \"Gone Clear\" could well refer to America's multifaceted religious history by taking Scientology's term for a type of spiritual purity. \"The Great Unwind\" roars and unfurls in waves of feedback — all while nodding to the name of George Packer's American history, The Unwinding. These are compelling references. However, they have little to do with the actual accomplishment of Modern Country. Tyler has captured a sense of ineffable vastness — a sense that lies at the heart of many great works of American art. In House Made Of Dawn, a novel of an estranged Native American man who attempts to reconnect with his vanishing homeland, N. Scott Momaday described a Western valley. \"It was almost too great for the eye to hold, strangely beautiful and full of distance,\" he wrote. \"Such vastness makes for illusion, a kind of illusion that comprehends reality, and where it exists there is always wonder and exhilaration.\" Here, then, is an illusion. From the instruments and sounds of American alt-rock comes a record that's exactly as grand as it sets out to be. Tyler's record is free and weird, big and wild. In it are expanse, elegy and celebration. Everywhere is wonder.", "British actor and comedian Russell Brand is known for his outspokenness, his outlandishness and his wit — not to mention a raunchy on-air phone prank that ended his tenure as host of a BBC radio show. Brand admits to Terry Gross that his past antics — which include pulling down his pants in public on occasion, and dressing up as Osama bin Laden on Sept. 12, 2001 — were often fueled by his drug use. With rehab behind him, Brand says he's less likely to be caught with his pants around his ankles. But through a mysterious alchemy involving nerves and diminished inhibition, the actor still manages to get himself into hilarious and inappropriate situations — as when, for instance, he recently presented the actress Helen Mirren with a pair of his dirty underwear. Brand says his embarrassment in such situations often develops into new material for his stand-up routine: \"I think, 'Right, never tell anyone about that. You've done a very stupid thing, the less people know about it, the better. If you can inhibit the number of folk that know, less people know how daft you truly are.' \"And then the next impulse is: 'That means it's funny — tell everyone.'\" Despite the notoriety his pranks have earned him in the U.K., Brand is best known in the U.S. for hosting the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, and for his role as a caddish rocker in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall. In a March 2009 interview, actor-writer Jason Segel told Fresh Air that he'd rewritten that role after Brand gave a cheeky but memorable audition. \"I literally went home that night and rewrote the movie,\" Segel recalled. \"I couldn't imagine anyone to be more jealous of, or intimidated by, if they were dating your new girlfriend, than Russell Brand.\" Brand says he's flattered by Segel's comments — but that he's less confident in person than he seems onstage. \"As a performer, I'm very, very confident in what I do,\" Brand explains. \"As a person ... I'm a little more doubtful, introspective and analytical.\" Brand used his gifts for over-the-top comedy and personal reflection to write his memoir My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up, a chronicle of his struggle with addictions to sex, drugs, and stand-up. The memoir became a best seller in Britain after its 2007 release, and it has been slightly revised for its American publication. The New York Times called the book \"a child's garden of vices\" and \"a relentless ride with a comic mind clearly at the wheel.\" Click the \"Listen\" button above to hear the entire Fresh Air interview. LANGUAGE ADVISORY: This excerpt contains language that some readers may find offensive. Chapter One: April Fool On the morning of April Fools' Day, 2005, I woke up in a sexual addiction treatment center in a suburb of Philadelphia. As I limped out of the drab dog's bed in which I was expected to sleep for the next thirty wankless nights, I observed the previous incumbent had left a thread of unravelled dental floss by the pillow — most likely as a noose for his poor, famished dinkle. When I'd arrived the day before, the counselors had taken away my copy of the Guardian, as there was a depiction of the Venus de Milo on the front page of the Culture section, but let me keep the Sun, which obviously had a Page 3 lovely. What kind of pervert police force censors a truncated sculpture but lets Keeley Hazell pass without question? \"Blimey, this devious swine's got a picture of a concrete bird with no arms — hanging's too good for him, to the incinerator! Keep that picture of stunner Keeley though.\" If they were to censor London Town they would ignore Soho but think that the statue of Alison Lapper in Trafalgar Square had been commissioned by Caligula. Being all holed up in the aptly named KeyStone clinic (while the facility did not have its own uniformed police force, the suggestion of bungling silent film cops is appropriate) was an all too familiar drag. Not that I'd ever been incarcerated in sex chokey before, lord no, but it was the umpteenth time that I'd been confronted with the galling reality that there are things over which I have no control and people who can force their will upon you. Teachers, sex police, actual police, drug counselors; people who can make you sit in a drugless, sexless cell either real or metaphorical and ponder the actuality of life's solitary essence. In the end it's just you. Alone. Who needs that grim reality stuffed into their noggin of a morning? Not me. I couldn't even distract myself with a wank over that gorgeous slag Venus de Milo; well, she's asking for it, going out all nude, not even wearing any arms. The necessity for harsh self-assessment and acceptance of death's inevitability wasn't the only thing I hated about that KeyStone place. No, those two troubling factors vied for supremacy with multitudinous bastard truths. I hated my fucking bed: the mattress was sponge, and you had to stretch your own sheet over this miserable little single divan in the corner of the room.", "[Youtube] Note: This video contains language that some viewers may find offensive. Students of literature have long used SparkNotes and CliffsNotes to help them navigate the tricky plot-lines of the classics. Now, there’s a new web series that students can turn to for literary help: “Thug Notes.” From “The Great Gatsby” to Dante’s “Inferno” these popular book report videos have captured the attention of students and teachers across the country by using hip-hop vernacular to explain classic literature. Jared Bauer, the writer and creator of the series, and Greg Edwards, the host of the show, discuss the series and its popularity with Here & Now’s Robin Young. Interview Highlights: Jared Bauer and Greg Edwards Bauer on the theory behind “Thug Notes” “It might just make things more appealing to take the ivory tower out of literature and kind of made it more accessible — almost in an abrasive way, you know? To make the point very strongly, that education doesn’t have to be in a certain way.” Edwards on what he enjoys most about the series “We just have a lot of fun shooting. Just the comments from YouTube, the kids really enjoy it, teachers are using it in the classroom. I think it’s great, and it’s just fun and it’s funny. I mean, I’ve read some of the books, definitely in high school and college, but some of these books I’ve never heard of, never even thought of. So when they give me the script, I do some research of my own. I go through some videos, and it just adds to it. It opens up my eyes, different reviews on these books, and just hearing it from [co-writer] Joe [Salvaggio] and Jared. They’re so thorough with this summary and analysis. It just helps to explain it, and it gives me a picture that I didn’t think of before.” Bauer on using the controversial “thug” stereotype “We are using a racial stereotype, but what we’re really doing is we’re inverting that stereotype and making it look ridiculous — saying the idea that, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ … You watch ‘Thug Notes’ and you see the smartest way to understand a book in five minutes, and because of that, it proves to the audience that, you know, there’s nothing inherently unrefined about, you know, urban vernacular, or about hip-hop setting. You know, we can explain literature in urban vernacular.” Guests\n\nJared Bauer, writer and creator of “Thug Notes.”\nGreg Edwards, comedian and host of “Thug Notes.” He tweets @GregtheGrouch and as his “Thug Notes” character @SparkySweetsPhD.\n ROBIN YOUNG, HOST: It's HERE AND NOW. The debate over the words young African-Americans use to describe each other burbles up from time to time. After Clipper owner Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for his racist remarks, New York Times sports columnist William Rhoden applauded on MSNBC, then said now it's time for the young players to clean up their act. (SOUNDBITE OF NEWS PROGRAM) WILLIAM RHODEN: First of all, they should stop using N words in the locker room. You know what I mean? You can't have it both ways. YOUNG: Then President Obama gave a shout out to Seattle Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman at the recent correspondence dinner. Richard is the player who was called a thug for his chest pounding after a game, thug being seen by some as the new N word. But wait a minute. What's this new website called Thug Notes? (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) YOUNG: Yes. Students have had Spark and CliffNotes, now Thug Notes. Little book report videos shot PBS style. The camera passing lovingly over shelves filled with bound books, host comedian Greg Edwards sitting Alastair Cook style in an overstuffed leather chair summarizing, for instance, F. Scott Fitzgerald's \"The Great Gatsby.\" (SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO) GREG EDWARDS: All these rich white folks decide to take a trip to Manhattan together. These fools arrive at the Plaza Hotel where Daisy's hubby Tom gets all crunk about Daisy and Gatsby's relationship. YOUNG: Jared Bauer created the series with academic Joseph Salvaggio. And Jared joins us now. Welcome. JARED BAUER: Hey, how are you? YOUNG: And also host comedian Greg Edwards, Dr. Sparky Sweets Ph.D., he joins us as well from the studios of NPR West. Greg, welcome to you, as well. EDWARDS: Thank you. YOUNG: So what was the driving force behind this, Jared? What were you thinking? BAUER: Well, a lot of things. The story, when the idea first came into my mind is I was in line at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood to see \"Barry Lyndon,\" which is my favorite Kubrick movie. And I was joining with my friend about how, you know, the story of \"Barry Lyndon,\" I don't know if you've seen the movie, it's a very, kind of, slow moving elegant piece. But at the end of the day it's about a social climber who does illegal activities, who, you", "Earle Hagen, a prolific composer of TV and movie music, was best known for the infectious whistle that marks the beginning of the Andy Griffith Show. He died yesterday at the age of 88. ALEX CHADWICK, Host: The man who wrote and whistled that tune, it's the theme to the \"Andy Griffith Show,\" is dead. He's composer Earle Hagen, he died Monday, at 88 years old. MADELEINE BRAND, Host: Earle Hagen wrote themes for some of the biggest hits of the 50's, 60's and 70's, including the shows \"I Spy,\" \"The Mob Squad,\" and \"The Dick Van Dyke Show.\" (SOUNDBITE OF THEME MUSIC \"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW\") CHADWICK: He worked on more than 3,000 television episodes, he wrote three books about scoring music and he penned an autobiography called \"Memoirs of a Famous Composer Nobody Ever Heard Of.\" BRAND: Earle Hagen was a master at creating a catchy theme that would immediately identify a television show. In an interview with the Archive of American Television, he explained that he originally whistled the \"Andy Griffith\" theme as a demo for producers. EARLE HAGEN: Well, I never whistled before in my life and never since. CHADWICK: But they loved it and it became a critical part of the success of the \"Andy Griffith Show.\" HAGEN: Andy can't go anywhere without somebody starting to whistle that theme. BRAND: Composer and whistler, Earle Hagen, died on Monday. He was 88 years old. Day to Day is a production of NPR News, with contributions from Slate.com. I'm Madeleine Brand. CHADWICK: And I'm Alex Chadwick.", "The presidential candidates – Republican and Democrat alike – are vowing to take on skyrocketing drug prices. The candidates’ comments come as the industry’s largest trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is redoubling its efforts to improve its reputation, in print and in social media. How likely are Americans to see falling drug prices? Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News discusses the issue with Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson. \nRead Julie Rovner’s op-ed, “Candidates’ plans for drug prices may miss the mark”\n\nGuest\n\nJulie Rovner, the Robin Toner Distinguished Fellow and senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News. She tweets @jrovner.", "The ensemble P.A.N. performs three 14th-century French tunes recommended for Valentine's Day by Thomas Kelly: \"Tout Par Compas\" (too pahr koh(m)-PAH) by Baude Cordier (bohd kohrd-YAY), \"A la arme, a la arme\" (\"To arms, to arms\") by Grimace (gree-MAHS) and \"De ce que foul pense\" (deh seh keh fool PAH(N)S--\"What a fool thinks\") by Pierre des Moulins (day moo-LA(N)). (New Albion NA 021 CD)", "Lettuce is a favorite New Year's dish because the Cantonese word for lettuce saang choi, sounds like plentiful wealth. This stir-fry is extremely easy to make. The iceberg attains sweetness from the soy sauce, sesame oil and rice wine, and only takes three minutes to stir-fry. Bok choy is also delicious cooked in this manner. The best pans for stir-frying are a carbon-steel wok or a stainless-steel skillet. Do not stir-fry over high heat with a nonstick skillet.Serves 4 as a vegetable side dish.1 medium head iceberg lettuce1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil1 teaspoon Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry3/4 teaspoon sugar1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil3 medium cloves garlic, smashed and peeled1/4 teaspoon salt1. Core the iceberg and separate into leaves. Wash the lettuce in several changes of cold water, breaking the leaves in half. Drain thoroughly in a colander until dry to the touch. 2. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, sugar and pepper. 3. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch skillet over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Add the peanut oil and garlic, and stir-fry 10 seconds or until just fragrant. Add the lettuce and stir-fry one minute. Add the salt and stir-fry another minute, or until the lettuce is just limp. Swirl in the sauce and stir-fry one more minute, or until the lettuce is just tender and still bright green. Adapted from The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celebration and Healing, by Grace Young, Simon and Schuster 1999.", "Caraili, a type of bitter melon, is a standard vegetable in East Indian and Chinese diets. There are two varieties. One is light green and resembles a knobby-skinned cucumber, while the other is darker green and very gnarly in appearance. If you like collard greens, escarole or other bitter vegetables, you'll find caraili appealing as well. It is readily available in Asian and Middle Eastern markets and sometimes makes an appearance in the tropical produce section of larger grocery stores. Although you could substitute zucchini in this dish, the characteristic bitter flavor would be missing. The recipe is adapted from my book Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago (Hippocrene 2010). Makes 4 servings 3 caraili 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 small onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon kalonji seeds (available in Indian or Middle Eastern Markets) 1/4 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt, or to taste Freshly ground black pepper Prepare the caraili by trimming the stem ends and slicing them lengthwise. If there are large, visible seeds, use a small teaspoon to scrape down the middle of the caraili to remove them. Discard the seeds and slice each half of the caraili into 1/4-inch slices. They will look like half moons. Heat the oil in a wok or large, wide frying pan. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic, frying until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add the kalonji seeds and fry until they begin to pop, about 15 seconds. Add the caraili and stir well, frying for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they begin to brown. Stir in the salt and black pepper, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the caraili are soft, about 15 minutes. Serve with rice or flat bread such as pita or roti.", "Maya Angelou, a modern Renaissance woman who survived the harshest of childhoods to become a force on stage, screen, the printed page and the inaugural dais, has died. She was 86. Here & Now’s Robin Young examines the life and legacy of Maya Angelou with poet Kevin Young, who is a professor of English and creative writing at Emory University. Interview Highlights: Kevin Young On Angelou’s voice “I think that’s one of the things we’ll miss most, in the broadest terms, is her voice — both how she spoke and that melodic, yet fierce tone. It had this kind of great depth to it, this undertone — but also, her voice on the page. And I think I remember reading the memoir ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,’ and it was so powerful — a sort of reckoning and a remedy at the same time. It has that great title, taken from Dunbar…’We Wear the Mask,’ and, you know, taking that and really channeling the feeling of his poems, which had always been held close to African-American writers and the public … and touched a similar kind of nerve about survival. And the voice, again, singing despite it all.” On her use of words “I think she had a way with words, of course, both in speaking and especially in that memoir, and I think they were both comforting. I was re-reading ‘And Still I Rise’ and how she talks about, ‘You may tread me in the dirt, but still, like dust, I’ll rise.’ I love that image.” On overcoming her personal struggles and becoming a champion for others “I think about the silence that she survived … apparently, it was six years — I think it was one of the more incredible parts of the memoir — and then emerging with that incredible voice. And you can hear that context, you know, working behind that poem in a powerful way. And I think she really gave voice, in the broadest sense, both to poetry as a public forum, but also specifically to the voices of black women, and I think she not just represented that rising spirit, but also embodied it.” Guest\n\nKevin Young, author of six poetry collections and editor of five other, and professor of English and creative writing at Emory University. He tweets @Deardarkness.\n ROBIN YOUNG, HOST: It's HERE AND NOW. Her many fans might have felt the earth shift a little today at the news that poet and author Maya Angelou has died at her home in North Carolina at 86. Her first memoir, \"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,\" about growing up poor in Jim Crow South was one of the first and only at its time from a black woman's point of view to be read by a white audience. Her poems, including \"And Still I Rise,\" lifted others. Today, President Obama released a statement saying Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time - a brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman - referencing her 1978 poem. In 1993, Bill Clinton asked Angelou to become the first poet to read at an inauguration since Robert Frost at JFK's. Here she is reading \"On The Pulse Of Morning.\" (SOUNDBITE OF POEM, \"ON THE PULSE OF MORNING\") MAYA ANGELOU: Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out and into your sister's eye and into your brother's face, your country, and say simply, very simply, with hope, good morning. R YOUNG: Kevin Young is a poet and professor of English and creative writing at Emory University in Atlanta. He joins us to reflect on Maya Angelou's life and legacy. And, Kevin, just - you know, we knew she was frail. But your first thoughts?. KEVIN YOUNG: Well, I think it's a sad day. We lost a towering figure in Dr. Angelou. And I think everyone's a little bit shaken, as you said. R YOUNG: Yeah. Well, her fame really came after that 1969 memoir \"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings\" - a piece of work that really resonates with people. It really is quite stunning. She tells of her childhood, including her rape by her mother's boyfriend. He was tried and convicted but then murdered - people think by her uncles. And she did not speak for the next five years - a young girl - and then found this voice. Tell us what the voice was if you had to describe it. K YOUNG: Well, I think that's one of the things we'll miss most, in the broadest terms, is her voice, both how she spoke in that melodic yet fierce tone that had these kind of great depth to it, this undertone, but also her voice on the page. And I think - I remember reading the memoir, \"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,\" and it was so powerful, a sort of reckoning and a remedy at the same time. R YOUNG: Yeah. K YOUNG: It has that great title taken from Dunbar. I think she really... R YOUNG: Dunbar's poem, yep. K YOUNG: Yeah. R YOUNG: Yeah. K YOUNG: \"We Wear The Mask,\" you know, taking that and really channeling the feeling of his poems, which had always been held close to African-American writers and the", "The wild antics and unusual nature of the 2016 presidential campaign could be seen as good fortune to a comedian. And on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Bill Maher covers the politics and policy with levity and wit. Maher has never been shy about taking sides on political issues, and in 2016 he is publicly supporting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders but says he’d be “ready for Hillary” if she wins the Democratic nomination. Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson talks with Maher about covering Washington, D.C. – and our political process – from the West Coast. Interview Highlights: Bill Maher On what sparked his interest in politics and political analysis “My father was a radio newsman back in the days when radio stations had news on the hour, every hour, no matter what station it was, even WABC with Cousin Brucie counting down the top 20, which my ear was glued to from the ages of 11 to 14, even they had to interrupt the top 20 so at the top of the hour we could hear about some idiot talk about the news for five minutes. My father was that guy for another station, a number of other stations. News and talking about news was always in my house, but it was always what interested me. And so it was sort of natural when I got into comedy that that would be the subject I was drawn to.” On covering politics from California “I do think we see the same media wherever we are, but California is by far the largest state and, in many ways, the state that is leading the nation in so many areas, because it’s the only state that is completely run by liberals. We shouldn’t have two senators, we should have 28. Rush Limbaugh does his show in his underwear from Florida, doesn’t he? Would it really matter if Rush Limbaugh was in Florida, New York, California, or on the moon? He’d be the same idiot wherever he is.” “I do think we see the same media wherever we are, but California is by far the largest state and, in many ways, the state that is leading the nation in so many areas, because it’s the only state that is completely run by liberals.”– Bill Maher On Bernie Sanders’ chance to win the Democratic nomination “Slim. But it’s the weirdest year ever in politics, so I don’t blame him for staying in. She could have a health issue, and he would be left standing. Something that we don’t foresee with the email situation. I’ve always said the email thing is a big nothing burger, but it matters to people. And the more you hear about it, it becomes a little less of a nothing burger… I don’t think it’s anywhere near disqualifying, but it did give me pause as a comedian to keep doing jokes about how much of a nothing it is.” On Donald Trump and political correctness “What we do have in common is politically incorrect. I said that from the very beginning. This country has been choking on political correctness for over two decades, because after all, I had a show called ‘Politically Incorrect’ that started in 1993, so obviously it bugged me back then, and it was something that was bubbling up in America. And obviously I did a miserable job driving a stake through its heart because it’s never gotten better, and only gotten worse, especially with the internet.” “As far as recognizing Donald Trump as someone from my childhood, yes. Because if you’re an East Coast person, you knew this guy, the guy who’s going to get you a deal. That is a salesman, and that’s what he is. Maybe the election will have enough time for people to catch on to this. I think they should read his book or at least excerpts from it, ‘The Art of the Deal.’ He does a lot of that in the book, tells you how you can fool people and maybe, before the election, they will realize, ‘Oh, that is what this con-man is doing to us.'” On Libertarians “All these people all these years who say to me, ‘Oh you’re such a turncoat. You’re not a real Libertarian.’ Who would want to be with those morons? These people who were booing the fact that Gary Johnson said he supports the 1964 Civil Rights Act. So somewhere along the way the Libertarians were taken over by a bunch of kooks for the most part, and I don’t want to be associated with that. There’s a reason that party doesn’t do well. We already have a party for all the kooks – it’s called the Republican Party.” Guest\n\nBill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher.” He tweets @billmaher.", "T.J. Miller has played a dragon slayer in the How to Train Your Dragon movies, a man who doesn't always change his underwear in Big Hero 6 and a pothead who thinks he's a tech rock star in HBO's Silicon Valley. Now Marvel fans will know him as bartender Weasel, best friend to the titular superhero in the new, R-rated comic book movie Deadpool. Miller is a physical and cerebral comedian, a good combination for his Silicon Valley character, Erlich Bachman. Slovenly with shaggy, curly hair and mutton chop sideburns, Bachman is ridiculously full of himself. (Miller has described him as an \"arrogant blowhard.\") He puts clips in his hair to hold it back when he eats, and he get furious at his housemates when he finds there are only soup spoons left for him to eat his yogurt. Bachman runs the business side of the show's central startup, Pied Piper. In his mind, he's the only one who understands you need to be \"a real a-hole to make it in this world,\" Miller says. Silicon Valley creator Mike Judge says the character is real. \"In the tech world there are a lot of arrogant people, people with no filter. And that's right up T.J.'s alley. He's very good at playing that.\" But Miller also makes Bachman likable — even charming. Judge, who also directed him in 2009's Extract, says, \"There's this odd kind of vulnerability to T.J.'s face and his expressions ... that make it kind of innocent.\" As for Miller, he says he identifies with Bachman: \"He is just sort of, unfortunately for me, a magnification of certain aspects of my personality, mixed in with a couple of fictional things. I'm an enthusiastic marijuana user; he obviously is also. I am, at times, a Falstaffian figure; he very much is that too. We are in line with each other as nihilists: He thinks you should tell it like it is ... because everybody's opinion — including yours — doesn't mean anything.\" From Class Clown To Clown School The 34-year-old Denver native started doing comedy early on. Melody Duggan, his drama teacher at Denver's East High School, says Miller was a typical class clown, except that he was more intuitive than your average teenager. She says, \"He understands the frailty of the human condition better than any kid I've ever had.\" Duggan, who's retired now, tried to get her students to sample all forms of acting, including stand-up. She says Miller \"was absolutely fearless. He doesn't mind making a fool of himself.\" Meanwhile, Miller credits Duggan for the eureka moment that set him on his path to comedy. \"She made me do musicals and Oedipus Rex,\" he remembers. \"She said, 'You're going to do comedy, but I need you singing. You have to learn everything.' \" His mother, a clinical psychologist, told him the same thing, and it seems he took the assignment seriously. He studied circus arts, and learned how to be a Shakespearean clown at the British American Drama Academy in London. After that, he toured with Chicago's Second City. Miller's observational humor is rarely cutting. When an audience member bellowed above the rest at 2015's Just For Laughs Festival, Miller pointed to him and imitated the sound. Then he quickly said, \"I'm not making fun of your laugh. I would never make fun of your laugh,\" and took the opportunity to improvise: \"Have any of you had someone make fun of your laugh — a friend make fun of the way you laugh? You know, that's basically your friend saying, 'Hey you know that sound that you make when you're happy and joyful? And the tragedy that permeates our everyday life is momentarily abated for an ephemeral escapism? Yeah? You sound stupid. You should feel embarrassed when you're happy.' \" Comedy And 'Fundamentally Tragic Existence' Between movies, TV, stand-up and commercials, Miller is on a fast-moving roll. He's hyper-focused on his \"mission statement,\" as he calls it: \"To become the best comedian, I must be well-rounded.\" (According to Melody Duggan, \"His business acumen is something else.\") The comedian says his role in the new anti-hero comic book movie Deadpool is right up his alley. \"I'm a student of [Friedrich] Nietzsche. I'm interested in morality and mortality, and Deadpool kind of has all of these themes.\" Given Miller's cerebral approach to acting, it's not surprising that he almost pursued a career in psychology — that was his college major and he thought he might follow in his mother's footsteps. But then he did the math. \"If you're a psychologist, you can instrumentally change peoples' lives for the better,\" he says. \"But you can only do that for about 300 people to maybe a thousand people, if you're really prolific and you're working really hard. If you're a comedian, you can change peoples' lives for the better in much smaller increments — not their entire life, but for 15 minutes or a half hour.\" He says, \"If I can make someone laugh, I lift them out of their fundamentally tragic existence.\" And for this comic, that's anything but meaningless. LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: T.J. Miller is by no means a one-dimensiona", "The Jon Stewart of Egypt, Bassem Youssef, joins us to talk about Islam, America and the world. Bassem Youssef is a brave, funny, famous comedian often called the Jon Stewart of Egypt. Famed across the Arab world. He was there in the thick of the Arab Spring, when uprising and hope swept the region. When Jon Stewart himself came to Cairo to be on his show. And when it all began to come apart. Now, Bassem Youssef is in exile in the USA. Still looking at the Arab world, but also looking at us, Americans. Our travel bans and hopes and fears. This hour, On Point: Bassem Youssef, and the world. — Tom Ashbrook Guest Bassem Youssef, comedian, satirist, surgeon. Host of “Democracy Handbook.” Former host of “Al-Bernameg.” author of “Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring.” His story is told in the documentary “Tickling Giants.” (@Byoussef) From Tom’s Reading List The Denver Post: Bassem Youssef and the power of  satire — “Youssef and his staff display a kind of courage not required of U.S. political commentators as they face threats by the Morsi and el-Sisi governments, angry clerics, angrier mobs, and even their own television station. Tickling Giants is more than an entertaining film about an exceptionally funny man or a touching portrait of Egyptians as they struggle through the Arab Spring and its aftermath; the film is a poignant tribute to free speech and the subversive power of political satire.” Rolling Stone: How ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ went from public enemy to TV star — “As hard as it to believe, Youssef had no performing experience before he began making YouTube videos in 2011 at the age of 37. He was charismatic and quick with a joke, and his work as a cardiologist brought him to the U.S. on several occasions; during one of his visits, he found Jon Stewart on TV and fell in love with The Daily Show. Beyond vague fantasies of having his own show, though, he had no idea what was to come.” Huffington Post: An Interview with Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef — “It is not the same place anymore. So when people say, “do you miss Egypt?” I say, well the Egypt that I miss does not exist anymore. What I have done and what I achieved is not there anymore. The people that I relate most to are not there. Even the mood that I had there, it has ceased to exist. So it is a totally different place.” Read an Excerpt of “Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring” by Bassem Youssef\nArray From the book Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring by Bassem Youssef. Copyright ©2017 by Bassem Youssef. Reprinted by permission of Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.", "“Daily Show” alum Wyatt Cenac has a new show on HBO, called “Problem Areas.” What did he take from his “Daily Show” experience into this new program? “Research,” he says. As a comedian, if you’re getting up on stage and talking about your life, you’re doing first-person research with that so you have most of, if not all, the information. In trying to do something for TV that is topical, talking about social and political issues, research is huge. What was a huge help to us at The Daily Show, was the staff with had, whether it was the segment producers combing through footage or the head researcher who would find different articles and was a vault of information who could talk about things historically and in the present, it challenged the writers and correspondents to do that same amount of investing in stories because the more information you had, the more you could mine that information for potential comedy. On “Problem Areas,” Cenac does some reported pieces, but he told The New York Times, “I’m not going in to try to be right. I’m going in to try to understand. Sometimes, I might be right.” One of the first lines of the pilot episode is “I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to talk about Donald Trump and how we’re all f***ed, but you already know that. So I want to talk about something that’s been bugging me. Outer space.” The New Yorker frames Cenac’s show as “a comedian’s para-journalistic confrontation with current events” like John Oliver or Samantha Bee. Also, the first season is focused, and it will reportedly cover police confrontation throughout its 10 episodes. What does late-night comedy look like in this political moment? GUESTS Wyatt Cenac, Comedian; host/creator of “Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas,” which airs Friday nights on HBO. For more, visit https://the1a.org. © 2018 WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio.", "Politics, faith, Barbershop - that's essentially the rundown for Fridays. Karl Rove in the house! That would be the former deputy Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush ... the \"architect\" of the President's election victories in the President's own words. He's making his second visit to TMM. I know some of you dig him and I know some of you don't. But he had a very interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal yesterday about the Presidential race and we thought you should hear what he had to say. As for the conversion issue in Israel ... We have covered the question of conversion before from a personal perspective - this is a religiously fluid country after all - but in some countries the personal, the religious IS political. As Israel marks this important milestone - the 60th anniversary of its independence and founding as a sanctuary for the Jewish people - it is fascinating that there is still this ongoing struggle over who belongs and who does not. It is a very complicated question. We plan to have more about the Independence of Israel next week. It is a far more ethnically diverse country that is obvious to some and we will bring you some stories about that. PLUS ... the diva of divas ... the chief story teller of them all. The one, the only Barbara Walters. You have already heard the deep dish about her relationship with former Sen. Edward Brooke on shows like Oprah and an ABC news special. We'll only talk a tiny bit about that BECAUSE we have actually have bigger fish to fry ... such as how Barbara views diversity in the media and what she's tried to do about it. We hope you'll tune in. And to all the MOMS out there - Happy Mother's Day! And to all the people who help the Moms do what they do (in addition to the Dads, because you know, that's a whole different thing), the girlfriends, the gal pals, single and otherwise, who help keep the Moms UPRIGHT, who come over to keep you company, take you shopping, take a walk with the kids, give you a break ... the babysitters, the grandmas ... you know who you are (Athelia, Gwen, Wendy, Sandra, \"Sis,\" Sabrina, Enj, Miss Ros, Trevvie, Coreen, Jonna. Yes it takes a village). Love you!!!", "Slate.com's Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three new films: Oliver Stone's W. starring Josh Brolin, the adaptation of the novel The Secret Life of Bees starring Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning and the crime drama Max Payne starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Beau Bridges. There are surprises in store. MADELEINE BRAND, host: This is Day to Day from NPR News. I'm Madeleine Brand. ALEX CHADWICK, host: I'm Alex Chadwick. The new movies being released today include one about a violent video game. Another set during the civil rights era is about bee keeping. And there's another about President Bush. Here to tell us what the nation's critics think of these films, Mark Jordan Legan with Slate's Summary Judgment. MARK JORDAN LEGAN: Videogames turned into movies haven't fared very well at the box office. But maybe Mark Wahlberg can turn that around. He stars in the action thriller \"Max Payne.\" See, Max Payne is a maverick hero. No, he's not the governor of Alaska, but a vigilante cop seeking revenge for the murder of his partner and his family (Soundbite of movie \"Max Payne\") Mr. JAMIE HECTOR: (As Lincoln DeNeuf) The devil is building his army. Max Payne is looking for something that God wants to stay hidden. And that's what makes him more dangerous. LEGAN: It seems the critics want their own revenge against \"Max Payne.\" Entertainment Weekly snarls, \"a grindingly inert death-wish thriller.\" And the New York Daily News sized \"the story has more holes than a shot-up metal door and the acting feels bored at best.\" For a slight change of pace, there's \"The Secret Life of Bees.\" Now, for those of you clamoring for a sleazy tell-all on the sexual perversity of drones and their queens, you're plum out of luck. This period drama is based on the best-selling novel about a young white girl making friends with an African-American family in South Carolina during the early '60s. Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah star. (Soundbite of movie \"The Secret Life of Bees\") Ms. QUEEN LATIFAH: (As August Boatwright) The world's really just one big bee yard. The same rules work in both places. Don't be afraid. There's no life-loving bee wants to sting you. LEGAN: Overall, the critics applaud \"The Secret Life of Bees,\" even though Variety finds it \"cloyingly sweet and gooey.\" The Chicago Sun Times smiles, \"heartwarming and enchanting.\" And the Hollywood Reporter cheers, \"an affecting ensemble piece that's destined to generate a fair share of award season buzz.\" Speaking of buzz, filmmaker Oliver Stone seems to relish it. From \"Natural Born killers\" to \"Platoon\" to \"JFK,\" he always likes to tackle difficult issues, and his latest film \"W.\" is no different. Josh Brolin portrays our 43rd president in this biopic that covers Bush's early life all the way up to the critical days just before the Iraq war. Richard Dreyfuss and Ellen Burstyn lead an all-star cast. (Soundbite of movie \"W.\") Mr. RICHARD DREYFUSS: (As Dick Cheney) Fool me once, shame on you. Now fool me twice and - and - and - you can't get fooled again. LEGAN: Like many things in politics, the reviews are split on \"W.\" The Seattle Post-Intelligencer thinks, \"a much more even-handed and thoughtful take that anyone might have expected.\" Newsweek shouts, \"it's not boring and brawling as often remarkable.\" But some agree with the Washington Post, which yawns, \"a rushed, wildly-uneven, tonally-jumbled caricature.\" You know, it would be interesting to see how much business \"W.\" does what with the mood of the country a bit raw from the fragile economy and the upcoming presidential election. And controversy seems to follow Bush and Stone wherever they go. In fact, there's already a concern that on Monday there'll be bitter arguments over how many tickets have actually been sold in Florida. CHADWICK: Mark Jordan Legan is a writer living in Los Angeles.", "Journalist Jessica Grose is no stranger to criticism of her voice. When she was co-hosting the Slate podcast, the DoubleX Gabfest, she would receive emails complaining about her \"upspeak\" — a tendency to raise her voice at the end of sentences. Once an older man she was interviewing for an article in Businessweek told her that she sounded like his granddaughter. \"That was the first moment I felt [my voice] was hurting my career beyond just irritating a couple listeners,\" Grose tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. Grose sought help from a voice coach in an effort to make herself sound more professional, but Stanford linguistics professor Penny Eckert argues that women shouldn't have to change their voices to suit society. Eckert points out that the complaints about female upspeak and vocal fry (a tendency to draw out the end of words or sentences with a low, creaky voice) ignore the fact that men also engage in those habits. \"People are busy policing women's language and nobody is policing older or younger men's language,\" Eckert tells Gross. Grose and Eckert join speech pathologist Susan Sankin for a conversation about upspeak, vocal fry and how women's voices are changing — and whether that's a problem. Interview Highlights On some of the comments that came in about Jessica Grose's voice when she hosted the Slate Double X Gabfest Jessica Grose: There were some very impassioned commenters on our Facebook page and in my email who objected to my upspeak. I remember one in particular said I sounded like \"a valley girl and a faux socialite,\" and there were a couple of comments that echoed that, and the tenor of them was pretty nasty. And before that I had never really thought about my voice, one way or the other. No one had ever commented on it to me. ... I was hurt — that sounds a little silly, I'm a big girl, I write all the time on the Internet, and so I'm used to criticism, but there's something really personal about your voice, and especially if it's something you've never thought about as unpleasant. It's not fun to hear that people find it irritating. On linguist Penny Eckert's reaction to the criticism of young women's voices Penny Eckert: It makes me really angry. And it makes me angry, first of all, because the biggest users of vocal fry traditionally have been men, and it still is; men in the U.K, for instance. And it's considered kind of a sign of hyper-masculinity ... and by the same token, uptalk, it's clear that in some people's voices that has really become a style, but it has been around forever, and people use it stylistically in a variety of ways — both men and women. On whether or not vocal fry and upspeak are a \"problem\" Susan Sankin: For the people who come to see me, they're unhappy with their speech. They don't like the way they sound. They sound tentative to themselves. They sound unsure to themselves as well, and they feel that when they present themselves that it sounds as if they lack confidence, even though they're very capable, and they know that they have the capacity to sound better, more confident, more assured with some help. They just have developed a speech pattern that's a habit, and they don't know how to break out of it. When we present ourselves, the way we speak is our verbal image. Much as the way people in the professional world typically don't go to work in sweats and a t-shirt, they are more concerned about how they present themselves, a lot of the clients that come to see me are concerned about how they're presenting themselves verbally. Grose: Patterns change. Just to hop off the statement you made about wearing sweatpants; Mark Zuckerberg wears a hoodie to work every day. Because he is a young man, that's the dominant Silicon Valley way of dressing now. It wasn't 20 years ago or 30 years ago, but now that's what it is. And even young women in Silicon Valley — I've read personal essays about how they don't feel comfortable dressing up and looking cute for work because they feel like it won't get them taken seriously — they also have to wear hoodies and look like Mark Zuckerberg. So it sort of feels like even when the culture is changing it changes so that usually white men are still the defaults and how we should all be behaving. On how attitudes toward hearing vocal fry, upspeak and other youthful ways of talking are generational Eckert: I was shocked the first time I heard this style on NPR. I thought, \"Oh my god, how can this person be talking like this on the radio?\" Then I played it for my students, and I said, \"How does she sound?\" and they said, \"Good, authoritative.\" And that was when I knew that I had a problem. ... That I was not a part of the generation that understood what that style means. ... There's been a change and those of us who are bothered by some of these features are probably just getting old. On the idea of learning about your voice and working with it to sound the way you want to sound Sankin: I continue to feel that glottal fry used in that wa", "American political consultants soar around the world these days to counsel candidates, from Britain to Israel to Panama. But now a Mexican politician has an idea that might interest U.S. politicians and their consultants. Renato Tronco Gomez, an independent deputy in Veracruz, wants to find a body double. He's holding a contest this month to find someone who will study his speech, walk, and mannerisms so that he can play Mr. Gomez at ceremonies and events that the deputy cannot attend himself. \"I am not trying to fool anyone because my double will always identify himself as my double,\" Mr. Gomez told the AP. \"But if singers and comedians do it, why not?\" Mr. Gomez stressed that his body double would not cast his vote in parliament. That requires a fingerprint ID, \"and I'm not going to cut off my finger to give it to my double,\" he says, and adds, \"there is going to be an agreement that he can't sleep with my wife, nor live in my house, nor be father to my children.\" I wondered about that. It's tempting to dismiss Mr. Gomez' contest as a gimmick. But gimmicks can be as useful in politics as political action committees. A politician could court contributors while the body-double sits behind the politician's nameplate through the drone of committee meetings so dreary they wouldn't even be on C-SPAN. If the Lakeside Council of Neighbors meets one night at the same time as the Lakeview Citizens Committee, a politician and his double can make both meetings, and both sincerely declare, \"I wouldn't miss this!\" If the Museum of Lithuanian Culture on Pulaski Road has an event at the same time as the Polish Museum of America on Milwaukee Avenue, the politician wouldn't have to make a choice. Politicians like that. A politician can choose a double of a different race or gender and tell groups with whom he might not have much in common, \"I feel your pain.\" He can appear before an anti-gun control group while he sends a body-double to speak before an pro-gun control group, and then both earnestly and fervently deny whatever the other said. A politician can use his body-double the way a child blames an imaginary friend for breaking the living room lamp. But a body-double might also be more relaxed, interesting, slightly irreverent, and lots more entertaining than the politician he or she is doubling. The double might feel free to utter things a politician never can, like \"What was I thinking?\" or, \"I never thought of that.\" Who do you think you'd rather meet: the politician or the body-double? SCOTT SIMON, HOST: American political consultants soar around the world these days to counsel candidates from Britain to Israel to Panama. But now a Mexican politician has an idea that might interest U.S. politicians and their consultants. Renato Tronco Gomez, an independent deputy in Veracruz, wants to find a body double. He's holding a contest this month to find someone who will study his speech, walk and mannerisms so that he can play Mr. Gomez at ceremonies and events that the deputy cannot attend himself. I am not trying to fool anyone because my double will always identify himself as my double, Mr. Gomez told the AP. But if singers and comedians do it, why not? Mr. Gomez stressed that his body double would not cast his vote in parliament. That requires a fingerprint ID, and I'm not going to cut off my finger to give it to my double, he says, and adds there's going to be an agreement that he can't sleep with my wife nor live in my house nor be father to my children. Well, I wondered about that. It's tempting to dismiss Mr. Gomez's contest as a gimmick, but gimmicks can be as useful in politics as political action committees. A politician could court contributors while the body-double sits behind the politician's nameplate, through the drone of committee meetings so dreary they wouldn't even be on C-SPAN. If the Lakeside Council of Neighbors meets one night at the same time as the Lakeview Citizens Committee, a politician and his double can make both meetings, and both sincerely declare I wouldn't miss this. If the Museum of Lithuanian Culture on Pulaski Road has an event at the same time as the Polish Museum of America on Milwaukee Avenue, the politician wouldn't have to make a choice. Politicians like that. A politician can choose a double of a different race or gender and tell groups with whom he might not have much in common I feel your pain. And he can appear before an anti-gun control group while he sends a body-double to speak before a pro-gun control group, and then both earnestly and fervently can deny whatever the other said. A politician can use his body-double the way a child blames an imaginary friend for breaking the living room lamp. But a body-double might also be more relaxed, interesting, slightly irreverent and lots more entertaining than the politician that he or she is doubling. The double might feel free to utter things a politician never can, like what was I thinking or I never thought of that. Who do you", "This year began with a missing plane; 239 souls lost to this day somewhere off the coast of Australia. It would mark the beginning of a year with loss and conflict, disease and divide. It was the start of a year with many questions and few answers, from the self-proclaimed Islamic State in the Middle East to West Africa’s Ebola crisis and many stories at home in the U.S. Here and Now‘s Jeremy Hobson spoke with Maria Elena Salinas of Univision and Marcus Mabry of The New York Times for a look back on their top events of the year. Guest\n\nMaria Elena Salinas, anchor for Univision news and the show Aquí Y Ahora. She tweets @MariaESalinas.\nMarcus Mabry, editor-at-large for The New York Times. He tweets @MarcusMabryNYT." ]

[ "A man wearing a helmet is climbing Mt. Hood." ]

[ "Jessica is climbing up the hill.", "The woman in a white helmet is climbing trees.", "A child is climbing a mountain in a t-shirt.", "A man in a white helmet is skateboarding.", "The man and woman were climbing a mountain.", "A mountain climber in a helmet swings a tool to help him climb.", "A man in a red helmet stands near the mountain.", "people climb a mountain", "A man in a blue helmet is riding a mountain bike", "A woman is climbing the mountain", "The mountain biker is not wearing a helmet.", "There is a motorcyclist with a white helmet.", "Hikers climbing a mountain.", "A couple climbs a mountain.", "A man and woman are rock climbing on a mountain.", "The girls climbed the mountain.", "The people are climbing a mountain.", "A dog climbs a mountain.", "A woman mountain climbing", "The boy is climbing a mountain.", "The man in the white shirt is at church.", "Hikers are climbing a mountain", "A lady is climbing a mountain.", "adults are mountain climbing", "Mountain climbers climb the face of the mountain.", "man not in white t-shirt", "the children are climbing a mountain", "The workers are climbing a mountain.", "The white shirt man is talking.", "girls climb mountains.", "The man in the white shirt is working.", "A man with no shirt is wearing a gray motorcycle helmet." ]

[ "Unfortunately I cannot speak anything to the societal of political ramifications. But from a scientific standpoint, there was an understanding between the Soviet Program (ASUSSR I think?) and NASA to share scientific data from new frontiers as per an agreement for cultural/scientific exchange signed in 1958. From a scientific standpoint, this was regarded as a win for all and the Soviets were looking forward to receiving data from the US. Similarly, the Soviets pioneered the space exploration of Venus, and the United States benefited from their work on this front, as that knowledge was also shared." ]

[ "There's always room for discussion, but perhaps these previous topics which may answer your inquiry. * [How accurate is the popular US perception that Native Americans lost their land \"because they didn't understand the concept of ownership?\"](_URL_1_) * [Why do many Native-American cultures not have any concept of land ownership?](_URL_4_) * [How did Native Americans view land ownership?](_URL_3_) * [What legal ways (if any) were Europeans using to claim rights to new found lands? Did Native Americans or other groups have ideas about land ownership already?](_URL_2_) * [How did Native Americans (or other tribes for that matter) avoid 'Tragedy of the Commons' problems?](_URL_0_)", "Even going back to the Soviet days there has been a lot of cooperation between us the the Russians/Soviets in non-military scientific ventures. Scientists don't care about nationality, they care about peer-review and accurate data. Unless a shooting war broke out, and the governments directly halted cooperation between the two nations' scientific communities, the scientists of our nations will continue to cooperate on projects and research. They just don't care about the politics.", "A historian named Mary Dudziak wrote a good book on this subject: [Cold War Civil Rights](_URL_1_). In it, she shows how the Soviets exploited the African American freedom struggle as a key propaganda moment: i.e. \"look how the 'land of the free' denies freedom to their lower class.\" This was particularly important during the 50's, as the US and the Soviets competed for spheres of influence in decolonized Africa. Dudziak argues that Eisenhower was motivated to start supporting the Civil Rights movement (*Brown v Board*, sending troops to Little Rock) due to this propagandistic pressure created by the Soviets. [This website offers](_URL_0_) some nice instances of Soviet propaganda about American Civil Rights.", "No, the Soviet government did not support this idea. In all Soviet books, the flight to the moon was covered as a fact. The reason is that the Soviet Union censored various anti-scientific theories (with the exception of the humanities). After the union collapsed, censorship disappeared and people who had no experience to think critically began to believe in a huge amount of nonsense.", "Hi! you might be interested in some of these earlier posts * [Did the Soviet union ever take advantage of the racial tensions in cold war america? particularly with blacks in the south?](_URL_7_) * [How did (or did) the USSR use the US's Civil Rights movement and issues like Jim Crow as propaganda?](_URL_8_) * [How did the Soviet Union seem to feel about Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement?](_URL_7_) * [Did the Soviet Union have a \"bite-sized\" refutation of Capitalism?](_URL_8_) * [Did fear of Communism play a significant role in the granting of civil rights to American blacks?](_URL_8_) * [Is there any evidence of Soviet/Communist involvement in the black civil rights movement?](_URL_8_) * [We've all heard about how the CIA meddles in foreign countries' politics, but let's flip that around. How have foreign intelligence agencies influenced US politics?](_URL_7_)", "Something I've wondered is how did someone defect. Did you just walk into the Soviet embassy and say \"hi, I would like to defect\"? Considering how hard immigration is, I have wondered this. Did the Soviets accept American immigrants easily?", "Hi, not discouraging others from answering, but fyi, there are a few threads on the subject that can get you started * [Did the Catholic Church hold back scientific and technological progress in the Middle Ages?](_URL_2_) - /u/restricteddata discusses the general question of whether the church impeded scientific progress * [Why did the church disagree with scientist like Galileo in the renaissance?](_URL_3_) - /u/link00007 discusses the reception to Galileo's claims * [When did the clergy/church stop being the main source for scientific though or breakthroughs and start to deny or in some cases fight it?](_URL_1_) - /u/RingGiver talks more about issues the church had with Galileo * [ I recently learned that most people during the middle ages actually believed that the earth was round and not flat, as opposed to the belief that the heliocentric model is relatively new. So why was Galileo put in house arrest?](_URL_0_) - /u/The_Manchurian discusses Galileo's house arrest", "hi! assuming that your core question is about property, here are a few posts that can get you started: * [How accurate is the popular US perception that Native Americans lost their land \"because they didn't understand the concept of ownership?\"](_URL_3_) * [How did Native Americans (or other tribes for that matter) avoid 'Tragedy of the Commons' problems?](_URL_4_) * [Why do many Native-American cultures not have any concept of land ownership?](_URL_0_) * [How did Native Americans view land ownership?](_URL_1_) edit: this one may be of interest too * [What have been the legal arguments in the United States as to why Native Americans should not have their land back?](_URL_2_)", "I think the premise of the question is misleading. Other than being beaten to the Moon, the Soviet space program didn't really decline \"so rapidly\". The Soviets continued to send probes that landed on the surface of Mars and Venus. The USSR was the only country to operate semi-permanent space stations in near Earth orbit for decades, until the ISS was launched. Even today, they only way to send a person to the ISS is by using a Soviet/Russian designed Soyuz craft. There was SOME decline immediately following the collapse of the USSR which was decades after the moon landing. The reason for this decline was simple lack of funding. The Russian economy in the 1990s was very bad, and the space program was not a priority. If anything, you could probably make a case that the AMERICAN space program has declined since the moon landing.", "Follow up. If the American colonies were so upset by the raised taxes from the French and Indian war how did other British colonies view the war of independence?", "[Here](_URL_0_) is a nice piece from Scientific American in which a couple of scientists address this question.", "Not often. Certainly it's true that Soviets who did make it to the west were surprised by material abundance. Leon Aron's biography of Boris Yeltsin talks about how shattering it was for Yeltsin to see an ordinary Texas supermarket. Keep in mind that Yeltsin had been a member of the Soviet elite--a member of the Politburo--and didn't get that chance until 1989. That said, the nature of Soviet society is such that those who did make it to the west--diplomats, athletes, artists, scientists--would talk about it and their stories would be repeated to a much larger number of people.", "It was not backed by a whole lot of evidence. The number of unknowns (known and unknown) were _tremendous_. Remember that at the time, a grand total of _one_ American had been in space (Alan Shepard), and not even a full orbit. Kennedy pushed the moon shot for primarily political reasons — he wanted to show the Soviets up, and to do it in a way that gave enough time to possibly win. He continued to push for it to be the main space priority of the US government even against the wishes of James Webb, the head of NASA, who did not want so many resources spent on a single project of such limited scientific value. The statement that the US would make it to the Moon by the end of the decade, put forward in 1961, was a huge gamble. Not totally out of line with the scientific possibilities, of course — but the gap between technical possibility and technical realization can be an unpredictable one (ask anyone working on fusion research about that!).", "Well, sort of. Finland retook the [land lost](_URL_0_) during the Winter War in the wake of Operation Barbarosa, but then [ceeded it and more](_URL_1_) back to the Soviet Union after the Continuation War. I won't speculate on how the Finns feel about it though.", "hi! you may be interested in some previous related posts * [Prior to WWII, why were German scientists so good at what they did?](_URL_0_) * [What made post-unification Germany such a scientific and industrial juggernaut?](_URL_3_) * [How did Germany overtake Britain in industrial output by the early 20th century, despite the former's lead and straightforward advantages?](_URL_5_) * [Why did Nazi Germany produce such valuable rocket scientists compared to other nations? Is this a misconception?](_URL_2_) * [What led to the German scientific powerhouse of the 20th Century?](_URL_4_) * [Is there a reason for why so many renowned scientists/inventors were German, historically?](_URL_1_) * [Why was it that Germany produced so many scientific innovators around the turn of the 20th century?](_URL_6_)", "For any one of them, really: *How good is your memory? Or, how efficient would you say you are at storing scientific fact without constant review of the subject?* I often feel like I am having to constantly review everything and I've always wondered this about top scientists.", "Though I cannot talk about Ionian Philosophy, the idea that if things happened slightly differently, we would be much more technologically advance, is a biased anti-religious fallacy. Here is a post by u/restricteddata on how the medieval Catholic church did not hide scientific progress. _URL_1_", "> Did we send probes further and further till they failed as a means of measuring? No, we know how orbit work from measuring the trajectories of planets and other objects in space (as well as actual experimentations with man made crafts in low earth orbit). And we know, from tests on the ground how efficient our rockets are. Things like how much fuel was needed and what trajectory the spacecraft should follow were calculated beforehand. > How did we know the moon was even safe to land on Observation, from probes send to the moon, and (sometimes manned) missions around the moon. > Or know how to get off the moon once a vessel landed? Same way we got off of earth, rockets.", "Are you referring to the oppression of religious thought and anything contradictory to Soviet ideology masquerading as scientific progress like we saw with [Trofim Lysenko](_URL_0_) and Lamarkian genetics? If so, I'm happy to elaborate, but I'd hate to give you an answer that you're not looking for!", "A large part of anger is feeling that other people don't understand or care about your problems. Asking this question implies that either you didn't notice how upset this person is until just now, or that you care more about their reaction than the actual thing that they are upset about.", "Scientists disagree constantly about all sorts of things. They argue, produce their evidence, come to a conclusion and then move on to another argument. It's how science progresses.", "Please no more anecdotes about your dogs. Please stick to scientific information gleaned from studies. Thanks.", "The Soviets landed an unmanned probe on the moon 10 years before we landed a human. So, we knew that we wouldn't sink in or burn up.", "Scientists had a working theory of gravity well before humans travelled to the moon. Sir Isaac Newton pioneered the theory of gravity in the 1600s, and the equation used to model gravitational force, F*_g_* = GMm / r^2 , was known far before the moon landing. The fact that observations made by astronauts on the moon matched the predictions made by scientists using this theory strengthened the theory's credibility.", "By no means am I discouraging anyone from answering your question (which made me chuckle:) ), but I think you'd enjoy reading [this answer](_URL_0_) by /u/pipkin42", "It's really expensive, and not incredibly valuable scientifically to send humans to the moon. You are far better off spending those dollars on probes sent to other planets and moons in the solar system. The only justification for sending humans to the moon is to 1.) Prove you can do it, and 2.) One up the Soviet Union.", "/u/crrpit has a good response, but I'd point you to [this old thread too](_URL_0_), which has a good discussion from several users, including /u/commiespaceinvader and myself.", "A moon mission was never a Soviet to do mission. That was a US catch up mission after the Russian were first to send Sputnik in space in 1957.", "Yes, it does, but not by very much. The gravity you feel due to the Moon is approximately 3 * 10^-5 m/s^2 , compared to about 9.8 m/s^2 due to the Earth, or about 0.0003% of the strength.", "This thread may answer your question: & #x200B; [_URL_0_](_URL_1_)", "After Apollo, interest in manned lunar landings greatly diminished. Interest and money turned toward the shuttle program and space stations. Right now, no one has the capability to land on the moon as both the shuttle and Soyuz were not designed to leave Earth's orbit at all. NASA does plan to return to the moon with its Orion project as practice to land on Mars, but this is still several years away. Edit: As I was reminded, Soyuz was originally planned to be used in a Soviety lunar landing. However, the Soviet lunar rockets failed and they eventually scrapped their plans to land on the moon. A manned Soyuz has never left Earth's orbit.", "What sort of unity did the Irish and African Americans share? I was under the impression that Irish immigrants had a vested interest in limiting the rights of African Americans, out of fear of economic competition." ]

[ "A French army vehicle in front of a large convoy observes pro government demonstrators while civilians look on in the outskirts of the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Monday Nov. 8, 2004." ]

[ "Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with NASA's Deep Impact comet spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission." ]

[ "The location and flight path attributes of one or more sports object tracking grasp associated with those sports object personal player, associating a location and flight path of the respective sports objects around the playing field, method and apparatus for each player to be able to access the location and flight path attributes of their sports objects. The present invention, without adversely affecting the ability of the sport object that function in a standard manner, the electronic device that receives and transmits the position and location information obtained from the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system sports objects install. .FIELD 1" ]

[ "Due to poor robustness, instability, and the heavy burden of use, the traditional myoelectric control method is still powerless in the face of the control of the dexterous prosthetic hand. To solve this problem, a new method (CVEEI), that combines computer vision, eye tracking, electromyogram (EMG) and IMU was proposed in this paper. Firstly, through gazing (eye-tracking) in front of the screen, the grasping pattern of the objects can be fed back to the prosthetic hand controller; Then, the prosthetic hand can be controlled to transport the object to the position expected, on collaboration of both EMG and IMU. In this process, the grasping pattern of all objects can be recognized by computer vision in real-time. Importantly, through comparing the traditional EMG control method (co-contraction to switch) in the transport experiment of the objects, the superiority of this new method in operating the dexterous prosthetic hand was further verified (fast > 1s/single object) in this paper.", "Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology provides a wireless means to detect and identify objects. By using RFID reader as detecting sensor, an RFID-assisted object tracking system is developed to track the object movement for a flexible manufacturing assembly line. Both range-based and range-free cooperative object tracking algorithms are analyzed for the system. And to achieve tradeoff between the reader plate’s density and cost, only simple readers with omnidirectional aerial are considered in this article. To further enhance the assembly line efficiency, a particle filter model is developed to further process the object tracking results to improve the tracking accuracy. The proposed tracking system can also forecast the movement state of objects in the assembly lines.", "Humans excel at grasping objects and manipulating them. Capturing human grasps is important for understanding grasping behavior and reconstructing it realistically in Virtual Reality (VR). However, grasp capture - capturing the pose of a hand grasping an object, and orienting it w.r.t. the object - is difficult because of the complexity and diversity of the human hand, and occlusion. Reflective markers and magnetic trackers traditionally used to mitigate this difficulty introduce undesirable artifacts in images and can interfere with natural grasping behavior. We present preliminary work on a completely marker-less algorithm for grasp capture from a video depicting a grasp. We show how recent advances in 2D hand pose estimation can be used with well-established optimization techniques. Uniquely, our algorithm can also capture hand-object contact in detail and integrate it in the grasp capture process. This is work in progress, find more details at https://contactdb. this http URL.", "In the paper methods and devices for measurement and evaluation of grasping in the rehabilitation environment are proposed. Investigation of grasping was divided into three phases: reaching to grasp an object, exerting force on the object, and changing the orientation of the grasped object. The original methods are computer based and provide quantitative evaluation of grasping. Reference pattern of grasping was obtained by measurement performed in healthy persons. Assessment of grasping force and training of grasping was performed in groups of patients with muscular distrophy and hemiplegia.", "Mobile device for collecting and validating collected objects each provided with a transponder and comprising means (58) for movement along a track (62) along a predetermined path, means (92) for receiving one by one the objects collected during this movement, radio-frequency interrogation means (92, 94) for obtaining identification information on each of the objects collected by the device and comparison means (96) for comparing the identification information obtained with relative references to a command from fixed objects and thus validate the collected objects as and when they are collected along the raceway.", "Recent advances in wireless sensors and position technology provide us with unprecedent amount of moving object data. The volume of geospatial data gathered from moving objects defies human ability to analyze the stream of input data. Therefore, new methods for mining and digesting of moving object data are urgently needed. One of the popular services available for moving objects is the prediction of the unknown location of an object. In this paper we present a new method for predicting the location of a moving object. Our method uses the past trajectory of the object and combines it with movement rules discovered in the moving objects database. Our original contribution includes the formulation of the location prediction model, the design of an efficient algorithm for mining movement rules, the proposition of four strategies for movement rule matching with respect to a given object trajectory, and the experimental evaluation of the proposed model.", "The present invention provides a method for object detection system and object tracking in a video stream. The frames of the video stream is the region of interest and the region of interest is calculated for each region comprising at least part of the probability of the object to be tracked. Then based on the calculated probability will focus on an object in each frame classification. Then, build the region of interest (RI) for each frame of video frame, the region of interest of the classification region (RI) report frame in a video frame of interest. Then compare two or more RI frames to determine motion of the object. The present invention also provides a system performing the method and apparatus of the present invention comprises a system. For example, the device may be a portable computer, a mobile phone or entertainment device.", "If a device can control human hands, the device can be useful for HCI and tangible application's output. To aid the controlling of finger movement, we present PossessedHand, a device with a forearm belt that can inform when and which fingers should be moved. PossessedHand controls the user's fingers by applying electrical stimulus to the muscles around the forearm. Each muscle is stimulated via 28 electrode pads. Muscles at different depths in the forearm can be selected for simulation by varying the stimulation level. PossessedHand can automatically calibrate the system for individuals. The automatic calibration system estimates relations between each electrode pad, stimulation level and muscle movement. Experiments show that PossessedHand can control the motion of 16 joints in the hand. Further, we also discuss an application based on this device to aid in playing a musical instrument.", "Efficient surveillance systems crave to track multiple objects throughout the scene with unique tracking IDs. Tracking multiple objects robustly requires invariant attributes matching. If objects have to be tracked across viewpoints, then a technique is required to reassign those IDs. Such an approach is proposed which combines extended Kalman filter with past information for isolated object tracking. And whenever objects partially or fully overlapped, features like color, size and object class are used to distinguish between them. To track objects across viewpoints, color matching and expected position is find out. The proposed method is also robust to background modeling technique. The system was tested in real world application and successful results were obtained.", "The present invention relates to a method and system for determining location and position for the effective use thereof in a location-based service by precisely determining information on the location and position of a user terminal, such as a smartphone, to provide the determined location and position to the user terminal using a georeferenced reference image DB preconstructed on a server on a network or on the user terminal, and images captured by a camera of the user terminal.", "To accomplish real-time tracking of moving objects requirements, and overcome the defect of occlusion in the process of tracking moving object, this paper presents a set of real-time tracking system. The tracking system uses a combination of camshift and kalman filter algorithm. When the moving object is a large area blocked, the velocity of moving object is applied linear prediction to kalman filter tracking. When the camera moves, we can quickly find the target in this tracking system. The experimental results show that : this system designed for tracking moving targets has good robustness.", "Program products, methods, and systems for providing location-aware fitness monitoring services are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying a route traversed by an athlete equipped with a location-aware portable fitness monitoring device includes the steps of (a) receiving data describing a plurality of satellite navigational system waypoints that are acquiredas the athlete engages in a fitness activity, (b) identifying a map area based on a location indicated by the data describing the plurality of satellite navigational system waypoints, (c) determiningthe route traversed by the athlete based on the data describing the plurality of satellite navigational system waypoints and based on the location of one or more known paths associated with the map area, and (d) displaying the route traversed by the athlete on top of the map area.", "Objective: to explore the correlation between metacognition ability and athletic ability of track man.Methods:by using questionnaire survey method,all date of metacognition ability grade is obtained.SPSS l 3.0 for windows is employed in this paper to statistical analysis.Results:(1) for masters of sports and the second grade sportsmen,the first grade sportsmen and the second grade sportsmen,masters of sports and the second grade sportsmen,the significant differences do exist(P0.05);even there are remarkable significant differences between masters of sports and the second grade sportsmen(P0.01);(2)metacognition ability are positively correlated to athletic ability of track man.Conclusions:metacognition ability does improve athletic ability of track man.", "Judging the legitimacy of table tennis services presents many challenges where technology can be judiciously applied to enhance decision-making. This paper presents a purpose-built system to automatically detect and track the ball during table-tennis services to enable precise judgment over their legitimacy in real-time. The system comprises a suite of algorithms which adaptively exploit spatial and temporal information from real match video sequences, which are generally characterised by high object motion, allied with object blurring and occlusion. Experimental results on a diverse set of table-tennis test sequences corroborate the system performance in facilitating consistently accurate and efficient decision-making over the validity of a service.", "Aerial manipulation, grasping, and perching in small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require specific control systems to compensate for changing inertial properties. Grasped objects, external forces from terrain objects, or manipulator movements themselves may destabilize or otherwise alter the flight characteristics of small UAVs during operation resulting in undesirable outcomes. Traditional control methods that assume static mass and inertial properties must be modified to produce stable control of a quadrotor system. This paper presents work towards a control scheme to achieve dynamic stability of an aerial vehicle while under the influence of manipulators and grasped objects. A quadrotor with attached multi-degree of freedom manipulators is implemented in simulation and constructed for testing. Compensation of the inertial changes due to in-flight manipulator movements is investigated. A control scheme is developed and results are presented.", "Of conventional CCTV system monitoring system in a number of constraints on the communication between the location and limit of the distance, a plurality of cameras, it has been mainly used is limited to only monitoring monitor. The present invention proposes a surveillance system that combines the person tracking CCTV surveillance system and method of the person-tracking technology. The proposed system is connected to a fixed number of non-overlapping cameras to the server in the network and tracking people through the camera in a wide area by passing the tracking information from each camera connected to the camera server and other clients. Who may have the state of step 6, while the track appearance, movement and stacking, the atmosphere, the re-emergence, exit state. The proposed system has been tested for a variety of indoor video obtain an average tracking rate and the average conditions as rate of 96% of 91.2%. Monitoring systems, cameras, networks, servers, people, track", "This paper presents a surface electromyographic (sEMG)-based, optimal control strategy for a prosthetic hand. System Identification (SI) is used to obtain the dynamic relation between the sEMG and the corresponding skeletal muscle force. The input sEMG signal is preprocessed using a Half-Gaussian filter and fed to a fusion-based Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) skeletal muscle force model. This MISO system model provides the estimated finger forces to be produced as input to the prosthetic hand. Optimal tracking method has been applied to track the estimated force profile of the Fusion based sEMG-force model. The simulation results show good agreement between reference force profile and the actual force.", "PURPOSE: To obtain an operating signal for progress of a more complicated game by individually detecting the movement at least in the biaxial direction. CONSTITUTION: This apparatus has a main body part 210 which is a pair of right and left controllers 21, 22 for generating an operating signal for indicating the progress of the game and made according to gloves put on the hand. The main body part 210 contains an acceleration sensor 2124 for individually detecting the movement in the directions of three axes x, y, z (forward and backward, laterally and vertically). The respective detection signals are taken as an operating signal for progress of the game.", "In this paper, we propose a vision based palm tracking method with three inherently connected components: i) an offline palm detector that locates all possible palm-like objects; ii) a SURF-based tracking module that identifies the tracked palm’s location using historical information; iii) an adaptive skin color model and a patch similarity calculation module. The outputs from the last component can effectively eliminate false detections and decide which palm is under tracking and also provide updated information to the first two modules. In summary, our work makes the following contributions: i) an effective offline palm detector; ii) a benchmark dataset for training and testing palm detectors; iii) an effective solution to tackling the challenges of palm tracking in adverse environments including occlusions, changing illumination and lack of context. Experiment results show that our method compare favorably with other popular tracking techniques such as Camshift and TLD in terms of precision and recall.", "The paper presents iTrace, an Eclipse plugin that implicitly records developers' eye movements while they work on change tasks. iTrace is the first eye tracking environment that makes it possible for researchers to conduct eye tracking studies on large software systems. An overview of the design and architecture is presented along with features and usage scenarios. iTrace is designed to support a variety of eye trackers. The design is flexible enough to record eye movements on various types of software artifacts (Java code, text/html/xml documents, diagrams), as well as IDE user interface elements. The plugin has been successfully used for software traceability tasks and program comprehension tasks. iTrace is also applicable to other tasks such as code summarization and code recommendations based on developer eye movements. A short video demonstration is available at https://youtu.be/3OUnLCX4dXo.", "This project aims to develop an interactive mouse system that is able to detect the user's ::: eye gaze and track its movement so as to utilize this tracking for the cursor movement on the ::: screen. The objective of the project was implemented using Haar cascade classifier for detecting ::: the user's face and eye. Also Image processing techniques provided by OpenCV library were ::: implemented as needed to achieve what is required. The main functionality of the system to detect ::: and track the user's eye gaze was achieved successfully and the result of this part is documented ::: in this thesis. Some limitations in scaling the movement into the screen dimensions were faced and ::: need to be eliminated.", "This paper presents real-time interaction between 7-DOF KUKA robotic arm and any untrained human operator using Kinect V2. Kinect sensor is utilized to detect human body joints and mono color object to be grasped, using HSL-XYZ algorithm. By moving hand holding simple object such as a ball, operator can make KUKA robot follow the expected trajectory and fulfill pass-and-place tasks. One hand of operator is followed by KUKA, while the pose of the other arm commands the gripper to move, grasp, release and place. Experiments proved our advantages that Human-Robot Interaction is more robust, easier and more intuitive for human, with lower requirements for sensor; and is a novel solution for industries and life. Client — server application using UDP protocol is performed to transmit and receive real-time control and feedback data.", "We have recently shown that actions with similar kinematic requirements, but different end-state goals may be supported by distinct neural networks. Specifically, we demonstrated that when right-handed individuals reach-to-grasp food items with intent to eat, they produce smaller maximum grip apertures (MGAs) than when they grasp the same item with intent to place it in a location near the mouth. This effect was restricted to right-handed movements; left-handed movements showed no difference between tasks. The current study investigates whether (and to which side) the effect may be lateralized in left-handed individuals. Twenty-one self-identified left-handed participants grasped food items of three different sizes while grasp kinematics were captured via an Optotrak Certus motion capture array. A main effect of task was identified wherein the grasp-to-eat action generated significantly smaller MGAs than did the grasp-to-place action. Further analysis revealed that similar to the findings in right-handed ...", "A device for locating an object, and a method for locating an object using the device. The device comprises at least one transmission coil (100) for transmitting a measurement signal and at least one receiving coil system (200) for receiving the measurement signal, which are inductively coupled to each other, and the receiving coil system (200) is provided with at least two output stages (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66), the output stages (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66) being connected or disconnected by means of a switch device (11i¯, 22i¯, 33i¯, 44i¯, 55i¯, 66i¯). The method for locating an object using the device can increase the sensitivity of detection for a target object, and does not form a measurement blind zone, which significantly improves the measurement accuracy.", "Described herein is an object located system for locating an object (10) which produces identifying signals. The system comprises a plurality of receivers sites (22, 24, 26, 28) arranged in an array (20) for receiving signals from the object (10) and for receiving a common time reference in the form signals received from a global navigation system (50). The array (20) comprises a reference receiver site (22) and three auxiliary receiver sites (24, 26, 28), the auxiliary sites being connected to the reference site by data links (34, 36, 38). Each receiver site (22, 24, 26, 28) receives signals (42, 44, 46, 48) from the object (10) and timing control signals (52, 54, 56, 58) from a global navigation system (50). Each site determines a time difference between the receipt of the object signals and the timing signals, the auxiliary sites (24, 26, 28) providing data signals on data links (34, 36, 38) to the reference site (22) where the location of the object (10) is determined.", "In this paper we introduce a novel platform that utilises multi-modal low-cost motion capture technology for the delivery of real-time visual feedback for sports performance. This platform supports the expansion to multi-modal interfaces that utilise haptic and audio feedback, which scales effectively with motor task complexity. We demonstrate an implementation of our platform within the field of sports performance. The platform includes low-cost motion capture through a fusion technique, combining a Microsoft Kinect V2 with two wrist inertial sensors, which make use of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, alongside a game-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) for instruction, visual feedback and gamified score tracking.", "In this paper a robust and real-time method for hand detection and tracking is proposed. The method is based on AdaBoost learning algorithm and local binary pattern (LBP) features. The hand is detected by the cascade of classifiers with LBP features. A detailed study was developed to select the parameters for the hand detection classifiers. When tracking the hand, a region of interest (ROI) is defined based on the hand region detected in the last frame, and in order to improve robustness on rotation affine transformation is applied to the ROI. The experimental result demonstrates that this method can successfully detect the hand and track it in real-time.", "Tracking methods have the potential to retrieve the spatial location of project related entities such as personnel and equipment at construction sites, which can facilitate several construction management tasks. Existing tracking methods are mainly based on Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and thus require manual deployment of tags. On construction sites with numerous entities, tags installation, maintenance and decommissioning become an issue since it increases the cost and time needed to implement these tracking methods. To address these limitations, this paper proposes an alternate 3D tracking method based on vision. It operates by tracking the designated object in 2D video frames and correlating the tracking results from multiple pre-calibrated views using epipolar geometry. The methodology presented in this paper has been implemented and tested on videos taken in controlled experimental conditions. Results are compared with the actual 3D positions to validate its performance.", "Hand tracking has been focused over years in the field of human-computer interaction. But there are still some challenges such as reliability and accuracy due to the highly articulated and deformable of hand. In this paper we propose a real time hand tracking method with the depth information of the Kinect sensor. In this method, we preprocessed the depth information with a pixel filter to deal with the noise. Then we isolated the hand region from the depth image by using the KCF (Kernelized Correlation Filters) to the confined minimum depth area, which can release the limitation of hand movement range. Then the forearm region is segmented with assistance of PCA (Principle Component Analysis). And, to accurately locate the fingertip position, we integrate the maximum geodesic distance to hand centroid into EIC (Extended Inscribed Circle). And by labelling each finger to avoid mistaken fingertip determination. Experimental results verify the accuracy and reliability of our solution.", "In this paper, we present a robust system for visual tracking of hands as a user interface alternative. Our markerless tracker is meant as a replacement for expensive VR tracking equipment using cheap off-the-shelf components. We perform a Bayesian simulation with arbitrary degree-of-freedom models of the human hand using a modified particle filter. To counter the jitter from the stochastic simulation we run a linear predictive filter on the estimates. Basic gesture recognition is possible through the simultaneous use of multiple model configurations. Test results show that our system is robust to missing data and that it can initialise and reinitialise automatically. Real-time operation is possible without significant optimisation efforts.", "There has been a growing interest in legacies of the Olympic Games focusing on external tangible outcomes, such as the number of sport competitions, participants and jobs created. Little is still known about the equally valuable internal benefits to individuals and organisational capacities of national sport systems. While the former tends to explore the contribution of the Games to host cities and countries, the latter is concerned with the role of Olympism in developing sport globally. Using a resource mobilisation approach to social movements, this study examines the powers of the Olympic Movement (OM) to generate resources needed for the advancement of its mission. This ability of the Movement is critical if it is to sustain its relevance to the modern world and to deliver on its stated objectives for social change, as well as to leave any lasting legacies from the Olympic Games. Keywords : Olympic Movement; Olympic Games legacy;Resources;Social change.", "Abstract Introduction: Objective performance feedback has potential to maximize the training benefit of laparoscopic simulators. Instrument movement metrics are, however, currently the preserve of complex and expensive systems. We aimed to develop and validate affordable, user-ready software that provides objective feedback by tracking instrument movement in a “take-home” laparoscopic simulator. Materials and Methods: Computer-vision processing tracks the movement of colored bands placed around the distal instrument shafts. The position of each instrument is logged from the simulator camera feed and movement metrics calculated in real time. Ten novices (junior doctors) and 13 general surgery trainees (StR) (training years 3–7) performed a standardized task (threading string through hoops) on the eoSim (eoSurgical™ Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom) take-home laparoscopic simulator. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t tests with Welch's correction. Results: The software was able to ..." ]

[ "The gamma radiation region have the highest frequency. b. The radio wave region has the longest wavelength." ]

[ "The electromagnetic spectrum ranges from gamma (γ) radiation, which has the shortest wavelength, highest frequency, and greatest energy, to radio waves, which has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency and energy.", "Wavelength, frequency, and energy change continuously across the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves are the broad range of electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies. ... Ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths than visible light and has enough energy to kill bacteria.", "Radio Waves -- The waves in the electromagnetic spectrum that have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequency are called radio waves.", "The electromagnetic spectrum includes, from longest wavelength to shortest: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma-rays. To tour the electromagnetic spectrum, follow the links below!", "Radio waves have the longest wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the lowest energy (or frequency). Radio waves pick up where microwaves leave off.", "The Electromagnetic Spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum ranges from the shorter wavelengths (including gamma and x-rays) to the longer wavelengths (including microwaves and broadcast radio waves). There are several regions of the electromagnetic spectrum which are useful for remote sensing.", "['The microwave region of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is generally considered to overlap with the highest frequency (shortest wavelength ) radio waves.', 'The prefix “micro-” in “microwave” is not meant to suggest a wavelength in the micrometer range.']", "The entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the lowest to the highest frequency (longest to shortest wavelength), includes all radio waves (e.g., commercial radio and television, microwaves, radar), infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.", "Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. They can be as large as a football field to larger then our planet! They have the lowest frequency of all the electromagnetic waves. Radio waves can be used for televisions, radio stations, and cell phone signals.", "The lowest frequencies (longest wavelengths) constitute the radio spectrum. Parts of the radio spectrum are used for radar and passive detection. Above the radio-frequency spectrum lies the infrared spectrum, followed by the visible range, which is quite narrow.", "Each section of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum has characteristic energy levels, wavelengths, and frequencies associated with its photons. Gamma rays have the highest energies, the shortest wavelengths, and the highest frequencies.", "The electromagnetic spectrum is comprised of all frequencies of electromagnetic radiation that propagate energy and travel through space in the form of waves. Longer wavelengths with lower frequencies make up the radio spectrum. Shorter wavelengths with higher frequencies make up the optical spectrum.", "Examples of electromagnetic waves include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays. Radio waves have the lowest energy and frequency and the longest wavelength. Gamma rays are at the opposite end of the spectrum, with the highest energy and frequency and shortest wavelength.", "Infrared is the region in the electromagnetic spectrum to which the maximum intensity of the earth's outgoing radiation.", "This means that it is correct to talk about the energy of an X-ray or the wavelength of a microwave or the frequency of a radio wave. The electromagnetic spectrum includes, from longest wavelength to shortest: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma-rays.", "FTIR Analysis measures the infrared region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which has a longer wavelength and a lower frequency than visible light, and is measurable in a sample when submitted to infrared radiation (IR).", "This range is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The EM spectrum is generally divided into seven regions, in order of decreasing wavelength and increasing energy and frequency. The common designations are: radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), X-rays and gamma rays.", "The full range of electromagnetic radiation is called the electromagnetic spectrum. From longest to shortest wavelengths, it includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X rays, and gamma rays.", "Since, light is an electromagnetic wave, which carried energy by vibrating electrons in atoms. In what region of the electromagnetic spectrum is the resonant frequency of electrons in glass? The resonant frequency of electron is in the light frequency range.", "Electromagnetic Spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is the general name given to the known range of electromagnetic radiation. Wavelengths increase from approximately 10-18 m to 100 km, and this corresponds to frequencies decreasing from 3 × 1026 Hz to 3 ×103 Hz.", "a. The gamma radiation region have the highest frequency.", "Radio waves are found at the longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. These are the lightwaves that are used to send signals to your AM/FM Radio or your television (unless you have cable).", "Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths ranging from approximately 1mm to several hundred meters. Radio waves are used to transmit a variety of data.", "Electricity is NOT a part of electromagnetic spectrum. An electromagnetic spectrum contains electromagnetic radiations arranged according to frequencies and wavelength.", "Answer Expert Verified. Electricity is NOT a part of electromagnetic spectrum. An electromagnetic spectrum contains electromagnetic radiations arranged according to frequencies and wavelength.", "IR is a type of electromagnetic radiation, a continuum of frequencies produced when atoms absorb and then release energy. ... Similar to the visible light spectrum, which ranges from violet (the shortest visible-light wavelength) to red (longest wavelength), infrared radiation has its own range of wavelengths.", "The Electromagnetic spectrum lists the most powerful EMR, gamma rays, to the least powerful EMR, radio waves. In addition, the highest energy waves (gamma, x-ray) have the shortest wavelengths. The lowest energy waves, radio waves, have longest wavelengths.", "Radio waves, on the other hand, have the lowest energies, longest wavelengths, and lowest frequencies of any type of EM radiation. In order from highest to lowest energy, the sections of the EM spectrum are named: gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, and radio waves.", "Visible light makes up a large proportion of the electromagnetic spectrum and has a wide range of frequencies. Visible light is detected by the eye and makes up a limited range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light is a longitudinal wave that travels at the speed of light.", "The electromagnetic radiation that has the shortest wavelength is gamma ray and radio waves have the longest wavelength.", "Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths (< 0.01 nanometers ) and the most energy of any region of the electromagnetic spectrum.", "Which best describes electromagnetic waves moving from gamma rays to radio waves along the electromagnetic spectrum? Wavelength and frequency decrease. Wavelength and frequency increase. ... The wavelength of violet light, rounded to the nearest nanometer, is nm." ]

[ "Scoffing at reports alleging the adoption of SOA is slowing, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said this week that moving to SOA is a slow process but one that presents an opportunity for Oracle.Speaking on Oracle's earnings conference call Wednesday, Ellison said he had read news articles about the slowing adoption of SOA. But he stressed that SOA requires a change in architecture, which takes time to implement.\"While I've read [these articles], people have to understand when you have a fundamentally new computer software architecture, SOA, it takes a long time for adoption,\" Ellison said. Moving to SOA is not as easy as flipping a switch, he said.\"It takes about 10 to 20 years before [you can] rewrite all of your applications,\" he said. But Oracle sees this process accelerating in its middleware business.\"We think it's a long-term growth story, it's a very rapid growth story,\" said Ellison. \"It takes a long time for our customers to have a majority of their applications modernized and we think this is a growth story for a decade for us,\" he said.For the quarter ending November 30, Oracle reported revenues of $5.3 billion, a 28 percent increase over the $4.16 billion reported for the same quarter last year. Net income was $1.3 billion, a 35 percent increase over the $967 million reported for the same time period in 2006." ]

[ "Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who's know for his fast-moving, ad-lib quips and occasional outlandish statements, faced the painful task of putting it in slow-mode Tuesday, in announcing the mega-merger BEA Systems acquisition.", "Try lower, says Oracle CEO Larry Ellison on the witness stand in Delaware's Court of Chancery.", "Oracle Corp. plans in a few years to combine Oracle and PeopleSoft business software products in a challenge to market leader SAP AG , Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison said on Tuesday.", "Application migration specialist ArtinSoft is planning tools to smooth customers&#39; transition from Oracle to Microsoft Corp&#39;s SQL Server.", "Oracle's recently completed consolidation to a single, global system for enterprise data took five years, Oracle Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison told OpenWorld attendees Wednesday during his keynote address at Oracle's user conference being held in San Francisco.", "SAN FRANCISCO -- Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is convinced that had the intelligence community used a unified database from Oracle, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 would never have happened.", "Lawrence Ellison, Oracle's chief executive, said the company could lower the $21-a-share bid Oracle is offering for rival PeopleSoft.", "Editor&#39;s note: The following excerpts are from Oracle CEO Larry Ellison&#39;s press conference Monday announcing an agreement to acquire PeopleSoft.", "LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) - Oracle&#39;s chief executive Larry Ellison on Friday said the company may be inclined to lower its $7.7 billion hostile offer for PeopleSoft, according to published reports.", "[San Francisco | ITWeb, 9 December 2004] - Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has reaffirmed his company&#39;s commitment to datahubs and hinted of a merged product line after the PeopleSoft buyout.", "Oracle announced the first major upgrade of its business applications in six years, and company officials vowed that migrating won't be as difficult as it was the last time around.", "ORACLE chief executive Larry Ellison has testified that the business software maker was leaning toward lowering its $US7.7 billion ($10.", "Oracle Corp. Chief Larry Ellison has long preached the virtues of consolidation in the software sector and some analysts say a key federal court decision could help to push his vision closer to reality.", "The Apprentice returns, but Oracle's Ellison is the one telling 5,000, \"You're fired!\"", "Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison said his company would finish developing the next version of PeopleSoft software and begin working on a successor product to", "Oracle Corp. chief executive Lawrence Ellison said discussions within the company at this point are leaning toward lowering the &#36;21-a-share bid Oracle is offering for rival PeopleSoft Inc.", "Talk about a great day for Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison.", "(InfoWorld) - Oracle is announcing Wednesday an enhanced version of its business process analysis software that enhances collaboration between process modelers and implementers. Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite 10.1.3.3 features \"closed loop support\" for business analyst and IT collaboration, sharing a common process model format with the Oracle SOA Suite, Oracle said. The new business process analysis suite features round-trip engineering, said Amlan Debnath, vice president of server technologies at Oracle. \"What it lets you do is share the [business process] model with IT,\" Debnath said. A developer, for example could make a change to a business process that would be shared with the business persons. Modeling of processes is done in the business process analysis package and then executed in the SOA Suite, which features an SOA execution engine that leverages BPEL (Business Process Execution Language). Business users can build and change business models in the business process suite while IT persons can view and modify these processes in the SOA package. Integration between Oracle Business Process Analysis Suite and Oracle SOA Suite includes linking of business process analysis, execution, and monitoring tools. Oracle's business process suite is the company's version of the IDS Scheer Aria product, said analyst Bruce Silver, principal at BPMS Watch. Oracle addresses the round-tripping problem in which business persons model a process and hand it off to IT, which then implements its own idea of what it believes the process should be, Silver said. Oracle has created an intermediate format based on shared metadata between the modeling tool and the implementation tool, which is the SOA suite, Silver said. \"You solve this round-tripping problem now because the model is not just initial requirements for the implementation, but it's a continuous business view of the business process throughout the business process [implementation] lifecycle,\" said Silver. Oracle Business Process Suite is a component of the Oracle Fusion Middleware Platform. The suite starts in price at $5,000 for five users.", "Oracle is now seeing the MySQL database user base as an opportunity, unlike two years ago, when Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said users of the open source product are not the people who would buy Oracle because they did not have any money. Â", "Oracle Corp. went a step closer late Friday night to realising Chief Executive Larry Ellison&#39;s dream of acquiring PeopleSoft Inc.", "It&#39;s been a good year for Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) CEO Larry Ellison. In all, Oracle posted breathtaking earnings gains, beat a Justice Department lawsuit, forced the firing of a key rival, and", "Clarifying its application strategy, Oracle said it plans to release a new application suite that will serve as a migration point for customers on all three of its application platforms.", "Oracle at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco the week of Dec. 5 plans to unveil Oracle Integration, a product that combines the company’s application server with several other technologies for integration and enablement of SOAs (service-oriented architectures).", "Oracle has agreed to buy BEA Systems for about $8.5 billion, the companies announced Wednesday.The deal comes just three months after&#160;the middleware vendor turned down an earlier offer of $6.7 billion.Oracle hopes that acquiring middleware vendor BEA will&#160;allow it to improve its own middleware suite, Fusion.That middleware is key to helping customers migrate their systems to a services-oriented architecture (SOA), CEO Larry Ellison said in a conference call last month to discuss the company&#39;s earnings.With Fusion already able to link to BEA&#39;s WebLogic Java application server, the deal is likely to speed Oracle&#39;s adoption of Java-based middleware, the company said.Oracle&#39;s customers have been telling it for years to buy BEA, it said.However the members of BEA&#39;s board were less sold on the idea: They&#160;turned down an offer from Oracle of $17 per BEA share in October, saying it &quot;significantly undervalues BEA.&quot; Oracle in turn&#160;dismissed the BEA board&#39;s counter-offer of $21 per share as &quot;impossibly high&quot;.But on Wednesday the companies split the difference, and BEA&#39;s board announced it had unanimously approved Oracle&#39;s latest offer of $19.375 in cash per BEA share.The board accepted only after spending several months looking for other ways to maximize shareholder value, BEA&#39;s chairman and CEO Alfred Chuang said in a statement.The companies expect to close the deal by mid-year, subject to the approval of regulators and BEA shareholders.&#160;", "What Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has longed to hear from PeopleSoft behind closed doors instead floated to the surface in a Delaware courthouse.", "WILMINGTON, Del. - Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Larry Ellison denied Friday that his company&#39;s $7.7 billion bid to buy PeopleSoft Inc.", "Members of the Oracle Applications User Group at this week's Connection Point 2004 said Oracle has made strides by rolling out new support tools and processes, but has more work to do to make their jobs easier.", "Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison said Friday his company is considering lowering its $21-per-share offer for PeopleSoft Inc.", "Ellison no show RSA It was with more of a whimper than a bang that Oracle Wednesday handed a framework for building standardized regulatory compliance systems to the Liberty Alliance Project.…", "Soon after an Oracle director said Oracle&#39;s current US$21 per share offer for control of PeopleSoft may not be its final bid, Oracle Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Larry Ellison countered that the company is as likely to lower its bid as to raise it.", "(InfoWorld) - SAP reacted quickly and angrily to statements made by Oracle Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison during his company's quarterly results meeting Tuesday. Ellison's statements about SAP's product and acquisition strategy are \"a complete misrepresentation,\" said Bill Wohl, SAP's vice president of product and solutions public relations, in a statement. Oracle's CEO said his company's Fusion middleware is \"years ahead\" of SAP's rival NetWeaver product, and that \"NetWeaver is still relatively new and still incomplete.\" He also said, \"SAP has delayed the next release of its applications until 2010,\" and \"They'll be two full years behind our Fusion release.\" Wohl said \"Oracle's next-generation applications exist only in PowerPoint and won't be delivered until 2008 or beyond.\" He called Oracle statements about both its own products and SAP's \"to be inconsistent and misleading.\" He said that Oracle made conflicting statements about Fusion's development. \"In January, Oracle claimed they were halfway to Fusion and two weeks ago they said they were not even halfway done -- Oracle needs to adopt one version of the truth, and be honest with the market on its actual progress.\"", "The company sees its future in helping businesses migrate their IT systems to more flexible, SOA-enabled infrastructures; more details about the strategy are expected next month." ]

[ "KATHMANDU: China and Nepal began their first-ever joint military exercises on Sunday, a move likely to rattle India as Beijing boosts its influence in the region.\nImpoverished Nepal is sandwiched between China and India and has in recent years ping-ponged between the sphere of influence of Delhi and Beijing as the Asian giants jostle for regional supremacy.\nThe 10-day drill in Kathmandu, dubbed “Sagarmatha Friendship 2017” referring to the Nepali name for Mount Everest, will focus on counter-terrorism, according to Nepal’s army.\n“This is in line with our efforts to hold joint exercises with countries that have diplomatic relations with Nepal,” military spokesman Jhankar Bahadur Kadayat told AFP.\nThe drills will likely be watched closely by India, which is often accused of playing “big brother” to its tiny neighbor.\nLandlocked Nepal remains dependent on India for the majority of its imports, but the previous administration aggressively courted China as part of a nationalist drive to decrease the country’s reliance on New Delhi.\n“Nepal and China share a multi-faceted tie and a joint military exercise broadens that relationship,” said Tanka Karki, former Nepali ambassador to China.\nLast month China’s defence minister Chang Wanquan visited Nepal—the first by a Chinese defense minister in 15 years—to discuss the joint military exercise.\nThe current Maoist-led government in Nepal has sought to repair strained ties with Delhi while continuing to accept cash from its powerful northern neighbour.\nAFP" ]

[ "BEIJING China's military carried out drills along the border with Myanmar on Tuesday, in a show of force to highlight its resolve to protect its people, state news agency Xinhua said, following clashes between Myanmar security forces and ethnic rebels.\nFighting this month in Myanmar pushed thousands of people into China to seek refuge, prompting Beijing to call for a ceasefire between ethnic militias and the security forces.\nXinhua said the joint land and air exercises were part of planned annual drills, but did not say exactly where they took place.\nIt quoted a Chinese army colonel as saying the exercises showed \"the People's Liberation Army's resolute resolve\" to protect the security of the border and the lives of residents there.\nIn accordance with existing agreements, China informed Myanmar's military ahead of the drills, it added.\nChina has repeatedly expressed concern about fighting along the border that has occasionally spilled into its territory, for instance in 2015, when five people died in China.\n(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)", "© US Navy\nWashington, Seoul and Tokyo have have begun joint \"missile tracking\" drills, South Korea's military said. The new round of military exercises comes just days after the US and its allies concluded the largest ever air maneuvers over the peninsula.The exercises kicked off Monday amid speculation that North Korea may soon test launch a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), South Korea's military announced, according to the Yonhap news agency.Two US Aegis destroyers - USS Stethem and USS Decatur - are leading the war games along with South Korea's Seoae Ryu Seong Ryong Aegis destroyer, and Japan's Chokai Aegis vessel. During the exercises, the three navies aim to polish their skills at detecting and tracking potential ballistic missiles using a computer-simulated training module.The drills which are hosted by Japan will conclude Tuesday, December 12, and are aimed at increasing the allies' ability to respond to the North Korean threat, Japan's Navy said in a press release.a Japanese defense official told AFP, adding that the simulations \"will translate into a measure against ballistic missiles.\"\"(We) are keeping a close eye on North Korea's missile facilities,\" a South Korean defense official told Yonhap. \"There has been no indication detected of any imminent provocation, but we are fully prepared for a response.\"The exercises have been slammed by Pyongyang, which said it proves that US President Donald Trump is \"begging\" for nuclear war.North Korea has repeatedly criticized the joint drills between the US and South Korea. Last month, the North's ambassador to the UN ruled out negotiations with Washington, citing America's \"hostile policy\" against his country and the continuing joint activities of Washington and Seoul. Russia and China have long urged the US and North Korea to accept their proposed \"double freeze\" plan which would see Pyongyang suspend its nuclear and ballistic missile tests in exchange for a pause in joint US-South Korea drills. That proposal, however, has firmly been rejected by the US.", "SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - South Korea plans to hold its annual joint military drills with the United States on April 1 after delays during the Winter Olympics and Paralmypics, Seoul's defence ministry said on Tuesday.\nSeoul said in January it had agreed with Washington to postpone the regular military exercises to ensure a peaceful Olympics, and the two Koreas held their first formal talks in more than two years ahead of the Games.\nThe South Korean and U.S. militaries usually begin the two programmes in March. The drills can involve as many as 17,000 U.S. troops and over 300,000 South Koreans.\nThis year's exercises will be held on a similar scale but without key U.S. strategic assets such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or bombers, Seoul officials said.\nNorth Korea, which calls the drills a rehearsal for war, has threatened to take \"counteraction\" against the United States if it holds joint military exercises with South Korea.\nBut North Korean leader Kim Jong Un understood that the allies must continue their \"routine\" joint military exercises, South Korea's national security adviser said after meeting him earlier this month. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Heekyong Yang Editing by Paul Tait)", "Senior Chinese and Russian military officials have agreed to boost cooperation, the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday.\nLeadership from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Russian Armed Forces made the decision while gathering for a strategic dialogue, according to the Russian state news service Tass. The move appears to bring the world’s first- and fourth-largest armies closer together.\n“The sides exchanged their opinions on thorny international and regional issues, as well as on closer cooperation between China and Russia in the military sphere,” said a Chinese Ministry of Defense statement, Tass reported. “The sides reached broad consensus.”\nOfficials who reportedly gathered included Gen. Li Zuocheng, head of the PLA; Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, first deputy head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces; and Maj. Gen. Shao Yuanming, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission.\nThe news comes on the heels of last week’s controversial announcement by the Pentagon to disinvite China from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, the yearly set of war games held in the Pacific that regularly includes more than two dozen nations. The Defense Department cited China’s continued militarization of the South China Sea as a reason for the move.\nDiscussions addressing the South China Sea are anticipated at the upcoming annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore — Asia’s biggest security conference — which starts Friday.\nWhile traveling to Asia Wednesday to participate, Defense Secretary James Mattis said he was planning to raise Washington’s concerns about Chinese expansion.\nRecent weeks have seen increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing as the Trump administration has made efforts to counter Chinese influence on a host of issues, including security and trade.\nCopyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.", "The United States and South Korea have agreed to resume joint military drills early next month, the Pentagon said, a move that was expected despite US President Donald Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.\nSeoul and Washington said in January they would delay the annual exercises, known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, until after the Olympics and Paralympics held in South Korea, helping to create conditions for a resumption of talks between South and North Korea, which sees the drills as a rehearsal for invasion.\nThe exercises are expected to begin on April 1, and will be of a \"scale similar to that of the previous years,\" the US military said in a statement late on Monday.\n\"Our combined exercises are defense-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a provocation,\" Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a separate statement.\nShare on facebook Share on twitter", "FILE - In this March 25, 2015, file photo, U.S. Army soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and South Korean soldiers take their position during a demonstration of the combined arms live-fire exercise as a part of the annual joint military exercise Foal Eagle between South Korea and the United States at the Rodriquez Multi-Purpose Range Complex in Pocheon, north of Seoul, South Korea. The Pentagon says the annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises that had been postponed for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will begin April 1. Lee Jin-man, File AP Photo", "As he heads to Singapore for a key meeting with fellow military leaders, Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters late Tuesday that the U.S. intends to challenge China on the high seas and will use its Navy to push back against Beijing’s maritime expansion.\nMr. Mattis vowed a “steady drumbeat” of American naval activity in and around the South China Sea in a direct pushback against China’s efforts to claim territory in the region. He declared that China is “out of step” with international law and is failing to respect international waters.\nHis comments came just days after two U.S. ships sailed within 12 miles of a group of islands in South China Sea that Beijing has claimed as its own, and the U.S. maritime maneuver was widely seen as a direct challenge to China and a clear statement that the American military won’t sit idly by.\n“We are going out of our way to cooperate with Pacific nations. That’s the way we do business in the world,” he said. “But we are also going to confront what we believe is out of step with international law, out of step with international tribunals that have spoken on the issue, and part of this is we maintain a very transparent military activity out in the Pacific.\n“There’s a very steady drumbeat of freedom of navigation operations. We’re very open about them,” Mr. Mattis continued.\nThe defense chief made the comments aboard an aircraft bound for Singapore, where he’ll attend an annual gathering of military leader known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.\nTensions over Beijing’s expansion into the South China Sea has driven a wedge between China and the U.S., and has led to direct retaliation.\nThe U.S. earlier this month, for example, withdrew China’s invitation to the biannual joint naval exercise known as the Rim of the Pacific drills, or RIMPAC. The move drew harsh condemnation from Beijing.\nCopyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.", "ISLAMABAD, July 4 (APP):Chinese and Pakistani frontier defence forces conduct joint patrol at a mountainous region in Khunjerab in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region last week.\nThey were respectively assigned to a frontier defence company in Khunjerab under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command (MC) and the border police of the Pakistani Khunjerab Security Force (KSF), a leading China’s defence journal ‘ China Military’ reported on Wednesday.\nThe Chinese and Pakistan frontier defence forces discussed Chinese-Pakistan border situation during the joint border patrol.\nThe troops from both Chinese and Pakistani frontier defence forces saluted each other prior to the patrol and also engaged in a friendly competition of arm wrestling during the short break.", "In a signal of strengthening ties with Beijing, Nepal will hold its first-ever military exercise with China next month.\nThe development is being closely watched in India, which is wary of Beijing’s growing influence in the tiny Himalayan country that is sandwiched between the two Asian giants.\nNepal’s army says the focus of the military exercise will be on training Nepali forces in dealing with hostage scenarios involving international terror groups and on disaster management.\n“Nepal and China have been exchanging military delegations, visits and courses but such kind of drill is taking place for the first time,” according to Brigadier General Tara Bahadur Karki, a spokesperson for the Nepal Army.\nIndia will watch closely\nA China expert in New Delhi, Jayadeva Ranade, says that India would be evaluating carefully to see what the exercise signifies. “Is it a trend for introducing military to military relations on an expanding scale or is it a one-off?”\nNepal is brushing aside such concerns calling it a small scale exercise with no strategic implications. Kathmandu’s envoy to India, Deep Upadhyay, told the Times of India newspaper that \"there's really not much in it. Whichever way you look at it, Nepal has a special relationship with India and that's not going to change because of any such exercise.''\nThe joint military drill will be held as New Delhi tries to regain ground it lost to China last year when former Nepalese Prime Minister, K.P. Oli, pursued closer relations with Beijing in a bid to ease Nepal’s critical dependence on India following a border blockade by ethnic protestors that created massive hardship in the country.\nSince Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took power five months ago, India and Nepal have reset ties, raising hopes of restoring the traditional bonhomie in relations.\nChina expands influence\nBut political analysts point out that China’s influence is in Nepal to stay as Beijing expands its presence in a bid to gain a foothold in South Asia.\nIn recent years, Beijing has wooed Nepal with millions of dollars to help build roads, hospitals and other infrastructure, and signed agreements to supply energy over difficult mountain routes.\n“Moreover China is also aggressively coming. I must admit that, aggressively coming to invest, have more interactions, to open new dialogue with different sectors of society,” says Lok Raj Baral, the head of Nepal’s Center for Contemporary Studies in Kathmandu.\nBut Baral feels that the upcoming military exercise does not signal growing defense cooperation between Nepal and Beijing. “I don’t think we are going to have much more closer relations with Chinese military in the future in other respects,” he says.\nHowever Indian analysts say the drill will cause unease in New Delhi because India has open borders with landlocked Nepal, which conducts its trade and transit through these routes.\n“We look at Nepal as part of our strategic space, so there is a bit of contest taking place there,” says Ranade. He points out that an increased Chinese presence in Nepal “brings China right up to our border, which is very porous.”", "In China, North Korea’s main trading partner, officials announced that they would begin enforcing tough new United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang on Tuesday.\nGeneral Dunford’s visit to South Korea was the first of three stops in his trip to the region, which has been roiled by the exchange of fiery threats between Mr. Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.\nThe general has said that the trip is meant to offer transparency to America’s allies in the region and to prevent any miscalculation on China’s part about the Pentagon’s intentions. He arrived in China on Monday night, and will travel to Japan later in the week.\nSouth Koreans, many living within range of North Korean artillery, were particularly alarmed by Mr. Trump’s threat to bring down “fire and fury” on the North if Pyongyang continued to threaten the United States with nuclear missiles.\nOn his way to Seoul, General Dunford said his trip was in support of Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson’s diplomatic and economic campaign to deter North Korea. Even as Mr. Trump has issued one provocative statement after another against the North, Mr. Tillerson has been reminding Pyongyang that the door to dialogue is open if the nation halts missile and nuclear tests.\n“As a military leader, I have to make sure that the president does have viable military options in the event that the diplomatic and economic pressurization campaign fails,” General Dunford told reporters on his plane. “But even as we develop those options, we are mindful of the consequences of those options, and that gives us a greater sense of urgency to make sure we are doing everything we absolutely can to support Secretary Tillerson’s path.”\nThe general’s calibrated statement appeared to be an attempt to calm allies in South Korea while backing up Mr. Trump’s warnings to the North.\nAdvertisement Continue reading the main story\nConcern escalated in the Trump administration about the North’s nuclear threat after the country flight-tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles last month, the second of which appeared to have the capacity to reach the American mainland. It is not clear that the North can accurately target such a missile or build a nuclear warhead that can survive re-entry into the atmosphere.\nPhoto\nThis month, Washington persuaded China and Russia to agree to the toughest United Nations Security Council sanctions to date against North Korea, which could deprive it of as much as a third of its external export revenues.\nOn Monday, China’s Ministry of Commerce and customs administration announced that the country would begin enforcing the sanctions on Tuesday, by fully banning imports of aquatic products, coal, iron, iron ore, lead and lead ore from North Korea. The seafood products it listed as banned include fish, crustaceans and sturgeon caviar. Seafood, along with coal, has been a sizable Chinese import from North Korea.\nChina imported $91 million worth of seafood from North Korea in the first half of 2017, according to Chinese customs figures cited by Reuters.\nNewsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters.\nChina’s announcement came hours before General Dunford was scheduled to arrive in Beijing. He was scheduled to meet with Gen. Fang Fenghui, his Chinese counterpart, during his two-day visit, Pentagon officials said.\nThe visit to China was planned well before the recent North Korea developments, as part of a choreographed series of visits of top American and Chinese generals to each other’s countries. General Fang visited Washington in 2014.\nIn Beijing, General Dunford is expected to emphasize that Washington plans to complete the deployment of a missile defense system known as Thaad in South Korea. China has vehemently opposed the deployment, calling it a threat to Chinese security.\nSpeaking to South Korea’s National Assembly on Monday, Defense Minister Song Young-moo said his military hoped to complete the Thaad deployment by the end of the year.\nNorth Korea showed no sign of dialing down its rhetoric on Monday. In a statement denouncing annual joint exercises between the United States and South Korean militaries, which are scheduled to begin on Aug. 21, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency warned that a second Korean War would be a “nuclear war.”\nAdvertisement Continue reading the main story\n“Even if no one wanted it, they would not be able to prevent a mere accidental spark from triggering a war,” the statement said.\nNorth Korea strongly objects to the joint military exercises, calling them a rehearsal for an invasion, and has often responded to them with weapons tests. China has proposed that the joint exercises be suspended in exchange for a suspension of the North’s nuclear and missile tests, but Washington has rejected the idea.\nLee Jin-woo, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry, said on Monday that the joint exercises would go ahead as planned, denying a domestic news media report that they would be scaled down this year.\nThe North Korean military has said it will complete a plan to launch four ballistic missiles in waters around Guam, home to a major American Air Force base in the Western Pacific, by the middle of this month, and will then wait for Mr. Kim’s order to proceed. It has also claimed that 3.5 million young North Koreans have recently volunteered to join the military to fight the Americans.\nIn China, the overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the ruling Communist Party’s main newspaper, said on Monday that the world had become used to belligerent statements from North Korea, but had been alarmed to hear similarly aggressive talk from the United States.\nAn editorial in the paper warned that the joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea would only make the situation worse. The overseas edition of the People’s Daily is a lower-circulation offshoot of the main domestic edition, and its editorials broadly reflect official thinking.\n“It’s to be feared that this will became a new goad for North Korea, and trigger another round of tit-for-tat confrontation,” the editorial said, referring to the joint exercises. “It is not advisable to play chicken on the Korean Peninsula. All sides should be careful in their words and actions.”", "MOSCOW: Russia and China will hold joint anti-missile defence drills and work on cooperation against missile threats from other countries, RIA news agency cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying on Friday.\n(Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Alison Williams)", "Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari will meet her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. (ANI image)\nNepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari will meet her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Vice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will also call on the visiting dignitary. President Bhandari will be accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Mukherjee will also host a state banquet in honor of the visiting dignitary. The Nepal President, arrived in Delhi yesterday on her first overseas tour, is also scheduled to attend a business event.\nThe meeting will take place even as China has said that its first ever joint military exercise with Nepal, dubbed as “Mount Everest Friendship”, would strengthen the nations’ military ability to coordinate in fighting terrorism and help maintain regional peace, stability and security. “China and Nepal are two friendly neighbours. I believe it is a good thing for the two countries to expand practical cooperation in various fields and promote common development, including making joint efforts to maintain regional security and stability, through friendly consultations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang’s Regular said during a briefing. Named ‘Sagarmatha Friendship-2017′ by Nepal, the joint military drill began at Nepal Army’s Para Training School in Maharajgunj on Sunday.\nMeanwhile, both India and Nepal will seek to explore ways to step up cooperation between the two close neighbours whose ties faced some strains following the agitation by the Madhesi community last year. “We are carrying a message of friendship from Nepal,” Nepal’s Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is accompanying the president, told PTI.\nDuring the talks, Bhandari is expected to seek India’s support for local body polls to be held in Nepal on May 14.\n“We are going to have election in May and we want support for it from India,” he said.\nOn the proposed blockade by the Madheshi community, he said the Nepalese government is trying its best to fulfil aspirations of all sections including the Madheshi community.\nVice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will also call on the Nepalese leader.\nNepal’s Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay hosted a dinner in honour of the president which was attended by a number of leading political leaders including Murli Manohar Joshi of BJP and CPI’s D Raja.\nBhandari was scheduled to visit India in May last year, but the trip was cancelled after the then cabinet in Nepal did not endorse the visit, citing lack of preparations on the part of the government.\nBhandari will also visit Gujarat and Odisha and pay obeisance at temples of Dwarka, Somnath and Puri.\n(With agency inputs)", "BEIJING: China today defended the presence of its troops in the Doklam area, over a month after the standoff with India ended, saying its soldiers are patrolling the region, also claimed by Bhutan, to exercise Beijing's sovereignty.\"The Donglang (Doklam) area has always belonged to China and has been under the effective jurisdiction of China,\" the Chinese Foreign Ministry told PTI here in response to questions about a report that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is beefing up troops in the area.\"There is no dispute. The Chinese border forces have been patrolling in the area of Donglang, exercising their sovereign rights and safeguarding territorial sovereignty according to the historical boundary,\" the ministry said in a written response.The 73-day Doklam standoff which began on June 16 over PLA's plans to build a road in area claimed by Bhutan, ended on August 28 following mutual agreement between India and China.Recent reports in India said China has beefed up its troop strength in the area.Yesterday, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said Chinese troops were currently present in the Chumbi Valley, which is in the Doklam Plateau, and added that a peaceful resolution of the issue would be in the interest of both countries.\"The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in Chumbi Valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over,\" Dhanoa said.About Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's visit to Bhutan, the first such visit after the Doklam standoff, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said \"although China and Bhutan have not yet established diplomatic relations, the two countries have maintained traditional friendly relations\".It said China has always respected Bhutan's sovereignty and independence.\"China hopes that other countries also respect Bhutan's sovereignty and independence and develop normal bilateral relations with Bhutan, at the same time also hopes it can help enhance the mutual trust between regional countries, safeguarding regional peace and stability,\" it said.", "India has increased a military alert along its eastern border with China, moving troops and weapons into the region amid a weeks-long standoff between the two countries that shows no signs of resolution.\nAs NPR's Julie McCarthy reported last month, New Delhi and Beijing have been at odds over a strategic region called the Doklam Plateau, which is claimed both by China and by India's tiny ally, Bhutan.\nIn June, China began construction to extend a road there in an apparent effort to press its claim. In response, India sent troops as a show of force, sparking anger from China which says the affair is none of its business.\nBeijing demanded that Indian forces withdrawal, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused.\nIndia's Defense Minister Arun Jaitley told parliament this week that the country's armed forces are \"fully prepared\" in the event of conflict with China.\nMeanwhile, Reuters reports that Indian troops in Sikkim, south of Doklam, have been put on heightened alert, although the news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying it was \"out of caution.\"\nIn 1962, India and China fought a bloody month-long border war. The neighbors also have a continuing dispute over the sovereignty of Aksai Chin, a Himalayan region on their extreme western border.\nDoklam is strategically close to a sliver of land called the \"Chicken's Neck\" that is India's only land corridor to its frequently restive northeast.\nThe two countries have also long been at odds over India's hosting of Tibet's government-in-exile and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, considered by China to be subversive. Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.", "The Diplomat December 11, 2017\nChina and Russia kicked off a joint anti-ballistic missile defense computer-simulated command post exercise in Beijing on December 11, the Chinese Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement. The drill, dubbed Airspace Security 2017, is the second such exercise held by the two countries and is expected to conclude on December 16.\nThe Sino-Russian drill coincides with a joint two-day ballistic missile defense exercise involving the militaries of the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Japan. The Airspace Security 2017 exercise aims to bolster anti-missile defense cooperation between China and Russia, including planning joint missile defense operations.\nThe exercise is “a pragmatic gesture of important mutual understanding in terms of bolstering Russian-Chinese cooperation in air defense reached by the two countries’ leaders,” the Chinese MoD statement reads. This includes strengthening joint responses to regional ballistic and cruise missile threats.\n“China and Russia oppose the development of a global anti-missile system and the cooperation on the anti-missile field would help protect both countries’ security as well as the regional strategic balance,” according to the Chinese MoD. The exercise contributes to both countries’ security as well as the regional strategic balance, the MoD adds.\nAccording to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the drill aims to practice anti-ballistic missile defense command and control operations and rapid joint responses to “accidental and inflammatory strikes of ballistic missiles.”\nBoth countries insist that the exercise does not target any third countries.\nPrior to last year’s exercise, held in May 2016 in Moscow, both countries urged the United States and South Korea to cancel plans to station Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries on the Korean Peninsula. The United States began deploying the first THAAD system in March 2017, which temporarily led to a diplomatic rift between South Korea and China.\nBeijing and Moscow have called the deployment “reckless” and likely to destroy “the strategic balance” on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. They also criticized the recent U.S.-ROK-Japan missile defense exercise. “Carrying out military training in regions surrounding North Korea will only heighten hysteria and make the situation unstable,” Russian Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov said during a visit to Japan on December 11, Reuters reports.\nChina and Russia have a comprehensive strategic partnership but not a military alliance. “This handicaps deeper military cooperation between the two countries and makes exercises that practice complex integrated military operations difficult if not impossible to conduct,” I explained previously.\nThe practical benefits of Airspace Security 2017 for both militaries are likely to be small. For example, it is unclear whether the exercise will involve trying to streamline intelligence-sharing mechanisms, including the real-time sharing of missile threat data, in order to better facilitate the detecting and tracking of incoming ballistic missiles.\nIndeed, both sides repeatedly stress the non-alliance aspect of their military cooperation. “Partnership is quite different from alliance. China and Russia have maintained the comprehensive strategic partnership for peaceful purposes, and they are equal,” a Chinese military expert told the Global Times on Monday.\nNeither China nor Russia revealed the military units involved in the exercise.", "The 10-day drill in Kathmandu, dubbed \"Sagarmatha Friendship 2017\" referring to the Nepali name for Mount Everest, will focus on counter-terrorism, according to Nepal's army. The drills will likely be watched closely by India.\nStart the conversation, or Read more at The Times of India.", "Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang 's official visit to Nepal, which runs from Monday to Thursday, has put the Himalayan country under the spotlight, given the ongoing border standoff between China and India.While Wang's visit will reportedly focus on China-sponsored infrastructure projects, the timing speaks for itself. The border dispute with India has highlighted the necessity for China to accelerate investment and economic aid to Nepal.Nepal has told its embassies in New Delhi and Beijing that it will maintain an independent and neutral position on its neighbors' standoff, and it will not be influenced by either China or India, according to media reports. For a landlocked country that shares a long open border with India and depends heavily on India for imports and exports, Nepal's stance clearly shows its intention of counterbalancing Indian influence. That stance also reflects China's diplomatic efforts in recent years.With an eye on the rising geopolitical significance of Nepal in the region, China has been strengthening ties with that country in recent years, mainly through infrastructure investment.For instance, in March this year, China committed foreign direct investment of $8.2 billion to the Himalayan country out of total pledges of $13.52 billion received at the Nepal Investment Summit, a report from the Xinhua News Agency said. The Chinese pledges overshadowed India's commitment of $317 million at the same event.In May, China and Nepal signed an agreement under the Belt and Road initiative to promote cooperation in infrastructure connectivity. There have also been media reports about feasibility studies for a railway connecting Kathmandu to Lhasa, with an estimated cost of $8 billion.But infrastructure investment alone is not enough for China to maintain a close relationship with Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries. It is essential for China to further increase investment as well as economic aid to the country so as to revive its ailing economy. Such aid could include but not be limited to financial incentives, education, medical assistance and workforce training.In addition, Nepal, which borders Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has played an important role in guarding against Tibetan separatists.There is every reason for China to offer more generous aid to such a small but important neighbor.The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]", "SEOUL (BLOOMBERG) - The US and South Korea are considering delaying joint military drills until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February in a bid to reduce tensions with North Korea, according to a person familiar with the discussions.\nWhile no final decision has been made, the annual Spring military exercises known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle could be deferred until mid-March, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private.\nSouth Korea's foreign ministry said it was not a matter that officials would comment on. The Financial Times earlier reported the drills may be postponed.\nPyongyang regularly describes the drills as a prelude to invasion and says they justify its nuclear and missile-testing program.\nIn response to a five-day joint air exercise on the peninsula involving 230 aircraft and 12,000 American troops earlier this month, North Korea threatened to take the \"highest-level hard-line countermeasure in history.\"\nThe Winter Olympics will run Feb 9-25, with the Paralympics taking place March 9-18.\nThe last Foal Eagle exercise, which consisted of ground, air, naval and special operations field drills, started in early March and ran through April, overlapping with the Key Resolve exercises that focus on computer simulations.\nPostponing the drills could help create conditions for talks between the US and North Korea. China has called on the US to halt exercises and start talks with Pyongyang, part of its \"suspension-for-suspension\" proposal that would also require Kim to freeze nuclear and missile tests.\nStill, the US has repeatedly rejected the proposal, arguing that its drills are defensive in nature.\nPresident Donald Trump has also frequently threatened military force against Pyongyang. Suspending the drills could be seen by North Korea as a concession to Kim Jong Un at a time Trump is seeking to project strength.\nStill, \"with no formal dialogue channels ongoing, it's hard to get the other side to make a promise,\" said Choi Young Jin, a former South Korean ambassador to the US.\nA delay in the drills \"could be quite a good diplomatic accomplishment as the two sides could tap each other's intentions and wills\" for future talks, he said.\nNorth Korea shattered a two-month period of relative quiet on Nov 29 with the firing of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile. Pyongyang claimed the missile could deliver a nuclear warhead anywhere in the US, and said it had completed its nuclear force.\nIn October South Korean President Moon Jae In urged North Korea to take part in the games, saying the participation of athletes from across the border could help open a path to peace.\nMoon has also said he would enlist Chinese President Xi Jinping to convince North Korea to participate. The president begins a four-day visit to China on Wednesday (Dec 13).", "The United States and South Korea will resume joint military drills next month, Seoul and Washington said on Tuesday, exercises that will go ahead despite U.S. President Donald Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.\nSeoul and Washington said in January they would delay the annual exercises until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics held in South Korea last month, helping to create conditions for a resumption of talks between South and North Korea.\nThe reclusive North routinely denounces the drills as preparation for war.\nThe Foal Eagle field exercise is scheduled to begin on April 1 and go on for a month, while the computer-simulated Key Resolve will be held for two weeks starting in mid-April, a South Korean military official told reporters in Seoul on Tuesday.\nThere has been a flurry of diplomatic activity across Asia, the United States and Europe since the North sent delegations to the Winter Olympics, moves that culminated in North Korea's planned summits with the South and with the United States.\nThe South Korean and U.S. militaries usually stage the two drills in March for about two months but the period of this year's field exercise was cut by half, mainly due to the Olympics, said the South Korean official, who asked not to be identified.\nThe exercises will be of a \"scale similar to that of the previous years\" and are meant \"to improve our readiness against various North Korean threats\", the official said.\nNorth Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.\nSuch plans, and the exchange of insults between Kim and Trump, had led to increased fears of confrontation on the Korean peninsula in recent months before the diplomatic contacts.\nChina, North Korea's main ally, says it is happy to see an easing of tensions.\n'Defence-oriented'\nThe Pentagon said the North Korean military had been notified about the schedule for the drills by the United Nations Command.\n\"Our combined exercises are defence-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a provocation,\" Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan said in a statement.\nThe South Korean official said consultations were underway over whether U.S. strategic assets such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or bombers would be deployed for the drills.\nLogan said the two joint drills would involve about 23,700 U.S. troops and 300,000 South Korean forces. He said they were not in response to any specific North Korean actions or the current situation on the Korean peninsula.\nThe Key Resolve simulated exercises would likely overlap with a summit between the two Koreas, planned for late April, the South Korean official said.\nAfter the postponement of the drills was announced in January, Pyongyang agreed to hold the first official talks with Seoul in more than two years and then sent athletes and officials to the Winter Olympics.\nThose talks led to a visit this month by a South Korean delegation to Pyongyang for a meeting with the North Korean leader.\nDelegation leader Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's national security adviser, said Kim committed to denuclearisation and expressed eagerness to meet Trump as soon as possible, an offer the U.S. president quickly accepted.\nChung said Kim was expected to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April before meeting Trump by the end of May.\nThe two Koreas held working-level talks on Tuesday at the border village of Panmunjom over Seoul's plan to send an artistic troupe for a concert in Pyongyang.\nDespite the North's denunciation of past drills, Chung said Kim understood that the allies must continue their \"routine\" joint military exercises.\nPyongyang has not confirmed the exchange and threatened earlier this month to take \"counteraction\" if the United States and South Korea went ahead with the exercises.\nThe joint drills ran from March 1-April 30 in 2017 and included the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier.\nA U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no U.S. aircraft carriers would take part this year, which he said was according to plan and not related to the political situation.\n(REUTERS)\nDate created : 2018-03-20", "related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.\n2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.\nRussia's military chief warned on Monday that military exercises by Japan, the United States and South Korea aimed at countering North Korea only raise hysteria and create more instability in the region.\nTOKYO: Russia's military chief warned on Monday that military exercises by Japan, the United States and South Korea aimed at countering North Korea only raise hysteria and create more instability in the region.\nRussian Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov, issued his warning in Tokyo as the United States, Japan and South Korea began a two-day exercise to practice tracking missiles amid rising tension over North Korea's weapons programmes.\n\"Carrying out military training in regions surrounding North Korea will only heighten hysteria and make the situation unstable,\" Gerasimov said at the beginning of a meeting with Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera.\nThis week's exercise by the United States and its two Asian allies, in which they will share information on tracking ballistic missiles, comes just days after large-scale drills by U.S. and South Korean forces that North Korea said made the outbreak of war \"an established fact\".\nNorth Korea says its weapons programmes are necessary to counter U.S. aggression.\nOn Nov. 29, North Korea test-fired its latest ballistic missile, which it said was its most advanced yet, capable of reaching the mainland United States.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\nChina has also repeatedly called for the United States and South Korea to stop their exercises, which North Korea sees as preparation for an invasion.\nChinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, asked in Beijing about the latest U.S., South Korean and Japanese drills, said the situation was in a vicious cycle that if followed to a conclusion would not be in anyone's interests.\n\"All relevant parties should do is still to completely, precisely and fully implement the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions toward North Korea, and do more for regional peace and stability and to get all parties back to the negotiating table. Not the opposite, mutual provocation,\" Lu said.\n'IMPORTANT MEANING'\nGerasimov's visit to Japan is the first by a senior Russian military official in seven years and follows the resumption of \"two-plus-two\" defence and foreign minister talks in March after Russia annexed Crimea.\nRelations between Russia and Japan have been hampered for decades over the ownership of four islands north of Japan's Hokkaido, captured by Soviet forces at the end of World War Two. Japan has declined to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia until the dispute is resolved.\nGerasimov also met Katsutoshi Kawano, the chief of staff of Japan's Self Defence Forces.\nChina's Defence Ministry said on Monday it had begun a planned joint simulated anti-missile drill with Russia in Beijing, which had \"important meaning\" for both countries in facing the threat from missiles. It said the exercise was not aimed at any third party.\nChina and Russia both oppose the development of global anti-missile systems, the ministry added in a statement.\nChina and Russia both oppose the deployment in South Korea of the advanced U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system.\nChina in particular fears the system's powerful radar could look deep into its territory, threatening its security.\nThe United States and South Korea say the system is needed to defend against the threat of North Korean missiles.\nIt is not clear if this week's exercise by U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces will involve the THAAD system.\n(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina in BEIJING; Editing by Robert Birsel)", "TAIPEI, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Chinese military aircraft conducted a third day of training near Taiwan on Monday after doing close flybys of the island over the weekend, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said. Two Chinese military transport aircraft flew through the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, then took different courses before returning to base, the ministry said.\nChina has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. It is also worried about Taiwan, which it claims as its own, but which is run by a government China fears is intent on independence.\nTaiwan's military closely monitored the Chinese aircraft and the situation was under control, the ministry said.\n\"Our military has monitored the movements of the Chinese aircraft from the beginning to the end and were prepared for any contingency based on our rules of engagement,\" it said in a statement.\nAfter the two aircraft flew through the Bashi Channel, one took a northeasterly direction and passed over waters near Japan's Miyako island to Taiwan's north before returning to its base, the ministry said.\nThe other flew in a southeasterly direction before it too returned to base the way it had come.\nChina's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the past three days of drills.\nChina conducted air exercises near Taiwan over the weekend , the latest in a series of such exercises near Taiwan and Japan in the past several weeks.\nChina considers self-ruled Taiwan to be a renegade province, and has never ruled out the option to regain control of the island by force if necessary. (Reporting by Faith Hung and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)", "SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S., Japan and South Korea began joint exercises Monday to simulate how they would target Kim Jong Un's ballistic missiles in the event of an attack, military officials from South Korea and Japan said.\nNorth Korea last week said the outbreak of war was \"an established fact\" following another set of U.S.-South Korea exercises — although the isolated country has often issued such fiery rhetoric without action.\nMonday's drills involved two U.S. destroyers, as well as one warship each from Japan and South Korea, a South Korean military spokesman told NBC News.\nRelated: Trump’s North Korea policy could trigger famine, experts warn\nThe exercises saw the three countries sharing tactical information \"during a simulation to target North Korean ballistic missiles,\" the spokesman said, adding that they came \"in response to growing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.\"\nThe drills were also confirmed to Reuters by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.\nLast month, North Korea conducted what it said was its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile test to date, which it claimed could target anywhere in the U.S.\nAny nuclear weapon capable of doing so, however, would also need carry a small, lightweight warhead and be able to withstand reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.\nPlay Facebook\nTwitter\nEmbed FROM DEC. 4: U.S. stealth jet fighters conduct huge air drill over South Korea 0:49 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog\nExperts are unsure exactly how close Kim is to achieving his goal, and many believe he wants the weapons to deter the U.S. from trying to topple his regime, rather than to strike them without provocation.\nThe North has offered to freeze its nuclear and missile programs in exchange for the U.S. stopping its joint drills with South Korea. Russia and China also back what the latter calls a \"dual suspension\" solution to the standoff.\nEarlier this year, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rejected such a freeze because he said it would effectively enshrine the nuclear capability that North Korea has already achieved and leave little leeway to dismantle its program as it stands, something that would be unacceptable to the U.S.\nStella Kim reported from Seoul. Alexander Smith reported from London.", "US, South Korean and Japanese forces have begun joint military exercises, the South Korean army said, quoted by the France press.\nOn November 29, North Korea conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test, according to Pyongyang, capable of transferring a war effort to a random spot in the United States, and the North Korean leader said his country was already a nuclear state in the full sense of the word.\nThe two-day maneuvers are the sixth of this type since June 2016. They are along the Korean Peninsula and Japan, the South Korean Ministry of Defense said. In the doctrine, warships equipped with the IGIS on each of the three countries will simulate detection and tracking of North Korean ballistic missiles and exchange information, a message from the ministry said. Two American warships and one South Korean and Japanese will participate in the teachings. Last week, the United States and South Korea have carried out their largest common aerial exercises so far.", "By Hyonhee Shin and Idrees Ali\nSEOUL/WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - The United States and South Korea will resume joint military drills next month, Seoul and Washington said on Tuesday, exercises that will go ahead despite U.S. President Donald Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.\nSeoul and Washington said in January they would delay the annual exercises until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics held in South Korea last month, helping to create conditions for a resumption of talks between South and North Korea.\nThe reclusive North routinely denounces the drills as preparation for war.\nThe Foal Eagle field exercise is scheduled to begin on April 1 and go on for a month, while the computer-simulated Key Resolve will be held for two weeks starting in mid-April, a South Korean military official told reporters in Seoul on Tuesday.\nThere has been a flurry of diplomatic activity across Asia, the United States and Europe since the North sent delegations to the Winter Olympics, moves that culminated in North Korea's planned summits with the South and with the United States.\nThe South Korean and U.S. militaries usually stage the two drills in March for about two months but the period of this year's field exercise was cut by half, mainly due to the Olympics, said the South Korean official, who asked not to be identified.\nThe exercises will be of a \"scale similar to that of the previous years\" and are meant \"to improve our readiness against various North Korean threats\", the official said.\nNorth Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.\nSuch plans, and the exchange of insults between Kim and Trump, had led to increased fears of confrontation on the Korean peninsula in recent months before the diplomatic contacts. China, North Korea's main ally, says it is happy to see an easing of tensions.\n'DEFENCE-ORIENTED'\nThe Pentagon said the North Korean military had been notified about the schedule for the drills by the United Nations Command.\n\"Our combined exercises are defence-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a provocation,\" Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan said in a statement.\nThe South Korean official said consultations were underway over whether U.S. strategic assets such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or bombers would be deployed for the drills.\nLogan said the two joint drills would involve about 23,700 U.S. troops and 300,000 South Korean forces.\nHe said they were not in response to any specific North Korean actions or the current situation on the Korean peninsula.\nThe Key Resolve simulated exercises would likely overlap with a summit between the two Koreas, planned for late April, the South Korean official said.\nAfter the postponement of the drills was announced in January, Pyongyang agreed to hold the first official talks with Seoul in more than two years and then sent athletes and officials to the Winter Olympics.\nThose talks led to a visit this month by a South Korean delegation to Pyongyang for a meeting with the North Korean leader. Delegation leader Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's national security adviser, said Kim committed to denuclearisation and expressed eagerness to meet Trump as soon as possible, an offer the U.S. president quickly accepted.\nChung said Kim was expected to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April before meeting Trump by the end of May.\nThe two Koreas held working-level talks on Tuesday at the border village of Panmunjom over Seoul's plan to send an artistic troupe for a concert in Pyongyang.\nDespite the North's denunciation of past drills, Chung said Kim understood that the allies must continue their \"routine\" joint military exercises.\nPyongyang has not confirmed the exchange and threatened earlier this month to take \"counteraction\" if the United States and South Korea went ahead with the exercises.\nThe joint drills ran from March 1-April 30 in 2017 and included the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no U.S. aircraft carriers would take part this year, which he said was according to plan and not related to the political situation. (Reporting by Idrees Ali in WASHINGTON and Hyonhee Shin in SEOUL Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in WASHINGTON and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING Editing by Peter Cooney and Paul Tait)", "TOKYO (Reuters) - Russia’s military chief warned on Monday that military exercises by Japan, the United States and South Korea aimed at countering North Korea only raise hysteria and create more instability in the region.\nChief of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, arrives for the opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2017 in Alabino, outside Moscow, Russia, July 29, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov\nRussian Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov, issued his warning in Tokyo as the United States, Japan and South Korea began a two-day exercise to practice tracking missiles amid rising tension over North Korea’s weapons programs.\n“Carrying out military training in regions surrounding North Korea will only heighten hysteria and make the situation unstable,” Gerasimov said at the beginning of a meeting with Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera.\nThis week’s exercise by the United States and its two Asian allies, in which they will share information on tracking ballistic missiles, comes just days after large-scale drills by U.S. and South Korean forces that North Korea said made the outbreak of war “an established fact”.\nNorth Korea says its weapons programs are necessary to counter U.S. aggression.\nOn Nov. 29, North Korea test-fired its latest ballistic missile, which it said was its most advanced yet, capable of reaching the mainland United States.\nChina has also repeatedly called for the United States and South Korea to stop their exercises, which North Korea sees as preparation for an invasion.\nChinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, asked in Beijing about the latest U.S., South Korean and Japanese drills, said the situation was in a vicious cycle that if followed to a conclusion would not be in anyone’s interests.\n“All relevant parties should do is still to completely, precisely and fully implement the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions toward North Korea, and do more for regional peace and stability and to get all parties back to the negotiating table. Not the opposite, mutual provocation,” Lu said.\n‘IMPORTANT MEANING’\nGerasimov’s visit to Japan is the first by a senior Russian military official in seven years and follows the resumption of “two-plus-two” defense and foreign minister talks in March after Russia annexed Crimea.\nRelations between Russia and Japan have been hampered for decades over the ownership of four islands north of Japan’s Hokkaido, captured by Soviet forces at the end of World War Two. Japan has declined to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia until the dispute is resolved.\nGerasimov also met Katsutoshi Kawano, the chief of staff of Japan’s Self Defence Forces.\nChina’s Defence Ministry said on Monday it had begun a planned joint simulated anti-missile drill with Russia in Beijing, which had “important meaning” for both countries in facing the threat from missiles. It said the exercise was not aimed at any third party.\nChina and Russia both oppose the development of global anti-missile systems, the ministry added in a statement.\nChina and Russia both oppose the deployment in South Korea of the advanced U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system.\nChina in particular fears the system’s powerful radar could look deep into its territory, threatening its security.\nThe United States and South Korea say the system is needed to defend against the threat of North Korean missiles.\nIt is not clear if this week’s exercise by U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces will involve the THAAD system.", "BEIJING -- The United States needs China's help with North Korea, but President Trump signed an executive memo on Monday that is sure to anger the Chinese.\nThe order calls for an investigation into whether China stole American intellectual property.\nIn response, the Chinese government used a strongly worded editorial in state run China Daily newspaper accused Mr. Trump of \"exploiting trade as a bargaining chip\" -- one that will \"poison the overall China-U.S. relationship.\"\nChina has repeatedly warned Mr. Trump not to use trade as a means to force stronger action on North Korea. China accounts for 90 percent of North Korea's trade and has been reluctant to punish the regime economically for fear of collapse.\nBut on Monday, China issued an order banning all imports of North Korean coal, iron ore and seafood -- in compliance with tough new U.N. sanctions.\nMeanwhile, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began a tour of Asia meeting to reassure South Korean president Moon Jae-in.\nGen. Dunford says the U.S. still prefers diplomacy to force, but that the U.S. is ready to use the full range of its capabilities to respond to any attack.\nThe U.S. staged joint military exercises Monday with Japan and has also said it will go ahead with joint military exercises with South Korea in the region next week -- something that both China and North Korea oppose.\nCBS News\nKim Jong Un's regime continued its defiance, claiming 3.5 million North Koreans have volunteered to join its army, and in a new threat warned that even an accidental event could become a nuclear war on the Korean peninsula.\nNorth Korea did announce Monday that Kim Jong Un has been briefed on military plans to launch four missiles toward Guam, but that he plans to wait. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Monday that the U.S. will shoot down any North Korean missiles heading toward Guam.", "Russia and China Militaries Reach ‘New Heights’ Together, Agree to Challenge US in Middle East – Newsweek\nDo you have something awesome to share with the world? Click here to share\nDo you ever have any question about anything you wish to ask and get answer? Click here to ask\nFollow us on twitter @NigeriaTodayNG\nAlso, Like us on facebook\nThis post was syndicated from World - Google News. Click here to read the full text on the original website.\nShare this: Facebook\nTwitter\nWhatsApp\nGoogle\nTumblr\nLinkedIn\nSkype\nPocket\nReddit\nPrint\nPinterest", "Photo\nWASHINGTON — The United States and South Korea will resume their annual joint military exercises on April 1, the Pentagon announced Monday, restarting drills that have aroused the ire of North Korea and were suspended during the Olympics and Paralympics.\nWashington and Seoul had agreed to delay the drills after South and North Korea announced they were beginning a diplomatic rapprochement, with the North sending a delegation to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.\nThe exercises, code-named Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, will involve some 23,000 American troops and more than 300,000 South Korean troops. The scale this year is similar to previous years, Defense Department officials said.\nSouth Korean officials have told reporters that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, who is expected to meet with President Trump in May about the North’s nuclear program, has appeared unexpectedly flexible about the exercises this year. During previous drills, Mr. Kim has conducted multiple missile tests.\nAdvertisement Continue reading the main story\nBut during talks with the South last month, Mr. Kim said that “he could understand why the joint exercises must resume in April on the same scale as before,” Chung Eui-yong, South Korea’s national security adviser, said this month.", "Following a months-long pause in military drills and despite a thaw in relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, South Korea and the US will resume joint military exercises on April 1, the Ministry of National Defense announced.\n“The practice is slated to begin April 1, and it will be conducted on a similar size in previous years,” the Ministry of National Defense said, according to Yonhap.\nThe Pentagon confirmed the planned resumption of joint US-South Korean drills, noting that the exercises are expected to conclude toward the end of May.\n“Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis and the Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo have agreed to resume the annual combined exercises including Foal Eagle and Key Resolve which were de-conflicted with the schedule of the Olympic Games. The exercises are expected to resume April 1, 2018, at a scale similar to that of the previous years,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said in a statement.\nFurthermore, the US military noted that the North Koreans were notified about the drills by the United Nations Command. The Pentagon spokesman further added that the maneuvers have been long planned and are not a response to any specific North Korean action.\n“Our combined exercises are defense-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a provocation,” Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement.\nAfter North Korea stated its desire to seek rapprochement with its neighbor, Seoul managed to convince Washington to hold off the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drills until after the Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea.\nHowever, despite Pyongyang’s pledge to temporarily halt its missile testing, pending upcoming US-North Korean talks, the US has never made concessions to freeze its military drills with South Korea. On Monday, Logan clarified that the military exercise would involve about 23,700 US troops and 300,000 members of the South Korean military.\nDETAILS TO FOLLOW", "India’s army steps up troop level on China border: report\nIndia has increased the number of troops along its northeastern border with China, reports said Friday, amid a tense standoff between Delhi and Beijing over a strategically key Himalayan plateau.\nThe “caution level” among the troops has also been raised, the Press Trust of India news agency said, quoting an unnamed government official.\n“The troop level along the border with China in the Sikkim and Arunachal sectors has been increased,” the official said without giving further details.\nThe official however said there was no deployment of extra troops at the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan, where around 350 Indian army personnel have been locked in a face-off with Chinese troops for nearly seven weeks.\nThe border trouble began in June when Chinese soldiers started to extend a road through the Doklam territory — known as “Donglang” in Chinese. The area is disputed between China and Bhutan.\nIndia, a close ally of Bhutan, then deployed troops to stop the construction project, prompting Beijing to accuse India of trespassing on Chinese soil.\nChina insists that India must withdraw its troops before any proper negotiation takes place. India said both sides should withdraw their forces.\nThe plateau is strategically significant as it gives China access to the so-called “chicken neck” — a thin strip of land connecting India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country.\nMistrust between the giant neighbours is hundreds of years old with the pair having fought a brief war in 1962 in India’s border state of Arunachal Pradesh.", "South Korean and U.S. military authorities are said to be planning to announce the timetable for annual joint military drills on Tuesday.\nA government source said Monday that the two sides are expected to conduct the combined field training Foal Eagle exercise for a month starting April first. The computer-simulated command post Key Resolve exercise is expected to be held for two weeks beginning Friday.\nMilitary authorities have said that the annual drills, which had been put off until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, would be conducted at levels similar to previous years.\nHowever, the source said that this year’s exercises will be conducted in a low-key manner and that specific details will be withheld.", "The nation's top military officer vowed Monday during a Seoul visit that the U.S.-South Korean alliance is ready to defend against the threat from North Korea.\nMarine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Army Gen. Vincent Brooks, the alliance commander in Korea, made the comments to reporters after meeting in Seoul with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top South Korean military officials.\n\"The message today was the ironclad commitment to the alliance,\" Dunford told reporters.\nDunford added, \"What I would like to see is Kim Jong Un to commit to ceasing the development of nuclear weapons and ceasing the testing of ballistic missiles.\"\nThe visit comes on the heels of nuclear-armed North Korea's warning last Wednesday that it is \"carefully examining\" a plan to test-fire a missile into the waters off the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam with missiles. The dynastic regime led by the 33-year-old Kim also detailed how the missile would travel over Japan.\n\"We listen very carefully to Kim Jong Un's rhetoric and we can't afford to be complacent,\" said Dunford. \"We have to take it seriously in regards to our defensive measures, and with regard to the development of military options in the event we are called upon to do that.\"\nThe North Korean threat followed President Donald Trump's warning last Tuesday that the hermit regime faces \"fire and fury\" if it makes more threats against the U.S. The president followed it up Thursday with a comment that maybe his earlier warning to the North wasn't tough enough.\nGuam is home to more than 6,000 U.S. troops, and there are about 28,500 American service members stationed in South Korea and about 50,000 U.S. forces in Japan.\nAt the same time, the alliance commander Brooks said \"[Troops from both South Korea and the U.S.] tell me that they want to be ready. They want to make sure they can do all they can to be prepared. They want to know if they have reason to be concerned, and in the meantime we tell them to continue their mission, and they do it very, very well every single day.\"\nBrooks also confirmed the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian joint military exercises will go forward as planned next week. The joint U.S.-South Korean annual military exercises usually last about two weeks.\nSome suggest the joint military drills could risk inflaming tensions as Pyongyang has viewed them as a provocation. However, Brooks said despite condemnation from the North there were compelling reasons to go forward with the annual joint military exercises.\n\"We have to have a credible deterrent,\" the Army general said. \"This is why we have military capability that undergirds our diplomatic activities. These threats are serious to us, and thus we have to be prepared.\"\nThe war game exercises last year involved about 25,000 U.S. service members on the Korean peninsula and about 50,000 South Korean troops, as well as a contingent of soldiers from several other U.S. allies.\nAs for Guam, Dunford was asked what would happen if North Korea were to follow through with its threat to launch missiles against the U.S. territory.\n\"What we would do in the event of an attack on Guam — or missiles being launched toward Guam — is a decision that will… be made by the president of the United States and he will make that in the context of our alliance,\" responded Dunford.\nAdded Dunford, \"Our job — General Brooks and I — is to make sure our leadership has options available to them to properly respond.\"\nEven so, the nation's highest ranking military officer said he held out hope there might be a change in the tone from Pyongyang. \"We are seeking peaceful resolution to the crisis right now,\" the general said.\nLast month, North Korea test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile, with some Western experts estimating the July 28 launch of the Hwasong-14 long-range missile revealed that the ICBM could reach half, if not most, of the continental U.S.\nAlso, the Washington Post was the first to report last week North Korea was able to produce a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles and said the Kim regime may have \"up to 60 nuclear weapons\" in its arsenal, citing a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment.\nAfter his meetings in South Korea, Dunford then traveled to China for his first visit there as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\nIn a statement Monday, Dunford said his primarily objective for the Chinese trip is to \"continue to develop our military-to-military relationships, to mitigate the risk of miscalculation in the region and to have cooperation where those opportunities exist.\"\nDunford's office also quoted U.S. defense officials as saying the Chinese visit \"is in support of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's diplomatic and economic campaign to deter North Korea.\" They added, \"Success in that campaign would be a North American commitment to denuclearization and a halt of missile tests.\"\nDunford also is scheduled on the trip to stop in Japan for discussions with top government and military officials.\nEarlier this month, the 15-member United Nations Security Council passed stricter economic sanctions against North Korea, which could cut the regime's export revenues by a third.\nChina and Russia were among the Security Council's members voting for the new North Korean sanctions. Reuters reported Monday that China's Commerce Ministry had issued the banning order for the sanctions.\nStill, China state media on Monday reiterated Beijing's strong opposition to the THAAD missile shield in South Korea. China contends the system's powerful radar gives the U.S. and South Korea capability not only to spot missiles fired from the North but to potentially look deep into China to monitor military activities.\n\"THAAD deployment will not help to ease the ROK's security concerns, and will do even less to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula,\" the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a Chinese Foreign Ministry as telling reporters Monday. ROK, or Republic of Korea, is the formal name of South Korea." ]

[ "I think you were copied the wrong file + wrong target folder too.\n\nTo override the com_contact you need to copy the file \n\n\n .../components/com_contact/views/contact/tmpl/default.php\n\n\nto \n\n\n ../templates/your_template_name/html/com_contact/contact/default.php" ]

[ "I believe the function getRenderer in libraries/joomla/form/field.php is the one returning the rendering path, and the bug is there. I haven't tested this, but a quick search in the filesystem points me to that function.\n\nIn any case, you don't need, in my opinion, to go through the hassle and override the renderfield.php. You can just override the default_form.php ( com_contact/views/contact/tmpl/defaut_form.php ) and replace the following line:\n\n&lt;?php echo $field-&gt;renderField(); ?&gt;\n\n\nwith a call to your function\n\n&lt;?php echo myRenderField($field); ?&gt;\n\n\nWhere myRenderField will render $field in the way that you want.", "The error claims that civi is not able to find the isCurrentEmployerNeedingToBeCleared() function in CRM/Contact/BAO/Relationship.php file.\n\nIt is not possible as this change was merged recently with the function being declared and used in the same PR https://github.com/civicrm/civicrm-core/pull/12032.\n\nQuite possible that one of your custom extension OR custom php directory might be overriding CRM/Contact/BAO/Relationship.php file and is not updated to the latest 5.x version.\n\nIf you can check and update that file or simply disable the extension that overrides the file - the error should be fixed.", "For Magento 1.9.x.x, you have at least two options:\n\n1) Update the default contacts.phtml file located at \\app\\design\\frontend\\base\\default\\template\\contacts\\form.phtml (if you have a custom theme, use that directory - or copy this file to your custom theme in the same directory as to not override the default)\n\nFrom there, you can use this file and basic form structure to change the fields that are available.\n\nYou can check which .phtml file is loading by using the template path hints option in your System &gt; Configuration &gt; (change to store view instead of global) &gt; Advanced &gt; Developer &gt; (include your IP in the field at top) &gt; set Template Path Hints to YES &gt; Save Config - then reload your /contacts URL and you should see a path to which file is being loaded. \n\n\n\n2) Use MageMe's WebForms extension which contains a better GUI based form builder that allows you to override the default contacts page.\n\nThere are other \"contact form\" extensions that alter how this page looks, but in my experience, webforms has been a lifesaver - and has utility beyond just the contacts page", "Possible Solution\n\nGiven what you described, After validation is done the user will try to gather missing data but in some situations indicate that it is ok to process without that data (override), and assuming the users are insurance agents rather than lay-people, I would recommend the following process:\n\n\nuser enters data from paper into computer program.\nuser submits form data.\nvalidation occurs.\nform fields which fail validation are marked somehow.\nthe fields which failed are highlighted, and the text cursor is placed in the first field which failed validation. If a field's validation can be overridden, it should be highlighted differently than those which cannot (e.g. yellow for override-able, red for non-override-able)\nuser goes over the highlighted fields (tab should travel between invalid fields, skipping valid ones) and either provides a value or skips it. Skipping it constitutes choosing to override that field.\nuser submits form data.\nvalidation occurs, but skips fields which are override-able and are unchanged since the previous round of validation.\nif any fields fail validation, go back to step 4 and repeat until all pass validation.\n\n\nThis doesn't cover some edge cases, it's only meant as a general overview. It's prioritized for data entry users rather than lay users; when entering lots of data, the best ux involves minimizing switches between mouse and keyboard. This way, the user can stay at the keyboard and zip through the needed form elements.\n\n\nAlternate Possible Solution\n\nValidate each field as the user tabs away from it. If it's override-able, provide a non-blocking input (e.g. a checkbox to the right of the input) to choose to override the field. If they move on without choosing, assume whichever (override or don't override) applies more often than the other. If it's not override-able, or the user chooses to not override, highlight the field to indicate its value isn't acceptable and needs attention.", "Sprout Forms v2.3.0 added support for S3 Asset uploads and file attachments.\n\n--\n\nOUTDATED: As of this post, Sprout Forms does not yet support email attachments using S3.\n\nAs a workaround, it is possible to override the email.html notification template using Template Overrides and link to or display S3 assets in the way you would provide a link to any asset:\n\n{{ asset.getUrl() }}", "The redirect is likely getting overridden by the save function in your controller. You should be able to override the redirect with the method that you listed, we just need to get it in the right spot.\n\nIt looks like you should have a message controller on the front end. If you don't have a save function within this controller, add one like so:\n\npublic function save($key = null, $urlVar = null)\n{\n $return = parent::save($key, $urlVar);\n $this-&gt;setRedirect( JRoute::_( 'index.php?option=com_contactpay&amp;view=message' ));\n return $return;\n}\n\n\nThis utilizes the existing save method in JControllerForm that loads the model and saves the form, but it makes sure that your redirect overrides the default redirect to the list view.", "Your additional language pack should contain your language's translations for the translatable strings of the labels.\n\nSimply create your GER and ENG contacts in the contact manager, in the same manner as you do for your other content.\nCreate menu items in both your ENG / GER menus, set their language and select the corresponding contact.\n\nYou should be ok.\nUpdate:\nI just tested the de-DE language pack and the single contact menu item is translated. If you have done all of the required steps to produce a multi-lingual contact page but you still get english translations, then maybe check your template's html overrides, as it might ships with an override for the contact page that contains no Translatable strings.", "I went through the trouble to do this once, and learned that it wasn't worth it. Not that it was too hard - I did it, but it required constant maintenance.\nFirst, when a user registers, you must alter the login form to remove the username field, and when the registration form is submitted, you must INSERT a username, which where it starts getting difficult. The way I did it, was to give it a temporary name and then change the name when the user ID is known.\nThen you must override the output of your login modules, the output of the reset password form, the login view of the component, the user account default and edit views....\nAnd when Joomla releases an update that changes any of these things - you get to rewrite the overrides.\nMaybe instead, you might consider giving them a &quot;generate username&quot; option....make it fun, or base it on their name, or whatever.\nIt isn't worth it.", "For contact forms, I ended up using RSJoomla Pro to do this. It makes building the form easy and it handles the e-mail issues too.\n\nAlso, contact support with your web hosting service and verify the settings in the Global Configurations, because sometimes they change the port or other options and then need to be tweaked in order to get e-mail to work properly.", "To Override Main.tpl file - you can try using Main.extra.tpl which should work \n\nBut Please try using - custom File - because if you are overriding the same file in some other extension it might not work sometime \n\nfunction hook_civicrm_buildForm($formName, &amp;$form) {\n$templatePath = realpath(dirname(__FILE__).\"/templates\");\nCRM_Core_Region::instance('billing-block')-&gt;add(array(\n 'template' =&gt; \"{$templatePath}/custom/custom.tpl\",\n));\n}\n\n\nand add your coding in the custom.tpl\n\nAlso please note that for billing address all the fields are hard coded in the core also same for validation - \n\nIf you need more help please let me know - thanks", "OK. I figured it out eventually. This is how I got it to work. It seems a little wonky but it functions\n\n\nAdd the column to the list of columns \nOverride the template\nAlter the rows to add the link\nAND unset the column in Alter rows\n\n\nThe constructor columns must contain\n\n ts('Org id') =&gt; 'org_id',\n\n\nThe override\n\n public function templateFile() {\n return \"CRM/Contact/Form/Search/Custom/mySearch.tpl\";\n }\n\n\nThe template\n\nAdd snippets in each of the column headers section and the rows section skipping an item in the loop. Eg. {if $header.sort neq 'org_id'}\n\nFor the headers:\n\n {foreach from=$columnHeaders item=header}\n {if $header.sort neq 'org_id'}\n &lt;th scope=\"col\"&gt;\n {if $header.sort}\n {assign var='key' value=$header.sort}\n {$sort-&gt;_response.$key.link}\n {else}\n {$header.name}\n {/if}\n &lt;/th&gt;\n {/if}\n{/foreach}\n\n\nFor the rows:\n\n{foreach from=$columnHeaders item=header}\n {assign var=fName value=$header.sort}\n {if $header.sort neq 'org_id'}\n {if $fName eq 'sort_name'}\n &lt;td&gt;&lt;a href=\"{crmURL p='civicrm/contact/view' q=\"reset=1&amp;cid=`$row.contact_id`&amp;key=`$qfKey`&amp;context=custom\"}\"&gt;{$row.sort_name}&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;\n {else}\n &lt;td&gt;{$row.$fName}&lt;/td&gt;\n {/if}\n {/if}\n{/foreach}\n\n\nThe alter rows\n\nNote the added unset line.\n\nfunction alterRow( &amp;$row ) {\n $url = CRM_Utils_System::url('civicrm/contact/view', \"reset=1&amp;cid={$row['org_id']}\");\n $row['organization_name'] = \"&lt;a href=\\\"{$url}\\\"&gt;{$row['organization_name']}&lt;/a&gt;\";\n unset($row['org_id']);\n}", "You can not add anonymous contacts to Automation Plans.\nYou will need to identify them first. Additionally, if you are planning on sending this user an email, you have to know information about the contact, thereby making it a known contact.\nIt sounds like you need to add a Custom Submit Action to your Sitecore Form to identify the contact, set the email address and personal facets, and then trigger a goal, to then enroll them into a Marketing Automation campaign.\nExample Code to Identify a Contact using a Custom Submit Action\nusing System;\nusing System.Collections.Generic;\nusing System.Linq;\nusing Sitecore.Analytics;\nusing Sitecore.Diagnostics;\nusing Sitecore.ExperienceForms.Models;\nusing Sitecore.ExperienceForms.Processing;\nusing Sitecore.ExperienceForms.Processing.Actions;\nusing Sitecore.XConnect;\nusing Sitecore.XConnect.Client;\nusing Sitecore.XConnect.Client.Configuration;\nusing Sitecore.XConnect.Collection.Model;\n \nnamespace SitecoreHacker.Feature.ExperienceForms.SubmitActions\n{\n public class TriggerIdentifyContact : SubmitActionBase\n {\n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Initializes a new instance of the class.\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The submit action data.\n public TriggerIdentifyContact(ISubmitActionData submitActionData) : base(submitActionData)\n {\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Gets the current tracker.\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n protected virtual ITracker CurrentTracker =&amp;gt; Tracker.Current;\n \n public override void ExecuteAction(FormSubmitContext formSubmitContext, string parameters)\n {\n Assert.ArgumentNotNull(formSubmitContext, &quot;formSubmitContext&quot;);\n UpdateContactData target;\n if (TryParse(parameters, out target))\n try\n {\n if (Execute(target, formSubmitContext))\n return;\n }\n catch (ArgumentNullException)\n {\n }\n formSubmitContext.Errors.Add(new FormActionError\n {\n ErrorMessage = SubmitActionData.ErrorMessage\n });\n formSubmitContext.Abort();\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Executes the action with the specified .\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The data.\n /// The form submit context.\n /// true if the action is executed correctly; otherwise false\n protected override bool Execute(UpdateContactData data, FormSubmitContext formSubmitContext)\n {\n Assert.ArgumentNotNull(data, nameof(data));\n Assert.ArgumentNotNull(formSubmitContext, nameof(formSubmitContext));\n \n var firstNameField = GetFieldById(data.FirstNameFieldId, formSubmitContext.Fields);\n var lastNameField = GetFieldById(data.LastNameFieldId, formSubmitContext.Fields);\n var emailField = GetFieldById(data.EmailFieldId, formSubmitContext.Fields);\n \n if (firstNameField == null &amp;amp;&amp;amp; lastNameField == null &amp;amp;&amp;amp; emailField == null)\n return false;\n \n using (var client = CreateClient())\n {\n try\n {\n var emailIdent = new IdentifiedContactReference(&quot;IdentifiedEmail&quot;, GetValue(emailField));\n \n //Identify with Email\n CurrentTracker.Session.IdentifyAs(emailIdent.Source, emailIdent.Identifier);\n \n var expandOptions = new ContactExpandOptions(\n CollectionModel.FacetKeys.PersonalInformation,\n CollectionModel.FacetKeys.EmailAddressList);\n var contact = client.Get(emailIdent, expandOptions);\n \n //Set Fields\n SetPersonalInformation(GetValue(firstNameField), GetValue(lastNameField), contact, client);\n SetEmail(GetValue(emailField), contact, client);\n \n client.Submit();\n \n return true;\n }\n catch (Exception ex)\n {\n Logger.LogError(ex.Message, ex);\n return false;\n }\n }\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Creates the client.\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The instance.\n protected virtual IXdbContext CreateClient()\n {\n return SitecoreXConnectClientConfiguration.GetClient();\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Gets the field by .\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The identifier.\n /// The fields.\n /// The field with the specified .\n private static IViewModel GetFieldById(Guid id, IList fields)\n {\n return fields.FirstOrDefault(f =&amp;gt; Guid.Parse(f.ItemId) == id);\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Gets the value.\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The field.\n /// The field value.\n private static string GetValue(object field)\n {\n return field?.GetType().GetProperty(&quot;Value&quot;)?.GetValue(field, null)?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Sets the facet of the specified .\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The first name.\n /// The last name.\n /// The contact.\n /// The client.\n private static void SetPersonalInformation(string firstName, string lastName, Contact contact,\n IXdbContext client)\n {\n if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(firstName) &amp;amp;&amp;amp; string.IsNullOrEmpty(lastName))\n return;\n var personalInfoFacet = contact.Personal() ?? new PersonalInformation();\n if (personalInfoFacet.FirstName == firstName &amp;amp;&amp;amp; personalInfoFacet.LastName == lastName)\n return;\n personalInfoFacet.FirstName = firstName;\n personalInfoFacet.LastName = lastName;\n client.SetPersonal(contact, personalInfoFacet);\n }\n \n ///\n&lt;summary&gt;\n /// Sets the facet of the specified .\n /// &lt;/summary&gt;\n \n /// The email address.\n /// The contact.\n /// The client.\n private static void SetEmail(string email, Contact contact, IXdbContext client)\n {\n if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(email))\n return;\n var emailFacet = contact.Emails();\n if (emailFacet == null)\n {\n emailFacet = new EmailAddressList(new EmailAddress(email, false), &quot;Preferred&quot;);\n }\n else\n {\n if (emailFacet.PreferredEmail?.SmtpAddress == email)\n return;\n emailFacet.PreferredEmail = new EmailAddress(email, false);\n }\n client.SetEmails(contact, emailFacet);\n }\n }\n \n public class UpdateContactData\n {\n public Guid FirstNameFieldId { get; set; }\n public Guid LastNameFieldId { get; set; }\n public Guid EmailFieldId { get; set; }\n }\n}\n\nThis came from the blog post: https://sitecorehacker.com/2018/02/22/svdd-using-forms-in-sitecore-9-and-xdb-together/", "I contacted the author of the Mac Carbon port (Mitsuharu YAMAMOTO) and he concluded that for the two keybindings in question it is not possible for Emacs to override these regardless of the value of the above options. Too bad.", "Drupal adds edit to denote that the element is an input element. It helps to identify form elements through CSS, and reduces the possibility of ID clashes with other elements on the page.\n\nIn case you're interested, this is done in the form_builder() function...and there's no easy way to override it system-wide.\n\nYou can easily override it for individual form elements though if it's bothering you:\n\n$form['element'] = array(\n '#type' =&gt; 'textfield',\n '#title' =&gt; 'Some title',\n // ...\n '#id' =&gt; drupal_html_id('my-new-id')\n);", "You will get more details in civicrm log file (*/file/civicrm/ConfigAndLog). Also the main reason of this type error is, we are using few fields that are disabled. check custom fields status that are using for contact.", "Are you perhaps using the Screen Name Override feature? If so, your screen_name field might be saved as something else based on the contents of the fields set for the Screen Name Override. For example, if your Screen Name Override setting is first_name|last_name, whatever you set for the screen_name will be replaced by what is in fields first_name and last_name.\n\nIf this isn't the case, try the {exp:user:edit} form on a completely, absolutely blank EE template with nothing whatsoever on it besides the code. This is to rule out any effect of javascript/jQuery or other tags (native or third-party) on your form.", "If you click on the contact name ie. 'From' on the form shown on your screen shot it will take you to the contact summary page of the contact where you will get to see all the details of the contact stored for it. If you still can't see the details than your user might not have required permission to view contact details", "My assumption with this answer is you are developing a component handling the contact form view.\n\nThe correct way to handle this would be in your Contact model. Technically, proper form in the MVC would require retrieving and santitizing URL params in the controllers, but for simplicity sake we'll focus on the model portion.\n\nIn the model overload the loadFormData method from the parent class. It is in here you can alter XML form definition field attributes and values.\n\n/**\n * Method to get the data that should be injected in the form.\n *\n * @return array The default data is an empty array.\n *\n * @since 1.6\n */\nprotected function loadFormData()\n{\n // Check the session for previously entered form data.\n $data = JFactory::getApplication()-&gt;getUserState('com_mycomponent.edit.contact.data', array());\n\n if (empty($data))\n {\n $data = $this-&gt;getItem();\n }\n\n // Load core JInput class to retrieve URL params\n $input = JFactory::getApplication()-&gt;input;\n\n // Add values for params to data if present\n $data-&gt;contact_emailmsg = $input-&gt;get('jform_contact_emailmsg', null, 'string');\n $data-&gt;contact_subject = $input-&gt;get('jform_contact_subject', null, 'string');\n\n return $data; \n}\n\n\nA final note on how you are constructing the URLs. I noticed you have two variations for the same form field value, which I'm not sure you need. It appears you have really only need two links:\n\nhttp://my.domain/index.php/contact?jform_contact_emailmsg=test\nhttp://my.domain/index.php/contact?jform_contact_subject=test\n\n\nHope that helps!", "Drupal 8 will handle custom fields on contact forms 'out-the-box', they will be rendered in the message body by contact module. If custom fields don't appear in message body, someone messed up.\n\nIn this particular case, attribute 'name' of 'input' html tags were modified, and $_POST came with a wrong schema. $_POST['field'] instead of $_POST['field'][0]['value'].\n\nHere shows the hint:\n\"message\":[{\"value\":\"Any message\"}] - Correct (field[0]['value'])\n\"field_customa\":[] - Wrong (field[])", "create a custom email template based on contact mail template and edit it with your required form fields.", "From Solspace support team:\n\n\n Ideally, put the code for the Freeform error page alone in its own\n template (eg. /contact/error), i.e. not with other, regular EE code.\n\n\nIn my case that tip works. Not sure which part of EE code interfere, but will dig deeper in that issue to find out.", "So it turned out that the &quot;Contact edit&quot; capability was turned on for the &quot;Authenticated User&quot; role. One needs to remember that Drupal &quot;ORs&quot; the permissions for logged in users in any custom role with the permissions in the &quot;Authenticated User&quot; role.\nAlways check the defaults before blaming the software!", "Twitter has a page listing things to try if you have trouble confirming your email address. Based on what you've already done, it sounds like you need to:\n\n\n Wait a few days, then click the 'Resend confirmation' link in the\n yellow nag at the top of your Twitter home page again. We send the\n emails immediately when you create your account, but it is possible\n that your email provider was temporarily blocking emails from us or\n delivery was delayed.\n\n\nIf that still doesn't do it, they have a form to contact them for help.", "The buy-vs-build question is an eternal one. I would say WordPress and Drupal both meet your criteria. I have more experience with WordPress so I'd do it in WordPress. To address your requirements:\n\n\nSemantic HTML (well formed, proper use of attributes, microformats where appropriate, use of CSS for style and HTML for markup)\n\nYes, most themes for WordPress use xhtml by default with no trouble. Microformats-related markup you probably will need to do by hand in an html view, though there may be plugins which facilitate that.\nValidating HTML and CSS (XHTML, HTML4, HTML5 all acceptable - as long as it validates out of the box)\n\nYes, most themes for WordPress validate or are very close to validating without much trouble. There's great documentation for theming.\nSupport for a blog\n\nYes, absolutely.\nSupport for editing and managing my resume in HTML form as well managing uploaded files in PDF, ODT, and DOC formats that I make available for download\n\nYes, just have the resume be a static page, and manage the uploaded files using the native Media management tool in WordPress.\nWritten in a language that I know and my host supports - PHP preferred since that's easiest for my to host and I also am familiar with it\n\nYes, WordPress = PHP + MySQL + Apache works best for mod_rewrite\nEasy to obtain or write a themes for\n\nYes, see Theme Development\nSupport for static pages that change infrequently (about me), static pages that change sometimes (project lists), dynamic pages (blog, comments), and forms (contact me)\n\nYes pages are managed in WordPress under the Pages part of the interface. Contact forms work well with plugins such as Contact Form 7\nPlays nicely with other tools in the same environment - I use Trac on the same host for project management and might deploy other software such as a personal MediaWiki deployment\n\nYes, though you may need to add some rewrite rules so that not everything points at WordPress. I run WordPress in a subdirectory and let it handle everything usually. You may need to add a specifier to have WordPress ignore a MediaWiki directory stem.\nEasy to integrate with other social media (Twitter? Facebook? Pandora?) - not require, but would be nice\n\nYes, through plugins. By default you can also pull in RSS feeds into WordPress sidebars.\nGeneration and maintenance of the sitemap and/or robots.txt\n\nYes, Google Sitemap Generator.", "In order to do that you would need to modify the import process itself. The import process is using a few pipelines defined in Sitecore.JavaScriptServices.AppServices.config:\n\n\n\nEach of those has plenty of processors. You would need to override some of them in order to adjust it to your needs.\n\n\nTo get rid of the workflow from being assigned to templates you can:\n\n\noverride ProcessTemplates processor\nfor this particular change, you can also take a look at default app configuration and remove default workflow path form defaultWorkflow attribute in Sitecore.JavaScriptServices.Apps.config (would be better to override that property in your app configuration)\n\nIf you would like not to protect items I would suggest looking and overriding ProtectDeveloperItems processor\nFor placeholder settings items - take a look at AddPlaceholderAllowedControls or ProcessPlaceholders", "In stead of using in built exp:email:contact_form modifying core files of EE I am suggesting you to use FormGrab. This plugin is very simple and easy to use. You can create and integrate Contact form very easily.\n\nTo achieve your requirement (interact with POST) this plugin has hook from which you can modify and validate the data by creating simple extension file.\n\nAnd main thing is, it comes up with no Cost. It is free. I think this plugin suits your requirement.", "Sitecore 8.1 update 3 brought a change that allows custom Contact Data to be indexed. This means this Custom Contact data will be available to searched through the sitecore_analytics_index.\n\nThis is implemented through a custom processor that extends the new contactindexable.loadfields pipeline. This allows data from custom xDB facets to be added to the collection of contact indexable fields.\n\nprotected override IEnumerable&lt;IIndexableDataField&gt; GetFields(ContactIndexableLoadFieldsPipelineArgs args)\n{\n var fields = new List&lt;IIndexableDataField&gt;();\n var customFacet = args.Contact.GetFacet&lt;ICustomContactFacet&gt;(\"CustomContactFacetName\");\n if (customFacet != null)\n {\n fields.Add(new IndexableDataField&lt;bool&gt;(\"contact.CustomFieldName\", customFacet.CustomField));\n }\n return fields;\n}\n\n\nI have since written a detailed blog post on how to do this", "It's not self predication by itself that causes trouble here. By self predication alone, the form of beauty, for example, can be beautiful (thus partake of itself) and all will be fine.\n\nThe trouble is that according to Plato's theory of forms a form must be distinct from the things which partake of it, and so it cannot partake of itself (see here). (Note that a form partaking of itself is not the same as self predication.)\n\nSo if the form of beauty is beautiful, there must be another distinct form of which the form of beauty partakes, call it B1. But then B1 is supposed to be beautiful too and so partake of a distinct B2, and so on. Thus we get infinite regress.\n\nMore here.", "While the override checkbox works - I would consider another design option where you don't use an override checkbox at all and rather have the text enabled as opposed to read only and add a button that says \"Reset to default\" or \"Reset to original\" (either use text or an icon to display this option).\n\nFor the email field, I would suggest not using the override option either and instead have the field say Email with two checkboxes next to it {Receive, Do Not Receive} and with \"Receive\" checked by default.", "You're right, comments are highlighted in a first pass which is done by interpreting syntax tables. Font-lock does not override already fontified text by default, to do that you have to add another list item in your font-lock expression:\n\n\n MATCH-HIGHLIGHT should be of the form:\n \n (SUBEXP FACENAME [OVERRIDE [LAXMATCH]])\n\n\nThe optional OVERRIDE argument is what you're after.\n\nThat aside, here's a minimal variation of what fic-mode does: https://github.com/tarsius/hl-todo", "By default the Webform-CiviCRM module uses the default \"Unsupervised\" rule from CiviCRM to determine if an unknown contact is already in your database. If this is not happening for you, check your rule's criteria.\n\nAnd as of v4.11 you can now specify the matching rule per contact.\n\nYou'll find this new option just under the \"Contact Fields\":\n\n\n\nThe help text says:\n\n\n This determines how an unknown contact will be handled when the\n webform is submitted.\n \n \n Select the \"Default Unsupervised\" rule for the\n same duplicate matching used by CiviCRM event registration &amp;\n contribution forms.\n Select a specific rule to customize how matching\n is performed.\n Or select \"- None -\" to always create a new contact.\n \n \n Note: Matching rules are only used if the contact is not already\n selected via \"Existing Contact\" field.", "Give your override a custom name, e.g. popup.php. Edit the module and in Advanced tab select the custom layout in Layout field." ]

[ "Maybe because you hand them the milk for free before they can even try to milk the cow... Get it? In other words... Why would they want to get serious if you're not wearing pants in the first place. \\nI really don't have any sympathy for you." ]

[ "I would only shave it if my boyfriend wanted to e@t it.", "Csc (t) = 1/sin(t)\\ntan (t) = sin(t)/cos(t)\\n\\nTherefore, Csc^2(t) = 1/sin^2(t)\\n\\ncsc^2(t)tan(t)sin(t) = [1/sin^2(t)][sin(t)/cos(t)]sin(t)\\n = [sin^2(t)]/[sin^2(t)*cos(t)]\\n = 1/cos(t)= sec(t)\\n\\nI do not know why they always make it complicated, why not just right sec(t)!", "Sure why not. T-mac isn't even playing and the 3 you're getting are all awesome.", "Got to be T-Mac. Why? I don't like Kobe at all. To me he is to selfish during the games.", "i also have twin sons and get asked if they are twins all the time. No idea why...Another thing that drives me nuts is when they say, \"You really have your hands full, don't you...\" No S**T Sherlock!", "I don't think feet are taboo. My ex-boyfriend had a foot fetish and it made things very interesting, not bad at all. Everybody has their own \"thing\". And anyway, that's why we get pedicures and wear sexy shoes, so our feet will be attractive.", "Oh why, oh why, oh why\\nYou tell me l-l-l-lies\\nNever t-t-t-t-t think\\nThat I woulda re-a-li-a-li-a-lize\\nThings you say-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay\\nWill make you fay-ay-ay-ade away\\nb-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye\\nB-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye-bye (goodbye)\\n\\n12 o’clock last night in a club\\nU an a girl do de rub-a-dub-dub\\nShort dress and long curly hair\\nDon’t deny it cause I saw u dere\\nStep 1 mi did dede when you giv her di line\\nStep 2 me did dede when you looked so sincere\\nStep 3 mi did dede when you hold her close and\\nTell her everything dat she waah fe fear\\nWhy you play those games,\\nthose g-g-g-games with me\\n\\nOh, oh, oh, oh no, no, no, no, no, no...... \\nOh why oh why oh why You tell me \\nl-l-l-lies Never t-t-t-t-t-think \\nThat I woulda re-a-li-a-li-a-lize \\nThings you say-ay-ay-ay-ay \\nWill make you fay-ay-ay-ay-ade away \\nSo b-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye \\nB-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye-bye (goodbye)\\n\\n12 o’clock in a de afternoon\\nU come around wit di same old tune\\nGwan on an on like say everything fin\\nWhen all di time me know sey a lie, you did a lie\\nStep 1 me did dede when u give her de kiss\\nStep 2 mi two eyes as me witness\\nStep 3 giv mi mi keys and exit please\\nYour day is done so u better move on\\n\\nWhy you play those games\\nThose g-g-g-games with me\\n\\nOh, oh, oh, oh, no. No. No. No, no, no....\\nOh why oh why oh why\\nYou tell me l-l-l-lies\\nNever t-t-t-t-t-think\\nThat I woulda re-a-li-a-li-a-lize\\nThings you say-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay\\nWill make you fay-ay-ay-ay-ade away\\nSo b-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye\\nGood b-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye\\nOh why oh why oh why\\nYou tell me l-l-l-l-lies\\nNever t-t-t-t-t-think\\nDat I woulda re-a-li-a-li-a-lize\\nThings you say-ay-ay-ay-ay\\nWill make you fay-ay-ay-ade away\\nSo b-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye\\nGood b-b-b-b-bye-bye-bye\\n\\nThere you go hun!", "The War on Drugs is Bul&&&&t, alls its doing is putting more Mo&&&&ther&&&kers in jail, thats all its doing. Why, because people want to get high, there's people on this ANSWERS.Yahoo that are looking at their wathches, wondering when they can get way to take a hit.\\n\\nYou can take away all the blow, all the joints, all the ice, all the 8-ball, guys will still want to get high. They'll become scientists and go behind their houses, \"hey check this out dude, you take a baby's bottle, fill it with a little gasoline and dead lima beans, suck this you'll be f&&&cked up\"\\n\\njust kidding, i never touch the sh&&T.", "HIV is very specific about where it can live. HIV thrives in human cytotoxic T cells. It can sort of live in the T cells of other higher primates, which is why we can use monkeys in hIV research.\\n\\nHOWEVER, HIV can't live in the digestive tract of a mosquito. For one thing, it's a mosquito: not the right environment for HIV to splice in, replicate and proliferate. Secondly, it's a digestive tract. It has enzymes that can kill the virus particles.\\n\\nSo that's why mosquitoes can't transmit HIV.", "T--H--A--T I can spell that and I didn't use one R", "HAVE YOU TRIED READING THE EXPLANATION OF WHY THEY DIDN`T GO THROUGH ABOVE THE EMAIL WHEN IT DOSEN`T?", "At the Shat-el-Arab ... and why these net folk turn the letters S H A T into stars, I don't know!", "Okay, this is how I read this problem:\\n\\nThe integral of 1/(t-1) dt on the interval from 0 to (1-3x+x^2).\\n\\nFirst look at what you're integrating 1/(t-1) dt. This can be rewritten (t-1)^-1 dt. If you substitute u for t-1 and du for dt (the derivative of t-1 = 1) then you have the integral of u^-1 du. This is ln |u| (ln is the natural log). Sub t-1 for u and you get ln |t-1|.\\n\\nNow you use your interval and you get:\\n\\nln |(1-3x+x^2) - 1| - ln |0|\\n\\nSimplify and you get:\\n\\nln |x^2 - 3x| - ln |0|", "R, S and T as consecutive letters are used to name the 3 different phases. I am not sure why they those 3 have been chosen.", "Yes why not im sure his b i t c h slapping amendment would be popular. and why not 50cent for president. for love of god im joking so calm down.", "I think Cingular is best. I get good signal everywhere (especially since they merged with AT&T Wireless). And, you can call other Cingular owners for free. Cingular has 51 million subscribers that you can call.", "I don´t hate Muslims. In my town, there live many Muslims. Everyone gets along quite well. I even have Muslim people among my friends. I´ve been to Islamic countries like Turkey for holidays, the people are very friendly. I also visited mosques. \\nThere are Christians who don´t tolerate other religions.\\nAnd I think there are also very many Muslims who don´t tolerate other religions (Christians, Jewish,...)\\nSo, you can´t say Christian hate Muslim and Muslims love all religions!", "Halle Berry. You know why I know cause you only see usher wearing t-shirts with halle berry on it Not beyonce!! lol", "I am a christian.I understand the muslims are maybe more religious than others.So why do they offend these people?Why don t they just let them be?The muslims never offend other religions but we \"westerners\" provoke them.", "Why do people answer to questions without knowing s**t?", "First get rid of 2x by putting t = 2x\\n( Read \"eye 1\" = and \"eye = \" etc... capital letter I doesn't show up well on screen)\\nI1 = Integral (sec^3 (t) dt/2)\\nFor simplicity I will write Int for integral sign\\nI = Int sec^3 t dt = Int sec t sec^2 t dt\\nApply product rule\\n\\nI = sec t * tan t - Int sec t tan^2 t dt\\nI = sec t tan t - Int sec t (sec^2 t - 1) dt\\nExpand\\nI = sec t tan t - Int sec^3 t dt + Int sec t dt\\nBut second term is -I hence you have\\n2I = sec t tan t + Int sec t dt\\n\\nThis is standard form to evaluate using \\n\\nInt sec t = ln tan (pi/4 + t/2) + c\\n I = 1/2 (sec t tan t + ln tan (pi/4 + t/2))+ C\\nI1 = 1/2 I", "I LIVE IN NORTH JERSEY AND I HAVE ''VERIZON DSL ON LINE''IT COST ME 14.95 A MONTH AFTER YOU BUY THE PKG. WHICH IS 20.00 YOU INSTALL IT YOUR SELF REAL EASY. YOU CAN GET PHONE CALLS WHILE YOUR ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I COULDN'T GET WITH 'ATT' ALSO VERIZON WILL BILL YOU WITH YOUR PHONE BILL.WITH A T T YOU NEEDED A CREDIT CARD. THE D.S.L. IS VERY FAST", "Britain and proud of it . But i don`t hate america you guys helped us out in world war two and kept soviets out of western europe i why salute you!!", "I don't see why you'd be troubled. I've ordered from them before. They also let people submit their own t-shirt designs that they in turn create and sell.", "No, it´s not weird ... I do that do ... e.g. on public toilets which are dirty, I don´t wanna sit down - that´s why I pee standing up.\\nI also like it.", "no your not the only one!\\nI love that song!\\nIt got such a great message and its a song you can never get tired of no matter how many times you listen to i t!", "try liverpoolfc.tv where you can get a \"we all dream of a team of Carraghers\" t-shirt", "Don't leave. It can be used against you later to keep you from getting even partial custody. Stay for the sake of at least visitations. I know, I had to go through the same sh!t.", "yes! but i think they shouldn't be putting people in prison for stupid things!! my boyfriend just got 3.25 years for a probation violation just because he moved out of that county to start his life over! charges for attempted murder don't allways get that long! that's why the prisons are so over populted... because they lock people up for stupid shit!!!!", "I don’t like this serial that much because there are so many similarities in here with other serials. I don’t know why many are crazy over it. To me, it is only an average serial. \\n\\nIt did average in the box office. If youn need to read the whole story just click http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=167", "i don`t get it... first shes famous for being rich.now shes getting richer for being famous....", "t get the full version for free, but you can get the free Express version that is still quite good at:\\n\\nhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/" ]

[ "It does not help with Yellow Jackets, and we had hoped it would. But it is a cool device, so if your only issue is flies, it might be great." ]

[ "Cool device that has helped declutter our A/V space from cords. My only complaint is that the device can only have two devices linked to it so I have to unlink my computer to connect my phone or vice versa because my wife's phone is linked to it.", "It performs its intended purpose fairly well, but there are better options out there. It's not so great at smaller bugs, though, since they can escape out of the gaps at the top.", "The magnifiers are too high up so it makes it difficult to look through the clear glass. Otherwise they work as expected. Great for far-sighted people who want to tie flies without taking off your sunglasses to put on reading glasses. Polarization also is exceptionally cool.", "Great, my only problem is that it leaves alot of finger prints, but overall, it's really neat, so i still love it, would've been a 5 stars product if it wasn't due to that~!", "I love it. I was having problems catching the flies buzzing around my screen porch light fixture. This Zapper gets them fast and easy.", "Works fine until it breaks. The plastic is so cheap that it starts to crack right away. Definitely zap flies pretty well but most likely you'll have to replace it if you use it often and are not super careful with it.", "This is a marvelous NAS drive that takes up little space, makes virtually no noise, and runs cool. This is the perfect box to hang on your u-verse router and access with all of your wireless devices.", "Overall, this is a cool device. But, it ruins your phone, to the point where the screen no longer registers your touch, I am deleting all of the Oculus software and trying to fix the issues before returning my S6 for a new one. I literally have to punch my phone for the touch screen to work, super frustrating! So my advice is to wait for this technology to catch up, it's too soon, the phone can't handle the strain.", "This is a very handy, well-designed, and functional auxiliary battery for your Lightning or Micro-USB device. At 2600 mAh, it has enough power to charge most any device. It is small and compact and has the cables built-in, which is its particular strength, in my opinion. Thus you can throw this device into your bag or whatnot and know that you have everything that you need to charge your device. The device itself will charge from any USB charger as best I can tell, or your powered USB connector on your computer, which is where I charged mine from. The device stops charging when fully charged so there is no issue with overcharging it. This one is Apple certified, so I trust that it will work with future Apple devices as well. I really like this little device. RJB.", "Didn't work.....caught maybe 3 fruit flies. Pretty bummed on spending so much for 0 results. I wouldn't waste your dough!", "The Jet Panther racer is SUPER fast. I'm talking about a slight squeeze on the remote and it flies off. The only problem-- and it's not really a problem-- is that you have a learning curve and you'll need it to master this device.\n\nThis is a hobbyist quality remote control device and not a toy replica that you'd find in a Walmart or a Toys R Us.\n\nThis is a fun and well-made device.\n\nManufacturer's Spec's:\n2.4GHz\n22KPH\nDigital Proportional Speed Control\nFront & Back Advance Suspension System\nTPR Grippable Tires\nBrake Control\nUpto 100' remote connection", "I have one of these and I bought one for a friend who is a bird enthusiast. It works well and it's fun. You might not want to use it at the table for an elegant dinner party, but it's a great tool for those who like a little something amusing in their lives.", "I dumped old desktop partitions to a backup drive. Now, I read them from a laptop. Vista seems a little slow to detect the mass storage devices. Haven't tried in Linux yet. Sometimes I connect the usb, then power on the enclosure; not sure if it helps. I can't safely stop the device, not sure why. So I just disconnect when there shouldn't any writes. No filesystem issues so far. The blue light is cool. I don't notice the noise with it tucked away under a table.", "Love this electric coffee grinder. My only issue is the design. Retrieving the grinned coffee is not practical. The compartment does not remove so you will have to unplug and take the whole device and use a spoon to empty the content. Bad design. Besides that I love the device, its quite and quick.", "My only complaint is it eats batteries. Wish I could plug this thing in or set it on a charger at night!", "I've had this USB key for about a month, and haven't had any real issues so far. It is recognized by my Mac and Windows PC without issue, and hasn't lost or corrupted any files. The only issue I have had is that it get's scratch easily with normal use. When the stick is inserted into the USB port, it rubs in two spots in the port itself. This leaves two silver scratches in the devices silver surface, which have only gotten deeper with age. So far, I have no reason to believe that this will effect the performance of the device, but it's still a minor annoyance.", "It's very stable and fun the fly. One problem I find it annoying is when I fly it full speed forward and try to turn either left or right, it tumbles and drops once in a while. Maybe because it's coaxial? I don't see that on my mSR.", "It works, Not complicated, and does what is claims to do. There are probably other similar devices that are more comfortable or a bit less tricky to use but you can't beat it for the price.", "I own 3 of these devices. I have had to return one that would not charge after owning it only 5 months. The replacement I received had the issue, it also would not take take a charge either after 16 months. I knew the warranty expired, so I contacted Amazon to repair the item at my expense. Guess what? Amazon has no repair service for the device it sells. My advice is Save your $250 and kick in the extra $ for an Ipad, at least Apple stands behind their products!", "The actual device works well but the software that you need to use it could be better.", "This speaker generally works fine for me, but it has one major flaw: It can only pair with one device at a time, and will not pair with a new device if the old device is still connected. This means, for example, if you use the speaker with your iPad and then want to switch to your iPhone, you have to go to the iPad, turn off bluetooth so it disconnects, pair with your iPhone, then turn bluetooth back on on your iPad.\n\nThis behavior is acknowledged in the Troubleshooting section of the instructions, so it's just not me. If you plan to dedicate the speaker to a single device, you will probably be happy with it. If you want a speaker you can share among multiple devices, keep looking.", "Im glad I have it but it sucks at holding a charge even when turned off. other than that its cool.", "I bought this product to replace my current charger because it has heating issues. I spent the extra money to get the Toshiba brand charger so I wouldn't get any off brand issues.\nUnfortunately the new charger has heating issues as well and the cord from the wall outlet to the charger is about half as long as the original.\nIf the charging device is plugged in when I'm using the computer it becomes so HOT that it is hard to hold in your hand. It doesn't matter which way the power cord is inserted into the charging device or what type of surface it is sitting on the charging device gets really HOT! The only positive thing about it (which is why I gave it 3 stars) is that if you use it to charge the computer when it is turned off the charger doesn't seem to heat up. I'm not sure how long it stays that way though as I don't trust leaving it plugged in when I'm not in the room.\nI'm using my old power cord again, since I now know it isn't related to the heating issue, so the short power cord isn't an issue. However if you use your computer any distance from a plug in be prepared to have to carry a power strip everywhere you go. The short cord is an unnecessary pain and another reason why I graded this product down!", "Cool but super hard to use. A novelty that I might not have bought if I knew how mostly useless it is. Still fun at times and there is no problem with the tech or construction quality.", "My 11 year old son has enjoyed this robot. It's well made and you control it by downloading the the free APP to your device. Very cool gift for a tech minded kid!", "Friend at work bought an upgraded 4600mAh battery and thought he was cool. I only charge every other night, and that's after I've had this battery for months now. I only wish I could get a battery like this for an iPhone.\n\nCons? Get's warm when charging sometimes, so make sure it's not under your pillow and has room to breathe. Either way, stoked to never having battery issues. Rock on.", "The unit does it's job. It is nothing fancy or high tech.", "This is a great toy for the man in your life. It actually flys.", "aewsome little Fan Controller works geat for what im using it for", "Very convenient device to keep your car devices plugged in but only send power to them when your want with a flick of a switch!", "This thing was almost awesome. It's a cool product I just wish the vacuum had more \"sucking\" power than it does. This thing won't even pick up a lady bug.", "It's a good product but DO NOT use them for vinegar if fruit flies are ever a problem in your home. They have no lids and I had to pour out 6 oz. of good vinegar because a bunch of fruit flies decided it would be a wonderful place to die." ]

[ "How can you lose weight fast in a healthy way?" ]

[ "How can I lose 4kg weight?", "How can I lose weight at age 55?", "Can I lose weight by fasting?", "How can I lose weight if I am a teen?", "How can I lose post marriage weight?", "How much weight can I lose in a week?", "How can I lose an extreme amount of weight?", "I'm overweight. How can I begin to lose weight?", "Can I lose weight without exercise?", "Can I lose weight with a hula hoop?", "How can I lose weight safely as a teenage girl?", "How can I lose a lot of water weight fast?", "How can I lose max weight in 14 days?", "How can I lose weight in a month without doing exercise?", "How can you rapidly lose weight in 14days?", "How can I lose weight quickly? Need serious help.", "How much weight can I lose if I don't eat?", "How do I lose weight for running?", "I'm fat. How do I lose weight?", "How do I suck it up and lose weight?", "How can I lose weight using a stationary bike?", "How can not eating help you lose weight?", "Can I lose weight without going to gym?", "How do I lose weight with Hashimotos?", "How can Herbalife help me lose weight?", "I am ugly and fat, how to lose weight?", "How can you lose weight without doing exercises?", "How can I lose weight fast and never gain it again?", "How much weight will I lose by not eating for a week?", "How much weight can I lose if I only drink water for a week?", "I want to lose weight but I cannot give up on white rice and potato. How should I lose weight?", "How do I lose weight from 70 to 50?" ]

[ "once" ]

[ "How Do You Do It", "How Do You Fall in Love", "How Do You Feel?", "How Do I Make You", "How Do You Talk to an Angel", "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?", "How Do You Get That Lonely", "Do You Remember", "that you have the body", "You Have to Stop This", "Do Anything You Wanna Do", "people having an interest in the transport", "How Do U Want It", "Say You Do", "many years ago", "How We Do ( Party )", "Who Do You Think You Are", "To Have and Have Not", "How Do I Live", "This Is A Fix", "How Do I Get There", "Mani", "Have You Heard the Word", "How Do I Deal", "five times as many pixels", "You Do Your Thing", "having a good time at a party", "Do I Love You?", "the many", "Do You Wanna Dance?", "DOS", "How You Remind Me" ]

[ "iTunes is the world's easiest way to organize and add to your digital media collection. We are unable to find iTunes on your computer. To download the free app SPG: Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., get iTunes now." ]

[ "Until 14 September, any transfers from SPG to AAdvantage will get a 20% bonus, meaning if you transfer the ideal amount of SPG points (20,000), you will not only get the regular (instant) 5,000 SPG bonus for the transfer, but also another (delayed by up to one week) 5,000 AAdvantage bonus (20% of 25,000 SPG points).", "You still get 50,000 airline miles, which would usually cost you 40,000 SPG points, bringing the cost of the five free nights to 30,000 points. Usually a free night at a category 4 hotel costs 10,000 points with the fifth night free, for a total of 40,000 points for five nights.ou still get 50,000 airline miles, which would usually cost you 40,000 SPG points, bringing the cost of the five free nights to 30,000 points. Usually a free night at a category 4 hotel costs 10,000 points with the fifth night free, for a total of 40,000 points for five nights.", "While a huge plus of the SPG AMEX is that it earns points that can transfer to so many airline partners (see SPG Airline Partners: Transfer Starwood Points to Miles), a major downside is the lack of instant (or even quick) transfer of SPG points to airlines.ypical SPG Points Transfer Time: ~3 days-1 week (typically transfers Sunday and mid-week, either Wednesday or Thursday). Official SPG Points Transfer Time: May require 7-10 business days.", "SPG bound to Fab and the LMW Fc fragments of the papain-digested IgG. However SPG did not bind to the HMW Fc fragment. SPA showed practically no reactivity with the Fab and the LMW Fc fragments of the papain-digested mouse IgG but only to the HMW Fc fragment. SPG and SPA binding assays showed that papain digestion discriminated the SPG and SPA binding sites in the Fc fragment of mouse IgG.", "I got approved for the SPG Amex about three weeks ago, and have been charging on it, but I haven't gotten any communication from SPG yet, and the SPG web site doesn't recognize my e-mail address. Do I need to create an SPG account and link it to my AMEX somehow, or should this happen automatically? Thanks in advance.", "Here’s what you’ll earn: Every day, you’ll earn one Starpoint per U.S. dollar spent with Uber. During your stays with SPG, you’ll earn more Starpoints (based on your tier level) per U.S. dollar spent with Uber. That’s in addition to your standard SPG earnings.", "The survey also looked at the rewards payback for co-branded credit cards associated with each of the hotel loyalty programs and Starwood’s SPG American Express came out on top with a rewards payback of 2.7 percent, beating the Wyndham Rewards Visa, which had a 2.5 percent reward payback.", "1 Farmington Inn, 827 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032, Phone: (860) 677-2821, Fax: (860) 677-8332. 2 Hartford Marriott Hotel Farmington, 15 Farm SPGS Rd, Farmington, CT 06032, Phone: (860) 678-1000, Fax: (860) 677-8849.", "A Crossover Rewards Participant that successfully registered for Crossover Rewards at least 48 hours prior to checking out of a SPG Participating Hotel will earn miles in the Delta SkyMiles program if the Crossover Rewards Participant meets the requirements of Section 2, regardless of the date on which the Stay was booked.", "Grid Pricing with Service Price Guides. If you have Service Price Guides (SPG), grid pricing is even more powerful, because you can apply your grids on your SPG estimates. To do so, go to the SPG Labor Rate Specifications screen (3763). From here you can apply grids to: Specific models (such as hybrids or high-performance cars).", "If we learn that Marriott plans to convert SPG points to Marriott points, and if we learn the conversion ratio in advance, then: 1 If the ratio is less than 1 to 3: Use or convert your SPG points before the conversion. 2 If the ratio is 1 to 3: Carefully consider Marriott Vacation packages as an alternative to converting SPG points to miles.", "Pelham, AL Other Information. Located in SHELBY County, Alabama; Pelham, AL is also known as: INDIAN SPGS, AL; INDIAN SPRINGS, AL; INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE, AL; INDN SPGS VLG, AL", "Who Owns What: Making Sense of the Hotel Chains and Their Brands. 1 Marriott International Inc.-Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. 2 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. 3 Intercontinental Hotels Group Plc. Wyndham Worldwide 1 Corp. Choice Hotels International. Accor S.A. ( 1 France) Hyatt Hotels Corp.", "White Sulphur Springs: A far away shot of White Sulphur. White Sulphur Springs: Main Street in White Sulphur in January. White Sulphur Springs: A picture looking west toward the hotel and mountains. White Sulphur Springs: main st White Sulphur Spgs, MT, Sunday morning 930 am Oct 2005.", "Now, if you transferred those points with this promotion, you would transfer them to AAdvantage for a total of 42,000 miles. The maths is: [20,000 SPG points + 5,000 SPG bonus + 5,000 AAdvantage bonus] + [10,000 SPG points + 2,000 AAdvantage bonus] = 42,000 AAdvantage miles. You have to break the transfer up into two blocks of 20,000 and 10,000 points as there is no bonus for transferring less than 20,000 points.", "The Crossover Rewards Participant no longer has active membership in both the SPG Program and the Delta SkyMiles program; or. 5.2.c. Starwood or Delta believes the Crossover Rewards Participant has: Violated the SPG Program Terms or the Delta SkyMiles Rules & Conditions;", "Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Hotel Group is the world's largest and most diverse hotel company with over 7,800 properties and 678,000 rooms in 72 countries.", "The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cards from American Express do not offer any category spending bonuses, nor to the cards offer an online shopping portal. You will only earn 1 Starpoint for every $1 spent on all purchases with the cards, except for the bonus for staying at SPG or Marriott hotels (see #13).", "The Taj Hotel, too is too well known for me to write about, What may not be known to many of my readers is that the Taj group of hotels in India is run by the Tatas. Yes the same Tata group that launched the Nano, the people’s car.After what happened at the Taj Hotel on 26/11, what Ratan Tata, the current CEO of the Tata Group and his team did is what this post is all about.All category of employees including those who had completed even 1 day as casuals were treated as being on duty during the time that the hotel was closed.atan Tata personally visited the families of all the 80 employees who in some manner “either through injury or getting killed“ were affected. The dependents of the employees were flown from outside Mumbai to Mumbai and taken care of in terms of ensuring mental assurance and peace.", "Only hotels in Ocoee are listed below. Find cheap and discounted hotel/motel rates in or nearby Ocoee, FL for your upcoming personal or group trip. We list the best Ocoee Florida hotel rooms. Review the Ocoee hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Ocoee hotels. Group booking? Search Ocoee Group Hotel Deals", "Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express offers up to 25,000 Bonus Starpoints® after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. You can redeem Starpoints at over 1,200 hotels and 150 airlines with SPG Flights with no blackout dates.", "Generally, the exchange is 1 to 1, but if you exchange 20,000 points at a time, you get a 25% bonus. In other words, 20,000 SPG points becomes 25,000 miles. As a result, many people see mileage conversions as the best use of SPG points.", "IATA Code: Aqua Hotels and Resorts represents a group of stylish mid-priced hotels that offer excellent value and lifestyle services. VISIT AQUA hotels Lite Hotels represent a group of eclectic, economy hotels that appeal to budget minded travelers. VISIT LITE hotels The Instinct Hotel Collection represents an elite group of standalone and independent hotels providing an upscale destination experience. VISIT Instinct hotels.", "The couple companies I worked for provided security of different types to SPG. Our corporate office secured and negotiated the contract with SPG on a corporate level, but cost-per-guard was dependent on location. For a guard being payed $12/hour, we charged $20-25/hour.", "The 8F Crowd was _____. An business interest group of extremely wealthy Texans who met in Suite 8F of the Lamar Hotel in Houston and controlled Texas politics for 40 years. What is the description of an interest group?", "You can read about the benefit here. To activate your status, you can call the Platinum Concierge number on the back of your Platinum card 1-800-345-AMEX (2639) and ask the customer service rep at Amex to contact SPG for you, which usually goes quickly.One of the Amex Platinum perks is automatic SPG Gold status.ou can read about the benefit here. To activate your status, you can call the Platinum Concierge number on the back of your Platinum card 1-800-345-AMEX (2639) and ask the customer service rep at Amex to contact SPG for you, which usually goes quickly. One of the Amex Platinum perks is automatic SPG Gold status.", "If you are registered for Crossover Rewards and are an SPG Platinum or Gold elite member, Starpoints that you earn for eligible Delta flights will post to your SPG Member account for each segment within 4 to 6 weeks after the segment of the eligible Delta flight is completed.", "This is the list of chained-brand hotels around the world. A chained-brand hotel is member of a hotel group that has a number of hotels under the same name that function in the narrower and wider business and tourism environments. The hotel groups may directly own the hotels, or operate them through a franchise or management agreement.", "Even though Marriott and Starwood will become the world's biggest hotel company, that doesn't mean it won't face strong competition with other groups, like Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group and more.", "Fire-safe hotels and motels in Midland, Texas: 1 Plaza Inn, 4108 N Big Spg, Midland, TX 79705, Phone: (432) 686-8733, Fax: (432) 685-0530. 2 Midland Hilton And Towers, 117 W Wall St, Midland, TX 79701, Phone: (432) 683-6131, Fax: (432) 683-0958.", "Posts: 5,650. I am a AMEX cardholder but ANA is not listed as a transferpartner of Amex here in Sweden. I have recently transfer all my SPG points til my ANA card so I guess my only choice is to find some cheap hotel that would give me 500 points. Last edited by kempis; Oct 11, 04 at 12:08 pm.", "Pet-Friendly Hotels in or near Thornburg Thornburg Group Hotel Rates Map of Thornburg VA Hotels" ]

[ "Yes, you can send and receive occasional faxes on your Vonage voice line. Simply connect your phone line to your fax machine. However, voice lines are not optimized for fax service so, for frequent faxing, a dedicated fax line is highly recommended.imply connect your phone line to your fax machine. However, voice lines are not optimized for fax service so, for frequent faxing, a dedicated fax line is highly recommended." ]

[ "1 Ensure the phone cord is connected directly from the Vonage adapter to your fax machine (do not use a splitter or wall outlet). 2 Make certain the correct phone port on the fax machine is connected to the Vonage adapter.3 If your fax machine has ports marked Line and Ext, connect the Vonage adapter to the port marked Line. If your fax machine has ports marked Data and Phone, connect the Vonage adapter to the port marked Data. 2 To optimize your fax settings for Vonage, refer to your fax machine’s user guide to make these adjustments: 3 Turn off Error Correction Mode (ECM). 4 Adjust Fax Speed to the lowest setting.", "Special 2-wire line cords. for Hewlett-Packard fax machines, VoIP and other purposes. Hewlett-Packard insists that their fax machines work best with two-conductor line cords, instead of the more common four-conductor cords. They say, You must use a cable that has only two copper leads.. VoIP service providers such as Vonage recommend these cords, too.", "Step 1. Disconnect the phone line currently connected to your telephone. Leave the other end of the line connected to your Vonage adapter. Step 2. Connect the phone line that you just unplugged into the fax machine port marked with the word “Line” or a telephone icon.Step 3. Press the “Power” button on the fax machine to turn it on. Place the documents you want to fax in the machine's feeder.Step 4. Enter the phone number to which you want to fax the documents, and then press the “Send” key to use your Vonage line to initiate the fax.Step 5. Wait for the fax to complete.isconnect the phone line currently connected to your telephone. Leave the other end of the line connected to your Vonage adapter. Step 2. Connect the phone line that you just unplugged into the fax machine port marked with the word “Line” or a telephone icon.", "Add a Fax Line. 1 Sign in to your Vonage Online Account. 2 Go to the Summary tab and select Order Add-Ons. 3 Click Add a Fax Line. 4 Choose an adapter and an available port and click Next. 5 Choose a plan for your fax line and click Next.6 Select a state, area code and city for the telephone number and click Next. Sign in to your Vonage Online Account. 2 Go to the Summary tab and select Order Add-Ons. 3 Click Add a Fax Line. 4 Choose an adapter and an available port and click Next. 5 Choose a plan for your fax line and click Next.", "All three devices can work on the same phone line, but you can only use one device at a time without specialty service such as DSL. 1 1. Connect the fax machine to the phone line using the fax machine connection labeled with a phone or phone connection icon. Fax machines that have dual capabilities have labels on the phone line connections so you know where to plug in the phone cable and the computer.", "Hook a phone line cord from your fax machine directly to your cable modem. I have an adapter that with two spots for the line to the phone and then the line to the fax.I just faxed that way.ook a phone line cord from your fax machine directly to your cable modem. I have an adapter that with two spots for the line to the phone and then the line to the fax. I just faxed that way.", "If you are connecting your fax machine directly to your Home Phone modem, or MTA. 1 Plug in the fax machine. 2 Connect one phone line from the port on the fax machine labeled Line or Line In to the MTA's Telephone port. 3 If you have one Home Phone line, use the port for Line 1. Connect one phone line from the wall phone jack to the port on the fax machine labeled Line. 2 Connect a second phone line from the port on the fax machine labeled Ext or Tel to the phone.", "Here's how to receive a fax: Make sure the fax machine is plugged in, powered on and connected to a working phone jack. This phone jack can either be your regular phone line or a dedicated fax line. The important thing is that the sender has the right number. Make sure that the fax machine has enough ink in its toner cartridge.", "The fax interface-type modem global configuration command forces fax calls to a modem (usually for T.37 Store and Forward fax) and not to a DSP. For Cisco fax relay to work, the fax call must be sent to a DSP, which means it must be configured by the issuing of the fax interface-type vfc command.", "Nextiva does not offer international faxing to online fax customers. If you subscribe to Nextiva’s full VoIP plan and virtual PBX plan, however, then you can make international calls over your business’s phone lines. Nextiva is the only major online fax provider which does not support international faxing.", "There’s no way to connect to a fax machine directly over the Internet, as the fax machine is only connected to telephone lines. To perform a fax online, we’ll need some sort of gateway that accepts documents via the Internet and transmits the document to a fax machine. That’s where the below services come in. Give them a document and they’ll do the annoying work of dialing up the fax machine and sending your document over the telephone line.", "A working land-line phone line. A working fax machine. A phone cord / cable and the fax machine’s power cord. If sending a fax: A fax number that you want to send a document to. If you’re dialing internationally, the international dialing code of the country you’re trying to reach.", "No. What you are reading is the specs for your modem's data speed. This has nothing to do with fax and unless your modem specs specifically say fax class 2.1, it will not provide Super G3 fax speeds. Will I be able to communicate with non-Super G3 fax machines? Yes.", "When you set up a fax machine and have it connected to a working phone line, you want to test it to make sure it is working properly. Testing a fax machine will tell you whether you need to troubleshoot your setup or whether the system is functional. You may send a test fax to a fax machine by using an online fax-testing website.", "1 When you have a dedicated telephone line for fax use only: Select FAX only mode. When you are using a single telephone line for faxes and voice calls: If you receive mainly voice calls and sometimes faxes, select TEL priority mode. If you receive mainly faxes and sometimes voice calls, select FAX priority mode.", "How does vonage extension app work? The app takes the number (consider an Indian number) and directly makes the call using cellular service, to US number (as a Vonage call). There is no delay. How does the server come to know which Indian number to call to?", "1 Plug in the fax machine. 2 Connect one phone line from the port on the fax machine labeled Line or Line In to the MTA's Telephone port. 3 If you have one Home Phone line, use the port for Line 1. 4 If you have two lines, use the port for Line 1 or Line 2, depending on your preference. If the fax machine is not connected directly to the MTA, try connecting it directly to the MTA to check for issues with your in-home wiring. 2 If you have a phone splitter, it can cause the connectivity test to fail and reject the fax transmission.", "1 Most modern fax machines easily share a voice phone line for low-volume faxing -- but this ties up the phone line while faxing. 2 High volume faxing may require a separate fax-only phone line, at a typical cost of $35-$45 monthly plus any long-distance charges.", "Fax machine uses a phone line to transmit a copy or image of important documents such as forms, receipts, contract and any legal documents.", "Some fax machines will also print out a short confirmation report. Here's how to receive a fax: 1 Make sure the fax machine is plugged in, powered on and connected to a working phone jack. 2 This phone jack can either be your regular phone line or a dedicated fax line.3 The important thing is that the sender has the right number.ome fax machines will also print out a short confirmation report. Here's how to receive a fax: 1 Make sure the fax machine is plugged in, powered on and connected to a working phone jack. 2 This phone jack can either be your regular phone line or a dedicated fax line.", "One of my legal eagle readers must have an idea about this. The only thing I can think of is that an .pdf attachment in email can somehow be edited/hacked easier than a fax page can? In this day and age of information over the internet, I don’t understand why fax machines exist. I make my “landline” calls through Vonage – VOIP. I make my cell phone calls (Sprint) through Sprint’s Airave – a little device that basically creates a localized cell tower and sends my calls over my network – again, VOIP.", "Step 1. Connect the fax machine to the phone line using the fax machine connection labeled with a phone or phone connection icon. Fax machines that have dual capabilities have labels on the phone line connections so you know where to plug in the phone cable and the computer. Step 2.ou can also pick up the fax machine's telephone and listen for a dial tone to verify the connection. Step 4. Power on the computer and dial out to your ISP to test the phone line on the computer. You do not need to change any configurations on the computer with this setup.", "In order to set up and operate a fax machine, you’ll need the following: 1 A working land-line phone line. 2 A working fax machine. 3 A phone cord / cable and the fax machine’s power cord. If sending a fax: A fax number that you want to send a document to.", "Fax, computer modem, and telephone. To use a computer modem and a telephone with the fax, connect the computer modem to the fax. Then, connect the telephone into the second phone line connector on the computer modem or the third fax socket (if it is available).The image below shows how to connect a computer and a telephone to a fax with two sockets.ax, computer modem, and telephone. To use a computer modem and a telephone with the fax, connect the computer modem to the fax. Then, connect the telephone into the second phone line connector on the computer modem or the third fax socket (if it is available).", "you can use the magicjack as your landline for your fax machine. all you have to do is hook the magicjack phoneline into the fax machine and it will work just fine. you have to make sure that magicjack is up and running if you have the original one that has to be plugged straight into the computer.", "While VOIP phone service and standard land-line accounts will function with your printer/copier/fax machine...Home Phone Connect will not. If they failed to tell you that before you made the switch...sorry, you can send and receive faxes again in a year when your contract is up. Or you can pay $169 to end the contract.", "How Vonage home phone service works. Vonage's VoIP phone service uses your Internet connection to make and receive calls. And with our great features, you can take your Vonage number with you on your smartphone. Watch this introductory video.", "I have Cox phone and an HP All-In-One Printer Fax machine and separate Answering machine (no Cox Voicemail). The Fax is set to pick-up on the 5th ring. If a Fax tone is detected the Fax machine takes the call. Every incoming Fax is successful.", "Fax machine uses a phone line to transmit a copy or image of important documents such as forms, receipts, contract and any legal documents. With the rise of the internet fax t … echnology, where documents runs over internet, you can send and receive faxes without having a dedicated phone line.", "Connect the phone line Each fax machine is different, but nearly all have two ports for phone line connections: one for the inbound phone line and one for a nearby phone to use for voice calls. Refer to the user manual for the fax machine to determine which port is for the inbound connection. Then connect the phone cord from the wall to this port.", "(New). • Choose which number to display as your Caller ID – Home or Mobile. • Block unwanted calls to your Vonage line from your Recents or Call Settings. (New). Getting Started. • Download the Vonage Extensions app to your iPhone. • Enter your mobile number, your Vonage phone number and your account password.• View the tour and accept push notifications to receive inbound calls. Note: Vonage home phone service required. * Reasonable Use Policy applies to unlimited calling. Block unwanted calls to your Vonage line from your Recents or Call Settings. (New). Getting Started. • Download the Vonage Extensions app to your iPhone. • Enter your mobile number, your Vonage phone number and your account password.", "The fax message compiles, the modem dials. If the connection is made with the other modem, the fax will be sent." ]

[ "Mansfield Operatic Society members will be bringing A Very Musical Christmas to Create Theatre in the town during the festive season.\nThe show, which will feature songs from musical theatre along with memorable tunes from the golden age of cinema, is being given a double billing on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17.\nSongs will include Seasons of Love from Rent, I Know Him So Well from Chess and music from Jersey Boy and Shrek will feature.\nThe second act will have festive songs from stage and screen such as Let It Go from Frozen and It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas from Home Alone 2.\nSaturday’s show begins at 7.30pm, while Sunday’s matinee commences at 2.30pm.\nFounded in 1905, the ‘Mansfield Ops’ have, for more than 100 years provided Mansfield and surrounding areas with quality shows and concerts in top class venues. The society comprises talented singers, dancers and actors both young and old.\nTickets for the Christmas shows cost £6 per person and can be purchased by calling 01623 413363 or by visiting www.createtheatre.co.uk" ]

[ "Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir will be leading the singing at this year’s Candlelight Carol Service.\nThis will take place at St. John’s Church, Mansfield, on Sunday, December 17, at 6pm.\nThe service will be an opportunity to enjoy, not only beautiful music, but to hear the Christmas message in the wonderful surroundings and atmosphere of one of the town’s most beautiful historic buildings.\nThis Christmas will see the first carol service in St John’s since it was re-opened in the summer after completion of major repairs to the roof of the building. Fund-raising still continues so that the restoration can be completed and there will be an opportunity for local folk to make a financial contribution to this work by way of an optional donation.\nEntry to the service is free and all are welcome.", "Masque Productions return to perform the side-splitting comedy Fur Coat and No Knickers by Mike Harding at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield, from Wednesday, March 1, to Saturday, March 4.\nWe have two pairs of tickets up for grabs to see the Saturday matinee on March 4, from 2.30pm, in our latest competition.\nThe play centres around two Northern families who have grown up in the same district.\nOne family - dad a counsellor and mum a lady who lunches - have moved up in the world whereas the other family still live in the same street they started out in. Trouble begins when the daughter and son from each family decide to marry.\nAdd in an explosive situation at a stag party involving a stripper, a drunken Irish priest and a father who thinks that Mussolini’s political philosophy is the answer to the country’s problems. Put in a pot-smoking younger brother, a grandad who can drink everyone under the table and mothers of the bride and groom prepared to do battle with their handbags at high noon, and you have the perfect recipe for a hilarious, fast-paced comedy from Mike Harding, the ‘Rochdale Cowboy’.\nGet your tickets to the wedding as they are in great demand.\nEvening performances start at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee commencing at 2.30 pm. Tickets are £11 (no concessions). Call the box office on 01623 633133.\nBut to be in with a chance of winning one of the two pairs of tickets up for grabs in this competition, answer the following question correctly:\nWhat was the nickname of Mike Harding, who wrote Fur Coat and No Knickers?\nSend your answer, along with your name, address and daytime telephone number, to [email protected]\nEntries need to reach us by midday on February 27 at the latest.\nNormal competition rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. For terms and conditions see the homepage of this website.", "On Friday , December 15, at 7:00 p.m., the curtain goes up on our annual holiday musical variety show, An Ensemble Christmas. With 24\nmusical numbers containing all or parts of over 30 yuletide songs, including performances by the Carolina Snowbelles and Western Carolina Youth Ballet, this fast-paced tribute to the Andy Williams and Bing Crosby television holiday shows of the 60’s and 70’s is sure to rejuvenate your holiday spirit.\nAn Ensemble Christmas will also be performed on Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday, December 17 at 2:00 p.m. The show takes place at the Old Banner Elk School, in their newly renovated auditorium.\nTickets cost $20 per adult, and $12 for kids who are 16 years old or younger.", "The Wonderful West End: A Christmas Gala is to be performed at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall on Thursday, December 14, starting at 7.30pm.\nCelebrate Christmas in style with the magic and glamour of London’s West End. Treat yourself to a festive feast of West End showstoppers, performed by the stars of the West End, accompanied on stage by the West End Theatre Orchestra under the watchful eye of musical director Richard Weeden.\nWith a stocking-full of show-stopping songs from the greatest musicals to include The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Annie, Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, Wicked and An American in Paris, as well as a medley of musical seasonal hits to put you in the Christmas spirit, you’re guaranteed to leave the hall humming.\nCall the box office for ticket availability on 0115 9895555.", "Mansfield has another hit panto on its hands – oh yes it does.\nThe festive spectacular Jack and the Beanstalk at Mansfield Palace Theatre is a surefire winner with young and old this Christmas.\nHeld together by the comedic talent of the returning Adam Moss, back as Simple Simon “this year” – it could easily be renamed The Adam Moss Show such is his importance to the production – it tells the age old story of poor, impoverished Jack,played by Bradley Judge, and his battle up the beanstalk to defeat the giant Blunderbore and win the hand in marriage of Princess Jill, played by Clare Maynard.\nIt might not quite live up to the exceptionally high standards of last year’s five-star production of Peter Pan, but Jack and the Beanstalk still has all the elements of a great pantomime.\nAfter the vegetabl-loving fairy, played by Casualty and recording star Rebecca Wheatley, opens proceedings, Adam is given the stage to himself – and it is a stroke of genius as the laughs come thick and fast as he shows his talent to full effect. There is a perfect mix of jokes for children and adults as he really gets the audience engaged and has the show off to a brilliant start.\nFrom there, the story is told in fine style with some wonderful songs, stunning costumes – particularly for the excellent Craig Ansell, as Dame Trott – and topical and not-so-topical jokes, covering subjects such as Brexit and Strictly Come Dancing.\nMark Little is the villainous Fleshcreep.\nAfter a slow introduction, the classically-trained actor – another clever joke – comedian and former Neighbours star Mark Little comes into his own as the not-so-evil Fleshcreep, the giant’s henchman, with some great one-liners and a memorable Mastermind sketch in a failed attempt to prove he is the cleverest of them all.\nIn truth, some of the jokes are a little to close to the knuckle for a family audience – while the gag got a lot of laughs from the adults, trying to explain a shih tzu punchline to an inquisitive six-year-old afterward was not so funny.\nAll the panto favourites are there – plenty of “oh yes he does” and “it’s behind you” audience interaction throughout, a pantomime cow, as well as the audience sing-and-dance-along, all delivered by an excellent cast – special mention to Michael Chance, excellent as the forgetful King, and towering villagers “massive” Harry Cooper Miller and the slightly less tall Harry “Shorty” Lydon.\nBut what truly stands this panto apart is the 3D footage in the second half.\nClare Maynard is Princess Jill.\nWith 30,000 3D glasses in stock for the show’s run, every member of the audience is given a pair at the start and then told when to put them on in the second half.\nThen giant Blunderbore – previously just a booming voice from above – is introduced as he blunders through his castle chasing Jack and flicking flies into the audience, leading to lots of excited and slightly scared shrieks from the watching children, before a fabulous 3D ghosts and ghouls haunted scene, complete with the requisite “I wouldn’t want to be grabbed by the ghosties” gag.\nAll in all, a night to remember.\nJack and the Beanstalk continues at Mansfield Palace Theatre until Sunday, January 7. For tickets, see mansfieldpalace.co.uk or call 01623 633133", "At a time of change, when common ground is becoming less common, it helps to have a tour guide who can navigate the American landscape. That’s a job for Howard Mansfield, who offers a unique lens on our history, customs and habits. A cultural historian and author of eight books, Mansfield is the guy you wish could accompany you on a long walk. You just know he would see things that you’d miss along the way.\n“Summer Over Autumn: A Small Book of Small-Town Life” is Mansfield’s latest title, a collection of short essays that’s modest only in size. These 21 eclectic pieces find the author out and about in his hometown of Hancock, New Hampshire; running in a local election; working his land; and tending to Christopher Hogwood, his very theatrical pig.\nREVIEW “Summer Over Autumn: A Small Book of Small-Town Life.” By Howard Mansfield. Bauhan Publishing. Sept. 5, 2017. Paperback. 128 pages. $16.\n“Our pig is a Zen eater. He becomes his food,” Mansfield says. “No remorse. No guilty dinner chat about fat or sugar or pesticides.”\nThe book highlights Mansfield’s range, showing him to be equal parts citizen, philosopher and cultural critic, weighing in on issues large and small. Among his musings, he tackles the thorny problem of elders behind the wheel; considers the jagged history of a Queen Anne chair that he inherited upon buying his house; and laments the planting of invasive roses that won’t give up.\nIn “The Skeezix Chronicles,” Mansfield recalls the story of an antique Ford 9N tractor that his wife bought for his birthday. “To operate a 9N is to step back to our machine past,” he says, “to a time before cars had power steering, power brakes, and automatic transmissions, before cars got so easy to drive that some people busy themselves texting.”\nIn the title story, Mansfeld adds to the mythology of northern New England weather, describing the period in late August – “Summer Over Autumn” – when the two seasons co-exist. “It’s a moment poised on the seesaw, right at the fulcrum,” he notes. “Sitting still, you can feel summer passing, retreating as fog retreats. It’s like passing through a doorway.”\nIf Mansfield has a knack for elevating the ordinary and seeing it fresh, he is equally adept at decoding transactions that are often mired in complication. Two of the best pieces in the book exemplify this skill: In “The Ask,” Mansfield takes on the matter of fundraising and how the ritual dance of asking for donations clashes with our sensibilities.\n“In small towns, and society in general, we live by the Don’t Ask. We let our neighbors pursue their lives in happiness or sorrow,” he writes. “We give our neighbors the room to live. We don’t question their contradictions. When I was younger, I would have called this hypocrisy. Now I think it may be kindness, or just the mercy we show each other.”\nAnd his essay, “On Going Late to Yard Sales,” is sufficiently astute that you’ll think twice about showing up early.\n“Summer Over Autumn” is one of those books that you read, nodding in assent. Mansfield delivers an embarrassment of quotable lines and passages – more than many writers manage in a lifetime. While much of the book centers on small-town life, the takeaway from each piece tends to be universal. Mansfield’s wry, humane, poetic brand of common sense has no geographic bounds.\nJoan Silverman writes op-eds, essays and book reviews. Her work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune and Dallas Morning News.\nShare\nWant the news vital to Maine? Our daily headlines email is delivered each morning. Email *\nNewsletter Choices * Daily Headlines Evening Express Breaking News Business Headlines Maine Cannabis Report High School Sports Real Estate\n* I understand the Terms of Service.\nEmail This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.\nThis iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.", "A Cape Breton community is in mourning after the death of a teen who went missing shortly after Christmas.\nCBC News has confirmed the body found along the shoreline in Sydney Mines, N.S., belongs to Kobe Clarence Pink. He would have turned 16 years old today, Jan. 2.\nHis older brother, George Pink, posted on Facebook that his \"heart and soul\" are crushed.\n\"Happy 16th birthday Kobe Pink. I wish you were here to celebrate it. I'm sure we would be playing some new game co-op eating pizza and making silly remarks as we always have.\n\"I will love you and remember you for the rest of my life. You are my life, my inspiration, my hope, my strength.\"\nLast seen on Dec. 28\nKobe was last seen around 10 p.m. on Dec. 28 in Sydney Mines. His brother had posted on Facebook that Kobe's phone has been dead since midnight that night. The Cape Breton Ground Search and Rescue and a Department of Natural Resources helicopter joined the search for Kobe on Saturday morning.\nA Cape Breton Regional Police Dive team found the teen's body on Sunday morning while searching the shore near Pitt Street below a cliff.\nA view of the area near the shoreline where Kobe Pink's body was found. (Gary Mansfield/CBC)\nPolice watchdog investigating\nNova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), the province's police watchdog, has confirmed it is taking over the investigation into Kobe's death.\nRon MacDonald, director of SIRT, told CBC News the team was contacted Sunday afternoon by Cape Breton Regional Police after they learned Kobe may have attended a party before his death that police were called to over a complaint.\nA group of youth fled the scene when officers arrived.\nSIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police, whether or not there is an allegation of wrongdoing. The team can independently begin an investigation after a referral from a chief of police.\nA view from the top of the cliff overlooking the shoreline where Kobe Pink's body was found in Sydney Mines, N.S. (Gary Mansfield/CBC)\nA forensic autopsy was scheduled to begin Monday in Dartmouth, N.S. MacDonald told CBC News it could take months before all test results from the autopsy are in.", "It is testament to the professionalism of both Portsmouth Choral Union and conductor David Gostick, pictured below, that, only three weeks after their last major performance, they were able to present a wide-ranging and well prepared Christmas Concert.\nIn addition to the expected Christmas music, PCU were able to showcase two movements from their world premiere recording of Wesley’s Confitebor Tibi, now available from the choir website.\nThese, along with a selection of unaccompanied carols, were sung with vitality and clarity of vocal line.\nIn the congregational carols they were accompanied by Hampshire County Youth Orchestra.\nThe orchestra, under the clear direction of conductor Carl Clausen, gave confident, convincing performances of Smetana’s Vltava, Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets and the Evening Prayer from Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel – in which the clear-voiced soloists were Isobel Pott and Anna van den Bos.\nThe concert concluded with choir and orchestra joining together in a rousing performance of Chilcott’s ingenious and witty arrangement of The Twelve Days of Christmas.\nThis concert was enthusiastically received by a near capacity audience.\nPCU’s next performances will be Jenkins: The Armed Man, at Basingstoke in March 2018, and in Portsmouth, Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony, in June 2018.", "Two Christmas carol concerts are to be held at Meldrum House Country Hotel to raise funds for leading Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.\nThe concerts, which take place on Sunday, December 3 at 2pm and 6pm, will feature the Kinloss Military Wives who will perform in the Meldrum House Ballroom.\nEveryone is encouraged to come and enjoy hot chocolate with marshmallows, mulled elderflower and wine, with mincemeat pies and shortbread.\nMeldrum House General Manager Peter Walker said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this event for such a worthwhile cause and felt this was a fitting way to kick-start the festive season here at Meldrum.\n“We were keen to draw awareness to Poppyscotland and highlight the fact that the charity does events all year round and is not just focused on Remembrance Day.”\nPoppyscotland North of Scotland Regional Fundraiser Frances Beveridge said: “These concerts will be a lovely way to start the festive celebrations with family or friends, and it is going to be a fantastic day with the choir singing a mixture of carols for all to enjoy.\n“ As the need for our services grows so our demand increases and it is down to the generosity of the public supporting such events that means we are able support those in need of our help. It is a pleasure to be working with Peter and the team at Meldrum House, and we are already looking ahead to more events next year.”\nA spokeswoman for the Kinloss Military Wives Choir said: “We have been incredibly lucky to have been involved in so many wonderful events.\n“From singing at awards ceremonies in Glasgow to hitting the stage with Lulu at Eden Court in Inverness, we love to bring music to the elderly in care homes and to help local churches with restoration funds.\n“Supporting local charities like Poppyscotland is an important part of what we do and we are already excited about the Christmas concerts at Meldrum House.”\nTickets for the concerts cost £20 per person and each ticket price includes a donation to Poppyscotland.\nFor more information about the concerts or to book tickets for the event, please contact 01651 872294, email [email protected], or visit www.meldrumhouse.com.", "Prepare to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future this December.\nJoin the creators of Brr! The Story of a Penguin Who Doesn’t Like the Cold, in their fast-paced, funny and highly physical contemporary adaptation of Dickens best-loved story, A Christmas Carol.\nBrought up to date for modern audiences, A Christmas Carol will delight families with plenty of laughs and high-jinks, a fabulous cast and puppets and a magical talking Christmas Tree.\nIt’s Christmas Eve, a rich man sits alone in his gilded tower and awaits the ghosts of his past and his future.\nIn Scrooge’s office, high in a glass tower, somewhere in the City of London, the spirits are gathering in the darkening gloom to take this selfish, greedy man on a journey to his own salvation – but will he heed their lesson? He has just one night to change his ways or face a terrible fate.\nA story of redemption and enlightenment, the show has much to say to audiences about our society, and the responsibilities we owe to others through our actions.\nThis performance has been dubbed “a heart-warming show recommended for the whole family” by Families Online.\nThe first showing is tomorrow at 6.30pm at Woodlands Hall in Headley Down. The second performance is the following night, on Saturday at 6.30pm at The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre in Bordon.\nFull price tickets cost £7, children’s tickets are £5 and there is a discount available for families.\nFor more information or to book tickets for either venue, visit phoenixarts.co.uk or call the box office on 01420 472664.", "SALEM, Ohio — The members of Agland Co-op and Heritage Cooperative have voted to approve the merger between the two Ohio-based organizations. The vote was announced Feb. 13, with 67 percent of Heritage members in favor, and 83 percent approval from Agland members. The new co-op will carry the Heritage name.\nBoth cooperatives announced their intent to merge in a June 2016 action, citing the benefits of combining services and leadership.\nJeff Osentoski, president and CEO of Agland, said the vote shows “members’ commitment for moving forward and putting together a great co-op for the future.”\nThe effective date of the merger is Sept. 1. Osentoski will remain president, and become chief executive officer following the retirement of Heritage CEO Eric Parthemore, who plans to retire Nov. 1 or before.\nOsentoski said the decision does not involve any planned facility closures. He said leaders from both co-ops will be working the next few months to have staff in place before the Sept. 1 effective date.\nLamar Liming, chairman of the Agland board, said both co-ops were in good financial condition, but saw the merger as an opportunity to better serve farmers, and to maintain co-op employees and facilities.\n“Neither co-op had to merge,” Liming said. “We’re both in good financial conditions.”\nLiming said the central office will be Heritage’s main office in West Mansfield.\nIn a Feb. 13 letter to co-op members and employees, the chairmen of both co-op boards said the merger will “create a dynamic organization built for the future.”\nThe letter promises to keep members informed, as policies, people and procedures are put together over the next few months.\nBoth companies have conducted mergers in the past. Agland merged with the Green Valley Co-op, of Marietta, in April 2014.\nHeritage Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative founded in 2009 by the consolidation of Champaign Landmark, of Urbana, and The Farmers Commission Co., of Upper Sandusky.\nHeritage serves a 20-county area in central Ohio, extending from Harding and Wyandot counties to the north, and Pickaway and Madison counties to the south. The cooperative includes 30 locations and serves more than 3,500 farmer members, and more than 4,000 rural and urban customers.\nAgland Co-op is based in New Philadelphia, and serves customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois and Kentucky. Agland was originally established in 1933, in Canfield, Ohio, and now has 23 locations and serves more than 1,900 farmer members.", "The sights and sounds of Christmas will fill Haverhill town centre on Friday, December 1 and Saturday 2nd when the Family Christmas Weekend takes place.\nThe main events include the traditional late night shopping and charity stalls, the Christmas lights switch-on and a grand firework display on the Recreation Ground - all on Friday.\nThe late night shopping kicks off at 5pm with fairground rides, street performers and charity stalls in High Street.\nAt 6.30pm, Bobby Dazzler, who stars in Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at the arts centre, will switch on the Christmas lights on the Market Square.\nThe highlight of the evening will be the spectacular firework display, which gets underway at 8pm.\nOn both Friday and Saturday there will also be a craft fair in the arts centre from 5pm to 8pm and a Christmas World Market in Queen Street (10am to 8pm on Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday) with music and entertainment being provided by The Salvation Army and the Fire and Ice Majorettes.\nOn Saturday children will have the chance to meet the animals in a ‘living nativity’, the Festive Farm, on Market Square.\nAnimals will include a donkey, sheep, goats and geese.\nChildren who dress up as characters from the nativity get chocolate coins.\nAll of Haverhill is invited to the town’s annual tradition that sets the Christmas season off with a bang.\nA series of town centre road closures will be in place for the event.\nQueen Street: from 4pm on Thursday, until 9pm on Saturday.\nHigh Street: from 1pm to midnight on Friday.\nSwan Lane: from 1pm to midnight on Friday.\nCamps Road: from 1pm to midnight on Friday.\nPeas Hill: from 1pm to midnight on Friday.\nCamps Road: from 7pm to 9pm on Friday.\nChauntry Road: from 7pm to 9pm on Friday.\nMill Road: from 7pm to 9pm on Friday.\nRecreation Road: from 7.30pm to 9pm on Friday.", "One local family is bringing some Christmas cheer to their neighborhood with a decorative and festive light show.\nTim Wyatt, from Midland, set up thousands of bulbs outside of his home for a holiday light show.\nThose lights are synchronized to 16 different songs.\nThe video features Carol of the Bells performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.\nThe Wyatt family has been doing this tradition for five years now.\nThe family is new to the neighborhood as they moved in this past May from Denver.\nWyatt said his family is excited to bring some extra Christmas cheer to their new neighborhood. Check it out by heading to 2789 N. Cedaridge Drive.\nCopyright 2017 WNEM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.", "A man has been charged following Easter Sunday’s serious police incident in Hasland.\nOfficers were called to Mansfield Road at around 4pm to reports that a man had allegedly been assaulted.\nPolice incident in Hasland.\nWhen they arrived at the property a man was arrested and taken to hospital.\nLuke Booker of Mansfield Road was later charged with affray, assaulting a police officer and criminal damage to a police car.\nThe 25 year-old has been released under investigation and will appear at Chesterfield Justice Centre on June 1.\nThe incident led to Mansfield Road being closed for a number of hours on Sunday evening as police cordoned off an area around the Co-op.\nPolice incident in Hasland.\nAt its height, an eyewitness said there were eight police cars present, an armed response unit, a riot van and an ambulance.", "Despite a bad day at the office at Crawley for the Stags at the weekend, the club are in a fine position in League Two as the madness of the festive period and opening of the January window hurtle towards us.\nIt doesn’t seem long ago we were playing those early season games with manager Steve Evans saying all he expected from his new-look squad was to be in and around the play-off chasing pack at the end of the year.\nBarring a couple of calamitous results against Yeovil and Morecambe over the next two weekends, that goal will be comfortably achieved.\nThe disappointing 2-0 defeat at Evans’ former club on Saturday saw the Stags slip out of the top seven, but only on goal difference.\nEvans had a few harsh words to say afterwards and, with no midweek game, you can bet training will be fast and furious as so many quality players battle it out for a place in Saturday’s starting XI against Yeovil.\nIt’s a moot point whether Stags were 12 unbeaten before Crawley.\nDoes a 1-1 scoreline followed by a loss on penalties constitute a draw or a defeat?\nEither way Mansfield were definitely seven League Two games unbeaten as they headed to Broadfield Stadium, but the run ended with more of a whimper than a bang.\nInevitably a small section of supporters have lost their heads on social media this week, but thankfully the sensible majority have put the drama queens back in their place.\nMansfield Town will not win every game for the rest of this season and that is a fact.\nEven Steve Evans would admit things are far from perfect or as he would want them right now.\nYes, some players have not performed at their peak yet, the side do sometimes send it too long too soon with good ball-playing midfielders getting by-passed and Stags are still not scoring as many goals as they should on chances created.\nIt is a work in progress.\nBut the club are in the thick of a genuine promotion challenge – a far cry from the situation during the final seasons of Paul Cox and Adam Murray.\nYeovil arrive on Saturday with boss Darren Way under extreme pressure from supporters after four defeats and a draw in their last five League Two matches left them 20th and only out the drop zone on goal difference.\nOnly two points above them are Morecambe, who visit the One Call Stadium a week later on the Saturday before Christmas.\nAfter two draws and a defeat in League action, the Shrimpers pulled off a fine 2-0 home win over Coventry on Saturday without which they’d be in the relegation area today.\nEx-Stag Vadaine Oliver scored the first of those goals.\nWith Steve Evans’ words still stinging in their ears after Saturday’s defeat Mansfield will fancy a maximum haul from those two home games which will almost certainly see them in the play-off spots for Christmas.\nWithin a week of that Evans will then be able to start fine-tuning his side in the January window for what should be a thrilling second half of the season.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nA crown court guard who had illicit affairs with two schoolboys after meeting one of them on Grindr has been jailed.\nPhilip Mansfield invited the youngsters for sexual encounters at his home in return for e-cigarette liquid, money and trips out to the fair.\nThe 54-year-old was working as a guard on the doors of Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester when he met the boys.\nMansfield also gave them vodka, cider and takeaway pizza - and even bought one of them trainers and diving equipment for a family holiday.\nHe told one of the youngsters: “I wish you were my son, I’d be so proud.”\nMansfield, a former motor insurance company worker, was arrested after being contacted by one of the boy’s mothers after she saw messages on his phone inviting him for a sleepover.\nPolice found 67 indecent images of the youngsters on Mansfield’s computer.\nMansfield, from Chadderton , Oldham , admitting causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.\nHe was caged for two years following a Manchester Crown Court hearing.\nThe court heard that the affairs began in September 2015 after one of the boys set up an account on the gay dating app Grindr and asked if other users could buy him e-cigarette fluid.\nMansfield answered the post and met up with the boy before inviting him back to his house.\nThe pair had several sexual encounters and Mansfield bought him an e-cigarette worth £90 and diving equipment worth £100.\nThe boy told his friend of the meetings and the pair began meeting Mansfield together.\nOn one occasion, the boys told their parents they were staying at a friends’ house before going to Mansfield’s home.\nProsecuting, Lisa Boocock said the truth emerged last August when one of the boy’s mothers intercepted messages from Mansfield on her son’s phone.\nWhen she rang Mansfield, he denied knowing the boy.\n(Photo: Cavendish Press/Pat Isaacs)\nWhen the mother threatened to call the police, he said: “Do what you have to do.”\nMansfield later claimed he thought the boys were 16.\nIn a statement one of the youngsters said: “It’s made me feel bad. I’ve felt bad thinking about why did I let it happen. It’s made me feel like it could happen again. I don’t go out anymore.\n“I was scared I thought I might get rejected from society. It happened, I can’t change it.”\nIn mitigation, Mansfield’s lawyer, Gwen Henshaw, said he got ‘carried away’ with the relationships - and thought the boys were ‘consenting’.\nHe added: “Mr Mansfield presents as someone who is extremely remorseful. He understands now these two boys were children at the time. He empathises and sympathises with the victims and those close to them.”\nJudge Patrick Field QC banned Mansfield from working with children for 10 years.\nHe told him: “Each boy has been exploited and I will not pretend to understand fully the anguish and turmoil that will have been caused.”", "A phenomenal 1-2-3 has been achieved by runners from the Mansfield Harriers club in the final standings in the Nottinghamshire County Schools Cross-Country League for school year-seven girls.\nBeth Hamilton bagged the gold, Ruby Milnes the silver and Alex Foster the bronze after all three were involved in a thrilling final round at Berry Hill Park in Mansfield on Saturday.\nHamilton went into the race not only leading the series but also unbeaten. However, for once, she had to play second fiddle to teammate Foster, who produced a tremendous performance to make up for earlier struggles in the league, caused by her diabetes and blood-sugar levels. This time she ran the race of ler life, outsprinting her clubmate on the home straight after a race run at a ferocious pace. Milnes finished a fine fourth, with another Harrier, Ava Blake, in 27th.\nMeanwhile, in the race for years eight and nine boys, Henry Bullough unleashed his best display of the winter with a commanding performance to lead throughout and earn a series medal. Sam Bentley was ninth in the race for years ten and 11 boys, while Amelia Shackleford was a solid 21st in the contest for girls in years eight and nine.\nThe Mansfield club also had a good turnout in the year-six races, with James Flint fifth for the boys, closely follow by Matthew Young, who showed fine determination in eighth, William Sankey in 20th, Joel Brereton in 34th, Oliver Allen in 54th and William Sankey in 86th.\nThe year-six girls proved how they are developing into a strong squad. Ella Kennedy placed seventh, followed by Freya Longmead in eighth, Jemima Waller in ninth, Martha Yanney in 14th, Ellie Jones in 17th, Lucy Miller in 24th and Amelia Arnold in 63rd.\nHarriers might have tasted more glory in the year-seven boys’ event but for a freak piece of bad luck. Jake Orr was joint first in the series, only to lose a shoe with just half a lap to go of this final race, which resulted in the title slipping from his grasp. Oliver Bullough ran well for fourth and earned himself a medal in the overall standings, while Harley-Jay Martin placed ninth and Harry Wilkinson 16th.\nThe club’s junior athletes also enjoyed lots of success at the district schools cross-country championships at Sherwood Pines, where schools from the Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield regions held their own age-group contests.\nVictories were secured by Amnelia Shackleford, who produced a career-best in the Mansfield years eight and nine girls’ race, Maddison Pallester in the Mansfield years ten and 11 girls’ race, Amber and Mollie Scott, who were joint first in the Bassetlaw years 12 and 13 girls’ event, Beth Hamilton in the Newark year-seven girls’ race, Alex Foster in the Mansfield year-seven girls’ race, Jake Orr in the Mansfield year-seven boys’ race, and also Ben Smith in the Newark years ten and 11 boys’ contest.", "Mansfield Town’s seven-match unbeaten run in, a run which had taken them into the League Two play-off places, ended in disappointing style at Crawley Town on Saturday.\nGoals from substitutes Joe McNerney and Ibrahim Meite were enough for Harry Kewell’s side to consign Steve Evans’ charges to a 2-0 defeat at Evans’ former club.\nMatch action from Mansfield Town's 2-0 defeat at Crawley\nIt dropped Mansfield down to ninth, out the play-off places on goal difference.\nRelated articles\nFull match report\nSteve Evans unhappy with his players after defeat\nHow the Stags players rated in defeat\nCan you spot a familiar face in our fans gallery?\nOpinion: Stags are still well placed ahead of busy Christmas", "Christmas is only just around the corner and these showjumping shows should help put you in the festive mood\nUnaffiliated evening showjumping\nDate: 14 December\nVenue: Leamside Equestrian, Houghton Le Spring\nDetails: “Gates open at 5pm with a clear round and then classes from 60cm to 1m. The cafe will be open as usual. Don’t forget you can trade your rosette in for a hot drink.”\nEnter now\nJunior British Showjumping\nDate: 16 December\nVenue: Alnwick Ford Equestrian, Morpeth\nDetails: “Pony classes from 70cm open to 1.15m members’ cup.”\nEnter now\nUnaffiliated showjumping\nDate: 16 December\nVenue: Felbridge Showground, East Grinstead\nDetails: “Classes from 40cm cross poles to 90cm with a 60cm class with no spread fences included in the course. Prize money available dependent on entries and rosettes to those placed first to fifth and to those who jump a clear round.”\nEnter now\nTeam and individual showjumping\nDate: 16 December\nVenue: Highfield Equestrian at Howe, Cupar\nDetails: “A huge range of classes available from clear round cross poles, which also has a prize for the best Christmas fancy dress costume all the way up to 1.05m. .”\nEnter now\nChristmas unaffiliated showjumping\nDate: 17 December\nVenue: Lime Kiln Farm Equestrian Centre, Fakenham\nDetails: “A great variety of classes on offer from a 60cm speed class and a horse and hound relay to a pairs relay, puissance and 95cm open.”\nEnter now\nChristmas holiday showjumping\nDate: 21 December\nVenue: Beaver Hall, Leek\nDetails: “Classes from cross poles and 45cm to 95cm with higher fences available on request afterwards. There is also an offer available to each rider where if you enter two classes, you get two more for free.”\nEnter now\nVisit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings", "A Mansfield man disguised himself in a “Hulk” mask before scaling a wall and ransacking a teenage boy’s bedroom, a court heard.\nBilly-Joe Barber was seen climbing into a garden on Stainforth Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, just before 5pm, on June 17, with another man in a blue hooded top.\nA chair leg was used to smash the double-glazed window of an outbuilding in the back garden, and the room was searched, and the pair made off with a black box, said prosecutor Emma Heath-Tilford.\n“The owner says the property was trashed,” she said.\nBarber was later found with two other men in a car, which contained the Hulk mask, the chair leg, and the black box.\nBarber, 24, of Kirton Close, Meden Vale, admitted burglary when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Monday.\nMagistrates said their powers of sentencing were insufficient, and Barber was granted inconditional bail until January 10, to appear at Nottingham Crown Court.", "All this week 96.5 TIC is giving you the chance to see All Star Christmas Night Two featuring Backstreet Boys, Fergie, and Max live at Mohegan Sun Arena!\n96.5 TIC and Jordan’s Furniture are proud to present All-Star Christmas: Night Two, starring Backstreet Boys, Fergie, and Max at Mohegan Sun on Saturday December 16th! Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com, but all this weekend you can win tickets with 96.5TIC!\nListen for your chance to call-in and win every hour from 9:20am to 6:20pm.\nWhen you hear the cue to call, dial 860-247-9696 and you could win a pair of tickets to see the show!\nPresented by Jordan’s Furniture, Long Wharf, New Haven.", "For their December play, Louth Playgoers are re-telling the classic story of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’.\nThe new adaptation uses multi-rolling, puppetry, projection and a minimalist set to tell the story William Beech and his journey from London to Little Weirwold.\nSet during the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows sad young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside where he builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley.\nAll seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London.\nThe show runs from Saturday, December 5 to Saturday, December 9, with performances at 7.30pm nightly, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.\nTickets from 01507 600350 or louthriverheadtheatre.com.", "Photo: Erik Weiss\nBy Scott T. Sterling\nThe Killers brought a dose of Morrissey and the Smiths to this year’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show over the weekend (Dec. 10), rolling out the pair of Moz covers during the band’s headlining set.\nRelated: The Killers Perform New Order Classic with Bernard Sumner\nWhile Morrissey was originally scheduled to top the bill, the singer was forced to cancel due to illness.\nBrandon Flowers and the Killers admirably assumed the show’s top slot, and invoked the spirit of Morrissey with versions of the Smiths’ 1983 classic, “This Charming Man.” Later in the set, the Killers shared a take on Morrissey’s 1988 solo single, “Everyday is Like Sunday.”\nWatch fan video of the performances below.\nThe Killers covering “This Charming Man” by The Smiths, considering Morrissey cancelled this Acoustic Christmas. https://t.co/G833Ji99OD —\nr[Y]an (@rubix_ryan) December 11, 2017", "Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir will perform their 31st annual Christmas concert on Saturday, December 16.\nIt will take place at the ancient church of St. Mary’s Parish in Radcliffe on Trent.\nThe church was established in 1200 AD and is a stunning Grade-One listed building. This is a joint concert with the award-winning Newstead Brass Band, a versatile band and winners of the 2013 and 2014 Leicestershire Open Championship and prize-winners at the Bolsover Festival of Brass.\nThey have also appeared on TV with Sir Bruce Forsyth.\nThere are two concerts; a matinee at 2.30 pm with the Radcliffe Junior School Choir, with seats at £6 for adults and £2 for children under 16; in the evening at 7pm with all seats at £10. The benefit charity this year is the Friary Drop-In Centre in West Bridgford. Tickets are available from Pen-2-Paper at 6 Main Street, Radcliffe on Trent, NG12 2FH (call 01159 335810).", "Following on from success with latest musical show Beauty And The Beast, In The Wings Youth Theatre Company is performing a Christmas Variety Concert at St Johns Church, London Road, Bexhill on Saturday at 7pm.\nThe programme includes hits from Hamilton, Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors, Annie and Hairspray. Many numbers are choreographed. Tickets are available on 01424 736885. Adults £6, children £3. Price and includes a hot drink and mince pie. In The Wings Youth Theatre company was formed in 2013 for children and young adults aged 7-21 years, and aims to create fun-filled workshops to develop skills in musical theatre, as well as contributing to confidence building.", "On March 24 “RuPaul’s Drag Race\" opened its ninth season to a record number of VH1 viewers. Cream City’s audience was abuzz with rapt anticipation, too, for among the 14 competing queens, Milwaukee’s own Jaymes Mansfield would sashay across the stage. She was the second Milwaukee contestant to appear on the pinnacle platform of America’s drag artistry. Trixie Mattel appeared in season seven and placed sixth. Sadly, Mansfield wouldn’t get that far. In fact, she was the first to “sashay away.\"\nStill, her achievement was in getting there. Having auditioned five times, her moment had finally come. Among the hundreds upon hundreds of queens auditioning each season, appearing on “Drag Race\" is a well-earned crown unto itself.\nBut, for all the interviews and promos, Mansfield’s backstory barely got a mention. It’s worth exploring, especially since it reflects the empowering influence of some Milwaukee institutions from the Alliance School to the Milwaukee Art Museum and their roles in inspiring our LGBT artists to realize their dreams.\nThe narrative really begins when Mansfield came out as gay. It was sophomore year in high school. The bullying began immediately. But, there was an alternative, the Alliance School, a welcoming MPS charter school for LGBTs and other bullied students. Mansfield explains, “I heard about Alliance and went there. After that I never had fear of going to school. I will praise that school to the end of time. What they do there is beautiful.\" And it was there where the school’s art program under Jill Engel-Miller offered both an escape and a means for personal expression. Collaborating with the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, the Alliance School exhibited students’ works at the Gay Youth Art Show. Mansfield entered felt dolls. One found its way into Joe Pabst’s art collection. It’s a Lady Godiva doll created in homage to the stripper-actress-writer-bombshell Liz Renay, star of John Water’s movie, Desperate Living , who, in 1974, notoriously streaked naked down Hollywood Boulevard. (Mansfield, by the way, while channeling her namesake Jayne Mansfield, looks suspiciously like the classic Liz … ) Soon thereafter, still other puppets are displayed at Milwaukee Art Museum’s Scholastic Art Awards Exhibit and awarded a prestigious Gold Key.\nThen, in 2012, Mansfield debuts in drag at the LGBT Community Center. I first saw Mansfield (accompanied by an armed puppet) in early 2013 when she performed Julie Brown’s ’80s teen tragedy parody song “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun\" at an MGAC cabaret. She reprised the number on the PrideFest’s MGAC Stage that summer.\nThe rest is history, or herstory. Speaking of which, beyond “Drag Race,\" Mansfield has embarked on a YouTube career that includes drag costume, make-up and hair tutorials, movie reviews and a Drag Herstory series. In the latter, Mansfield tells the previously untold story of past drag personalities like Lori Shannon of the sitcom “All in the Family.\"\nCommenting on her brief “Drag Race\" stint, Mansfield reflects, “It freaks me out. The recording was a year ago. Watching my awkward phase of puberty on camera I realize how far I’ve come. Despite the shortcomings, I’m ultimately happy with the experience. I didn’t pretend to be something I wasn’t.\"", "MEDINA, Ohio - Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach and the Medina Community Police Activities League are once again teaming up to offer a live theater experience to area children and their families.\nThis year's no-frills holiday trip will be to see a production of \"A Christmas Story\" at the Allen Theater at Playhouse Square in Cleveland.\nSeating is limited for the Nov. 30 show. Tickets are $40 per person and include a school bus ride to and from Cleveland. Participants can meet at the Montville Police Station at 6 p.m. or drive on their own.\nLast year, 90 people joined in the fun for the inaugural MCPAL road trip to see \"How the Grinch Stole Christmas.\"\nThe event raised $1,600 to benefit afterschool music, arts and cultural programs through MCPAL, said Thomas Sigel, ORMACO executive director.\nThis fall, ORMACO will provide theater classes through MCPAL, led by Brianna Laybourne, daughter of Medina County Common Pleas Court Judge Joyce V. Kimbler and retired Medina County Common Pleas Court Judge James Kimbler.\nLaybourne has a master's degree in theater and has worked professionally with area theater companies, Sigel said.\nTickets for \"A Christmas Story\" can be purchased online at www.ormaco.org (credit card processing fees apply) or by calling Sigel at 330-722-2541.\n\"It would be great if people would consider buying tickets for children whose parents are unable to afford tickets for live theater. This would bring them a bit of holiday joy and create a special lifelong memory,\" Sigel said.\nSponsorship tickets can be purchased by calling Sigel.\nORMACO is a non-profit organization devoted to making music, arts and cultural programs available to underserved, disadvantaged and rural populations.\nMCPAL is a non-profit organization that promotes positive relationship between law enforcement officers and youth in the community through educational and recreational programs and opportunities.", "The Huronia Symphony Orchestra is making a list and “checking it twice” this season as it prepares to present its Dec. 17 Christmas concert at Collier Street United Church in Barrie.\nThe list includes historical Christmas music that will transport the listener back in time to holidays long ago, singalong songs led by guest choirs and seasonal favourites all designed to celebrate the season and put everyone into the holiday spirit.\nArcangelo Corelli’s famous Christmas Concerto, Concerto grosso in G minor, was written for Christmas Eve 1690 and features David McFadden, violin; Valerie Selander Voisey, violin; and John Trembath, cello, in a solo group (concertante) that alternates with the rest of the strings in the orchestra. It is exciting music that represents the beginning of concerto form and one of Corelli’s best-known works.\nThe European holiday tradition of ballroom music is presented with three works from the end of the nineteenth century. Tchaikovsky’s Polonaise from the opera Eugene Onegin, Waldteufel’s Skaters’ Waltz and the Pizzicato Polka by Johann Strauss II.\nTony Royse, the former conductor of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and winner of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto Christmas Carol writing competition, created the arrangements of our singalong songs. The Collier Street Choir School and the Maestro Music Centre Children's/Youth Choir are the featured guests.\nThe orchestra is featured in Mel Tormé’s beloved holiday tune The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) and Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, which weaves together a number of seasonal favourites including Joy To the World, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Adeste Fideles.\nEvery holiday concert needs a “sleigh ride” and three are on the Huronia Symphony Christmas list. Delius’ Winter Night — Sleigh Ride from his Three Small Tone Poems, Prokofiev’s Troika from Lieutenant Kijé Suite and Leroy Anderson’s exciting Sleigh Ride with percussion effects such as whip cracks and horse hooves is likely to bring out the “Jolly Old Elf himself” at the end of the concert.\nVisit huroniasymphony.ca or call 705 721-4752. Tickets: $25 adult, $10 student, $5 child.", "MABOU: Two Cape Breton musical favourites are teaming up to blend their versatile guitar skills with a bit of holiday cheer.\nScott Macmillan and Brian Doyle will bring their new show, “Scott and Brian’s Christmas Guitar Frenzy” to the Strathspey Place on December 14.\n“We’re in for a good time. It’s going to be entertaining,” said Macmillan. “It’s just the two guitars, both acoustic and electric, and we’re going to do some Christmas tunes as well.”\n- Advertisement -\nMacmillan says variety is a key feature of the duo’s performances. The show will feature a blend of genres including blues, jazz, rock, and Celtic music.\n“It’s different every time because we improvise quite a bit,” said Macmillan. “We’ve got lots of chops and we’re fast and furious and going at it, but it’s fun too.”\nThe two guitarists have been touring and recording together for decades. They first came together when Doyle appeared on Macmillan’s 1996 recording, The Minnie Sessions. In 2007, the duo collaborated on their album Live Off the Floor, which received two East Coast Music Award nominations.\nBrian Doyle told The Reporter the pair is currently working on another album.\n“It was always such a riot to see what we were going to come up with because we both had such different backgrounds, but we ended up in the same scenario playing,” said Doyle. “Over the years, we played so much together that we have a pretty vast repertoire to pick from.”\nDoyle said says he grew up in a family steeped in the Celtic music tradition. As a teenager, the Margaree native found himself performing rock and blues, but he stayed connected to his Celtic roots as well.\n“My background is diverse, and then you mix that with Scott who basically has a jazz background blending into traditional Celtic stuff, and it’s quite a combination really,” said Doyle.\nThe upcoming Christmas concert will give the audience a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the music. All audience seating will be on the stage, which will be decorated with Christmas lights. Doyle and Macmillan have performed in the Strathspey Place’s “Stage Venue” before and enjoyed having the chance to connect more closely with the audience.\n“It’s just a marvelous, intimate performance setting, so I’m really, really looking forward to that,” said Doyle, adding that the unique setting and spontaneous musical style of the show will make it a Christmas highlight for the audience.\n“Don’t miss it. It’s high energy fun, there’s no question about it.”\nFor tickets call the box office at 902-945-5300 or visit: www.strathspeyplace.com.", "CLOSE Essex County's Kip's Castle offers Holiday Candlelight Tours throughout December. Owen Proctor/NorthJersey.com\nCedar Grove firefighters accompany Santa Claus and his sled riding Sweetwood Drive and other township streets, greeting children and passing out candy canes Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (Photo: NorthJersey.com File)\nSanta Claus will be switching from a sleigh to a fire engine on Sunday, as Cedar Grove and Verona firefighters help him tour the towns.\nCedar Grove\nCedar Grove's North and South End fire companies will begin their tours at 10 a.m. around their neighborhood streets, Cedar Grove Fire Chief John Bannon told NorthJersey.com.\nCenter Company, meanwhile, has a schedule for stops.\nStops are timed for 11:45 a.m. at Glen Rock Road; 12:05 p.m. Cedar Street and Sunset; 12:25 p.m. Union and Summit; 12:40 p.m. Mountain Way and Rockledge; 1 p.m. The Fairway and Briarwood Terrace; 1:20 p.m. Haller and Sherman; and 1:40 p.m. Monroe and Daniel.\nPhotos: Cedar Grove rings in holidays\nHolidays: Kip's Castle, Morgan's Farm host tours\nAfter a break, Santa picks up again at 2:35 p.m. at Old Orchard Road; 2:55 p.m. Bortic and Personette; 3:20 p.m. Beech and Hillside; 3:40 p.m. Cedar Grove Parkway; 4 p.m. Brunswick Road; 4:20 p.m. Young Avenue; 4:40 p.m. Dalewood and Skytop; and 5:20 p.m. Winding Way and Sunrise.\nVerona\nThe Verona Fire Department will hold its annual Santa Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine.\nSanta will be taking a break from the North Pole to spread holiday cheer in Verona. He and his helpers will visit every street in Verona, playing holiday music and handing out candy canes to all children, according to fire officials.\nThe Fire Department does not know the exact time the celebration will be on each street, but when you hear sirens and music, come out to say hello.\nEmail: [email protected]\nRead or Share this story: https://njersy.co/2BcCUAJ", "COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A local choir is spreading holiday cheer in a unique way and performing holiday songs in a way you probably haven’t seen before.\nSigns of Christmas performs Christmas favorites using American Sign Language at malls, schools, nursing homes and churches all across central Ohio every December. The organization started in 1980 with just a handful of members. Today, it has grown to over 250 volunteers.\n“Everyone is so welcoming to us, I think it just fills our heart to see that happening and giving back to our community,” said Signs of Christmas Director Andrea Kupar.\nKupar said the group’s mission is to promote awareness about the deaf and hard of hearing community and to help spread holiday cheer a little further.\n“They kind of don’t know what we do until they see it and then we hear they’ve never seen anything like it before, that we’ve really added something special to their Christmas spirit,” she said. “Christmas music is such a part of the folks who can hear. It’s such a part of our childhood, our upbringing, our Christmas experience, so for folks who are deaf or hard of hearing, this helps them have the same experience we had.”\nFor the choir members themselves, the performances are a way to celebrate the holidays and show that anyone can enjoy sign language.\n“I am a deaf individual, so I feel using ASL at Christmastime is beautiful,” said Signs of Christmas member Cameron Smith. “I want to show people that ASL is a beautiful language, [and] that we should value it.”\nSigns of Christmas will be performing in the Columbus area on Dec. 15, Dec. 16 and Dec. 17. To view their schedule, visit their website at www.signsofchristmas.org.", "The Overtones are back at Sheffield City Hall this weekend with their annual Christmas show.\nSince breaking through in 2010 with their debut Good Ol’ Fashioned Love, the group has established their reputation as an act with the unique ability to deliver consistently uplifting music infused with exquisitely crafted vocal harmonies.\nIt’s no wonder that they have now sold more than a million records and had five UK top five albums.\nIn Sheffield they will be back celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with a stocking rammed full of Christmas crackers in the shape of good old festive classics such as White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and Let It Snow.\nThe show is on Friday, December 15 and ticket are at http://bit.ly/2iD2PGR" ]

[ "Chicken and beef are both staples of the human diet, and they can be prepared and seasoned in thousands of different ways. Unfortunately, these common animal proteins are also sources of the type of fat that can elevate your risk for high cholesterol, heart disease, and cardiovascular problems." ]

[ "What to look for: ►Specifically named meats and meat meals such as chicken, chicken meal, turkey, turkey meal, lamb, lamb meal, duck, duck meal, beef, beef meal, eggs and so on.", "The Madras curry originates from what was the Madras region in the south east of India and it’s a spicy curry that can be made with chicken, pork, beef and even mince beef or lamb as a Keema Madras.he Madras curry originates from what was the Madras region in the south east of India and it’s a spicy curry that can be made with chicken, pork, beef and even mince beef or lamb as a Keema Madras.", "Veggie delight, ham, turkey, turkey ham, subway cub, roast beef, roast chicken, sweet onion chicken teriyaki What does FIFO stand for and what does that mean Fist in first out.", "In the Chinese restaurants, Beef is beef, pork is pork, chicken is chicken, seafood is seafood. Veggies are veggies. It's actually illegal in the US to serve dog or cat to consumers. I am not sure what the codes are in your area as you didn't say where you lived.", "An Atheist living in an Islamic country I'd really like to know what bacon and pork taste, and what does it resemble more (chicken, beef, fish...).", "The Spanish eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, sea food, chicken, pork and beef in that order.They also use rice and chick peas. What differs from one region to another is the way they put them together.he Spanish eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, sea food, chicken, pork and beef in that order.", "You will use a clear consomme consommé or bone broth in place of a can of chicken, stock chicken or beef, bouillon or beef – consomme consommé, a clear strained. Beef broth one cup, of rich reduced stock is the equivalent of a. 10 oz can of chicken stock or, beef consomme consommé or 2 bouillon cubes. or 1 tsp of. powdered bouillon baseou will use a clear consomme consommé or bone broth in place of a can of chicken, stock chicken or beef, bouillon or beef – consomme consommé, a clear strained. Beef broth one cup, of rich reduced stock is the equivalent of a. 10 oz can of chicken stock or, beef consomme consommé or 2 bouillon cubes. or 1 tsp of. powdered bouillon base", "Liver. Beef and chicken liver are rich, natural sources of preformed vitamin A. In three ounces of beef liver, there are 30,000 IU (International Unit) of the vitamin, while there are 13,000 IU in the same amount of chicken liver.iver. Beef and chicken liver are rich, natural sources of preformed vitamin A. In three ounces of beef liver, there are 30,000 IU (International Unit) of the vitamin, while there are 13,000 IU in the same amount of chicken liver.", "Pretty Chicken Marinade-All Recipes. Allow chicken to marinate for no longer than 4 hours, because the lemon juice will begin to cook the chicken. When grilled, the chicken turns a beautiful ... Beef or Chicken Marinade-All Recipes. This dark, rich marinade can be used with any type of beef or chicken.", "Beef, pork, lamb, chicken livers. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken tongues, hearts, brains. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken marrow, kidneys. Many people don’t eat these types of meats either but you can eat them if you like them, and they are very good sources of vitamins and minerals.", "What exactly is Schnitzel? Schnitzel is a meat dish that is a very thin boneless cutlet of veal, pork, beef or chicken that is either breaded and deep fried or pan fried with or without a breading.hat exactly is Schnitzel? Schnitzel is a meat dish that is a very thin boneless cutlet of veal, pork, beef or chicken that is either breaded and deep fried or pan fried with or without a breading.", "Lahaina Chicken Company carves its chicken, beef and ribs to order right in front of the customers’ view similar to what is done in quality buffet operations. Yummy Restaurant Group is built on a foundation of hard work and dedication of family members and employees.", "Chicken Fajita with Vegetables: 19.67: Beef Fajita with Vegetables: 23.53: Chicken Fajita with Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato on Pita Bread: 21.73: Beef Fajita with Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato on Pita Bread: 19.25: Diet Chicken Fajita Frozen Meal: 16.92", "140. New Flavors Chow Mein chow mein w/ shrimp&comma; chicken&comma; and beef. 141. Chicken&comma; Beef&comma; Pork Or Vegetable Chow Fun : 142. Shrimp Chow Fun : 140. New Flavors Chow Fun chow fun w/ shrimp&comma; chicken&comma; and beef.", "soup - liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food. pot likker, pot liquor, liquor - the liquid in which vegetables or meat have be cooked. beef broth, beef stock - a stock made with beef. chicken broth, chicken stock - a stock made with chicken.", "There is no such thing as a molecule of chicken or beef. So on a molecular level, it would depend on which molecule you are looking at. If you look at a weter molecule, it would be the same in chicken or beef or human. Some molecules will be present in defferent quantities, or not at all in certain types of meat, but fundamentally, a molecule stays the same wherever it is. You should not find chicken DNA in beef, or vice versa for example.", "If they are compliments i.e strawberries and cream, increased demand for one will cause an increased demand in the other. If they have substitutes i.e beef and chicken, an increase demand in beef (presumably from a drop in price), the demand for chicken will decrease since beef will be cheaper. Natalie · 4 years ago.", "Definition of PHO. : a soup made of beef or chicken broth and rice noodles.ADVERTISEMENT.Vietnamese phǫ̛.efinition of PHO. : a soup made of beef or chicken broth and rice noodles. ADVERTISEMENT. Vietnamese phǫ̛.", "1 Large flour tortilla filled with beans and your choice of beef, chicken or pork. 2 Our regular meat and bean burrito topped with melted cheddar cheese and ranchera sauce. Choice of beef, chicken or pork. Our regular meat and bean burrito, deep-fried and covered with fresh guacamole and chopped tomatoes. Choice of beef, chicken or pork.", "Best Answer: Run of the mill everyday bologna is made of beef, pork, chicken & turkey and cereal fillers.Beef bologna is made of beef and cereal fillers of course.est Answer: Run of the mill everyday bologna is made of beef, pork, chicken & turkey and cereal fillers.", "If you are just thinking of how to treat them, ferrets can eat healthy meat and cooked chicken, turkey and game … burgers are not healthy meat. Good Cuts of Meats for Ferrets Include: chunks of beef, beef by-products (select vital organ meats), beef muscle meat, chicken breast, chicken thighs, drumsticks, finely ground meaty beef bones, fortified with vitamins and minerals (ash and taurine are natural derivatives)", "Most importantly, a person must prepare his or her food so that it reaches the right temperature. To do that, they will need a thermometer and they will need to know what the correct internal temperature of cooked chicken, seafood, pork, and beef should be. Beef is available in the form of steaks, roasts, or ground.", "Fatty Meats. Fatty cuts of beef, pork and even chicken can bring on a gallbladder attack. If you like meat, choose lean cuts of chicken, turkey or fish. Pork is high in fat so this is the worst type of meat you can eat. Beef also has a high fat content, so avoid beef unless it is a very lean cut.atty Meats. Fatty cuts of beef, pork and even chicken can bring on a gallbladder attack. If you like meat, choose lean cuts of chicken, turkey or fish. Pork is high in fat so this is the worst type of meat you can eat. Beef also has a high fat content, so avoid beef unless it is a very lean cut.", "Definition of pho - a type of Vietnamese soup, typically made from beef stock and spices to which noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken are added. Definition of pho - a type of Vietnamese soup, typically made from beef stock and spices to which noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken are added. dictionary thesaurus", "broth - liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces; she made gravy with a base of beef stock. stock. soup - liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food. pot likker, pot liquor, liquor - the liquid in which vegetables or meat have be cooked. beef broth, beef stock - a stock made with beef. chicken broth, chicken stock - a stock made with chicken.", "Approximately 90 percent of the United States' lead production is situated around what small Midwestern town? With all the buzz going on about mad cow disease, just what are the nutritional differences between eating beef, chicken, and fish? Would it make any difference in terms of nutrition if you never ate beef again?", "Child Plates For children 10 and under ONLY please. Served with rice and refried beans or french fries. Taco Plate (Crispy or Soft) ..................................................... 5.00 Enchilada (Chicken, Beef or Cheese) .................................. 5.00 Burrito Beef, Chicken or Bean ..........................................", "1 Add the onion, chipotle peppers, garlic, ketchup, salt, and the browned chicken to the pot. 2 Add enough water to almost cover the chicken. 3 Simmer the chicken adobo mixture over low heat until the chicken is cooked through and tender, about 30 minutes, turning the pieces of chicken occasionally. Add the onion, chipotle peppers, garlic, ketchup, salt, and the browned beef to the pot. 2 Add enough water to almost cover the beef. 3 Simmer the beef adobo mixture over low heat until the beef is cooked through and tender, about 80 minutes. 4 Stir in the coconut milk and cook for around 5 minutes.", "Food sources include: Milk, breads, fortified cereals, almonds, asparagus, dark meat chicken, and cooked beef. What it does: Supports many body processes, such as turning food into energy.", "NON-GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS. Beech Nut jars Macaroni and Beef Vegetable and Beef Corn & Sweet Potato Country Garden Vegetable. Beech Nut. (Table Time meals) Turkey Stew Macaroni & Cheese Seashells Primavera Chicken & Stars Vegetable Stew w/Beef Spaghetti Rings Chicken Stew.", "SuKarne is also one of the largest North American marketers of value-added chicken, beef, and pork to retail grocers, broad-line food service distributors, and national fast-food and full-service restaurant chains, fresh beef and pork, frozen and fully cooked chicken, and case-ready beef and pork.", "This dish is traditionally made with chicken (or beef) broth and schmaltz (rendered chicken fat), but we prefer to use vegetable stock and olive oil. Every cookbook and family seems to have a slightly different variation of this recipe, but no matter what, it always has the bow ties and kasha. Kasha Varnishkes." ]

[ "To see how much charge your Apple Pencil has left while you're using it, check the Today View on your iPad. Just swipe from left to right on the Home screen or Lock screen." ]

[ "How much does a new iPhone battery cost? Apple is charging $29 to install the battery, a savings of $50 over the usual $79 out-of-warranty price for replacing the battery.", "On most vape pens when the battery is dead, a red light on the button will flash. To know if the battery is dead, screw the vape pen into the charger. The charger will show a red light if the battery is dead, and a green light when the battery is charged.", "['Who are they? ... ', 'Who are you? ... ', 'What do they value? ... ', 'How relevant is your topic to them? ... ', 'How much do they already know about your topic? ... ', 'How much do they need to know in order to accomplish your goals? ... ', 'Do they view your topic favorably, neutrally, or negatively?']", "How Much Does a New MacBook Pro Battery Cost? If your MacBook is out of warranty when you need to replace the battery (which it most likely will be), Apple can replace it for $129 to $199 depending on the model.", "The Juul is very much like a standard cigarette in how it feels in the user's hands. It is lightweight and activated simply by drawing from it. Vape Pens, on the other hand, have three components: a battery, a liquid reservoir, and a heating coil.", "['Know your full retirement age. ... ', 'Know the effects of early or late Social Security. ... ', 'Know how much to expect each month. ... ', 'Know how Social Security benefits for spouses work. ... ', 'Know if your Social Security benefits could be taxed.']", "Theodore Roosevelt Quotes Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.", "The HP Tilt pen incorporates new technology that recognizes pen tilt. It can detect when you're tilting the pen and how much you're tilting it. ... The other difference between the two pens is stylistic - the HP pen is a lighter color, while the HP Tilt pen is darker.", "Go to, Device care/Battery usage in the settings and check how much battery used for the screen. As you see my screen was on for 3 hours and 30 minutes. The rest doesn't matter, your screen on time shows you how much you used your phone for.", "['Who are you talking to? The importance of knowing your audience was a central point of their presentation. ... ', \"How much do they know about what you're analyzing? ... \", 'How much do they understand about analysis and statistics? ... ', 'How will your audience react?', 'Why should your audience care?']", "The app functions like an enhanced version of Apple's “Find My” feature that lets you share your location with friends or family—or what the company calls “your Circle.” In addition to location sharing, Life360 lets family members see how fast people in their circle are driving, how much battery their cell phones have, ...", "How Much Does It Cost? Depending on your chosen method of replacement (see the options below), you may pay anywhere from $50-100 for iPhone 5 battery replacement service. Apple offers battery replacement for $79, plus $6.95 shipping and appropriate state tax.", "If your phone is being throttled or your battery health isn't great then you can get Apple to replace the battery in your iPhone for £25/$29. Details below. Read our How to check if the battery in your iPhone may need to be replaced article for more help with this.", "Compared with traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer, and have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package. When you know a little about how they work, they can work that much better for you.", "So no matter how someone logged into your iCloud account — whether they did so by guessing your password or by accessing your hardware — Apple has no way to know it is not you, and therefore has no reason to notify you.", "How much is a Michael Kors battery? A Michael Kors battery and service to change it is $20. That even includes return shipping to your home and shipping insurance.", "A decent vape pen should demand charging after 5 times usage. It should take approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge a 650-1300 mah battery which lasts for approx 6 hours. Originally Answered: How often do you charge the vape pen? As often as the batteries deplete.", "r/Waxpen. Do Dab Pens Smell, and do Oil Carts Leak? Yes and yes but all depends what kind and how you store them. ... If it has terps it smells but barely carts will smell,much less then a dab pen like the sai.", "Apple Watch Series 2 price: How much does the Apple Watch 2 cost? The Apple Watch Series 2 has a starting price of $369 (£369 in the UK).", "How much does it cost to repair or replace my AirPods? If your AirPods or charging case need servicing, there's no charge if the issue is covered under the Apple One Year Limited Warranty, AppleCare+ or consumer law. The prices for damage, battery service and lost AirPods shown here are for repairs made by Apple.", "The i4 has a bright blue light, and uses those lights to indicate battery capacity. It came with detailed instructions and has no LCD display, unlike the Nitecore D4. ... The D4 lets you know how long the batteries have been charging for, how long they took to charge, and the display reads, “All” when charging is complete.", "['Learn as much as you can about ED. ... ', 'Let him know how much you value him. ... ', 'Talk about how you feel. ... ', 'Stay positive. ... ', 'Adjust your sex life. ... ', 'Offer to go with him to the doctor. ... ', \"Remind him to let his doctor know how he's doing. ... \", 'Keep up the other intimate parts of your relationship.']", "On average, a laptop battery has a lifespan of between two and four years (around 1,000 full charges). Total lifespan depends on the battery type, how you treat the computer, and how often you use your laptop.", "Yours is a mighty pen The first thing you'll notice when using Wacom Intuos is how natural it feels. Thanks to EMR (Electro-Magnetic Resonance) technology, the battery free pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity provides a natural drawing experience that can keep going as long as you do.", "Pears are not better than apples. They have similar health benefits, though we know much more about how apples impact health than pears. In fact, research into the health benefits of pears is ongoing. Both apples and pears contain pectin, a fiber that nourishes gut bacteria.", "The charging time for electric cars varies depending on the model, how much the battery has run down, and the weather. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to nearly a day to fully charge the battery.", "The HP Spectre is a convertible laptop so the display is touchscreen. For the HP Envy, you can choose between a touchscreen or non-touchscreen display. The HP Spectre has its pen much like how the Surface Pro also has its pen. The HP Envy doesn't have this, unfortunately.", "['Have you consistently met your sales goals?', 'What motivates you?', 'How did you land your most successful sale?', 'How would your colleagues describe you?', 'Sell me this pen.', 'What are your long-term career goals?', 'What do you know about this company?']", "Most pacemaker batteries last for 6 to 10 years. After this, you may need to have the batteries changed. Ask your doctor how you'll know when the battery needs to be replaced or recharged. Changing the batteries involves replacing the pacemaker box with a new unit.", "How do I check how much time is left on my AppleCare plan? Head to Apple's Check Your Service and Support Coverage page and enter your device's serial number. You'll find out how much time you have left on your AppleCare plan, and if you can still buy AppleCare+ for this device.", "There is some uncertainty about how the AoD feature works, including how much battery it consumes, and how the implementation guards against things like screen burn. The official Samsung line is that AoD uses on average less than 1% of the battery per hour.", "Apple cider vinegar does not need to be refrigerated. The acidity of the vinegar effectively ensures that no bacteria will grow in it. Plus, vinegar is itself a preservative — which negates any need to preserve it by putting it in the fridge. ... Here's how to know how much ACV you should drink." ]

[ "Hollywood, California" ]

[ "Where I'm From", "Plan 9 from Outer Space", "Outer Space Treaty", "a teenager", "Where I'm Coming From", "Where It's At", "There's More Where That Came From", "Far From Everything Films", "Teenage Wedding", "small particles floating in outer space", "ballistic flight into or through outer space", "Outer Barrier", "Outer Hebrides", "outer coat", "outer plate", "outer bailey", "The outer wall", "The Outer Lands", "a suicidal teenager", "an outer capsule", "outer ward", "outer parlour", "the outer edge", "Outer House", "The Outer Banks", "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "Outer Mongolia", "teenage depression and suicide", "a space", "the outer ear", "Where's Waldo?" ]

[ "Allen iverson. Why? Because he is the bomb. He is the best point guard ever and he is so sexyyyyyyyyy!" ]

[ "East \\n\\nPG - Allen Iverson \\nSG - Dwayne Wade\\nSF - Lebron James \\nPF - Jermain O'Neal\\nC - Shaq O'Neal\\n\\nWest\\n\\nPG - Steve Nash\\nSG - Kobe Bryant\\nSF - Tracy McGrady\\nPF - Tim Duncan /Kevin Garnet\\nC - Yao Ming", "Allen Iverson, He is the best all around player a team can have. In the beginning of his career, they expected AI to win every game and to do everything. Now, He is playing like a point/shooting guard should play. Top sells on his jersey in the world. Second leader in scoring. AI is the best.", "Philadelphia 76er's cuz nobody can stop my baby Allen Iverson", "I do not think it will be Shaq because he missed a big chunk of this season. I think either Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, or Shawn Marion would be great MVPs because they aren't big superstars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, or Allen Iverson, yet they are just as athletic.", "If you're playing in a total or net league, you'd want to rack up as many numbers as you could. So you'd want:\\nC Duncan\\nPF Garnett\\nSF LeBron\\nSG Kobe\\nPG Iverson\\n(Positions based off of Yahoo's position-assignment)\\nBut if you're playing in a head-to-head league, you'd want to be strong in a handful of categories. So for instance you might take Nash over Iverson, since Nash gives you 4-5 more assists per game, even though Iverson gives you 10 more points per.\\nC Duncan/Ben Wallace\\nPF Nowitzki\\nSF Marion\\nSG LeBron\\nPG Nash", "Steve Nash. The Suns are almost as good as they were last year, and they don't have Amare Stoudamire this year. Nash makes everybody around him better (several of their players are averaging a career high in points scored). Put it this way, they wouldn't be as good if they had Stoudamire and didn't have Nash.\\n\\nAfter that, I'd go with Nowitzki, Billups, Wade, and LeBron, although not necessarily in that order.", "Here are the Candidates that will win\\n\\n Steve Nash: His team is in 2nd place. He averages 20 points and 11 assists which are better stats than he had last year when he won MVP. They do not have second best player Amare. Many of you are saying he has Shawn Marion to help him. But when did the MVP award mean do it yourself and lead your team to the playoffs. One thing an MVP should have is the ability to make other players better. Like Micheal Jordan. Steve Nash should get MVP.\\n\\n Lebron James: Is also having a great year and is improving and is a great leader. And proven to the world that he can be a 4th Quarter Player. clinched the 4th seed which they have done in 20 years. He just is not having as great as year as Steve Nash. \\n\\n Kobe Bryant: He is a great player. He has played the best of all the players. But he will not win it because his team is only the 7th seed. And Most MVP's have a winning record. Kobe needs to trust more players and pass more to win more games. But I think that is due to the inconsistency of their gameplay. But if the MVP was just who played the best Kobe would win.\\n\\n \\n Allen Iverson had a great year with 33 points and 7.5 assists those are MVP numbers. But the sixers are still currently fighting to get in the playoffs. So they couldnt give it to him. Iverson is my favorite player and he could win MVP every year but his team sucks so much.", "Give me Shaq at center because if he is at full health no one can stop him in the post. Love to have Amare when he is healthy so young with so much promise. Lebron James as the small forward most talented player in the league. Even though I hate his attitude I will go with Kobe because he can go off and score 81 points. At point guard Steve Nash just because his passes seem to make every player open with great looks.\\n\\nC- S.O'Neal\\nPF- A.Stoudemire\\nSF- L.James\\nSG- K.Bryant\\nPG- S.Nash", "1.Chauncey Billups\\n2.Kobe Bryant\\n3.Dwayne Wade\\n4.Steve Nash\\n5.Dirk Nowitzki\\n6.Allen Iverson\\n7.Paul Pierce\\n8.Shaquille O'Neal\\n9.Carmelo Anthony\\n10.Pau Gasol", "West East\\n\\nYao Ming Shaquille O'Neal\\nTim Duncan Jermaine O'Neal\\nTracy McGrady Lebron James \\nKobe Bryant Dwayne Wade\\nSteve Nash Allen Iverson", "He could be considered but Steve Nash is your MVP again", "Steve Nash is still leading in the MVP votes. He might not have stellar stats, but he carries the team. Sun would not have this kind of records without Nash this year. It's all about the team, not individual.\\n\\nThink about this - if you play with Steve Nash, suddenly you are a star (look House, Diaw...). If you play with Kobe, you suck. And Kobe would keep blaming on you.\\n\\nLebron James is also good, but some coaches and analysts still think he doesn't create enough open shots for teammates. Just FYI.", "As much as I'd like to see Steve Nash take it--I think it will be Kobe Bryant. He's had an unprecedented year in scoring, and having that 80+ game this year certainly didn't hurt! At least for now--Kobe is probably the top man on the ballots!", "PG-Steve Nash \\nPG-Chauncey Billups \\nSG-Dwayne Wade \\nSG-Kobe Bryant \\nG-Allen Iverson \\nG-Paul Pierce \\nG-Michael Redd \\nSF-Lebron James \\nSF-Vince Carter \\nPF-Pau Gasol \\nPF-Tim Duncan \\nC-Shaquille O'Neal \\nC-Yao Ming \\nC-Chris Kaman \\nC-Brad Miller \\nC-Ben Wallace\\n1. Stephon Marbury \\n2. Tracy McGrady \\n3. Raymond Felton (Brilliant assists as a Rookie) \\n4. Rasheed Wallace", "steve nash again \\nor shaq", "Pound for Pound, I would have to say Allen Iverson. He is an amazing player for his size and he has great heart. He has a \"Never say die\" attitude that makes him a competitor. He isn't even six foot tall, and yet he still averages over 30 points a game in a leage that the average height is more around 6'5\". He is an all around, truly amazing player. Not to mention my idol!", "Steve Nash does pick-and-roll with perfection. He can also shoot accurately, and his left hand can pass as good as his right hand.", "all i can say is wow.... not one person mentioned steve nash the reigning mvp. not only did he have a better season then his last years mvp season, but also his team is doing so much better. not only do they have a new roster, but he is playing with out amare, one of the most explosive and best big men in the game. still steve nash is having career highs in points assists, fg % and watever else. steve nash is also helping his teamates win other awards. such as boris diaw. who? who is boris diaw? who is raja bell? who is leandro barbosa? who is eddie house? who are these guys? all these guys are having career years, and very very good seasons. if u think anyone else, is even close to winning mvp then nash, you dont watch enough basketball. funny thing is, im not even a suns or nash fan...", "Shawn Marion/Kevin Garnett according to stats.\\n\\nI would add Kobe, AI, and Steve Nash", "wel i think that u can't really compair them...\\nthey play different position now..\\nits like comparing steve nash with sharq\\n\\nbut skill, kobe's better", "Allen Iverson - he plays so hard and with all heart.", "In the NBA there is no travels man. You see Jason Kidd Allen Iverson Steve Nash tony Parker take the ball drive take five steps and do fancy stuff and pass it off\\n\\n I remember wtching something where Tony Parker drove took two steps then faked a behind the back pass while taking more steps and then do a layup\\n\\n Or when high flyers show off they travel. It is kind of sad when the proffessionals are not playing the game right it kind of sets a bad example for the youth of today, But it is really cool stuff.", "Kobe probably will be the MVP, but I think Shawn Marion or Steve Nash deserve it most.", "Allen Iverson... He is LISTED at 6'0\" which means he's about 5'10\". AND YET! he still averages 30+. Also he dishes out assists left and right. But the biggest reason why is HE HAS NOBODY ELSE AROUND HIM. Yea Chris Webber is good but Allen Iverson made it to the NBA Championship while carrying his team on his back!", "Starting Backup\\n\\nCenter: \\nWilt Chamberlain Kareem-Abdul-Jarbar \\n\\nPower Forward:\\nLarry Bird Charles Barkly\\n\\nSmall Forward:\\nOscar Robertson LeBron James\\n\\nShooting guard:\\nMichael Jordon Kobe Bryant\\n\\nPoint guard:\\nMagic Johnson Allen Iverson", "Most def Steve Nash is gonna win. Look at his numbers. 19 ppg and 11 apg. That's bananas. And look at PHX record. 42-18. Just imagine what they could've done if Amare was healthy. Probably would be better then the Pistons. But Nash has lifted his team by himself to the top of the league.", "He is one of the most talented players on the court. He is the one to have on a team!!!\\n\\nHe's not a ballhog as you might think he is but he is really great at scoring AND passing the ball.\\nI mean, not every player can score 40 points per night.\\nIf you want to talk about selfish, there's Allen Iverson for that.", "Since the playoffs are about to start, I'll only take into consideration playoff teams. \\n\\nFirst off all,it depends on how you want to define best. 'Best' as in most important to their team, then it has to be Steve Nash or Chauncy Billups. Niether the suns or pistons would be where they are at without their respective point guards. \\n\\nBut, if you want to define best, as in the best point guard in a 1-on-1 situation, i think it has to be Gilbert Arenas. He is still an unknown nationally, but as far as pure talent, size, speed, Gilbert takes the cake when it comes to point guards in the playoffs. He can backdown a smaller guard or blow by a slower guard trying to guard him face to face. Now I havent forgotten about Dwayne Wade. But I dont really consider him a point guard. He can play pg, but he is more of an off guard like Lebron James.\\n\\nSo in the end, it all depends on how you want to define best.", "Mr. Canada - Steve Nash", "Like a 3 or 4...for two reasons...one it was Steve Nash, what is he like 5'10\" come on. And second you clearly see on the replay that Nash drew the charge so it shouldn't have counted at all!", "No chance, but he desrves some consideration. Top 10 definitely, top 5 maybe. My ballot at this point would be:\\n1. Wade\\n2. Nash\\n3. Nowitzki\\n4. LeBron\\n5. Kobe\\n6. Billups\\n7. Anthony\\n8. Marion\\n9. Pierce\\n10. Iverson", "allen iverson\\nthen latrel spreewell\\nbut A.I. is the originator" ]

[ "Plymouth planning officers concluded the plans for Drake's Island should be rejected partly because the little egrets would be disturbed and leave.\nDevelopers Rotolok, who want to build a 25-bed hotel on the uninhabited island, said there was \"no problem\" with its effect on the birds.\nNo-one from the council was available for immediate comment.\nDrake's Island, which was bought by the Tiverton-based businessman and former Plymouth Argyle chairman Dan McCauley, covers about six acres and contains military barracks and buildings from the Napoleonic era.\nMr McCauley is trying for a third time to get permission to build a £10m boutique hotel, bar and restaurant on the island.\nLast year, plans submitted by his company Rotolok Holdings for Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound were rejected by city councillors who said more information on the risks to wildlife was needed.\nNatural England has now told officers: \"The little egrets have selected a roosting and breeding site distant from human activity.\n\"If the development were to result in disturbance, as we believe is likely even with the proposed mitigation in place, this may result in the complete loss of the breeding colony from this site and communal roost rather than a reduction in numbers of birds present.\"\nLittle Egrets\nThere are thought to be about 700 breeding pairs nationally and it is ranked amber on the RSPB's conservation list, as a rare breeding species.\nThey first arrived in the UK in 1989, and only started nesting in 1996.\nSource: RSPB\nOfficers recommended refusal to the planning committee on 15 January citing the effect on the egrets and flooding risk.\nMr McCauley's son Aidan said: \"I am staggered that after years of close working with council officers they are choosing to ignore the evidence that is before them and turn our proposed investment away.\n\"My professional team has provided the council with all they need to approve this existing scheme and it is clear that there is no problem with the little egrets, and no need for any off-site mitigation measures to be taken.\"" ]

[ "The Mediterranean gull and black-headed gull eggs were illegally harvested from from islands in Poole Harbour, Dorset.\nThe theft has been branded \"sickening\" by bird charity Birds of Poole Harbour.\nThe group said some eggs - sometimes eaten as a delicacy - were not cleared for human consumption.\nDorset Police and Natural England have launched an investigation.\nNatural England is urging any restaurants or pubs to ask to see a valid licence before buying eggs to prepare in meals.\nBirds of Poole Harbour had been surveying a group of islands in the harbour when the theft was discovered.\nMediterranean gulls are classified as a Schedule One species, meaning anyone disturbing their nests must have a special licence.\nPaul Morton, who runs the charity, said Mediterranean gulls' eggs were not approved for human consumption, and could be a \"health issue\".\n\"I'm distraught, really. To see the taking of hundreds and hundreds of eggs from an important colony is quite sickening,\" he said.\nMr Moreton said there had been previous convictions for egg poaching in the last 10 or 15 years.\nHe said continued monitoring was needed to understand the effect on the gull population in the harbour, which he said had fallen by 70% since 2008.", "The vessel, named Tobrach N, was detained in Douglas after being caught fishing without a licence eight miles south east of Chicken Rock lighthouse.\nChris Thomson, from Kirkcudbright, Scotland, was also ordered to forfeit the catch, valued at £4,596.\nEnvironment minister Geoffrey Boot said the case sounded \"a powerful warning\".\n\"Anyone flouting the law in Manx waters will be apprehended and prosecuted,\" he added.\nThomson admitted fishing without a licence after appearing at Douglas Courthouse.\nHe told the court he was new to the vessel, having only taken command two days previously, the Isle of Man government said.\nHe accepted that as captain, it was his responsibility to ensure he adhered to the law, but said the vessel's owners had informed him there was a valid licence.\nA government spokesman said a licence to fish in Manx waters issued to the previous owners had expired on the sale of the vessel.\nMinister Boot said: \"Fishing is a multimillion-pound industry for the island and the long-term sustainability of stocks is vital to our economy, hence we licence activity.\"\nManx territorial waters extend 12 miles around the island's coastline and contain a number of restricted fishing zones.", "The animals began to appear in the islands about five years ago after possibly being deliberately introduced.\nThe report commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has warned they could significantly impact populations such as voles and hen harriers.\nIt is feared this, in turn, could affect tourism.\nGraham Neville of SNH said: \"Orkney is fortunate to have such a diverse and high quality landscape and natural heritage - rich in bird life from Arctic tern, with one of the longest of all migratory passages, to short eared owl and red throated diver.\n\"Arable land complements cliff colonies and the seas around Orkney are teeming with life and marine plants.\n\"That makes it plain we have a duty to conserve its nature. And the report tells us it is highly likely that invasive non-native stoats will change the ecology of Orkney. That will have a heavy impact on its place as a home for birds of prey and other species.\n\"This is a significant issue with implications for the affected species of Orkney - but no one should be in any doubt it will be difficult to remove stoats and it will take major funding to achieve removal.\"\nA stoat that found its way to Orkney was released back on the mainland in 2010.", "Visitors to the charity's reserve in Bempton, East Yorkshire can upload their images to a special website.\nThe Atlantic puffin is a \"Red List\" threatened species and numbers across the UK are rapidly declining.\nResearchers hope analysing the birds' diets could help explain why numbers have dropped in some areas.\nMore on this and other East Yorkshire stories\nImages from Bempton, where colony numbers are holding steady, will be compared to other sites where the birds are struggling.\nA recent report by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee said that the puffin's decline was due to a reduction in its food supply of small fish and its vulnerability to oil spills.\nThey have been listed as vulnerable to extinction, the lowest of three categories behind critically endangered and endangered.\nThe RSPB's Ali Barratt said the research is especially important at this time of year as puffin chicks are about to hatch.\n\"The society as a whole can look at what puffins are eating in different parts of the UK,\" she said.\n\"See if there are any differences and see if there any things that we wouldn't expect and to try and build a picture of ocean health around our island\".", "Bempton Cliffs at Flamborough Head has the UK's largest mainland seabird colony, according to the RSPB.\nIt said the new facilities would bring more visitors and improve their access to the thousands of nesting birds.\nKeith Clarkson, site manager, said: \"It's absolutely fantastic. It's been 10 years in the making.\"\nThe centre, which attracts about 76,000 people a year, has been closed since September for redevelopment.\nIt now has a bigger reception, a sheltered place for education and space for community groups and family activities.\nThe footpaths have been made more accessible and extra spaces provided in the car park.\nIts reopening coincides with the BBC's Springwatch programme, which is based at the nature reserve for its Easter show.\nSpringwatch will be on BBC Two at 21:00 BST.", "Just over half of the protected area will be closed to fishing.\nThe fishery in the other half will be policed under a grant of £300,000 from the Louis Bacon Foundation, a charitable body.\nIt is the latest marine reserve to be declared around remote islands, which will increase marine conservation zones to about 2% of the ocean.\nThat remains a far cry from the 30% recommended by scientists to preserve species and expand fish stocks, but is much more than just a few years ago.\nGovernments have designated marine parks at Palau in the North Pacific, Easter Island and Pitcairn in the South Pacific, and New Zealand's Kermadec islands, in what has become a landmark year for ocean conservation.\nThe latest reserve at Ascension Island is said to hold some of the largest marlin in the world, one of the largest populations of green turtles, big colonies of tropical seabirds and the island's own unique frigate bird.\nThe reserve totals 234,291 sq km, slightly less than the size of the United Kingdom. It could be ready for formal designation as soon as 2017, once further data has been collected and analysed.\nDr Judith Brown, director of fisheries and marine conservation for Ascension Island government, said: \"The economic benefit from the fishery has provided much-needed income for the island.\n\"This donation will help fund the enforcement to protect the closed area from illegal fishing.\"\nThe Great British Oceans Coalition, which includes the Blue Marine Foundation and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, has been campaigning since 2014 for the designation of all or part of Ascension's waters.\nCharles Clover, Blue Marine Foundation chairman, said: \"Ascension has been at the frontiers of science since Charles Darwin went there in the 19th Century, so it is entirely appropriate that it is now at the centre of a great scientific effort to design the Atlantic's largest marine reserve.\"\nAn accident of colonial history has left the UK and France with huge potential to safeguard marine life around remote oceanic islands.\nThe Conservative party promised in its 2015 manifesto to create a \"blue belt\" of protected ocean round the UK's Overseas Territories.\nThe commitment was described by Tory MP Zac Goldsmith as \"the biggest conservation commitment by any government ever, pledging to protect an area of ocean three-and-a-half times the size of Britain\".\nFollow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin", "The RSPB said the £200,000 project at Langford Lowfields, near Newark, will be home for rare wetland birds like the bittern and marsh harrier.\nMore than 300,000 tonnes of earth is being removed at Langford Quarry and shaped into islands and pools.\nAn RSPB spokesperson described the landscaping project as \"breathtaking\".\nSite partner Tarmac Ltd, which owns the quarry, is working on the restoration as well as extracting gravel, which they have been doing for 20 years.\nThe new wetland area in construction is 50 hectares, roughly the size of 50 football pitches.\nThe nature reserve is 175 hectares of which 100 hectares will be dedicated solely to reedbeds.\nMichael Copleston, RSPB Langford Lowfields site manager, said: \"The major landscaping is a breathtaking change to the reserve.\n\"The last few years of hard work is already paying off with critically rare species making Langford Lowfields home.\"\nNew reed pools, channels and islands have been designed at the right depth and height for birds, animals and insects to feed and breed.\nWork started at the quarry site about 10 years ago when volunteers planted the reserve's first reeds.\nThe bittern, one of the most threatened bird species in the UK, visited the site for the first time two years ago.\nMarsh harriers and avocets have both successfully raised fledglings over the last two years, said the RSPB.\nLangford Lowfields is already home to badgers, brown hares, wintering whooper swans, kingfishers and cuckoos.\nThe funding has come from the SITA Trust, Biffaward and Tarmac Ltd.", "Parts of Star Wars Episode VII are being filmed on Skellig Michael.\nThe Unesco World Heritage Site is home to puffins, manx shearwaters, storm petrels, guillemots and kittiwakes.\nRoni Amelan, of Unesco headquarters in Paris, said they want information about the preservation of the site and particularly any impact on wildlife.\n\"We can't speculate what the filming of Star Wars on the site will do to the wildlife,\" he said.\n\"We just know that this is going on and we have asked for information.\"\nUnesco - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - has 195 member states and nine associate members.\nA two-mile exclusion zone - patrolled by an Irish Navy vessel - has been declared around Skellig Michael.\nFilming on the island - a former monastic settlement - has been brought forward several weeks, and conservationists say that threatens rare birds that are in the middle of their breeding season.\nStephen Newton, a seabirds expert with Birdwatch Ireland, said he could not get onto the island to check the important colony.\n\"This is totally inappropriate in terms of the timing,\" he said.\nMr Newton said he was asked by the film producers only days before shooting was to begin if he would help them with an impact assessment to secure permits for filming.\nHe refused, arguing it would take several weeks to assess, as many of the species breed underground or in rocky crevices where it would be difficult to see what damage is being done.\n\"I don't think there was enough assessment on the impact of this, you can't see what is going on,\" he said.\n\"The birds could desert the island if they get too stressed out, by the amount of noise and vibration.\"\nThe conservationist said the island has been \"hijacked\" for the shoot that is expected to last several days.\nHe has demanded that Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys publish the expert advice she received before signing off on the necessary consents for the use of Skellig Michael.\nThe Irish Film Board, which helps international film producers locate in the Republic of Ireland, said consent was granted for a limited shoot on Skellig Michael after extensive scientific analysis by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).\n\"That consent is subject to several agreed conditions and restrictions and is also the subject of a detailed management and mitigation plans and ecological oversight,\" a spokeswoman said.\n\"The filming programme has been designed specifically to avoid the disturbance of breeding birds on the island.\n\"The NPWS approved the proposal on that basis.\"\nThe film agency said experts are on the island during the shoot and have the authority to intervene if they suspect any impact on the habitat and wildlife.\n\"The production company also has a senior ecological advisor on set at all times,\" the spokeswoman added.\n\"Activity is confined to visitor areas and pathways.\"", "Tory Pigott was out with friends when she spotted the injured pigeon off Devon's south coast at Ladram Bay.\nThe hapless bird had originally set off from Dorset a month before, but was found injured in Plymouth and nursed back to health and released again.\nMs Pigott traced the pigeon's original owner in Hertfordshire, who has sent a courier to collect the bird.\nShe said: \"We suddenly heard a flapping sound in the water and saw this pigeon desperately trying to crawl up the side of the rocks.\"\nMs Pigott jumped into the water to rescue the pigeon which was \"completely sodden\" and \"distressed\" with a cut to its neck.\nShe used the pigeon's identification number to trace the bird's owners, Ray Eccles and his son Brendan from Baldock, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire.\nBrendan Eccles said the pigeon was released in a race from Blandford, Dorset, on 01 August and should have been home \"in a few hours\".\nHe said the four-month-old pigeon could have become disoriented and headed in the wrong direction.\nThe pigeon was thought to have been attacked by a hawk before being found injured in a garden in Plymouth.\nRacing pigeon enthusiast Terry Luscombe, from Plymouth, looked after the bird for three weeks and \"got him back to fitness\" before releasing him on Monday to return to Hertfordshire.\nMr Luscombe said it appeared from the cut to the pigeon's neck he had been the victim of a second hawk attack that resulted in him landing in the water.", "A grant of £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund paid for the cameras on Moscow Island in Ellesmere, Shropshire.\nImages from the HD cameras, which are equipped with infra-red lights for night viewing, are being streamed live to the visitor centre.\nA colony of around 25 pairs of herons nest on the artificial island.\nWaste from the construction of a road in 1812 was used to create the island, which stands in a natural eight hectare (116 acres) lake.\nEdward Bevan, from Ellesmere Heronwatch, said visitors were treating the life of the birds in the colony as a \"soap opera\".", "Last year, several attacks were reported on nesting birds in the Ayres area, according to police.\nThe environment department said anyone who injures, kills or disturbs terns could face prosecution.\nResearch shows the birds make an estimated 50,000 mile journey to breed in these sites.\nWildlife experts said species including oystercatcher and ringed plovers also use the area with 300 nests recorded between Blue Point and the Point of Ayre in 2015.\nWildlife Crime Officer Mark Kerruish said important colonies will be fenced off in order to try and protect the \"vulnerable sites\".\nArctic and Little terns nesting in the areas are classified as Schedule 1 protected birds under the Wildlife Act 1990.\nMr Kerruish aid: \"Unfortunately, terns abandon their nests when the pressure from people or predators gets too great.\n\"They nest in a limited area and I hope people will respect the controls provided in order to give them the best chance of raising their young.\"\nDog walkers are also asked to keep their pets on a lead in the area of the Ayres National Nature Reserve until 31 July.", "About 1,000 tonnes of granite boulders have been used to plug the hole which opened up behind the Pyramids Centre in Southsea between 25 and 26 December.\nCouncil leader Donna Jones said: \"I'm very confident that what we've done will stop any further deterioration.\"\nThe authority said plans for a multimillion-pound replacement scheme for the sea defences was underway.\nPortsmouth City Council said the cost of replacing the 40-year-old concrete defences was estimated at £87m.", "Egg theft had become such a problem on remote islands off Poole Harbour that police patrols were put in to protect the seabirds this year.\nCharity, Birds of Poole Harbour, said a survey carried out on Tuesday revealed \"zero evidence\" of thefts by poachers.\nJust over 2,500 out of 9,000 nests were left following egg thefts last year.\nMore on this and other stories from across the South of England\nPaul Morton, who runs the charity, said the colony was back up to nearly 6,000 nests.\nHe said: \"We're thrilled. We saw our first chicks too which means that the eggs are now beyond the picking stage.\"\nThe eggs from black-headed and Mediterranean gulls - considered a delicacy - are stolen in April and May for their exclusivity and high price tag, and are often used in top restaurants.\nThe charity said it planned to continue to monitor the seabirds year on year and hoped to see the colony \"recover and grow\".\nThere were around 20 \"pickers\" operating under licenses issued by Natural England, which allows black-headed gull eggs to be collected legally at five sites in England.\nNo one is licensed to collect the eggs in Dorset.", "Three former air ambulance helicopters will begin dropping 100 million poisonous pellets in a bid to eradicate brown rats from the island.\nThe rats, which first arrived in the 18th Century as stowaways on sealing ships, are a threat to native species.\nThe three-month mission is the second phase of a four-year project.\nThe first phase saw successful extermination of brown rats from a much smaller portion of South Georgia in 2011; the second aims to clear more than half of the remaining area.\nBrown rats are an \"invasive species\" in South Georgia, and with no natural predators on the island the population exploded soon after their arrival.\nNow their appetite for the eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds such as the South Georgia pipit and pintail is threatening the survival of these endemic species.\nThe helicopters will criss-cross the island, distributing the bait pellets with mathematical precision to cover each and every square metre.\nEvery single rat must be eradicated for the programme to be a success, said project leader Prof Tony Martin from the University of Dundee, who spoke to BBC News before setting off.\n\"Killing 99.999% is a failure. If we don't get every last one, we may as well not have gone there in the first place,\" he said.\n\"We have to eradicate, not control, them.\"\nClearing an entire island of an invasive species is hugely ambitious but the terrain of South Georgia allows the team to work in stages. Glaciers, which the rodents will not travel across, cover much of the island - meaning that the rat colonies live in isolated pockets and can be tackled separately.\nBut time is of the essence. The glaciers are retreating and if the separate colonies are allowed to mingle, eradication will become much more difficult.\nSo far Prof Martin's team have faced gale-force winds and blizzards, but with the weather improving they are reported to be ready to resume the largest-ever species eradication project.", "Island leaders believe the sea around Alderney could generate up to 3GW of tidal energy - as much as a nuclear power station.\nAlderney Wildlife Trust said not enough was known about how tidal power generation could affect bird life.\nIt is opening a gannet adoption scheme to help pay for the £300 GPS trackers.\nThe island is home to about 16,000 gannets.\nHolly Marshall, of the trust, said: \"We want to find out where our birds are foraging.\n\"There might be a negative impact when all these new renewable energy developments occur.\n\"We don't actually have any evidence. That's why we want to find out.\"\nIn 2008, Alderney Renewable Energy (ARE) secured a 65-year licence to install tidal turbines in the island's 48 square miles of territorial waters.\nARE has not yet responded to requests for comment but on its website, the company says every proposed energy project will be subject to a range of environmental assessments.\nThe first tidal turbines are due to be installed by 2019 and ARE claims Alderney could eventually produce enough power for 1.8 million homes.", "Lichenologists discovered the golden-hair lichen on the Shiant Islands four miles (6km) off the coast of Lewis.\nThe lichen belongs to the genus Teloschistes, which means \"split ends\" and is classified as vulnerable in Great Britain.\nSNH said the lichen had not been seen in Scotland since the 1830s.\nIt was last recorded in Scotland on Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde.\nOnce found across Britain, colonies of golden-hair lichen have been trimmed back to a few coastal sites in south west England and western Wales.\nThe lichen is extremely sensitive to sulphur dioxide air pollution.\nCrofters on Lewis use the Shiants for grazing sheep.\nThe islands also provide habitat for more than 150,000 birds, including 10% of the UK's puffin population.\nA project to wipe out non-native black rats from the Shiants to protect the seabirds was awarded almost £450,000 of European Union funding last year.\nThe rats are the descendents of rats thought to have come ashore from shipwrecks in the 1900s.", "Media playback is unsupported on your device\n17 December 2014 Last updated at 08:39 GMT\nDyfi osprey project manager Emyr Evans, from the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, has written a book describing how they went from \"two guys with a torch\" showing people the first birds to re-colonise Wales, to an observatory and conservation project attracting over 30,000 visitors per year.\nHe told BBC Radio Wales' Mai Davies two lots of birds had arrived simultaneously, at the Glaslyn valley and Welshpool.\n\"It was like buses - nothing for hundreds of years and then two turned up at the same time,\" he said.\nThere are now four or five pairs in Wales and this year for the first time the number of chicks went into double figures, with 10 born.\n\"Hundreds of years ago, ospreys were part of everyday life for Welsh people and hopefully it will be the same again,\" he added.", "The companies will be expected to secure private funding to pay for the redevelopment of facilities like the closed Sun Centre pool on the seafront.\nThe council said it is willing to consider proposals involving any of its land or property in the resort.\nRhyl Sun Centre closed earlier this year due to funding concerns.\nIt shut along with Prestatyn's Nova Centre and the North Wales Bowls Centre when the trust running them ran out of cash.\nIn 2001, the council set up Clwyd Leisure to run the facilities on its behalf.\nHowever, the council's cabinet decided to withdraw financial support of £200,000 for 2014/15 and Clwyd Leisure ceased trading in February resulting in the closure of the three sites.\nThe authority set a Friday deadline for companies to come forward with ideas to develop facilities along the promenade from Marine Lake which includes the site of a miniature railway and boating lake to Splash Point at the opposite end of the resort.\nA multimillion pound project has seen rundown properties demolished in the resort as part of the council's bid to regenerate Rhyl.\nAnd last year the £4.3m bridge opened at Rhyl harbour providing a traffic-free cycle and footbridge to Towyn and beyond.", "The two birds, which have been regular visitors to the island of Hoy over the past two years, have now built an eyrie among crags on the island.\nIt is not clear where the pair have come from, but it is possible they may have travelled across the North Sea from Scandinavia.\nThe RSPB said there was a strong possibility the nesting attempt would fail, but it was not inevitable.\nEast of Scotland sea eagle project officer Rhian Evans said: \"They don't start breeding until they're five years old generally. This pair we think are around four years old.\n\"They are young, but also they are capable, and we have had young birds breeding successfully.\"\nSea eagles are the UK's largest birds of prey - with a wingspan of almost two-and-a-half metres.\nThe last bird in Britain is thought to have been shot and killed in Shetland about 100 years ago.\nA process of reintroduction began in the late 1960s - initially on the west coast and islands, and more recently on Scotland's east coast.\nThe RSPB says the nesting attempt in Orkney could mark a significant milestone in the expansion of Scotland's sea eagle population.\nThe eagles are thought to have been a symbolic creature for Orkney's neolithic community. Bones of the birds have been discovered in burial cairns in the islands, most notably at the Tomb of the Eagles in South Ronaldsay.\nSome local farmers have expressed concerns about the return of sea eagles to the islands. They fear that they could predate on livestock - particularly young lambs.\nScottish Natural Heritage (SNH) last week announced the launch of a new scheme to monitor the impact of the birds on farmers and crofters. The scheme will operate from 2015 to 2018 and will investigate all issues involving the raptors' impacts on livestock.\nSNH says it will also see the trial of prevention measures where required and considered practical.", "The Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, erected more than 80 years ago, is used as part of Hogmanay and festival firework celebrations.\nCouncillors will next week discuss multimillion-pound proposals to redevelop the gardens.\nThe 140-year-old Ross Fountain would also be restored.\nIt is part of plan by city hotelier Norman Springford, who has offered to help finance the project.\nMr Springford, who owns four Apex hotels in the capital, said: \"Whilst it has been a personal ambition to see redevelopment, the opportunity for this to become a reality arises from a real spirit of public/private co-operation.\n\"I'm sure we are all looking forward to being given the chance to deliver a project which the city can have pride in.\"\nMembers of the council's corporate policy and strategy committee will be asked to consider the feasibility of the project at a meeting on Tuesday.\nThe next stage would see the publication of a report for consideration by the full council.\nThe plans would then go to the Scottish government as the Ross Bandstand is on common ground.\nThe Ross Bandstand venue was developed as a venue in 1935 and has a capacity of 2,400.\nThe original facility dates back to 1877, gifted to Edinburgh by William Henry Ross, chairman of the Distillers Company Ltd.\nAndrew Burns, City of Edinburgh Council's leader, said: \"Scores of famous acts have graced the Ross Bandstand stage and while it remains a key venue for the city's famous festival fireworks and hogmanay concert in the Gardens, it is more than 80 years old and is nearing the end of its useful life.\n\"It has been a long-held ambition of the council to create a new facility as part of major renewal of the gardens but is not, in the current financial climate, a project we could undertake alone.\n\"We are extremely grateful to Mr Springford for his personal commitment to the project.\n\"Princes Street Gardens are a major source of residents' pride in the city and it is important that we get any changes to the park right.\"", "Researchers believe the sea birds could not get enough fish to eat after prolonged gale force winds brought in huge Atlantic swells.\nThey estimate that 5,000 birds have died as a result, which is about 25% of the puffin colony mostly found on Skomer and Skokholm islands.\nBreeding has also been affected.\nExperts who monitor the sea birds on the island were concerned after some 12,000 puffins were washed up dead in France after Pembrokeshire's birds went south for the winter months.\nIn spring this year, the team of field assistants and researchers involved in Skomer's long-term studies went to the island to find out how many of the islands' 20,000 puffins would return to breed.\nDr Matt Wood, lecturer of biology at the University of Gloucestershire, said: \"We found that about a quarter of the birds that we would have expected to come back never returned - that's something like 5,000 puffins in Pembrokeshire that will have died over the course of the last winter.\n\"We have been following puffins on Skomer for about 40 years and we have never seen anything like this before.\"\nThe researchers have also found that the puffins - which mate for life - are breeding unusually late this year.\nTheir chicks are hatching weeks later than normal and are being fed at only a third of the rate of 2013.\nStephen Sutcliffe, Skomer's warden from 1985 to 1994, admitted the situation was bad.\nBut he said the puffin numbers would probably recover - unless more extreme gales hit this winter or in the next four to five years.\n\"We have to be concerned,\" he said.\n\"These severe weather events could have a significant effect over a number of years.\n\"But I'm not unduly worried because sea birds are very resilient and we know from previous events, like the Sea Empress oil disaster, that they do bounce back pretty quickly.\n\"They only need to reproduce themselves once every 20 years.\"\nMeanwhile, the waters around Skomer have been designated as Wales' first Marine Conservation Zone.\nThe island is already protected as the nation's only Marine Nature Reserve.\nThe conservation zone will not affect current levels of protection for the area but new zones could be established elsewhere.\nPlans to create 10 marine conservation zones around the Welsh coast were dropped in 2013 amid concern from seafarers and the fishing industry that they could be banned from those areas.\nMarine Conservation Zones are replacing Marine Nature Reserves across the UK under the 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act.", "17 April 2016 Last updated at 12:05 BST\nLife-like fake birds and a sound system playing puffin calls have been placed on cliffs on a small island off the coast to encourage the birds to breed there.\nPuffins were last known to breed on the Calf of Man in the 1980s but their population has been damaged by rodents.\nWatch Ricky's report.", "The scheme, at Hesketh Out Marsh, has created habitats for estuary dwelling species including lapwing and avocet.\nJaye Rogers from the RSPB said the money would \"result in the best for the estuary's ecology\".\nHesketh Out Marsh, once an area of farmland, was flooded in 2008 to return it to wildlife-friendly saltmarshes.\nThe project has improved the local sea defences and created 150 hectares of new saltmarsh, creeks and lagoons.\nSaline lagoons can be created to hold pools of water at low tide, creating elevated ridges to provide high tide refuges for many species.\nAvocets and redshanks are among the birds that have already nested on the site and large numbers of lapwings, golden plovers, shelducks, wigeons and teals are expected to use the site in the winter months.", "The study, published by the scientific journal PLOS ONE, covers a period of almost 30 years starting in 1986.\nResearchers believe the most likely cause of the decline in the colony on the Fair Isle was young birds failing to return.\nThis could be because of a lack of fish for the puffins to feed on, they said.\nDr Will Miles, of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, said: \"We don't know exactly why they would fail to return to Fair Isle and settle to breed but it may be due to declining local fish stocks and poor feeding conditions for seabirds in Shetland waters.\n\"It is very difficult to find out exactly what happens to immature puffins after they have fledged because of the vast sea areas and the problems of tracing them within other colonies.\"\nThe study suggests that since the 1980s the quantities of fish brought ashore by adult puffins for their chicks declined substantially.\nDr Miles also looked at the possible impact of great skuas on the puffin colony.\nThe number of these predatory seabirds, also known as bonxies, has increased by about 300% on Fair Isle in the same period, to more than 400 breeding pairs.\nDr Miles said he was surprised to find that, despite this increase, adult puffin survival on the island has remained high and stable over the 30 years.\nHe said: \"It seems adult puffins on Fair Isle are pretty good at avoiding skuas and do not get heavily predated by them.\"\nDr Mark Bolton, of the RSPB, was an advisor to the Fair Isle puffin study.\nHe said: \"The UK supports internationally important populations of puffins, which are among our best-loved seabirds.\n\"Whilst visitors to Fair Isle can still enjoy the spectacle of thousands of birds, the severe decline reported in this study is cause for considerable concern.\"", "Last year the Polish government approved a threefold increase in logging in the protected Bialowieza forest, home to bison and rare birds.\nUnesco, EU officials and green activists protested against it.\nThe European Commission, which is taking legal action against Warsaw, asked the European Court of Justice to impose the provisional ban.\nEnvironmental activist group ClientEarth welcomed the decision, saying continued logging would cause \"serious and irreparable damage to this priceless natural environment\".\nThe group's lawyer said: \"In the history of the EU, emergency measures like this ban have only been used three times in nature conservation issues.\n\"So far there is no case in which an interim measure of the court was not respected. If Polish authorities do not follow that decision, it will be a serious conflict with the EU law.\"\nPoland's Environment Minister Jan Szyszko says the logging could help to curb a bark beetle infestation.\nThe European Commission says it puts endangered species at risk.\nIf Poland loses the main ongoing case, it will be liable for multimillion euro fines.\nThe court will meet in a few months to determine whether the injunction will remain in place while the European Commission's case on the matter continues, a spokeswoman told the BBC.\nThe forest is a Unesco world heritage site that straddles Poland's border with Belarus.", "The curlew, Europe's largest wading bird, is recognisable by its long down-curved bill and evocative call.\nIt has been added to the red list in a survey of the 244 regularly occurring birds in the UK.\nThe RSPBNI said it could now be considered the \"UK's most pressing conservation issue\".\nThe curlew has suffered a severe population decline and has now been included on the red list of the British Birds of Conservation Concern 4.\nThere has been an 87% decline in its population in Northern Ireland between the mid-1980s and 2013.\nThe Antrim hills and County Fermanagh are two areas where the bird is most likely to be spotted.\nFermanagh holds 10% of the entire population on the island of Ireland.\nGlenwherry in County Antrim is the only other place that holds what is considered a viable breeding population.\nThe number of pairs there has recovered a little in recent years and now stands at 39 pairs, down from 80 pairs in the mid-1980s.\nOther birds seen in Northern Ireland and included on the red list include the Greenland white-fronted goose and the pochard, a type of duck.\nIt is thought the numbers of pochard are dropping at Lough Neagh because milder winters mean they do not have to migrate so far south.\nThe puffin has also been added to the red list. However, Northern Ireland's important colony on Rathlin is fairly stable.", "The population dropped to just 55 last year so a development plan has been prepared in an effort to swell numbers by about a fifth.\nIt is mostly owned by the National Trust for Scotland, which interviews anyone wanting to move there.\nResearch into a solution has been funded by Shetland Islands Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.\n'Securing Fair Isle's Future - A plan for Action' outlines how it is hoped to attract about 10 new people to the island in the next three to five years.\nHouse-building, improving the ferry service and upgrading broadband will all be included.", "But using the diminutive vehicle to study penguins, researchers have found, has has much less impact on their behaviour than being approached by a human.\nScientists say the unusual approach provides \"a less invasive and stressful way to collect data on these species\".\nThese findings are published in the journal Nature Methods.\nIn part of their study, the researchers even disguised one rover as a penguin chick in order to access a colony of notoriously nervous emperor penguins.\nDr Yvon Le Maho from the National Centre for Scientific Research in Strasbourg, France, led the study. He first decided to test the rover after he found that traditional flipper tags compromised the health of penguins.\nTo avoid these \"unethical\" flipper tags, the researchers began using tiny transponders - tags implanted under the birds' skin - to monitor a colony of king penguins on Possession Island in the South Indian Ocean.\nBut - just like the microchips often used to \"identichip\" pets - reading data from these tags requires them to be scanned up close using a receiver.\n\"I wondered if it might be possible to use a technological device to do this, and I thought about a rover,\" Dr Le Maho told BBC News.\nHe and his colleagues measured penguins' heart rates when the vehicle approached and when a human researcher approached.\n\"There was a very high increase in heart rate with the human - much more than in a rover,\" he explained.\nThis reaction to people is exacerbated by the fact that, when the birds are incubating eggs, \"they won't move\".\nThe approach of the little vehicle certainly seemed to irritate the birds, which - as footage revealed - waited until the rover came close, then lunged and snapped with their beaks and flippers.\n\"But when the rover stops, even within the territory of the birds, they don't pay any attention to it,\" said Dr Le Maho.\nIn fact when the team measured the increase in the birds' heart rate when the rover approached, the found it was about the same as when another bird passed by.\n\"It's very much higher when a person [approaches],\" said Dr Le Maho\n\"Even if the human is motionless, they still have a very high heart rate. And [it only returns to normal] more than five minutes after the human has left.\"\nIn the second part of their research, Dr Le Maho and his colleagues wanted to see if they could use their rover to study the very shy emperor penguin.\n\"Emperors huddle together, because they have no [other] territorial defence,\" the scientist explained. \"So when they see the rover approaching, they get very stressed.\n\"So we thought, what if you camouflage the rover - disguise it as a chick.\"\nThe researchers worked with the team of nature filmmakers, who produced the penguin documentary Spy in the Huddle.\nThis resulted in an even more a comical-looking rover, with a fake chick sitting on top, which the researchers used to infiltrate the colony.\nBut the disguise was effective; the emperor penguins allowed the rover to approach close enough to read their tags. Some birds even interacted with it - vocalising at the fake chick.\n\"Scientists do not generally speak about disturbance they cause,\" Dr Le Maho told BBC News.\n\"But I have always been very concerned with that - it relates to both science and ethics.\"\nFollow Victoria on Twitter", "A survey by Manx National Heritage (MNH) estimates a 22% rise in nesting birds since last year.\nMNH spokeswoman Kate Hawkins said the number of occupied burrows has grown from 342 in 2013 to 424.\n\"Several more years of survey are needed to confirm that the shearwater population is recovering,\" she added.\nMNH, which owns the Calf of Man, announced plans to eradicate the islet of rats in 2012, to help provide a safe environment for nesting seabirds.\nThe project cost about £48,000 and involved laying an intricate grid of traps for the rats- natural predators of nesting birds and eggs.\nIt was supported by the Manx Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, the Manx government and a number of volunteers from the Isle of Man.\n\"It will be some time yet before rat-free status can be announced,\" continued Ms Hawkins.\n\"We ask everyone who visits the Calf, particularly boat owners, to be extra vigilant for signs of rats and to make sure that cargo and fishing equipment is checked for stowaways before setting out for the island.\"\nIn September, conservationists reported the first Manx Shearwaters chicks being born on the Isles of Scilly in living memory following a similar cull of the rat population on St Agnes.", "Today the Indian Ocean archipelago enjoys a high per capita income, good health care and education.\nThe former British colony's economy depends heavily on the fishing industry and upmarket tourism. Fine beaches and turquoise seas are among the main attractions.\nSeychelles also is home to an array of wildlife, including giant tortoises and sea turtles. Much of the land is protected as part of nature reserves.\nPopulation 87,400\nArea 455 sq km (176 sq miles)\nMajor languages English, French, Creole\nMajor religions Christianity\nLife expectancy 68 years (men), 78 years (women)\nCurrency Seychelles rupee\nPresident: Danny Faure\nDanny Faure was sworn in as president in October 2016 and is to complete the five-year term of outgoing President James Michel, who resigned.\nMr Michel gave no reason for his resignation, but it followed parliamentary elections where the opposition coalition Linyon Demokratik (LDS) took control of the legislature from the ruling People's Progressive Front, called Parti Lepep, for the first time in the country's history.\nMr Faure was previously vice president. He is a former finance minister, a governor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the African Development Bank.\nThe government controls much of the islands' media, and operates radio and TV stations and the sole daily newspaper.\nPrivate or pro-opposition publications can be robust in their reporting despite tough libel laws, although steep licensing fees have discouraged the growth of private broadcast media.\nBy the end of 2015 there were some 50,000 internet users, out of a population of 87,400 (Internetworldstats.com).\nSome key dates in the history of the Seychelles:\n1768 - French planters and their slaves begin settling in the Seychelles.\n1794 - Britain annexes the Seychelles, which are then administered from Mauritius until 1903, when it becomes a separate British colony.\n1976 - Seychelles become independent and are governed by a coalition, with James Mancham as president and France Rene as prime minister, until a coup in 1977 when Rene becomes president.\n1981-1982 - South African-based mercenaries try but fail to restore Mancham to power and an army-led mutiny is thwarted.\n2004 - President Rene steps down, replaced by former vice president James Michel; he wins the presidential elections in 2006.\n2006 - Parliament bans political or religious organisations from running radio stations, sparking a rare outbreak of unrest.\n2009 - Somali pirates move their operations southwards to Seychelles and beyond as patrols are stepped up in the Gulf of Aden. US says it will supply Seychelles with drone spy-planes to help fight piracy. France offers legal help.\nSeychelles, European Union sign anti-piracy agreement which will allow EU troops to be deployed on the islands.", "Four chicks are being fed on an almost hourly basis by staff at Durrell Conservation Trust who have to take them home at night.\nThe birds are part of a conservation effort to re-populate Jersey with the native bird species.\nRick Jones, of Durrell, said the chicks were \"noisy and voracious\".\n\"Last year we lost all the chicks and that can't happen this year so we've decided to hand-rear,\" he said.\n\"They're in an incubator and they're fed every hour and fifteen minutes.\n\"You wouldn't believe the dedication you have to have to be a bird keeper, especially this time of year.\"\nConservation biologist Glyn Young heads the breeding project, which started in 2010 and began returning birds to the wild last year after an absence from the island of more than a century.\n\"They haven't fledged yet so they're still very small,\" he said.\n\"They're in a box together instead of a nest and being fed by a human instead of a chough. They should be fledged next month.\n\"Choughs haven't been hand-reared very often by us or anyone else.\"", "The birds could not be disturbed because they were nesting at the site at Tain in Easter Ross.\nOnce the gulls had moved on, the mess they left cost £60,000 to clean up.\nCouncillor Jamie Stone said he was aware of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) developing a bird-scaring robot.\nHe told BBC Alba the gulls were returning and schoolchildren, and the wider community, were again facing the loss of the pitch for another nine months.\nMr Stone said: \"We need the sports facility and to have it closed for nine months of a whole year is not good enough. This has to be taken seriously.\n\"We don't have a budget for dealing with seagulls. However, I am aware that UHI is developing a robot that will scare away the gulls.\"\nMr Stone said the initial cost of buying the robot might be expensive, but once purchased could prove crucial to keeping the pitch open year-round.\nUHI has recently been working with secondary school pupils on a robots project.\nProfessors at the university have suggested that the council could explore the use of automated broadcast of sounds that scare birds, including the sound of distressed gulls.\nRobop Limited, an East Lothian company that makes bird-scaring robotic birds of prey, said it was working with Highland Council on a number of projects.\nIt said one of its devices was already in use at Lochaber High School in Fort William and also has one installed at Inverness College UHI." ]

[ "Many color mutations of Gouldian Finches have been bred. Mutation of body color influences the phenotype of head color. Inheritance of the mutations is the same as in naturally colored specimens. Therefore we may speak of red-headed green, blue or silver, even though phenotypically the coloring is different." ]

[ "1 Male Gouldians with various color mutations can cost $100 to $150 each, while females are anywhere from $125 to $150 each. 2 Pairs cost from $150 to $300. 3 For instance, a 5-inch Lady Gouldian Finch weighing around 16-17 grams can cost $50 – $250, depending on mutation.", "What color do you mix to get purple color? What color are finch eggs? Finch eggs are a wide variety of colors; from light baby blue with a few brown specks, to white with a few brown specks, and even white covered with brown specks. Colors are the building blocks of an astist's stock & trade.", "these birds are further classified into two sub species the yellow billed variety poephila acuticauda and the red billed variety poephila acuticauda hecki although the male and female shaft tail finches are identical they have slight differences in bib size beak color and body sizehe shaft tail finch is a beautiful finch species originating from australia it is found in abundance and is second only to zebra finch in terms of population", "1 For instance, a 5-inch Lady Gouldian Finch weighing around 16-17 grams can cost $50 – $250, depending on mutation. 2 For example, the breeder LovelyLadyGouldians.com sells Gouldians starting at $75, depending on a number of factors including bird quality, color variety, age and sex.", "3. Zebra finches come in a couple of colors (well, patterns... normal, albino, etc) and are the cheapest; there are other breeds which are more expensive. They have different calls and so forth; I would stick to zebra finches for your first finches. posted by The otter lady at 11:34 AM on December 16, 2011 [2 favorites]. 1. Seconding paper towels (they can be composted too).", "Confidence votes 15. A purple finch is a crimson to red-orange color, despite the name. Hope that Helped!! A purple finch is a crimson to red-orange color, despite the name<br /><br /><br />Hope that Helped!!", "The gouldian finch, one of world's most beautiful birds, requires fire for its food. It feeds mainly on the seeds of one plant - speargrass. It is only after fires - started by accident or by man - have cleared the undergrowth that the birds can reach the seeds on the ground.", "The color is actually like a dark rosey red. The females are brown though. I am not sure why they call them purple except maybe to distinguish them from the house finch which is also a reddish color. Description: A plump, sparrow-sized (5 1/4 to 6 1/4) bird with a deeply notched tail and short conical beak, Purple Finches are named for the raspberry-red color of the males. The raspberry color is deepest on the head, nape, face, throat, breast, flanks, and rump.", "You can keep a Gouldian finch in a cage or aviary, which is essentially a room-sized cage that houses several pairs of finches. An aviary can be located indoors or outdoors. If outdoors, it must offer protection from the sun, harsh weather, and predators, such as cats and hawks.", "House Finch . Adults have a long brown tail and are a brown or dull-brown color across the back with some shading into deep grey on the wing feathers. Breast and belly feathers may be streaked. In most cases, adult males have a reddish color to their heads, necks and shoulders.", "Genetics Introduction. 1 Genetics can be tricky for anyone who doesn't have a background in Biology or has never taken a genetics course. 2 There is a lot of confusion surrounding the Names of the different Gouldian Finch colors and mutations.", "1 Pairs cost from $150 to $300. 2 For instance, a 5-inch Lady Gouldian Finch weighing around 16-17 grams can cost $50 – $250, depending on mutation.", "Gould is a variant of the surname Gold which is a very ancient name found in Scotland and England. Gould's finch (Gouldian finch), Chloebia gouldiae, a small bird kept as a pet. 2 John Stanton Gould, American science lecturer, temperance reformer, and agricultural scientist. 3 Laurence McKinley Gould – 20th century American geologist, educator, polar explorer.", "The bill of the Purple Finch is conical shaped. whereas the upper mandible of the House Finch is curved downward. Note the bold brown and white pattern on the head of the female Purple finch as opposed to the more. plain head of the female House Finch. The male Purple Finch has a rosy overall color with much less. streaking on the flanks than the male House Finch. I have posted photos of the sexes of both species here.", "1 On average, the price of a Gouldian Finch is going to come down to the type of finch, the age of the bird, and the breeder selling it. 2 The average price is going to be anywhere from $50 to as much as $300.", "The only finch in its subfamily to undergo a complete molt, the American goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter, while the female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer.", "Diet. Although Gouldian finches have evolved to eat seeds, an all-seed diet does not provide adequate nutrition. Plan to feed your finch a mix of seeds along with some fruits, vegetables (especially leafy greens, such as spinach, dandelions, romaine, and parsley), and perhaps live insects.", "species and mutations there are many choices of finches to keep the difficulty many finch breeders or hobbyists have is choosing which species to keep there are very few people that will keep only one species of finch and even those people that do usually pick a species that has different color mutations there can be problems with maintaining too many different species however if you have mixed colonies not all species will coexist in harmony", "Gould is a surname that is sourced mainly to Scotland, England, and Ireland. Gould's finch (Gouldian finch), Chloebia gouldiae, a small bird kept as a pet. 2 John Stanton Gould, American science lecturer, temperance reformer, and agricultural scientist. 3 Laurence McKinley Gould – 20th century American geologist, educator, polar explorer.", "any finch of the genus Carduelis, of Europe and Asia, having green and yellow plumage, especially C. chloris (European greenfinch)", "white shaft tail finch the bird is completely white with indistinct black markings cream shaft tail finch the entire bird has an off white hue with light brown bib tail and thighshe shaft tail finch is a beautiful finch species originating from australia it is found in abundance and is second only to zebra finch in terms of population", "Some finches are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the males can be distinguished from the females visually. Typically, with these species, the male is the more vibrantly colored or more elaborately marked of the two sexes.", "Species like the European Goldfinch will prefer the open 'Canary' style nest and will probably never breed in any other type of nest. Others like Gouldians are often bred in the larger nest boxes, which hang partly outside the cage leaving more space in the cage available for exercise.ll of the above. If you buy your finches from a local breeder, ask him or her what types of nests these finches were bred in. They will be more comfortable in the same types of nests they hatched in and may breed more readily.", "The female and young can be identified by the solid-color back and breast, stubby finch bill, wing bars, notched tail, whitish rump and roller-coaster flight. In autumn, the male takes on a grayish yellow color to resemble the female. The song is long, high and sweet. Keep your eye out for our state bird!", "Olive-headed Brush Finch-This species has a yellow to dark olive head. The throat, chin, malar streak, lores, eye-ring, and ear patch are bright yellow in any case. The rest of the plumage is yellow with dark olive upperparts, wing and tail.", "read more read less. A highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call.Listen to these clips. CATEGORY: ANIMALS/NATURE. #TAGS: Goldfinch Sounds, Goldfinch, Goldfinch Sound, Goldfinch clips, Goldfinch call.RIGHTS: PERSONAL.ead more read less. A highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call.", "Many families that share the Gould surname today had their names evolve or become Anglicized over time as their original names would have been strange or misunderstood due to accents and language barriers, especially in the United States and Canada. Gould's finch (Gouldian finch), Chloebia gouldiae, a small bird kept as a pet. 2 John Stanton Gould, American science lecturer, temperance reformer, and agricultural scientist. 3 Laurence McKinley Gould – 20th century American geologist, educator, polar explorer.", "The ViewSonic logo features Gouldian Finches, colorful birds native to Australia. In the mid-1990s, ViewSonic rose to become one of the top-rated makers of computer CRT monitors, alongside Sony, NEC, MAG Innovision, and Panasonic.ViewSonic soon displaced the rest of these companies to emerge as the largest display manufacturer from America/Japan at the turn of the millennium.iewSonic was the first manufacturer to bring Smart Display to the market, with the Airpanel V150 in early 2003. This included a 15 1024×768 LCD, a 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, 32MB ROM, 64MB RAM and 802.11b wireless, and a USB wireless hub for the host PC.", "Answer by Michelle scalese. Confidence votes 157. He noticed that birds called finches had different kinds of beaks in areas with different food sources. He found finches with thick beaks in areas with large hard shelled nuts, and finches with smaller beaks in areas where fruits were available. These differences seemed to match the environment and the diet of the finches.", "It usually takes about 2 weeks for baby finches to leave the nest and fly. However, there are also several different kinds of finches, and this can depend on what kind the … y are as well.Answered. In Bird Behavior.he amount of time it take a baby finch to learn to fly varies slightly by the type of finch. In most cases the baby will start to fly within two to three weeks.", "gold•finch. 1. any of several New World finches of the genus Carduelis, esp. the widespread North American species C. tristis, the male of which has yellow body plumage in the summer. 2. a related Old World finch, Carduelis carduelis, having a crimson face and wings marked with yellow.. (Animals) a common European finch, Carduelis carduelis, the adult of which has a red-and-white face and yellow-and-black wings. 2. (Animals) any of several North American finches of the genus Spinus, esp the yellow-and-black species S. tristis.", "The four pigments in a bird's cones (in this example, estrildid finches) extend the range of color vision into the ultraviolet. Tetrachromacy is the condition of possessing four independent channels for conveying color information, or possessing four types of cone cells in the eye." ]

[ "Dissent is what this country was founded on. 'No taxation without representation' ring a bell to anyone?? Dissent led to the formation of our country. Our forefathers welcomed dissent to make sure all people's ideas had been taken into consideration. Why is it now that we as a nation look at people who dissent as the enemy? If you don't speak up, you're just like a lamb being led to the slaughter. No one spoke up against Hitler (at least not publicly or loudly) until it was too late and then looked what happened!" ]

[ "Conservatives don't want to believe that our government is corrupt. They want to show support, because it shows good patriotism.", "OK, Let me look at my crystal ball. I believe the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl next year.", "What do you mean by Afrikaaner ex-patriots?", "By listening to the employees concerns-even the gripes and actually doing something about it. You can have 50 meetings, but at the end of the day you don't show how management is committed to employees, those whose issues weren't addressed become the 'dissenters'. It is tough, but do-able as long as there is FULL commitment from higher.", "It led to the horrible actions and encroachment of civil liberties against dissenters, much like the \"New McCarthyism\" (the fear that terrorists are ubiquitous) is doing today in the US.", "I think propaganda goes along way to making people fanatically patriotic. Fear helps too - making people believe that their country is constantly under attack. Selective history, leaving out the bad parts and pumping up the good parts, helps. You can also create an us/them mentality to make people fanatically patriotic.", "Hey Sonnyblu I believe the original poster asked that proselytizing be kept out of this thread. Thanks :)\\n\\nPatriotism and Terrorism- the exact same thing from different perspectives\\n\\nLook at the American Revolution. To the colonies they were patriots. To England they were terrorists.\\n\\nEven today, from their (Muslim extremists) perspective they are patriots. From our perspective they are terrorists. I am not saying either side is right in their judgment, but thus is the nature of Patriotism/Terrorism. \\n\\nWords describing the same action yet holding entirely different meanings.", "The Patriot Act did not create any new laws, only consolidated existing ones, so terrorism has nothing to do with it. The government, with reasonable premises and a sometimes a court order, can pull IMs and phone logs for a number of reasons, just being that they believe you or her were involved in any crime they are investigating.", "Patriots! Patriots! Patriots!\\nWoooo hoooo!!! Patriots will kick Bronco butt!", "Patriotism is equivalent to nationalism, but nationalism has nothing to do with jingoism.", "It was such a motivational book of patriotism, it encouraged those who before didn't believe in the revolution to being believing in it, and those who already did believe in it to believe in it even more. It was almost like a piece of libel, deriding the king and England while promoting this revolution as a duty the American people had to fulfill. It brought up insights that many didn't see before, and informed them.", "The Patriot Act permits law enforcement to use special techniques, now currently being used to fight drug lords and mobsters, to fight terrorists. It is a no-brainer since terrorism is a much larger problem. Drug lords do not bring down World Trade Center buildings (where about 40,000 people were employed). The use of the Patriot Act is under tight control and open to scrutiny by leaders of both parties. You just know that in today's political atmosphere there would be a huge scandal for even minor abuses of the system. The Patriot Act was made legal by Congress while NYC was still smoldering. Hopefully it will help prevent another crater. Do you really want to take a chance?", "Best comparison: both claim to be on a MISSION FROM GOD, the whole Messianic complex. So no matter WHAT other people thinkor how low their approval ratings plummet, they will plow ahead with their own plans because they honestly, truly believe that God is leading them to do it.\\n\\nDue to the Patriot Act, I will probably be hunted down, jailed and/or killed because of this message. Thanks a lot, Dubya.", "Ok seriously, take the time to read the Patriot act. It's scary. You have no idea how far, how deep, and how broad the Patriot act is. Do a google search, and take a deep breath. How bad is it? Put it this way, just talking negatively about it gives the government just cause to arrest you as a terrorist. That happens, you have NO constitutional rights. They can hold you indefinitely, no lawyer, no family, no due process of law. Educate yourselves people, because it's going to get worse.", "No. In a nation founded on the principles of democratic participation, it is blind allegience is, in fact, actively unpatriotic. In arguing for the unconditional, unciritical support of government policies one undermines the philosophy of individuality and civic participation on which a democracy is founded. Last I checked, undermining the founding principles of your country was not an act of patriotism.\\n\\nAlso, I think that thompj64us has a point that supporting policies that will lead to the destruction of your country is distincly unpatriotic, even when those policies are written by government officials.\\n\\n_______________\\nTo answer Andy's question (which by the way are actually irrelevant):\\nNote that the \"more or less\" does not make sense as there is no point of compairison, and I will ignore it. Also note that his compulsive use of \"Democrats\" is idiotic and irrational, as it implies that these acts are acceptable unless the person performing the action is a Democrat.\\n\\n>>>Is it more or less patriotic for Democrats to oppose the war?\\n\\nIt is patriotic to oppose a war that is hurting our country. What is unpatriotic is supporting a war that will devastate international relations, cost the nation billions of dollars, and cost countless American and Iraqi lives.\\n\\n>>>Is it more or less patriotic for Democrats to bash their country \\n>>>on foreign soil?\\n\\nIn a country that values free speech, it is unpatriotic to sensor the speech of others. It is not, however, unpatriotic to speak in opposition to policies or practices with which one does not agree. In a democracy, dissent is never unpatriotic.\\n\\n>>>Is it more or less patriotic for Democrats to have the same \\n>>>talking points as the number 2 Al Queada operative?\\n\\nWTF? I have no idea what you're talking about. However, it is not inherent unpatriotic to have something in common with Al Queada or any other organization or nation.\\n\\n>>>Is it more or less patriotic for Democrats to hope that \\n>>>America loses the war on terror so they can score political points?\\n\\nI don't think anyone is hoping we will lose the war. However, I do believe that the harm done by the current administration can and will vastly exceed the cost of the war, and in that regard it may be in our best intrest as a nation to lose the war and elect someone competent.\\n\\n>>>Want to lose a war? Let a Democrat run it (aka Black HAwk Down)\\n\\nWant to invade a soveign nation on false pretexts, start a war that costs billions of dollars and countless lives, and find yourself stuck in that war with no exit plan in sight? Let Bush run the country. Leaders on both sides have made bad wartime decisions. The current war in Iraq is certainly among the worst military fiascos our nation has seen, and the travesty is expounded by the fact that the evidence on which the war was started has since been demonstrated to have been deliberately and meticulously forged.\\n\\n__________\\n>>>If the questions are so irrelevant then why take the time to \\n>>>answer them? \\n\\nThey're irrelevant to the question of the patriotism blind allegience, but they're still insulting, and (as per my answers), the implications are incorrect.\\n\\n>>>The truth hurts doesn't it?\\n\\nIt might if you believe what you do and actually looked around, but apparently ignoring the turth helps or you'd be writhing in pain.\\n\\n______________\\nAndy, perhaps you should brush up on your political philosophy. You clearly have no concept of what patriotism even is. Nor democracy for that matter.\\n\\nThe exchange of political ideas is a fundimental principle of democracy. This includes the idea that our government might be making a mess of things. To oppose this exchange is to oppose democracy. America is a democracy, and thus an enemy of democracy is an enemy of America. To speak out against tho", "i think it will probably vanderjagt and fuck all patriot haters there the best dynasty in the salary cap era and vinateri will always be a patriot", "Patriots! Yes, that right the Patriots will go all the way again for the third straight Super Bowl Championship.", "Hey if the patriots can win 3 in 4 years who knows what the Steelers could do", "Yes, as others said, it takes a court order from a Judge and the legal requirements are very tough. Patriot Act! I wish idiots would learn to read something before criticizing. The Patriot Act has many, many parts. Wiretapping has been allowed for years - way before the Patriot Act. Wire taps pertaining to spying and domestic terrorism have been authorized, again for years, when signed a Judge in a Secret Court. None of this has anything to do with what Bush has been recently accused of or the Patriot Act. Yes, wiretapping is Constitutional and legal under law.", "The Tory Party and the Whig Party are two political parties. I believe the Tories tried to meet the needs of the upper class, while the Whigs tried to meet the needs of the lower class. In the American colonies, the Tories were Loyalists and the Whigs were Patriots.", "I believe that it is divisive to sing the song in another language. But what I don't understand is why 2 british guys are behind the production? Anyways, if the spanish speaking people want to sing a patriot song about the USA why don't they write a new one?", "patriots rock, more than you will ever know.", "PATRIOTS ALL THE WAY!", "her·e·tic (hĕr'ĭ-tĭk) \\nn.\\nA person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.\\n\\nBasically Jesus was a heretic to the established chuches of his time. Also, some believe that Jesus did not believe the same way his religion was distorted by the catholic church. Hence the different denominations coming into existence.\\n\\n\\nThe definition itself is evidence. I've heard many Christians say this, also. \\n\\nNintendofreak:\\nNo one is doing anything mean to 'God's People'. Someone made a statement.. a correct one if you look at the actual definition of the word. Your perception of the word is what offended you. Besides, I thought Jesus taught that we were all children of God. Let's hear it for good ol' Christian values!!", "The Broncos beat the Patriots when they met earlier in the season, however the Patriots defense is peaking at the perfect time and they are playing like the defending champions they are. If Tedy Bruschi is in the game the Pats win big with at least two Plummer picks. Either way, Patriots play Indy in the AFC championship game.", "To add fuel to the debate here. I believe if both Teams were to play with current stats then the bears would lose. But think about this for a minute The colts who were favored for the superbowl last year were eliminated by the patriots last year in the playoffs. So strange things can happen.", "Will you be renouncing your U.S. citizenship, or will be going temporarily (as an ex-patriot)?", "The Lombardi Trophy will likely be handed to the Patriots; unless they meet up with the Colts and fail to do what San Diego did: overwhelm Peyton Manning.", "RAIDERS AND PATRIOTS!", "The New England Patriots", "USA PATRIOT Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia \\n... that was dramatically expanded by Section 505 of the Patriot Act. The legislation amended the ... Judge Audrey Collins ruled that Section 805 (which classifies \"expert advice or ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATRIOT_Act - 97k - Cached - More from this site - Save\\nCNN.com - Federal judge rules part of Patriot Act unconstitutional - Jan. 27, 2004 \\nA federal judge in Los Angeles has struck down a provision of the post-September 11 USA Patriot Act, saying it was unconstitutional. ... of \"monetary instruments\" and \"expert advice or assistance\" were added to the original law by Section 805 of the Patriot Act ...www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/01/27/patriot.act - 51k - Cached - More from this site - Save\\nEFF: USA PATRIOT \\nElectronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit group working to protect your digital rights. ... Sections 201 (and 805), \"Authority to Intercept Wire, Oral, and Electronic Communications Relating to Terrorism ... More on section 203. More on Sunset Provisions \" The USA PATRIOT Act ...www.eff.org/patriot -", "Just Cause or Just Cause\\n\\nIs giving something a name like A Patriot Act just cause, to take away some freedoms and rights that other people have given their life for in the name of patriotism just cause some people are trying to make you fear for that freedom." ]

[ "Solar Millennium, which operates solar power plants, has inaugurated Andasol 1 solar power plant in Spain." ]

[ "Shams 1, the solar plant under construction in Abu Dhabi, will be completed by the end of this year and will be ready to provide the Emirate with power at commercial prices, Gulf News reports.", "Solar power producer Ausra has launched its Kimberlina solar thermal energy plant in Bakersfield, California, showcasing the company's next-generation concentrating solar thermal technology.", "Ibereolica has announced that it has plans to build a 360MW solar power plant in the Atacama Desert in Chile, according to the Wall Street Journal.", "Cleanergy installed its first commercial demonstration solar power plant with a capacity of 100 kilowatts in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in western China last month.", "Tenaska closed financing for Imperial Solar Energy Center South, a utility-scale photovoltaic solar generating plant in southern California.", "An employee walks on solar panels at a solar power plant in Aksu, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region May 18, 2012.", "Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav known for his concern for environmental causes, inaugurated the first solar power plant of Uttar Pradesh in Bara Banki district on Thursday.", "Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited on Wednesday said it has commissioned a 5 MW Solar Power Plant in Karnataka.", "Honolulu-based Sopogy is building a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Spain with two other companies.", "The California Energy Commission today approved the Calico Solar Project in San Bernardino County, the seventh solar power plant licensed in the past two months.", "San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower announced today that it would build a third solar cell fabrication plant in Malaysia, expected to have a nameplate capacity of more than 1 gigawatt of annual production.", "``Sharp Corporation will begin mass production of new single crystalline solar cells with high conversion efficiency on March 31, 2011 at its solar cell plant in GREEN FRONT SAKAI, located in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.", "Renault, in partnership with Gestamp Solar, has launched a solar energy project by installing solar roof panels at its French plants.", "Trina Solar Limited, through its subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd., completed a 5 megawatt solar power plant developed by Lanco Infratech Limited, a rapidly growing business conglomerate in India.", "In a boon for the local solar industry, a team of researchers from Swinburne University of Technology and Suntech Power Holdings have developed the world's most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells.", "PTL Solar and Carmanah Technologies are partnering to manufacture solar LED lighting solutions for outdoor lighting applications at a facility under ENPARK in Dubai.", "First Solar Inc., the world's largest thin-film solar module maker, sold three pre-construction projects in Canada and named a developer for a plant in China.", "The Sunday solar power company announced Sunday that it would invest NIS 500 million over the next two years in photovoltaic solar arrays for kibbutzim across the country.", "Intel Corp. said Monday it will install rooftop solar panels at its Ocotillo and Chandler Boulevard complexes in Chandler as part of a companywide solar power initiative.", "Irvine Unified School District, SPG Solar, and SunEdison ``flipped the switch'' today to 2mw of solar power on a multi-school program that promises to generate 25% to 60% of each campus' electrical consumption.", "Lockheed Martin today observed Earth Day with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its solar energy testbed.", "Bechtel leaders, along with representatives from NRG Energy, Inc., SunPower Corp., and local dignitaries, today celebrated the groundbreaking of the California Valley Solar Ranch, one of the largest solar photovoltaic facilities currently under construction in the world.", "Trina Solar has announced that it has cancelled plans to build a $1 billion, 10,000MT polysilicon plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China.", "On July 15th, The world's first SolarKiosk was officially opened near Lake Langano, Ethiopia.", "Numeric Power Systems, a provider of uninterrupted power supply systems, plans to set up a 1 MW solar energy farm at Palladam near Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, a top company official said.", "Construction firm Era Infra Engineering Ltd will set up a 1,200 megawatt thermal power plant in Madhya Pradesh, the company announced Thursday.", "Power back-up solutions provider Luminous Power Technologies has launched new series of solar products consisting solar charge controller and solar lanterns targeteing rural home lighting market.", "On October 18th, 2011, SunPower Corporation unveiled a new concentrating photovoltaic system including single-axis tracking at the Solar Power International trade show in Dallas, Texas, United States.", "Solmentum, a residential solar power sales company, has announced the opening of two new offices in Temecula and Irvine.", "BP on Wednesday said it would cut 620 jobs from its solar power business and that two plants in Spain and part of a plant in the US.", "ProLogis, a leading global provider of distribution facilities, announced today a second solar project in Portland, totaling 2.4 megawatts.", "an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company and Solaria Corporation announced today a five year global supply agreement under which module manufacturer Solaria will supply their patented solar module to enXco as well as a small equity investment from enXco in Solaria." ]

[ "The Trump administration instructed Don McGahn, former White House counsel, to ignore a subpoena requested by the House Judiciary Committee, escalating the conflict between the president and Congress." ]

[ "Updated at 8:15 p.m. ET The Trump administration says it is blocking former White House counsel Don McGahn from turning over documents requested by the House Judiciary Committee, escalating the standoff between the president and congressional Democrats. In a letter to committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., current White House counsel Pat Cipollone says the documents sought by the committee \"remain legally protected from disclosure under longstanding constitutional principles, because they implicate significant Executive Branch confidentiality interests and executive privilege.\" Cipollone writes further that acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney \"has directed Mr. McGahn not to produce these White House records in response to the Committee's April 22 subpoena.\" He says the committee should instead direct its requests for such records to the White House. The documents in question were provided by McGahn to special counsel Robert Mueller, as part of Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They outline Trump's efforts to get McGahn to fire Mueller, along with subsequent conversations in which Trump tells McGahn to deny the earlier exchanges. Cipollone's letter stops short of invoking executive privilege on behalf of the president, a point the White House may be hard-pressed to make as it already made the documents available to Mueller's team. The papers in question are believed to include contemporaneous notes taken by McGahn's secretary. The House Judiciary Committee wants McGahn to appear before it May 21. McGahn's attorney William Burck wrote to the committee that McGahn, as a former attorney for the president, \"continues to owe certain duties and obligations to the President which he is not free to disregard.\" Burck added, \"Where co-equal branches of government are making contradictory demands on Mr. McGahn concerning the same set of documents, the appropriate response for Mr. McGahn is to maintain the status quo unless and until the Committee and Executive Branch can reach an accommodation.\" House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, rejected the argument that the White House could keep McGahn from turning over documents or testifying on Capitol Hill under a claim of executive privilege. In a letter to Burck, Nadler threatened to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress if he didn't show up to testify \"absent a court order authorizing non-compliance.\"", "A federal judge rules that former White House counsel Don McGahn must obey a congressional subpoena to testify before impeachment investigators. Could this clear the way for more testimony from Trump's inner circle? How is the impeachment saga playing in Russia? And Colombia enters a sixth day of widespread protests.", "NPR national security editor Phil Ewing (@philewing) joins Here & Now&#8216;s Robin Young to discuss where Democrats stand on opening an impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Former White House counsel Don McGahn refused to comply with a subpoena to testify Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "The White House will appeal a federal judge&#8217;s ruling that former White House counsel Don McGahn must testify in front of House impeachment investigators. The Trump administration had held that presidential aides are immune from subpoenas due to executive privilege. The subpoena for McGahn&#8217;s testimony, considered pivotal to the investigation, was issued on May 21. Additionally, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked efforts by House investigators to access Trump&#8217;s tax returns ahead of their own ruling on the case. Here & Now&#8216;s Robin Young speaks to Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) about these developments. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "While the White House instructed Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney not to comply with a subpoena to testify in the impeachment probe, a transcript was released of a top State Department aid's testimony.", "Former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn will testify before the House Judiciary Committee about his role in former special prosecutor Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the panel announced Wednesday. McGahn will speak only to committee members in private, under an agreement negotiated by his attorneys, the committee and the Justice Department. The interview will be conducted \"as soon as possible\" and a transcript will be released publicly shortly thereafter, according to the court filing. McGahn served as the campaign attorney for former President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential run and later as his White House counsel until 2018. The agreement settles a nearly two-year court battle over McGahn's refusal to testify before the Judiciary Committee. It first subpoenaed McGahn in 2019 after Mueller's report indicated he would be knowledgeable of multiple allegations of obstruction committed by Trump. His administration prevented key White House advisers from testifying in the committee's review of the Mueller investigation. The interview will be limited to information attributed to McGahn in the publicly available portions of the Mueller report, as well as events that involved him personally. He can decline to answer questions that go beyond that scope. Attorneys for the Justice Department may also tell McGahn not to answer certain questions. McGahn can be asked, however, whether he believes the Mueller report accurately reflects his statements during the investigation and whether those comments were truthful. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said in a statement Wednesday, \"I am pleased that we have reached an arrangement that satisfies our subpoena, protects the Committee's constitutional duty to conduct oversight in the future, and safeguards sensitive executive branch prerogatives.\"", "President Trump is threatening to block Don McGahn, his former White House counsel, from testifying on Capitol Hill. Could the White House assert executive privilege?", "The White House is likely to fight any Congressional subpoenas it receives related to the firings of eight United States Attorneys. Stanley Brand, a former general counsel to the House, speaks with Renee Montagne about what to expect from Congress.", "The Trump administration released a legal opinion saying former White House counsel Don McGahn can't be compelled to testify before Congress about the obstruction of justice allegations in the Mueller report.", "The Justice Department secretly subpoenaed Apple in 2018 for account information of then-White House Counsel Don McGahn as well as his wife.", "Steve Inskeep talks to former Trump White House attorney Jim Schultz, who worked with White House Counsel Don McGahn, who the Mueller report indicates, often balked at carrying out Trump's requests.", "The Trump administration will appeal a federal judge&#8217;s ruling that orders former White House Counsel Donald McGahn to appear before the congressional impeachment inquiry into President Trump and Ukraine. Host Robin Young speaks with Julian Zelizer (@julianzelizer), professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and a CNN political analyst. He discusses the ruling and how administrations and witnesses have handled whether or not to appear and testify in past impeachments. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "The White House has no official response to subpoenas issued by congressional panels probing the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Testimony is sought from former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor.", "White House Counsel Don McGahn has historical ties to President Trump and a combative record at the Federal Election Commission. His job is to interpret ethics laws and apply them to the White House.", "Two congressional committees have issued subpoenas for testimony from former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor regarding their roles in the firings of eight federal prosecutors.", "New developments in the Russia investigation include the disclosure that White House counsel Don McGahn tried to convince Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to recuse himself from overseeing the probe.", "Updated at 7:09 p.m. ET A federal judge ruled against President Trump on Monday in a subpoena dispute not long after the White House said it is seeking to block its former top lawyer from talking to Congress. The events amounted to a win — and a loss — apiece for Republicans and Democrats in their ongoing high-stakes legal and political war over separation of powers and oversight in the aftermath of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. The McGahn matter First, the White House said on Monday that the law and precedent give former White House counsel Don McGahn immunity from appearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, which Democrats wanted. Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and his majority issued a subpoena that sought to compel McGahn to appear and hand over documents. No, the administration says — advisers of McGahn's stature have the privilege not to comply given their closeness to the president. Ordering them to appear is almost like ordering the president himself to appear, and members of Congress couldn't force Trump himself to testify any more than Trump could command a lawmaker to show up at the White House, the Justice Department argued. Assistant Attorney General Steven Engel sent the current White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, a 15-page legal memo on Monday detailing what Engel called the reasons that the White House can keep McGahn and his documents out of the hands of lawmakers. He cited the work of boldfaced names of Washington history from then-Attorney General Janet Reno to then-Assistant Attorney General William Rehnquist. \"We believe that these established principles apply to bar the committee from compelling Mr. McGahn to testify,\" Engel wrote. \"The counsel to the president clearly qualifies as a senior adviser to testimonial immunity. ... We have also recognized that the immunity continues to apply after the counsel leaves the White House.\" Meanwhile, White House counsel Cipollone wrote to Nadler to affirm that McGahn would not appear at any hearing on Tuesday as Democrats had hoped. McGahn's attorneys have said he is going to stand fast and take no action until the questions are resolved between the branches of government. Nadler faulted the White House's position as \"the latest act of obstruction from the White House\" and \"the latest example of this administration's disdain for law.\" The House Judiciary Committee is going to convene on Tuesday as planned, Nadler said, with the expectation that McGahn will be there. If that happens, but McGahn doesn't show, it would be the second recent time that Nadler has held a hearing with an empty witness chair. The financial records subpoena Not long after Engel's letter appeared on Monday, a federal judge in Washington handed a victory to Democrats in a parallel dispute over access to some of Trump's financial records. Federal Judge Amit Mehta ruled that an accounting company, Mazars, must comply with a subpoena issued by House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. Trump had sued to quash that subpoena, arguing that members of Congress had no legitimate legislative purposes that supported their desire to get the documents. Yes they do, Mehta wrote. His 41-page opinion traced the history of tension between the separate branches of government — but concluded Congress in this case is within its power and that the reasons cited by lawmakers to compel the release of the records are \"facially valid legislative purposes.\" Members of Congress say they want to confirm whether Trump is in compliance with foreign emoluments clauses, and his accounting records would help establish that. Questions have swirled — and been denied by Trump — about whether he might be subject to some kind of financial coercion by lenders overseas. Cummings hailed the ruling. \"Today's decision is a resounding victory for the rule of law and our constitutional system of checks and balances,\" he said. \"The court recognized the basic, but crucial fact that Congress has authority to conduct investigations as part of our core function under the Constitution.\" Trump, meanwhile, vowed to appeal. The president told reporters on his way to a rally in Pennsylvania it was \"totally the wrong decision by an Obama-appointed judge.\" Constitutional showdown Trump and House Democrats are in a trench war over the rival powers of Congress and the executive branch as lawmakers seek to learn more following the Mueller investigation. Nadler, Cummings and their colleagues argue there are big unanswered questions about Trump's business operations and his finances. Trump and the White House say Democrats are simply trying to drag out the Russia investigation following Mueller's conclusion that Trump's campaign didn't conspire with Russia's attack on the election in 2016. The conflict has been building over several months. Attorney General William Barr did not show up at a hearing of Nadler's committee after a dispute with the majority over the process for questi", "The White House counsel Don McGahn will leave his job this fall. David Greene talks with professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz.", "Updated at 5 p.m. ET The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress after the Trump administration invoked executive privilege over the contents of the Mueller report. The developments Wednesday escalated the confrontation between congressional Democrats and the White House over documents related to the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. \"We are now in a constitutional crisis,\" said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., after the vote. The committee acted to hold Barr in contempt of Congress for refusing its demands to turn over an unredacted version of the report. The vote was 24-16 along party lines. The resolution now moves to the full House for a vote. As debate began on the contempt resolution, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd released a letter to Nadler, \"to advise you that the President has asserted executive privilege over the entirety of the subpoenaed materials.\" The letter called it a \"protective assertion\" to ensure \"the president's ability to make a final decision whether to assert privilege following a full review of these materials.\" A Justice Department spokesperson called the vote \"politically motivated and unnecessary,\" asserting that the department could not comply with the subpoena for documents \"without violating the law, court rules, and court orders.\" Separation of powers The dispute centers on congressional Democrats' demands to see the entire version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report into Russian interference in the 2016 election and is within a broader effort by the House to investigate Trump. A redacted version of Mueller's report has been made public, and a select group of lawmakers has been offered the chance to view a less redacted version. But Democrats want a wider circle of lawmakers, including all members of the Judiciary and intelligence committees, to be able see the complete report as well as the underlying evidence, including the investigative files that Mueller collected. A Justice Department letter sent Tuesday night said releasing that information \"would force the department to risk violating court orders and rules in multiple ongoing prosecutions, as well as risk the disclosure of information that could compromise ongoing investigations.\" During the debate over the contempt citation of Barr, Nadler said the decision to invoke executive privilege was \"a clear escalation in the Trump administration's blanket defiance of Congress' constitutionally mandated duties.\" White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that \"Faced with Chairman Nadler's blatant abuse of power, and at the Attorney General's request, the President has no other option than to make a protective assertion of executive privilege.\" Sanders called it \"sad that Chairman Nadler is only interested in pandering to the press and pleasing his radical left constituency.\" It's not clear how the Trump administration can argue that the contents of the Mueller report can be subject to executive privilege as the vast majority of it has already been made public and a published version is in fact a bestseller. Administration officials connected with the Russia story also have spoken to Congress in open hearings, including then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, intelligence community leaders and others. Nonetheless, Barr and the Justice Department now say that the privilege shields the material that Nadler wants, one day after the White House threatened to invoke it to block former White House counsel Don McGahn from turning over documents in answer to a committee subpoena. McGahn's attorney said on Tuesday that he would stand fast and do nothing — comply with neither the White House instructions nor the committee subpoena — until the legal questions surrounding the dispute have been resolved. If the House follows the Judiciary Committee in voting to hold Barr in contempt, that would send a criminal referral to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, whose boss is Barr.", "The New York Times reported a scoop Saturday night that White House counsel Don McGahn is cooperating with the Mueller investigation. From the article: In at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours over the past nine months, Mr. McGahn described the president’s fury toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which he urged Mr. McGahn to respond to it. He provided the investigators examining whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice a clear view of the president’s most intimate moments with his lawyer. Among them were Mr. Trump’s comments and actions during the firing of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, and Mr. Trump’s obsession with putting a loyalist in charge of the inquiry, including his repeated urging of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to claim oversight of it. Mr. McGahn was also centrally involved in Mr. Trump’s attempts to fire the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, which investigators might not have discovered without him. For a lawyer to share so much with investigators scrutinizing his client is unusual. Lawyers are rarely so open with investigators, not only because they are advocating on behalf of their clients but also because their conversations with clients are potentially shielded by attorney-client privilege, and in the case of presidents, executive privilege. The president appeared to respond to the story on Twitter. \nI allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 If McGahn is participating, what affect could his testimony have on the president? Will his cooperation bring the timeline of the Russia investigation to a close more quickly? Produced by Paige Osburn. Text by Gabrielle Healy. GUESTS Josh Gerstein, Senior reporter, Politico; @joshgerstein Quinta Jurecic, Managing editor of Lawfare @qjurecic For more, visit https://the1a.org. &copy; 2018 WAMU 88.5 &#8211; American University Radio.", "NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) joins Here & Now&#8216;s Robin Young to discuss an overnight filing from the Department of Justice and other breaking impeachment-related news. The DOJ legal filing argues that, while impeachment is moving forward, a federal appeals court should stay out of the fight between the House and the administration on whether former White House counsel Don McGahn should testify on obstruction of justice. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "The White House has asked the Supreme Court to quash a subpoena for Whitewater-related documents. The subpoena from the Whitewater special counsel is for notes made by a White House lawyer on conversations with Hillary Rodham Clinton. The White House argues that the notes are protected by attorney-client privilege, and the president's ability to get legal advice from a government lawyer is at stake. The special counsel says the claim of privilege is unprecedented in a federal criminal proceeding. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.", "Asserting executive privilege, the White House says it will not respond to subpoenas for documents and testimony sought by Congress in the firing of eight federal prosecutors.", "Don McGahn, who served as former President Donald Trump's first White House counsel and was a key witness for investigators during the Russia probe, is set to testify Friday before the House Judiciary Committee. McGahn will sit down for a transcribed interview behind closed doors more than two years after the Democratic-led panel subpoenaed him for testimony about the Russia investigation and Trump's possible obstruction of justice. As White House counsel from January 2017 until October 2018, McGahn was in Trump's inner circle for most of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. McGahn provided critical testimony to Mueller's team as a witness to several potential acts of obstruction by Trump, including his efforts to fire the special counsel. Days after the redacted version of Mueller's report was released to the public, the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed McGahn, with the panel's chair, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., saying in a statement that McGahn's testimony would \"help shed further light on the President's attacks on the rule of law, and his attempts to cover up those actions by lying to the American people and requesting others do the same.\" The Trump White House blocked McGahn from appearing, citing a Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion that asserts that senior presidential advisers enjoy absolute immunity from testifying before Congress. The House Judiciary Committee filed suit in federal court to challenge that assertion and try to enforce its subpoena. That led to a lengthy legal battle that was resolved last month after the committee and the Biden Justice Department reached an accommodation, or agreement, to allow McGahn to testify. Under the deal, McGahn will sit for a transcribed interview in private before committee members and staff. He will be allowed to have counsel with him, and an attorney from the Justice Department will be allowed to attend as well. A transcript of the interview will be released afterward. The scope of the questions, however, is limited to information attributed to McGahn in the redacted version of Mueller's report and whether the report accurately reflected McGahn's statements to the special counsel. McGahn can refuse to answer questions outside that narrow line of questioning, including queries about communications between McGahn and other administration officials that do not appear in the public version of Mueller's report. That limited scope raises questions about how much the committee and the American people will learn from McGahn's interview beyond what's already publicly known.", "The Justice Department secretly subpoenaed Apple in February 2018 for account information of then-White House Counsel Don McGahn, as well as his wife, and secured a gag order barring the company from telling them about it, according to a person familiar with the matter. It is unclear what the Justice Department was investigating or whether prosecutors actually obtained any of McGahn's account information, the individual said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Apple informed the McGahns of the subpoena last month after the gag order expired. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment. It is highly unusual for the Justice Department to subpoena the records of a sitting White House counsel. The news of the subpoena, which was first reported by the New York Times, comes days after it emerged that the Trump-era Justice Department had also subpoenaed Apple for communications metadata of at least two Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, as well as current and former staff and family members as part of a leak investigation. Those seizures are now under review by the Justice Department's inspector general. The two lawmakers who had their data seized were Reps. Adam Schiff, the committee's top Democrat, and Eric Swalwell. Both Schiff and Swalwell were outspoken critics of former President Donald Trump, and both served as impeachment managers against the former president during his two impeachment trials in the Senate. Schiff presided as a manager during Trump's first impeachment in 2020; Swalwell during the second impeachment trial earlier this year. McGahn left the White House in late 2018, but during his time in the counsel's office he was a central figure in Trump's orbit and in the investigation by former special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election. While the Mueller investigation concluded in 2019, McGahn was called earlier this month to testify before the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee following a protracted two-year legal battle. Testimony from that appearance was made public last week, and revealed the degree to which McGahn felt he was being pressured toward wrongdoing by Trump. McGahn told the committee he was made particularly uneasy by Trump's repeated requests that he facilitate the dismissal of Mueller, who had been tasked with investigating possible ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia. Top Democrats in Congress are now calling on former Attorneys General William Barr and Jeff Sessions to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the subpoenas — calls that are all but certain to grow louder following the revelations about McGahn. \"The revelation that the Trump Justice Department secretly subpoenaed metadata of House Intelligence Committee Members and staff and their families, including a minor, is shocking,\" said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., in a statement on Friday. \"This is a gross abuse of power and an assault on the separation of powers.\"", "Updated at 9:33 a.m. ET Tuesday A federal judge in Washington has ruled that former White House counsel Don McGahn must testify to House impeachment investigators, despite orders from the Trump administration that he not cooperate with Congress. The decision by U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson clears the way for McGahn's testimony, sought by House Democrats in exploring Trump's possible obstruction of justice related to the Russia probe. Jackson declared in her 118-page ruling that \"presidents are not kings\" and that \"no one is above the law.\" She added: \"However busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires.\" A lawyer for McGahn says that his client will obey the court's ruling to testify. \"Don McGahn will comply with Judge Jackson's decision unless it is stayed pending appeal,\" McGahn's attorney William Burck tells NPR in an email. The Trump administration expressed frustration with the order, saying it \"contradicts longstanding legal precedent established by administrations of both parties,\" according to a statement from White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. But Jackson said there is no legal basis of the so-called \"legal precedent\" the White House has been citing that presidential aides are immune from subpoenas. \"Absolute testimonial immunity for senior-level White House aides appears to be a fiction that has been fastidiously maintained over time through the force of sheer repetition,\" the judge wrote. The ruling could have implications for other key witnesses, such as former national security adviser John Bolton, who has refused to testify until a federal court weighs in on the conflict between Congress and the White House. On Tuesday, the Trump administration filed its notice of appeal and asked the court to pause the McGahn order until the appeal is decided. Democrats subpoenaed McGahn on May 21, months before the start of the impeachment inquiry. But he is now considered by impeachment investigators to be a central witness to possible instances of obstruction of justice. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., celebrated Jackson's decision. \"Now that the court has ruled, I expect him to follow his legal obligations and promptly appear before the Committee,\" Nadler said in a statement. White House lawyers have said McGahn is among a small cadre of current and former senior administration officials who cannot be forced to testify about matters related to the president since doing so risks revealing information that is protected under executive privilege. At a hearing last month, a Justice Department attorney said McGahn and other former top White House aides are shielded by \"absolute immunity.\" Yet Jackson was deeply skeptical about this argument, citing the challenge of enforcing it in light of the high rate of turnover among Oval Office aides. She suggested at the hearing that the legislature would be impeded in carrying out its basic oversight power if lawmakers could not call witnesses as part of an investigation into the president. She called the Trump administration's position that top aides are immune from testifying before Congress \"peculiar.\" In her ruling on Monday, Jackson said Office of Legal Counsel opinion from the White House, which Trump administration lawyers cited in defense of its \"absolute immunity\" argument, are not legally binding. \"Thus—to be crystal clear—what is at issue in this case is solely whether senior level presidential aides, such as McGahn, are legally required to respond to a subpoena that a committee of Congress has issued, by appearing before the committee for testimony despite any presidential directive prohibiting such a response,\" Jackson wrote. \"McGahn 'must appear before the Committee to provide testimony, and invoke executive privilege where appropriate.' \" McGahn was seen as the star witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. He told Mueller's investigators that Trump had ordered him to fire Mueller. McGahn told investigators that a day after the revelation broke in the press, Trump asked him to write a letter denying that the president had wanted Mueller fired. \"Each time he was approached, McGahn responded that he would not refute the press accounts because they were accurate in reporting on the President's effort to have the Special Counsel removed,\" according to Mueller's findings. McGahn said he would rather quit than fire Mueller. McGahn stepped down as White House counsel in October 2018. As court battles wage on over witnesses, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., says lawmakers are now writing a report that summarizes key findings about Trump's alleged pressure campaign on Ukraine. In a letter on Monday to House lawmakers, Schiff said the", "Former White House political director Sara Taylor appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The committee subpoenaed her to talk about White House involvement in the firings of several federal prosecutors last year. President Bush instructed her not to share secrets, on the basis of executive privilege.", "NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to White House spokesman Steven Groves about the administration instructing former employees not to testify before the Judiciary Committee. NPR's Mara Liasson weighs in.", "As White House counsel Don McGahn cooperates with the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with John Dean, whose testimony during the Watergate hearings helped take down President Nixon.", "President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Donald McGahn, a longtime Washington lawyer who once led the Federal Election Commission, to be his White House counsel, his transition team announced Friday. \"Don has a brilliant legal mind, excellent character and a deep understanding of constitutional law,\" Trump said in a statement, referring to the lawyer who served as both his campaign and transition attorney. \"He will play a critical role in our administration, and I am grateful that he is willing to serve our country at such a high-level capacity.\" McGahn said he was \"honored to continue advising President-elect Trump in the Trump-Pence Administration. President-elect Trump is a bold leader committed to draining the swamp in Washington and restoring economic prosperity and security. I look forward to serving the American public in this role.\" McGahn is a partner at the Jones Day law firm in Washington, where he has long represented candidates and elected officials. Unlike many people in Trump's inner circle, McGahn has deep roots in the nation's capital. He served as the top lawyer for the National Republican Congressional Committee and led the FEC, where he helped usher in looser regulations for campaign spending. McGahn's law firm biography reports he focused on building \"due process\" into elections enforcement over five years at the FEC. But his critics argue that mostly made it harder to bring enforcement actions against candidates or political action committees that failed to follow the rules. Like his most famous client, the president-elect, McGahn embraces the role of disrupter, telling the Center for Public Integrity that he served on the FEC \"to change how the place thinks.\" The Wall Street Journal concluded that McGahn \"marches to his own tune,\" highlighting his off-hours work as lead guitarist for a band that plays Guns N' Roses cover songs and other music. Trump has long been familiar with the McGahn family. McGahn's uncle, Patrick, another lawyer, helped the Trump family navigate real estate and political challenges for Trump's properties in Atlantic City, N.J. McGahn's wife is a staffer on the House Financial Services Committee and a onetime spokeswoman for former Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas. McGahn advised DeLay on a number of ethics controversies.", "The House of Representatives has tried to make one thing clear to former deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman: the now-withdrawn subpoena for his testimony in the impeachment inquiry is behind them. House lawmakers have moved on. Or as Doug Letter, lawyer for the Democratic-led House, said in a recent court submission: \"The subpoena will not reissue today, tomorrow, or ever.\" On Tuesday, an attorney for Kupperman told a federal judge in Washington that the promise is not enough. \"The assurances presented to you are the naked statements from lawyers, not the statements from the House of Representatives themselves,\" Kupperman lawyer Charles Cooper said. \"I have no reason to find counsel untrustworthy. But I don't have the same faith in his clients.\" In a move that is baffling both the House and the Department of Justice, Kupperman is asking a federal court to keep alive a lawsuit about whether he can be compelled to testify in the face of the White House instructing him to ignore a congressional subpoena. Both Justice Department and House lawyers say since lawmakers have vowed to not reissue the subpoena and also not take any punitive action against Kupperman for his failure to show up, there is no controversy that needs to be resolved. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon even appeared puzzled at times. He pointed out that in the text of the House's articles of impeachment, Kupperman is not mentioned among close presidential advisers specifically named for defying lawful subpoenas issued by Congress. \"Isn't that some tangible indication that they walked away?\" Leon asked. Cooper shot back: \"I'm sure they don't say that Kupperman is off the hook.\" House impeachment investigators do consider Kupperman a key witness to President Trump's pressure campaign on Ukraine that is at the heart of the soon-to-be-filed articles of impeachment. Kupperman and his previous boss, former national security adviser John Bolton, were close to Trump and counseled the president on Ukraine matters. Kupperman was also listening in on the July 25 call between Trump and the president of Ukraine that triggered a whistleblower complaint. Cooper also represents Bolton, who refused to testify after the White House claimed he and Kupperman were among a small cadre of close advisers to the president who have absolute immunity from congressional subpoenas. A different federal judge in a related legal battle involving the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn ruled that \"no one is above the law,\" rejecting the White House's position that close presidential aides should be shielded from questions from Congress. Cooper has said that ruling did resolve Kupperman's issue because he was engaged in sensitive national security and foreign policy conversations, placing Kupperman in an select category of White House aides. Nonetheless, Cooper has stated that Kupperman would sit for questions from the House if he had a federal court ruling that said he must, which is why Kupperman initially filed his lawsuit. But the court is not likely to consider the merits, since the procedural basis for the suit is now under serious question. As the impeachment process plows ahead, lawyers for the House have attempted to stress to the court that Kupperman should have nothing to worry about for not complying with the now-dropped subpoena, which was originally issued on Oct. 25. \"The House Defendants will not initiative contempt proceedings against him or refer his cause for prosecution,\" Letter said in a court filing. \"They will not exercise inherent authority to arrest him, impose monetary fines on him, or take any other adverse action against him.\" Then why, Cooper asked the court on Tuesday, did Kupperman appear dozens of times in the House's 300-page impeachment report, if lawmakers indeed plan to move on from him? In response, House lawyer Todd Tatelman said the descriptions of the witnesses who failed to appear before Congress were intended to encourage them to show up voluntarily for depositions, not to threaten them. Cooper, according to Tatelman, is \"grossly overblowing and exaggerating\" the threat against Kupperman. If House lawmakers reneged on their promise and did file another subpoena for Kupperman testimpony, the parties would be back in court and the House sure would \"have an egg on their face,\" Leon said. To that, Cooper said: \"They'd have an egg on their face, but Dr. Kupperman would have a contempt citation.\" Leon said he expects to rule before the end of the year.", "Veteran lawyer Emmet Flood is a leading candidate to replace outgoing White House counsel Don McGahn. Flood has valuable experience dealing with investigations of presidents in past administrations." ]

[ "Studio,ogni anno P.A. costa a aziende 1 punto di Pil" ]

[ "The pound remained broadly weaker after a drop in the UK manufacturing PMI Wednesday.", "Bye-bye, PMI. So long, souped-up interest. Time to streamline your mortgage budget.", "The Purchasing Manager&#39;s Index (PMI) in the UK on Monday did little to alter expectations, which has helped the pound sustain a move above 2 dollars.", "Il Liverpool frena l'Arsenal: i 'gunners' sfiorano il primo ko in campionato grazie al solito Fabreg...", "The pound gained some support Friday after manufacturing PMI data for the UK beat expectations with a rise to 54.9, from April&#39;s revised 54.1, sources said.", "Catania quarto, Catania da Champions? Non per l'allenatore Marino, che come da copione frena. \"I tif...", "Il ministro degli Esteri interviene sull'allarme lanciato dal collega francese\"Bisogna lasciare il tempo che serve all'iniziativa diplomatica\" Iran, D'Alema frena Kouchner \"Guerra non è una soluzione\" El Baradei: \"L'uso della forza è l'ultima risorsa\"", "Scaduto il termine per il processo di arricchimento dell'uranioMosca è favorevole a proseguire il dialogo con Teheran Iran, la Russia frena Bush \"No alle sanzioni sul nucleare\" Lavrov: \"Gli ultimatum portano in un vicolo cieco\"", "I cittadini scrivono e appoggiano l'appello sul web di Stefano RodotàLa politica sotto accusa: viola il diritto alla riservatezza degli italiani Privacy, lo sfogo dei lettori \"Caccia alle streghe in ufficio\" Ma c'è anche chi approva: \"Sfoltiamo la burocrazia lunga e inutile\"", "La manifestazione e l'astensione dal lavoro è in programma per il 16 aprileLa protesta convocata da Cgil, Cisl e Uil per il rinnovo del contratto Sciopero scuola, Giordano si schiera \"Andrò in piazza con gli insegnanti\" Il segretario del Prc frena però sulla presenza dei ministri: \"Loro è meglio che non vengano\"", "Il segretario Ds nega malesseri nelle aree più vicine a lui e a D'AlemaE frena sulla cabdidatura Bersani. \"Io che farò dopo? Mai inseguito poltrone\" Fassino: \"Giusto fare largo a Walter E' il più fresco, non ha le nostre ferite\" di GOFFREDO DE MARCHIS", "(InfoWorld) - Green IT is something of a chameleon that appeals to different users on different levels. From a 10,000-foot perspective, it's hard to knock the benefits of energy efficiency, recycling and vendors working side by side with users to promote the green agenda. However, many users are finding it difficult to adopt a technology that is not characterized by a wide selection of physical products that they can buy and implement in their IT infrastructures today. In the absence of a mature green IT market, users such as PMI Mortgage Insurance and Cooper Communities are cobbling together green strategies that are saving them money without negatively impacting IT performance. Many of these strategies are based on internal development efforts, while a limited number are taking shape with vendor input. For now, it seems, going green mostly means going it alone, which leaves a big vacuum for vendors to fill with their emerging green IT marketing plans. Greenwashing? Greg Schulz, founder and senior analyst at The StorageIO Group, a Stillwater, Minn.-based market research firm, takes a dim view of incipient green IT efforts, accusing vendors of \"greenwashing\" the market. \"There's money in the green story,\" he asserts. \"If you can make your story sell by making it sound green and appealing to that feel-good green aspect of the market, you're going to get money out of it.\" Using storage as an example, Schulz cites Hewlett-Packard's June unveiling of its Adaptive Infrastructure offerings, which are described in a press release that starts out saying, \"HP today introduced 'green' storage technology that can cut storage array power and cooling costs in data center by 50 percent.\" HP's new offering includes thin provisioning and performance enhancements for the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array family, tape drives based on the Linear Tape Open 4 standard, new DAT 160 tapes for small and medium-size businesses, and the first HP StorageWorks tape product developed exclusively for HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosures. Schulz says the press release's focus on green is misleading because data is being moved from disk to tape, or to another tier without optimizing the products to consume less power. According to him, it's simply a shift to another technology, but it's touted as part of HP's green initiative. Schulz acknowledges that virtualization can help reduce the number of servers, but he wonders if consolidating servers is really a shell game with no net benefits. \"Here's the catch,\" he says. \"If I go to 10 servers down to one, have I saved on power? Maybe. But does that server that I consolidate down to consume any more power than the other ones? It should, but is the ratio 10-to-1, 5-to-1, or 2-to-1?\" The bottom line rules  At this early stage in the green IT game, it's hard to make definitive statements, because strategies are still being formulated by vendors and users. This is highlighted by the results of a May 2007 Forrester survey of 124 IT managers and procurement professionals in North America and Europe. The report, entitled Tapping Buyers' Growing Interest in Green IT, notes that while 85% of respondents said that environmental factors are important in planning IT operations, only one quarter said they have written green criteria into their companies' purchasing processes. In the end, of course, it all boils down to the bottom line. As one survey respondent declared, \"We would do green because it makes business sense, not because it's green. It would have to show cost savings.\" The report's author, Christopher Mines, notes: \"We heard two reasons why green matters: efficiency and corporate responsibility. Most IT decision-makers told us that a green purchase would only happen in the context of cost reduction. These are hard-headed, ROI-driven business decisions.\" Follow the vendor As usual, the vendors are driving the initiative. Gordon Graylish, vice president of Intel's sales and marketing group for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says that manufacturers have made significant progress in energy-saving products while the user community is still playing catch-up. David Boone, operations and planning manager at the Denver Health and Hospital Authority, says he is just learning about green IT for the first time. \"I think it's a good concept,\" he says. \"There are some things that can be done to reduce energy consumption, but I think when you look at the computer world, I just don't know if it's feasible at this point in time.\" While he isn't using new technology to attain his green goals, Stanley M. Pachura, senior vice president, corporate systems, at Walnut Creek, Calif.-based PMI Mortgage Insurance, says he believes he's more in tune with conservation than many. To him, green IT means efficiency in power consumption and reductions in pollution -- both in terms of emissions and hardware waste. He says that through his primary vendors, IBM and Sun Microsystems, he is seeing products that also allow him to implement an infrastructure that uses less energy. \"I'm thinking in terms of server consolidation technology that's allowing us to just run less physical hardware,\" Pachura says. \"And second, desktop virtualization is allowing us to promote work-at-home-type environments, so we're not only decreasing the amount of real estate that we're heating, cooling and supporting, but also allowing people to work at home, which reduces commuting and emissions.\" According to Pachura, PMI has successfully deployed more than 215 virtual servers utilizing EMC's VMware. software. PMI's technology rollout includes the replacement of 140 existing physical hosts as well as the introduction of 75 new virtual environments directly on only 13 IBM x3850 servers (eight 3-GHz processors, 32GB of memory). The systems supported include both production and preproduction transactional systems, database servers, and file and print servers. Pachura says he believes that IBM's recently announced Project Big Green, which is designed to make both IBM's and its customers' IT infrastructures more energy efficient, is a sincere effort, because IBM probably runs more data centers than anyone else in the world, so energy savings and ecological support would be logical goals. He also says that green programs being implemented by vendors are important because they drive innovation not only in their own data centers, but in those of their customers as well. Despite the \"hard-headed\" bottom-line-oriented approach to green IT described by the Forrester report, there is a higher calling here for some converts, who feel there is a moral obligation as well -- and this moral obligation doesn't exclude financial concerns but operates in conjunction with them. This is the stance of Pat Samples, vice president of information systems at Rogers, Ark.-based Cooper Communities, who also says he is saving money by being green. \"I think there is a moral compunction,\" he says. \"We are doing things in our personal lives, and things to reduce paper products and recycle. All those sorts of things really need to carry over to the systems side of IT.\" Toward that goal, his company is reducing power consumption and recycling hardware with the help of Access Recycling in Springdale, Ark., which either tears the equipment apart or repurposes it. Samples says his company is saving money via green IT in a couple of ways. \"First of all, new equipment is more power-efficient,\" he says. \"In some places, we're retiring two and three servers. So electrical consumption is going to go down, and we're going to save money on licensing costs because we'll have one server doing the job of two or three.\" Cooper Communities, which is a land development company, has received awards for its environmental programs. The kudos include an environmental stewardship award from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the Stockton Award from the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society. In addition, The Nature Conservancy has established the Cooper Family Conservation Award, which is presented annually to a business that makes outstanding contributions to conservation in Arkansas. The company's primary vendors are Dell Inc., HP and Cisco Systems Inc., and even though his green strategies have been developed internally and independently of those vendors, Samples says he still believes that the overall vendor community is slowly moving toward a greener IT orientation. \"I think it's something the major IT vendors are starting to address,\" he states. \"I don't think they're where they need to be yet. As far as I know, servers are not meeting green IT initiatives. Desktops are certainly getting there, but I don't think that server and network infrastructures have been addressed the same way.\" Boone says his hospital can save some energy by turning off PCs that are only used during the day and lights that are not serving any purpose. But when it comes to technology, he says, \"if it needs power, you're going to use that power to get the job done.\" Whether or not vendors are repackaging their existing products and calling them green is a matter for debate. In the mean time, PMI Mortgage's Pachura seems to sum up the attitude of many users when he says, \"I think that what's really not [product] repackaging is the vendors working with their customers to deploy green technology. We're actually seeing activities from the vendors where they're willing to come out and help understand how you can have a more ecology-friendly implementation.\"", "Il leader di Fi a Lucca minaccia iniziative di protesta se non si va presto al votopoi torna sui suoi passi e precisa: \"Niente scioperi, ma non si deve esagerare\" Berlusconi attacca: \"Sciopero fiscale\" Poi frena: \"Non tirate la corda\" Sulla vicenda Speciale \"deve intervenire il presidente della RepubblicaIn una democrazia con pesi e contrappesi sarebbe caduto qualsiasi governo\"" ]

[ "Data mining is used to turn data into information and it links several fields including statistics, artificial intelligence, database management, machine learning, pattern recognition and data visualization. It became a field of interest in the early 90s. Since then the interest in data mining has spread worldwide. Also in Poland there are research institutes working in this field, software developers offering specialized software and successful applications of data mining techniques. In this paper we present the development of data mining in Poland." ]

[ "Why Data Mining is Important: What is Customer-Centric Data Mining? How Data Mining Can Enhance Your Services and Products Data Mining Can Solve Your Most Difficult Problems The Data Mining Process Pillars of the Data Mining Framework: The Information Technology of Business Intelligence The Data in Data Mining The Mathematics of Data Mining Data Mining Techniques: Knowledge Discovery Data Mining Techniques: More Knowledge Discovery Data Mining Techniques: Predictive Models Data Mining Management: Common Reasons Data Mining Projects Fail Overcoming Obstacles Successful Data Mining Project Management Data Mining in Practice--Case Studies: Data Mining in: Customer Service, Retail, Insurance, Financial Services, Health Care and Medicine, Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics, Energy, and Government Glossary Bibliography Appendixes: Vendor Information \"STAT 101\" Techniques Listed by Methodology Phase", "Data mining is the process of extracting hidden information from the database. Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many business organizations. The current trend in business collaboration shares the data and mined results to gain mutual benefit. The problem of privacy-preserving data mining has become more important in recent years because of the increasing ability to store personal data about users, and the increasing sophistication of data mining algorithms to leverage this information. Apart from classification and regression, one of the most important tasks of data mining is to find patterns in data. In particular, new advances in data mining and knowledge discovery that allow for the extraction of hidden knowledge in enormous amount of data impose new threats on the seamless integration of information. In this paper, we consider the problem of building privacy preserving algorithms for one category of data mining techniques, the association rule mining.", "With the increased interest into data mining as an important tool for data processing and analysis, the researchers are concerned into data mining for real decision making, data mining helps in the organizational decision making, inaccurate information can mislead decisionmakers and cause costly errors. With more data collected for analytical purposes. Techniques data mining through Weka Explorer interface and experimental environment interface into determining the prediction and accuracy using different algorithm ratings to know the performance of best. Study confirm is to categorize data and help users mining useful data and easily identify an appropriate algorithm for an accurate predictive model, to access the best-performing algorithms, minimize errors and minimum time to build models through the Explorer interface and Experimental Environment Interface to get accurate.", "Data mining becomes more and more important in nowadays. To applied college students, mastering the basics and methods of data mining technology demands immediate attention. This article gives some suggestions on how to teach these students well. The content of data mining technology course and experiments are selected elaborately. Mining technologies such as association rule , data classification, clustering , web mining and personalized recommendation are emphasized.", "Data mining can be defined as process of extracting knowledge from huge amount of data such as Data warehouses, Databases etc. Data mining help to take efficient and effective decision. Data mining is used in various fields including Retail Industry, Sales/Marketing, Health Care and Insurance, Intrusion Detection etc. But Data Mining is suffered from various issues such as Mining methodology and user interaction issues, Performance issues, Issues related to the diversity of database types as well as challenges for Data Mining", "Data uncertainty is often found in real-world applications due to reasons such as imprecise measurement, outdated sources, or sampling errors. Recently, much research has been published in the area of managing data uncertainty in databases. We propose that when data mining is performed on uncertain data, data uncertainty has to be considered in order to obtain high quality data mining results. We call this the \"Uncertain Data Mining\" problem. In this paper, we present a framework for possible research directions in this area. We also present the UK-means clustering algorithm as an example to illustrate how the traditional K-means algorithm can be modified to handle data uncertainty in data mining.", "Association rules mining is a most of important tasks in data mining research. While most of the existing discovery algorithms are dedicated to efficiently mining of frequent patterns, it has been noted recently that some of the infrequent patterns can provide useful insight view into the data. As a result, indirect association rules have been put forward. All the existing algorithms for mining indirect association rules need get all frequent itemsets, and confined to the traditional static database. Instead of this method, we put forward an approach to discover both direct and indirect association rules in data streams with a sliding window. Experiments on the synthetic data stream are made to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach. Index Terms Direct Association Pattern, Indirect Association Pattern, Data Streams.", "Effective data analysis with multiple databases requires highly accurate patterns. But, local pattern analysis might extract low quality of patterns from multiple databases. Thus, it is necessary to improve mining multiple databases. In this paper, we propose a new technique of mining multiple databases. In this technique, each local database is mined using a traditional data mining technique in a particular order for synthesizing global patterns. The proposed technique improves quality of synthesized global patterns significantly. We conduct experiments on both real and synthetic datasets to judge effectiveness of the proposed technique.", "In an age of information explosion,data mining faces new challenges because of mass data.In view of the memory and performance problems faced by mass data mining,a cloud frequent itemsets mining algorithm based on parallel random sampling of data is put forward.After the parallel data sampling of the single scanning mass data,it can realize the parallel frequent itemsets mining of the sample data.The experimental results prove that the parallel random sampling algorithm can effectively extract data which can reflect the real data sets,and carry on the related cleaning.After obtaining the sample data,the memory and performance problems can be effectively solved by this parrallel association cloud mining algorithm.This data mining algorithm lays a good foundation for promoting the development of mass data mining.", "Data Mining is an interesting field of research whose major objective is to find interesting and useful patterns from huge data sets. These patterns can be further used to make important decisions based on the result of the analysis. Healthcare industry today generates huge amount of data on a day to day basis. This data has to be analysed and hidden and meaningful patterns can be discovered. Data mining plays a promising and significant role in this aspect. Data Mining techniques can be used for disease prediction. In this research, the classification based data mining techniques are applied to healthcare data. This research focuses on the prediction of heart disease using three classification techniques namely Decision Trees, Naive Bayes and K Nearest Neighbour.", "Focusing on the defects existing in classical Association Rules Mining algorithms, we explore a new way of mining temporal association rules with the time-property in dataset. By combining with the Rough Set Theory and parallel computing technology, a temporal association rules mining algorithm based on attribute reduction — ARTAR is put forward to deal with high dimensional data. The Attributes Reduction of Rough Set Theory is utilized to reduce the number of data items in each transaction. In order to avoid frequent itemsets threshold setting problem, the Apriori integrating with Top-k theory is adopted. Meanwhile the Time-weighted factor is introduced as time constraints. The experiment analysises demonstrated that the proposed algorithm RTAR has higher efficiency and fits to temporal association rule mining in High-dimensional data.", "Data mining is the term used to describe the proc ess of extracting valuable information from a datab ase. In this survey paper, we offer a revision of the Data Mining & its Uses and tools. This survey paper is a lso focused on the techniques of Data Mining & its Algorithm, Application, benefits and drawbacks. The goal of this r eview is to provide a comprehensive review of Information Extraction using Data Mining Technique.", "Data mining is called as knowledge discovery in database (KDD), is known for its powerful role in discovering hidden information from large volumes of data. Data Mining is applied in various fields and widely used in educational field to discover hidden patterns from student’s data.Educational Data Mining (EDM) is agrowing field, concerned with developing methods for recognising the unique characters of data that come from educational surroundings, and applying those methods to better understand students, and helps in decision making.The aim of thispaper is to discuss about the educational data mining and its component, goals and method.", "In this paper, we present a new data mining framework for discovering sequence effects. In particular, we focus on the sequences consisting of actions that are taken in chronological order, like sequences of clinical procedures or marketing actions. Each sequence is associated with a binary outcome, a success or a failure. We investigate the hypothesis that certain subsequences of actions contribute to successes, which we call effective subsequences. A generic data mining algorithm for extracting effective subsequences is proposed, which is verified both quantitatively and qualitatively. We experimented our effective subsequence mining algorithm on a real sales opportunity dataset. Based on the subsequence model, a market campaign attribution model is proposed, with application to the same sales dataset.", "Data mining can also be viewed as a process of model building, and thus the data used to build the model can be understood in ways that we may not have previously taken into consideration. This chapter summarizes some well-known data mining techniques and models, such as: Bayesian classifier, association rule mining and rule-based classifier, artificial neural networks, k-nearest neighbors, rough sets, clustering algorithms, and genetic algorithms. Thus, the reader will have a more complete view on the tools that data mining borrowed from different neighboring fields and used in a smart and efficient manner for digging in data for hidden knowledge.", "The paper proposes an optimized Apriori mining algorithm based on ontology by contrast with traditional data-mining ones, which could mine data on the high-level. The algorithm is based on the domain and background knowledge in what the ontology describes. And we use the algorithm in the fire protection emergency decision system. The experiment result shows that applying the algorithm can expose more exact certainty rules and provide more meaningful decision suggestions for decision-maker.", "In this paper, data mining techniques are introduced to investigate the test-driving database of aero-engines. This paper introduces the basic concepts of rough set first and discusses its application in data mining based on the aero-engine test-driving database characteristics. The rules obtained from the data mining procedure are correct and can provide valuable information for aero-engine tests. The results show that it is feasible to employ data mining techniques for analyzing the aero-engine test-driving database.", "Data mining process discovers useful information from the hidden data, which can be used for future prediction. Machine learning provides methods, techniques and tools, which help to learn automatically and to make accurate predictions based on past observations. This paper presents an implementation of various data mining tools in real time datasets. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a comparison of some commonly employed classification algorithms under the same conditions. Such comparison helps to provide the accurate result in algorithms. Hence comparing the algorithms for such a classifier is a tedious task, for real time dataset. The classification models were experimented by using 365 datasets. The predicted values for the classifiers were evaluated and the results were compared.", "In this paper, the feasibility of application of data mining in electronic business has been analyzed, and the research on the application that data mining is used in web design and client relation manage of electronic business in detail. Finally, a model of data mining system based on electronic business has been given.", "Data mining has drastically altered how businesses are being operated, especially in the online domain. This paper attempts to review the massive growth of data mining applications to improve the profitability of ecommerce ventures. As consumers increasingly tend to make their purchases online and with many companies investing heavily on improving their web presence, it is only natural that the whole process of collecting and mining web data has become instrumental in determining a company’s bottom line. What started off as a simple analysis of user behavior and online transactional data has now transformed into a massive, multidisciplinary knowledge discovery process involving huge data sets, algorithms, statistical techniques and analytics to glean new information. The article focuses on some data mining applications unique to ecommerce ventures and how they are being utilized in the current scenario.", "The user experience (EX) of current Electronic Medical Record systems (EMR) is needed to improve. This paper proposed a new method to enhance EX of EMR. Firstly, system template and text characterization are used to make the EMR data structured. Then, the structured date are mined based on mining the association rules of incremental updating data to find the association of the elements of template of EMR and the values of elements. Finally, with the help of mined results, the users of EMR are able to input data effectively and quickly.", "In this paper we present the case study on application of data mining techniques like clustering, regression and scoring with heuristic measures for the largest social event prognosis based on spatiotemporal data. The aim of this analysis is to propose the methodology that bases on archival records and is capable to predict the place where the largest social event will take place and who will be a host (organizer) of it. For this goal we utilize the part of geocaching community data. The dataset we used is consisted of 755 events that happened from 2010-01-30 to 2015-09-05 in Poland organized by 282 distinct users. Basing on archival data of past four years we were capable to indicate not only the region in which the biggest event took place but also its host and its place within range of 700 meters. Our new algorithm and its application to geocaching events data is main novelty of this paper.", "Educational data mining is emerging in the data mining research arena. Despite an applied field of data mining techniques and methods, educational data mining is full of challenges that have not been completely resolved. Especially data classification in an academic credit system is a very tough task which must deal with imbalanced issues and missing data on the technical side and tackle the flexibility of the education system leading to the heterogeneity of data on the practical side. In this paper, we present our approach with a hybrid resampling scheme and random forest for the imbalanced educational data classification task with multiple classes based on student's performance. The proposed approach has not yet been available in educational data mining. Besides, it has been extensively proved in our empirical study to be effective for student's final study status prediction and usable in a knowledge-driven educational decision support system.", "The paper presents an approach to tagging of Polish based on the com- bination of handmade reduction rules and selecting rules acquired by Induction of Decision Trees. The general open architecture of the tagger is presented, where the overall process of tagging is divided into subsequent steps and the overall problem is reduced to subproblems of ambiguity classes. A special language of constraints and the use of constraints as elements of decision trees are described. The results of the experiments performed with the tagger are also presented.", "An important tool to manage electrical systems is the knowledge of customers' consumption patterns. Data Mining (DM) emerges as an important tool for extracting information about energy consumption in databases and identifying consumption patterns. This paper presents a short review on DM, with a focus on the characterization of electricity customers supported on knowledge discovery in database (KDD) process. The study includes several steps: first, few concepts of the KDD process are presented; following, a short review of clustering algorithms is presented including partitional, hierarchical, fuzzy, evolutionary methods, and Self-Organizing Maps; finally, the main concepts and methods for load classification, based on load shape indices are presented. The main objective of this work is to present a short review of DM techniques applied to identify typical load profiles in electrical systems and new customers' classification.", "Characteristics of given data mining tasks have not been considered in present universal integration model of OLAP and data mining, and this reduces their efficiency. This paper proposes a integration model of OLAP and mining association rules by analyzing the characteristics of mining association rules and OLAP, and gives its algebraic structure description. Based on this work, a theory of mining association rules based on OLAP is developed. It simplifies mining steps and enhances its efficiency. The proposed model and its theory are approved to be correct and feasible by experiment using some supermarket real data.", "As one of the most important problems in data streams mining, many studies have been done on mining closed frequent itemsets. However mining closed frequent itemsets in data streams has not been well addressed. In this paper, we design HCI-Mtree (Hash-based Closed Itemsets Monolayer tree) to maintain the complete set of current closed itemsets. In HCI-Mtree, the itemsets with the same frequency are linked to the same hash-based counter. To mining closed frequent itemsets in sliding window over data streams, we propose a novel approach HCFI (algorithm based on HCI-Mtree for mining Closed Frequent Itemsets). Vertical representation of transactions is utilized in our algorithm to save processing time and space consuming. Our experiments show that HCFI has good performance especially when the window size is large.", "In this paper, a novel algorithm for mining maximal frequent itemsets is presented, which has a pre-processing phase where a digraph is constructed. The digraph represents the frequent 2-itemsets which play an important role on the performance of data mining. Then the search for maximal frequent itemsets is done in the digraph. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm is efficient for all types of data.", "Data mining techniques are useful to raise a significant and usable knowledge that can be applied in many areas. In this paper, an approach for extracting knowledge is proposed. Initially the variables are clustered in order to decrease the number of variables, and then association rules are used between the target variables and the previously established groups of variables. The method is applicable for both qualitative and quantitative variables. In this work, we will also compare the application of this approach in different domains.", "Data mining is a method to find useful information for large amounts of data in database. One of the well-studied problems in data mining is exploration for association rules. Association rule mining searches for interesting relationships among items in a given database by support, confidence, and lift. If we use the existing association rules, we can commit some errors by information loss not to consider the size of occurrence frequency. In this paper, we proposed a new association rule thresholds considering the number of possible rules of interest items and compare with existing association rule thresholds by example and real data. As the results, the new association rule thresholds were more useful than existing thresholds.", "Data mining concept is growing fast in popularity, it is a technology that involving methods at the intersection of (Artificial intelligent, Machine learning, Statistics and database system), the main goal of data mining process is to extract information from a large data into form which could be understandable for further use. Some algorithms of data mining are used to give solutions to classification problems in database. In this paper a comparison among three classification's algorithms will be studied, these are (K- Nearest Neighbor classifier, Decision tree and Bayesian network) algorithms. The paper will demonstrate the strength and accuracy of each algorithm for classification in term of performance efficiency and time complexity required. For model validation purpose, twenty-four-month data analysis is conducted on a mock-up basis.", "To get useful knowledge from large amount data of mining safety monitoring,and Guide the work of coal mine safety warning,this paper applies association rules in the data mining of mine safety monitoring.Using the data features,it chooses multidimensional association rules mining algorithm after preprocessing.The paper design and realized an association rules mining system for the safety monitoring data.Trough this system,users can mine association rules after setting the minimum support and minimum confidence threshold." ]

[ "Power generation using a low temperature gap converts heat energy into electricity by using the temperature difference. In this article, a simulation model for power generation using a low temperature gap, which uses a circulation cycle with ammonia as the working fluid, is constructed as a linear multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) model which has 2 inputs and 2 outputs based on the step response method. A PID controller using a back propagation neural network is designed so that the difference in pressure between the turbine inlet and outlet is kept at 0.3 Mpa." ]

[ "The use of Nonlinear Autoregressive - moving average (NARMA) neuro controller for temperature control and two degree of freedom (2DOF) PID controllers also known as the ISA-PID controllers for pH and dissolved oxygen control of a biochemical reactor has been presented in this paper. The process model for yeast fermentation has been described in terms of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. The NARMA neuro controller has been trained by Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm. The ISA-PID controllers have been tuned by MATLAB's auto tune feature along with manual tuning. Random profiles have been used for simulation. The performance of the controllers for following desired random profiles has been shown in contrast to the anti-windup PID (AWU-PID) controllers. The NARMA neuro controller and the ISA-PID controllers have shown overall improvement in controlling the process.", "To aim at the coefficients adjust in PID algorithm of temperature control, send Single Chip Micyoco sampling results through serial communication to a PC and used Labview real-time monitoring. On this basis, we use the integral separation and the differential delay PID algorithm to achieve the high-precision temperature control. The results show that it can achieve the high-precision temperature control fast and accurately. The effect is superior to conventional PID algorithm, while the set of coefficient is simple and convenient, and it can significantly shorten the debugging cycle.", "Abstract This paper proposes a closed-loop identification method for the design of a robust PID controller of the turbine control loop in the boiler-turbine coordinated control system. The process model is firstly identified. In the identification procedure, set-point change tests are adopted to calculate the model based on process inputs and outputs in control loops. The process frequency-response matrix is estimated, and then a transform function matrix is obtained by least square method. The robust PID controller of the turbine control loop is designed by using the internal model control (IMC) method based on the obtained model. It is shown that the IMC-PID controller maintains the robust performance and minimizes the effects of the external disturbance in power system or the internal disturbances in the power plant.", "This paper presents a new Composed Speed Control (CSC) scheme applied to frequency regulation of a biogas generator set. The proposed CSC consists of two controllers operating in parallel: a fuzzy logic controller and a Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) controller that is widely used to regulate Diesel generator set frequency in the Market. The generator set studied and modeled consists of a Volkswagen (VW) High Performance (AP) 2.0 engine and a Kohlbach generator 80 KVA. Two different systems control the generator set: the PID controller and the new CSC proposed scheme. These control systems were evaluated in abrupt load and biogas composition variations scenarios in an environment developed in MATLAB / Simulink. The new CSC has the best performance because it regulates the power frequency to the normal condition range (from 59.9 Hz to 60.1 Hz) quicker than the PID controller does.", "This paper is devoted to design the whole drying system on the basis of the CIS heating plate. With the PID control method, in the actual production applications, we use PARTLOW's temperature controller. On this basis, this article also discusses a realization of the use of fuzzy PID control system. The drying oven is a non-linear, time-varied delay system. It is very difficult to use the exact math model to express its characteristics. So the self adapt function fuzzy control is adopted in the normal drying temperature control system, which forms aptitude fuzzy control system. Furthermore, simulation test shows that the control system that uses the fuzzy PID controller has better performance than that of the traditional PID control, which improves the dynamic performance, the steady precision.", "Use of PID controller is very popular in process industry. Temperature control is one of the most common processes where use of PID control became essential. FOPDT and SOPDT model are designed by multi scale control technique. The performance of this method is compared with conventional. Simulation and experimental results are presented to analyze the performance.", "Since the fumigation bed temperature control has the features of nonlinearity and large hysteresis,a precise temperature control system based on single chip microcomputer was designed to shorten the lag time and reduce overshoot,in which the authors adopted differential preceding PID calculating with Pulse Width Modulation(PWM) technology.The test results indicate that effect of differential preceding PID control is better than that of other normal PID control.This system has good control performance and dynamic performance,the control system is stable and reliable,and the detection circuit and the serial communication program both have good versatility and portability.", "This paper introduces the design of a intelligent temperature controller based on a microcontrollerAT89S52.With PID temperature control for software programmers,an incremental control to a PID-algorithm is adopted.By enlarging the response curve PID parameters set out the whole,Matlab simulation results meet design requirement,and temperature control system has higher accuracy than before.", "To achieve desired temperature is a difficult task, in controlling a temperature of heat exchanger as temperature of liquid changes in different ranges. So an attempt has been made to control temperature of Heat Exchanger by using soft computing methods.This paper features the influence of different controllers like Neuro-Fuzzy and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy upon the process model of Heat exchanger. Neuro-Fuzzy controller (NFC),which is combination of Neural Network(NN) and Fuzzy Logic Controller(FLC) .Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is also combination of Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic with adaptive structure. The proposed system is modeled in simulation platform and the output performances are evaluated .The performance has been compared and results show the better superiority for ANFIS.", "Multilayer neural networks are used to design an optimal tracking neuro-controller (OTNC) for discrete-time nonlinear dynamic systems with quadratic cost function. The OTNC is made of two controllers: feedforward neuro-controller (FFNC) and feedback neuro-controller (FBNC). The FFNC controls the steady-state output of the plant, while the FBNC controls the transient-state output of the plant. The FFNC is designed using a novel inverse mapping concept by using a neuro-identifier. A generalized backpropagation-through-time (GBTT) algorithm is developed to minimize the general quadratic cost function for the FBNC training. The proposed methodology is useful as an off-line control method where the plant is first identified and then a controller is designed for it. A case study for a typical plant with nonlinear dynamics shows good performance of the proposed OTNC.", "This article presents further testing and verification results for a previously introduced new intelligent regulation method that controls the power-electronic Buck converter utilizing a small-signal model of the pulse width modulation (PWM) switch. The implemented intelligent control method uses a fuzzy-PID controller that is tuned using the global search method of genetic algorithm (GA). The presented results further verifies that the previously used intelligent hierarchical regulation method using the GA-tuned fuzzy-PID controller produces the desired Buck performance for wide spectrum of parameter values despite the occurrence of high amplitude noise.", "Simulation technology now provides the ability to design, test, and implement advanced control algorithms without the need for traditional writing and debugging of computer programs. The National Science Foundation and Electric Power Research Institute jointly sponsor a program for the experimental development of power reactor control using this simulation technology. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to enhance the temperature response of a reactor has been identified using a high-level block diagram system model and sophisticated simulation technology.", "The principle of CMAC (Cerebella Model Articulation Controller) and single neuron PID are studied in this article. The CMAC neural network and single neuron pm composite control algorithm is proposed which is applied in the temperature control. The simulation of each controller is tracked. Its anti-interference ability has also been studied and a further study has been proposed by changing the parameters. Simulation results show that the composite control has better results and a certain anti-interference ability. This fully reflects the advantages of the neural network CMAC and single neuron PID composite control that the output error is small, real-time and strong robust.", "A combined method of high precision temperature control and its application in a constant temperature bag-making machine were presented. Combining fuzzy logic with intelligent PID control of expert type, the method utilizes the expert's experience of manual manipulating and quantitative operating feature of PID control. Therefore, it could meet the precision and adjusting time requirements in high precision temperature control. Moreover, a novel and simple model to modify PID parameters and a change-speed integral method were introduced, which are easy to implement. When it is used in a bag-making machine, the control accuracy of combined method is even smaller than 0.25℃.", "A neural autotuner for PID controllers that is relevant for real-time applications is presented. The neural autotuner, in an adaptive PID control scheme, processes temporal patterns (the responses of closed-loop relay feedback in the controlled system) in real time and produces updated parameters for the PID controller. Numerical experiments were carried out to test the training and generalization of the neutral autotuner with respect to different training sets, techniques of temporal signal presenting and processing and the influence of noise. >", "A new digital closed dual-loop control method based on DSP is declared, which combins the single modified neuron PID control strategy and non-deadbeat control method. This method combines the advantages of PID control and non-deadbeat control. Deadbeat control has good performance at high control precision, and PID control is simple, and so on. By the way of simulation on Matlab/Simulink, a control system model whose target board is TI2808 DSP is presented. Automatic code-generation is accomplished from this model. The results of the experiment declare that the control method of the inverter receives a lot of advantages such as a good and fast response of output waveform, curtate developing time, and reduced its developing cost.", "This article introduces an innovative real-time model reference neural control system developed specifically for laser surface heat treatments, which allows one to improve significantly the uniformity and final quality of the process, reducing the rejection rate and increasing the productivity and efficiency of the treatment. Basically, the proposed neural controller allows one to assimilate the complex system dynamics to a simple first order linear system, which can be easily controlled by a conventional proportional, integral and derivative controller, PID, providing exceptional results.", "This paper introduce realize the flavor production course control: automatism computation means of the solid material and/or liquid material, with the emphasize on discussing PID control for pressure, and PID oneself emendation control for temperature. Hardware core circuit using AT 89C52 SCM is introduced. At SCM interface 8255 export whole sine wave for accommodate tempera- ture. Control effect are satisfactory using upwards means.", "The authors designed a neuro fuzzy control strategy for control of cyclical leg movements of paraplegic subjects. The cyclical leg movements were specified by three 'swing phase objectives', characteristic of natural human gait. The neuro fuzzy controller is a combination of a fuzzy logic controller and a neural network, which makes the controller self tuning and adaptive. Two experiments have been performed, in which the performance of the neuro fuzzy control strategy has been compared with conventional PID control strategy.", "Abstract In this paper, fractional order PID (FOPID) controller was proposed for load frequency control (LFC) in an interconnected power system. This controller had five parameters to be tuned; thus, it provided two more degrees of freedom in comparison with the conventional PID. For proper tuning of the controller parameters, imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) was used. ICA is a new evolutionary algorithm with proved efficiency. In this study, simulation investigations were carried out on a three-area power system with different generating units. These results showed that FOPID controller was robust to the parameter changes in the power system. Also, the simulation results certified much better performance of FOPID controller for LFC in comparison with conventional PID controllers.", "In this work a strategy is presented for the temperature control of the polymerization reaction of styrene in suspension in batch. A three-layer feed forward Artificial Neural Network was trained in an off-line way starting from a removed group of patterns of the experimental system and applied in the recurrent form (RNN) to a Predictive Controller based on a Nonlinear Model (NMPC). This controller presented very superior results to the classic controller PID in the maintenance of the temperature. Still to improve the performance of the model used by NMPC (RNN) that can present differences in relation to the system due to the dead time involved in the control actions, nonlinear characteristic of the system and variable dynamics; an on-line adjustment methodology of the parameters of the exit layer of the Network is implemented, presenting superior results and treating the difficulties satisfactorily in the temperature control. All the presented results are obtained for a real system.", "A unified PID tuning method for load frequency control (LFC) of power systems is discussed in this paper. The tuning method is based on the two-degree-of-freedom (TDF) internal model control (IMC) design method and a PID approximation procedure. The time-domain performance and robustness of the resulting PID controller is related to two tuning parameters, and robust tuning of the two parameters is discussed. The method is applicable to power systems with non-reheated, reheated, and hydro turbines. Simulation results show that it can indeed improve the damping of the power systems. It is shown that the method can also be used in decentralized PID tuning for multi-area power systems.", "This paper mainly introduces a PID controller, which is optimized by an improved BP algorithm, and discusses the analysis method of it. It states a way to dynamically adjust the learning rate and the momentum factor through the variety of the input and output of the PID controller to realize an intelligent control. And it connects this control method with the control of the hot winds of the gas in bar furnace of a steel plant to realize a closed-loop control and solve the problems such as the wave of the gas pressure and the insufficiency of combustion. According to the practice, the fluctuation of gas pressure is restricted within 5%, which means that this control method could largely improve the precision of furnace control and further more raise the economic and social benefits.", "Recently a synthesis methodology for the infinite time optimal neurocontrollers for partial differential equations systems in the framework of adaptive-critic design has been developed. The adaptive-critic approach is applied to a thermal conduction system. The experimental setup representing a one-dimensional heat conduction problem developed by matching the experimental and simulation results using a tridiagonal-matrix algorithm is presented. The discrete domain forms of the state, the costate and the optimal control equations are derived using the distributed parameter model of the system. The synthesis is introduced of an adaptive-critic-based infinite time optimal neurocontroller for online temperature profile control. The representative states of the system for training the networks was generated using Fourier series-based smooth states profile algorithm. Finally, the action network is implemented for temperature profile control of the experimental setup.", "This paper proposes a novel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control method of thermoelectric power generation for the constant load. This paper reveals the characteristics and the internal resistance of thermoelectric power module (TM). Analyzing the thermoelectric power generation system with boost chopper by state space averaging method, the output voltage and current of TM are estimated by with only single current sensor. The proposed method can seek without calculating the output power of TM in this proposed method. The basic principle of the proposed MPPT control method is discussed, and then confirmed by digital computer simulation using PSIM. Simulation results demonstrate that the output voltage can track the maximum power point voltage by the proposed MPPT control method. The generated power of the TM is 0.36 W when the temperature difference is 35 °C. This is well accorded with the V-P characteristics.", "The inertia of power systems can compensate the power imbalances, which are caused by the intermittent renewable energy sources or by disturbances in load. However, it is still difficult to keep the frequency changes within its acceptable limits. With the use of vehicle to grid (V2G) technology, the electric vehicles (EVs) can work as a mobile energy storage units. In an isolated grid, these mobile energy storage units could be a vital solution for the load frequency control (LFC). This paper shows an intelligent LFC technique that is based on an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). An isolated wind-solar PV-micro turbine-diesel based micro grid (MG) has been considered in the paper. The performance of the proposed intelligent controller is also compared with conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and fuzzy controller design methods. The results show that ANFIS based neuro-fuzzy LFC controller have less settling time and also improve dynamic responses for the considered MG.", "As a new energy source,photovoltaic solar energy generation is often prone to be affected by the change of seasons,day and night.Hence,the output voltage of photocoltaic solar energy generation is variable.Accordingly,in this study,Luo-converter is adopted to lift the output voltage,and then a fuzzy self-adaptive PID controller was designed to control the output voltage.This controller can adjust the PID parameters on-line by fuzzy reasoning.The characteristics of dynamic tracking performance and steady-state precision of PID controller,together with strong robustness,good dynamic response and less overshoot of fuzzy controller are obtained.The simulation results show that this approach is effective in improving the stability of the output voltage.", "A real-time temperature controlling system was designed by using USB-6009 data acquisition card produced by NI Company as the hardware,taking Lab VIEW 8.5 and its PID tool package as software design platform.The system can acquire the signal of real-time temperature on spot by data acquisition card,then analyze and process the signal in software platform.PID neural network control algorithm was used for the real-time temperature control on spot.Finally,Matlab simulation software was used to simulate the drying system.", "Transient heat transfer caused by a heat pulse in subcooled liquid nitrogen is investigated experimentally. This study is part of our ongoing efforts to develop a stable cryogenic cooling system for superconducting fault current limiters (SFCL) in Korea. A thin heater attached by epoxy on one surface of a GFRP plate is immersed in a liquid‐nitrogen bath at temperatures between 77 K and 65 K. A strong heat flux up to 150 W/cm2 is generated for 100 ms, and the temperature of the heater surface is measured as a function of time. The behavior of bubbles on the heating surface can be indirectly explained by comparing the measured temperature history for vertical and two different horizontal (up and down) orientations. It is concluded that subcooling liquid nitrogen below 70 K is a very effective method to suppress bubbles and result in better thermal protection and faster recovery from a heat pulse.", "The optimized Fuzzy Neural PID controller plan is proposed to increase the quality of the Static Inverter output voltage,which has advantages of fuzzy logic and neural network,and the reasoning is speeded up,and the fuzzy control rules are also increased continually.The control factor is adjusted from the single neuron auto-study,and the accuracy of the system control is improved when the system is running.This plan combines with the steady performance advantages of PID control,so it can improve the performance of the system,making the real-time concurrent adjustment to the system control measures.Based on MATLAB/SIMULI NK,the system was simulated under the circumstance of the Static Inverter.Compare with the fuzzy PID control,the analysis of the optimized fuzzy neural PID controller simulation result shows that the control system has good performance of adaptive capacity,which meets the high robust and the requirements of rapid in the system.", "The present study reports uncontrolled behavior and controlled behavior of boiling flow in a mini-channel excited by step perturbation and periodic perturbation. It also demonstrates the performance of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) in reducing the chaotic oscillations. The control performance significantly varies when the control region is changed from the supercritical bifurcation (stable periodic orbit) region at high inlet subcooling to the subcritical bifurcation (unstable periodic orbit) region at low inlet subcooling. The study also includes the effect of forcing amplitude and forcing frequency on the uncontrolled and controlled dynamics of the channel.", "Electric heater is a nonlinear system with time-varying,lag and asymmetry.The complexity of the controlled object,lead to the control has the certain difficulty.According to the natural cooling and full-power heating characteristics curve of electric heating temperature control system,this paper puts forward a kind of nonlinear mathematical model.Depending on the characteristics of the model,the controller structure was discussed and the feed-forward controller and PID controller are designed to apply to the temperature control system in the multi-stage programmed thermal process.The internal relation between controller parameters and model parameters are particularly analyzed in this paper.According to the actual electric heating temperature control system,the control parameters are precisely calculated and the accurate results are achieved.Through the experiments,the validity of the model and the superiority of the controller are verified." ]

[ "Please enable Javascript to watch this video\nHENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Fran Shinholser has just one wish when she turns 85 years young in March. A mobile birthday party. She is not talking about renting a limo or a progressive dinner party. The Henrico woman has much bigger plans. She wants to make the Monument Avenue 10K a family affair.\nFran Shinholser walks through her Henrico neighborhood several times a week to stay fit. In fact, she likes to tackle at least ten thousand steps a day. It is tough keeping up on her daily walks.\n“To me, I have to stay mind and body active,\" said Fran. \"Otherwise you’re below ground.”\nFran sets goals too. Recently, she came up with the idea to walk the Monument Avenue 10K, with her entire family, which rivals the size of a small army.\nFran Shinholser is counting on her big family to be with her every step of the way. The Former Mrs. Richmond in 1966 has eight children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.\nShe says she is not wanting for anything and does not need or want presents. The dynamo says having her loved ones walk with her will be the best gift ever.\n“There really isn’t anything they can do,\" said Fran. \"I’ve got all of the food and clothes and whatever. I said, ‘I’ll tell you what I want to do. This is the year I do the 10K. Come walk with me.' And they jumped right on board with that.’”\nFamily members, like her daughter Janis Kouche, say it will be an honor to join her on the route.\n“Fascinating. Energetic. A joy. A joy to be around,\" said Kouche. \"Very blessed to have a mother like this. The best mother I’ve ever seen. Like I said, when I grew up I wanted to be like my mom.”\nFran walks the Monument Avenue 10K every five years, but this will be the first time that most of her family members will accompany her. We hear they will be coming in from Charlotte, Baltimore and possibly Florida to join her when she starts her fourth Monument Avenue 10K on April 14.\nGood luck, Ms. Fran and Happy Birthday!\nWatch CBS 6 News at 11 p.m. Fridays for Greg McQuade’s “I Have A Story” reports. If you know of someone Greg should feature in my “I Have A Story” segment email him." ]

[ "This summer marks a major milestone for the North East's biggest 10k running event.\nAnd Sunderland's own Aly Dixon joined runners in Gateshead today to launch 2018's Great North 10k, which takes place on Sunday, July 8.\nThe race will celebrate its 10th year this summer - and takes place two months before the iconic Great North Run.\nAly, who recently finished sixth in the Commonwealth Games marathon, was among those sharing her memories of the race at its launch today.\nShe came second in the Great North 10k in 2014.\nThe Sunderland Stroller said: \"I’ve taken part in the Simplyhealth Great North 10k before when it’s fit in with my training, it’s pretty close to home and is a good fast run.\nThis year's event will take place on Sunday, July 8.\n“I have always enjoyed the course when I have taken part. It’s also a tough one because you have two little hills on the course.\n“It’s amazing to have another big run on our doorstep and it keeps the North East on the map, which is fantastic.”\nRead more: Eight Great North East half marathons to enter this year\nColin Plews from South Shields, also known as Big Pink Dress, also attended the launch event at Gateshead International Stadium today.\nThis year marks the 10th anniversary of the Great North 10k.\nColin started fundraising in 2014 for Breast Cancer Now while wearing a handmade pink dress. Four years on and thousands of pounds later, the Great North 10k is part of his annual running repertoire.\nTo commemorate the 10-year anniversary, the runner is creating a special dress that will be designed by schoolchildren from Shields.\nHe said: “The Simplyhealth Great North 10k is very special to me as it’s an event I took part in during my very first year of fundraising.\n“It’s one of my home events and the atmosphere is always incredible. I always high five the runners and spectators on the out and back section along the Quayside and everyone is so supportive, from crossing the start line to finishing in the stadium.\n“It’s an amazing atmosphere and a great day out for the family that I look forward to every year.\n“Four years later, the Big Pink Dress is still going strong and I thought it would be a nice way to mark 10 years of the event by asking school children to enter a competition to design a commemorative dress.\n“Myself and three other judges will pick the winning design and I’ll be wearing it in style at the event this year.”\nRead more: Flick through these great pictures from Sunderland 10ks and half marathons\nAround 5,000 people take part in the 10k each year. The event will also include the Great North Family Run, a shorter mile-long route for children and their families.\nIt starts and finishes on the Stadium track.\nKerry Simpson, Communications Manager at the Great Run Company, said: “Since its first staging in 2009, the Simplyhealth Great North 10k has grown into one of the most popular events for runners of all abilities in the North East.\n“Every year, 5,000 people make it a must-do event in their running calendar. It’s also the sister event to the Simplyhealth Great North Run and is the perfect training run for the big one in September.\n“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Gateshead International Stadium who are all taking part for a variety of different reasons.”", "SINGAPORE - The body of late pioneer Cabinet minister Othman Wok has been brought to Sultan Mosque for prayers.\nClouds blanketed the sky as the hearse bearing his body pulled up outside the national monument in Kampong Glam. The coffin was then carried into the mosque by male family members and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim.\nThe prayers, which began at 1.06pm, were led by Mufti Fatris Bakaram.\nMr Othman died on Monday (April 17) at the age of 92, after being hospitalised for more than a week for a chest infection and stomach complications.\nAmong those who gathered at the mosque to pay their last respects was Mr Billy Lee, 69, one of Mr Othman's former golfing buddies.\nHe remembers Mr Othman as a jovial and humorous man. On one golfing trip in Indonesia, when their group of about 20 were in a cramped minivan travelling from Jakarta to Bandung, \"he kept cracking jokes and made the three hour journey so much more palatable,\" said Mr Lee.\nHousewife Aini Osman, 58, a long-time friend of Mr Othman's widow Madam Lina Abdullah, said Mr Othman was very friendly and \"a real joker\".\n\"There were not many Malay leaders last time, but he was one of those who contributed significantly,\" she added.\nAn hour-long journey from his home in Woodlands did not deter retiree Said Mohamed, 54, who said it was special that such a prominent funeral was held for a Malay leader.\n\"When (Singapore's first president) Yusof Ishak passed away I was still very young. This is the only other time they've held such a funeral for a Malay leader, I thought I should come to pay my last respects,\" he said.\nPrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the prayers, along with goverment leaders including Dr Yaacob, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman and Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Social and Family Development Faishal Ibrahim.\nOld friends, members of the public as well as politicians past and present visited Mr Othman's house in Kew Avenue earlier in the day to pay their respects. The family said a private prayer before leaving for the mosque just before noon with the hearse carrying Mr Othman's body.\nMr Othman will be laid to rest at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery in the afternoon.\nA gun carriage carrying his State-Flag draped casket will pass by North Bridge Road, North Boat Quay and River Valley Road, through Alexandra Road, Commonwealth Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue West and Clementi Avenue 6 before the burial.", "Shannen Koostachin spoke openly about deplorable conditions she and other aboriginal students had to deal with in their schools on First Nation reserves.\nThe young activist from Attawapiskat First Nation, Ont., took her message to Parliament Hill in 2009, to demand the federal government provide better, safer schools for students living on reserves.\nSadly, the 15-year old passed away in a car accident in June 2010.\nKoostachin's advocacy for better and safer education for aboriginal students was turned into a campaign by her family and friends, known as Shannen's Dream.\nThat legacy is what earned Koostachin a spot on the list of top 150 Canadians.\nThe list — which also includes names like Terry Fox and Emily Carr — is to help celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this year.\nShannen's Dream lives on through the First Nations Child and Caring Society, based in Ottawa.\nA monument of Shannen Koostachin, was unveiled in New Liskard, Ontario on October 24, 2015. Shannen started one of the biggest youth-led children's rights campaigns in Canadian history, raising awareness about shoddy conditions and standards in First Nations schools. (Supplied)\nExecutive director Cindy Blackstock says Koostachin was first confronted with a poor educational environment when she stared kindergarten. At that time, the official school in Attawapiskat was closed down because the ground underneath it was contaminated.\nStudents instead had their classes in portables trailers supplied by the federal government.\n\"It was only supposed to be temporary, but by the time Shannen was in Grade 8 these portables had deteriorated so severely that there was ice build up, there was ruins, there was black mould,\" says Blackstock.\nShe adds that children as young as Grade 4 and 5 were losing hope and dropping out of school.\n\"There was a fire in this girl.\" Blackstock recalls of Koostachin. \"She just thought this was absolutely not fair \"\nKoostachin asked other Indigenous children to write letters to the government demanding change and demanding equal opportunity for all students.\nBlackstock remembers when Koostachin met with the Minister of Indian Affairs in 2009 to demand a better school for her community.\nEvery child deserves better education\nWhen that politician responded with an unsatisfactory response, Koostachin told him she would never give up, because every child deserved better education.\nAs for the large 150th birthday celebration and being named as a great Canadian, Blackstock says she feels Koostachin would by disappointed that millions of dollars were being spent on a birthday party, when so many Indigenous students are still fighting for proper schools and struggling for basic needs.\nKoostachin didn't advocate for recognition or awards, Blackstock says she did it to help other students.\nBlackstock says she feels Indigenous students across Canada are asking for one thing this year as the nation celebrates 150 years.\n\"They want Shannen's Dream to come true.\"", "Please enable Javascript to watch this video\nRICHMOND, Va. -- Protesters screaming \"take down the monuments\" marched from a park in downtown Richmond to the beginning of historic Monument Avenue before surrounding the statue of J.E.B. Stuart and planting a flag in the mouth of the Confederate general's horse Sunday night.\nNews 3's sister station, WTVR CBS 6 in Richmond, has been covering the protests since they broke out late Sunday night.\nRichmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said officers responded to Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward around 8:30 p.m. for an assembly.\nPolice followed the crowd and posted updates on social media that the group was moving down West Broad Street around 10:20 p.m.\nPolice said the demonstrators turned onto Lombardy Avenue and were headed for Monument Avenue as of 10:50 p.m. with the goal of reaching the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee.\nHowever, the group settled for the Stuart statue when Capitol Police said only 20 people could gather at the Lee monument.\n\"Tear the racist statues down,\" the group yelled as one person attempted to climb the Stuart monument before nearly taking a spill and slipping down the statue.\nThe man, who was shirtless and wearing a mask, was successful on his second attempt. The crowd cheered as he walked back and forth before he successfully planted a flag on J.E.B. Stuart's horse.\nCity crews removed the flag just after 1 a.m.\nRoads were blocked and police urged drivers to \"proceed with caution\" as people flooded the street.\nThe noisy crowd accosted members of the media filming and live streaming the event.\n\"Hey CBS, you're endangering lives right now,\" one protester said.\n\"Don't [expletive] film!\" another protester shouted. \"Don't [expletive] film!\"\nThe crowd then began to chant the message and a man on a bike attempted to grab a WTVR CBS 6 camera.\nThe CBS 6 crew backed away and when they turned around the man on the bike extended his middle finger before finally moving along with the crowd.\nAnother exchange happened around 11:30 p.m. after protesters surrounded the statue and were headed east back to park where the group originated.\n\"We're trying to sleep,\" one man yelled. \"I have to be at work at six in the morning.\"\n\"Congratulations you won the argument. You look really cute. Enjoy your [expletive] job at 6 a.m.,\" a protester responded.\nThe march ended just after 12:30 a.m. when the group returned to Abner Clay Park and dispersed.\nVirginia State Police, VCU Police and Capitol Police all responded to assist Richmond Police.\nRichmond Police said one person was arrested, but it was not the person who climbed the statue nor the person believed to have assaulted a WTVR CBS 6 staffer.\nChief Durham said he was proud of all the officers who aided in crowd control.", "In the wake of #Charlottesville, in my hometown, #Richmond, permits have been requested for rallies against the removal of Confederate statues on the city’s grand, unequalled Monument Avenue. My beautiful hometown #Richmond, where, like everyone who grew up here, I passed these statues every single day. Where every street name, every corner, and many families I grew up with, breathe the history of bloodshed and the devastation of the Civil War as though it is still alive – barely concealed beneath a thin veil of muted lips, but where the history of slavery, and the continued poverty of African-American neighborhoods unconcealable.\nThe symbolism of a potential alt-right or neo-nazi rally taking place in what was the Capital of The Confederacy cannot be underestimated. Simply the presence of such a rally in the city will already be an overwhelming victory except for one possibility at all: Richmond and Virginia need to respond so overwhelmingly non-violently, surrounding hatred and bigotry arm in loving arm, such as with candles in silence - so powerfully, as to crush it with the image, and power, of true love, forgiveness and togetherness. Anything less will be a failure of catastrophic proportions.\nImagine the looming spectacle and inherent statement that would be made fascist flags and conflict on Monument avenue, with it’s Parisian/Champs Elysees-esque grandeur. America may be waking up to the divide in our country, and just how important our words and actions are again, but to those of us from the South, we have never forgotten why we must love one another, and why non-violence for a more equal world must be our sword’s tip.\nWe must reframe this argument not as us against them, not as a counter-protest to stop others - that would already be a victory for those with lesser morals. We must make this instead about what we are FOR, a we and a world that includes all of us. We must reclaim the great unifying purpose of humanity - where MLK left off knowing, and we have all known since before Christ's time - that the true struggle that unites all humanity is the struggle for economic and social equality, in which all of us, of every color and nation, are inextricably bound - including those who “know not what they do.”\nFrom St Paul's Episcopal Church, to Grace Church on Monument, and every church in Jackson Ward, Church Hill and all of the city’s glorious seven hills, to the city’s schools and social service organizations, the potential of the most glorious expression of healing and light are possible in this amazing city where slavery and the Civil War are not the only history. Richmond, and Virginia, are also where American diversity and interracial harmony have their origins. Let us seize and lift up that great history above all – the history of Richmond as a place where integration is not only older than #Loving, but older than the Constitution itself.\nWhile we’re at it, let’s also be constructive and think about alternatives, third ways to both recognize dark histories and opposing heritages and bring them together in one narrative that leads to salvation for all. Regardless of whether Monument Avenue’s current statues would be removed or not, what Monuments would you like to see added that are not there now?\nIt is not hard to come up with candidates, just look at the unbelievable list of African American Virginians who have been American pioneers: Henry Box Brown, Nat Turner, Dred Scott, Ella Fitzgerald, Booker T. Washington, Maggie Walker, Richard and Mildred Loving, Adam Clayton Powell.\nAnd, imagine if the same day or day after any potential hate-filled rally took place, we organized a #BringTheLight concert and rally for unity and equality attended by 10,000’s, one founded in nonviolent love and light - with interfaith and civil rights leaders, and a host of current Virginian artists from Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott, Dave Matthews Band and more, and a host of Virginian and American youth who’ve written poem’s, songs, dances in the name of unity?", "Vivian Davis Bristow celebrated her 75th birthday with a Weekend Gala at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel, September 15 and 16, 2017. The weekend started with a “DIVA’S In White Affair” in her 11th floor hotel suite Friday evening at 6:30 pm – which included approximately 28 – 30 females; family members, sorority sisters and close friends. Guests gathered in the hotel lobby and were escorted by a hostess to the birthday diva’s suite. Upon entering, guests were greeted by the honoree and told to help themselves to assorted salads, crackers, cheese, fruit, wines and champagne. Guests were in a celebratory mood and they did just that – Celebrated – which added immensely to the overwhelming delight of their hostess. Though the event was to last from 6:30 – 10: 30, by 11 p.m., guests did not appear anxious to end the night! It was a blast with bonding of Sisters, “Sistas” and Friends!\nThe second night of the Gala, September 16, 2017, the Diva’s actual birthday, started at 6 pm in the Emerald Coast Ballroom. The honoree entered the room dressed in a Scarlet colored halter gown, with silver and diamond accessories, to greet her guests, some of whom traveled from as far away as Oklahoma. She ushered her guests to the stations for Hors’d’oeuvres and beverages. At 7 pm, guests were all seated as the Mistress of Ceremony, Ms Mamie Hixon, masterfully spearheaded a two part program of speakers: family, sorority sisters, friends, neighbors, church members, high school classmates, singers and dancers who had touched the life of the celebrating diva.\nHalfway through the evening the celebrating diva re-entered the ballroom, to the tune of “Wind Beneath My Wings,” – song by Ms. Jennifer Randolph, wearing a specially tailored cream lace and satin pearl beaded evening gown with pearl and gold accessories escorted by her son, Mr. Ray A. Bristow, Jr. Some tributes to the honoree for the evening included: Ms. Jo Mayo, “Everything Must Change,” and a special dance tribute by Dance Konnection – choreographed by Ms. Gail Johnson. The highlight of the evening was the “Birthday Diva’s” special dance performance with her dance-coach Mr. Al Gilley. Music for the evening was provided by DJ Big Baby.\nThe party was fitting for 75 years of life for a woman who desired to give back to those who had touched her life spiritually, professionally and personally in so many ways! According to the “Birthday Diva,” Vivian Davis Bristow, “Seventy-Five Never Felt So Good!”\nThe wonderful life of Vivian D. Bristow allowed her to have many successes: Four children, seven grand children, and seven great-grand children. The goals she achieved includes: A Bachelor of Science Degree; Troy University, Troy, AL; Master of Science Degree, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA; Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and retirement from the top of her career field, a demanding Federal Level III qualified Procurement Professional. She is a member of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, President of the Usher’s Ministry and subject matter expert to her church on construction related contract issues. She is a politically active member of Escambia County Democratic Party, Prescient Captain and, a member of West Florida Rehabilitation Institute’s active fitness and swim program.\nComments", "RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — As the one-time capital of the Confederacy wrestles with its Civil War heritage, a commission in Richmond recommended Monday removing a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis but leaving in place four others, including a soaring tribute to Gen. Robert E. Lee.\nThe panel of historians, academics, local officials and others spent nearly a year studying the issue and taking input from a sometimes-angry public before unveiling the proposals Monday in a more than 100-page report.\nThe recommended changes would re-shape one of the nation's largest displays of Confederate symbolism along Richmond's famed Monument Avenue and in some ways re-envision how the city presents its history in the public square. In addition to removing the Davis statue, the commission advised adding historical context to the statues and erecting new monuments that would reflect a \"more inclusive\" story of the city's history.\n\"In the course of the work, it became abundantly clear the majority of the public acknowledges Monument Avenue cannot and should not remain exactly as it is. Change is needed and desired,\" said the report, which is not binding.\nThe recommendations mark the latest development in the national soul-searching over what to do with symbols of the Confederacy. A 2015 mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and a 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville have heightened the debate over whether such symbols are historical artifacts that should remain untouched or relics that elevate a racist past.\nAdvertisement\n\"Nowhere in the United States is a frank and constructive dialogue more necessary or fraught with potential controversy than here in Virginia, home to two Confederate capitals and 136 monuments to the Confederate States of America,\" the report said.\nWhile Richmond has plenty of other Confederate symbols, the commission's mandate was limited to the five giant Confederate statues that dot Monument Avenue, a prestigious residential street lined with mansions and divided by a grassy median.\nRichmond City Attorney Allen Jackson has warned that because the Lee monument and surrounding circle belong to the state, the city would need permission to \"take action\" on that statue.\nHe also wrote in a legal opinion issued to the commission that any effort to remove a monument would likely run afoul of a state law that prohibits local governments or others from \"disturbing or interfering with\" memorials to war veterans. The statute, which the Republican-controlled General Assembly has shown no interest in amending, is at the center of a lawsuit currently playing out in Charlottesville over that city's effort to remove two Confederate statues.\nThe commission noted that obstacle, saying that \"pending litigation or changes in state law,\" the Davis statue should go.\nAdvertisement\nIt \"is the most unabashedly Lost Cause in its design and sentiment,\" the report said, referring to an interpretation of the war that historians say romanticizes the South and de-emphasizes the role of slavery.\nAn inscription on the Davis monument, for instance, \"styles the Confederate president as a 'Defender of the Rights of States,' deflecting the question of slavery,\" the report noted. It also emphasized that Davis, who was born in Kentucky, is the only non-Virginian on Monument Avenue.\nThe panel's recommendations drew criticism from some who said they went too far and from others who said they didn't go far enough.\nPhil Wilayto, a community organizer with the group Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, called the commission's suggestions \"a cowardly retreat from the issue.\"\nAs long as the statues are standing, Wilayto said Richmond is honoring people \"who promoted a breakaway state from the Union that was based on chattel slavery. And that's insane in 2018.\"\nAdvertisement\nBut B. Frank Earnest, heritage defense coordinator for the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said even the proposal to add contextual signs was too much.\n\"You wouldn't want me to put a sign in your front lawn that says, 'Nasty people live in the house behind this sign,'\" Earnest said.\nRichmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who appointed the commission, said in a statement that he would study its recommendations further before taking any other steps, though he said he agreed with the report's finding that \"something needs to change.\"\nIn addition to Lee and Davis, Monument Avenue is currently home to statues honoring J.E.B. Stuart, Thomas \"Stonewall\" Jackson and Confederate Naval commander and oceanographer Matthew Fontaine Maury. A statue of black tennis hero Arthur Ashe, a Richmond native, was added to Monument Avenue in 1996, provoking a nationally publicized and racially charged dispute.\nOne of the panel's suggestions was to commission a monument dedicated to soldiers of the United States Colored Troops, regiments of mostly formerly enslaved men who fought for the Union.\nAdvertisement\n\"The juxtaposition to the Confederate Statues could be a powerful statement,\" the report said.", "NEW YORK — MTA chairman Thomas Prendergast is retiring after nearly three decades with the transit agency and “finishing the monumental” Second Avenue subway, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.\nCuomo said Prendergast will retire in “early 2017.”\nPrendergast’s career spans more than 25 with the MTA, including serving as president of NYC Transit and president of the Long Island Rail Road. He has been the chairman and CEO of the MTA since June 2013.\nDuring his chairmanship, the agency has grappled with repairing damage from 2012’s Superstorm Sandy while wrapping up major new projects.\nLast year saw the opening, on Manhattan’s far West Side, of what was then the city’s first new subway station since 1989.\nNews of his impending retirement comes a day after the public took its first ride on the Second Avenue subway, a long-awaited addition to the transit system. The line, which travels under Manhattan’s Upper East Side, has been envisioned since the 1920s.\nThe nearly 2-mile segment adds stations along Second Avenue at 96th, 86th and 72nd streets and connects them to a different subway line at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue. It’s seen as crucial to alleviating congestion in the nation’s biggest subway system.\nIt’s expected to carry about 200,000 riders daily.\nThe MTA hopes the line will reduce travel time by 10 minutes or more for riders in Manhattan. It will stretch 8.5 miles from 125th Street in Harlem to Hanover Square in lower Manhattan when completed.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this report.", "A strong women’s field, with elite runners from across the globe, has been assembled to challenge Ethiopia’s IAAF World Half Marathon Valencia 2018 winner Netsanet Gudeta at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2018 on Sunday 27 May.\nGudeta’s rivals this weekend will include the Kenyan pair of Agnes Tirop and Pauline Kamulu.\nTirop, still only 22, won the 2015 world cross country title and has proven herself to be a formidable competitor on the track as well.\nShe won the IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medal in London last summer and showed she is in excellent form earlier this month when finishing second over 3000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha in a personal best of 8:29.09.\nKamulu, 23, has spent several years based in Japan but this will be her first trip to India. She surprised many when she took the bronze medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Valencia 2018.\nA third Kenya, Caroline Kipkirui, doesn’t have the international championships credentials of her two compatriots but has shown stunning form recently when winning the Doha 3000m in a personal best of 8:29.05.\nKipkirui also ran a 10km best of 30:28 when finishing second in Prague last month, which makes her the fastest woman in Bengaluru and the equal-seventh fastest ever.\nNetsanet Gudeta will also have her compatriots Senbere Teferi and Zeineba Yimer to contend with.\nTeferi celebrated her 23rd birthday earlier this month and has silver medals from the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and 2015 IAAF World Championships 5000m to her name.\nYimer doesn’t turn 20 until next month but won the high-quality Ethiopian half marathon championships in January and followed up that victory with fifth place in Valencia but this will be her debut over the 10km distance on the roads.\nHowever, while the favourites for the 2018 women’s title appear to be from Ethiopia and Kenya, TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2018 race promoters Procam International have recruited elite athletes from across the world with top runners from Europe, Oceania and South America.\nThe TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2018, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, has a total prize fund of US$213,000. It risen in prominence every year since it was inaugurated in 2008 and is now one of Asia’s leading races over the distance.\nWomen’s elite field (with 10km personal best times)\nNetsanet Gudeta (ETH) – 31:35 Caroline Kipkirui (KEN) – 30:28 Senbere Teferi (ETH) – 30:38 Agnes Tirop (KEN) – 31:00 Daria Maslova (KGZ) – 31:36 Stella Chesang (UGA) – 31:54 Ines Melchor (PER) – 33:24 Camille Buscomb (NZL) – 33:39 Salome Nyirarukundo (RWA) – debut Pauline Kamulu (KEN) – debut Zeineba Yimer (ETH) – debut Ancuta Bobocel (ROM) – debut\nApproximately 27,000 runners will take to the roads for five different races in what has become one of Bengaluru’s most high-profile sporting events.\nIn addition to the TCS World 10K for elite runners, there is an Open 10K, the Majja Run (6km) the Senior Citizens’ Race and Champions with Disability Race (both 4km).", "Peter Max’s aesthetic has become visual shorthand for the 1960s. His depictions of cultural monuments such as the Statue of Liberty and bywords like “love\" were rendered fresh and timely by Max’s use of fluorescent Day-Glo colors. But, unlike many other countercultural icons, Max has neither burned out nor faded away. He has painted the past seven U.S. presidents and been the Official Artist of the Grammys, five NFL Super Bowls and countless other events that wish to be associated with Max’s chromatic evocation of a better world.\nA newly curated collection of Max’s paintings, spanning 1960 to 2017, will be on display in Gallery 505 (517 E. Silver Spring Drive) beginning with an uncrating event on Friday, June 2, from 6-8 p.m. The exhibition features some of the artist’s most famous works, including the Statue of Liberty , his “Flag\" pieces, Umbrella Man and Cosmic Runner . Peter Max himself will make in-gallery appearances on Saturday, June 11, from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday, June 12, from 2-4 p.m.\nNohl Fellowship Exhibition\nHaggerty Museum of Art\n530 N. 13th St.\nFor the past 14 years, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships for Individual Artists has dispersed tidy sums to a select group of emerging and established local artists. The five recipients of the 2016 Nohl Fellowships will unveil their new works at Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art during an opening reception on Wednesday, June 7, from 6-8 p.m. The works include Rose Curley’s graphic memoir of growing up as a black child in a white family and Brooke Thiele’s adaptation of the traditional Korean musical art of pansori —a reflection on the experience of being adopted into a Green Bay family from her native South Korea as a young child.\nSculpture Milwaukee\nVarious locations along Wisconsin Avenue from Sixth Street to O’Donnell Park\nYou may have noticed various sculptures popping up along Wisconsin Avenue like mushrooms on a decomposing log. This glut of public art comes courtesy of Sculpture Milwaukee, an urban installation that will culminate in 22 sculptures by 21 artists stretching from Sixth Street to O’Donnell Park. Contributors include internationally known names such as Santiago Calatrava (designer of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s iconic Quadracci Pavilion) and minimalist master Sol Lewitt—alongside Milwaukee’s own Michelle Grabner, Paul Druecke and Jason S. Yi. The sculptures are on view through Oct. 22.", "HIGHLIGHTS Denton Homestead in East Rockaway was historic tavern\nSoldiers and Sailors Monument honors Civil War veterans\nThe Denton Homestead in East Rockaway and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale may become Hempstead Town’s latest historic landmarks.\nThe Denton Homestead already is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but the Soldiers and Sailors Monument — which honors Civil War veterans — is not, town officials said. Neither had been given local historic status.\nBy making them into town historic landmarks, the sites and structures are in essence “preserved forever,” officials said. “No alteration, construction or other work” can be done on the structures without permission of the town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.\nThe board will listen to public comment on the proposed designation at its April 25 meeting. The Landmarks Preservation Commission has recommended both projects to the town board.\n“The Denton Homestead, already on the National Register of Historic Places, played a vital role in the growth of the East Rockaway community from generation to generation,” Supervisor Anthony Santino said in a statement. “And the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is dedicated to soldiers who served in the Civil War, and also helps to educate future generations on U.S. history.”\nThe Denton Homestead was a tavern built in 1795 that attracted local sailors, fishermen and travelers who came to Long Island through its South Shore ports, town officials said. In 1808, Oliver Denton bought the tavern and converted it into a homestead.\nadvertisement | advertise on newsday\nAt the time, Denton was one of the town’s largest landowners, town officials said, and his family was “instrumental in the planning and development of the East Rockaway community.”\nThe tavern was moved several times during periods of road construction. It’s now a 2 1⁄2 -story Colonial house on Denton Avenue owned and occupied by Ellen Morrison, 55, who has lobbied for the historic designation.\n“When you walk into the home, you can just see the character and the charm,” she said. “I wanted to preserve the house.”\nThe Soldiers and Sailors Monument, erected in 1888, was sculpted by Karl Gerhardt, who cast similar monuments in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The monument depicts a uniformed soldier and his gun standing atop a tall column. Civil War veterans are buried in the cemetery, although town officials said they do not know how many.\nNassau County Historical Society President Natalie Naylor said town officials did not consult her organization about landmark status for the sites, but the group would support the designations.\n“It brings recognition to them and makes people aware of the history around them,” she said.", "A site in New Orleans where the statue of a Confederate leader once stood continues to elicit controversy, this time relative to the modern controversy over the Trump administration's enforcement of immigration laws.\nAt some point late Tuesday or early Wednesday (July 4), vandals spray-painted the pedestal that once held P.G.T. Beauregard equestrian statue near the City Park entrance at Esplanade and North Carrollton avenues. The messages \"Defend Kids Not Fascism\" was written on one side of the base, and \"NOLA is Preaux Migrant\" was on the other. \"Melt ICE,\" referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was sprayed on the front of the pedestal.\nThe messages appeared amid continued scrutiny of President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy forcing the separation of families crossing the border. What appeared to be a signature was left below one of the messages: Gulf RevAF, with the A written as the anarchy symbol.\nThe P.G.T. Beauregard statue was removed May 17, 2017, one of four Confederate monuments taken down from public spaces in the city last year amid a larger push nationwide among Southern cities to address their vestigial ties to the Confederacy.\nLast month, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported that 110 Confederate monuments have been removed nationwide since 2015.\nStay with NOLA.com for more on this story.", "This month’s new restaurants include Southern food and New York-style pizza in Bay View, long-awaited sushi in Wauwatosa, and a couple of new options for lovers of Mexican food.\n2Mesa\nThe chef and owner of Il Mito Trattoria e Enoteca in Wauwatosa and Zesti in Hartland has opened a Mexican restaurant in the Martin Drive neighborhood near the Miller Brewery and Harley-Davidson headquarters. 2Mesa has a modern Mexican menu that spans breakfast to dinner. Jalisco-style steak salad ($10.95), available at lunch, includes grilled steak, chorizo potatoes, pinto beans and panela cheese on mixed greens. Tacos are served with rice, beans and mixed greens and include braised lamb ($11.95) with mint pico de gallo. Mexican-style chicken schnitzel ($15.95) combines German and Mexican heritage with a creamy lime and serrano sauce, rice, beans and wilted spinach.\n4110 W. Martin Drive\n414-808-1594\nfacebook.com/2mesa\n$$\nFish Cheeks\nA sushi-and-seafood restaurant has finally opened in Wauwatosa after being proposed almost five years ago. Fish Cheeks’ owners John and Lori Steiner previously ran a sushi restaurant in Oconomowoc until 2007 and ran into a number of hurdles with this project. Sushi rolls are the focus of the menu, ranging from simple vegetarian rolls to specialty rolls like the lobster roll ($18). Appetizers like pork gyoza ($7) and seafood entrées like black cod with miso ($22) join beef tenderloin, chicken, shrimp and scallop hibachi dinners ($18-$26, prepared in the kitchen) on the dinner menu.\n6818 W. North Ave.\n414-509-5875\n$$-$$$\nCocina 1022\nA Mexican restaurant has opened in the former Chez Jacques building in Walker’s Point. Cocina 1022 is owned by the current operators of Jalisco on North Avenue—Kevin Lopez and his mother, Judith Figueroa. The menu includes Mexican staples, like various tortas ($7-$8) at lunch, tacos ($2.50-$3) with fillings like pork al pastor, shrimp with garlic and tequila, and lengua. At dinner, the molcajete ($15-$27) with various meats and vegetables is a centerpiece, along with a richly colored chicken mole ($13). Side choices go beyond rice and refried beans, including frijoles charros, papas con chorizo and esquite, a creamy corn street food.\n1022 S. First St.\n414-810-1022\nfacebook.com/cocina1022\n$$\nBelli’s Bistro + Spirits\nA restaurant serving Southern-inspired dishes has opened in the former Pastiche space in Bay View. Belli’s relies partially on family recipes of the owner, Charmice Dodson, who previously ran a catering business. The menu includes appetizers like whole chicken wings ($10) in one of five flavors and loaded fries ($9-$14) with cheese, bacon and sour cream. Shrimp and grits ($14) are topped with poblano cream sauce, and blackened or fried catfish ($14) is served with sides like macaroni and cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus. Weekly steak and seafood specials are also offered.\n3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.\n414-210-3665\nbellismke.com\n$$\nPizza Di Famiglia\nA New York-style pizza spot has moved into a former Jimmy Johns in Bay View. Pizza Di Famiglia is owned by Besart Bajrami who is originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. The shop serves pizza by the slice as well as whole pies, salads and calzones for takeout or dining in. Pizzas come in 14- and 18-inch sizes. Grandma’s ($16.49-$20.49) is based on a family recipe and includes multiple cheeses, basil, garlic and tomato sauce. Chicken bacon ranch ($15.99-$19.99) and macaroni and cheese ($12.49-$15.99) are less traditional options. Stromboli ($9.49) are 15 inches long and include one topping—or add more for a few more bucks.\n2242 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.\n414-988-0001\npizzadifamiglia.com\n$-$$\nPoint Burger Bar\nA family burger restaurant and bar has opened in New Berlin in the former Quaker State & Lube building. This is the fourth area location for Point Burger Bar, which originally opened in 2015 on the Northwest side of Milwaukee. The menu is centered on an extensive build-your-own burger selection, including lamb ($12.95+) and bison ($14.95+) in addition to the traditional beef patty. Sandwiches, wraps, appetizers and salads complete the menu.\n4900 S. Moorland Road\n414-255-2265\npointburgerbarnewberlin.com\n$$\nClosings\nThis month’s closings list is thankfully much shorter than March’s. The Fox Den, a neighborhood bar and grill in Mequon, has closed, and Boone + Crockett has closed their Kinnickinnic Avenue location, but don’t worry, because they’ll be back in a bigger location in Walker’s Point soon!", "Translated by Ollie Richardson & Angelina Siard\n01:20:02\n14/08/2017\nAleksandr Gontar (resident of Donetsk)\nI always considered myself as a person with left-wing views, but looking at what is happening in the US I can’t escape the thought that the American left, in its majority, is the dumbest and most useless “comrade” on the planet. As a minimum, to profess liberal views and at the same time to call oneself “leftist” is a bit silly. The desperate fight of American comrades against “nazis” in general is comical. They are shocked by a torchlight procession in Charlottesville, while regular torch processions in the capital of Ukraine, which they so fervently support in its “fight for democracy”, don’t shock them. I speak as well about simple red-blue rainbow plankton, as well as about the famous “fighters” against oppression a la Tom Morello (whom I respect as a musician) and other celebrities, cosplaying Che Guevara with a red star on the cap. “A nightmare, Nazis are in America! They hoisted the colors of the confederates and shaved their heads! OH MY GOD”. American “Nazis” are the same clowns as American “anti-fascists”, by the way.\nKids, come into “The Ukraine”, we will show you Nazis. Real ones. Who kill people… kill massively, proceeding from the racial theory. They kill in savage ways like the SS did in the 40’s. We will show you a whole State that erects monuments to the ideologists and performers of the Holocaust, of Jewish riots, of the genocide of Poles. Who sweep away monuments to the liberators of mankind from Nazism. A State with a Nazi “ministry of truth“, repressions against dissent, promotion of racial hatred in schools, on TV, in children’s books. A State in which the Ministry of Internal Affairs supervises a website that incites the committing of murder of unreliable citizens, openly publishing all their personal information as well as members of their families.\nSo, when you will have such things in America, we will talk. When you have, instead of a car crashing into a crowd of anti-fascists, these anti-fascists like cattle are herded into the local House of Trade Unions and will be burned with Molotov cocktails (finishing off with steel poles those who try to escape), when the FBI creates a website on which it will publish the addresses of those who criticize Trump and the White Race, and the organized alt-right will start to go to these addresses, who, after your murder, will be called “patriots” and will be released, so then we will believe in your whining about Nazis.\nAnd for now, suck on it, Mr American anti-fascists.", "Dorothy Sewell, 80, was one of ten people tragically killed in the Toronto van attack on Monday. She was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.\nSewell was confirmed dead by her grandson, Elwood Delaney. Speaking to CBC Toronto, Delaney said, “She was the foundation for all things sports here in our family, that’s for sure… She loved her Maple Leafs, she loved her Blue Jays. I don’t think she ever missed a Blue Jays game.”\nElwood explains that his grandmother volunteered helping other seniors, and worked at Sears for a number of years, as well. “She was the best grandma anyone could ever ask for,” he says.\nOn Tuesday, Elwood took to Facebook to write, “Alek Minassian you are very lucky you are in a jail on the other side of the country, cause If I was there you would be in the ground. Thanks to you I had to tell my 3 children and my wife that cause of you they will no longer get to talk to Nan on there birthdays or Christmas. I love you Dorothy Sewell. You will always be loved and your love for sports will always be with me while I cheer with you. Go Toronto Go. Love you Nan.”\nAnother man, Stephen Chadderton, writes that he was friends with Dorothy’s deceased son Todd, took to social media to mourn the loss. He posted on Facebook, “she was part of our family…taken by that loser… This morning I was shocked to find out that the Mom of my brother from another mother, the deceased Todd Sewell, DOROTHY SEWELL, was one of the 10 victims of the horrible tragedy in North York yesterday. In our many years as friends Dorothy volunteered with North York Football tirelessly. She was very active, young senior, bowling, Volunteering at her church, lawn bowling, cheering tirelessly for her Maple Leafs, Argos, and attending all the Figure Skating Competitions. Full of life, loving life. Dorothy you will be so missed, by so many. You never forgot a birthday, anniversary or Christmas Card. Our Family loved you to death We will miss you! I hope you and Todd are together now!”\nAlek Minassian, 25, who carried out the attack, was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. While police are busy identifying victims, they have also spoken to those who knew Minassian. Many have described him as someone who “kept to himself.” Joseph Pham, who took classes with Minassian at Seneca College, told The Star that Joseph was “socially awkward” and “didn’t really talk to anyone.”\nThis post will be updated with more information as it becomes available.", "Please enable Javascript to watch this video\nRICHMOND, Va. -- The man who filed a request to hold a pro-monument rally at the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond is speaking out about his plans and the timing of the possible event.\nBrag Bowling with the Coalition for Monument Preservation said he filed the request weeks ago, before the deadly aftermath of a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville last weekend.\nThe request is to hold the rally at the Confederate general's monument on Saturday, Sept. 16 at noon.\nThe Richmond man emphasized that the pro-monument rally is not a confederate event, nor affiliated with any type of hate or alt-right group.\nBowling said he wants to save all statues from being moved because they are part of history. He said this includes confederate statues, and statues honoring other Richmond icons like Arthur Ashe.\nRichmond Mayor Levar Stoney recently set-up the Monument Avenue Commission to explore adding new statues to Richmond's Monument Avenue and/or adding context to existing Confederate monuments that line the historic street.\nBowling said he doesn’t believe the commission will add context, but rather create a deeper divide by spelling out more information on statues.\nBowling also offered advice for those who oppose confederate monuments ‘turn your head if you don’t like it.’\nAfter the events in Charlottesville and subsequent protest in Richmond, Bowling said he is unsure if he will get a permit.\nDena Potter with the Virginia Department of General Services said, regardless of whether the request is approved, the agency will meet with Bowling.\nMonday, Mayor Levar Stoney also addressed the possibly for the September 16 rally.\n“I would make the request that in light of the events that happened in Charlottesville we take a deep look at whether or not this is something that should go forward on September 16,” he said. “But nonetheless, Richmond will be prepared to protect all of its citizens against anything that may harm their safety we are ready to go and we will be prepared.”\nBowling said he is looking forward to meeting with police and the city to talk about the rally.\nIf his permit is approved, he said he will think long and hard about having the event.\nBowling said he is worried that the recent events are giving notice to the “people causing the trouble”, like “David Duke, alt-right groups, and extremists.”\nHe said he believes the national attention over the Charlottesville rally could bring unwanted people to Richmond.\nBowling went on to say that he doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt and would consider canceling or postponing the event if he felt there was a treat to anyone’s safety.\nThe request for the rally is still being considered by the Virginia Department of General Services.", "A spirited bunch from Squamish, all wearing I Hate Running T-shirts and ballcaps, pointed to matching bandanas as the final piece of their Sunday morning team bonding exercise in Ceperley Field.\nSheila McMurran, one of the women with this Spinal Cord Injury B.C. crew named Team Walk’n Rollers, joked as she flashed “the horns” for a fun team photo that they all needed a pre-race nap after getting up at 4 a.m. to make the trek to the 20th Scotiabank Half-Marathon and 5K event.\n• FOR MY FUN MUSICAL PHOTO RECAP, click HERE\n• FOR MY FACEBOOK PHOTOS TO SHARE, click HERE\nKatherine Moore of Vancouver, an elite runner who likely got up around the same time to prepare for her 21.1K exercise, was all smiles at the finish line in Stanley Park, showing off her latest medal after finishing 45th overall in the field of 4,155 racers with a time of 1:22:56. She also won her 40-44 female category.\n“This is just an awesome day,” beamed Moore, who couldn’t stop smiling while replaying the course and its challenges to spectators and friends. “Bit warm, but no complaints. Always nice to run so well at home.”\nAnother runner who felt like this was home was overall champion Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge who won his seventh Vancouver half-marathon title in 1:07:24. Seconds after breezing to the win, he was posing for photos with race officials, volunteers and spectators and being pulled in a million different directions, much like Canadian sprint star Andre De Grasse was at last year’s Harry Jerome International Track Classic.\n• FOR OFFICIAL RESULTS FROM SPORTS STATS WORLD, click HERE\nVancouver’s own Dayna Pidhoresky was the overall women’s champion, finishing the Canada Running Series event in 1:13:06. She finished almost two minutes ahead of current series point leader and pre-race favourite Sasha Gollish of Toronto.\nAnother big winner were the 70-plus Vancouver charities who raised an estimated $970,000 during Sunday’s event. There were entrants from every Canadian province, 35 countries and 25 states in the U.S.\nThe next CRS event in Vancouver is the Under Armour Eastside 10K, which goes Saturday, Sept. 15. The race has one of the coolest finisher’s medals in the city.\nHere are a few other fun notes from Sunday’s Scotiabank running showcase:\nSit, stay, pose — the paws that refreshes\nThe Pets and Friends “Puppy Therapy” display definitely was a huge hit with spectators.\nSet up almost like Lucy’s booth in the old Charlie Brown cartoons, the “therapist is in” box for puppies was adorable and photo-worthy.\nAlmost as popular was the post-race booth with chocolate chip cookies and juice. And the great music by March Hare, one of Vancouver’s most versatile bands doing corporate and community gigs, was an added bonus to a marvellous morning.\nFun signs that had a-peel with participants\nThe Vancouver Canucks were pretty pumped with their NHL Entry Draft selections on the weekend in Dallas, but the team would have also been proud with the cheerleaders representing Canuck Place on Sunday.\nA number of Team Canuck Place reps lined the final kilometre of the course with fun signs and noisemakers as they cheered on all 6,500-plus runners and walkers as they headed for the finish line.\nChafe now … brag forever and This is a lot of work for a free banana were among the clever signs that helped remind participants and spectators that road racing and helping charity are both meant to be healthy/fun lifestyles.\nLet’s Make A Deal fails during the waiting game\nAny runner will tell you the toughest part of race day is the unavoidable “hurry up and wait” routine, especially at big events with road closures and parking challenges to worry about.\nYou get up early, rush to the venue, get organized and warmed up, then wait. And wait. And wait.\nSo on Sunday, after an early morning coffee-less trek from Langley to Stanley Park, I used my time in the starting corral to discuss race strategy and learn about beating pre-race jitters/dry mouth.\nOne of the kind souls in the Vancouver running game — Dan Cumming of Forerunners — stressed the importance of making sure to check your runners for stones or anything that would kill your feet in a longer run. He knows, having done the BMO Vancouver Marathon with a painful “pebble passenger” picked up during the 42.2K exercise.\nThree lovely ladies — Wilma, Jeanne and Louise — laughed along with the crowd, all denying they were carrying lunch, treats or spiked liquids in their matching Nathan backpacks.\n“We’re just here for your entertainment,” laughed Wilma, who refused to trade her neat hat for my new bear headband.\nTried to explain that the double gg on her hat would look good on a guy named Gord, but the deal fell through when she couldn’t figure out what a wild screaming bear on her head would mean! It was too early to think of a clever sales pitch.\nSmiley celebrates successful return to half\nShe has been my coach for the past two years, and any success I enjoy crawling the road race circuit is due to her patience — and preaching about “minor” things such as diet, pacing, focus and training!\nSandra Jongs Sayer, the coordinator and coach of Langley’s Sun Run InTraining Clinic, is an unselfish breath of fresh air and one of the main reasons I clocked my best 5K in 20-plus years on Sunday.\nBut it was my turn to be very proud of her as she completed the half-marathon Sunday in under 2½ hours, which was her goal when she indicated six months ago she’d like to give the 21.1K race another shot.\nShe flew through the first 10K, then readjusted for the warmer, final 11K.\n“The first half of my run was amazing, the second half had its moments, especially with the heat” said Jongs Sayer, who beat her 2016 half-marathon time by 22-plus minutes. She joked about taking the rest of the summer off, but I can think of one pesky runner who won’t let her do that with so many great events calling our names!\nThe wait to celebrate 10K win officially over\nDavid Tapia didn’t take long to finish MEC Vancouver’s 10K race at Garry Point Park in Richmond earlier this month, but it took a few extra days before he could officially celebrate his fast feat.\nTapia finished the June 10 race in 36:57, ahead of Tony Skuce (37:27) and Lisham Sharples (37:45), but Thao Do was originally credited with the win in a blazing time of 32:28.\nProblem was, none of the frontrunners noticed him in their race — and for good reason. Do only ran 5K. He turned around at the 2.5K mark and headed for the finish line! The 5K race went five minutes after the 10K, and 10 minutes after the half marathon, so there was some confusion.\nSet to cele-eh-brate Canada Day at UBC\nFresh off a personal best in Sunday’s Scotiabank 5K, I’m pretty stoked to double the distance this weekend at UBC for the annual Run Canada event, hosted by the good folks at Wesbrook Village.\nSteve Mattina, Vancouver area manager of Running Room Canada, always puts on a great party (there’s cake and food at the finish line!) with his Wesbrook Village business colleagues, including Save On Foods, Scotiabank and Saucony.\nThe 1K Kids’ run will be held at 10 a.m., followed by the 5K walk/run at 10:05 a.m., and the 10K walk/run at 10:10 a.m. through the awesome Pacific Spirit Regional Park trails. Diabetes Canada is the event charity.\nFor more info, or to enter, click HERE. The event also boasts of awesome race shirts and finisher’s medals.\nRed, white and no shortage of fun runs\nThe good folks with Try Events will be holding their popular Semiahmoo First Nation Canada Day Rock races in White Rock, with the 10K and 5K starting at 8 a.m., followed by the Kids’ Run at 10 a.m. There will be post-race pancakes, finisher’s medals and souvenir T-shirts, plus prizes.\nIn the past six years I’ve alternated between UBC and White Rock on Canada Day and love both events. Both get you in the Canada Day spirit, and both offer great race-day, flag-waving experiences.\nRelated\nOther Canada Day runs include: The Gold Spike Days 5K in Port Moody, Canada Day 10K at the 101 in Gibsons, the Get Canadian 10K, 5K and 2K in Kamloops, and a host of others highlighted on the B.C. Athletics race directory.\nFINISH LINES: Happy third birthday to West Van Run Crew. The awesome WVRC, whose team I will get to be a part of for the Summerfast 10K on Saturday, July 21 at Stanley Park, will hold a 5K birthday breakfast run this Saturday in West Van, thanks to the support from Greyell Portfolio Management. They will also have a 1K kids’ run.\nGotta run …\[email protected]\nTwitter.com/ohgord", "The Henry family poses for a photo at Thomas Henry Jr.'s 18th birthday party this weekend in San Antonio. (Photo: Contributed photo/Lawlor Media Group)\nCORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Personal injury attorney Thomas J. Henry knows how to throw a party.\nJust last year he spent $6 million on his daughter Maya's quinceañera. This weekend, he made sure his son's 18th birthday didn't fall short.\nThe party for Thomas Henry Jr. was held at Hotel Discotheque lounge in San Antonio. The event had a Gatsby-mixed-with-burlesque theme complete with showgirls, aerial performers, art installations and contortionists. Celebrity production designer Dylan Marer and his team from Hollywood produced the event, a media release from Lawlor Media Group reads.\nJ Balvin perfoms at Thomas Henry Jr.'s birthday party in San Antonio. (Photo: Contributed photo/Lawlor Media Group)\nThe party featured performances by Diplo, J Balvin and Migos. Celebrity guests included Ashanti, Rumer Willis, Lance Bass, Josh Henderson, Adrienne Bailon, Joanna Krupa, Aubrey O’Day, Austin Mahone and others.\nThe star of the party, who sat on a throne-like chair when he wasn't dancing, was given a fully loaded blue Ferrari, an IWC Portugieser Tourbillion watch and a custom-made painting from Alec Monopoly.\nThe Henry family stands onstage with Migos while they perform. (Photo: Contributed photo/Lawlor Media Group)\nReports state the event cost about $4 million dollars.\nThe Henry family is known for flashy parties including the 2016 Apollo in the Hamptons event at Ron Perelman home, the 2017 Republic Records Grammy after party, and the 2017 Maxim Super Bowl party.\nIn November, Henry won a $45.3 million verdict on behalf of his client in a company vehicle crash involving the use of cellphones while driving, according to a press release. Jenny Hanes was injured when a sport-utility vehicle driven by JC Fodale Energy Services employee Mickey Hunt rear-ended her car on Interstate 35 in San Antonio, the release stated.\nMore: Autistic boy gets huge birthday party after no one RSVPs\nMore: Harper Beckham’s princess birthday party is a six-year-old’s dream\nFollow Monica Lopez on Twitter: @CallerMonica\nThe Henry family stands with Rumer Willis, Lance Bass and Michael Turchin. (Photo: Contributed photo/Jay Layno)\nRead or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2BdmOXW", "Rafu Staff Report\nSAN FRANCISCO — Two years after it was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, a monument dedicated to the “comfort women” of World War II was unveiled in the city on Sept. 22.\nThe event was attended by local Asian American leaders, including some Japanese Americans. Meanwhile, Japanese officials reiterated their opposition, including the mayor of Osaka, who has threatened to end its 60-year-old sister-city relationship with San Francisco.\nLocated at St. Mary’s Square in Chinatown, the memorial sculpture consists of Korean, Chinese and Filipina girls on a pedestal with a halmoni (Korean for “grandma”), a former comfort woman, on the ground looking up at them. An inscription states that hundreds of thousands of mostly Asian women and girls were abducted before and during the war and forced to serve as sex slaves for the Japanese military.\nThe monument is one of eight in the U.S. and the first in a major city. A memorial was erected in Glendale in 2013 and has been the target of legal action by the Global Alliance for Historical Truth, which sought its removal. Members of GAHT also testified against the San Francisco memorial.\nThe San Francisco effort was led by retired judges Lillian Sing and Julie Tang, who have also been involved in the Rape of Nanking Coalition, which accused the Japanese government of trying to cover up war crimes.\nSing said of the monument, “It represents my soul. It represents the soul of all the womeh who have suffered so much. It represents the soul of our next generation and generations to come. Japan wants to tear down memorials; we want to build memorials. Japan wants to visit Yasukuni Shrine [in Tokyo], which is where the Class A war criminals are buried … We in San Francisco build memorials for peace. We in San Francisco honor the victims.”\nYong-soo Lee, a former comfort woman who testified before the Board of Supervisors in 2015, was the special guest. “Two years ago, I and these two judges … made a promise that they will build a memorial dedicated to comfort women in San Francisco and I promised them that I will be here to attend the unveiling ceremony,” she said through an interpreter.\n“This is not just an issue for Korea, not just an issue for China … This is a universal human rights issue that affects everyone in the world,” Lee added. “… This history issue is not just an issue that happened in the past … This is about a sincere apology from the government of Japan and this is important. A sincere apology means an acknowledgement and it has to come with legal compensation.”\nThe Japanese government established a fund to compensate the women, but the survivors and their advocates objected, saying that it is a private fund and does not constitute reparations from the government.\nFormer Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose), who introduced a House resolution a decade ago in support of the comfort women, praised “the victims of sexual slavery of the 1930s up to the end of World War II [who]have decided not to keep their silence … [We] support that their voices be heard and we amplify them.”\nEmphasizing that he was “not talking against the Japanese people,” Honda criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party, “who consistently say what happened was a shame, then on the other hand they deny what happened.”\nAlthough Abe’s “womenomics” policy has the goal of increasing the number of women business leaders in Japan, Honda said, “When he does not acknowledge the history, when he has not apologized or recognized the social responsibility of the Japanese government [and]the importance of making this information available in school textbooks … it rings hollow.”\nFormer Supervisor Eric Mar, who introduced the monument resolution, said, “My heart is so full of joy that Halmoni/Grandma Yong-Soo Lee is here today representing the several dozen surviving members … ‘Comfort women’ is a euphemism. Though we use the term, I always know that they are hundreds of thousands of girls and women that were forced into sexual slavery. I don’t want to focus on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors because what we did with paper and political work behind the scenes is less important than the living history that we have on the stage today.”\nDr. Jonathan Kim, a member of the organizing committee, said that the Korean, Chinese and Filipino American communities worked together to make the monument a reality. “Our intercultural reatinship is very special.”\nThe design was chosen from more than 30 submissions from all over the world, in a double-blind competition, meaning that the judges did not know the names or backgrounds of the artists.\nSteven Whyte, a Carmel-based sculptor, recalled that when his design was selected, “we were warned early on that we might be up against some backlash. We got about 1,200 emails and calls and, should we say, encouragement to drop the project … I knew that the design we’d come up with … is something that can resonate this story with others. I hope after today’s big vent that you’ll find the time to come back and spend your own time with the piece. It’s such an honor to be part of the project.”\nJudge Tang said of the survivors, “A lot of people are very impressed with the bravery and heroic acts of these grandmas, but they may not know that what these grandmas did was change the landscape of how the world looks at women and look at the realities of sexual trafficking and wartime strategy used in modern times. The U.N. passed a resolution to decry any kind of sex trafficking, and also using women during wartime for sex slavery is a human rights crime … So it is because of the grandmas that we have that law now in effect.”\nWhen opponents of the Glendale monument filed a lawsuit, Tang noted, “The Japanese government entered as an official party under an amicus brief, alleging that the memorial must be taken down because it involves national interest … Japan lost in that case, but it doesn’t take away the threat that we feel, so we’re at all times vigilant and prepared.”\nSing added that more monuments are needed. “Japan will never silence us. Japan wants to wait until all the women are gone …. [But] we’re going to educate our descendants … and continue our mission to tell the truth.”\nJA Leaders’ Comments\nIn addition to Honda, Japanese American speakers included San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who said he was honored when Sing and Tang asked him to e part of the memorial committee.\n“When I first came to San Francisco in 1978, it was the really Korean community that embraced myself and other activists,” he recalled. “We were involved in the case of a young man named Chol Soo Lee, who was wrongfully convicted of a crime here in Chinatown. The community really got behind him and it was through that experience that I really learned about the Korean community and really how much they have done and given to our country. And this memorial, I think, is such an important day for history and for justice because this is going to memorialize the suffering that so many endured during World War II at the hands of the imperialist Japanese.”\nSpeakers at a post-unveiling reception included Karen Korematsu, daughter of the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu. “My father never gave up hope for almost 40 years that someday he could reopen his U.S. Supreme Court case,” she said. “Julie and Lillian epitomize my father’s commitment and dedication to standing up for what is right. They never gave up hope.\n“San Francisco is an international sanctuary city. We are the gateway to Asia. We have the responsibility to make sure that the rest of the world understands the lessons of history so we don’t repeat them again. We need to continually bring out the atrocities of World War II even in the 21st century. And education is the key so that we don’t make the same mistakes again. Through the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, we have created curriculum kits that we have sent out to teachers across the nation and around the world … Also, what we’re going to be doing is adding a curriculum for the comfort women.”\nNoting that the mission of the Korematsu Institute, which she founded, is “to advance racial equity, social justice and human rights for all,” she concluded, “As my father said, don’t be afraid to speak up.”\nOther speakers included Professor Tomomi Kinukawa, a member of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, and poet Peter Yamamoto.\nResponse from Japan\nOsaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura on Sept. 25 denounced San Francisco’s plan to integrate the plot of land containing the statue into a municipal park, calling it “Japan-bashing,” according to The Asahi Shimbun.\nYoshimura said that he and his predecessor, Toru Hashimoto, have already sent give letters to San Francisco protesting the statue.\nThe inscription that accompanies the statue “is against the standpoint of the Japanese government,” Yoshimura said. “It is Japan-bashing based on a one-sided view.”\nTo celebrate the 60th anniversary of the sister-city relationship, representatives of San Francisco are scheduled to visit Osaka this month. But the mayor said, “If San Francisco accepts [the statue]at the municipal government level, I can’t shake hands with them and smile.”\nJun Yamada, consul general of Japan in San Francisco, made the following statement in The San Francisco Chronicle on Sept. 21: “Japan takes the issue of ‘comfort women’ very seriously and recognizes its past by sincerely addressing the wounds and trauma of former comfort women. Accordingly, Japanese government administrations have expressed apologies and feelings of remorse to former comfort women on numerous occasions.\n“The 2015 agreement between Japan and the Republic of Korea is being implemented, having been accepted by two-thirds of surviving former comfort women in the country. Japan will continue its efforts to faithfully pursue an ultimate and genuine reconciliation with the Republic of Korea, one of our most important neighbors, based on a multitude of diplomatic and grassroots efforts.\n“The difficulty of this issue lies in the fact that there are wildly conflicting views, even today, as to what actually happened. Unfortunately, the aim of current comfort women memorial movements seems to perpetuate and fixate on certain one-sided interpretations, without presenting credible evidence, in the form of physical statues.\n“This is unwarranted and hardly conducive to objective fact-finding and mutual agreement, let alone a final reconciliation. Rather, they are rapidly alienating the entire Japanese public, who could otherwise be sympathetic to the wartime plight of these women, by unduly exacerbating emotional antagonism.\n“As it stands, particularly regarding the inscription that obstinately singles out the Japanese case, this new San Francisco memorial is surely destined to be yet another addition to the existing quagmire surrounding ‘controversial statues.’\n“What we urgently need now is more unity and solidarity — among all Asian Americans domestically, and between Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States on the global stage.”\nPhotos by FRANK JANG", "Joseph Bologna has died, aged 82.\nThe actor, playwright and screenwriter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three years ago, and passed away Sunday morning at City of Hope hospital in Duarte, California.\nHis wife of 52 years, actress Renée Taylor, released a statement:\n“He had a beautiful life and a beautiful death having fully and gratefully experienced three years since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at Cedars Sinai,” she explained.\n– Arnie’s Greatest One-Liners\n– Vote For Your Bond 25 Dream Team\n– Jeanne Moreau Has Died Aged 89\n“[He received] a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Night of 100 Stars on February 26, of this year,” she added, “[taking] a month-long trip to his favourite place, Italy, with his family in June, and [attending] the 35th Anniversary celebration of My Favorite Year, on July 27th.”\nJoseph Bologna in My Favorite Year – Credit: MGM More\nJoseph Bologna was perhaps best known for ‘My Favorite Year’ – the hit 1982 comedy starring Peter O’Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, and Jessica Harper. He was also known for the likes of ‘Transylvania 6-5000’ and in recent years, appeared in Adam Sandler’s ‘Big Daddy’ as well as lending his voice to ‘Ice Age: The Meltdown’.\nBut he was also known for his writing.\nBologna received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, which he shared with his wife and David Zelag Goodman, for his work on ‘Lovers and Other Strangers’ – a movie based on the couple’s earlier Broadway play.\nIn fact, they penned 22 plays in total, including ‘It Had to Be You’, ‘Bermuda Avenue Triangle’ and ‘If You Ever Leave Me I’m Going With You!’.\nThey also won an Emmy Award for ‘Acts of Love and Other Comedies’.\nBologna’s final movie is yet to be released – ‘Tango Shalom’, starring himself, his wife, and their lifelong friend, Lainie Kazan. Rather fittingly, the movie is a bit of a family affair, with his daughter Zizi Bologna serving as music supervisor with his son, Gabriel as director.\nRIP Joseph Bologna, who died 13 August 2017.\n– Arnie Celebrated 70th Birthday With Stallone\n– IT Filmmakers Wanted Tilda Swinton Aa Pennywise\n– George Clooney Threatens To Sue French Magazine", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nHe is the Brummie boxing champ known to thousands of fight fans across the country as Funtime Frankie.\nBut Frankie Gavin could soon be dubbed Runtime Frankie.\nThat is because he is all set to take on the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K – to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital where his cousin’s two-day-old son, Calum, was treated.\nFrankie Gavin’s cousin, Mike McMahon, will be joining him at the event on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 6.\nCommonwealth Games gold medal-winning boxer Frankie is in good shape for the 10K – despite an ankle injury earlier this year, which forced the postponement of his hometown IBO World Welterweight Championship Title fight against African Bethuel Ushona.\nThe 32-year-old was more than happy to support Birmingham Children’s Hospital when he heard how specialist nurses helped Callum, when he became unresponsive – 48 hours after he was born.\nMike, 37, a self-employed engineer working with Severn Trent Water, said: “Baby Callum was born at Birmingham Women’s Hospital on Wednesday, March 28th and discharged on the 31st, in good health.\n“Then, around 11.30 in the evening, he became unresponsive. My wife and I rang an ambulance and the paramedics explained he had a problem with his blood sugars so he was transferred by blue light to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where he stayed in an emergency ward for 12 hours of treatment.\n“Once they stabilised him he was moved to another ward where he remained under supervision with specialist ongoing care.\n“Callum is now being monitored and the problems he has had will subside over the coming weeks. We’re pleased to say he is back home with us now.\n“The clinical care the Children’s Hospital provided for Callum was unbelievable. Arguably they saved his life.\n“Plus, the support they offered my wife, Jasmin, and I was incredible and we can’t thank them enough. This is why we signed up to raise money at the 10K for them.”\nFrankie, who is looking to announce his next title fight at the end of June, explained how Mike’s fundraising for the 10K resonated with him.\n“We’re close family and when Mike told me he was doing this I jumped at the chance to join him,” he said.\n“The work of the Children’s Hospital is amazing and they need all the support they can get.\n“Being a dad, it really hits home just how we might need them at some stage and it’s great to help.”\nFrankie, who runs the Ringside Gym in Acocks Green, held the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles between 2012 and 2015.\nAs an amateur he won gold in the lightweight division at the 2007 World Championships, becoming England’s first ever winner.\nHe won lightweight gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.\nMiranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K is a key fundraising event for our charity.\n“We’re incredibly grateful to Frankie and Mike, as well as all of our kind-hearted supporters, for choosing to take on the challenge in aid of our hospital and brave patients. Thanks to you, we are able to raise the vital funds required to continue helping our 90,000 sick kids each year.”\n• To support Mike and Frankie and help raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital visit here\nHow you can join Frankie and Mike\nMore than 7,000 participants of all running and walking abilities have signed up to take part in the music-loving Bank Holiday Weekend 10K, which features start waves tuned to the sounds of the 80s, 90s, Noughties and today’s tracks.\nWith a limited number of places still available, organisers The Great Run Company have confirmed the last date and time to enter the 10K to have running numbers delivered by post is 10am on Thursday, April 26th.\nThe last date and time to enter online and collect running packs in person is 4pm on Friday, May 4th.\nSign up for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K now: http://www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-10k", "But the contents were anything but ominous.\nIn the envelope, Pasley, of Grand Forks, found a letter and photos from Kari Yang, a young woman who received a kidney from Pasley's daughter, Jane, upon her death in 2013.\nOne photo showed Yang dressed in her graduation cap and gown, holding a framed diploma representing her master's degree. Other photos reveal close-ups of her newborn daughter.\nThe items were joyful evidence of how Yang's life has changed since she received Jane's kidney four years ago.\nWith restored health, Yang had gone back to college and earned a master's degree in technical communications in December.\nShe gave birth to Shirah Pasley Yang about a month ago.\n\"I knew as soon as I got pregnant that I wanted to name the baby in honor of the donor family,\" said Yang.\nShe and her husband chose \"Pasley\" as a middle name to honor the entire donor family.\n\"They need to be remembered,\" she said. \"I feel like they're part of me now. I owe them the world. It's a debt I'll never be able to repay.\"\n'A new life'\nIn August 2013, Jane Pasley, 43, of Grand Forks, fell ill while the family was on vacation and died of cardiac arrest Aug. 13—Yang's 34th birthday.\nYang, of Woodbury, Minn., had been waiting five years for a kidney, she said. With the transplant, Jane gave her \"a new life.\"\nKari and Mike Yang have a son, Malachi, born in 2006. They wanted another child, but were unable to conceive. They learned that women with kidney disease are usually infertile.\nThe doctor \"was surprised that I had one child, let alone have another one,\" Yang said.\nIn 2006, she was in her seventh month of pregnancy when, during a checkup, her nurse midwife found that her blood pressure had spiked to an abnormal level.\n\"Lab tests came back bad. Everything was out of range,\" said Yang, who was surprised since she had no symptoms.\n\"I had always been totally healthy. My nurse midwife was very worried.\"\nYang was sent to the hospital where her son was born, six weeks early. In neonatal intensive care, \"he did pretty well,\" she said.\nBut within three days of returning home, Yang had to return to the hospital where a kidney biopsy was performed. She learned that her body was not properly processing a certain type of protein and, instead, was storing it in the kidney, causing serious damage.\nShe was initially prescribed steroids to slow the deterioration, but within two years, she began to notice worrisome symptoms. At night she would have episodes of accelerated heartbeat and she would be winded from climbing a half-dozen steps.\n\"I thought, 'I should not be exhausted,' \" she said.\nOne Sunday, while socializing after a church service, she had to sit down. She told her husband she couldn't breathe. They went to an emergency room where she was told \"the only option right now is to start dialysis,\" she remembered.\n\"I thought it was the end of the world. I was 28, 29 years old. It seemed like that was the end. It was terrible.\"\nShe became a regular outpatient at a local dialysis center and, later, learned the skills for home dialysis.\n'Monumental difference'\nAs an organ recipient, Yang wrote her first letter to Rob and Nancy Pasley in February 2014 but, in accord with rules surrounding organ donation, it was written anonymously and not delivered until August of that year.\nYang shared \"the monumental difference\" the donated kidney made in her life.\nBefore the transplant, she had been a young wife and mother, she told them. \"The word 'dialysis' shattered my world, but I didn't have the energy to fight. I didn't have the energy for much at all.\nIn August 2013, a few days before she was to start an exciting new job, she received the call about a possible kidney transplant.\nThe transplant surgery, on Aug. 15, 2013, went so well that the surgeon removed the port used for dialysis.\n\"Jane's kidney was such a workhouse right away,\" Yang said. \"It was amazing.\"\n\"In the first month of recovery, I had so much energy. Before, I could cook one meal and I'd be done for the day.\"\nDescribing recovery from the transplant, she said, \"it's as if I've come back from death.\"\nCoincidence\nYang finds it \"amazing and mysterious\" that Jane died on her birthday.\n\"When I was younger, I didn't care much about my birthday,\" she said, \"but with Jane's donation, I feel like my birthday holds an extra special meaning. I came into this world as a new life on Aug. 13, 1979, but when I turned 34 years old, I got another 'new life.' \"\n\"Words will never be sufficient\" to express her gratitude for the organ donation, Yang said.\n\"Jane will always be part of me. I have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of my life, because her blood is in me.\"\nThe Pasley family is her family, she said.\n\"We share blood. We're family now. Usually it's only family that would do something like that for you anyway.\"\nThe only way for her to repay such kindness, she said, \"is living my life in a way that would prove this gift of renewed life was well worth it—and that is exactly what I intend to do.\"", "Roseville cop got a break\nIt pays to be on a police force, because as an officer of the law, you can drive drunk, not get arrested and be driving home in a police car. He didn’t have to use a Breathalyzer, either. Not even a blood alcohol test.\nThese are the same people who are supposed to uphold the law.\nIt must be great to have police union attorneys, instead of having to hire your own and remember police officers protect their own too!!\nThey said this was suspected drunk driving and he was charged with reckless driving; driving the wrong way on Woodward Avenue.\nAdvertisement\n— David Bucko\nWarren\nDoesn’t get Sterling priorities\nIt seems to me as a taxpayer, that your priorities are a bit skewed when it comes to spending tax dollars. You spent $80,000 on a sculpture of a budding plant that signifies “new growth” in our city, yet the majority of our roads are two treacherous to travel on should we wish to see this work of art. Another $339,000 is earmarked for two golden rings and plaques welcoming visitors to our “Golden Mile.” I dare you to travel on Hayes Road or Schoenherr Road to get there. These two main throughfares through our city are in dire need of repairs, not just patching.\nThere needs to be serious reconstruction of these roads before monuments and plaques and sculptures are created within our city. Drive these roads and dodge the potholes like your constituents do on a daily basis and see if you arrive at the same conclusion I did: Fix the roads first.\n— Daniel Mandziara\nSterling Heights\n————\nSend your thoughts and comments via our online form at bit.ly/MDComments or via e-mail to [email protected].\nSign up to our daily email newsletter here.\n————\nGot to go at MSU\nAfter reading far too many stories about Michigan State University’s President, athletic department, Board of Trustees, among others, over their lack of effective leadership, and oversight, during the years of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of young girls, there should be a total and complete removal of every person who had a part in allowing the abuse to continue. If I had a family member, male or female, who had been accepted, or was considering attending MSU, I would do everything in my power to convince them to choose another institute of higher learning. I wonder how much damage the lack of effective leadership is going to hurt MSU’s enrollment and fundraising? How much it will cost Michigan taxpayers to investigate, and then compensate the victims of Nasser’s disgusting actions? No one who is proven to have been an enabler, or informed of Nasser’s assaults and did not take appropriate actions, should be allowed to resign, or quit being employed by MSU, and receive any kind of severance package. That includes former MSU President Simon, former Athletic Director Hollis, all of the current MSU Board of Trustees, football coach Mark Dantonio, basketball coach Tom Izzo, and those who conducted the sham of an MSU-paid investigation into Nassar’s criminal assaults.\n— William D. Krull\nRoseville", "Uncategorized\nDelta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated his Deputy, Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro on the occasion of his 49th birthday anniversary on Sunday16th April, 2017.\nIn a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, Governor Okowa extolled the leadership qualities and astute contributions of the Deputy Governor towards the S.M.A.R.T. Agenda of his administration as well as Delta State and Nigeria in general.\nGovernor Okowa said he was grateful to God for the partnership between him and Barrister Otuaro and prayed God to grant him more wisdom as they jointly pilot the affairs of Delta State.\nOkowa said, “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I wish to felicitate with my amiable Deputy Governor, a party stalwart and leader of inestimable value on the occasion of his 49th birthday anniversary celebration.\n“Your Excellency, your indefatigable role as the Deputy Governor of our dear Delta State has contributed to the remarkable and modest achievements recorded by our administration”.\n“Your life symbolizes the assured reward for single-minded commitment to the ideals of diligence, humility, perseverance, focus and dedicated service”.\n“As you deservedly celebrate this birthday anniversary, it is my prayer that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and many more years of happiness”.\n“I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past 49 years of a life of forthrightness, outstanding patriotism and service to humanity with which He has blessed you.”\nHe wished the Deputy Governor a very happy birthday.\nAdvertisements", "Jordan Wilimovsky and Ashley Twichell each swept their events at the UANA-Flowers sea swims on Saturday and Monday.\nWilimovsky, the winner of the Flowers one-mile swim on Saturday, was also the fastest male swimmer in the UANA men’s 10K on Monday in 2:06:04.\nView the full results at www.flowersseaswim.com.\nUANA is the Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas.\nTwichell, the first woman out of the water on Saturday, was the fastest among females in the Flowers 5K on Monday in 1:03:09.\nWilimovsky, a 23-year-old Californian who set a new course record in Saturday’s mile swim, edged Charles Peterson of the U.S. by about 10 seconds in the men’s 10K. Peterson also finished second in the mile swim.\nAndrew Gemmell of the U.S. was about 2 seconds behind, to finish third in the men’s 10K. The next-fastest swimmer, Sebastian Alcock of the U.S., came in nearly 15 minutes later. Of the 17 athletes who finished the men’s 10K, 14 were from the United States.\nTwichell, a 27-year-old New Yorker, was coming off a win in the women’s 10K at the U.S. Open Water National Championships in California in May.\nShe finished ahead of Sarah Trago of the U.S. by a little more than six minutes, and Canadian Audrey Pier Lachaine who finished in third place with a time of 1:10:05.\nFifty-seven women finished the 5K, including U.S. gold-medal Olympians Allison Schmitt (15th place in 1:20:22) and Megan Jendrick (22nd place in 1:24:09).\nIn the Flowers men’s 5K, professional swimmer Yasunari Hirai of Japan was first out of the water in 1:02:55, nearly five minutes ahead of Adam Dawkins of the U.S. Hirai is a former Olympian – he finished 15th in the 2012 Summer Olympics 10K in London.\nIn the UANA women’s 10K, Katy Campbell, a swimmer for the University of California, Los Angeles, and a member of the USA’s FINA World Championships squad in 2015, finished first in 2:12:59. Campbell finished second to Twichell in Saturday’s one-mile swim.\nChelsea Colwell of the U.S. was second in the women’s 10K, with a time of 2:25:07, and Mia Desjarlais of Canada was third, in 2:25:18.\nOf the 11 women who competed in the 10K, nine were from the U.S.", "A fitness fan has given heartfelt thanks to the ambulance crew who saved his life and he is looking forward to becoming a grandad for the first time any day now.\nKevin Frisby will be celebrating his 49th birthday next month.\nIt was a birthday he never thought he would see after suffering a heart attack at home on August 17.\nKevin, a former RAF trainer who completed two tours of Afghanistan, called NHS111 when he experienced chest pains.\nHe didn’t know he was having a heart attack and secretly hoped he wasn’t. The call was soon escalated, passed over to East Midlands Ambulance Service 999 control room and Paramedic Lee Hastie and Technician Alan Higgs from Grimsby station were on scene moments later.\nAfter assessing Kevin, the crew recognised that he was having a heart attack and he was taken to Castle Hill Hospital in under an hour.\nSurgeons removed the blockage using percutaneous coronary intervention and Kevin started to feel better instantly.\nKevin said: “There is no damage to my heart and the doctors say I will make a full recovery. “Had it not been for the swift and professional work of the ambulance team, I would not be able to say that.\n“I need to personally thank the two guys who played a massive part in making sure that I am here today with my wife and family. I was discharged with a renewed passion for life.”\nKevin added: “The ambulance service get a lot of stick for not meeting targets and not being there on time. But they are. People do not necessarily look after themselves properly and that increases demand.\n“I thought at first it was indigestion and when they said it was a heart attack I had imagined the paramedics cutting me open and massaging my heart. But it wasn’t like that. They gave me painkillers because I was in terrible pain. I never realised until today how bad a heart attack it was.”\nHe had considered going for a bike ride in the Wolds the day of his heart attack and is grateful he stayed at home.\nNow Kevin, who is a self employed personnel consultant, said he had a new passion for life and a renewed appreciation of walks on Cleethorpes seafront.\nHe said: “Anytime now I will be a grandad which I never would have been if it wasn’t for the ambulance crew.”\nHe has become an ambassador for Heart UK and is lobbying MPs to invest more money into testing for the effects of family history into heart conditions.\nKevin’s family has a history of high cholesterol, which untreated, will clog the arteries of the heart.\nNow he is planning to take part in the Grimsby 10k next year and a half marathon.\nHe said he is looking forward to becoming a grandfather and spending more time with his wife Tracy and son William, 26, a business manager at Castlehill Hospital and two stepchildren Matthew and Katie.\nNational Restart a Heart Day this month raises awareness amongst secondary school pupils about what they can do should they come across somebody who is experiencing a heart attack or cardiac arrest. The day is being led by East Midlands Ambulance Service, LIVES and the British Heart Foundation.\nParamedic Lee Hastie treated Kevin along with technician Alan Higgs.\nLee said: “With any chest pains time is of the essence. People should ring 999 straight away. Part of our job is to give reassurance to ease the stress and avoid putting pressure on the heart.\"\nEast Midlands Ambulance Service announced four new defibrillators placed within Cleethorpes have gone live this month for everybody in the local community.", "Our selection of races around the UK for the months ahead, from 5Ks to marathons and even a race against a horse\nThe world’s biggest half-marathon, with 57,000 runners taking part. It’s pretty hilly (thank Brendan Foster, the former long-distance runner, who created the route), but there’s the famous Tyne bridge and a seaside finish to look forward to. Entries for this year’s race are now closed. Visit www.greatrun.org.\nGet covered head to toe in powder paint while running, dancing or walking 5k. All participants wear white - by the end you’ll be a kaleidoscope of colour. Entries for Brighton (there are other events in Manchester and London) cost £28 for a single adult runner, or £26 pp for a team of four.\nTake in views of the Unesco world heritage site and raise money for the British Heart Foundation. A post-event massage is also offered to all runners (small donation optional).Entries for this year’s race cost £30 for a half-marathon place, £22 for 10k and £10 for the family fun run.\nA fast and flat course that starts outside Cardiff castle, taking in views of Penarth Marina and Cardiff Bay, before finishing at the civic centre. There’s also a 100m toddler dash, for children aged three and under, on the same day. Entries for this year’s race have sold out, but charity places are still available.\nAn autumnal race through four of London’s royal parks – Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, and Green Park – which passes some of the capital’s most significant landmarks. It’s not too hilly, so is perfect for a first-time half-marathoner. Entries for this year’s race are now closed, but you may still be able to get a charity or corporate place.\nClaiming to be “the most beautiful marathon race in the UK”, this follows an almost entirely off-road route around one of northern Europe’s largest manmade lakes, Kielder Water in Northumberland. Shorter races, including a half-marathon and 10k, are also held. Entries for this year’s race cost £41. Visit kieldermarathon.com for more information.\nA 10-mile run through Southsea and Portsmouth, which finishes with views of the Isle of Wight. Entries for this year’s race cost £41.\nThe evening winter series is set in Victoria Park, Leicester, and comprises four 5k races on the first Wednesday of each month. Suitable for beginners as well as serious runners. Entries for the series cost £11 per event or £35 for all races. Visit www.nice-work.org.uk/races/leicester-winter-1 for more information.\nFacebook Twitter Pinterest Red run: the Liverpool Santa Dash. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo\nLast Christmas more than 7,000 Santas took part. A Santa suit - red or blue - is included in the entry fee. Entries for this year’s event cost £22 up to 30 September and £23 from 1 October.\nA small, friendly race that runs along the leafy lanes of High Legh, Cheshire, and raises money for the village community. The course starts and ends at the local primary school, where the PTA provide post-race refreshments. Entries for spring 2018 have not yet opened. Visit http://www.highlegh10k.org.uk/ for details.\nA city-centre road race through the heart of Bradford. It’s very flat and very fast, so there’s excellent PB potential. Entries for next year’s event cost £22. Visit https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/support-our-work/running/10k-5k/bradford for more information.\nFacebook Twitter Pinterest The picturesque route of the Brighton Marathon. Photograph: Alamy\nRun against the stunning backdrop of the sea, and recover in the sea breeze with fish and chips afterwards. Entries for 2018 are now closed, but you can still secure a charity place.Visit brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk for more details.\nThe most anticipated event of the UK’s running calendar. Almost 40,000 runners – elites, amateurs and fancy-dress enthusiasts – pound the streets of the capital. The public ballot for next year’s race is now closed. You can still apply for a charity place, though you’ll need to do some serious fundraising - most require a pledge of £1,000-£2,000.\nPass by the famous Coronation Street cobbles, Old Trafford stadium and other famous Mancunian sights. For half-marathoners, there’s also musical entertainment. Entries cost £44 for a half-marathon place and £38 for a 10k.\nIf you didn’t manage to secure a place for the London marathon, Edinburgh will guarantee you entry. It claims to be the fastest marathon course in the UK and has stunning scenery in the city and surrounding villages. Shorter races and junior events are also held. Entries cost £56.\nThis passes by some of London’s best known landmarks, finishing in the Mall. The race also attracts big names: Mo Farah, Jo Pavey and Mara Yamauchi are just some of the 10k race’s past winners. Entries for next year’s race cost £30.\nLondon’s only closed-road 10-mile race, with spectacular views of one of London’s royal parks. This year’s race, Timothy James & Partners London 10 Mile, was held on 4 June. Visit royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/upcoming-events-in-richmond-park/london-10-mile for updates on 2018’s race.\nFacebook Twitter Pinterest The Man v Horse Marathon in Powys sees runners compete against riders on horse-back over 24 miles of challenging terrain. Photograph: Handout/Getty Images\nRace against horses and riders across the challenging terrain in Powys, mid-Wales. In 37 years of the 21-mile race, only two runners have ever achieved first place. Entries for next year’s race open in the new year. Visit green-events.co.uk for more information.\nFree-to-enter 5k races held every Saturday morning in more than 400 locations around the world. Beginners, as well as more experienced runners, are welcome.Visit www.parkrun.org.uk for more information.\nMarathons, 10ks and more around the midlands and north of England. Part of the legacy of the amateur athlete Jane Tomlinson, who completed a series of endurance events despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer. Visit www.runforall.com for more information.", "If the prospect of spending time with your family this holiday season isn’t horrifying enough you can always download The Evil Within 2‘s free trial, which is available now on Steam. In her The Evil Within 2 review, Olivia White called the game “a definitive, well-produced classic survival horror experience” so it’s worth a go if you fancy a spooking.\nThe free trial allows you to play through the terrifying open chapters of the game and if, at the end of the demo, players feel like this intense fear is something they want more of, you can choose to upgrade to the full game. Doing this will allow you carry over all your save data and continue right where you left off.\nDeveloper Bethesda has even provided us with a lovely new trailer to sink our infected teeth into, which you can check out below.\nThe Evil Within 2’s free trial also gives players full access to disgruntled detective Sebastian’s customization options, allowing you to build the best character for your playstyle and to help rescue your daughter.\nThough the original The Evil Within was nothing to write home about, the sequel has been well received since its launch in October, even landing itself an RPS recommendation. Maybe you can sit down from grandma after Christmas dinner and take down some pesky zombies, I’m sure she would love that.\nYou can download The Evil Within 2’s demo from Steam.", "Elvis Presley might be best known as a music icon and rock 'n' roll pioneer, but the singer was also a family man. Before he passed away in 1977 at age 42, Elvis enjoyed a passionate love affair with wife Priscilla Presley and a close bond with daughter Lisa Marie Presley. Today, many members of his family have made their own strides in the music industry, starred in blockbuster films and navigated personal hardships. In honor of Elvis' birthday -- he would have been 83 on Jan. 8, 2018 -- Wonderwall.com is taking a look at the King's family members and what they're up to today. Keep reading for more...\nRELATED: One-hit wonders: Where are they now?", "By Alexa Nash\nRichmond, Virginia, was once the powerhouse of the South as the largest capital of the Confederate States of America. Today, one of the city’s most affluent streets, Monument Avenue, is home to five statues commemorating Civil War leadership—and one statue added more than 60 years after to honor Richmond native and tennis hero Arthur Ashe. The city faces big questions as its mayor, Levar Stoney, recently reversed course on his support of removing and/or relocating the Confederate statues. The commission he formed to study the city’s monuments and the act of contextualization is on hiatus until October following a September protest around Richmond’s Lee statue. In looking toward Charlottesville, where protests have erupted because City Council voted to move the statues of Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, are there any concrete answers on how to confront a past filled with slavery and racism in creating a solid future?\nHistory vs. heritage\nRichmond’s monument history begins with the Robert E. Lee statue, conceived after Lee’s death in 1870. The 61-foot statue with four granite pillars and a marble base was erected in 1890 after funding from private sources fell through. The General Assembly passed an act to create a Governor’s Board to lead the commemoration efforts, and the $52,000 statue was slated for Monument Avenue to increase property values, according to the Virginia Historical Society. It was erected by black laborers and dedicated in front of 100,000 to 150,000 people.\nTwo other Confederate monuments, those of General J.E.B Stuart and the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, were erected within four days of each other in 1907. General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s statue was unveiled in 1919, and the statue of Confederate States Navy commander Matthew Fontaine Maury was erected in 1929.\nAccording to a list of data of public spaces and symbols dedicated to the Confederacy, approximately a quarter of those spaces in Virginia and across the country, including schools, streets, monuments, plaques and other memorabilia, were dedicated between 1900 and 1918. This time period aligns with the Jim Crow law era of the South and the Plessy v. Ferguson “separate but equal” ruling in 1896, which all stemmed from a Louisiana law that separated blacks and whites on railroads in 1890: the same year Robert E. Lee made his memorialized appearance in Richmond.\nThe most recent statue to go up in the Monument Avenue median is that of African-American tennis star and Richmonder Arthur Ashe. It was erected in 1996, 67 years after Maury’s statue. Ashe is the only African-American memorialized on the grassy lawn, and according to the Monument Avenue Commission, the addition sparked heated conversations beginning in 1993 about the appropriateness of him being remembered just down the street from five prominent Confederate leaders.\nConversations about the morality of the monuments and talks of removing them catapulted into the public eye again in 2015 when Black Lives Matter was spray painted onto the Jefferson Davis monument. Richmond police arrested Joseph Weindl, after they found him starting to spray paint “loser” on the monument the following night. Fast-forward to the past few months when, between vandalism, such as pine tar thrown on the J.E.B Stuart monument, and demonstrations, such as regular pro-Confederate flaggers around the monuments, Stoney set out to take control of the Monument Avenue conversation. (The latest spotlight on the monuments was the September 16 pro-Confederate rally that brought fewer than a dozen pro-Confederates, who were vastly outnumbered by counterprotesters. There were seven arrests and no injuries reported.) Stoney formed the Monument Avenue Commission, a group of historians, artists, authors, professors and public leaders, to discuss how to add context to the monuments, including discussing adding more monuments to the grassy median.\n“Monument Avenue was a real estate development that began with the Lee statue…and it succeeded—as a development venture and in fabricating the Lost Cause ideology as truth,” Stoney said in his first commission statement. “In fact, it was nostalgia masquerading as history.”\nThe commission held its first public meeting August 9, and commentary from the community lasted for two hours. Opinions ran the gamut, from supporting contextualization to removing the statues to leaving them in place with no additions. Speakers were met with heckling and shouting for having different viewpoints.\nThe second commission meeting, originally set for September 13, was postponed until October due to safety concerns, after the events of August 12 in Charlottesville.\nThis impacted Stoney’s goals for the commission, and he reversed his opinion on removing or relocating the statues, effective August 16, according to a press release. Jim Nolan, the mayor’s press secretary, said the next public meeting will be a work session to plan for future community engagement, and there will be no public comment.\nFuture efforts\nA recent push to pass a resolution to remove all of the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue by 9th District City Councilman Michael Jones was assigned to the Land Use Committee September 25, but he says he does not yet have the support of his colleagues. Jones says he will not “play the political game” of convincing the council to vote yes, but he will continue his cause.\n“We can’t be afraid to have a conversation about this,” Jones says. “Since it’s been so volatile, there’s a greater conversation that needs to be had.”\nDr. Gregory Smithers, Virginia Commonwealth University professor of history, says he favors the removal of the statues.\n“Yes, we need to understand the Civil War and its role in reshaping the nation, but we shouldn’t do that to the exclusion of other critical historical events and people who weren’t white, male, [or] took part in military engagements,” Smithers said. He also said that the timing of the erection of the statues—the time of Jim Crow laws, lynching and when Civil War soldiers were dying—contributed to the Lost Cause mentality and “Northern aggression.” According to a report from Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Monuments Work Group from 2016, 168 war memorials currently stand in Virginia, with 81 percent dedicated to the Confederate participants in the Civil War.\n“In other words, Confederate monuments represent a conscious effort to rewrite American history, replacing it with the fictions of Southern heritage and the cultural and political myths of the Lost Cause,” Smithers says.\nContextualization, Smithers says, won’t work—because of the monuments’ location in Richmond’s busiest areas plaques won’t be sufficient. Relocating them to cemeteries, he says, would be a more appropriate place for their purpose of memorializing the Confederacy.\nA statue of Maggie Walker, a Richmond native and the first female bank owner in the United States, was unveiled in July in Jackson Ward, a historically African-American neighborhood. Photo by Ash Danial\nIn addition, new memorials are being placed throughout the city. Richmond native Maggie Walker, the first female bank owner in the United States and a civil rights activist, was memorialized in July in Jackson Ward, a historically African-American neighborhood. She was welcomed warmly by the community as an example of resilience, and Stoney said at the unveiling event that it was his favorite monument in the city.\nThe latest tribute slated for Richmond in 2019, as voted on by the state’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission, is the commemoration of emancipation memorial featuring 10 prominent African-Americans, which will be erected on Brown’s Island. It will memorialize Nat Turner, the leader of a violent slave rebellion in southern Virginia, and Gabriel Prosser, who unsuccessfully attempted to lead a slave revolt in Richmond, as well as Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Dred Scott, William Harvey Carney, John Mercer Langston, Reverend Wyatt Tee Walker, Lucy F. Simms, Rosa Dixon Bowser and John Mitchell Jr. The General Assembly has earmarked $500,000 for that statue, with the remaining $300,000 coming from private donations.\nMonument Avenue timeline\nRobert E. Lee\nThe 61-foot monument was conceived after the general’s death in 1870, and erected May 29, 1890. The original location was to be Hollywood Cemetery, but Lee was moved to Monument Avenue to increase real estate value and tax revenue. The General Assembly passed legislation to combine funding efforts, totaling $52,000. The statue was erected by African-American laborers and dedicated in front of 100,000 to 150,000 people. The neighborhood was called the Lee District until 1907. It was the base for a pro-Confederate rally September 16.\nGeneral J.E.B. Stuart\nA resolution by City Council kickstarted the monument after Stuart’s death. It was erected May 30, 1907, at the intersection of Monument Avenue and Lombardy Street. Its original planned location was Capitol Square, but it was moved after the Board of Aldermen donated $20,000 to put it “anywhere but Capitol Square,” according to information from the Monument Avenue Commission. The base was vandalized with pine tar in late August 2017.\nJefferson Davis\nConceived 10 days after the death of the president of the Confederacy on December 21, 1889, the monument was erected four days after Stuart. Its original location was slated to be Monroe Park, then Broad Street. It was erected on Monument Avenue at the former Civil War Star Fort site after remaining funding was raised by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The monument was spray painted with “Black Lives Matter” in 2015 and is a gathering site for pro-monument supporters and counterprotesters.\nThomas “Stonewall” Jackson\nThe 37-foot-tall monument was erected right after World War I, with fundraising lead by Mary Anna Jackson, the general’s widow, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The 1919 unveiling was attended by high-profile faces such as then-Virginia governor Westmoreland Davis, the Jackson family and Robert E. Lee’s grandson. School children, Virginia Military Institute cadets and Virginia National Guardsmen also attended.\nMatthew Fontaine Maury\nThe inspiration for the allegorical monument of the Confederate Naval officer came from a Richmonder who saw Maury memorialized in Hamburg, Germany, and suggested the city to do the same. Confederate sympathizer Katherine Stiles lobbied the public with pamphlets of her memories of the Civil War. The General Assembly contributed $10,000; the City of Richmond $10,000; Virginia school children $2,000 and the United Daughters of the Confederacy $5,000. It was completed and dedicated in 1929.\nArthur Ashe\nThe nationally acclaimed tennis star and Richmonder was memorialized in 1996. Spearheaded by the Arthur Ashe Monument Committee after his death in 1993, the sculpture by Paul DiPasquale was discussed with Ashe in 1992. Ashe is the only African-American honored on Monument Avenue, and this was not without controversy. Some welcomed the statue, and others questioned his presence among Confederate leadership, which is an ongoing discussion.\nInformation from the Monument Avenue Commission and the Virginia Historical Society\nOur city eyes contextualization in the form of additional memorials, plaques\nBy Michelle Delgado\nAlthough they are now shrouded, Charlottesville’s statues of Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson remain at the center of a larger debate over the role monuments and memorials play in Charlottesville.\nThe events of August 12 added renewed urgency to conversations about how Charlottesville’s landscape commemorates its history and represents its values—and how the tension between old ways of life and new ways of thinking can be channeled into productive dialogue. As the legal battle over whether the Confederate statues can stay marches on, plans to bring new memorials to Charlottesville offer a glimpse of what the city’s landscape may increasingly look like in the future.\nThe two Confederate statues were donated to the community by Paul Goodloe McIntire, whose presence continues to permeate Charlottesville through an annual award given out by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as at both the business school and amphitheater, which bear his name, on the University of Virginia’s Grounds.\nDespite these positive contributions, McIntire’s decision to commission statues of two Confederate generals who did not visit Charlottesville during the Civil War came during a time of racial terrorism waged against black communities in the South. Although he built parks intended for the city’s black community, McIntire also intended for the parks to remain segregated. Like Thomas Jefferson, he was a product of his time, complicating the current debate over the statues’ meaning.\nPart of the legal battle over whether the statues can be removed hinges on whether they are considered war memorials or works of art.\nCharles “Buddy” Weber arrived in Charlottesville as an undergraduate at UVA in 1964, and returned for law school in 1993. Twenty years later, he ran for City Council as a Republican and has been involved in public life ever since.\nAs a veteran of the Navy, Weber worries that removing statues of war figures could become a precedent for removing other statues commemorating unpopular wars such as Vietnam. The idea that Confederate statues are protected war memorials is at the heart of the Monument Fund’s lawsuit, led by Weber, against the city, regarding its February vote to move the Robert E. Lee statue.\nBut with scars from August 12 still fresh, the legality of that decision is still being debated. In 1998, the General Assembly passed a law restricting the movement of war memorials. That statute, along with the original law against removing war memorials passed in 1904, is currently under scrutiny, with Attorney General Mark Herring recently advising that the 1998 statute cannot be applied retroactively.\nBut some are not convinced that the Confederate statues can be considered war memorials. Jalane Schmidt, a religious studies professor and historian at University of Virginia, says McIntire originally described his donation as “works of art.”\nLike many opponents of removing the statues, Weber is also concerned that the rule of law is being eroded in favor of “interest groups.”\n“If our elected officials exercise their political will in violation of that law, we are in danger of losing America,” he says.\nNonetheless, Weber says that his current position is dictated by his interpretation of the current laws. If the law changed, his opinion might, too.\n“There are deeper grievances,” he said. “A statue is just a symbol, not where the real grievances lie. It’s a diversion now.”\nHistory lessons\nCharlottesville’s culture of placing importance on history creates both common ground and significant differences of opinion. For some, the statues themselves represent history that should be respected. For others, the statues represent a crucial opportunity to discuss where historic narratives have been incomplete.\nAs executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Andrea Douglas is dedicated to sparking conversations about the history of Charlottesville. Unlike Weber, she believes that the statues should be placed in a museum, both to signify their value as tools for understanding history and to remove them from public spaces where they serve as symbols that no longer appropriately convey Charlottesville’s values.\n“What I find difficult about the conversation here is that people believe that history is not ongoing,” Douglas says. “If we believed that we could not change history, then we would be all sitting around here drinking tea under British rule.”\nMargaret O’Bryant is the librarian and head of reference resources at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Although the violent events of August 12 are still rippling through the community, O’Bryant feels that the statues were not directly responsible.\n“I don’t think that the decisions made without our community [and] beyond our community should control what our community [decides],” she says.\nOne solution she has considered takes inspiration from the now-defunct Piedmont Council for the Arts’ Art in Place campaign, with temporary installations honoring notable community members, including those who have been historically overlooked. Controversial statues would only be on display for a short time, while popular statues could potentially become permanent fixtures, she says.\nIn 2016, City Council convened a Blue Ribbon Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces, which met for six months and ultimately recommended the city move both Confederate statues of Lee and Jackson or keep them in place and provide context (both Douglas and O’Bryant served on the commission). Schmidt provided historical context and background to the group.\nIn her research from the digital archives maintained by the Virginia Foundation for Humanities, she learned that the narrative of Confederate defeat known by most Charlottesville residents—that unlike the Virginia Military Institute or the University of Mississippi, the University of Virginia was spared in a gentlemanly and peaceful agreement—was missing some crucial elements. As she delved deeper, she says a different image of that time began to emerge.\nTalk of creating a memorial to the enslaved laborers at UVA began in 2011, when a student group proposed a tribute to those who were forced to work at UVA for the first four decades of the university’s history. After winning support from the administration, the memorial is slated for completion in time for UVA’s bicentennial in 2019. Rendering courtesy Howeller + Yoon\nWhen the Union Army reclaimed Charlottesville and Albemarle County in 1865, more than 50 percent of the population was African-American, the vast majority still enslaved. The 1860 Census showed that 13,916 enslaved African-Americans, as well as 606 free African-Americans, lived in Albemarle County, and those numbers held true throughout the Civil War. By comparison, just more than 12,000 members of the county’s population were white.\nAs the Civil War ravaged the United States, racial tensions flared in Charlottesville. Between 1862 and 1864, nearly 1,000 enslaved African-Americans were forced into the Confederate effort, and in the days leading up to the Confederate surrender on March 3, 1865, Schmidt found primary sources in which university faculty paternalistically complained that their “misguided, wretched” slaves were escaping to freedom and taking livestock for the United States forces.\n“When you rearticulate these conversations, you create multiple ways of entering a dialogue about America and how Charlottesville was founded,” says Douglas, who points out that the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in 1863, two years before Charlottesville was retaken by the United States Army.\n“Did it free enslaved people?” asks Douglas. “No, they freed themselves. If you give people agency, it’s not the same narrative.”\nAdding to the narrative\nFrank Dukes is a professor of urban and environmental planning at UVA, as well as an active member of University and Community Action for Racial Equity, made up of university students and faculty and community members who discuss ways in which UVA’s history with slavery and segregation can be addressed and repair harms associated with that legacy. In recent years, he has seen change sparked by President Teresa Sullivan’s four-year-old Commission on Slavery and the University, which has recently renewed research into UVA’s history of slavery and eugenics.\nIn September, Dukes (who also served on the Blue Ribbon Commission) presented City Council with the idea of a lynching memorial, and points out that the lynching occurred at a demographic tipping point in Albemarle history.\n“After 1890, blacks were no longer the majority here,” says Dukes, in part due to the rash of lynchings and other forms of racial terror that erupted across the South.\nOn July 12, 1898, John Henry James, an African-American Charlottesville resident, was accused of rape and arrested. While he was being transported to the Charlottesville jail, a mob of approximately 150 people seized him from the train that was carrying him.\nThe scene quickly escalated into violence. Without a trial to determine his guilt or innocence, James was hanged to death from a tree near the Ivy Depot. As was customary at the time, his body was also mutilated by more than 40 gunshots and his clothing and body parts were distributed among the crowd as souvenirs.\nIn 2018, the Equal Justice Initiative plans to open a Memorial to Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. The memorial will feature individual floating concrete columns commemorating each victim of more than 4,000 lynchings in America between 1877 and 1950. A duplicate column will be prepared for placement in the county where the lynching occurred, and Albermarle is one of those 800 counties. Courtesy Equal Justice Initiative\nIn 2015, the Equal Justice Initiative released a landmark report on the national history of lynching. The study uncovered more than 4,000 lynchings that occurred between 1877 and 1950, adding several hundred events to the existing historical record.\nIn 2018, EJI plans to open a museum and memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, to create a space for the public to interact with their findings. The Memorial to Peace and Justice will be constructed on six acres, with individual floating concrete columns commemorating each lynching victim.\nFor each column within the memorial, a duplicate column will be prepared for placement in the county where the lynching occurred. Albemarle is among 800 counties that were the sites of violent lynchings during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.\nA petition on Change.org is nearing 50 percent support for a lynching memorial to be placed near the courthouse, which currently hosts the Stonewall Jackson statue, providing additional historical context as a counter narrative to Lost Cause mythology. An additional marker could be placed near Ivy Depot, where the lynching occurred.\nIn September, Dukes (who also served on the Blue Ribbon Commission) presented City Council with the idea of a lynching memorial, and points out that the lynching occurred at a demographic tipping point in Albemarle history. Photo by Dan Addison\nThere are other plans to add context to Charlottesville’s landscape. Charlottesville’s Historic Resources Committee has been preparing a new series of nine markers that will offer a more complete narrative about Court Square.\nOne of the proposed markers will provide an overview of its history, with eight additional markers adding context to specific locations including taverns, hotels and commercial buildings. The text that will be on display is currently being finalized, with the goal of installing the new markers as early in 2018 as possible.\nAdditionally, the committee is working to create a new marker for Court Square that will identify the location of the auction block where enslaved men and women were once sold. The marker currently on display was previously built into the side of a building that once housed a 19th-century auction house, until the building’s owners had it relocated to an inconspicuous spot in the sidewalk.\n“People have objected that it’s not prominent enough,” says O’Bryant. “Even people looking for it don’t always find it.”\nAlthough there is no official date for the auction block marker’s installation, the new marker will provide more information than the current plaque. The Historic Resources Committee also plans to install the new marker vertically and closer to eye level to increase its visibility.\nRewriting history\nBeyond signs and statues, Charlottesville has other options for sparking conversations about the city’s history. This spring marked the first celebration of Liberation and Emancipation Day, commemorating March 3, 1865, when the city was surrendered to the United States Union Army.\nFollowing the surrender, as the United States army razed a textile mill (in the neighborhood that would later be named Woolen Mills) and destroyed a nearby bridge, Albemarle County was awash with jubilation as formerly enslaved African-Americans celebrated their freedom.\n“They said things like, ‘I prayed and prayed that you would arrive, and now you’re here. Glory to god!’” says Schmidt, recalling primary sources from the VFH archive.\nSchmidt’s academic work has focused on the importance of festivals and celebrations in culture.\n“Festivals are a way to remember history, celebrate it and mark our values,” she says. “What better way to mark our values than to celebrate with these 14,000 people?”\nThe celebration was especially striking given that in 2015, the city moved to end Lee-Jackson Day, an annual state holiday celebrating the two Confederate generals whose statues are at the heart of the debate in Charlottesville.\n“Take that to its logical conclusion,” Schmidt says. “You’ve already said that they’re not worthy of being celebrated.”\nAs executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Andrea Douglas is dedicated to sparking conversations about the history of Charlottesville. Photo by Eze Amos\nThe festivities were centered around a church service at the University Chapel, which was the site where the surrender took place, and continued with a parade to the Jefferson School.\nDouglas remembers approximately 150 to 200 members of the community arriving at the Jefferson School. She was struck by the mood, which she says set an appropriate tone for community conversations about history and race.\n“It was celebratory as much as it was an informative moment,” Douglas says.\nMoving forward, the holiday, which arose from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces, is expected to become part of the annual calendar.\nEchoing Liberation and Emancipation Day’s ability to engage the community, Charlottesville will soon gain two new memorials that will be interactive and designed to drive conversations about race and history forward, rather than serving as venerations of specific historic figures.\nIn 2011, a student group called for a new memorial to commemorate enslaved laborers who were forced to work at UVA for the first four decades of its history. After winning support from the administration and a long search for an appropriate design, a plan for the Freedom Ring memorial has been chosen and it is slated for completion in time for UVA’s bicentennial in 2019.\nThe design features a circular granite structure designed to echo broken shackles. Stretching 80 feet in diameter, it will create a natural gathering place on the grassy stretch between the Corner and the Rotunda alongside University Avenue.\nThe structure will be inscribed with all known names of enslaved university workers, as well as marks to signify those who are unnamed in public record, with a rough-hewn exterior that will recall the physical and psychological scars left by slavery.\nThe landscaping has also been given careful thought and symbolism. A water feature will echo the Middle Passage (referring to the transportation of Africans on densely packed ships across the Atlantic), while also suggesting liberation. Finally, the landscaping will feature plants set to bloom during significant times, with blue snowdrops that will flower during Black History Month and potentially flowers that will bloom in time for Liberation and Emancipation Day on March 3.\nIn addition to the memorial for enslaved laborers, the Jefferson School is currently working to fund a new sculpture to commemorate Vinegar Hill, a historic African-American neighborhood that the city razed in 1965.\n“The Jefferson School [can be viewed] as a monument itself, and the two [will] stand together as a true conversation about the community that was Vinegar Hill,” Douglas says.\nThe effort to commemorate Vinegar Hill began in 2011. A jury of historians, artists and writers, including Carmenita Higginbotham, Sarah Tanguy and Frank Walker, searched for a sculptor who could bring both a keen historic sensibility and an understanding of Charlottesville to the project.\nEventually, the jury selected Melvin Edwards, an award-winning artist known for both his installations at internationally known institutions including the Whitney and the Venice Biennale, as well as his public art projects, which have previously been featured at public housing and university sites.\nFor Douglas, Edwards’ iconic statue ensures that Charlottesville’s African-American community will be included in national conversations for years to come.\nAfter a series of meetings with the area’s black community, Edwards designed a sculpture specifically for the site near the Jefferson School. The proposed sculpture will be made of welded steel featuring both geometric shapes and more recognizable symbols including chains. Its modern, abstract form is designed to resist easy explanation.\n“You can actually stand inside of it,” Douglas says. “There’s a relationship to your body; you can be surrounded by the metaphor of this object.”\nThis represents a radical departure from the design of the Confederate statues, which can be only be approached from a point of view of veneration, she says.\nThese new memorials offer hope to members of the Charlottesville community who would like to see conversations about the city’s history expand.\n“The arc is definitely moving strongly toward more honesty, more complete histories, and more understanding the need to overcome white supremacy,” says Dukes. “To be pessimistic is to be cynical, and to be cynical is to be complicit. I choose to look to ways many people are changing, so it’s not too hard to be optimistic.”\nAs the Vinegar Hill statue awaits complete funding, it raises broader questions about how statues and memorials are funded in Charlottesville. Part of the debate over whether the city has the legal right to remove the Confederate statues hinges on the fact that they were originally the result of a private donation, rather than public funding.\nAlthough the Blue Ribbon Commission directed some funding to the Vinegar Hill sculpture, its position on private property and the fact that the jury process was not held publicly through City Council suppressed the amount of funding.\n“If we got the money in 2012 or 2013 it may have been able to change the conversation,” Douglas says. “Had it begun and been more robust earlier, would the community be more prepared for the conversations we are engaged in now?”\nDespite Edwards’ dialogue with Charlottesville’s African-American community, Douglas was clear that not everyone agrees about the final design. Nonetheless, these interactive memorials will provide new entry points into discussions of race, history and culture, offering Charlottesville new opportunities to debate and define its story.\n“The only good thing of the events this summer is people are paying much more attention to our history,” says Dukes.", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet celebs updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nLove Island couples aren't official until they have sex in the ITV2 villa.\nAnd in last night's episode, TWO of the couples finally sealed the deal.\nAmber Davies and Kem Cetinay were seen getting it on in the bedroom.\nAnd meanwhile, birthday girl Jessica Shears was getting her present from Dom Lever in the Hideaway.\nIn tonight's show, the boys came jumping and skipping out of their separate rooms with HUGE smiles on their faces.\n(Photo: ITV)\n(Photo: ITV)\n(Photo: ITV)\nThey high-fived and jumped on the bed, as if they couldn't believe their luck.\nLove Island viewers were in hysterics at the boys' reactions, with many saying it was as if they'd just lost their virginities!\nJake Quickenden said: \"Dom and Kem man have they just lost there virginity (sic)?\"\nAnother added: \"I've never laughed so much at kem & dom (sic).\"\nAlong with a load of laughing emojis, Vicky Pattison shared: \"Dom and kem legit acting like the first geezers to ever have sex.\"\nBefore having sex, Jessica had previously told Dom they wouldn't be sleeping together in the house because her grandma was watching - and she \"doesn't believe in sex before marriage\" - despite a sex tape leaked of her.\n(Photo: ITV)\n(Photo: ITV)\nDom had also written her a romantic poem for her 24th birthday which he read out in front of everyone.\nJessica also said that the poem would \"make any girls' knickers\" drop.\n*Love Island continues on ITV2 tomorrow at 9pm", "“My grandma has worn the same shirt with red, white, blue and stars to celebrate the 4th of July for more than 25 years. Thanks to the World Cup we finally noticed it's the Panama flag.”\nMy grandma has worn the same shirt with red, white, blue, and stars to celebrate the 4th of July for more than 25 years. Every year, she wears the exact same shirt.\nThanks to the #WorldCup we finally noticed it's the Panama Flag.\nOver 25 years of treason. pic.twitter.com/j9sLoWo9QY — Dale Cheesman (@dalecheesman4) July 2, 2018\nA woman in Texas has been wearing the same “patriotic shirt” T-shirt every year to commemorate the 4th of July. She has been donning it for 25 years now.\nHowever, for years she failed to notice that the patriotic stars and stripes top bore a stark resemblance to a foreign flag – it was actually the national flag for Panama.\nShirley Cheesman, 88, discovered the resemblance when her grandson Dale watched the World Cup and noticed the similarities in the flag and her grandmother’s T-shirt. He then uploaded a side by side picture on Twitter of Cheesman wearing the T-shirt and a picture of the Panama Flag.\n“My grandma has worn the same shirt with red, white, blue and stars to celebrate the 4th of July for more than 25 years. Thanks to the World Cup we finally noticed it's the Panama flag. Over 25 years of treason,” Dale wrote on Twitter.\nThe grandson later told BBC he realized that his grandma’s T-shirt was similar to the Panama flag while he was watching a World Cup match with his brother-in-law.\n“We were on a family trip celebrating the 4 July weekend early because it's on a Wednesday this year. We showed my grandma at dinner. She's not happy with the picture. She says she didn't have much makeup on but I think she looks cute,” he added.\nDale also said Cheesman will continue to wear the shirt regardless and will not quit wearing it because “it is tradition” and added that he might end up purchasing Panama shirts for the entire family. He also said when they discovered the resemblance, he and his brother-in-law “died laughing.”\nPanama made their debut in the World Cup this year. However, they failed to win any of the matches and were knocked out in the group stages of the tournament.\nAlthough the defeat was depressing for the Central American country, Cheesman’s mix up surely did bring a smile to many Panamanians’ face. Not only did they find it funny but they also extended invitations for the grandmother to visit Panama.\nTell your grandma to wear it on Nov. 3rd Panama's Independence Day. We support her!! — Guillermo Cruz (@lawyerpan) July 2, 2018\nur grandma is so cute, tell her she can come visit panama any time! — Giuliana?? (@Giulii) July 2, 2018\nTell your grandma she’s invited to a dominguera in my house https://t.co/hi9k2Zh49a — giyoncé (@astridbennett) July 2, 2018\nAwesome she is welcome to come to Panama cheers and happy 4th of July — Nilka de Espinosa (@nilka09) July 3, 2018\nRead More Sikh Community Saves California Town's Fourth Of July Celebrations\nSpotlight, Banner: Pixabay, jill111" ]

[ "Kicked off by Audi, the system aims to end the frustration of missing the arrival of a package being delivered to home or work.\nInstead, Audi owners will be able to use their car as a shipping address for items ordered online.\nA pilot project to test the system is planned to take place in May in Munich.\nUsing Audi's in-car communications system, Connect, DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot, the car maker said. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut.\nThe deliveries will be available only to customers signed up for online retail service Amazon Prime.\nIn March, the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees US airspace, gave Amazon permission to carry out tests using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, for its planned PrimeAir service." ]

[ "The package arrived safely at its destination in Cambridge, 13 minutes after being ordered.\nA video showing the process details how the order was completed using an electrically powered drone flying at up to 400ft (122m).\nOne sceptic questioned how much of a \"game changer\" the limited trial of the service would be.\nAs part of the testing for the Amazon Air service, the delivery took place on 7 December, although it was only revealed on 14 December.\nThe Cambridge fulfilment centre is home to the drones, which, once the ordered package is on board, travel along an automated track to the launch area.\nThe drones then take off and fly completely autonomously, guided by GPS to their destination.\nThey are capable of carrying items weighing up to 2.7kg (5lbs).\nThe aim is that all orders made using Amazon Air will be delivered within 30 minutes.\nThe trial will be expanded to dozens of customers living close to the warehouse in the coming months.\nThe safety of drones has come under the spotlight in recent months.\nThere have been reports of near-misses this year between drones and aircraft at London Stansted and Cornwall Airport Newquay.\n\"Safety is our top priority,\" Amazon said on its website. \"We are currently permitted to operate during daylight hours when there are low winds and good visibility, but not in rain, snow or icy conditions.\"\nThere are Prime Air development centres in the US, UK, Austria and Israel. The company is also testing its drone vehicles in \"multiple international locations\".\n\"This is a marketing coup for Amazon,\" said Natalie Berg, an analyst at Planet Retail.\n\"The real significance here is the impact it has on shopper expectations.\n\"Last year, same-day delivery was considered impressive; now it's all about 13 minute lead times.\n\"Over the past few years, we've seen a proliferation in delivery options as retailers scramble to cater to changing shopping habits.\n\"Fulfilment has become a firm battleground in retail and the most successful retailers today are those who can deliver products to shoppers in the quickest, most convenient and economical way.\n\"Drone delivery is another string to Amazon's bow, but it's certainly not an industry game changer.\"", "Called Project Wing, the initiative aims to be delivering goods to consumers using the robot aircraft sometime in 2017.\nThe announcement came from David Vos, the project leader for the delivery service.\nOnline retailers such as Amazon, Alibaba and others are also experimenting with drone delivery.\n\"Our goal is to have commercial business up and running in 2017,\" said Mr Vos during a speech at an air traffic control convention being held in Washington.\nNo details have been given about what type of drones Google might use for the service nor what type of packages they will be delivering.\nDetails about Project Wing emerged in 2014. Initially it was run inside Google X - the firm's secretive research lab. It is now believed to be under the control of Alphabet - the parent company that the former divisions of Google now operate under.\nFor that early work the company built its own drones and flew them in trials in Australia. Early reports suggested the drones would be used for disaster relief or to deliver urgently needed medical supplies.\nGoogle's custom-designed drones can hover and winch packages down to the ground for delivery.\nAmazon has already detailed its plans to use drones to deliver goods. It said its octocopters could ferry 2.3kg of goods to customers within 30 minutes of an order being placed.\nIn addition, in early 2015, China's largest online retailer Alibaba carried out a three-day trial of drone delivery around its offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.", "The firm has been waiting since July for approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test drones near Seattle, reports Reuters.\nAmazon announced proposals for a drone delivery service called Amazon Prime Air in December 2013.\nThe FAA has been contacted by the BBC for comment.\n\"Without approval of our testing in the United States, we will be forced to continue expanding our Prime Air R&D footprint abroad,\" wrote Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global public policy, in a letter to the FAA.\nAmazon wants to use small drones to deliver packages up to 2.3kg (5lb) in weight.\nThe service would enable customers to receive a purchase within 30 minutes of placing an order.\nSix drone operators were approved by the US to carry out commercial flight tests at around the same time as Prime Air was announced but Amazon was not among them.\nSuccessful applicants included the University of Alaska, Griffiss International Airport in New York and North Dakota's Department of Commerce.\nThe FAA said it considered \"geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, safety, aviation experience and risk\" in selecting the operators.\nAmazon already has a drone R&D lab in Cambridge in the UK.\nGoogle and DHL are also exploring the use of drones as couriers.\nDuring the summer, Google demonstrated its service using a fixed-wing craft and in September DHL started a regular drone-delivery service to an island in the North Sea.", "One aircraft failed to launch properly and was then nearly destroyed.\nThe test in Florida was intended to demonstrate how package-carrying drones could make the company more efficient in rural locations.\nHowever, US rules currently state that commercial use of such aircraft requires pilots to keep them in sight.\nThe firm acknowledges that until this restriction is eased it cannot carry out its plan to let drivers deploy the drones from one location and then meet up with them at another, letting both humans and machines make deliveries simultaneously.\n\"Drivers are the face of our company and that won't change,\" said Mark Wallace, the firm's senior vice-president of global engineering.\n\"What's exciting is the potential for drones to aid drivers at various points along their routes. Imagine a triangular delivery route where the stops are kilometres apart.\n\"Sending a drone from a package car to make just one of those deliveries can reduce costly kilometres driven.\"\nThe Horsefly octacopter involved was made by Ohio-based Workhorse Group.\nThe initial test went well, with the aircraft launching from a platform built into the truck's slide-open roof.\nBut a second attempt was more problematic.\nThe drone tipped over when it tried to take off, rocked back and was then nearly crushed when the truck's roof began to close over the launch pad where the machine was still sitting.\n\"For the photographers we tried to do a quick non-traditional delivery and something went wrong,\" Stephen Burns, chief executive of Workhorse, told the news site Techcrunch.\n\"We probably shouldn't have tried to do something weird like that with everyone watching.\"\nMr Burns added that the problem may have been caused by interference from TV cameras filming the trial. Techcrunch has posted footage of the incident on its site.\nUPS says it is not sure when or how it will eventually roll out the flying robots.\n\"We have no idea how all that will play out until we find out how to integrate them into the business,\" Mr Dodero told reporters.\nDrones are, however, already making medical deliveries in Rwanda - a project UPS is involved in - and Amazon is testing the tech in the UK.", "Audi said the upgrade would \"improve emissions behaviour in real driving conditions further beyond existing legal requirements\".\nThe carmaker added it was convinced the programme would counteract possible bans on diesel cars.\nIn recent days, rival German carmakers Mercedes and Daimler issued recalls involving three million vehicles.\nThe Audi recall affects cars fitted with six- and eight-cylinder diesel motors meeting the Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions criteria, including some models made by parent company Volkswagen and sister firm Porsche.\nThe upgrade is available for Audi cars with affected engines in Europe and other markets outside North America.\nThe Reuters news agency reported that German car industry officials and politicians had agreed to improve diesel vehicles' emissions through software updates in order to avoid diesel bans in cities.\nArndt Ellinghorst, an analyst at investment bank Evercore ISI, said there could be many more of these fixes to come: \"What Audi and Mercedes have announced is just the tip of the iceberg. All other carmakers will follow and offer improvements to the engine management software.\n\"If this isn't an industry-wide action, city driving bans might be the painful alternative.\"", "Chief executive Doug McMillon will unveil the partnership with car-hailing services Uber and Lyft at Walmart's shareholder meeting later on Friday.\nThe company said in a blog post that it expects the trial to start within the next two weeks.\nWalmart already offers an online grocery delivery service in 13 markets.\nUnder the new partnership, Walmart customers can place a delivery online and a Walmart employee will then request a driver from Uber or Lyft, the blog post said.\nThe driver will pick up the order and deliver it directly to the customer's location. Customers will be charged $7-10 for the service.\nThe pilot will begin in Denver, Colorado and one other city, reportedly Phoenix, Arizona.\nMr McMillon told investors in January that the company would focus on being more nimble as it announced the closure of 269 stories globally.\nThe expansion of its delivery service will intensify competition with online retailer Amazon, which launched its Amazon Fresh grocery delivery business in the US in 2007.", "The company expects to create more than 2,000 new jobs when the site opens.\nBuilding the hub will cost close to $1.5bn (£1.19bn).\nThe move signals the company's continued expansion into transporting, sorting and delivering its own packages.\nLast year, Amazon entered into agreements to lease 40 dedicated Prime Air cargo planes.\nSo far, 16 planes are in service for Amazon customers, with more rolling out over time.\nAmazon's site currently lists in excess of 30 carriers that are used to transport packages, including delivery giants United Parcel Services and FedEx.\nBy establishing its own cargo hub, the expectation is that Amazon will gradually take more control over the entire process of getting items to customers once ordered.\nSteve Banker, vice-president of supply chain services at consulting company ARC Advisory Group, said this is a sign of Amazon \"ramping up\" its business.\n\"Amazon still loses money on deliveries, the IT service side of their business supports the retail operations. Owning the whole chain cuts out the middleman fees,\" said Mr Banker.\nThe Governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin, said the plans for the cargo hub were \"exciting\".\n\"Kentucky's ideal location, proven workforce and an already extensive shipping and logistics industry have been the backbone of our relationship with Amazon for nearly 20 years.\n\"This new project will pay dividends to both the company and our state and we are truly grateful for the jobs and economic impact it will bring.\"\nThe chief executive of the airport, Candace McGraw, called the hub \"transformational\" for the economy and businesses in the area.\nLast month, Amazon said it will create 100,000 new, full-time jobs across the US by mid-2018 and also revealed plans to open new warehouses in Texas,Maryland and Colorado.\nThe company also completed its first commercial drone delivery in the UK at the end of last year, with a package delivered to an address in Cambridge 13 minutes after being ordered.", "The firm has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if it can begin flight testing drones for home delivery, pick-up and warehouse tasks.\nWalmart is the world's largest retailer by revenue and follows in the steps of Amazon, which is already testing drones for this purpose.\nIt has emerged that Walmart is already testing drones indoors.\nA range of potential tasks for the drones to carry out could be evaluated.\nThese include dropping off products in Walmart car parks for customers to collect, and for inspecting digital tags on trucks at Walmart warehouses in order to check what they contain.\nDirect deliveries to customers' homes could be trialled once the permission of residents in the flight path had been granted, the company said.\nBut Walmart's application suggests it might dispatch those drones from trucks in the area, and not directly from distribution centres.\nShould the FAA grant permission, Walmart plans to use drones made by Chinese firm DJI.\nEarlier in the year, Amazon received permission to begin testing its drones outdoors, although it must obey rules such as keeping the vehicles below 400 ft and only operating them via a human pilot.\nVarious other firms have started investigating the possibilities of drone delivery, including huge Chinese retailer Alibaba, courier DHL and the Singapore Post.\n\"Drones have a lot of potential to further connect our vast network of stores, distribution centres, fulfilment centres and transportation fleet,\" said Walmart spokesman Dan Toporek in a statement.\n\"There is a Walmart within five miles of 70 % of the US population, which creates some unique and interesting possibilities for serving customers with drones.\"\nThe move suggested thickening competition between the world's biggest retailers, according to Andrew Milroy, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan.\n\"This shows that Walmart is competing head-to-head with Amazon as it seeks ways of making its supply chains more efficient and ways of improving customer service,\" he said.\nRetailers' moves into the area of drone delivery are to be taken seriously, suggested legal expert Luke Scanlon of law firm Pinsent Masons.\n\"Retailers are definitely seeing a future application,\" he told the BBC.", "It began two weeks ago after it emerged that some vehicles had been equipped with a device that cheated emissions tests in the US.\nThe company told RTÉ that customers will be contacted about what it called its \"action plan to correct the emissions characteristics of certain diesel vehicles\".\nThe recall will involve 34,387 Volkswagen passenger cars, 16,485 Audi cars, 4,365 SEAT cars, and 16,004 Skoda cars.\nThe recall will also include 8,107 commercial vehicles sold under the Volkswagen brand.\nIn a further clarification, the company said an additional 30,000 cars may be recalled.\nThese are understood to be imported second-hand cars.\nVW scandal - unanswered questions\nVolkswagen: A brief history\nThe company is to set up an online service for customers to check if their car will be affected.\nThe company says the process of correcting the emissions will begin shortly, but said that all vehicles are \"technically safe and road-worthy\".\nEarlier on Thursday, Volkswagen announced it was suspending the sale of 4,000 vehicles in the UK in the wake of the emissions scandal.\nThe company said the vehicles may be equipped with the same device that cheated emissions tests in the US.\nThe move will involve vehicles across the VW group including the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands.\nThe company said it was a temporary measure and that it intended to return the vehicles for sale once a fix is identified for the cars.\nThe cars taken off the market represent 3% of VW's stock in the UK.", "Amazon Dash are buttons that you stick on household items. And with a click, you can re-order your dishwashing detergent from the e-retailer and it will arrive on your doorstep along with your other purchases.\nConnecting things wirelessly to the internet is termed the Internet of Things (IoT). I recently made a programme about what is being hyped as the next big thing in tech. The reason is because of the numbers involved.\nImagine your household gadgets, smart meters, and other objects are all connected to the internet. For instance, wearable technology such as fitness bands that track your daily activities are recorded online (and tell you that you need to sleep more). Driverless cars are another example.\nThinking about how many gadgets there are in the world, it's not surprising that the IoT is being viewed with such excitement. ABI Research estimates that there are already more than 16bn wireless connected devices, an increase of 20% from a year earlier. By 2020, Gartner forecasts that the market will generate incremental revenue of more than $300bn.\nNo wonder Amazon wants a slice. The company is known for making virtually no profits despite strong revenues and a sizeable market share. For instance, Amazon has a dominant share of the e-book market and is one of the top 10 retailers in the United States, largely due to its low prices and undercutting bricks and mortar competitors.\nLast year, Amazon posted a loss of $241m despite revenues of $89bn. For years, its revenues and profits have been headed in opposite directions. From 2007, Amazon's revenues surged from $15bn, but profits steadily fell from $436m to a loss now.\nIts share price fell by about 20% last year but has since recovered some ground. However, analysts are wondering how long investors will support a minimally profitable business.\nFounder and chief executive Jeff Bezos is an active experimenter, trying everything from drones to make customer deliveries, to gadgets such as the Kindle and Fire smartphone. Some have been successful, but many have not.\nMr Bezos will be banking on IoT being the next big thing and not just hype, and that his foray will pay off.", "The idea to develop huge unmanned aircraft comes from Facebook's Connectivity Lab, set up by company founder Mark Zuckerberg.\nThe aim is to make the internet available to two-thirds of the world's population who can't currently get online.\nThey say expanding internet access would create another 140 million jobs.\nAnd they say it could help lift 160 million people out of poverty, and reduce child mortality.\nThe lab's engineering director Yael Maguire revealed the drone plan at the 2014 Social Good Summit in New York.\nHe didn't actually use the word \"drone\" but said that unmanned \"planes roughly the size of a commercial aircraft, like a 747\" would serve as huge connectivity hubs and could one day stay up in the air for months, even years, at a time.\nMaguire explained: \"In order for us to fly these planes we actually have to fly above the weather, above all airspace. That's between 60,000 and 90,000 feet. Routinely, planes don't fly there, and certainly not drones.\"\nHe said the aircraft will be much lighter, adding that one of the models being worked on by the Connectivity Lab is the length of \"about six or seven Priuses, but is the weight of four of the tires of a Prius\".\nTo continuously provide wi-fi coverage the planes will be powered by the sun.\nMaguire added that the aircraft could be tested in the US as early as next year, although the strict rules around unmanned aircraft could slow down that process.\nFacebook is not the only tech firm exploring the use of drones.\nGoogle is known to be building and testing autonomous aerial vehicles to use for goods deliveries at its secret development centre, Google X, in California.\nGoogle is also looking at balloons to bring internet access to remote parts of the world.\nDHL has begun delivering by drone to a remote island in Germany.\nAnd Amazon has created \"Octocopters\" to deliver parcels to its customers in the US.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The vehicles, which come in various sizes, will distribute post from the central London depot.\nThey were produced by Oxfordshire-based carmaker Arrival, which recently opened a new factory in Banbury.\nAnother batch of 100 electric vans for Royal Mail has also been ordered from Peugeot.\nHaving already been trialled by Royal Mail, these will enter service in December.\nArrival says the nine vehicles it has supplied come in sizes of three and a half, six and seven and a half tonnes.\nAlthough the current prototype versions of the vans are fitted with wing mirrors, a spokeswoman for Arrival told the BBC they will be removed from the final design - as cameras will be used to monitor traffic to the rear instead.\nRoyal Mail was \"delighted\" to be collaborating with Arrival, said Paul Gatti, Royal Mail Fleet's managing director.\n\"We will be putting them through their paces over the next several months to see how they cope with the mail collection demands from our larger sites,\" he added.\nRoyal Mail's fleet comprises about 49,000 vehicles in total.\n\"European postal providers, starting with DHL in Germany, have been taking this approach for a while now,\" said Ananth Srinivasan, a mobility expert with research consultancy Frost & Sullivan.\nHe added that five countries - the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain - had the potential to convert significant proportions of their fleets to electric vehicles in the coming years.\n\"Our research indicates that by 2025 these countries may have 100,000 postal service vehicles going electric between them,\" he told the BBC.", "But US markets overall turned negative, weighed down by technology, retail and other sectors.\nGains in financial stocks, which jumped after banks cleared the second part of an annual stress test, could not offset the declines.\nThe tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 1.44% or 90.06 points to 6,144.35.\nThe Dow Jones shed more than 167 points, falling 0.8% to 21,287.03, and the S&P 500 fell 0.9% to 2,419.70.\nTechnology stocks, which rose rapidly earlier this year, have fallen in recent weeks. They drove the decline on Thursday. Apple fell 1.5% and Microsoft dropped 1.9%.\nE-commerce giant Amazon fell 1.5%, also casting a shadow on Blue Apron's debut.\nBlue Apron, which delivers packages of groceries pre-packaged to match the quantities needed for recipes, had hoped to raise at least $450m, or roughly $15 a share.\nBut Amazon's plan to buy Whole Foods, announced as Blue Apron prepared to go to market, left some investors worried about stepped-up competition in the industry.\nBlue Apron cut its pricing to $10 a share. It held onto that value as the shares started trading on Thursday, rising a bit before closing where they started.\nShares in Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 1.7% after it scrapped its planned takeover of pharmacy chain Rite Aid Corp and said it would buy more than 2,000 Rite Aid stores instead for $5.2bn.\nShares in Rite Aid plunged 26.5% on the news.", "According to the patent, the drones will be able to track the location of the person it is delivering to by pulling data from their smartphone.\nThe unmanned vehicles will also be able to talk to each other about weather and traffic conditions.\nAmazon faces many regulatory hurdles before its plans can be turned into reality.\nAmazon submitted its drone patent in September 2014, but the details are only now being published by the US Patent and Trademark Office, after it approved the ideas.\nFor many, Amazon's idea of delivery via drone was seen as pie-in-the-sky, but the details it provides in its patent application suggest that the firm is taking the idea seriously and working hard to overcome a variety of technical obstacles.\nWinning patent approval does not mean that the final product will be exactly as described or that it will become reality.\nAmazon is leading the effort to convince the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to approve widespread commercial use of drones.\nAccording to the plans, Amazon's drones will be able to update their routes in real-time. A mock-up delivery screen suggests that people will be able to choose from a variety of delivery options - from \"bring it to me\" to nominating their home, place of work or even \"my boat\" as places for packages to be dropped.\nLast month car maker Audi said that it would be trying out package delivery to the boot of its cars with Amazon and DHL.\nUsing Audi's in-car communications system, Connect, DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot, the car maker said. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut.\nOther details revealed include:\nAmazon's plans for drone delivery puts increasing pressure on the FAA to allow more US-based drone research and development.\nIt has been criticised for dragging its heels on regulation and losing the impetus on drone development which has gone to other countries, most notably the UK which will build a drone research centre in London.\nThis week the FAA did make significant strides towards relaxing its rules on drone use, giving the go-ahead for unmanned helicopters to be used for spraying crops in the US as well as announcing plans for testing news-gathering drones in urban areas in partnership with CNN.\nIt also said it would also test commercial drones that can fly beyond an operator's line of sight for inspecting railways.\nAmazon had been testing its drone system in Canada where airspace regulations are more relaxed. but in March the FAA granted it permission to start testing in the US, although the drones can fly no higher than 400ft (122m) and must remain within the pilot's line of sight.", "26 July 2016 Last updated at 16:29 BST\nThat could soon be reality - the government's got together with Amazon to start testing it out.\nNaz has been finding out more...", "Customers can collect their purchases from lockers at Finchley Central and Newbury Park following company's deal with Transport for London (TfL).\nIn November, TfL signed a deal with Asda which allowed people to collect their shopping from six stations.\nBut the London Federation of Small Businesses said it hope small shops would not suffer as a result.\nMatthew Jaffa, spokesman for the federation, said its members had not be \"given a fair crack of whip\" at being involved in the scheme, which TfL hopes will generate substantial income for the network.\n\"We would like more awareness and a communication about this,\" Mr Jaffa said.\n\"We want our members to be given more of an opportunity. Hopefully this will happen next time.\"\nOn Sunday it was announced Amazon customers will be able to pick-up parcels from railways stations.\nTesco, Asda and Sainsbury's customers can currently have their groceries delivered by van to Tube station car parks and Waitrose is working with TfL to install click and collect facilities.\nInPost, which delivers parcels, has a collection point at Buckurst Hill station.", "The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 2.3kg to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, he said.\nHowever, he added that it could take up to five years for the service to start.\nThe US Federal Aviation Administration is yet to approve the use of unmanned drones for civilian purposes.\n\"I know this looks like science fiction, but it's not,\" Mr Bezos told CBS television's 60 Minutes programme.\n\"We can do half-hour delivery... and we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds (2.3kg), which covers 86% of the items that we deliver.\"\nThe service will be called Prime Air and comes as Amazon is looking to improve its efficiency to boost growth.\nAmazon also posted a video on its website showing a drone picking up a package from one of its warehouses and delivering it to the doorstep of a customer's house.\nHowever, it still has to wait for permission from US regulators.\nThe US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drones for police and government agencies, issuing about 1,400 permits over the past several years.\nCivilian air space is expected to be opened up to all kinds of drones in the US by 2015 and in Europe by 2016.\nExisting regulations are in place to minimise the risk of injury to people on the ground, said Dr Darren Ansell, an expert on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from the University of Central Lancashire.\n\"The UAVs do not currently have the awareness of their environment to be able to avoid flying into people. To deliver goods to people's homes for example in residential areas, the UAVs must overfly densely populated towns and cities, something that today's regulations prevent.\n\"Other things to consider are security of the goods during the transit. With no one to guard them the aircraft and package could be captured and stolen,\" he said.\nAmazon said: \"from a technology point of view, we'll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place.\"\nThe FAA was \"actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles\", the company said, adding that it hoped the green light would be given as early as 2015.\n\"One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today.\"\nZookal, an Australian textbook rental company, announced earlier this year that it would start using drones to make deliveries from 2015 if approved by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.\nAustralian law allows the use of unmanned aircraft for commercial use.", "Carried by an airship, the warehouses would visit places Amazon expects demand for certain goods to boom.\nIt says one use could be near sporting events or festivals where they would sell food or souvenirs to spectators.\nThe patent also envisages a series of support vehicles that would be used to restock the flying structures.\nThe filing significantly expands on Amazon's plans to use drones to make deliveries. Earlier this month it made the first commercial delivery using a drone via a test scheme running in Cambridge.\nIn the documents detailing the scheme, Amazon said the combination of drones and flying warehouses, or \"airborne fulfilment centres\", would deliver goods much more quickly than those stationed at its ground-based warehouses.\nAlso, it said, the drones descending from the AFCs - which would cruise and hover at altitudes up to 45,000ft (14,000m) - would use almost no power as they glided down to make deliveries.\nMany firms working on drones are struggling with ways to extend their relatively short range, which is typically dependent on the size of the battery they carry.\nThe patent lays out a comprehensive scheme for running a fleet of AFCs and drones. It suggests smaller airships could act as shuttles taking drones, supplies and even workers to and from the larger AFCs.\nAmazon has not responded to a request for comment about the patent.\nIt is not clear whether the filing is a plan for a project that will be realised or just a proof-of-concept. Many firms regularly file patents that never end up becoming real world products or services.\nAmazon's patent was filed in late 2014 but has only now come to light thanks to analyst Zoe Leavitt from CB Insights who unearthed the documents.", "According to the video, the drone could fly for up to 15 miles (24km) and deliver a parcel within 30 minutes of the order being placed.\nThere was no indication of when it might be used by the retail giant.\nThe firm was given permission to test delivery drones in the US earlier this year.\nIt also has drone delivery development centres in the UK and Israel.\nThe prototype will be part of a \"family\" of delivery aircraft, Mr Clarkson added in the clip, and is one of around a dozen devices the firm is developing.\nThe drone is equipped with \"sense and avoid technology\" and can fly at a height of 400 feet.\nTech lawyer Luke Scanlon from Pinsent Masons law firm said security could be an issue if this technology is software-based.\n\"'Detect and avoid' systems rely on software and given the current climate of hacking and data breaches, it is very important that co-ordinated efforts are made to ensure that systems are put in place which are given the highest level of assurance in terms of security,\" he said.\n\"Once these standards are agreed by technical experts, arguments to support the creation of commercial drone services beyond the line of sight will gain more support in the ongoing regulatory reform discussions and forums currently taking place.\"\nAmazon said it would not launch the service until it was able to \"demonstrate safe operations\".\nThe US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has strict criteria for commercial drone use and some American politicians have called for the setting up of a drone register.\nThe FAA estimates that by 2020 there will be around 30,000 commercial drones and many more civilian devices in use in America.", "George Cheese, 18, had been employed at the German company's Reading garage for six months when he was found hanged on 9 April 2015.\nThe \"horseplay\", which also included being hosed down and put in a car boot, contributed to his depression, said Coroner Peter Bedford.\nHe recorded a narrative verdict.\nMr Bedford said Mr Cheese had also been affected by a relationship breakdown and medical discharge from the Army.\nReading Coroner's Court heard on Thursday that his body was found in woodland near his home in Woodley, Berkshire.\nHe had been prescribed medication for depression, which he had not been taking, \"brought on by a series of life events\", Mr Bedford said.\nHe also wrongly believed he had a serious illness and had researched cancer symptoms online.\nThe inquest heard that after leaving the Army due to fracturing both of his legs in 2014, Mr Cheese was happy at securing his \"dream job\" at Audi.\nHowever, his parents Keith and Purdy Cheese told the inquest their son had come home with minor burns after his trousers were doused with flammable brake fluid and ignited.\nHe had also said he was placed in a bin, locked in a cage, put in a car boot, hosed down with water and given \"dead legs\" by colleagues during separate incidents.\nHis manager Terry Kindeleit said the \"physical incidents\", some of which he described as \"horseplay\", stopped after he warned staff.\nThe court heard that Mr Cheese had referred to the behaviour as \"banter\" that \"sometimes goes too far\".\nMr Cheese's family asked for neglect from Audi to form part of the coroner's conclusion but Mr Bedford said the legal requirement for this had not been met.\nHe said, however, that Mr Cheese's death had been a \"wake-up call\" for Audi and was in \"no doubt\" that action had been taken to prevent the same thing happening again.\nThames Valley Police said the incidents at Audi had been investigated and there was insufficient evidence for prosecution.", "So in an effort to have his cake and eat it, he drives an Audi RS6, an estate car that looks little different from any other estate out there.\n\"It is understated and discreet, and I like that,\" Mr Wotke says as he steers the car slowly down the exclusive private road where he lives, in a village near Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire.\n\"Customers don't think I'm being unreasonable when I turn up in this, rather than in a Porsche or a Ferrari,\" says Mr Wotke, director of ASAP CRM, a customer relationship management consultancy.\nBut out on the open road the £90,000 car's true nature is revealed, as Mr Wotke lets rip to overtake a slow-moving queue of cars.\nUnder the bonnet, a 580hp V10 Lamborghini engine grunts gently, accelerating at a rate of 0-60mph (0-100km/h) in just over four seconds.\n\"It accelerates like a motorbike so it's really good for overtaking in a safe way,\" Mr Wotke says - though he also acknowledges that \"you could just go mad in this thing - but you'd lose your licence\".\nMr Wotke's RS6 and his previous car, an RS4, are both derived from the RS2, which was launched by Audi around the turn of the century.\nThe RS2 is \"arguably the model that spurred the 'fast load-lugger' segment so popular with German premium brands\", according to Paul Newton, automotive analyst with IHS Global Insight.\nOthers see BMW as the true pioneer in this field, pointing to how Audi's main rival launched a Touring version of its M5 super-saloon in 1992. At the time, it was the world's fastest estate car.\nBut there is little dispute about how it all started with the first M5, hand built by BMW Motorsport and launched way back in 1984, putting into practice the idea that ordinary saloon cars could be made to behave like supercars.\nBMW has been making M5 models ever since, its latest version competing with Audi's RS6 as well as with the E63 AMG from Mercedes and the XFR from Jaguar.\nThe cars have all been built to be practical road cars, though it is only on a racetrack that you get a feel for their full potential.\nPushing the latest 560hp M5 model at top speed through a series of long and at times rather tight bends on the track, it soon becomes clear that in spite of their discreet facades, these family saloons can rival many of the more macho-looking supercars from the likes of Ferrari, Porsche or McLaren.\n\"The customers want something understated, yet they want power and performance when required,\" according to Brian Cox, product operations manager at BMW UK.\nPowerful high-end models from luxury car companies are often described as \"halo cars\", and all the rivals in the luxury car market have their own versions.\n\"It is very, very important for us,\" says BMW's Mr Cox. \"It's seen as a brand shaper. People want to be part of that club.\"\nIn other words, in spite of their hefty price tags, the luxury carmakers' most powerful cars are not primarily sold to bolster company profits.\nAfter all, they only sell in their hundreds - a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of cars sold by the companies that make them.\nInstead, the muscle cars are essentially poster boys, their job to communicate brand values and image, and thus attract buyers for rather more civilised models.\nThe idea is that customers may feel inspired by the potential of the performance models, then go away and buy similar cars kitted out with relatively small, considerably more frugal and much less powerful engines.\n\"Carmakers have invested millions in loss-making Formula 1 or rally teams, or in high-performance models that help build that 'halo' around the brand,\" says John Lewis, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).\nBut in the end, he reasons, \"common-sense qualities such as running costs and safety will win over many customers\".\nHence, the segment where luxury car companies sell large volumes is governed by a set of performance figures that have little to do with maximum power.\nInstead, fleet and business customers want them to deliver good fuel economy and low carbon dioxide emissions - since these affect how much tax they pay, whether road tax or company car tax.\n\"Most fleet managers will operate a car for three to four years, and they care about two things - the cost of running the car and the tax implications,\" says Mr Lewis.\n\"The key factor in both these equations is fuel efficiency. Fuel is the largest element of running costs, and company car tax is based on CO2 emissions, which are directly related to the amount of fuel a car engine burns.\"\nThus, the way the luxury car companies achieve volume is with the help of frugal, sensible versions of cars that look similar to their high-performance RS, M and AMG cousins.\n\"Fleet and business buyers are already responsible for nearly 60% of new car registrations,\" observes BVRLA's Mr Lewis.\n\"Though for popular 'executive' models, including the Audi A4 and A6, the BMW 3 and 5 series and Mercedes C and E Class, corporate sales could account for an even higher percentage.\"\nSelling more cars than their rivals seems important to many of the carmakers' top executives.\nDieter Zetsche, chief executive of Mercedes' parent company Daimler, for instance, tells BBC News that he thinks it is important for Mercedes to try to reclaim the sales crown which it lost to BMW a few years ago.\nAudi's head of marketing and sales, Peter Schwartzenbauer, is a bit less aggressive when it comes to sales volumes.\n\"We never really aim to be the biggest, but the most successful,\" he tells BBC News.\n\"And this is not necessarily the biggest. It's always a combination of volume, profitability and brand perception. Are you perceived as the leading brand in the premium sector?\"\nRivalry about who delivers the most powerful or the most economic models, or indeed about who sells the most cars, might make for good entertainment.\nBut what really matters to executives of luxury is profits, and as a rule the luxury car companies have become very good at delivering to shareholders.\n\"Luxury carmakers are very good at producing a myriad of slightly tweaked special editions that can help prolong the life of a car model and recoup the huge sums spent developing a replacement,\" says Mr Lewis.\n\"As a basic rule of thumb, larger, more executive models tend to provide carmakers with a higher profit margin, which will also grow with economies of scale.\"", "The search firm's sister company Waymo has created a free \"early rider\" programme in Phoenix, Arizona.\nHundreds of families are expected to take part. Waymo has equipped a fleet of 500 minivans with its self-driving technology to handle ride requests.\nThe company said testers could ride any time across a test zone in Phoenix twice the size of San Francisco.\nThe test is the first, large-scale public trial of a driverless car system.\nIn a blog John Krafcik, Waymo's chief executive, said it had been doing small-scale tests of its riding service with a few Phoenix families for the past month.\nNow, he said, it wanted more testers, with \"diverse backgrounds and transportation needs\".\n\"We'll learn things like where people want to go in a self-driving car, how they communicate with our vehicles, and what information and controls they want to see inside,\" wrote Mr Krafcik.\nThose applying to take part must be over 18 and live inside the large test region, which forms part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.\nThe cars will not be entirely autonomous, as Arizona laws governing the use of autonomous vehicles demand a test driver be behind the wheel to take control in the event of problems or collisions.\nGoogle's Waymo has been one of the most aggressive developers of autonomous car driving technology and services.\nThe company's robot cars have now driven more than 2.5 million miles on public roads without human help.\nThe cars have also been involved in 14 collisions while logging those miles.\nAs well as fitting out existing cars with sensing and navigations systems, Waymo has also developed its own small, two-seater vehicles.\nFor the Phoenix test, Google will use Chrysler Pacifica minivans.\nThe news of the test project comes a day after the UK announced plans to get driverless cars tested on public roads and motorways by 2019.\nIt also comes as the Wall Street Journal revealed Amazon has been working on autonomous car services for more than 12 months.", "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung says the warning emerged during VW's current investigation into the scandal.\nSeparately, Bild am Sonntag said the internal inquiry had found that parts supplier Bosch had warned Volkswagen not to use its software illegally.\nVolkswagen told the BBC they would not comment on \"newspaper speculation\".\nLast week VW apologised for cheating on emissions tests in the US. Some 11 million VW diesel cars built since 2008 are affected by the scandal.\nThey had devices which could detect when the engine was being tested and could change the car's performance to improve results.\nVolkswagen: The scandal explained\nCiting unidentified sources, Bild said Bosch had warned Volkswagen as early as 2007 that its software should only be used in company tests and not for normal driving.\nLast week VW's chief executive Martin Winterkorn was forced out over the scandal and replaced by Matthias Mueller, the former head of Porsche.\n11 million\nVehicles affected worldwide\n€6.5bn Set aside by VW\n$18bn Potential fines\nNo. 1 Global carmaker in sales\nI'm a VW owner - what should I do?\nWhat next for VW?\nCar emissions tests: Not fit for purpose?\nVW boss Winterkorn's highs and lows\nVW scandal explained\nAs well as shocking VW customers, the scandal has stunned investors in the car maker.\nThe BBC has learned that debt products issued by Volkswagen are under review by the European Central Bank (ECB).\nThe ECB has been buying debt products from big companies, including VW, as part of its scheme to boost the eurozone economy.\nBut following the admission by the carmaker that it cheated emissions tests, the ECB is reviewing its purchase of debt from VW.\nIn particular, it is examining debt backed by loans to buyers of VW cars.\nThe products, known as asset-backed securities, have been popular investments as they offer a relatively high rate of return in an era when interest rates are low.\nSuch debt is also very important to car makers and allows them to finance loans to customers.\nThe indication of concern by the ECB will be a worry for other investors in that debt and could affect VW's ability to raise money.\nUnited States: Scandal emerged following findings by the Environmental Protection Agency. Justice Department and New York regulators have launched criminal investigations\nGermany: Transport Ministry to send fact-finding committee to Volkswagen\nUnited Kingdom: Vehicle Certification Agency to re-run lab tests and compare with \"real-world\" driving emissions\nSwitzerland: Task force set up to investigate\nItaly: Spot checks to be carried out on at least 1,000 diesel vehicles, transport minister says\nFrance: Random checks on 100 diesel cars aimed at \"ensuring the absence of fraud\", says Environment Minister Segolene Royal\nSouth Korea: Environment Ministry to investigate 4-5,000 Jetta, Golf and Audi A3 vehicles, could extend to all German diesel cars if problems found\nCanada: Environmental Agency investigating some 100,000 Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars\nNorway and India opening fraud investigations\nOn Friday Switzerland temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests.\nIt said the move could affect 180,000 cars - not yet sold or registered - in the Euro5 emission category.\nThe Swiss authorities have also set up a taskforce to fully investigate the issue.\nA spokesman for the British department for transport said there were no plans for a similar ban in the UK.\nThe US Department of Justice (DoJ) told the BBC that it would join the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) investigation into VW.\nThe EPA's findings of the scandal cover 482,000 cars in the US only, including the VW-manufactured Audi A3, and the VW brands Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat.\nBut VW has admitted that about 11 million cars worldwide are fitted with the so-called \"defeat device\" - 2.8 million of them in Germany - and further costly recalls and refits are possible.\nHalf of the company's sales in Europe - VW's biggest market - are for diesel cars.\nVW shares plunged around 30% in the days after the scandal broke.", "The zone would have the unmanned vehicles flying below normal planes at a height of 200 to 400 feet.\nAir traffic control for the suggested drone space would be handled by an automated computer system.\nChinese internet giant Alibaba, Google and other parcel services have also carried out private trials of drones.\nAmazon, Google and other mail services see drones as future delivery vehicles but still face regulatory hurdles.\n\"Drones have been around for a long time when it comes to non-commercial sectors,\" Andrew Milroy, technology analyst with consultancy Frost & Sullivan told the BBC.\n\"But there are in fact all kinds of commercial uses for drones with parcel deliveries being just one of them. Just think of building maintenance, architects, real estate agents, etc.\"\nLaying out its suggestions at a NASA convention in California, Amazon says that clarifying the use of airspace was essential for harnessing the potential of small unmanned aircraft systems in civil airspace.\n\"So the commercial pressure in the US to enable that technology is becoming stronger and stronger,\" Mr Milroy explained.\nAccording to the Amazon draft, a segregated civil airspace would be carved out below 500 feet to enable drones to fly unhindered and without endangering civilian or military planes.\nThe proposal suggests airspace below 200 feet for low-speed localised drone traffic such as surveying, filming and private hobby drones.\nThe next level between 200 and 400 feet would become a \"high-speed transit space\", for drones like the ones Amazon is aiming for with its future drone delivery plans.\nA no-fly zone between 400 and 500 feet would be a buffer to all civilian, cargo and military aeroplanes using the space above that 500 feet mark.\nCiting the air traffic controller workload as the \"single-greatest functional limitation on airspace capacity,\" the online retailer suggests that traffic in the drone zone would be handled by a computerised system.\nDetails about how Amazon's proposed delivery drones may work have been published by the US Patent Office earlier this year.\nAccording to the patent, the drones would be able to track the location of the person it is delivering to by pulling data from their smartphone.\n\"So the technology is there, the issue they are facing is the regulators - and regulators always take some time to catch up with new technology,\" said Mr Milroy.\nAmazon isn't the only company exmaining the use of of drones as delivery vehicles.\nFellow internet giant Google has tested a drone delivery project in Australia's remote outback regions.\nChina's biggest internet retailer Alibaba has also tested drone-based deliveries to hundreds of customers\nGermany's DHL has used delivery drones on a test basis to supply medicine to a small island in the North Sea.", "The Dash Button can be attached to appliances around the home, and when pushed, processes a delivery request.\nThe service will only be available to users of Amazon's premium subscription service, Prime.\nThe tech giant has recently focused on speeding up its ordering processes.\nPrime Now, which guarantees one-hour delivery on essential daily items, is available in four US cities, and the company has also been trialling deliveries by drone.\nOn Monday, the firm launched Amazon Home Services, which allows customers to order professional services such as a handyman or computer technician.\nThe timing of Dash's launch led some to initially believe it might be an April Fool's joke. Even after it was confirmed as real, some were uncertain what to make of it.\n\"I'm not sure whether this is genius, or the stupidest thing Amazon has tried yet,\" commented John Gruber on the Daring Fireball blog.\nBut one expert was impressed.\n\"This is absolutely not a gimmick,\" Aidan Bocci, chief executive of the Commercial Advantage consultancy, told the BBC.\n\"It may have to go through iterations before it really works, but this is a way to disrupt the linkage that exists between consumption and purchase.\n\"People typically write a shopping list and then go to the supermarket, but this gives Amazon a way to break in before any of that happens. And it's exactly what the firm should be doing if it wants to have a different approach in the grocery sector.\"", "The firm will, however, pick and choose who can take advantage of the proposal.\nThe initiative follows the launch of the Google Home speaker and its associated Assistant.\nOne expert said the two tech firms were now involved in a \"land grab\" to become the sector's number one player.\nDoing so will help attract developers, and in turn ensure that one product has a wider range of capabilities than the other.\nA spokesman for Amazon said the announcement was not meant to signal that it had become less committed to developing its own Echo speaker range, which uses Alexa.\n\"Our vision is for Alexa to be everywhere, and that means making it available to other companies and services to integrate into a wide range of devices,\" he explained.\n\"We expect Alexa to be in many devices over time, including products that compete with Echo, which is why we're investing in making a wide range of hands-free and far-field reference solutions available to OEMs [original equipment manufacturers].\"\nAmazon's invite-only offer includes:\nThose taking advantage of the scheme will be given a reference kit as a starting point for their own designs, and the freedom to source components from a range of parts manufacturers.\nAmazon does not reveal sales figures for its Echo devices, but analysts have estimated that more than eight million have been sold in the US alone since their launch in 2014.\nThe speakers are also available in the UK, Germany and Austria.\nAmazon has also formed partnerships with LG, Ford and Huawei, among others, to build Alexa into products including fridges, cars and smartphones.\nGoogle released its rival voice-activated Home speaker last November, which is powered by Google Assistant - a variation of the digital helper it developed for Android handsets.\nMany smartphone-makers have since adopted it, and Nvidia has added the tech to its latest TV set-top box.\n\"Amazon needs to be very careful that it isn't eclipsed by Google,\" commented Ben Wood from the tech consultancy CCS Insight.\n\"Google can just roll the Assistant out to hundreds of millions of Android smartphones, so people get it by default, whereas Amazon has to work harder to get Alexa into people's hands or appliances.\n\"This offer shows Amazon has fully understood the hardware is just a means to an ends and that the real prize is getting people to use its platform, because scale gives such an advantage in this field,\" he added.", "Today's ruling means the advert must not appear again in \"its current form\".\nSix customers complained to the ASA over the Amazon trial, saying that it was not clear \"that a paid subscription would automatically start\" if not cancelled during the free trial.\nThe ASA ruling does not influence current payments or refunds.\nAs well as upholding that complaint, the ASA also ruled that the price of the subscription was not made obvious enough, as it was not in the original advert.\nA 12-month subscription to Amazon Prime cost £79.\nLast month many users took to social media to complain about the service.\nReports suggested that Amazon Prime added 10 million new subscribers in the last three months of 2014 alone.\nIt was also claimed that Amazon Prime members now represent nearly half of all Amazon customers.\nIt's not known how many users there are in the UK, but Amazon told Newsbeat it's \"millions\".\nThe complaints to the ASA centred around a letter that was sent to customers with Amazon accounts, which included a plastic card, directing people to Amazon UK.\nIn their defence, Amazon UK's parent company, Amazon Europe Core Sarl, pointed to some \"small text\" at the bottom of the letter in the offer terms, which stated: \"Paid subscription starts automatically after free trial unless cancelled.\"\nThey also said: \"During the online registration process customers were again made aware that they would be charged a fee.\"\nThe ASA said that the small print was not enough to warn consumers that the trial would end in a paid subscription if not cancelled in time.\nIt was also ruled that the price of the subscription to Amazon Prime was \"material information\" that should have appeared in the advert.\nAmazon have been told by the ASA that in future the automatic start of the paid subscription must appear in the main body of the advert. Customers should also be told about the cost.\nIf you want to avoid your free trial being extended to a paid service go to Your Account on Amazon and adjust your membership settings within 30 days of signing up.\nYou can cancel your membership in Your Account at any time.\nFull refunds are only given if you've not used any of the Prime benefits.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The voice-controlled Tmall Genie can be used to play music, run third-party apps and buy goods from the Chinese retail giant's online stores. Like many such devices, it lacks a display.\nAt launch, it will understand only Mandarin and be sold in the company's domestic market.\nIt will compete in China against devices already launched by Baidu and JD.com.\nTencent - China's biggest technology company by market capitalisation - has announced it has a similar product in development.\nIn the West, Amazon's Echo range of smart speakers compete against Google Home. Apple and Microsoft have similar products scheduled for release soon. And Samsung is readying a speaker of its own, powered by its new Bixby virtual assistant, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.\nAlibaba's new product derives its name from the company's e-commerce platform - Tmall - and during a demonstration in Beijing was used to order a delivery of Coca-Cola and buy credit for a phone.\nTmall allows local and international retailers to run their own virtual storefronts on its platform and says it is China's third most visited shopping site.\n\"It clearly is an advantage if - like Amazon - you can pull consumers into your retail ecosystem with a smart speaker,\" said Eden Zoller from the technology consultancy Ovum.\n\"But one thing we need to remember is it's early days for this category, and there remain questions of consumer trust in using the digital assistants to buy goods, on a smartphone or smart home speaker device.\n\"By that, I mean both the security of the transaction and privacy concerns about how personal data is leveraged and shared.\"\nAlibaba has addressed these concerns in part by using voiceprint-technology to try to restrict purchases to recognised users.\nIn addition, it has built in support for Alipay, the company's popular online payment system, which is similar to PayPal.\nHowever, to begin with, the company is marketing the device as a \"limited beta\" release that will help provide feedback before it is ready to mass produce the item.\nIt will charge 499 yuan ($73; £57) for the product, making it one of the cheapest on the market.", "They will also gather data on traffic conditions, hazards and road signs.\nThe service by mapping firm Here, owned by a group of German car makers, will roll out next year.\nThe platform will record vehicle speed, location and direction, as well as sharp braking and fog light activation.\nVideo footage of road hazards will also be captured by a forward-facing camera on the cars.\nOther brands will join the service at a later date, the firm said.\nOwners of cars which incorporate Here's Open Location Platform will not have to do anything to transmit or receive data.\nCommunity mapping service Waze, owned by Google, already crowdsources travel data but users must be logged in via their smartphones.\nThe parking information service will also provide parking availability predictions for each street as well as details about payment options.\n\"Here believes that industry collaboration is essential to address the major challenges faced by road users everywhere.\n\"What we are seeing today is the technology and automotive industries coming together to create services that will elevate the driving experience for billions,\" said CEO Edzard Overbeek.\nHere was sold by Nokia to the car group last year for 2.8bn euros (£2bn).", "Amazon's paying for the programme, which will look at the best way to allow hundreds of robotic aircraft to buzz around Britain's skies safely.\nThe company claims it'll eventually mean small parcels will arrive at your house within 30 minutes of ordering them online.\nMinisters say they want to pave the way for all businesses to start using the technology in future, but they will still have to convince the public that having automated drones flying around is both safe and won't invade people's privacy.\nThe trials will look at cracking three big problems:\nThe government says the work will help it draw up new rules and regulations for the future, so that all companies can take advantage of drone technology, which it claims could eventually be worth billions.\nAmazon says it is conducting the trials in Britain, because the regulations are more flexible than in other countries.\nA number of systems are being tried, but the current favourite seems to be a machine that's part aeroplane and part helicopter.\nIt can fly at 50mph (80km/h) for 10 miles (16km) or more away from base, at a height of around 350ft (100m).\nWhen it reaches the delivery address, it comes down vertically onto a special landing mat that the buyer will place on their property. So you could have parcels popped into your back garden for security.\nThe company also claims it's working on ways to make the machines quieter and it says they won't have cameras on, just sensors.\nThat privacy question is something that came up a lot when I chatted to people on Maidstone High Street the other day.\nMaybe the Amazon drones won't be filming, but people are worried other drones would.\nSheffield University professor Noel Sharkey - a robotics expert who co-founded the Foundation for Responsible Robotics and is currently a judge on the BBC's Robot Wars programme - voices concern about the growth of drones.\n\"All information is stealable and all drones hackable\", he tells me. \"Anybody could steal one to deliver drugs or bombs.\n\"The Taliban have been hacking into military drones for years, stealing video feeds, using a bit of software they got from Sweden. Hezbollah did it for years with Israeli military drones.\n\"In 2012 the US Army warned people that it couldn't help making accidental recordings while flying over houses; so filming people in their back gardens, for example.\"\nProf Sharkey also says he worries that the aviation authorities are interested in safety, but not privacy. He describes a sudden increase in flying drones as a \"nightmare scenario\".\n\"We need a broader societal discussion; not just the government and Amazon getting into a huddle for the sake of the economy.\"\nIt's impossible to say how many parcels we're talking about as Amazon doesn't give figures. But it would be anything weighing less than 2.2kg (5lbs) and that is 80-90% of the things they sell.\nMinisters say they want to create an environment where drones can be operated safely, beyond the line of sight, by 2020.\nIt may be Amazon today, but the question is: Who'll want to use drones in future?", "The car manufacturer is offering the money as a gesture of goodwill to 482,000 US owners of the faulty cars.\nIt is also offering free roadside assistance to those who have owned their cars for three years.\nVolkswagen said its Audi luxury brand would launch a similar program on Friday.\nThe offer is designed to mollify the owners of the 2-litre diesel powered VW cars as the car manufacturer works on repairing the vehicles affected.\nThe US Environmental Protection Agency says the cars emit 10 to 40 times the allowable amount of harmful nitrogen oxide while being driven.\n\"We are working tirelessly to develop an approved remedy for affected vehicles,\" said Volkswagen US chief executive Michael Horn in a statement.\n\"In the meantime we are providing this goodwill package as a first step towards regaining our customers' trust.\"\nVW owners will not be required to sign anything giving up their right to sue the car manufacturer or forcing them into arbitration, a VW spokeswoman added.\nVolkswagen has already offered $2,000 to current VW owners to trade their cars in for new vehicles as well as the $1,000 gift cards and vouchers.\nIt has admitted that four-cylinder diesels from its 2009 to 2015 model years have the software that can cheat on pollution tests.\nAbout 11 million cars worldwide have the software.\nLast week, the EPA accused VW of cheating with different software on larger six-cylinder diesels in about 10,000 vehicles.\nThe company also has admitted finding irregularities in carbon dioxide emissions in 800,000 other vehicles, all outside the US some of which it said were likely to be petrol engine powered cars.", "In a video, it promised journey times of 12 minutes between the two cities.\nThe technology is still in testing phase so details of the deal were sketchy.\nInitially, it will explore the feasibility of building a line linking the two cities.\nHyperloop was originally an idea from Tesla's boss and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who conceived the technical details of the transport system but left it to commercial firms to make the vision a reality.\nThe high-speed transportation system would use electric propulsion to accelerate a passenger or cargo pod through a low-pressure tube at speeds of up to 700mph. The vehicle would levitate above the track, which is likely to be built on stilts above the ground.\nThere are currently two main firms attempting to make it a reality - Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) and Hyperloop One.\nHyperloop One, which hosted its Dubai announcement at the top of the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa - has signed a feasibility deal with the emirate's roads and transportation agency.\nIt will explore the possibility of using the technology at Dubai's Jebel Ali port.\nJourney times between Dubai and Abu Dhabi are currently an hour or more.\nIt suggested that the system could also be used to cut journey times from Dubai to Riyadh to 48 minutes and from Dubai to Doha to 23 minutes.\nRival Hyperloop firm HTT signed a deal in March to bring its technology to Slovakia, aiming to link Bratislava with Vienna and Budapest.\nThe team at Hyperloop One is expected to unveil the first glimpse of what the transportation pods will look like soon.\nProf David Bailey, from the Aston Business School, said the plan in the United Arab Emirates was \"more feasible\" than previous announcements to use Hyperloop to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.\n\"Building it through the desert means you can plan a route that is straight - it doesn't do curves very well - and the government there will see it as a way to be at the forefront of a new technology,\" he told the BBC.\nBut he added there remained a lot of \"technical and other hurdles\" to overcome, not least whether people would want to travel at such high speeds and in such a manner." ]

[ "GRAMMY-WINNING pianist Earl Wild, who became one of America's masters of the keyboard, has died at age 94." ]

[ "Wild, the first pianist to give a solo recital on American television, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 94.", "Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Sir George Shearing has died at age 91, according to published reports.", "s-era movie pianist Art Ferrante has died at his Florida home at the age of 88.", "Billy Taylor, a respected jazz composer and pianist, died Tuesday of a heart attack.", "The outstanding composer and pianist Cuban Harold Gramatges died on Tuesday at the age of 90 in Havana city, as confirmed by Union of Writers and Artists UNEAC to Prensa Latina.", "Earl Scruggs, the most influential banjo player in the history of bluegrass music, died Wednesday morning at a Nashville hospital at age 88.", "Sir George Shearing, 91, the ebullient jazz pianist who wrote the standard ``Lullaby of Birdland'' and had a string of hits both with and without his quintet, died Monday in New York City of congestive heart failure.", "EARL Scruggs, the Grammy Award-winning musician whose innovative bluegrass banjo work was heard in the theme music to the television sitcom ``The Beverly Hillbillies'' and the movie ``Bonnie and Clyde,'' died March 28 at a hospital in Nashville.", "Children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, recipient of the Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are, died Tuesday in Danbury, Connecticut.", "Les Paul, the pioneer whose work on electric guitars and recording techniques changed the course of music, has died at the age of 94.", "Larry ``Wild Man'' Fischer, the former mental patient and ubiquitous street musician who briefly attained stardom as one of the first signings to Frank Zappa's Bizarre imprint, died in Los Angeles June 15 at 66.", "Newscaster and talk host George Putnam has died at age 94.", "Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha, who began her concert career as a 5-year-old prodigy, died in Barcelona Friday night at the age of 86, a family friend said.", "Dr. Earl Wood, inventor of the high-altitude pressure suit worn by pilots and astronauts, has died in Rochester, Minn. He was 97.", "Israeli fashion great Lea Gottlieb died on Saturday evening in Tel Aviv at the age of 94.", "Saskatchewan artist William Perehudoff, known world-wide for his abstract paintings, has died at the age of 94.", "British cinematographer and director Jack Cardiff has died aged 94, the BBC reports.", "Herman Leonard, who was well known for his black-and-white photos of the jazz scene, died Saturday in Los Angeles at 87.", "Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha, acclaimed for her virtuosity in playing Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff as well as Spanish masters, has died at the age of 86.", "Taylor, a leading jazz musician and composer who introduced the genre to wider audiences as a TV broadcaster, teacher and booster of new talent, has died at age 89.", "A monument to great Russian pianist Nikolai Petrov, who died a year ago, has been unveiled on his grave at the Troekyrovsky cemetery in Moscow.", "Fans of The Big Man packed the Stone Pony for one last farewell after the E Street sax player, Clarence Clemons, dies at age 69.", "US economist and Nobel laureate Paul Anthony Samuelson died Sunday at his home in Belmont, Massachusetts, at the age of 94.", "Record producer Jerry Wexler died Friday in Sarasota, Fla., of congenital heart disease.", "Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, a native of Allentown, has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and will be honored during a January 2014 ceremony in New York City.", "Leon Breeden, legendary director of the University of North Texas Jazz Studies program who made the school's One O'Clock Lab Band internationally famous, has died.", "Sylvia Robinson, one of the earliest pioneers of hip hop music, has died at the age of 75 from congestive heart failure at the New Jersey Institute of Neuroscience.", "The 7th Earl of Onslow, who cheerfully advocated the removal of nobles such as himself from the House of Lords, has died at age 73.", "Holmes, a champion of African-American music and civil rights issues for more than half a century, died at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City from heart disease, her manager, Doug Yeager said.", "Legendary guitarist Les Paul, who pioneered designs of electric guitars and helped usher in the birth of rock and roll, has died aged 94.", "Italian state television says Giulio Andreotti, Italy's former seven-time premier, has died at age 94.", "Character actor Sam Menning, who starred most recently in ``My Name Is Earl,'' died March 29 in Los Angeles of emphysema." ]

[ "Early humans are widely regarded as having been voracious hunters whose appetite for meat contributed to the extinction of many of the large mammals that once roamed the planet. However, new research by paleontologists has suggested that our human ancestors may have started out as scavengers rather than the efficient killing machines they are often portrayed as. The findings could help to explain how early humans made the significant shift in their diet to consume meat and became one of the top predators on the planet. Scroll down for video . Homo erectus, pictured in the reconstruction above, needed around 2200 calories a day to survive and could have easily obtained this by scavenging meat left on the carcasses by predatory big cats in Africa at the time . Dr Briana Pobiner, a palaeoanthropologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, studied the meat left behind on modern lion kills to estimate whether early humans could have sustained themselves by picking the bones left behind by predators. She estimates that early humans like Homo erectus could have obtained enough meat to provide an entire days worth of energy from the scraps left behind by prehistoric predators. She told Mail Online: 'Early humans would have scavenged carcasses of animals that ranged in size from medium sized animals like wildebeest all the way up to huge extinct elephants, and animals that lived in a range of different habitats from more open grasslands to closed woodlands. 'Probably anything that wasn’t too rotten was fair game.' Lions, like the two eating a zebra kill above, leave large amounts of their kills untouched, meaning there would have been plenty of meat for early humans to scavenge from carcasses left by prehistoric feline predators . She added that early humans probably survived though a combination of both hunting and scavenging. She said: 'I think it was both – probably a combination of scavenging from larger animals and hunting smaller animals. 'One major energetic advantage of scavenging is that you have a really high success rate in the sense that unless a carcass is absolutely picked clean, like what happens after vultures have gotten to it, you’re virtually guaranteed to get some meat and marrow from what’s left. 'With hunting, you can expend a lot of energy and come up empty-handed.' Dr Pobiner found that modern predators leave large amounts of meat on their kills (as shown above) and believes that prehistoric carnivores could have left even more to be picked clean by early humans . Speaking in a video on the Smithsonian website, she added: 'I've found in some of the fossils I studied that early humans got to these carcasses first and were able to eat the best parts of the animals. 'Sometimes carnivores got their first and early humans probably only got scraps. It has really big implications for a lot of other major changes that happened in human evolutionary history. 'The evolution in meat eating has been linked to an increase in brain size, its been linked to an increase in home range size and maybe the expansion out of Africa. 'Competing with big carnivores you needed sophisticated interaction, communication and other social skills that are another hallmark of being human.' In research published in the Journal of Human Evolution, Dr Pobiner examined the carcasses of carnivore kills on the modern African savanna in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy. She looked at how much meat was consumed by lions and leopards before measuring what was left for scavengers. She also watched how much meat other large meat eaters like hyenas and jackals left behind once they were finished with a carcass. Dr Briana Pobiner (above) claims to have found evidence that humans butchered carcasses after large predators had eaten meat from the bones first . Speaking to Popular Archaeology she said: 'The site is a great analogue for the kinds of African savanna environments where hominins are thought to have lived. 'This may have been very much like past carnivore communities during the time our ancestors were starting to eat meat from larger animals, when we have evidence that felids — ancient lions, leopards, and three species of sabertoothed cats — lived alongside our ancestors and may have been the dominant kinds of carnivores at this time.' Dr Pobiner found that in modern Africa even a 'defleshed' wildebeest hindlimb killed by a lion could still yield around one kilogram of meat while a zebra hind limb could have two kilograms of flesh still left on it. She estimates that an entire wildebeest or zebra carcass could yield 5kg and 15 kg of meat respectively even after a predator had eaten. This means a wildebeest carcass could provide 2200 calories and a zebra carcass could provide 6080 calories - enough for a small family of Homo erectus. Dr Pobiner said: 'This is enough for the entire daily caloric requirements of at least one Homo erectus/ergaster male, estimated to require approximately 2090-2290 calories per day.' Dr Pobiner says there is also evidence within the fossil record that suggests predators had eaten carcasses before early humans arrived to butcher the animals. Hyenas are the main scavengers of lion kills on the African Savannah but there are few examples of them in the fossil record in areas where early humans have been discovered and they could have scavenged instead . 55 million years ago - First primitive primates evolve . 15 million years ago - Hominidae (great apes) evolve from the ancestors of the gibbon . 8 million years ago - First gorillas evolve. Later, chimp and human lineages diverge . 5.5 million years ago - Ardipithecus, early ‘proto-human’ shares traits with chimps and gorillas . 4 million years ago - Australopithecines appeared. They had brains no larger than a chimpanzee's . 2.7 million years ago - Paranthropus, lived in woods and had massive jaws for chewing . 2.8 million years ago - The first species in the Homo family appeared . 2.3 million years ago - Homo habalis first thought to have appeared in Africa . 1.9 million years ago - Homo erectus begins to appear in fossil record . 1.6 million years ago - Hand axes become the first major technological innovation . 800,000 years ago - Early humans control fire and create hearths. Brain size increases rapidly . 400,000 years ago - Neanderthals first begin to appear and spread across Europe and Asia . 200,000 years ago - Homo sapiens - modern humans - appear in Africa . 40,0000 years ago - Modern humans reach Europe . She said that at around the time Homo erectus were alive there were also few species of bone-crunching carnivores like hyenas in Africa. It means that early humans could have instead filled this niche. She said: 'This lack of bone-crunching hyenids would have meant that as early Homo individuals began incorporating more carcass foods into their diets they would have had more access to within-bone resources than is available in many present-day African savanna ecosystems.' She added that sabretooth cats that lived at the time would have been less efficient than modern predatory cats at removing flesh from a carcass. She said: 'The fossil record of modern lions and leopards goes back to about 2 million years, their dietary adaptations would probably have been similar to the living species today. 'Where the difference comes in is with the three species (three genera, actually) of sabertoothed cats that were around when hominins first started eating meat. 'They would have likely left even more meat on carcasses, because their teeth are even more adapted to slicing flesh.' Dr Pobiner said her findings had helped to dispell the idea that early humans would have struggled to find enough meat to survive by scavenging the meat left by larger predators. She said: 'We tend to think of scavenging as second-rate to hunting, somehow a lesser form of acquiring resources from animal carcasses, that scavengers are lower on the hierarchy and only left with piddly scraps. 'This stems from the earliest interpretations, dating back to 1925, of ancient humans as carnivorous, predatory killers based on associated broken animal fossils construed as being used as weapons.’ She believes, however, that more research is needed to understand whether scavenging provided a dietary stepping stone as our ancestors moved towards eating more meat. Writing in the Journal of Human Evolution, Dr Pobiner said: 'This study supports the hypothesis that passive scavenging from abandoned larger felid kills could have a been a high-yield, though potentially dangerous, strategy for early hominins even without considering within bone nutrients.'" ]

[ "The ‘wild cat of Woodchester' was . feared to have struck again after the mutilated carcass of a second deer . was found in a country field. The savaged animal was found a few . miles from where the big cat is first believed to have struck in . Woodchester Park near Stroud, Gloucestershire. It was found by a woman on Tuesday as . she walked her dog between Whiteway and Rendcomb, near Cirencester – . around 10 miles from the scene of the earlier attack. She went home to get a camera - but . by the time she returned the deer had been stripped down to its spine, . and all its vital organs were missing – a similar state to the first . carcass. Is this it? This image of a large black animal was captured in a field in north-west Wiltshire and could be the beast that is stalking a Gloucestershire village . Big cat expert Frank Tunbridge, who was first on the scene of the first killing , said he believed the same animal is behind both attacks. Mr Tunbridge, 65, said: ‘I have seen pictures of this carcass and it is hard to asses because there is not much left. ‘But it has all the hallmarks of a big cat kill. The woman found it in a field but when she came back to take photographs, it was completely stripped out, with just its spine left. ‘I believe it could be the same cat that attacked in Woodchester because, in my experience, these animals usually have a territory of around 100 square miles. ‘Either that or it could be a relative or cub of this cat.’ The animal had been ripped open and was missing its heart, kidneys and liver, he said. Its snout was also missing - important because big cats clamp their jaws over the mouth, causing death by suffocation. Experts believe the deer was brought down and devoured by a large and powerful predator such as a puma, jaguar or leopard. Carcass: A picture of the second deer's body is shown on the laptop of big cat investigator Frank Tunbridge. It was found by a female dogwalker . Tufts of the animal's fur were also . found piled by the body - and such predators neatly pluck the hair from . the body before shearing their teeth into the flesh. Tuesday’s attack supports the theory of big cat hunters who are convinced a puma or panther is on the prowl. Investigation: Frank Tunbridge is looking into both attacks, which he thinks were carried out by the same animal . Earlier . this week a dog walker claimed to have seen a big cat in a field half a . mile from where a deer had been found on January 4. That animal was found by dog walkers with its abdomen torn open and major organs including the heart, kidneys and liver missing. The . woman, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It was jet black and at . least the size of a German Shepherd, very powerfully built and with . large paws, a long tail and a smallish head.’ A positive test result could provide more evidence of big cats living in the British countryside. Mr Minter, an expert on big cats in . England who examined the carcass of the six-month-old roe deer, said it . showed ‘hallmarks of a big cat attack’, adding: ‘The claw and teeth . impressions are indicative of big cat activity. ‘And the stomach was taken out and . discarded. Big cats are strict carnivores so they don’t want to eat the . grass-filled intestines.’ Mr Tunbridge added: ‘Big cats could . be thriving at the moment because there are plenty of deer around and . the winter weather creates more cover for them to hunt. ‘Hopefully the DNA test will prove what some of us have thought for years - that these creatures are roaming the countryside.’ Wilf Ashman, 72,  said he had seen a big black cat nearby seven times in the past ten years, most recently in 2010. Mr Ashman said: ‘It’s not a normal . feral cat, this is different and bigger.’ A large, panther-like animal . has been pictured in fields just over the county border in north-west . Wiltshire. Examination: A man completes a DNA test on the carcass of the deer. Experts said that the attack had the hallmarks of a big cat due to claw and teeth impressions . Other recent sightings include a ‘pure white predator’ spotted in nearby Nailsworth, just weeks before the deer was killed. Andy Todd, who said he saw the beast, added: ‘It was pure white. It almost looked like a polar bear.’ Dr Robin Allaby, an expert in . evolutionary genetics at Warwick University's School of Life Sciences, . is studying samples of DNA taken from the first carcass. He said: \"I'm prepared to believe in . the existence of big cats in the UK and we have a reasonable chance of . finding out if it was there. \"We are in the process of studying . samples of DNA taken from the deer and if its death was the result of a . big cat then we're hoping it left cheek cells and saliva. The DNA tests are expected to be completed later this month.", "A crocodile-like amphibian that was the size of a small car dominated prehistoric lakes more than 200 million years ago, a new study has found. Palaeontologists discovered the fossilised remains of the 'super salamander' while excavating on the site of an ancient lake in southern Portugal. The predator, which grew to be around two metres (6.5 ft) in length and lived in lakes and rivers during the Late Triassic Period, has been named Metoposaurus algarvensis. Scroll down for video . Metoposaurus algarvensis, shown in the reconstruction above, would have been the size of a small car . With a mouth filled with sharp needle-like teeth it is thought to have preyed upon fish but could also have snapped up any small early dinosaurs that got to close to the water. The researchers behind the discovery, which was made in mudstone flats close to Loulé, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, say that the new species was similar to other primitive amphibian that were widespread at the time. The rare giant salamander is thought to be one of the world's oldest species. It first appeared on the planet around 170 million years ago but there are now just a handful of surviving populations left in the wild. The Chinese giant salamander are now the largest living amphibians and can grow to be up to 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length. A Park Ranger holds the giant Chinese salamander found in Heyuan City, Guangdon Province, China . However, pollution of the rivers and streams where they live has put the species under threat. A park ranger in southern China recently caught a giant salamander weighing 5.5kg and measufing 83cm in length in Heyuan City in southern China's Guangdong Province, the first of its kind to be found in the area. After keeping it in a temporary tank, officials released the creature back into the river, watched by a crowd of fascinated tourists. They say they were probably the forerunners of modern amphibians such as frogs, newts and salamanders. Dr Steve Brusatte, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh who led the study, said: 'This new amphibian looks like something out of a bad monster movie. 'It was as long as a small car and had hundreds of sharp teeth in its big flat head, which kind of looks like a toilet seat when the jaws snap shut. 'It was the type of fierce predator that the very first dinosaurs had to put up with if they strayed too close to the water, long before the glory days of T. rex and Brachiosaurus.' Scientists said the giant creature (illustrated) would have terrorised lakes during the rise of the dinosaurs . The researchers, whose work is published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, discovered the remains of Metoposaurs algarvensis on the bed of an ancient lake. It was found within a large bed of bones where several hundred of the creatures may have died when the lake dried up. The image above shows the fossilised skulls of Metoposaurus algarvensis excavated in Portugal's Algarve . So far the researchers have excavated just four square meters of the lake and say they could find hundreds of creatures preserved in the mudstone. Most species of giant salamander-like amphibians were wiped out during a mass extinction 201 million years ago which marked the end of the Triassic period. This was when the supercontinent of Pangea began to break apart and paved the way for the dominance of the dinosaurs. Other species of Metoposaurus have been found in parts of Africa, Europe, India and North America. Dr Richard Butler, another researcher involved in the study and a palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, said: 'Most modern amphibians are pretty tiny and harmless. 'Back in the Triassic these giant predators would have made lakes and rivers pretty scary places to be.'", "During the Triassic period, the rauisuchid predator ruled the land while the phytosaur was the master of the sea - and experts have long believed the two large reptiles lived separate lives. But, a tooth found embedded in the leg bone of the land-dwelling rauisuchid may cast doubts on this theory. The 220-million-year old tooth is said to have belonged to the semi-aquatic phytosaur and was left in the thigh bone following a savage battle between the two creatures. To study the tooth, without destroying the bone, researchers used computed tomography (CAT) scans to build a 3D model of it (pictured in blue). A selection of other, fossilised phytosaur teeth are pictured. The tooth was found in the bone of a rauisuchid, a large land reptile. Until now, experts did not think the creatures interacted . And multiple wounds suggest the two beasts may have clashed regularly, despite their different habitats. Rauisuchids typically had large heads, sharp teeth, long hind legs, and scales on their backs. They measured up to 25ft (7.6 metres) tall, with 2ft (0.6 metres) long heads. By comparison, the phytosaur, which means ‘plant lizard’, typically grew to 6ft (2 metres) long. Professor Stephanie Drumheller, of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, said: ‘To find a phytosaur tooth in the bone of a rauisuchid is very surprising. ‘These rauisuchids were the largest predators in their environments. ‘You might expect them to be the top predators as well, but here we have evidence of phytosaurs, who were smaller, semi-aquatic animals, potentially targeting and eating these big carnivores.’ A model skeleton of a phytosaur is pictured in the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Experts believe the semi-acquatic creatures had 166 teeth and were predators of the Middle and Upper Triassic . Rauisuchids typically had large heads, sharp teeth, long hind legs, and scales on their backs. They measured up to to 25ft (7.6 metres) long, with 2ft (0.6 metres) long heads. They were considered one of the most dangerous predators of the Middle and Upper Triassic. Rauisuchids were reptiles, but they resembled dinosaurs so closely that they are often mistaken for dinosaur ancestors. By comparison, phytosaurs resembled modern-day crocodiles. They had short legs, wide, heavy bodies with rows of armoured scales, long tails, and long toothy snouts. These teeth were sharp and cone-shaped. The name phytosaur means ‘plant lizard’, and they typically grew to 39ft (12 metres) long. They were considered one of largest water predators of the Triassic Period. Although the bone was dug up in the western United States, at the time the Triassic reptiles would have been roaming the super continent Pangea, which was just beginning to break up into the individual land masses we see today. It challenges beliefs about the lifestyles of these ancient creatures, who were distant relatives of modern-day crocodiles that would have towered over the early dog-sized dinosaurs. Some lived on land, while others lived in water - and it was believed, until now, that they didn’t interact. The analysis of the bite marks in two thigh bones suggests both predator species at the top of their respective food chains not only crossed paths, but the smaller creature may have potentially eaten the larger. Rauisuchids typically had large heads, sharp teeth, long hind legs, and scales on their backs.They measured up to 25ft (7.6 metres) tall, with 2ft (0.6 metres) long heads. The polonosuchus - a genus of rauisuchian - is pictured . The bones are stored at the University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley. To study the tooth, without destroying the bone, the researchers used computed tomography (CAT) scans to build a 3D model. This, along with an examination of the bite marks, revealed a story of multiple struggles. The team found tissue surrounding the bite marks revealed the rauisuchid was attacked twice and survived. But, evidence of crushing, impact and flesh-stripping, without healing, showed the animal later died in another attack. By comparison, the crocodile-like phytosaur, which means ‘plant lizard’, typically grew to 6ft (2 metres) long. This image is an illustration of the belodon - a genus of the phytosaur . Professor Drumheller said: ‘Finding teeth embedded directly in fossil bone is very, very rare. ‘This is the first time it has been identified among phytosaurs, and it gives us a smoking gun for interpreting this set of bite marks.’ The findings also suggest previous distinctions between water and land-based food chains from this time, the Late Triassic Period, might be built upon mistaken assumptions made from fossil remains. Palaeontologist Dr Michelle Stocker, of Cirginia Tech, added: ‘This research will call for us to go back and look at some of the assumptions we have had in regard to the Late Triassic ecosystems. ‘The aquatic and terrestrial distinctions made were oversimplified, and I think we have made a case the two spheres were intimately connected.’ The research also calls into question the importance of size in a fight. Added Professor Drumheller: ‘Both of the femora we examined came from some of the physically largest carnivorous species present at both locations. ‘Yet they were targeted by other members of the region, specifically phytosaurs. Thus, size cannot be the only factor in determining who is at the top of the food chain.’", "By . Anthony Bond . Last updated at 6:31 PM on 25th January 2012 . A mysterious blood-thirsty wild cat is feared to have struck again after three wallabies were found devoured on farmland. The trio were found stripped to the bone, with their internal organs neatly placed beside their bodies. Examinations . revealed they had suffered puncture wounds to the neck - consistent . with a vicious attack by a panther-like creature. Devoured: The remains of one of the wallabies which is believed to have been killed by the Wildcat of Woodchester, which is feared to have killed three deer earlier this month . Is this it? This image of a large black animal was captured in a field in north-west Wiltshire and could be the beast that is stalking the Cotswolds . Experts now believe the animals were devoured by the Wildcat of Woodchester which is already believed to have killed three times this month. The . mutilated bodies of three deer have been found in the past few weeks in . countryside near Stroud, Gloucestershire -  just 12 miles from where the wallabies were mauled to death. The wallabies were found only 12 miles apart leading to the belief that it was the same cat . Samples of DNA  from the . predator's first deer kill on January 4 are currently being tested to . confirm whether or not a big cat is behind the killings. The results are expected to be revealed over the next few days. But big cat expert Frank Tunbridge is in no doubt over who killed the wallabies and the deer. Mr Tunbridge, 65, said: 'There could be no creature other than a big cat that could bring down and kill these wallabies. 'The field was surrounded by a 7ft fence and there was no apparent entry signs - so the predator must have leapt over it. 'The . killer struck over two nights. The first night he killed two wallabies, . stripped one of the carcasses down and hid the other under a pile of . leaves and straw. 'Then he came back and killed a third - devouring his further kills. A fourth wallaby appears to have died from a heart attack. 'The wallabies are only about 12 miles from Woodchester so it appears that this could be the same big cat. 'They have all the hallmarks of a panther or puma kill.' The wallabies, part of a private collection, were found by their devastated owner on January 6 - two days after the apparent first kill by the Wildcat of Woodchester. The Gloucestershire farmer did not want to divulge his name or location. Examination: A man completes a DNA test on the carcass of one of the deer killed earlier this month which will confirm whether or not a big cat was responsible . But he did release gory pictures of one of the dead wallabies. The carcass had been ripped open in a similar way to the three roe deers the beast is believed to have slayed. The first deer had been torn open and was missing its heart, kidneys and liver. Its snout was also missing - important because big cats clamp their jaws over the mouth, causing death by suffocation. Experts believe the deer was brought down and devoured by a large and powerful predator such as a puma, jaguar or leopard. Tufts of the animal’s fur were also found piled by the body - and such predators neatly pluck the hair from the body before shearing their teeth into the flesh. Tests: This roe deer was killed less than 12 miles from where the big cat is feared to have devoured three wallabies . Another deer carcass was found by a dog walker between Whiteway and Redcomb, near Cirencester - ten miles away - on January 10. A third roe deer body was found at a development in Cooper’s Edge, near Gloucester, days later. Dr Robin Allaby, an expert in evolutionary genetics at Warwick University’s School of Life Sciences, is studying samples of DNA taken from the first carcass. He said: 'I’m prepared to believe in the existence of big cats in the UK and we have a reasonable chance of finding out if it was there. 'We are in the process of studying samples of DNA taken from the deer and if its death was the result of a big cat then we’re hoping it left cheek cells and saliva.'", "When Western explorers first discovered set eyes on animals in far-flung locations, artists had the difficult job of depicting them from their exotic descriptions. Now these paintings, including one of a scaly rhino with horns on its back, are among the works going on display at an exhibition entitled ‘Strange Creatures’. The show will examine the history of animal representations and how art was used to bring newly discovered creatures into the public eye, especially before the days of zoos, the television and the internet. Researchers’ stories include medieval accounts of exotic creatures and art from the ages of exploration. This is a copy of Dürer's rhino, made in 1558, which was based on a written description. It has fantastical armour and a strange shoulder horn, and became an enduring image of rhinos for Europeans . The images, which was picked by palaeontologists, historians of science and exploration and art experts, will be go on display at the Grant Museum of Zoology at University College London. Researchers’ stories include medieval accounts of exotic creatures, art from the ages of exploration and empire, sailors who faked ‘dragon’ specimens by manipulating dried fish and even contemporary knitted craft taxidermy. For the dragons, sailors would cut rays and skates in a certain way, and then dry them out. This created specimens that were then sold as dragons and angels, Grant Museum Manager Jack Ashby who curated Strange Creatures, told MailOnline. 'Naturalists drew these creatures for engravings in their books, which others would copy. 'Each time, the artist might embellish the picture to make it more dragon-like, and soon books appeared to show genuine specimens of dragons. They were called “Jenny Hanivers”. 'We have engravings of them reproduced in the exhibition.' The show centres upon George Stubbs’ painting of a kangaroo, which was created following Captain Cook’s first Pacific ‘Voyage of Discovery’. It is Europe’s first painting of an Australian animal and became the archetype for how people imagined this iconic species for decades, including its over-sized tail. Stubbs, who had never seen a kangaroo, based his painting on an inflated skin, skull, written descriptions and sketches, without ever having seen the animal himself. This trunked elephant is taken from a 13th century manuscript engraving drawn in 1241 before the artist, Matthew Paris, had seen one. It seems to show people using the animal as transport while they play music . Two works by 18th century painter, George Stubbs, were saved for the nation in 2013. They included what is thought to be the first depiction of a kangaroo in Western art. The National Maritime Museum bought the paintings after a substantial donation from a shipping magnate. The paintings were commissioned after Captain Cook's first voyage on Endeavour. Stubbs used sketches and specimens to paint the animals in the UK, which he had not seen in the flesh. The painting was saved for the nation by the National Maritime Museum. The exhibition includes a number of animal artworks created by people who had never seen the creature in the flesh, such as a 16th century copy of Dürer’s famous armoured rhinoceros. It was based on a written description and has fantastical armour and a strange shoulder horn. Despite the inaccuracies, it became an enduring image of rhinos for Europeans. ‘Sometimes the pictures were created from explorers’ written descriptions, while other artists copied existing drawings but added their own interpretations of those descriptions,’ said Dr Chiara Ambrosio who contributed to the exhibition. An elongated elephant that almost looks like a cartoon and features a band of humans playing instruments on its back, was found in a 13th century manuscript. Matthew Paris drew it before he had seen one, but a later painting is more accurate because he based it on an elephant that he saw in the Tower of London, which once housed a menagerie of animals. Paintings of pouchless kangaroos with extremely long tails and rhinos with scaly skin and horns on their backs are among the works of art that will go on display at an exhibition entitled ‘Strange Creatures’. This work by 18th century painter, George Stubbs, is the earliest European painting of an Australian animal . ‘Sometimes they were created from explorers’ written descriptions, while other artists copied existing drawings but added their own interpretations of those descriptions,’ said Dr Chiara Ambrosio who contributed to the exhibition. This 17th century drawing has been done by someone who has not seen a real lion . The imagery was picked by palaeontologists, historians of science and exploration and art experts. This elephant is from the same 13th century manuscript as the other elephant, but was drawn in 1255 after Matthew Paris had seen an elephant in the Tower of London. Mr Ashby said: ‘It’s not only historic artworks which misportrayed these amazing species’. ‘We also see it in the practice of taxidermy, where skins were shipped back to Europe and fleshed-out to recreate the animal based on a few notes. ‘It’s also true of modern dinosaur toys, which have been copying outdated images of fossil species for over a century.’ Events including a Knit-a-thon and drawing classes will accompany the free exhibition, which runs from March 16 to June 27 2015. St Jerome in his Study: German artist Albrecht Dürer probably sourced his image of the lion (pictured) from elsewhere, which may help to explain the beast's strange appearance. Illustrated scenes in the early modern Bible were seen as opportunities to depict exotic animals from distant lands . This image shows a very early accurately portrayed rhino, based on observations of the live animal, Clara. It comes from a book called Tabulae scleti et Muscularum Corporis Humani by Bernhard Siegfried Albinus, 1747 . Dinosaur and other extinct animal models of varying accuracy. Many of these were produced long after the nineteenth century view of dinosaurs – as slow moving, tail dragging, lizard-like animals - had been disproved. Yet the traditional image of a dinosaur (toys are shown) has proved very hard to dispel .", "Sightings of her date back to the sixth century and even in modern times, a glimpse of her still makes waves around the world. But it seems Nessie is not the first monster to grace Scottish waters after it emerged a long-lost relative may have been discovered. This monster lived 170 million years ago, not in Loch Ness, but in a warm shallow sea around what is now the Isle of Skye and has been identified as a new species of 'ichthyosaur,' a large dolphin-like marine reptile that grew up to 14 feet long from snout to tail. Scroll down for video . The 'ichthyosaur' was a large dolphin-like marine reptile that grew up to 14 feet long from snout to tail . A team of palaeontologists - led by the University of Edinburgh and including a consortium of Scottish institutions - studied fossil fragments of skulls, teeth, vertebrae and an upper arm bone discovered on Skye in the past 50 years. Several of the fossils came from ichthyosaurs, including one previously unknown species, named 'Dearcmhara shawcrossi.' Dearcmhara, pronounced 'jarkvara', is Scottish Gaelic for marine lizard. The name shawcrossi was chosen in honour of amateur fossil hunter Brian Shawcross, who found the creature's remains on Skye's Bearreraig Bay in 1959. Throughout the Jurassic Period, much of Skye was under water. At the time, it was joined to the rest of the UK and part of a large island positioned between landmasses that drifted apart to become Europe and North America. Lead researcher Dr Steve Brusatte, from the University of Edinburgh's School of Geosciences, said: 'During the time of dinosaurs, the waters of Scotland were prowled by big reptiles the size of motor boats. Skye, above, is one of the few places in the world where fossils from the Middle Jurassic Period can be found . 'Their fossils are very rare, and only now, for the first time, we've found a new species that was uniquely Scottish. 'Without the generosity of the collector who donated the bones to a museum instead of keeping them or selling them, we would have never known that this amazing animal existed. We are honoured to name the new species after Mr Shawcross and will do the same if any other collectors wish to donate new specimens.' A description of the creature appears in a study in the Scottish Journal of Geology. Skye is one of the few places in the world where fossils from the Middle Jurassic Period can be found and scientists believe discoveries made there could provide valuable insights into how marine reptiles evolved. Dr Nick Fraser, from National Museums Scotland, said: 'Not only is this a very special discovery, but it also marks the beginning of a major new collaboration involving some of the most eminent palaeontologists in Scotland. The real Nessie? This famous picture appearing to show a creature rising from the water of Loch Ness was taken by Dr Kenneth Wilson in 1934 . 'It has brought together key organisations, local collectors on Skye and specialists from further afield. 'We are excited by the programme of work and are already working on additional new finds. This is a rich heritage for Scotland.' The work was carried out by a consortium involving the University of Edinburgh, National Museums Scotland, the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum, Scottish National Heritage and Staffin Museum, Isle of Skye. Members of the research team, known as PalAlba, will be exhibiting the bones of Dearcmhara at a one-day fossil event at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Sunday, 18 January from 10am-4pm. St Columba was reported to have seen Nessie when preaching by the River Ness in the sixth century, but the first modern sighting of her was in 1933, when a man called George Spicer and his wife saw 'a most extraordinary form of animal' cross the road in front of their car.", "PUBLISHED: . 08:30 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:45 EST, 22 November 2013 . They’re fierce predators that rip flesh from bones using razor sharp teeth and strangle their prey, yet new video footage shows lions being as playful as household cats. Captured by lion whisperer and zoologist Kevin Richardson, 39, in Pretoria, South Africa, the footage was filmed using GoPro camera fitted to his back. Richardson even managed to attach the camera to the back of a lioness to give a unique viewpoint of the large cats' prowl. Scroll down for video . The lions caught on camera are 10 years old. In one shot, zoologist Kevin Richardson shouts ‘Maggie’ as one of lions bounds towards him before leaping into his arms, pictured . While hand-held footage additionally captures amazing close-up shots of hyenas walking across the plains. In an exclusive interview, Richardson told MailOnline he’s been working with the big cats for 16 years. ‘I’ve always been passionate about animals of all shapes and sizes. I got the opportunity to work with two male lion cubs 16 years back and was bitten by the bug. ‘I’ve been very privileged to have been accepted into the lives of many different lions over the years and and also to raise awareness to the plight of lions in the wild and their dwindling numbers.’ Watch the full 14-minute video here. The lions caught on camera are 10 years old, according to Richardson. As he gets out of the car at the start of the video, Richardson shouts ‘Maggie’ and one of lions bounds towards him before leaping into his arms. Another shot shows Richardson lying behind the lion stroking its chin and playing roughly with it. ‘If you give them a chin scratch they’re very happy, content cats. As I lie beside them I just think they’re beautiful’, explained Richardson. A lioness is then shown hugging the whisperer before Richardson collapses in a heap with the lion and the lioness, embracing them both. Richardson told MailOnline he's been working with the big cats for 16 years. 'If you give them a chin scratch they're very happy, content cats. As I lie beside them I just think they're beautiful' Richardson is also seen being licked by a hyena, pictured, which he claims prefer to be stroked on the neck. He added that the lowest ranking female in a pack still ranks higher than the highest ranking male . Richardson is also seen being licked by a hyena, which apparently prefer to be stroked on the neck, before explaining that the lowest ranking female in a pack still ranks higher than the highest ranking male. The lions are then filmed chasing after and running alongside Richardson’s car and he describes the cats as 'boisterous' but admits 'he’s never been bitten'. This close relationship meant Richardson was also able to attach the cameras to the back of the lions. Richardson told MailOnline: ‘We filmed with a GoPro team over several days and I’ve used the [camera] with the lions so they are accustomed to posing. ‘I only put cameras on the backs of lions who I knew potentially wouldn't mind them. Some lions don't care too much, but others just want this funny little irritation off their backs!’ Richardson described the cats as 'boisterous' but admits 'he's never been bitten'. This close relationship meant he was also able to attach the GoPro to the back of the lioness, pictured, as it walked across the plains . ‘There are two vital messages that need to be conveyed to the greater mass of people out there’, said Richardson. 'The first is that lions are under tremendous threat in the wild and their numbers are not sustainable; numbers have dropped from around 300,000 to around between 15 and 25,000 in less than 70 years. ‘The second message is the sick and sinister exploitation of captive bred lions for the 'cub petting' industry and the 'canned' hunting industry, whereby lions are seen as just a commodity to enrich certain businesses. ‘ . According to Richardson, cubs are farmed to be taken away from their parents and hand raised to tame them, making it possible for people to interact with them. To tackle these issues, he has set up The Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary.", "(CNN) -- For palaeontologists, the Middle East has long proven a bit of a blind spot. Evidence of dinosaurs has proven scarce, and what little surfaces from time to time have been traditionally difficult to itemize. That changed recently when an international team of scientists uncovered the first evidence of dinosaurs in Saudi Arabia near the coast of the Red Sea. The findings were published last month in the scientific journal PLOS ONE. \"To say that finds (in the Arabian Peninsula) are rare is an understatement. What's been discovered, you could almost fit inside a shoebox,\" notes Dr. Benjamin Kear, a palaeontologist at Uppsala University in Sweden, and the study's lead author. \"The problem in the past is that what's been found are just bone fragments, and you can say they're dinosaur, and vaguely what kind, but we've been unable to reconstruct and assemble them. This is therefore the first time that we can confidently identify an Arabian dinosaur fossil with any degree of accuracy,\" he says. Kear and his team uncovered 72-million-year-old fossils. The first was of a series of vertebrae from the tail of a \"Brontosaurus-like\" sauropod called a titanosaur, the second, a few teeth from a theropod. The latter belonged to an abelisaurid -- a bipedal carnivorous dinosaur some 20 feet long. Read more: Unearthing tomb of Egypt's beer-maker to the gods . Kear, who has excavated in the region before, says he was following up a lead on potential dinosaur fossils found by oil geologists who stumbled upon an outcrop. \"They had found an accumulation of fossils that mostly weren't from dinosaurs, but rather giant marine reptiles,\" he says. As it happens, much of the Arabian Peninsula was underwater when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and those rare remains that were discovered were washed downstream and out to sea by rivers, probably during a flash flood long ago in the Late Cretaceous period. \"We systematically worked this area over the last few years in the hope that a dinosaur would turn up. It was a matter of time to be honest; dinosaurs do often turn up in marine rocks washed out to sea,\" he says. \"There are a handful of blank spots on the dinosaur map, and the Arabian Peninsula is among the very biggest blank spots,\" notes Dr. Anne Schulp, a palaeontologist and researcher at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands. In 2008, Schulp led a team that unearthed the first dinosaur tracks found in the region near Sana'a, Yemen. \"Even the tiniest scrap of bone is something to get excited about,\" he says. \"The picture is slowly filling in, but it's a very large area and there remains much more to be discovered.\" Louis Jacobs, a vertebrate palaeontologist and professor at Southern Methodist University, explains that the discovery could also help find much sought-after answers about the history of the Earth and its land formations. Jacobs explains that when the fossils were first buried, Saudi Arabia was part of Gondwana -- the subcontinent that made up the southern half of Pangaea, and included parts of modern-day Africa. Read more: How not to do a desert expedition . \"India started out much further south, and through time it moved north and slammed into Asia, creating the Himalayas. But it passed by the Arabian Peninsula about the time that dinosaurs lived,\" explains Jacobs. \"Part of the interest in dinosaurs from Arabia is to get at that relationship between Gondwana and India during that time.\" Several factors explain the scarcity of dinosaur-related material in the Arabian Peninsula. One issue is that the richest sites aren't always the most accessible. Fragments have previously been found in Syria (currently a no-go zone) and Yemen, which discourages certain travelers. Meanwhile, visitors to Saudi Arabia need a sanctioned invite. Kear notes that in Saudi Arabia part of the problem is that the most prevalent types of rocks aren't the right types for capturing millennia-old land-based animals. He also notes that until recently, the country suffered from a lack of interest in this type of research. \"Let's say the geological view has been skewed in the past towards oil exploration,\" he says. Still, he says, paleontological research is gaining more traction, as evidenced by the government-run Saudi Geological Survey recently adding a palaeontology division. \"For the first time, you can see the work is going somewhere, and leading to a lasting legacy. In the future, we can expect to see Saudi dinosaur displays and museums so people inside the country can understand the riches they possess.\"", "By . Sarah Griffiths . Films like Jurassic Park have imagined what a fight between dinosaurs might have looked like. But now scientists have a better idea than ever as they have digitally reconstructed a model of a dinosaur chase using photos of footprints. British experts examined the prints of a predatory theropod and herbivorous sauropod, which were excavated 70 years ago, to prove that they could reconstruct and possibly 3D print objects that no longer exist. Scroll down for video . Scientists have digitally reconstructed a model of a dinosaur chase using photos of footprints. This image is a photogrammetric reconstruction of the trackway of dinosaur prints. Photo-textured (top) and height mapped (bottom) views of a section of the trackway were created from old photographs . The tracks were left by two dinosaurs running through the mud of an ancient river bed more than 100 million years ago in what is now Glen Rose, Texas. They are some of the most famous in the world, but amazingly after part of the Paluxy River trackway was removed by experts decades ago, the precious prints were sawn up into three blocks and were moved to different locations to be studied and on the way one of them was lost. In a bid to reconstruct the unique site, a team of specialists led by Peter Falkingham of the Royal Veterinary College, London, pieced together 17 photographs taken by American palaeontologist Roland T Bird, who first discovered and excavated the site in 1940. The Paluxy River tracks contain footprints made by a carnivorous predator called a theropod and a large herbivorous sauropod. Dr Falkingham told MailOnline that the dinosaurs that made the print might be an Acrocanthosaurus and the sauropod was likely similar to Paluxysaurus or Sauroposeidon. ‘In some places the theropod tracks are in the sauropod tracks,’ Dr Falkingham told the BBC. ‘[This means] the theropod came after. So Bird interpreted this as a theropod chasing a sauropod.’ The dinosaur prints are some of the most famous in the world, but one part of the trackway was lost. In a bid to reconstruct the unique site, a team of specialists pieced together 17 photographs (16 are pictured) taken by American palaeontologist Roland T Bird, who first discovered and excavated the site in 1940 . To digitally reconstruct the site as it was before the excavation began, the scientists scanned 17 photos using a technique called photogrammetry before combining them to develop a model of the trackway. They then compared the model to maps drawn by Mr Bird, before the site was divided into blocks and carried off, the study published in the Plos One journal explained. Despite the variation between the photos and the hand drawn maps, scientists were able to reconstruct and view the entire 147ft (45metre) long ‘chase scene’ in 3D for the first time since excavation. While the method is not new, the team has proved that it can be adapted for palaeontologists trying to piece together the past. Dr Falkingham hopes that the study will help other experts digitally recreate paleontological, geological or archaeological specimens that have been lost or deteriorated over time, but for which old photographic documentation exists. He said: ‘In recent years technology has advanced to the point where highly accurate 3D models can be produced easily and at very little cost just from digital photos and this has been revolutionising many different fields. ‘That we can apply that technology to specimens, or even entire sites, that no longer exist but were recorded photographically is extremely exciting.’ The Paluxy River tracks contain footprints made by a carnivorous predator called a theropod and a large herbivorous sauropod. In some places the theropod - which was perhaps a Acrocanthosaurus (pictured) - tracks are in the sauropod tracks, which suggests there was a chase . The tracks were left by two dinosaurs running through the mud of an ancient river bed in what is now Glen Rose, Texas, more than 100million years ago . The two remaining pieces of the removed trackway are housed in the American Museum of Natural History and the Texas Memorial Museum. Dr Falkingham began his research to document the prints in 2008 and as well as filling in the gap from the lost piece of excavated trackway, he wanted to record unexcavated tracks too. 'When we first set out to map the Paluxy River track, creating an accurate 3D model of the site required use of a large, heavy laser scanner that cost tens of thousands of pounds and was prone to failure especially in the extreme heat in Texas. ‘However, in recent years the technology of photogrammetry has significantly improved to the point where we were, for the first time, able to use this free software to get results just as - if not more - accurate than from use of a laser scanner. Palaeontologists can now apply the scanning technology to specimens, or even entire sites, that no longer exist but were recorded photographically, such as the footprints of the sauropod, which was likely similar to Paluxysaurus or Sauroposeidon (pictured) ‘Not only does this work with modern digital photographs but because the technology has become so advanced, and desktop computers so powerful, we were also able to use the historic photographs taken by R.T. Bird.’ He said the technique will significantly increase the protection of sites and artefacts of paleontological importance. ‘It is only natural that specimens will be lost or deteriorate over time, particularly those such as fossil trackways that must remain in the field. ‘But this technology has opened up an avenue for recreating these important sites and artefacts at little cost. All you now need are multiple photographs taken from different angles to be able to create accurate 3D models.’", "By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 05:48 EST, 28 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:00 EST, 30 July 2013 . Terai Arc landscape community mobiliser Maya Yogi pictured in the Khata Corridor within the Terai Arc . 'Conservation is not just a man's thing. Women should have an equal role to play,' says Maya Yogi, who works with the Nepali government to encourage more women to get involved with tiger protection. I'm speaking to the landscape community mobiliser for WWF during a trip to Nepal where I witness the charity's staff grapple with the biggest wildlife crisis the country has ever faced. Tiger numbers have dropped by 97 per cent in the last 100 years and the species faces total extinction within a generation if things do not improve. Maya's mission to protect tigers in the Terai Arc region is in its 12th year. Through her work with the Khata Community Forest coordination committee, where she leads anti-poaching, reforestation and education projects, Maya is not only helping to protect Nepal's tigers but also giving the country's women real work and a purpose. But despite her years on the job, Maya has seen a tiger only twice. 'When I saw a tiger for the first time, it didn't strike my mind. I did not know how to react. 'It was only later, when I spoke with the two people I was with that they told me the creature was a tiger. 'It crossed my path. It was pretty big, and if I had known it was a tiger I might have been scared. 'Before I had seen a tiger there was . this talk in the village, a common thought that only a few lucky people . actually get to see one in real life. 'When I realised I has seen one, I felt like one of the chosen few. That in itself is motivation for me.' Tigers really are very rare now. On my visit to Nepal, when they used to roam in abundance, I didn't see one in the flesh, despite all our efforts, although the film crew managed to find one drinking from a lake the day after we left. The sheer scale of tiger slaughter is . reflected in the fact that just a century ago, 100,000 tigers roamed the wild lands of Nepal. On a visit in 1911, the famously trigger-happy King George V was able to leave with a staggering 39 trophies after a hunting trip. A century later, that equates to a third of the country's entire . tiger population. Scroll down for video . Just one tiger was caught on camera during our three day trip to the Terai Arc, showing their utter rarity . The majestic, solitary tiger seen on our trip bathed indulgently in a lake as photographer Adrian captured him . One of only 37 present in Bardia National Park, the endangered beast looks intensely into the lens . Today, the . majority of tigers are killed using traps, that immobilise the animal - . allowing the poacher space to shove a sharp wooden spear through the . tiger's mouth to kill it - keeping the hugely valuable fur intact in the . process. WWF anti-poaching patrols look out for tiger traps. When they find them, they dismantle them and dispose of them. Maya herself has been involved in the capture of six tiger poachers between 2004 and 2005, although she goes on patrol less today than she used to. She . lives and works in the Gauri forest in the Khata Corridor which bridges . Nepal's Royal Bardia National Park with India's Katarniaghat Wildlife . Sanctuary. This is a . crucial focus area for WWF but it is also an optimum spot for poacher activity . as they make their way through Nepal from the country of supply to the . one of demand. WWF staff patrol the Tera Arc on elephant, foot, bicycle, car, boat and UAV piloting.  As well as supplying patrol volunteers, they monitor tiger activity with motion-activated camera traps set up on trees. The photos are used to help confirm population . numbers, as well as contribute to research on tiger behaviour . and ecology that forms the basis for planning for their conservation. And . it is working. Poaching is decreasing and WWF are confident that with . support from communities, government, organisations and the public they . can double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. In the Gaudi forest in the Terai Arc with an anti-poaching patrol group of young Nepalese women . But the challenge the WWF and the Nepalese volunteers face is vast. While protecting the tigers, they're also faced with tackling an ingrained belief in tiger parts as medicine held by many Chinese and other Far Eastern people. In the markets of Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, every . part of the 40 stone body, from skin to bones, flesh and . organs are sold for thousands of dollars.. 'The Chinese still harbour bogus . beliefs about medicinal properties of a tiger's body parts,' reveals . Diwakar Chapagain, WWF's Nepal programme coordinator for wildlife trade . monitoring. A continued belief in the medicinal properties of animal parts is the driving force behind 95 per cent of illegal trade in wildlife, including tigers, elephants, rhinos and red pandas. Tiger bones are used for medicine, . tiger balm and soup, while an underground tiger vineyard which produces . wine infused with ground tiger bone produces thousands of bottles every . year for sale on the Chinese black market. The National Trust For Nature Conservation, a partner organisation of WWF, works in the Terai Arc area to promote biodiversity and conservation. There is currently one tiger to 63 Chittal deer - a potential meal for one of big endangered cats. But it takes a tiger, on average, 22 attempts to catch and kill a deer, so more needs to be done to reforest the area and up the ratio. The skin is still seen as a symbol of wealth while tiger flesh and organs are believed to cure ailments such as impotency. A bowl of soup made from tiger penis . fetches an eye-watering 3,000 Hong Kong dollars (approx. £250) by . promising to cure erectile dysfunction - and Diwakar tells me the demand . for this potion in particular is increasing. Despite the demand, the number of agencies, charities and governments ranged against the traffickers is increasing. The governments, Chinese as well as . Indian and Nepalese, all work together to curb illegal wildlife trade. The Chinese government, Diwakar tells me, is cooperating well. But it's not just poachers killing . tigers - it's local people who come into . conflict with them. Human-tiger conflict is a very real and present . danger for the species. When tigers do not have enough prey, they seek out domestic livestock. Many . local communities depend on these animals for their livelihood and in retaliation, tigers are often killed or captured and sent to a zoo, in . an effort to prevent similar events happening in the future. A local volunteer in the Khata Corridor, part of the community-based anti-poaching unit (CBAPU), within the Terai Arc region, walks away with a tiger trap found on patrol . Camera traps are being set up all over Bardia National Park to track and keep record of tiger count and mobility . Already struggling to tackle poaching, the WWF has had to divert precious resources to increasing prey numbers in an effort to reduce human-tiger conflict. Worse, many of the tigers killed by locals end up on the black market and in Chinese medicine - worsening the already devastating effect of poaching. Local communities living around tiger habitats also depend on forests for wood. But . by entering forests, they increase the likelihood of becoming victim to a tiger attack - which have increased in recent years. A recent study by Michigan State University on attitudes towards tigers around Chitwan National Park found natives are more . likely to feel positive about them if they live on the 'good' side of . town, whereas those who live in rural and isolated areas have more . negative attitudes. 'When . you feel that you can control your surroundings and influence the world . around you, then you tend to be more positive about what's in the . forest,' said Neil Carter of the Center for Systems Integration and . Sustainability who produced the report. Pradeep Khanal, field project officer with WWF Nepal reveals a tiger caught on the camera trap we set up . The WWF works on projects to help people stay away from the forest and avoid tiger conflict. These . include providing local communities with tolls such as stoves and . systems with which they can use domestic animal waste as fuel instead of . wood. There are also educational programmes in place to teach them about the value of tigers for tourism and the ecosystem. Of the work done with local people, particularly important are the education programmes that teach that tigers are prolific predators who top . of the food chain along with man. Tigers . attack and kill between eight and 10 people each year in Nepal, and . natives are understandably hostile. In Chitwan in 2005, a single tiger killed a . group of five people enjoying a picnic. This . is especially common if the tiger is a mother with cubs. If the mother feels threatened or the cubs are hungry, the human has a problem. It is widely thought that when a tiger . kills a person they get a taste for human blood - and so the people will hunt down the . killer tiger to protect themselves. WWF have programmes in place to help people stay away from the forest and avoid tiger conflict. They provide stoves and a system with which they can use domestic animal waste as fuel instead of wood . Tiger numbers are at a critical low and they need all the protection they can get . It is control and understanding of environment that WWF is trying to give back to the people so they can avoid conflict, and also teaching them to love and protect tigers. Creating harmony within human-wildlife relationships is key to sustainably conserving species such as the tiger. But it means that yet more resources that could be used to take on the poachers has to be diverted into other projects. By purchasing special packs of Whiskas you can help save a tiger . As a result, cat food brand Whiskas has partnered with the WWF and hopes to give a financial boost to those trying to protect tigers. They want consumers to understand . the link between their own cats and endangered tigers in the wild so . that collectively they can work together to help preserve this . endangered species. Little cat lovers can get involved by helping to raise funds for the protection of the world's big cats through the purchase of special packs of Whiskas. 'These funds will go towards supporting the tiger conservation programme within the Terai Arc region of Nepal where currently only 120 tigers survive within their natural habitat,' says Alison Clarke, a spokesperson for Whiskas. Visit the website to see how every special pack of Whiskas bought between now and August will help to protect a tiger for a day.", "By . Victoria Woollaston . and Sarah Griffiths . Eggs belonging to an ancient flying reptile that could grow to the size of a small aircraft have been discovered in China. It is the first time eggs laid by a pterosaur have been found fully intact, and palaeontologists claim they could shed new light on a mysterious, previously unknown species. The fossils were discovered in the Xinjiang Province, and suggest that at least some of the animals lived in large nesting colonies, much like modern birds. Discovered: Palaeontologists have found eggs laid by a pterosaur for the first time and they say that the discovery could shed new light on the mysterious ancient reptiles . The previously unknown pterosaur species, Hamipterus tianshanensis, is thought to have had a wingspan of between five and 11 feet. The Hamipterus eggs were not soft and leathery, such as those of most reptiles, nor were they hard like a bird’s. Instead they had a thin pliable shell overlaying a thick membrane. The modern rat snake lays a similar type of egg, according to the scientists. A total of five intact fossil eggs were found at the site in Xinjiang Province in north west China, along with the bones of 40 adults. They all belong to a previously unknown pterosaur species named Hamipterus tianshanensis, which had a wingspan of between 5ft (1.5 metres) and 11ft (3.4 metres). Scientists believe the thin-shelled eggs, which show signs of cracking and crazing, were not part of the same clutch. ‘The combination of many pterosaurs and eggs indicates the presence of a nesting site nearby and suggests that this species developed gregarious behaviour,’ said lead researcher Dr Xiaolin Wang, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. ‘Hamipterus likely made its nesting grounds on the shores of freshwater lakes or rivers and buried its eggs in sand along the shore, preventing them from being desiccated.’ Previously the only pterosaur eggs known to science were four poorly preserved and flattened specimens, three of which were discovered in China, and one Argentina. The fossils were found in China and suggest that at least some of the creatures lived in large nesting colonies, much like modern birds. 'Hamipterus likely made its nesting grounds on the shores of freshwater lakes or rivers (illustrated) and buried its eggs in sand along the shore' the experts said . Based on skulls recovered, experts think that the ancient reptiles had head crests (illustrated) which differed in size and shape between the sexes . The Hamipterus eggs were not soft and leathery like those of most reptiles, nor were they hard like a bird’s. Instead they had a thin pliable shell overlaying a thick membrane, according to the study published in the journal Current Biology. The modern rat snake lays a similar type of egg, the scientists explained. ‘We regard the eggshell structure found in Hamipterus as a general trend for pterosaurs,’ they said. The pterosaurs are thought to have died in a large storm that hit their colony in the Turpan-Hami Basin, south of the Tian Shan Mountains, around 120 million years ago. Male and female skulls were recovered as well as vertebrae and limbs. Both sexes of the reptile had head crests, but the males’ were larger and a different shape than the females’. They palaeontologists said: ‘Sites like the one reported here provide further evidence regarding the behaviour and biology of this amazing group of flying reptiles that has no parallel in modern time.’ Pterosaurs are often confused with dinosaurs but belonged to a distinct reptilian group. Much less is known about them than the dinosaurs. They were the first vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight and showed enormous diversity. Species ranged from creatures the size of a sparrow to the monstrous Quetzalcoatlusa, which had a wingspan of 40ft (12 metres). Towards the end of their time on Earth, only the larger species remained as the smaller ones were out-competed by early birds.", "The last meal of a new species of marine reptile that lived in the seas during the time of the dinosaurs has been found preserved in a forgotten fossil stored at a museum. A palaeontologist discovered the 189-million-year-old ichthyosaur while looking through the collections at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery. The five foot (1.5 metres) long fossil, which was thought to be a plaster copy, had been kept in storage for nearly 30 years and had been largely overlooked. The fossilised, which has been named Ichthyosaurus anningae, had lain forgotten about in Doncaster Museum for nearly 30 years. The dark mass between the ribs are the remains of the animals last meal . However, Dean Lomax, a visting scientist at the University of Manchester, noticed some unusual structures in the bone structure while browsing the museum's collection. Skin pigments preserved in fossils - including an extinct creature that swam the oceans almost 200 million years ago - have been revealed using X-rays. Scans of the beautifully-preserved marine organisms help paint a picture of the appearance of animals that died out millions of years ago. Dark traces on fossilised skin from three reptiles - a 55 million-year-old leatherback turtle, an 86-million-year-old mosasaur and a 190 to 196-million-year-old ichthyosaur dating back up to 196 million years - were found to contain melanin. This pigment is found in many animals and serves various roles, from camouflage to regulation of body temperature. It suggests the ichthyosaurs had dark skins much like some species of modern dolphin. Dr Johan Lindgren and colleagues at Lund University, in Sweden, who conducted the study said evidence of it in these creatures reflects the important evolutionary role melanin played. They said the pigment was crucial in determining whether such animals were able to live in the colder parts of the world. Trapped within the fossilised bones of the ancient reptile, which had a similar shape to modern day dolphins, were also the remains of its last meal - squid. The finding has shed new light on the diets that these ocean dwelling reptiles lived on and gives new insight into their behaviour. Squid spend most of their time in the cold, dark depths of the ocean and most modern species that feed on them tend to dive down hundreds of metres to reach them. According to scientists this suggests that ichthyosaurs may have also been capable of withstanding high pressure and cold temperatures to reach their food. Working with palaeontologists at the State University of New York, Mr Lomax has now identified the fossil as a new species that was previously unknown to science. It has been named Ichthyosaurus anningae in honor of the British fossil collector Mary Anning, who first collected ichtyosaurs in the early 1800s. Mr Lomax said: 'It has taken us seven years of comparing this fossil with other ichthyosaur specimens from around the world to establish that it is a new species. 'Finding the contents of the stomach inside were an added bonus. Most fossils of ichthyosaurs have had their gut contents removed, if there were there, when they were excavated in the early 1800s to make them more aesthetically pleasing. 'In this fossil, however, there is a mass of thousands of tiny hooks - the ends of squid tentacles. We also found a fish scale close to the gut mass too, which could also have been the remains of a meal, although it may have just ended up inside the fossil by accident.' The artists impression above shows how Ichtyosaurus anningae may have looked 189 million years ago . The fossil was found between Black Ven, near Lyme Regis, and Sea Town on the Dorset Coast in the 1980s . The sharp teeth of Ichthyosaurus anningae shown above would have allowed it to snatch squid as it swam . The fossil is the first new species of ichthyosaur to be discovered in around 130 years and is one of the most complete specimens of its age. It was originally found among the rocks somewhere between Black Ven, near Lyme Regis, and Seatown on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset during the 1980s and bought by Doncaster Museum in 1983. However, after some staff changes at the museum it was later mistakenly labelled as a plaster cast copy and left to languish in the museums collections. However, in 2008 Mr Lomax noticed that some of the fin bones appeared to be different from other species of ichthyosaurs he had seen. Working with Professor Judy Massare from the State University of New York, they compared the fossilised bones with around 1,000 other ichthyosaur remains. Their findings are published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. In their paper they describe the fossil as a new species and say it lived in the oceans between 189 and 182 million years ago during the early Jurassic period. Dean Lomax, pictured above, discovered the new species while browsing the collection at Doncaster Museum . The scientists discovered tiny hooks from the end of squid tenticles fossilised in the remains of the reptile . During their search they discovered three other specimens in museums elsewhere in the world that they believe are also of the same species as the fossil in Doncaster. They were also able to determine that the fossil in Doncaster, which is almost complete apart from the end of its tail, belonged to an adult male. The other specimens are thought to be a subadult and two juveniles. Mr Lomax said he thought it was the first time it had been possible to determine the sex of fossilised ichthyosaurs. Dean Lomax and fellow palaeontologist Nigel Larkin examine the new species of ichthyosaur above . Ichthyosaurs are an ancient species of marine reptile that are distantly related to turtles as shown above . He said: 'There appears to have been some sexual dimorphism as the humerus bones appear to be different. We examined dimorphism in other reptiles and found this often differs significantly. 'We were able to say the fossil in Doncaster is probably a male adult.' Ichthyosaurs were once common in the world's oceans and had sharped teeth with which they are thought to have used to snatch fish as they hunted. Some fossils have been found with the remains of fish preserved inside them. It is hoped the discovery will encourage other museums to look back through their collections as there could be other new species hidden there. Dr Silvia Danise from Plymouth University told the BBC: 'Collections are treasures that show their value each time we're able to look at them with a different perspective, and by asking new scientific questions.' Palaeontologist Nigel Larkin (above) helped prepare the fossil so its features could be examined more clearly .", "By . Ruth Styles . She was a promising film-maker on the verge of a stellar career. But rather than pursuing her Hollywood dream, Donna Hanssen chose to turn her back on the big time for a life on conservation's front line. Outraged by figures that revealed Namibia's carnivore population had halved during the 1980s, she and her siblings launched AfriCat - a pioneering organisation that has saved more than 1,000 lions, leopards and cheetahs since 1993. But, says the veteran conservationist, while numbers are picking up, the animals are still under threat - both from poachers and from farmers who shoot the animals as they move across their land for fear of what might happen to their cows if they don't. Scroll down for video . Hard at work: Donna Hanssen turned her back on a promising film career to dedicate her life to protecting Namibia's endangered lions, leopards and cheetahs . Beautiful: One of the rescued leopards living at the Okonjima Wildlife Reserve tucks into his lunch while perching precariously on a branch . Shocking: A leopard lies beaten and bloody after being killed by angry villagers (left) and right, a jubilant group of villagers show off a lion they have killed . 'What I love about big cats is their survival instinct, their independence, their patience and their beauty,' smiles Donna.'They're so essential for keeping the balance and they mostly take out the weak and the old, so that the strong are left to breed.' As in other African countries, Namibia's big cats are coming under increasing pressure from human farmers and, although not to the same extent as rhinos and elephants, are also threatened by poaching. Currently, the country is home to an estimated 6,000 cheetahs, 4,000 leopards and around 600 lions, while the number of African Wild Dogs - a species particularly loathed because of their vicious habit of ripping chunks of flesh out of living animals - is unknown but thought to be low. Most of those rescued by the AfriCat Foundation are the victims of traps and snares; some of which leave the animal so injured, it can never be released back into the wild. For the lucky ones, rescue means being given a new life in Etosha National Park, a stretch of wilderness in northern Namibia that covers 8,600sqm chunk of savannah and salt pan. New life: For the luckier animals rescued by Donna and her team, a new life at the gorgeous Etosha National Park in northern Namibia beckons . Healthy: Big cats, such as those relocated to Etosha by Donna and her team, help keep the springbok population in check and ensure only the strong breed . Safe: Etosha, one of the world's largest reserves, has been a haven for wildlife since 1907, when it was established by the German colonial authorities . The Africat Foundation is partially funded by guests staying at Okonjima Lodge. Exotic Travel and Safaris, which offers a 12-day tour that includes a night at the lodge and a chance to meet the animals at the reserve. Packages include accommodation, meals and transfers, with prices starting at £1,874 per person. For more information, see exotictravelsafaris.com . South African Airways offers return flights to Windhoek from London Heathrow via Johannesburg from £1,010. See flysaa.com for more. For further information on Namibia, please visit namibiatourism.com.na . For more on Africat, see africat.org . Those who can't be released go instead to the Okonjima Nature Reserve, a small stretch of land nestled among the Omboroko Mountains, which along with a small lodge, houses the AfriCat Foundation itself. From Okonjima, Donna and her colleagues run a programme that encompasses the whole of Namibia and combines rescuing trapped wildlife with educating farmers and schoolchildren - much of it paid for using the proceeds of the on-site safari lodge. 'The secret to conservation is habitat,' explains Donna. 'If you've got the space, animals make it, they survive. But we're also . dealing with farmers that have to survive. 'They have to farm with . leopards, cheetahs, elephants, spotted hyenas and brown hyenas and wild . dogs whereas a farmer in Europe might at the most have to deal with a wolf of a bear. Or if they're in the UK, a fox. 'What we do is say to the farmer, \"Take a week to come in Okonjima and we will show you how to keep the cattle safe without using traps or shooting the wildlife\". We're trying to change their minds and methods - that's conservation.' But while many have embraced the reforms championed by Donna and her team, others continue to take a harsher stance on dealing with wildlife - much to Donna's distress. 'The ugliest thing is the cruelty and the . greed,' she says, sadly. 'To destroy nature as much as you can just for the benefit of your own pocket - . just so you can make as much money as you can.' But that's not all. 'Cruelty is often a combination of . ignorance and fear,' she continues. 'So people do horrible things to animals because they . fear them, or because they don't realise, or ignore, the fact that animals get stressed. 'I've seen farmers keeping cheetahs in . tiny cages in the baking, 50°C summer heat just to punish it for killing . his calf. And then there's a new type of poaching, where people kill . mothers just to take the babies and raise them like they saved them. Then, when they grow up, they sell them to hunting farms to be shot for . money.' Under threat: African Wild Dogs are increasingly endangered thanks to farmers who loathe them for their cruel method of killing their prey . Tracking: A team from Okonjima hunt for one of the cheetahs living onto the property. All are given electronic tags before being released . Relaxed: One of the tagged cheetahs at Okonjima relaxes in a patch of long grass after tucking into a springbok supper . Getting angry, she adds: 'It . should be classified alongside human trafficking and illegal arms trafficking. Poaching needs to be attacked by a government level. We . can't fight that battle. Farmers earn so much money passing on trapped animals to the . poachers, it's impossible for us to fight.' And it's not just the big cats that suffer appalling cruelty. Whipping out a sheaf of photos, Donna runs through some of the other horrors she and her team have come across. One shows a . baby pangolin being turned into soup ('a cultural problem' says Donna), . a truly ghastly image of a pair of horses being worked into exhaustion . by two children and kicked when they fall over, an elephant lying . bloated and tusk-less after being mutilated by poachers and a snap of . two adult lions dead and bloody in a trap. Clearly, . there is much for Donna and her team to do. For all that, she remains . hopeful about the future and says she hopes that one day, people will . give Africa's wildlife the respect and protection it deserves. 'In . all the years that we've been doing this, we've managed to talk to . around five per cent of farmers. If we have managed to change the minds . of just that five per cent, then we're already happy. 'But . hopefully, with the rise of the internet, more people will find out . about what's going on and fewer animals will be shot. Hopefully the next . generation of farmers will realise that killing isn't fun and that it . certainly isn't a solution to their problems.' Education: One part of Donna's job involves teaching local children and farmers to appreciate the big cats with whom they share their lives . Long road: Although Donna and AfriCat have enjoyed some spectacular successes, she says there is still a very long way to go . Tiny: Jackals are also helped by AfriCat but suffer less at the hands of farmers, who don't see them as a huge threat to their livestock . Wonderful: One of the leopards living on AfriCat's Okonjima property blinks sleepily in the sunshine . On the prowl: A rescued cheetah goes about its business at the Okonjima Wildlife Reserve in Namibia . Lights out: A dramatic red and black sunset over AfriCat's Okonjima reserve. The property is a three-hour drive from Windhoek .", "A family of mountain lions who live in a national park were caught on camera in extreme close up gnawing on a dead deer. The images showing kittens P-32 and P-33, along with mother P-19, were unveiled Wednesday on Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's Facebook page. The big cats were photographed tearing limbs, chomping and lapping up the bloody feast at the California park. First to arrive: Kitten P-33 is seen at the kill site. Her brother and mother reportedly arrived one hour later . Why hello there! P-33 peers up at the sky while inside the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area . Chowing down: Kitten P-33 gnaws on the deer carcass at the California park in February. At the time the photos were taken, P-33 was 15 months old . Feast: P-33 digs into her prey. A park ranger has said the animal had to use her carnassial teeth to make cuts . A National Park Service Ranger, identified by KTLA as Kate Kuykendall, wrote on Facebook that a remote camera was used for the images. She said that the feline family was snapped close to the line that separates LA County from Ventura County in the Santa Monica Mountains. Kuykendall wrote: 'Kittens normally stay with their mother until they are about one to one and a half years old. 'One of the siblings, P-34, had already dispersed and it appears that these kittens may have also left their mom since the photos were taken in mid-February. 'This is P-19’s second litter and we've been tracking all three kittens since they were four weeks old. Lapping it up: P-33 licked one of the deer's leg during her meal. According to the National Park Service, mountain lions eat one deer weekly . Family meal: Mother P-19 (left) and her son P-32 (right) join in on the meal at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area . All together: The three mountain lions were caught together in remote camera images . 'Since we started studying these animals in 2002, we have not tracked any male mountain lions that have successfully dispersed out of the Santa Monica Mountains.' Kuykendall wrote online that P-19 and P-32 arrived at the kill site approximately one hour after P-33. A caption for an image that showed kitten P-33 tearing the carcass said 'Mountain lions feed on deer by entering the abdominal cavity first and eating the insides, such as the liver and the heart.' Kuykendall also explained on Facebook the mechanisms that allowed P-33 to chow down. She wrote 'Notice how P-33 turns her head to the side while she bites through the deer hide? 'She is using her carnassial teeth, which are modified molars and premolars that act as shears to cut through the tough hide and meat. Mother and daughter: P-19 (closest to the camera) is seen with P-33 at the kill site . Approach: P-19 faces the camera - with meat left over from the deer carcass on the ground next to her . 'These sharp teeth are excellent at cutting and tearing flesh. 'Cats do not chew their food, so they actually use these carnassial teeth to tear and cut their meat up into smaller pieces to swallow whole.' On its website, the National Park Service says 'mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey, and the animals in the Santa Monica Mountains are no exception.' Male and female mountain lions have general home ranges of approximately 200 and 75 square miles, respectively, according to the agency. The animals face threats that include roads and construction, as well as ingesting rat poisons, the National Park Service says. Information on visiting the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area can be found here. In the wild: Kitten P-33 is seen perched on rocks at the kill site . Out of the corner: Mother P-19 pokes her head out in the darkness . Youngster: Kitten P-32 was looking at the camera in this shot, a ranger with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has said .", "By . Sarah Griffiths . Luck plays a part in most discoveries of ancient artefacts and bones. And one amateur palaeontologist has discovered a 75million-year-old giant turtle bone that matches another in a remote museum found over 160 years before. The perfect match proves the existence of a giant sea turtle measuring 10ft (3 metres) long, making it the largest of its kind ever known. Scroll down for video . The two partial limb fossils from the ancient sea turtle Atlantochelys mortoni fit together perfectly. The two halves were discovered at least 163 years apart, defying conventional wisdom that most fossils break down after weeks or months of surface exposure. The distal half (left) was discovered in 2012 and the proximal half (right) has been at Drexel University for more than a century . Amateur palaeontologist Gregory Harpel . discovered the bone on an embankment upstream of his usual . fossil-hunting haunt in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he . was searching for fossilised shark teeth. The chemist from Oreland, Pennsylvania, said: ‘I picked it up and thought it was a rock at first – it was heavy’. He realised that the fossil was more scientifically significant than shark teeth and took it to the experts at the New Jersey State Museum, to which he ultimately donated his find. David Parris, the museum's curator of natural history and Jason Schein, his assistant, immediately recognised the fossil as a humerus – the large upper arm bone – from a turtle, but its shaft was broken so that only the distal end - the end nearest to the elbow - remained. Dr Parris thought the fossil looked strangely familiar and joked to Dr Schein that perhaps it was the missing half of a different large, partial turtle limb housed in the collections at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. That bone also had a broken shaft, but only its proximal end, nearest to the shoulder, remained, so the coincidence was striking. Based on the complete fossilised limb, experts have calculated the animal's overall size to be about 10ft from tip to tail, making it one of the largest sea turtles ever known. It may have resembled modern loggerhead turtles. In this illustration, it is depicted with the outline of a human diver to indicate scale. The turtle lived 70 to 75 million years ago . ‘As soon as those two halves came together, like puzzle pieces, you knew it,’ said Dr Ted Daeschler, associate curator of vertebrate zoology and vice president for collections at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. The discovery, which was made in 2012, linked scientists from both museums to their predecessors from the 19th century, according to the study in the forthcoming 2014 issue of the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Dr Schein said: ‘I didn't think there was any chance in the world they [the two fossils] would actually fit.’ That's because the Academy's fossil was initially thought to be too old as palaeontologists expect that fossils found in exposed strata of rock will break down from exposure to the elements if they are not collected and preserved, at least within a few years, or a decade at the longest. There was no reason to think a lost half of the same old bone would survive intact and exposed in a stream bed from at least the time of the old bone's first scientific description in 1849, they said. The Academy's bone was also without a match of any kind, making a perfect match seem even more farfetched. Amateur palaeontologist Gregory Harpel discovered the bone on an embankment upstream of his usual fossil-hunting haunt in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he was searching for fossilised shark teeth . A 3-D scan of the two broken turtle limb fossils from Atlantocheyls mortoni shows a detailed view of their surfaces (pictured). Paleontologists from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and from the New Jersey State Museum concluded that these two fossils came from the same animal, despite being discovered separately at least 163 years apart . It was originally named and described by 19th century naturalist Louis Agassiz as the first, or type specimen, of its genus and species, Atlantochelys mortoni. It remained the only known fossil specimen from that genus and species until 2012 when Dr Schein carried the ‘new’ New Jersey fossil to the Academy in Philadelphia, bringing the two halves together. ‘Sure enough, you have two halves of the same bone, the same individual of this giant sea turtle,’ said Dr Daeschler. ‘One half was collected at least 162 years before the other half.’ Now scientists are revising their conventional wisdom to say that, sometimes, exposed fossils can survive longer than previously thought. Dr Schein said: ‘The astounding confluence of events that had to have happened for this to be true is just unbelievable and probably completely unprecedented in palaeontology.’ The fully assembled humerus now gives the scientists more information about the massive sea turtle it came from as well. The 70 to 75million-year-old species may have resembled modern loggerhead turtles (pictured), but was much larger than any sea turtle species alive today, at around 10ft long . With a complete limb, they have calculated that the animal was about 10ft from tip to tail, making it one of the largest sea turtles ever known. The species may have resembled modern loggerhead turtles, but was much larger than any sea turtle species alive today. Experts believe that the entire unbroken bone was originally embedded in sediment during the Cretaceous Period, 70 to 75 million years ago, when the turtle lived and died. They think that sediments eroded and the bone fractured millions of years later during the Pleistocene or Holocene, before the bone pieces became embedded in sediments and protected from further deterioration for perhaps a few thousand more years until their discovery.", "Introduced to the world in 2009, Predator X was hailed as the most fearsome of all prehistoric creatures. An immense, big-headed marine reptile - said to have been 50ft long with a bite four times more powerful as Tyrannosaurus rex - spawned a host of excited commentary, documentaries and even a B-movie. Now, four years after the initial discovery of the beast's fossilised remains, Predator X has finally been given a technical description and a name - and it seems the hype overreached the facts. Fearsome: An artist's impression of Predator X, who has now been fully studied and named Pliosaurus funkei by the team who discovered its remains in the Arctic island of Svalbard . A team from the University of Oslo uncovered two big pliosaurs - short-necked, large jawed marine reptiles - between 2004 and and 2012 on the Arctic island of Svalbard. Previously the only pliosaur remains found on the island was a section of tail vertebra, so the find was hailed as a major discovery. The specimen dubbed Predator X got greater fame, while the other enjoyed five minutes in the spotlight as The Monster. Writing in the Norwegian Journal of Geology, palaeontologists Espen Knutsen, Patrick Druckenmiller, and Jørn Hurum have now named the creatures Pliosaurus funkei, and they admit the remains of both only offer partial views of what this marine apex predator was like alive. Svalbard's regular freeze-thaw cycles have severely fragmented the fossilised skeletons, the trio reports, and some parts further degraded as they dried them out in the lab. In the case of the specimen used as the basis of the new species, known as PMO 214.135, the surviving material consist of only a few fragments of jaw, some vertebrae from the neck and the back, and parts of the right front flipper. The second, larger specimen - PMO 214.136 - includes parts of the back of the skull, a few vertebrae and 'several fragmentary and unidentified bones'. Fossilised: This image shows a section of snout belonging to specimen PMO 214.135 from two angles. Yellow . shading indicates dentary teeth, red shading indicates premaxillary . teeth and numbers indicate tooth number . Fragment: This shows a part of the same specimen's lower jaw with the same key . Study: Cervical centrum from PMO 214.135 shown . in articular (A1) and lateral (A2) view, and a second cervical centrum . from the same specimen in lateral view (B) Flaky: Pectoral vertebrae from PMO 214.135. Svalbard's regular freeze-thaw cycles have severely fragmented the fossilised skeletons and some parts further degraded as researchers dried them out in the lab . Ancient: A piece of dorsal centrum from PMO 214.135 seen from two angles . Bone structure: Four dorsal vertebral centra and three associated neural arches (shaded yellow, orange, and red) from PMO 214.135 . Marine reptile: Right coracoid from the specimen in ventral . view. A fault (red dashed line) runs obliquely across the coracoid. Several dorsal ribs (shaded orange) lie dorsally to the coracoid. The . posterior part was reconstructed based on a preserved element, which was . displaced along a fault . The same fragment seen in dorsal view: Several gastralia (shaded yellow) lie on the dorsal side of the coracoid . Aquatic: The specimen's right front paddle, . showing Humerus and epipodials in dorsal view (A), and the humerus in . proximal view (B) Fingers: The phalanges of the right front paddle of PMO 214.135 shown in ventral view . Efforts to figure out the size of . Pliosaurus funkei were complicated by this incomplete nature of the . remains, with the palaeontologists only able to estimate the size of . their specimens based on measurements of other pliosaurs. Both . creatures had originally been estimated at a monstrous 50ft long - . making them the biggest pliosaurs ever found, according to Professor . Hurum when he announced the discovery. The new paper shrinks the beast . somewhat. Now the . palaeontologists estimate the complete skull of PMO 214.136 to have been . between about six and eight feet long - big, yes, but comparable to the . size of at least one other known pliosaur. The . skull of the other specimen was smaller at between five and . six-and-a-half feet long, which is still impressive but within the range . of what researchers have previously found. The beast: Partial basioccipital including the occipital . condyle of specimen PMO 214.136 - aka Predator X - shown in right . lateral (A), posterior (B) and dorsal (C) views . Massive: Left posterior jaw fragment of Predator X seen in in lateral (A) and oblique posterior (B) view . Conjecture: What researchers believe to be the left surangular of Predator X in what they think are the dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views . Inconclusive: Anterior cervical vertebral centrum of Predator X in what is thought to be anterior articular (A), left lateral (B) and ventral (C) views . Making good estimates of body length is more complicated still. Guessing the size of pliosaurs is notoriously difficult since many species are known only from fragmentary remains, with palaeontologists forced to estimate size based on bones thought to act as a proxy for overall length. On the basis of measurements of the creatures' vertebrae, the Norwegian team's educated guess is that Pliosaurus funkei was between about 33 to 42ft long, putting them squarely in the same size range as the largest specimens previously known to science. Back-pedalling from the hype surrounding to discovery of Predator X, they now describe their specimen as merely 'one of the largest pliosaurs described so far'. With so many gaps in the evidence, the view of Pliosaurus funkei remains incomplete. Nevertheless it seems Svalbard's pliosaur fossils are not nearly so big or spectacular as had been hoped. Indeed, the palaeontologists now 'urge caution in drawing far-reaching conclusions of pliosaur ecology and behaviour' based on their findings.", "A predator armed with six long claws prowled the seas more than 500 million years ago and was among the ancestors of modern insects, spiders and lobsters, scientists have found. The lobster-like Yawunik kootenayi had four eyes and long whip-like antennae that extended from the tips of its claws. Four of the claws also bore opposing rows of teeth that helped the creature catch its prey in the prehistoric seas of the Cambrian period. Scroll down for video . Yawunik kootenayi, shown in the reconstruction above, lived in the ocean 508 million years ago. The lobster-like creature had four eyes and long whip-like antennae that extended from the tips of its claws . A fossil of the strange looking creature was discovered in Marble Canyon at the north end of Kootenay National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Palaeontologists say the species was probably one of the first predatory arthropods to roam the planet - a group that later evolved into spiders, lobsters and insects. A crocodile-like amphibian that was the size of a small car dominated prehistoric lakes more than 200 million years ago, a new study has found. Palaeontologists discovered the fossilised remains of the 'super salamander' while excavating on the site of an ancient lake in southern Portugal. The predator, which grew to be around two metres (6.5 ft) in length and lived in lakes and rivers during the Late Triassic Period, has been named Metoposaurus algarvensis. With a mouth filled with sharp needle-like teeth it is thought to have preyed upon fish but could also have snapped up any small early dinosaurs that got to close to the water. The predatory creature, which like all arthropods had an external skeleton or exoskeleton, is thought to have lived 508 million years ago. Cedric Aria, a evolutionary biologist at the University of Toronto who was part of the team that discovered the species, said: 'This creature is expanding our perspective on the anatomy and predatory habits of the first arthropods, the group to which spiders and lobsters belong. 'It has the signature features of an arthropod with its external skeleton, segmented body and jointed appendages, but lacks certain advanced traits present in groups that survived until the present day. 'We say that it belongs to the 'stem' of arthropods.' The researchers, whose study is published in the journal Palaeontology, describe how Yawunik has many primitive features that resemble those that later evolved in insects and crustaceans. It has long frontal appendages that resemble the antennae of modern beetles or shrimp, but in Yawunik these were actually each comprised of three long claws. The fossil of Yawunik (above) was discovered in Marble Canyon at the north end of Kootenay National Park in the Canadian Rockies. It was examined using scanning electron microscope to help reveal its tiny details . The image above shows the fossil of Yawunik kootenayi in slate just after it had been excavated by scientists. On the end of each claw were long flagella that the scientists believe helped the creature sense the environment around it .Two of the claws on each appendage were also studded with opposing rows of teeth . On the end of each claw were long flagella that the scientists believe helped the creature sense the environment around it. Two of the claws on each appendage were also studded with opposing rows of teeth that helped it grip its prey. When attacking its prey, Yawunik probably spread its claws out in front of it and then retracted them under its body when swimming, say the researchers. The fossil was discovered in Marble Canyon in north end of Kootenay National Park in the Canadian Rockies . Mr Aria said: 'Unlike insects or crustaceans, Yawunik did not possess additional appendages in the head that were specifically modified to process food. 'Evolution resulted here in a combination of adaptations onto the frontal-most appendage of this creature, maybe because such modifications were easier to acquire. 'We know that the larvae of certain crustaceans can use their antennae to both swim and gather food. Yawunik was named in tribute to the Ktunaxa People who have long inhabited the Kootenay area around Marble Canyon. Yawunik was a fierce mythological marine creature according to Ktunaxa legends. It caused such mayhem that other animals launched an epic hunt to kill it. 'But a large active predator such as a mantis shrimp has its sensory and grasping functions split up between appendages. 'Yawunik and its relatives tell us about the condition existing before such a division of tasks among parts of the organism took place.' Although only a few inches long, Yawunick was probably one of the key predators in the seas at the time when the water was dominated by trilobites and before the first fish had begun to emerge. Yawunik was named in tribute to the Ktunaxa People who have long inhabited the Kootenay area around Marble Canyon. Yawunik was a fierce mythological marine creature according to Ktunaxa legends. It caused such mayhem that other animals launched an epic hunt to kill it. The researchers used scanning electron microscope technology to make maps of the fossil and reconstruct how it would have looked. The new species Yawunik is thought to have folded its long front claws under its body when it was swimming. Yawunik was named in tribute to the Ktunaxa People who have long inhabited the Kootenay area around Marble Canyon. It was a fierce mythological marine creature according to Ktunaxa legends . Professor Jean-Bernard Caron, who led the study at the University of Toronto, said: 'Yawunik is the most abundant of the large new species of the Marble Canyon site, and so, as a predator, it held a key position in the food network and had an important impact on this past ecosystem.' Donald Sam, director of traditional knowledge and language at the Ktunaxa Nation Council, said: 'Yawunik is a central figure in the Ktunaxa creation story, and, as such, is a vital part of Ktunaxa oral history. 'I am ecstatic that the research team recognizes how important our history is in our territory, and chose to honour the Ktunaxa through this amazing discovery.'", "By . Sarah Griffiths . An incredible dinosaur track site with perfectly preserved footprints has been discovered in Denali National Park, Alaska. The footprints belong to herds of duck-billed dinosaurs called hadrosaurs, which thrived in the ancient high-latitude, polar ecosystem in the Late Cretaceous period between 100 and 66 million years ago. They roamed the area in large family groups, travelling across the rugged terrain together. An incredible dinosaur track site with perfectly preserved footprints has been discovered in Denali National Park, Alaska. One of the larger prints is pictured . Hadrosaurids, or duck-billed dinosaurs, are members of the family Hadrosauridae. The family includes lots of dinosaurs that were common herbivores in the Upper Cretaceous Period between 100 and 66million years ago. They lives in what is now Asia, Europe and North America. They are descendants of the iguanodontian dinosaurs of the Upper Jurassic period. Hadrosaurs are known as the duck-billed dinosaurs because of the sim8ilarity of the shape of their heads to modern ducks. The tracks show they travelled in large groups with babies travelling alongside much larger adults. Some of the footprints are so detailed that they reveal the creatures’ skin texture. Even tracks of bugs and worms can be seen. The footprints were found by three palaeontologists in 2007, when the Upper Cretaceous Cantwell Formation in the Alaska Range of Denali had not been explored. On the last day, perched precariously on the steep side of the mountain, Anthony Fiorello, of Pernot Museum, Dallas, Texas and paleontologists from the University of Kansas and Hokkaido University Museum, were ‘giddy – somewhere between giggling and crying’ when they came across the wealth of tracks. ‘Without question, Denali is one of the best dinosaur footprint localities in the world, but what we found that last day was incredible – so many tracks, so big, and so well preserved,’ said Dr Fiorillo. 'The Denali tracksite (pictured) is extremely significant to the reconstruction of this Cretaceous high latitude polar ecosystem, Dr Stephen Hasiotis of the University of Kansas said. 'The hadrosaur tracks show specifically where they lived and how they acted as an extended family' The footprints belong to mulch-generational herds of duck-billed dinosaurs called hadrosaurs (illustrated) which thrived in the ancient high-latitude, polar ecosystem . ‘Many had skin impressions so we could even see what the bottom of their feet looked like. And there were lots of invertebrate traces - the tracks of bugs, worms, larvae and more - which were important to us because they showed an ecosystem existed during the warm parts of the years.’ The paper, published in the journal Geology, provides an insight into the heard structure of hadrosaurs, which lived as families within the warmer-than-expected Arctic climate. ‘The Denali tracksite is extremely significant to the reconstruction of this Cretaceous high latitude polar ecosystem as it demonstrates higher annual temperatures compared to the present-day climate,’ Dr Stephen Hasiotis of the University of Kansas explained. ‘The hadrosaur tracks show specifically where they lived and how they acted as an extended family. The dinosaur track site was discovered in Denali National Park, Alaska (mapped) in 2007 by three palaeontologists . Some of the footprints (pictured) are so detailed that they show what the creatures' skin looked like and tracks of bugs and worms were also revealed . ‘The burrows and trails of mud-loving beetles, mole crickets, midge fly larvae, and other sediment-dwelling beasties demonstrate that the whole cast of characters left their traces of life in the river bank sediments during the warm summer months - frozen in time, waiting to be discovered.’ The three paleontologists returned to the site to accurately measure and analyse the prints, which showed that four different age classes of Hadrosaurids – adults, sub-adults, juveniles and very young individuals – lived together in a large social group. The team’s research also suggests that the Hadrosaurid dinosaurs – affectionately known as the ‘cows of the Cretaceous,’ experienced a period of rapid growth in their life history. ‘This is one of the greatest dinosaur tracksites in the world in terms of size, number, and quality.  We could see how hadrosaurs walked, ran, or slipped on muddy surface. Perched precariously on the steep side of the mountain (pictured) the palaeontologists were 'giddy - somewhere between giggling and crying' when they came across the wealth of tracks . 'This is one of the greatest dinosaur tracksites in the world in terms of size, number, and quality. We could see how hadrosaurs walked, ran, or slipped on muddy surface,' said Dr Kobayashi of Hokkaido University Museum. A deep footprint is pictured . ‘Footprints were so vivid that we almost could see and smell them,’ said Dr Kobayashi of Hokkaido University Museum. ‘We were so excited when we found tiny, baby footprints, because we instantly knew this was the evidence to support the polar hadrosaurs survived through winters and lived as a herd to protect each other like other mammals do.’ The trio realised that the single bedding plane site was at risk from earthquake and could crumble and slide down the mountain into a nearby river. So Denali National Park helped the paleontologists remove and preserve the specimens. The moulds were then transported to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas where they are now on display. The palaeontologists realised that the single bedding plane site was at risk from earthquake and could crumble and slide down the mountain into a nearby river. So Denali National Park helped the paleontologists remove and preserve the specimens .", "A pride of lions had far from an easy meal when they chose to eat porcupine for lunch, with one unlucky cub getting the point loud and clear. The pride spotted two of the spiky creatures in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and decided the slow moving rodents were fair game. One porcupine certainly dented the pride of one cub, when the big cat was left with one of its quills stuck through its nose. Getting the point: A lion cub tries to remove a porcupine's quill from its nose after trying to eat the rodent for lunch in the South African desert . Dragging it out: The cub winches in pain and closes both eyes as it uses its paws to try and pull the quill from out of its nostril . Now how are we going to eat this? The pride watch the slow moving rodent walk into view and ponder their next move . Time to strike: One of the cubs circles the porcupine and looks for the chance to strike, while the others appear to have already lost interest . But the porcupines victory was short lived, with the pride's alpha male later devouring both rodents. The encounter was captured by Philip Eglise. He said the lion pride initially consisted of five cubs and two adult females. The group attacked the two porcupines who managed to hold them off for around 15 minutes. The 38-year-old of Kilndown, Kent, said the porcupines quills 'are an exceptionally effective defence'. He said rather than firing the quills, porcupines rush backwards into the faces of their attackers which 'causes the quills to become detached'. He said: 'This can cause very serious injuries or infections which predators can die from. 'This happened a couple of times during this particular encounter, and the after-effects of one such attack can be seen where one of the cubs is attempting to remove a quill from its nose. 'The cub continued to paw at its nose for some time afterwards; it would have surely been very painful.' Mr Eglise said eventually the porcupines retreated into a bush, which he expected would 'save them'. Get it out! The cub looks in pain as it seeks assistance from another member of the pride to get the quill out of its nose . Why did you do that? The cub, who has now removed the quill, looks forlorn as stares at the porcupine, perhaps seeking sympathy . Bush retreat: The porcupines fled to the bushes where photographer Philip Eglise, who captured these pictures, assuming they would be safe . Check mate! The alpha male then swooped in and ate both porcupines; the lion is pictured above licking its lips after eating them . But the pride male then arrived and killed them both. Mr Eglise said: 'Sometimes nature feels horribly cruel and unfair to our modern sanitised lives, and to witness such a scene is always emotional. 'To see two such plucky animals, massively smaller and outnumbered by their attackers, was genuinely difficult to watch and I was hoping the porcupines' strong defence would eventually win the day.' Most lions now live in eastern and southern Africa, and their numbers there are rapidly decreasing.", "It is a practice more usually associated with Far Eastern countries such as China and Vietnam. But a report by a newspaper in Switzerland has revealed that dog and cat meat is still part of meals in the Alpine nation. The Tages Anzeiger said farmers in the Appenzell and St. Gallen areas in particular slaughter the creatures to eat themselves or to pass on to friends. Canine snack: Eating dog meat is still common practice in some areas of Switzerland, a newspaper in the country has found . The favourite type of meat comes from a dog that is related to the beefy Rottweiler. ‘There’s nothing odd about it’, a farmer told the paper. ‘Meat is meat. Construction workers in particular like eating it.’ Another farmer told how he raised animals and then called in a butcher friend to kill them when they were ripe for slaughter. Still one more described how he either shot the creatures, usually adored as pets throughout Europe, or bludgeoned them to death. According to the report, people ate the meat as ‘mostbröckli’ - usually a form of beef or ham that is marinated, but this one made from dog or cat. ‘No-one knows what it is when you prepare it in this fashion,’ a farmer added. Dog's dinner: Although human consumption of dog meat is mostly associated with Asian countries such as China, pictured, Swiss farmers confessed to breeding dogs for their meat . While not taking place on a commercial scale, the practice horrifies animal rights activists in Switzerland where the eating of such creatures is not forbidden by law, as it is in nearby Germany. In Switzerland the person who wants to kill a cat or a dog will only be prosecuted if the killing is itself cruel. Dog meat is eaten in a number of countries across the globe, but the practice is mostly associated with Asian nations. It is most common in China, South Korea and Vietnam where earing dog  is believed to bring good fortune . Koreans even have a special 'meat dog' breed called Nureongi which is bred for human consumption and very rarely kept as a pets. And the flesh cannot be sold commercially, even though some communities have pressed in the past for it to be sold on market days alongside the usual fare of beef, pork and lamb. The newspaper added; ‘The surveyed farmers spoke about their special preference only through the assurance of anonymity. All feared a hostile reaction from animal welfare activists and animal lovers. ‘Animal welfare organisations and farmers assess the consumption differently, but it is particularly popular in the Rhine Valley. 'One farmer said he had stopped eating it purely because it is “frowned upon” by society. He sees this as the hypocrisy of a society “that can get otherwise not enough meat.”’ There are no official figures about how many of these animals end up on the plates of the Swiss. The country also has a small but thriving trade in cat pelts for coats and bedspreads. The Swiss parliament rejected changing the laws to protect dogs and cats for human consumption back in 1993. Edith Zellweger of the Salez animal welfare group said; ‘How unscrupulous can a society be that man eats his best friend?’ She was behind the drive 20 years ago to get the law changed and will press for fresh legislation again. The Federal Veterinary Office said it was a ‘cultural matter’ and pointed out that in some countries dogs are reared specifically to be slaughtered and eaten.", "Most impalas run for their lives at the sight of a leopard but this plucky youngster snuck in for an affectionate embrace instead. The unlikely friendship between the hunter and its prey was captured in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The impala nuzzles the big cat's nose and mouth, and even when its new friend gets a little rough, it shows no signs of running off. Scroll down for video . Unlikely friends: The leopard places a paw on the impala in a seemingly gentle sign of affection in South Africa . I'm ignoring you: The impala tries to get the leopards attention at the Kruger National Park . It started with a kiss: The impala nuzzles in under the leopards jaw and rubs up against his big cat chum . The encounter was filmed by game ranger Estiaan Houy, 31, while out on safari with British and American guests. He said: 'In all my years of being a game ranger I have never seen such an encounter, nor do I ever expect to see a repeat of it again. 'I felt amazed and honoured to see such a rare and unexplainable sighting. 'The impala at no stage showed any signs of distress or fear. Every time the leopard would playfully interact with the baby impala, it would return to the leopard and either sniff its face or push its head against the leopard's face. 'A few times the impala would jump away from the leopard and, true to cat form, the leopard would pull it back closer with its claws.' Mr Houy said young leopards sometimes play with their prey due to a lack of killing experience, and believes this may explain the odd encounter. I'm just trying to scratch: The leopard uses its rear paw to scratch its neck as the friendly impala closes in . Eye spy: Something catches the leopards attention to the left as the impala looks on . Game ranger Estiaan Houy who spotted the encounter said in all his years on the job he had never spotted such as unlikely friendship and said he never expects to 'see a repeat of it again' Catch me if you can: Cuddle time over, the impala decides to stretch its legs, which intrigues the leopard . You've got no chance: As the impala gathers some speed the big cat makes a hasty turn in pursuit . Two on one: Another leopard joins the fun as the trio run together across a clearing in the park . He added: 'Although this appears to be play, only the leopard was actually playing and not the impala. 'The impala rubbed faces with the leopard because it's a newborn and doesn't know any better. 'The leopard could have been waiting for the baby's mother to return and then kill her.' Houy, who works for Jock Safari Lodge, says the amiable interaction lasted for an hour before the leopard lazily strolled into a bush, closely followed by the impala. Down you go: The leopard places a paw on the impala's back, gnetly nudging it to the ground . Meal mates: The impala looks set to become the big cats lunch, but the rough play is all in the name of fun . Just chilling: Having had a run, the leopards and the impala take a rest, but William Fox from INGWE Leopard Research said while the pictures may suggest the leopards had made a friend, they were just doing what many big cats do, 'it is playing with its prey' William Fox, the senior project manager from INGWE Leopard Research said: 'The leopard is just doing what leopards do and like many cats, it is playing with its prey. 'I've seen similar things before, when just like a domestic cat, which may bring a mouse home and play with i), this leopard is just playing around before the inevitable. 'As much as it would be nice to think predator and prey became buddies, the instances of vegetarian leopards are non existent, so the end result is very likely to not have ended well for the Impala.' It is not known what happened afterwards - but sadly it is likely the friendship only lasted until dinnertime.", "Early humans living in Africa almost two million years ago came in a range of shapes and sizes, just as people do today, a new study claims. Researchers have found that some species were short - measuring under five feet tall - while others would have grown to heights of almost six foot. The study is the first in 20 years to compare the body size of humans who lived between 1.5 million and 2.5 million years ago. Early humans living in Africa almost two million years ago came in a range of shapes and sizes, just as people do today, a new study claims. This image shows the skeleton of the ‘Nariokotome Boy’ (Homo ergaster) Three species are generally recognised to have roamed Africa during this time frame: Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis and Homo ergaster . Researcher Dr Jay Stock, from Cambridge University's Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, said: 'If someone asked you 'are modern humans six foot tall and 70kg?' you'd say 'well, some are, but many people aren't, and what we're starting to show is that this diversification happened really early in human evolution.' Nutrition and local environmental factors probably played a role in making some early humans larger than others. Experts also believe that sexual dimorphism (pronounced differences in appearance between males and females, such as size) might have played a part too. ‘However, almost all studied… groups include smaller and larger individuals and assessing sex based on the isolated and fragmentary postcranial remains of early Homo is nearly impossible,’ they say in the study. Another possibility, thought to be less likely, is that there were numerous species belonging to the human family Homo that varied in appearance. Measurements of fossils from sites in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Georgia in eastern Europe, revealed significant regional variation in the size of early humans during the last Ice Age. Some groups, such as those living Olduvai, Tanzania, measured just 4.8 feet on average, while those from the Koobi Fora region of Kenya grew to heights of 5.8 feet. The evidence also suggests that big bodies and long legs were not prerequisites for spreading out of Africa into Europe and Asia. The main increase in body size occurred tens of thousands of years after the small, primitive human Homo erectus migrated out of Africa. Fossils show that Homo erectus, which averaged less than five foot in height and weighed less than eight stone, was living in Georgia 1.77 million years ago. Some groups, such as those living Olduvai, Tanzania, measured just 4.8 feet on average, while those from the Koobi Fora region of Kenya grew to heights of almost six foot. A table showing the variation is pictured . Measurements of fossils from sites in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Georgia in eastern Europe, revealed significant regional variation in the size of early humans during the last Ice Age. This the landscape of the West Turkana region of Kenya is where the skeleton of Homo ergaster was found . 'The evolution of larger bodies and longer legs can no longer be assumed to be the main driving factor behind the earliest excursions of our genus to Eurasia,' said co-author Manuel Will, from Tubingen University in Germany. The scientists, whose findings are reported in the Journal of Human Evolution, developed a method of calculating the height and body mass of individuals from small fossil fragments, some no bigger than toes. Dr Stock said: 'In human evolution we see body size as one of the most important characteristics, and from examining these 'scrappier' fossils we can get a much better sense of when and where human body size diversity arose. 'Before 1.7 million years ago our ancestors were seldom over five foot tall or particularly heavy in body mass. 'When this significant size shift to much heavier, taller individuals happened, it occurred primarily in one particular place - in a region called Koobi Fora in northern Kenya around 1.7 million years ago. 'That means we can now start thinking about what regional conditions drove the emergence of this diversity, rather than seeing body size as a fixed and fundamental characteristic of a species.' ‘The results demonstrate chronological and spatial variation, but no simple temporal or . geographical trends for the evolution of body size among early Homo….suggesting that migrations into Eurasia were not contingent on larger body sizes,’ the study says . Body size has been implicated as a factor contributing to both brain evolution and the first hominin dispersals into Eurasia . One argument suggests that as lower limbs lengthened and hominins assumed limb proportions more similar to modern humans, they became more mobile and changed their foraging behaviour and diet. But fossil fragments have now shown a richer variety of sizes and this may not be the case. The ecomorphological model says that Homo ergaster was the first hominin to colonize other continents due to its energetically efficient bipedal locomotion, long distance travel abilities, large home range sizes and habitat tolerance. But fossil evidence for body size now suggests the marked increase of body size variables in early Homo took place after 1.8 Million years in eastern Africa. By this point, the dispersals already happened, suggesting that migrations into Eurasia were possible without a significant increase in body size and possibly lower limb length. Interestingly, the study says that there was an increase in body size at the start and end of the period studied, which suggests that factors other than chronology also influenced the body size of early humans.", "This is the incredible moment a unsuspecting wildebeest was attacked by crocodile and a hippopotamus at exactly the same time while drinking from an African river. The stunning photographs were taken by amateur photographer Nick Kleer, 27, on a visit to the Shingilana Dam in Londolozi Private Game Reserve, South Africa. He said the wildebeest was drinking the water when a hungry crocodile appeared out of nowhere and launched its attack. Seconds later a furious hippo joined the fight after apparently becoming irritated that the battle to the death was going on so close to where it was wading. Scroll down for video . Nature: The unsuspecting wildebeest (right) was attacked by both a crocodile (foreground) and a hippopotamus (left) at exactly the same time while it was enjoying a drink from a river . Attack: The stunning photographs were taken by amateur photographer Nick Kleer, 27, on a visit to the Shingilana Dam in Londolozi Private Game Reserve, South Africa . Grab: Nick Kleer said the wildebeest was drinking the water when a hungry crocodile appeared out of nowhere and launched its attack, dragging the animal in to the water . Mr Kleer said the crocodile snapped at the unsuspecting wildebeest while it was taking a drink on the bank's edge, dragging it into the water where a furious battle ensued. The thrashing caught the attention of a nearby hippo, which became aggravated and initiated a fierce three-way tussle. An hour of fighting then ensued, with the wildebeest thrashing and trying to make its escape while the crocodile attempted to tear at its flesh and the hippo tired to sink its massive incisors in to struggling animals back. To make matters worse a pack of hungry hyenas gathered at the waters edge hoping to pick off the wounded wildebeest should it manage to make it out of the water. Eventually the exhausted wildebeest gave up the fight, allowing the crocodile to have its dinner and the hippo to return to its wading. The hyenas, needless to say, went hungry. Anger: Seconds later a furious hippo joined the fight after apparently becoming irritated that the battle to the death was going on so close to where it was wading . Splash: The thrashing caught the attention of the hippo, which initiated the fierce three-way tussle . An hour of fighting ensued, with the wildebeest thrashing and trying to make its escape, while the crocodile attempted to tear at its flesh and the hippo tired to sink its massive incisors in to struggling animals back . Mr Kleer said he took his photographs during a visit to South Africa's Londolozi Private Game Reserve. He stumbled upon what became an hour-long battle while standing close to the Shingilana Dam - an area of the game park where numerous animals come to drink. Describing the fight to the death, Mr Kleer said: 'It was such an unexpected and aggressive reaction from the hippo towards the wildebeest.' 'I was under the impression the hippo would go for the croc instead of the wildebeest - but that was not the case,' he added. 'It was such a surreal experience and we couldn't quite believe what was happening. It was incredibly exciting,' Mr Kleer went on to say. Ready: To make matters worse a pack of hungry hyenas gathered at the waters edge hoping to pick off the wounded wildebeest should it manage to make it out of the water . Bite: The hippo is seen sinking its massive incisors into the helpless wildebeest's back . Succumbed: Eventually the exhausted wildebeest gave up the fight, allowing the crocodile to have its dinner and the hippo to return to its wading . The Londolozi Private Game Reserve is part of the larger Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, situated on the western border of the Kruger National Park in eastern South Africa. Londolozi is a Zulu word meaning 'protector of all living things', with the park having been converted from a hunting farm to an ecological centre in the 1970s. The park has five separate lodges in which visitors can stay, with all of the so-called 'big five' African game animals living in the area. Although the term 'big five' was coined by game hunters to refer to five animals it was hardest the kill, it has since been adopted by tour organisers to describe the five animals to try to spot on safari. The 'big five' African game animals are the African lion, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the African leopard, and the white or black rhinoceros.", "Fossilised faeces suggests an ancient baby shark might have been killed by its dinner. U.S. palaeontologists analysing a 70 million-year-old fossilised poo from an extinct newborn shark found it ate a baby turtle shortly before it died. The researchers think the shark, living close to the South Carolina coastline, bit off more than it could digest and probably died as a result. U.S. palaeontologists analysing a 70 million-year-old fossilised poo from an extinct newborn shark found it ate a baby turtle shortly before it died . David Schwimmer, a palaeontologist at Columbus State University in Georgia, told LiveScience: ‘It's a case where a newborn shark ate a newborn turtle and died.' The fossilised poo, which is also known as a coprolite, measures almost four centimetres long and was discovered in a fossil bed close to the South Carolina coastline. Between 70 million and 80 million years ago, the area was where the baby shark was born - in a tidal estuary where the sea met inland rivers. Inside the coprolite (pictured) are some minute turtle vertebrae measuring just 3mm long . Professor Schwimmer believes the size of the coprolite indicates the shark ejected it when it was practically a newborn. Inside the coprolite, which was described by the professor at the 73rd annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, are some minute turtle vertebrae. Each bone measures around three millimetres long, indicating the turtle must have been a newborn too. He believes the turtle that was eaten was a soft-shell species living in freshwater, while the small shark lived in the sea, indicating the fish had just come out of a pupping ground in the estuary, where the baby sharks hatched. Showing its predatory nature, the shark must have emerged from the pupping ground and almost immediately ate the newborn turtle, which probably only measured 10 centimetres in diameter, according to Professor Schwimmer. He believes the shark was probably not much larger than its dinner as the vertebrae in the fish’s faeces indicate. He also believes the shark died shortly after forcing down the meal. Professor Schwimmer believes the size of the coprolite, which measures almost 4cm long, indicates the shark ejected it when it was practically a newborn . Professor Schwimmer said: ‘It's possible the turtle was too much shell. [The shark] may have died from too much turtle. While Professor Schwimmer is not sure about the exact species of the shark and turtle, he thinks the shark could be the extinct Squalicorax kaupi. Scientists studying other shark coprolites have previously found some fish had tapeworms 270 million years ago.", "When a hungry hippo opened its jaws in a display of aggression to ward off a family of ravenous lions they quickly took the decision to retreat. The intimidating display was captured in set of pictures taken on the Chobe River in Botswana and they show the lone hippo baring its teeth for the prize of a young elephant's carcass. Despite being outnumbered, the large animal stares down the lioness and her cubs in order to secure the chance to feast on the remains. When a hungry hippo opened its jaws in a display of aggression to ward off a family of ravenous lions they quickly took the decision to retreat . Grant Atkinson, 46, a guide and wildlife photographer from South Africa who witnessed the spectacle, said: 'The lioness was feeding on a dead subadult elephant, that had died alongside the river of natural causes. 'Her cubs were feeding alongside. 'A solitary hippo approached, causing the cubs to leave the scene and hide, dragging off a bone with them. 'The lioness held her ground, but after some minutes of jaw gaping and silent pressure, the hippo finally started to move closer to the lioness.' A lioness and her cubs feed on the elephant carcass near the Chobe River, Botswana . The hippo approaches the elephant carcass as the lioness watches on . The hippo bares its teeth at the lioness and sends the hungry pack running . After a tense encounter, the majestic cat left the elephant carcass to the hippo and retreated into nearby bushes . While the hungry animal feasted on the meat, the big cat returned to sit patiently behind the hippo and wait her turn . And after a few minutes of feeding, the hippo slowly made its way into the water, leaving the scraps for the lioness and her cubs . After a tense encounter, the majestic cat left the elephant carcass to the hippo and retreated into nearby bushes. But the lioness made sure she was first in line for leftovers. While the hungry animal feasted on the meat, the big cat returned to sit patiently behind the hippo and wait her turn. And after a few minutes of feeding, the hippo slowly made its way into the water, leaving the scraps for the lioness and her cubs. Grant, who has been a photographer for nine years, said he had heard of hippopotamuses feeding on meat but had never seen it for himself. He added: 'I've been working in the bush for 15 or 16 years but I've never seen it before - for me it was a first.'", "It's a mother's job to make sure her children learn how to fend for themselves. And it's no different on the African plains as incredible new images have captured the moment a lioness teaches her cubs how to kill a wildebeest. At first the young cats seem nervous and reluctant to take down the animal in order to eat. The images show a reluctant and nervous looking lion cub being taught to hunt wildebeest by his mother on the African plain in Kenya . Even though her cubs look nervous, the mother is insistent that they must learn to hunt and tries to grab the attention of the wildebeest . After grabbing the animal's attention, it is then down to the two young cubs to take over as they begin to chase the defenceless animal . But the devoted mother is insistent that her cubs must learn how to hunt and approaches the prey to grab its attention. As she walks away, her two cubs then attack the defenceless wildebeest from behind. Initially, the horned animal manages to keep the three predators at bay, but after a couple of minutes the wildebeest is overpowered and the cubs catch their first prey. The amazing images were captured by photographer Mark Dumbleton in Kenya's Masai Mara National Park. At first the wildebeest appears to be holding its own and looks as though he might escape from the clutches of the lioness and her young . But he eventually becomes overpowered by the three big cats who jump on his back and attempted to drag the wildebeest to the ground . The stunning pictures taken in Kenya were snapped by photographer Mark Dumbleton, who said the whole experience just lasted minutes . Mr Dumbleton from Johannesburg, South Africa said: 'It was amazing to watch a mother training her children for when they have to leave the pride. 'I couldn't believe the animal instinct they had. 'The lioness was roaring at them, but they knew exactly how to take down such a large animal. 'The whole experience only lasted a couple of minutes. 'As soon as the wildebeest was separated from the herd, it was easy for the lions to take it down.' Mr Dumbleton has only been taking pictures since 2007, but now travels around Africa snapping the landscape and wildlife. Mr Dumbleton said: 'I couldn't believe the animal instinct they had. The lioness was roaring at them, but they knew exactly how to take down such a large animal. The lions finally get their prey and the wildebeest is dragged to the floor after being given a lesson in hunting by the lioness . He added: 'The awe-inspiring wilderness of Africa is motivating, it's captured my attention. 'It's really inspiring and as the saying goes, Africa truly runs through my blood. 'I photograph nature in its purest form because I love it, and I love to share my work with people who appreciate it.'", "THE DIARY OF LENA MUKHINA . Translated by Amanda Love Darrough . (Macmillan £16.99) This is a story within a story — and it has been waiting an awfully long time to be told. The larger story is the Siege of Leningrad in 1941 and 1942, one of the grimmer and more brutal narratives of World War II. In September 1941, the invading German army, with the help of Finnish forces, had the Russian city completely surrounded. But Hitler decided that finishing the job and razing it to the ground would be a waste of military resources. Far easier just to let the inhabitants starve to death. Lena Mukhina, 16 (pictured), experience the Siege of Leningrad first hand and recorded it all in her diary . As the German Naval Command’s directive of September 29 put it: ‘We have no interest in saving any part of the civilian population of this large city.’ The story within this story is that of Lena Mukhina, a 16-year-old girl who lived there. Between May 1941 and May 1942, she kept a diary — a day-to-day record of encroaching catastrophe. Unlike Anne Frank, she survived. In June 1942, Lena was evacuated and the diary was left behind. Somehow it, too, survived and turned up in a sheaf of documents at the State Archive of Historical-Political Documents in Leningrad 20 years later. But it has taken another 50 years to come into print, guided and nurtured by a trio of Russian researchers. In late summer 1941, life in Leningrad was going on much as normal. The city’s 2.5 million inhabitants did not immediately grasp the severity of their situation. True, they could almost see the Germans to the south of the city. Daily air raids and artillery bombardment were driving people into bomb shelters several times a day, for hours at a time. But the Finnish troops to the north were no threat, surely? They were 20 miles away and had no big guns. In November, however, food supplies were running perilously short and the authorities had to admit the truth. The siege lasted 872 days. Bread rations were eventually reduced to 125g, 4½ oz, per person per day. (Double that for manual workers.) People would start queueing outside shops early in the morning, but there was never enough to go round. New dishes were invented, such as khryapa, made from the green outer leaves of a head of cabbage. People ate crows, pigeons, cats and dogs. Lena’s family cat, she records, kept them going for ten days (‘I never thought cat meat would be so tender and so tasty’). Under siege: Citizens of wartime Leningrad died of starvation in the streets, and some turned to cannibalism . Eventually, hunger drove some of the most desperate to cannibalism. Our Russian editors, possibly precise to a fault, distinguish between two kinds: trupoedstvo, eating the flesh of those who have died of natural causes; and lyudoedstvo, killing others for the purpose. More than 2,000 arrests were made during the siege for such crimes. And yet, as Lena’s writing here shows, most of the city’s inhabitants kept a firm grasp on their humanity. Their stoicism and determination were almost heartbreaking, for the death toll was horrendous. In one week in December 1941, 841 people dropped dead of starvation on the street. Between January and April 1942, between 110 and 160 people were dying every hour. No one knows exactly how many died in all, but 800,000 is the historians’ best guess. When Lena’s diary begins, war has yet to be declared. There are exams to revise for, and she worries incessantly whether Vova, the boy she likes, has feelings for her. I have a daughter of the same age and similar preoccupations and, in some ways, I found these the hardest pages of the book to read — the innocence set against the reader’s terrible sense of impending doom. Then, Germany invades. Hitler may have been happy to wait for the inhabitants to die of starvation, but he wanted to break their spirits first. More than 13,000 artillery missiles, 3,500 high-explosive bombs and nearly 56,000 incendiary bombs landed on the city in the first three months of the siege. Then came the worst blow of all: Lena’s mother dies. ‘I still can’t believe it. It hasn’t fully sunk in. But already, I feel the emptiness of loneliness descending upon me. The love we felt for one another cannot be put into words. Such love can only exist between a mother and daughter . . . ‘I’m in so much pain. I’m trembling all over. This is it, the first blow. I’m still only 16, and I’ve already been dealt the first blow. What else does fate have in store for me? I don’t know. ‘Thousands of people are dying on the frontline and some of them are 16-year-old boys, the same age as me.’ That very much captures her tone — sweet, ingenuous, incredibly young in every way, but with the soul of a writer, and one or two of the skills, too. As the food supplies dwindle and malnutrition threatens, she begins to lose hope. ‘It is starting to seem as though it’s no longer our destiny to see brighter days. It’s no longer our destiny to live until the bright, joyous month of May.’ She and her aunt fantasise about the glorious meals they will eat when it’s all over. When the old woman who shares their flat dies, all they can think about is whether they will be able to keep her ration card until it expires later in the month. But they can’t. When the body goes, the ration card has to go, too. Generations of eminent historians have told and retold the story of Leningrad, but you can’t beat the raw immediacy of first- person testimony. I’ll admit that, when I first started the book, I did wonder, is this for real? But you can’t fake this sort of thing. Her suffering is real and terrible. As we read on, we can feel something important sapping out of her. Call it spirit, if you like, or the optimism of youth. But adversity does not strengthen her; it corrodes her. She gets away, but the best of her, we suspect, she has left behind. Thanks to our assiduous Russians, we now know that Lena spent the rest of the war in Gorky, returned to Leningrad in 1945 to study mosaics at the School of Arts and Crafts, had a long and varied career in design and died in Moscow in 1991. But, as far they could ascertain, she never wrote another word. Indeed, when they contacted her niece, ‘the initial response at the other end of the line was confusion: “Yes, we know Elena Vladimirova Mukhina. What diary? She wrote it during the siege? She never mentioned it.”’ For some reason that I can’t put my finger on, this almost seems the saddest thing of all.", "A 'Jurassic Park' in China was once home to dinosaurs that lived among early mammals, amphibians and other strange creatures 160 million years ago. The extraordinary fossil bed contains the bones of pterosaurs - early mammals – including the first known swimming mammal with a beaver-like tail, the earliest gliding mammal and feathered dinosaurs. Their remarkably preserved remains were discovered in rocks beneath the Jehol Biota in north eastern China - a famous collection of 130 million-year-old fossils from the Cretaceous Period. The extraordinary fossil bed contains the bones of pterosaurs - early mammals ¿ including the first known swimming mammal with a beaver-like tail, the earliest gliding mammal and feathered dinosaurs. This is a reconstruction of the Daohugou site's fauna . The Daohugou Biota is the name for a group of 160million-year-old fossils. They were discovered in rocks beneath the Jehol Biota in north eastern China - a famous collection of 130 million-year-old fossils from the Cretaceous Period. The fossils shed light on life in the Middle-Upper Jurassic 30million years earlier when birds are believed to have evolved from feathered dinosaurs. Fossils include complete or nearly-complete skeletons associated with preserved soft tissues such as feathers, fur, skin or even, in some of the salamanders, external gills. The soft tissues of feathered dinosaur Epidexipteryx have been revealed by the use of ultraviolet light scanners. A fossil of a salamander Chunerpeton shows not only the preserved skeleton but also its skin and external gills. The latest discovery sheds light on life in the Middle-Upper Jurassic 30million years earlier when birds are believed to have evolved from feathered dinosaurs. The newly discovered Middle Jurassic fossils have been named the Daohugou fossils or Daohugou Biota after a village near one of the six sites dug up and have been catalogued and described in detail. A new study has classified these fossils as belonging to a distinct ecological group, or biota from the famous 130-million-year-old specimens, which include the world's most exquisitely preserved feathered dinosaurs. The Middle Jurassic fossils date from a time when many important vertebrates including mammals were undergoing evolutionary diversification. Dr Corwin Sullivan, of the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology in Beijing, said: ‘The Daohugou Biota gives us a look at a rarely glimpsed side of the Middle to Late Jurassic. ‘This is not a parade of galumphing giants but an assemblage of quirky little creatures like feathered dinosaurs, pterosaurs with “advanced” heads on “primitive” bodies and the Mesozoic equivalent of a flying squirrel.’ A feathered dinosaur, Epidexipteryx, was found at the site. The inset shows feathers and soft tissues revealed by the use of ultraviolet light . Almost more impressive than the diversity of the biota is the preservation of many of the vertebrate specimens, according to the study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology. Fossils include complete or nearly-complete skeletons associated with preserved soft tissues such as feathers, fur, skin or even, in some of the salamanders, external gills. One is the feathered dinosaur Epidexipteryx whose soft tissues have been revealed by the use of ultraviolet light scanners. A fossil of the salamander Chunerpeton shows not only the preserved skeleton but also its skin and external gills. Dr Yuan Wang, co-author of the study, said: ‘The Daohugou amphibians are crucially important in the study of the phylogeny and early radiation of modern amphibian groups.’ A fossil of the salamander Chunerpeton shows not only the preserved skeleton but also its skin and external gills (pictured) The site in China sheds new light on the array of fauna living 160million years ago . Dr Paul Barrett, dinosaur researcher at the Natural History Museum in London who reviewed the study for the journal, said: ‘Daohugou is proving to be one of the key sites for understanding the evolution of feathered dinosaurs, early mammals, and flying reptiles due largely to the fantastic levels of preservation. ‘Many of the fossils are stunning and offer vast amounts of information. There are only a handful of similar sites elsewhere in the world. ‘Because the Daohugou Biota and the much better studied Jehol Biota are similar in preservational mode and geographic location - but separated by tens of millions of years - they give palaeontologists an outstanding, even unique, opportunity to study changes in the fauna of this region over a significant span of geological time and an important period in vertebrate evolution.’ Dr Sullivan said: ‘The Cretaceous feathered dinosaurs of north eastern China have been astonishing palaeontologists and the public for almost two decades now and the Daohugou Biota preserves their Jurassic counterparts in the same region.  As prequels go it's pretty exciting.’", "Sir Mick Jagger may be one of the most famous musicians on the planet. But now there’s a new rock star that has been named in honour of him – a fossil of an extinct swamp-dwelling creature that lived 19 million years ago in Africa. The hippo-like creature has been given its name because, like the Rolling Stones' front man, it too has super-sized lips. A new rock star: An extinct swap-dwelling creature that lived 19 million years ago in Africa has been named after Sir Mick Jagger (pictured right) because they both have extra large lips. Top and side views of a fossilised jaw bone indicate that Jaggermeryx naida had big, sensitive lips and snout. The hippo-like animal's jaw bones suggest it was roughly the size of a small deer . ‘We gave it the scientific name Jaggermeryx naida, which translates to ‘Jagger’s water nymph,’” said Ellen Miller of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Researchers uncovered the fossils, consisting of multiple jawbone fragments, amid the sand dunes and eroded rock of a remote site in the Egyptian desert. The creature belonged to a family of extinct hoofed animals called anthracotheres. Jaggermeryx is one of six species of anthracotheres found at the site, but what distinguished it from other members of this family was a series of tiny holes on either side of its jaw that held the nerves providing sensation to the chin and lower lip. The creature has been given the name Jaggermeryx naida, which translates to ‘Jagger’s water nymph' in honour of the Rolling Stones front man (pictured here at the band's most iconic performance at Hyde Park in 1969. The hippo-like extinct animal belonged to a family of extinct hoofed animals called anthracotheres . Jaggermeryx naida, which translates to ‘Jagger’s water nymph,' was named in honour of Sir Mick Jagger. It was a type of extinct swamp-dwelling creature that lived 19 million years ago in Africa. The creature belonged to a family of extinct hoofed animals called anthracotheres. It is one of a number of species of animals in the family and is distinguished from them by its highly innervated muzzle with mobile and tactile lips. It likely lived in a lush tropical delta in Africa with rivers and swampland. The animal was likely a vegetarian, using its lower teeth and large lips to scoop up vegetation. ‘The animal probably had a highly innervated muzzle with mobile and tactile lips, thus the Jagger reference,’ said Duke University palaeontologist Gregg Gunnell. The Egyptian site where the fossils were found is mostly desert today, but geological data suggest that millions of years ago it was a lush tropical delta crisscrossed by rivers and swampland, according to the study published in the Journal of Palaeontology. By examining the amount of different isotopes in the animal’s bones, experts think it ate plants. ‘It may have used its sensitive snout to forage along river banks, scooping up plants with its lower teeth and large lips,’ Dr Miller said. The Jaggermeryx fossils, which now reside in collections at Duke, the Cairo Geological Museum and Cairo University, were found alongside fossilised catfish, turtles, water birds and crocodile faeces. ‘Some of my colleagues suggested naming the new species after Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, because she also has famous lips. But for me it had to be Mick,’ said Dr Miller. Dr Gunnel added: ‘I was a huge Rolling Stones fan in my day. Exile on Main Street and Let it Bleed were my favorite albums.’", "By . Fiona Macrae . Britain’s cats are getting so fat that they now have their own diabetes clinic. Just like their owners, cats are eating badly and exercising less and weight is ballooning. The average cat weighs 25 per cent more than a decade ago and the creatures are four times more likely to become diabetic than 30 years ago. Fat cats are also at risk of potentially fatal liver conditions, lameness and arthritis, as well as skin conditions triggered because they can’t stretch enough to groom themselves properly. Dr Sijin Niessen with Wilf, one of the cats to enter the Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic in Hertfordshire . Fat cats, such as Zorro, who weighs twice as much as he should, are becoming more common with the average cat weighing 25 per cent more than a decade ago . Experts say that just like humans, much of the problem has its roots in a bad diet and lack of exercise. Heavier traffic, coupled with owners seeing cats as companions rather than hunters, mean that Britain’s 8.5million pet cats are spending more and more time locked indoors. Plus, modern lifestyles are out of kilter with age-old genes. Stijn Niessen, who runs Britain’s first clinic devoted to the study of feline diabetes, said that more than half of the cats kept indoors are dangerously overweight, compared with a quarter of those that regularly go outdoors. Dr Niessen, of the Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hertfordshire, said: ‘Because we live so closely with these animals, they are exposed to the same pressures. Cats, such as Tom, pictured, are also at risk of potentially fatal liver conditions, lameness and arthritis through being overweight . ‘They get tasty, rich foods from us, which thousands of years were not available. ‘But genetically cats are much the same as they were then they hunted and intermittently consumed prey.’ The vet, who has treated more than 100 cats in his clinic in the past year said that while these ancient genes would once have helped cats store vital energy until their next meal, they now predispose them to diabetes. His study of blood samples from diabetic cats shows that Burmese cats are particularly prone to the condition. And, just as with people, diabetes is more likely to develop in middle and old age. While it can be controlled with regular insulin injections and a low-carbohydrate diet, it raises the risk of a number of health problems and can kill. Last month, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home admitted the fattest cat in its history. At 22lb – just over a stone and a half – Titan is more than twice his recommended weight and the most recent in a ‘spate of morbidly obese felines’ to squeeze through the home’s doors. Lindsey Quinlan, Battersea’s head of cattery, told the Sunday Times: ‘Most of the dangerously overweight cats we get have been living indoors. ‘But people often give their pets too much food or the wrong types of food as an expression of their love, although it is in fact a form of cruelty.’", "(CNN) -- Few dinosaurs have as interesting a back story as the spinosaurus. In life, it dominated the waterways -- a 50-foot-long behemoth that employed its blade-like claws and conical, razor-sharp teeth to annihilate its prey. It chomped down on sharks for breakfast. Ninety-five million years after its extinction, this strangely aquatic dinosaur -- the only one of its kind that we know of -- has had to contend with Nazis, bomb raids, armed gangs and mysterious moustachioed men. Its story has all the makings of a spy novel. The most recent chapter in the spinosaurus' long and very bizarre tale occurred last year when Nizar Ibrahim, a German-Moroccan palaeontologist from the University of Chicago, uncovered the most complete skeleton fossil of the species yet found in Morocco's Sahara Desert. It also happens to be the only remaining skeleton of the species, as all other physical evidence of the spinosaurus was obliterated 70 years ago. \"It's a really mysterious dinosaur. (Until now), all we had was little bits and pieces, tantalizing clues and drawings of a partial skeleton that had been destroyed in World War II,\" explains Ibrahim. Early bones . The first, and up until recently only, spinosaurus skeleton ever found was uncovered by a fossil collector working for German palaeontologist Ernst Stromer -- then one of the world's leading experts on the enigmatic dinosaurs of North Africa. For years, Stromer unearthed a paleontological treasure trove in the Sahara. \"Ernst Stromer was really a very productive scientist. He was an explorer, and he was really the first person to resurrect the lost world of Africa's dinosaurs in a big way,\" says Ibrahim. Unfortunately, his luck turned with the onset of a war that would rob him of his sons -- two died in battle while the third barely survived a five-year imprisonment -- and his life's work. Most of his finds were stored at a palaeontology museum in Munich. He begged the director to relocate the dinosaur collection, but was refused, and in April 1944, an allied air raid destroyed the institution and Stromer's findings. \"Everything went up in flames, and Stromer lost all these incredible finds in a single night,\" recalls Ibrahim, who considers Stromer his role model. \"Resurrecting the spinosaurus -- his most famous discovery -- was the best way to bring Stromer back into the books of dinosaur palaeontology,\" he says. The man with the mustache . Ibrahim's hunt for the spinosaurus began in 2008 when he met a moustachioed Moroccan fossil hunter who was proffering rare-looking samples from a cardboard box. \"One piece looked really interesting. It was a blade-shaped piece of bone and I did think at the time that maybe this is a chunk of the spine of spinosaurus,\" he recalls. Years later, colleagues from the Natural History Museum in Milan showed him similar samples of what they, too, believed was a partial skeleton of a spinosaurus. \"It was spectacular. We had leg bones and spines and ribs and skull bones. It was very exciting, but we had a big problem. We had no idea where the skeleton came from, (which) means we don't know anything about the environment the animal lived in, the geological context, or if the bones were found in the same place,\" he says. With a closer look, however, the bones looked familiar. Ibrahim suspected they not only came from the same site as the specimen he was shown in Morocco, but from the same dinosaur. What followed was a five-year hunt for the man with the mustache -- it was the only detail Ibrahim remembered about the encounter. In 2013, Ibrahim called off the search while sipping mint tea with colleagues in a Moroccan cafe. \"I think I was a little naive and very optimistic, and ... we thought, OK, we can't find the guy, so that's the end of our mission impossible. Just like in a bad Hollywood movie, the very moment when I was ready to throw in the towel, a man walked passed our table. The man had a mustache and it was the man I had been looking for.\" After Ibrahim caught up with him, the man took him back to where he first made the finds. Further excavations dug up even more bones, most likely from the same animal. The collection painted the most complete picture to date of what the animal looked like and how it lived. Mainly, Ibrahim was able to ascertain that spinosaurus was an aquatic dinosaur (a first; previously, there was no known evidence of such a creature). Dense bones -- rare in dinosaurs but common in penguins -- provided the animal with buoyancy in rivers, while a crocodile-like snout helped it both to breathe and sense movement underwater. A seven-foot \"sail\" on the animal's back helped it navigate through the seas. The findings were published in the journal Science last month, are the cover story of this month's issue of National Geographic, and are also currently the subject of an exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington. The Sahara: Land of giants . The Sahara of today can be pretty inhospitable. The land is vast and remote, and offers few visual clues. Temperatures rarely dip below 100 F, and high winds make for some ferocious sandstorms. The sand is also riddled with booby traps: Scorpions, snakes and landmines -- not to mention the odd armed militia doing the rounds -- which tend to keep most palaeontologists at bay. Ibrahim, however, is addicted to the landscape. \"The Sahara is a magical place. You'll find fossils of giant fish and river turtles and crocodile-like predators, and that's when it hits you: This place was very, very different 95 million years ago. It was a bizarre world, really like a different planet,\" he says. In place of the current, seemingly endless expanse of sand, there was a river system that housed all manner of strange creatures. \"I call it 'the river of giants.' (There were) giant sawfish and lungfish, flying reptiles -- some with wingspans of six or seven meters -- and lots of predatory dinosaurs.\" It's a place Ibrahim is eager to revisit. \"Let's just say this isn't the last time I travel to the Sahara in search of lost worlds and bizarre creatures,\" he says.", "By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 09:44 EST, 8 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:45 EST, 8 May 2013 . Many photographers would scarper if a cheetah ran at them at full pelt. But Adalberto Mangini, 51, held his nerve to get these incredible slow-motion shots. The big cat hurtled up an enclosed run at a top speed of 70mph as it chased a fake chicken. The cheetah hurtled up an enclosed run at a top speed of 70mph as it chased a fake chicken . The lethal predator is part of a breeding programme and will eventually be released into the wild. And the method seen here is part of its preparation, conducted by staff at the Mukuni Big 5 Safari in Livingstone, Zambia. They taught it hunting skills using the pretend chicken pulled along on a super-fast zip wire. Mr Mangini, a photographer from Milan, Italy, said: 'My body was completely covered with red dust afterwards. Adalberto Mangini, 51, held his nerve to get these incredible slow-motion shots in Zambia . It was part of the big cat's rehabilitation as staff at the Mukuni Big 5 Safari in Livingstone prepared it for life back in the wild . Staff taught it hunting skills using the pretend chicken pulled along on a super-fast zip wire . Mr Mangini meticulously studied the cheetah's running pattern for a few days before deciding on the best spot to capture the graceful animal . 'The cheetah was running so fast it just flew everywhere. 'These animals can accelerate from a walking speed to about 40mph in less than two seconds. 'It is always special to see them in action.' Mr Mangini meticulously studied the cheetah's running pattern for a few days before deciding on the best spot to capture the graceful animal. But he admits he had still prepared an escape route should the cheetah not stop running. The brave photographer admits he had still prepared an escape route should the cheetah not stop running . The big cats can accelerate from a walking speed to about 40mph in less than two seconds . He said: 'I was always ready to move quickly.' Laura Bongiorni, who accompanied Mr Mangini on the trip, added: 'Young cheetahs arrive at the centre from different places, mainly from South Africa. 'The cheetah population in Zambia, as well as lions, suffered from a strong impoverishment. 'The centre started a very special cheetah breeding programme aimed at breeding captive cheetahs for their young to be released into appropriate National Parks and conservancies around Zambia where cheetahs once roamed freely but are now at a point of near extinction.' Mr Mangini shows just how close he can get to the cheetahs which were raised in a breeding programme . Mr Mangini, a sales manager, said: 'Even creatures considered by most people as very wild and . dangerous can be approached if it is done in the correct way. 'Do . not show any fear as they can feel it; make sure you respect them; . touch them in the right place and talk to them, always - they will soon . learn to recognise your voice. 'We . found that cheetahs are easier to approach during the time you stay . with them. They are competitive and love to win - and like humans, each . of them has a distinctive personality.' Cheetahs are the most vulnerable of . the big cats and have become endangered because . of loss of habitat and reduced numbers of prey." ]

[ "Inside a secret annex above her father's office, Anne Frank edited passages from her first diary, the book that captured a teenager's experience of the Holocaust. What she hid underneath brown gummed paper on two pages was revealed on Tuesday — five crossed-out phrases, four risqué jokes and 33 lines about sex education and prostitution. The two pages, the only pages that the teenager ever covered, were photographed in 2016 during a regular check on the condition of her diaries, said the Anne Frank House. The pages were backlit by a flash, and image-processing software helped researchers make out the words, reported The Associated Press. \"I'll use this spoiled page to write down 'dirty' jokes,\" Frank had written on Sept. 28, 1942. Then she filled a page with words about how a young woman starts to menstruate around age 14, \"a sign that she is ripe to have relations with a man but one doesn't do that of course before one is married.\" She also wrote about prostitution. \"All men, if they are normal, go with women, women like that accost them on the street and then they go together. In Paris they have big houses for that. Papa has been there.\" After the racy remarks, Frank discussed the importance of sex education, pretending that she had to teach someone else, which allowed her to show what she knew about sex. She didn't understand why adults were so secretive about it, said the Anne Frank House. The hidden texts were presented by the Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands, the Anne Frank House and the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies. \"Anne Frank writes about sexuality in a disarming way. Like every adolescent she is curious about this subject,\" said Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House. \"Anyone who reads the passages that have now been discovered will be unable to suppress a smile. The 'dirty' jokes are classics among growing children,\" said Frank van Vree, director of NIOD. \"They make it clear that Anne, with all her gifts, was above all also an ordinary girl.\" The researchers said the newly discovered subject matter is not exceptional — Frank often wrote down suggestive jokes that she heard from her father, Otto; Peter van Pels, and radio broadcasts. And she wrote openly about her menstruation and conversations with van Pels on sex and sexuality. Instead, the \"dirty\" humor reveals a way to break the tension in an 800-square-foot space where movement and expression were curtailed for survival, said the Anne Frank House. \"That Anne Frank had risqué jokes in her diary speaks to her humanity,\" Sara Bloomfield, director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, told NPR. \"Anne is the Holocaust's most well-known victim because her diary ​describes her inner life ​and her hopes​ for the future in the midst of the Nazi onslaught.\" In the two years that Frank hid from the Nazis, she wrote about hunger and fear of being discovered, but also celebrity gossip, arguments with her mother and her first kiss. According to the Anne Frank House, the teenager often reread and edited her diary. She might have hidden these two original pages because she worried that the other seven people in the annex would read her diary. After the group was discovered and deported, and Anne perished in Bergen-Belsen, her father — the only surviving member of the family — edited and published his daughter's writing. The Diary of a Young Girl became one of the world's most widely read books, available in more than 70 languages." ]

[ "In simple drawings and lots of frank, self-deprecating commentary, Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid books chart the episodic misadventures of a middle-school outcast. The \"author\" of the diary, a scrawny seventh-grader named Greg Heffley, wants the reader to know upfront that he means it more as a journal, but his mom screwed up and got him a book with \"DIARY\" on the front. \"So don't expect me to be all 'Dear diary this' and 'Dear diary that,' \" he warns, before sketching a stick-figure bully clocking him in the jaw and calling him a sissy. The Wimpy Kid novels have been wildly popular — but right away, from the very first page of the very first book, the challenges of bringing the franchise to the screen make themselves subtly apparent. Whatever Greg's protestations, he really is writing a diary, one where his anxieties about fitting in — heightened in this case by his mother's cluelessness and his own nerdy doodling habits — are met by an imagined beat-down from a blockhead twice his size. On the page, it's a funny little snapshot of the preteen mind, ruled by prevailing forces of fear and aggression, yet still given to silliness and lowbrow yuks. In a movie, however, Greg's thoughts are made painfully literal, so instead of being a reflection of his hyperactive imagination, they're grotesque cartoons standing in for real life. Kinney's books make a running joke of Greg's utter obliviousness to the world around him — his ill treatment of friends and family, his false assessment of his own popularity, his chronic inability to read a situation right. And because his mistakes are laid bare by his own pen, he's easy to forgive. In the movie, Greg (Zachary Gordon) more often comes off looking like a clueless brat, eager to conform and quick to shed his nerdy friends for a higher spot up the ladder. From his first day at middle school — starting in sixth grade here, back a grade from the books — Greg torments Rowley (Robert Capron), his chunky best friend, for not shedding his oblivious, elementary-school giddiness, and tries to steer clear of social lepers like Fregley (Grayson Russell), with his unsightly moles and vigorous nose-picking. Diary of a Wimpy Kid eventually brings Greg around to a predictable \"be yourself\" theme, but not before a noisy pileup of humiliating moments, kid-friendly slapstick, or some combination thereof — as when Greg joins the wrestling team and gets decked by a monstrous girl in pigtails. Director Thor Freudenthal (Hotel for Dogs) and a battery of screenwriters cram all the gags they can into 92 minutes, without any care for the hiccups in pacing or a hero who's as thoughtless and mean as the bullies who tease, snub, and push him around. In the diary, he's just an amiably clueless kid; in the film, he really has it coming.", "Ever since we launched NPR's Backseat Book Club in 2011, our young listeners have been busy reading — classics like The Wizard of Oz, Black Beauty and The Phantom Tollbooth, and newer tales, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Graveyard Book. If you know a kid age 9-14 who's looking for a great read, look no further: Here are all the books we've read so far. This is just a printable list. Click here for a list that includes descriptions of the books. Matilda, by Roald Dahl, paperback, 232 pages, Penguin Group USA, List Price: $6.99 Plunked, by Michael Northrop, hardcover, 247 pages, Scholastic, list price: $16.99 Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, paperback, 320 pages, Gardners Books, list price: $11.80 Dork Diaries: Tales From A Not-So-Fabulous Life, by Rachel Renee Russell, School And Library, 282 pages, Simon & Schuster, list price: $13.99 Glory Be, by Augusta Scattergood, hardcover, 202 pages, Scholastic, list price: $16.99 The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, hardcover, 305 pages, Harpercollins Childrens Books, list price: $16.99 Lunch Lady #1: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, by Jerrett J. Krosoczka, paperback, 96 pages, Knopf Books for Young Readers, list price $6.99 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, hardcover, 267 pages, Harpercollins Childrens Books, list price $27.99 Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt, paperback, 360 pages, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, list price $6.99 The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan, paperback, 516 pages, Hyperion Book CH, list price $9.99 Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell, paperback, 203 pages, Penguin Classics, list price $16 Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney, hardcover, 217 pages, Amulet Books, list price $13.95 Heart of a Samurai: Based on the True Story of Manjiro Nakahama, by Margi Preus, paperback, 301 pages, Amulet Books, list price $7.95 Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman, paperback, 69 pages, HarperTrophy, list price $5.99 The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart and Carson Ellis, paperback, 485 pages, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, list price $6.99 The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes and Louis Slobodkin, paperback, 80 pages, Sandpiper, list price $7 Shooting Kabul, by N. H. Senzai, paperback, 273 pages, Simon & Schuster, list price $6.99 The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis, paperback, 210 pages, Yearling, list price $4.99 Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu, hardcover, 312 pages, Walden Pond Press, list price $16.99 The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, paperback, 256 pages, Bullseye Books, list price $6.50 The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, paperback, 336 pages, Harpercollins Childrens Books, list price $7.99", "Frank Gallagher retired from Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences after 37 years. He used to joke with co-workers that he'd been there so long, he should be part of the collection. Now, in honor of his service to the natural science museum, it has named a newly discovered species of catfish after the well-liked former mailroom supervisor.", "The hundred-plus-year-old chestnut tree that stands just outside of the Amsterdam building where Anne Frank once lived has been granted a reprieve; it had been slated to be cut down Wednesday morning. But now there are new questions about its fate. Frank often wrote of the tree in the diary she kept while hiding from the Nazis; she lived in a nearby building until 1944. The Anne Frank museum's plan to remove the diseased tree for safety reasons met with staunch resistance from conservationists and Frank's fans. Amsterdam's Tree Foundation viewed the plan as an undeserving fate for a tree that the city's most famous victim of the Holocaust had been so fond of. The foundation went to court against the city, and in defense of the tree. A judge granted a reprieve from the ax until at least Feb. 1. But now a new question has arisen, over who is responsible for any damage the tree might incur on the surrounding area if it begins to fall apart. The Dutch Association of Insurers has now been asked to step into the debate. Willem Terisscha, secretary to the association's board, talks with Robert Siegel. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: From Amsterdam comes news of the campaign to ensure survival of the famous Anne Frank tree. And who better to ensure things than insurance companies. The tree in question stands just outside the window of the building where Anne Frank lived until 1944. It's a chestnut tree, at least 150 years old, and it is so diseased that the municipality wants to chop it down. Well, that struck Amsterdam's Tree Foundation as an undeserving fate for a tree that the city's most famous victim of the Holocaust mentioned often in her diary entries. Unidentified Woman: Yesterday was father's birthday; father and mother's 19th wedding anniversary; a day without the cleaning lady. And the son was shining as it never shown before in 1944. Our chestnut tree is in full bloom. It's covered with leaves, and it's even more beautiful than last year. SIEGEL: The Tree Foundation went to court against the city and in defense of the tree, and the judge granted a reprieve from the ax until, at least, February 1st, to which the city of Amsterdam said, don't hold us responsible if part or all of that tree crashes down on something and causes damage. So enter the least likely of rescuers of endangered trees, the Dutch Association of Insurers. Willem Terisscha is secretary to the board of the association. Mr. WILLEM TERISSCHA (Board Secretary, Dutch Association of Insurers): Four of our members, they have promised they will back us up until the first February. We will take care of the victims and the company will take care - we don't get broke. SIEGEL: So you're saying that at least until February 1st, these four big insurance companies in the Netherlands are, in effect, indemnifying the tree? You've taken on… Mr. TERISSCHA: That, that is correct, yes. SIEGEL: What is going to be determined between now and February 1st? What are, you waiting to find out about the tree? Mr. TERISSCHA: The health of the tree, how sick is it, how old. And there were some stories about pieces that are rotten. These rotten pieces should be removed. And then, of course, there is the question, when you have removed these pieces, is the tree still safe? SIEGEL: How important is it to the insurance companies that this is, in fact, the chestnut tree that Anne Frank wrote about as she saw through the window? What would - would they do anything like this for just any beautiful, big chestnut tree in Amsterdam? Mr. TERISSCHA: I'm sorry to say, but that is impossible. It is this special tree which is on a special place and has a very big, historical and emotional value. SIEGEL: Mr. Terisscha, have your members, the insurance companies, have they done some actuarial work here and try to figure out what if somebody did pay for an insurance policy on this tree, what it would actually cost? Mr. TERISSCHA: No., no. It was, maybe a pretty emotional reaction. We were asked to help this Tree Foundation, and we have to decide in about 40 minutes. So we were absolutely not in a position to make actuarial calculations. It was promised before our companies meet in a very short time. SIEGEL: And it was unanimous? Mr. TERISSCHA: Absolutely. SIEGEL: Well, Willem Terisscha, thank you very much for talking with us about it. Mr. TERISSCHA: You're very welcome. SIEGEL: That's Willem Terisscha, secretary to the board of the Dutch Association of Insurers.", "There was much to love in last night's 30 Rock season finale, but perhaps nothing was quite as satisfying as the \"We Are The World\"-style songfest that Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) organized to try to find a kidney for his newly discovered biological father, Milton Greene (Alan Alda). (Find the song at about the 17:40 mark of this clip.) Yes, that's Sheryl Crow, and Mary J. Blige, and Elvis Costello, and Cyndi Lauper, and Moby, and Rhett Miller, and some other people (not all of whom are mentioned in that link). For some reason, they left off the name of Clay Aiken, who got probably the best joke of the episode, when it was revealed that he's the Kenneth The Page's cousin. Well, of course he is.", "Corporations may have more control over online speech today than the courts. Executives determine which videos, pictures and comments are permitted and what art is allowed. Their rules govern billions of posts across the globe each day. And those policies differ dramatically across Silicon Valley's big social platforms. Twitter calls itself the free speech wing of the free speech party and models its approach on the U.S. Constitution. Facebook's rules, however, more closely resemble workplace policies: the kinds of rules that govern what you can say to colleagues at lunch. But unlike an employer's rules, Facebook's are applied on a global scale. Jud Hoffman, Facebook's global policy manager, is a trim 40-something. Well-spoken, thoughtful and a trained lawyer, he doesn't give off the vibe of a global power broker — but in a very real sense, he is one. \"Our job is to manage the rules that determine what content is unacceptable on Facebook and also, obviously, what is acceptable,\" Hoffman says. His team determines what more than 1 billion people and businesses can and can't say and do on Facebook. To give you a sense of the scale of this job, consider this: There are more than 300 million photos, millions of video links and 2.5 billion messages of one kind or another uploaded to Facebook every day. Hoffman's team has to police it all. And Facebook bans copyright infringement and all sorts of speech that, in public, is protected by the First Amendment — things like nudity, hate speech, bullying and pornography. And the company doesn't use algorithms to seek out bare flesh or other violations, Hoffman says. Instead, Facebook relies on its billion-plus members to flag content that violates its community standards. It then uses algorithms to sort the different kinds of possible violations into digital piles. Then, hundreds of real people — employees around the globe — sift through these piles of status updates, photos and videos to decide which speech and images to allow and which to block. More Power 'Than Any King Or President' Jeffrey Rosen, a law professor at George Washington University, says social media companies have a tremendous role in dictating online speech. Facebook, Google and Twitter \"have more power over who can speak and what can be said all across the globe than any king or president or Supreme Court justice,\" he says. \"But unlike presidents, Facebook is not constrained by the Constitution,\" Rosen adds. \"The First Amendment only binds the government — not private corporations.\" Generally, anonymous speech is forbidden on Facebook. When you post a comment or picture, upload a video or click a \"like\" button, there's social accountability; your friends know what you are up to. But there is one place where it is possible to speak on Facebook without attaching your name to what you say: community pages. Corporations have these pages, as do community groups. If you are a fan of cats or off-color jokes, it's possible to create a Facebook community page dedicated to your passion — and you can do it without revealing who you are. This created a problem for Hoffman, Facebook's global policy manager. Lots of pages started cropping up. \"You know, fat jokes and Polish jokes, or all those things,\" Hoffman says. \"Because they are humor, they don't necessarily violate our terms — but can be hurtful in a lot of contexts.\" Facebook's ban on hate speech has a broad exception for humor, and on these community pages, which are more or less anonymous, some people took advantage. \"There was a very distasteful meme in the form of an illustrated joke about Anne Frank,\" says Christopher Wolf, chairman of the National Civil Rights committee for the Anti-Defamation League. \"To any Holocaust survivor or anyone concerned with anti-Semitism, it was quite offensive.\" There were also pages dedicated to mocking the disabled, gay jokes, racial slurs and content that tiptoed up to the line when it came to promoting violence. At Facebook, Hoffman realized community pages were becoming a haven for Internet trolls, so his team decided to shine a bright light under a bridge. When a page was flagged as problematic, Facebook began requiring that the administrators of these pages identify themselves publicly. \"In the vast majority — vast, vast majority of cases where people are asked to do that — they chose not to, because it requires them to take responsibility for that kind of content,\" Hoffman says. When administrators choose not to comply, the pages come down. Wolf applauds that move. \"I think today, Facebook takes a very sophisticated and sensitive approach to handling the issue of hate speech,\" he says. A Chilling Effect? But law professor Rosen has reservations. He says Facebook isn't merely banning hate speech. What it's really doing, he says, is judging what is and isn't offensive — and all of this is based on community norms. If Facebook had existed in the 1970s, Rosen says, rules like these could have easily made organizing ar", "The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly. Last week, the mother of a seventh-grader in Northville, Mich., filed a complaint seeking to keep an unexpurgated version of Anne Frank's Diary off of middle school shelves because she felt a passage describing the female genitalia was \"pornographic.\" But a review committee has decided to keep the book in the curriculum. In a letter excerpted by the Observer & Eccentric, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Robert Behnke states that \"the committee felt strongly that a decision to remove the use of 'Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl – The Definitive Edition' as a choice within this larger unit of study would effectively impose situational censorship by eliminating the opportunity for the deeper study afforded by this edition.\" Lisa Levy challenges Alain de Botton's How To Think More About Sex in the Los Angeles Review of Books. \"There is something ersatz, if not quite fraudulent, about de Botton's entire intellectual enterprise,\" she writes, adding that it might be \"the most boring book ever written about sex.\" (However, that hardly seems fair in light of Foucault's History of Sexuality, Vol. II.) In an op-ed for The Guardian, author Lionel Shriver denounces the media focus on her weight and fitness instead of her work in recent interviews: \"The trivilialisation of my life, character and career in the print media this last month – the reduction of what I write and believe to how I work out and what I eat – is yet more evidence of a communal mental illness.\" \"He left the hostel and took the stone path down to nothing good,\" Ben Marcus writes in a new short story in this week's New Yorker. Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers, an account of life in the slums of Mumbai, India, that won the National Book Award, will be adapted into a play by David Hare for London's National Theatre. The Best Books Coming Out This Week: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah, though it probably doesn't live up to her last novel, 2007's Half of A Yellow Sun, is still an engaging treatment of race and identity in the U.S. and Nigeria. She spoke with NPR's Scott Simon over the weekend. Ru Freeman's On Sal Mal Lane is a lovely portrait of Sri Lanka in the lead-up to the country's civil war.", "Actress Shelley Winters, who won Academy Awards for her roles in The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue, has died. She was 85. Winters sustained her long career by repeatedly reinventing herself, from chorus girl to character actress. A Short List of Winters' Memorable Films: The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Wild in the Streets (1968) Alfie (1966) A Patch of Blue (1965) Lolita (1962) The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) The Night of the Hunter (1955) A Place in the Sun (1951) JACKI LYDEN, host: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Jacki Lyden. Outspoken Oscar-winning actress, Shelley Winters, who made more than 100 movies during a career that spanned some 60 years, died today of heart failure in Beverly Hills. NPR's Allison Keyes has this remembrance. ALLISON KEYES reporting: She was born Shirley Schrift and started taking acting lessons in high school in Brooklyn, New York. She later toiled as a dress model by day and worked as a chorus girl at night. After a series of supporting roles on the stage, Winters landed her first movie role in 1943's \"What a Woman!\" She went on to win two Academy awards for best supporting actress. While Winters became famous as a blonde bombshell in Hollywood, the politically conscious actress fought to play gritty, flawed women whose circumstances sometimes forced them to become cruel. Winters said she was proud of her role as a mother in the film, \"Lolita.\" (Soundbite from \"Lolita\") Ms. SHELLEY WINTERS: Well, that miserable little brat. She is becoming impossible, simply impossible. The idea. She's always been a spiteful little pest. Since the age of... KEYES: Winters told \"Fresh Air\" in a 1989 interview that she also pleased with her work in the 1965 film, \"A Patch of Blue.\" Winters won her second Oscar for her portrayal of a woman trying to keep her blind white daughter away from a black man. (Soundbite from vintage 1989 \"Fresh Air\" interview) Ms. WINTERS: She's bigoted and a racist, and it was very difficult to do that. It's very hard to play characters that are mean and hateful. KEYES: Winters' first Academy award came for her role in \"The Diary of Anne Frank,\" in which she played one of eight Jewish refugees in World War II Holland who hid in an attic for more than a year, often forced to fight over food. (Soundbite from \"The Diary of Anne Frank\") Ms. WINTERS (Karalie(ph): Just what are you trying to say? Unidentified Man: Forget it, Karalie, we're wasting time. Ms. WINTERS: No. No. Don't I always give everybody exactly the same? Don't I? Unidentified Man: Forget it, Karalie... Ms. WINTERS: No, I want an answer. Don't I? KEYES: Winters said she wanted to be a lawyer, but it was something women didn't do when she was growing up. Instead, she said she chose roles that educate the audience as well as giving them something to enjoy. (Soundbite from vintage 1989 \"Fresh Air\" interview) Ms. WINTERS: Gloria Steinem said that the films that I fought for and got, like \"Double Life,\" \"A Place In the Sun,\" \"Night of the Hunter,\" women who were victims that--and in my way I was preparing the ground for the women's lib movement, because I was showing the public the victims that women were, and they had to fight against being pushed into these categories. And I hope I did that. KEYES: The 1951 film, \"A Place In the Sun,\" illustrates Winters' commitment to social and political issues. She had to persuade director George Stevens that she wasn't too sexy to play a pregnant factory girl killed so her lover could marry Elizabeth Taylor. Winters said when she played the following scene, she did it as a girl who knows she faces death if the boy doesn't marry her. (Soundbite from \"A Place In the Sun\") Ms. WINTERS: You're going to marry me tomorrow or I'll telephone the newspapers and tell them everything, and then I'll kill myself. KEYES: The drama in Winters' life wasn't confined to stage and screen. Her stormy marriages and dalliances made headlines and spicy fodder for her autobiographies in which she wrote of romances with the likes of Marlon Brando and Clark Gable. Her final Oscar nomination came for the 1972 movie, \"The Poseidon Adventure,\" which endeared Winters to a whole new generation of fans. She kept studying and working, appearing on Broadway and the 1990s TV show, \"Roseanne.\" Winters always tried to remind people of the problems and joy in American society. She suffered a heart attack in October and had been hospitalized since then. Winters is survived by her daughter. Allison Keyes, NPR News.", "Archaeologists have unearthed a unique pendant buried on the site of a Nazi extermination camp. They say that they know of only one other that is similar, which belonged to Anne Frank. Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial announced the find on Sunday, saying that they have ascertained the charm may have belonged to a girl named Karoline Cohn. \"Aside from similarities between the pendants, both Anne Frank and Karoline Cohn were born in Frankfurt, suggesting a possible familial connection between Frank and Cohn,\" Yad Vashem said. \"Researchers are currently trying to locate relatives of the two families to further explore this avenue.\" The charm bears Hebrew writing that says \"Mazel Tov\" (Congratulations), the date 3.7.1929 (Cohn's birth date), and the word Frankfurt. The reverse side has the Hebrew letter Hey, which is sometimes used to represent God, and three stars of David. The only difference between the two charms is the date of birth – separated by just three weeks, according to archaeologists. \"Based on searches that we carried out, the only name that fit in terms of her birth date was a Jewish girl by the name of Karoline Cohn, whose birth date is indeed July 3rd, 1929,\" said Yad Vashem's Joel Zissenwein in a video released by the memorial. \"And she was indeed on a transport that we recorded that departed from Frankfurt am Main to Minsk Ghetto.\" Researchers found the pendant in Sobibor, a death camp in Poland where more than 250,000 Jews were killed, according to The Associated Press. It was found in the area \"where victims undressed and their heads shaved before being sent into the gas chambers,\" Yad Vashem said. Researchers think it slipped through floorboards in this area, remaining buried until archaeologists found it a few months ago. The Sobibor camp was razed to the ground by Nazis in an attempt to conceal their crimes. But recent excavations have uncovered the foundations of gas chambers and items belonging to the camp's many victims. Frank died in 1945 at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. \"This pendant demonstrates once again the importance of archaeological research of former Nazi death camp sites,\" said Israel Antiquities archaeologist Yoram Haimi. The researchers have also uncovered other personal items, such as a women's watch and a star of David necklace. Haimi added: \"The items found here, bottles or dentures – all these things, even the most shocking among them – tell us the story of what happened here in the camp.\"", "Tuesday night the rising R&B star Frank Ocean did something important. At first, however, few observers agreed on what he'd done. Headlines varied on quickly assembled gossip reports, from the measured to the hyperbolic. \"Frank Ocean: My First Love Was a Man.\" \"Frank Ocean Comes Clean About His Bisexuality And I Applaud Him For It!\" \"Frank Ocean Pulls an Anderson Cooper and Comes Out of the Closet.\" \"Frank Ocean Comes Out and Becomes the First Gay Rapper in History.\" That last one is wrong on several levels: Ocean did not use the word \"gay,\" nor is he a rapper, nor would he be the first gay rapper if either of those labels applied. (The website added the word \"Famous\" to its headline later, qualifying its exaggerations somewhat.) Ocean's act was this: after a journalist who attended a listening party for his new album, Channel Orange, noted that several of the songs were addressed to a male love object, the singer and songwriter turned to his own web page and published two long paragraphs which will likely be part of the liner notes for the July 17 release. They start with a declaration of empathy — \"Whoever you are, whatever you are ... I'm starting to think we're a lot alike\" — and proceeds to tell of the now 24-year-old native Louisianan's first romance at 19, with a male friend who apparently reciprocated on some level, but refused Ocean's ultimate attempt to name their love. Ocean unfolds his confession in a poetic but reserved manner, promising his former heart's companion one last thing: \"Some things never are. And we were. I won't forget you. I won't forget the summer. I'll remember who I was when I met you.\" Ocean's letter is grounded in lovely, painful detail. Locating the intimate exchange in time and space, grounding it in lovely, painful detail (\"He patted my back. He said nice things,\" Ocean writes of the moment his friend rejected him), this brief window into a summer place matters on a few levels. It is a kind of coming out: a revelation from a public figure that he's had serious relationships with both men and women. In the R&B world, this is nearly unprecedented. Los Angeles Times music writer Gerrick D. Kennedy called it \"the glass ceiling moment for music. Especially black music, which has long been in desperate need of a voice like Ocean's to break the layers of homophobia.\" At Ebony.com, Jamilah Lemieux noted that while few urban artists openly embrace homosexuality, many are in \"the closet with the glass door,\" living a life they don't reveal in their music. \"I hope that Frank Ocean doesn't become 'the gay singer,' for it would be criminally unfair for him to wear that label as so many of his peers are sleeping with and loving same gendered persons, while selling images of hyper-heterosexuality,\" she wrote. There is another reason why Ocean can't be saddled with an easy label, and it points to an interesting aspect of his newly minted self-conception. In his note, instead of embracing an identity, Ocean shared a set of memories and explored complex feelings, just as he does in his songs. Unlike the standard coming out gesture – newsman Anderson Cooper's public email to his friend Andrew Sullivan, \"The fact is, I'm gay\" — Ocean's presented sexuality as something that arises within particular circumstances, defined by shifting desire and individual encounters rather than solidifying as an identity. In the age-old debate about whether sexuality emerges as something we are or through something we want or do, Ocean carefully rested on the side of feeling and deed. I'll leave it to others to debate whether Ocean's way of expressing his sexuality goes far enough. (So far, the response online has been overwhelmingly positive.) What's for sure is that it fits neatly within the ongoing evolution of popular music. Pop artists have celebrated sexuality as fluid and dynamic for at least a century. Bessie Smith was just one of many early blues queens who sang of loving both women and men; Little Richard is only the most visible of R&B dandies whose queerness helped define early rock and roll. David Bowie's strategic polymorphous perversity could help rocket him to stardom partly because so many other rockers, from Mick Jagger to Janis Joplin to Lou Reed, played around with expanding visions of lust and love. Ocean's public statement about having loved a man definitely contributes to the cause of greater visibility for LGBTQ artists and people; but in his music, he's not so much pioneering as finding his place in a rich, if far from simple, history. There is a lineage of African American artists who've presented broader definitions of sexuality through their songs and their public personalities, as well, though homophobia has certainly kept many more from living fully honest lives. Scholars and journalists are doing much to uncover their stories. Gospel music authority Anthony Heilbut's newly published book of essays discusses the impact of \"the gay men of gospel,\" from key musical architects like J", "As the first two Transporter movies established, their protagonist is extremely attached to his car. So it's a neat joke that in the third installment Frank Martin (Jason Statham) can't move more than 75 feet away from his Audi S8. Any farther, and he'll blow up. This is only a minor twist on Speed's premise, but then Transporter creator Luc Besson has never been overly concerned with originality. In building his globalized action cinema, the French producer-writer borrows liberally from Hong Kong, Hollywood and Britain's Guy Ritchie. The latter's work is where Besson found Statham, who plays a gangland delivery boy who lives near Marseilles, but speaks only English. In Transporter 3, Frank takes a particularly grueling trip: to Budapest and beyond, with freckle-faced Valentina (Natalya Rudakova) in the passenger seat. Both have been outfitted with metal bracelets that will explode if they move away from the car. Frank has no idea why he's been forced to make this drive, or why Valentina is along for the ride. Viewers get a little more information: The American archvillain (Robert Knepper) who ordered the transporter to head east is involved in a plot to illegally ship toxic waste. The Yank and his cohorts are also blackmailing a Ukrainian government minister (Jeroen Krabbe). Kidnapped from a vacation on Ibiza, the Spanish party island, Valentina is initially surly and taciturn. As she becomes more gregarious, Frank's passenger is revealed as a techno-era hippie, with two tabs of Ecstasy in her purse and the Chinese character for \"tranquility\" tattooed on the back of her neck. Valentina's interest in Frank grows during a fight that's also a striptease. The driver dispatches a half dozen thugs, using his tie, shirt and other garments as weapons. He only peels to the waist, but that's enough. Statham's abs are among his most expressive features. Frank's fishing buddy, a small-town French cop played by Francois Berleand, is soon drawn into the case. He tracks the transporter as the adventure heads to Odessa, culminating in a sequence where Frank drives his car onto a moving train — twice. These stunts were probably inspired by the motorcycling Michelle Yeoh's train-hopping scene in Supercop, a Jackie Chan vehicle; director Olivier Megaton is clearly a student of Hong Kong action flicks, although he's not blessed with a star of Chan's acrobatic skills. That must be why he shreds the physical-combat scenes with speedy edits, yielding sequences that have lots of energy but little flow and less grace. Fueled by a soundtrack that bumps from Iggy to Tricky to Busta Rhymes, Frank's latest road trip compares well to the bigger-budgeted Quantum of Solace. The jokes are sharper, and the plot, while silly, is less preposterous than in the latest Bond misfire. The Transporter franchise may not run as long as 007's, and its star is no Sean Connery, but he and his vehicle are reliable enough that fans might someday be comparing Statham to the series' equivalent of Roger Moore.", "Philip Agee, a former agent of the CIA who became one of the agency's harshest critics, died this week in Havana, Cuba. His 1975 book, Inside the Company: CIA Diary, revealed covert operations and the names of covert agents. He later became editor of the magazine Counterspy, which the CIA blamed for exposing more agents. In the late 1990s, he founded a travel agency in Cuba, offering cheap excursion packages to \"the safest country in the world.\" ROBERT SIEGEL, host: He was praised by CIA critics, considered a traitor by many agents. Philip Agee has died in Havana at age 72. Agee was a spy who turned against the agency and exposed some of his former undercover colleagues. He took refuge in Cuba after losing his American passport. His 1975 book, \"Inside the Company: CIA Diary,\" revealed details of covert CIA operations against leftist movements in Latin America. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports. TOM GJELTEN: Philip Agee went to work for the CIA in Latin America in 1960, a time when the United States was worried that Fidel Castro's revolution could spread. Agee later said the agency worked secretly on behalf of right-wing dictatorships across the region. In 1969, he resigned from the CIA and resolved to do what he could to thwart those covert CIA operations by exposing them. He spoke to NPR in 1987. (Soundbite of archived interview) Mr. PHILIP AGEE (Former CIA Agent; Author, \"Inside the Company: CIA Diary\"): I made the decision after I had left the CIA to write a book about my experiences and those operations that other people undertook, but which I knew about. Because I wanted to put this experience and knowledge at the disposal or at the service of the people who needed it to defend themselves. GJELTEN: Agee's 600-page memoir was a detailed expose of CIA activities, but most controversial was a 21-page appendix in which he identified undercover CIA operatives by name. That same year, the CIA station chief in Athens, Richard Welch, was assassinated. Welch was not one of the agents identified in the book, but Agee was still blamed for his death. Anger over Agee's actions was a factor in the passage of a 1982 law that made it a federal crime to reveal the identity of a covert U.S. agent. That was actually the law that led to the 2003 investigation of the exposure of CIA officer Valerie Plame. In his 1987 interview, Agee expressed no remorse for having identified fellow CIA agents. (Soundbite of archived interview) Mr. AGEE: There's no way to separate what the agency does from who does it. If you want to try to disrupt this type of activity, you can describe their operations, but it's impossible to describe these operations in any detail without getting into the personalities involved. GJELTEN: Some of the operatives uncovered by Agee, however, had little to do with covert CIA activities in Latin America. One was Eugene Poteat who was working undercover in London as a CIA technology officer. Mr. EUGENE POTEAT (Former CIA Science and Technology Officer): He exposed not only my name, but he listed my family's name and so on, and the positions I held overseas, which caused me considerable problems thereafter. GJELTEN: Poteat said he was followed in his car, vandalized. Agee's CIA expose, however, made him a hero in European leftist circles. His book was published in 27 languages and he appeared often at public rallies. Poteat went to see him speak from a soapbox at Hyde Park in London. Mr. POTEAT: I stood at the back of the crowd to see what he would have to say. And he said, well, in this crowd, somewhere there's probably a CIA man keeping an eye on me. And a young British man turned to me and said, you're not a CIA spy, are you? And I said, no, are you? GJELTEN: After Agee lost his American passport, he settled in Cuba. In recent years, he ran a travel agency there promoting cheap excursions around the island. Agee's death was announced today by the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma. His widow, a German ballet dancer, told friends he died as a result of surgery for a perforated ulcer. Tom Gjelten, NPR News, Washington. MICHELE NORRIS, host: You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.", "The Kennedy Center's Vice President for Institutional Affairs, Ann S. Stock, former social secretary at the Clinton White House, joins Martin to talk about raising the Kennedy Center's profile. And from the gala reopening of the newly renovated Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the National Symphony Orchestra and music director Leonard Slatkin perform the Serenade for Strings by Edward Elgar. Recorded October 25th, 1997. (NPR/WETA, Washingto", "HBO's new period drama, Gentleman Jack, is set in the 1830s and tells the extraordinary story of Anne Lister: landowner, businesswoman, mountaineer, and sometimes called \"the first modern lesbian.\" Lister came from a wealthy family in Halifax, England, and began recording her love affairs with women in coded entries in her diary. Eventually she would live openly with her neighbor Ann Walker as a couple. Those explicit diaries remained a secret until the 1980s — and in 2011 they were named by UNESCO as a pivotal document in British history. The HBO adaptation looks at Lister's relationship Ann Walker and her defiant embrace of her sexual orientation. Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister — she says it's become possible to tell Lister's story now, because we finally have the language to discuss gender and sexuality more openly. \"So I just feel like this is the right time to tell her story in the full-bodied way that it needs to be told.\" Interview Highlights On preparing to play Anne's complexities Sometimes when you get a part, you're almost cooked, you're ready to go ... but with this, both me and [writer and director Sally Wainwright] felt like I was a work in progress, and I was going to have to put a lot of work in ... I was able to visit Halifax library and actually take out one of Anne Lister's original diaries and read that for myself, which was a real emotional experience, because I'm touching the paper which she had her hands all over, and Sally was able to read the code to me, over my shoulder, which was again extraordinary ... the code itself, parts of the diary still hadn't been decoded, so it was being decoded especially for us as we filmed, which was really exciting. We'd get an email, and it was kind of like live, as we were filming scenes in the end, where we were getting pieces of information that had never been seen before ... we got to film in Shibden Hall, which was her actual house, so the whole experience was magical; I felt like she was with us every step of the way. But the experience of that really allowed her to get into my bones every single day on set. On Anne's physicality A lot of the work that Sally's done over the eight episodes are direct from the diaries. A lot of the words that I speak, Sally has used, not verbatim but she's really worked them into the way she writes her dialogue. And there's pieces of information that we have — she walked fast, and she walked upright. She was mistaken for her masculinity. She had a low voice, she looked like an oddity. She was very striking. She always wore black, in mourning for an ex-girlfriend that she lost to a man, to a marriage. So by the time we meet her, she's been wearing black for 16 years. And she was fiercely intelligent, so we wanted to tell the story of her intelligence through her physicality as well, which is kind of the big hand gestures and the tapping; she checks out of scenes before other people do, because she's already on to the next thing ... and she had to be larger than life, she had to be a presence that anyone who knows the diaries can feel it when they read it off the page, and I really wanted to encapsulate that on screen. On Anne's self-certainty Sally described her to me as having a very healthy opinion of herself, a very healthy opinion of life, excited by life, wanted to live life to the full. And she was true to her nature. She never wavered from wanting to, in her words again, \"love, and only love the fairer sex.\" She felt like it was her god-given nature to do that. She was authentic in that way, and she had no blueprint, there were no communities. Lesbian wasn't a word then. But she just was striking in the way that she knew exactly who she wanted to be, and pushed on and lived in that way. On what we should take from her story today I think whether you're part of the LGBTQIA community or not, Anne Lister is trail-blazing, she's life-affirming, she's uplifting, she's courageous. And she believes that everyone has a voice and deserves to be themselves and to speak. And I think in this climate, we need more stories like that. This story was edited for radio by Hiba Ahmad and Lynn Kim, and adapted for the Web by Petra Mayer.", "The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly. Don DeLillo is going to be awarded the first Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced Thursday. DeLillo, who was famously called \"chief shaman of the paranoid school of American fiction\" in The New York Review of Books, is known for grumpily funny postmodern novels like White Noise and Mao II. He said in a statement, \"When I received news of this award, my first thoughts were of my mother and father, who came to this country the hard way, as young people confronting a new language and culture. In a significant sense, the Library of Congress prize is the culmination of their efforts and a tribute to their memory.\" DeLillo will receive the prize during the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The festival is set for Sept. 21-22. A Fox News affiliate in Detroit is reporting on a campaign by a local mother to keep explicit passages from The Diary of Anne Frank out of the hands of 7th graders (likely ensuring that most everyone in Detroit will read the offending section, which is a brief, somewhat clinical description of female genitalia). For The New Republic, Yochi Dreazen describes the Herculean efforts it took to save Timbuktu's store of ancient manuscripts from Islamic militants in Mali: \"When I visited Ahmed Baba two months later, the rows of wooden bookcases in the large, sunlit rooms were empty. The only traces of the ancient documents were a pile of mottled gray-and-black ashes, a few empty leather cases, and a single book-sized manuscript lying loose on the floor. I picked it up: The spidery Arabic on its cover was mostly obscured by singe marks, the pages inside reduced to dust.\" Craig Fehrman writes about Midwestern noir novels for The American Prospect: \"In a book like Fight Club, people beat each other up so that Chuck Palahniuk can talk masculinity and consumerism. In [Donald Ray] Pollock's and [Frank] Bill's work, they beat each other up because it happens like that sometimes.\" Amazon places Alexandria, Va., first on its annual list of the most \"well-read cities\" in the U.S., based on online book orders per capita. The American Library Association (not to mention your local bookstore) is probably wondering when Amazon purchases became the best indicator of literacy.", "Al Frank Fund Manager and value investor John Buckingham has uncovered some stock market values for investors. His Al Frank mutual fund is up an average of 14 percent a year over the last 5 years, handily outperforming the S&P 500. David talks to John Buckingham about value investing and gets his thoughts on the value of stocks like Google, Microsoft, and Martha Stewart.", "The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly. The Digital Public Library of America, intended to provide free open access to materials from libraries, museums, universities and archives across the country, launches at noon ET on Thursday. The project began as an initiative at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, and was funded by foundations including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Robert Darnton, Harvard University librarian and history professor, writes in The New York Review of Books that \"at first, the DPLA's offering will be limited to a rich variety of collections — books, manuscripts, and works of art — that have already been digitized in cultural institutions throughout the country. Around this core it will grow, gradually accumulating material of all kinds until it will function as a national digital library.\" Blank on Blank, a nonprofit that re-interprets vintage interviews, made an animated video of David Foster Wallace's 1996 conversation with WNYC's Leonard Lopate, in which he explains that \"any student whose deployment of a semicolon is not absolutely Mozart-esque knows that they're going to get a C in my class.\" For The New Yorker, Matt Weinstock writes a thoughtful (and maybe overly generous) defense of Justin Bieber's comment that he hoped Anne Frank \"would have been a Belieber\": \"I think Bieber can be forgiven for thinking of Anne as someone who's still breathing. ... Anne Frank is constantly being resurrected. ... Our collective vision of Anne is always in peril of drifting into somber martyrdom (if you haven't read the diary in a few years, it's easy to think of her this way), and the so-called trespasses on her memory are really vital acts of defibrillation.\" The London Review of Books gets an email from the stalker described in James Lasdun's memoir, Give Me Everything You Have: On Being Stalked: \"His girlfriends are the most hideous.\" The Review's Nick Richardson writes, \"Stalking, a kind of crime passionel, confuses our sympathies: how do you feel about someone who loves you but wants to 'ruin' you; who massages your ego as she damages your career; who has read your books more attentively than anyone else, but slates them on Amazon.\" The New York Times picks up on a little trend called \"self-publishing\": \"As digital disruption continues to reshape the publishing market, self-publishing — including distribution digitally or as print on demand — has become more and more popular, and more feasible, with an increasing array of options for anyone with an idea and a keyboard.\"", "A long-lost diary kept by a top aide to Adolf Hitler was formally transferred to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Tuesday. Scholars say the 425-page document gives a glimpse into the mind of Alfred Rosenberg, and a view of his role in shaping the Nazi regime's genocidal policies. Rosenberg's meticulous script runs straight as a ruler across the sepia-colored pages. The notes are from 1936 through 1944. Museum Director Sara Bloomfield says it took years — and the help of many — to procure the diary. \"We spent 17 years ... looking for something that we suspected was in the United States,\" she says. It turned out the diary was indeed in the U.S. — brought by Robert Kempner, a German lawyer who was a chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. After he died in 1993, the diary was lost, but it was eventually seized by federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bloomfield says Rosenberg helped mold Nazi ideology. \"We hope this diary will contribute to our understanding of the nature and power of those ideas and, of course, the catastrophic consequences of them,\" she says. Rosenberg, who was head of the Nazi Party's foreign affairs department, established a task force to loot cultural property from all over Europe. He was also involved with the mass murder of Jews in the occupied eastern territories, including the Baltic states. The Holocaust Memorial Museum's Juergen Matthaeus says from the start of Rosenberg's career as a radical journalist to his hanging after the Nuremberg trials, Rosenberg stuck to his belief \"that the Jews were Germany's most deadly enemy.\" Matthaeus says Rosenberg quotes Hitler in the diary. But he says because of the formal style of many Nazi diaries, it's difficult to get a grasp of Rosenberg the man. \"What he writes is very much colored by his ideology, and that is where the problem lies in terms of grasping the concepts that he's dealing with,\" Matthaeus says, \"because to us, of course, they often seem esoteric, if not completely insane.\" Matthaeus says in the diary's pages, Rosenberg never once questioned Nazi ideology. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has made all 425 pages of the Rosenberg diary available on its website. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: A long lost diary kept by a top aide to Adolph Hitler was handed over to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum today. Alfred Rosenberg played a key role in the murder of millions of Jews and others. NPR's Allison Keyes reports that his 425-page diary sheds light on his role in shaping Nazi policies. ALLISON KEYES, BYLINE: Rosenberg's meticulous handwritten script runs straight as a ruler across the sepia colored pages. The notes are from 1936 through 1944. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum director Sara Bloomfield says it took years and the help of many to procure the diary. SARA BLOOMFIELD: We spent 17 years, 17 years looking for something that we suspected was in the United States. KEYES: Turns out the diary was in the U.S. brought here by Robert Kempner. Kempner was a German lawyer who was a chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. After he died in 1993, the diary was lost but was eventually seized by federal agents. Bloomfield says Rosenberg was one of those who shaped Nazi ideology. BLOOMFIELD: And we hope this diary will contribute to our understanding of the nature and power of those ideas and, of course, the catastrophic consequences of them. KEYES: Rosenberg was head of the Nazi Party's Foreign Affairs Department and established a task force to loot cultural property from all over Europe. He was also involved with the mass murder of Jews in the occupied eastern territories including the Baltic states. The museum's Jurgen Matthaeus says from the start of Rosenberg's career as a radical right wing journalist to his hanging after the Nuremberg trials, Rosenberg stuck to his belief... JURGEN MATTHAEUS: That the Jews were Germany's most deadly enemy. KEYES: Matthaeus says Rosenberg quotes Adolf Hitler in the diary. But he says because of the formal style of many Nazi diaries, it's difficult to get a grasp of Rosenberg the man. MATTHAEUS: And what he writes is colored by his ideology. And that is where the problem lies in terms of grasping the concepts that he's dealing with because, it's to us, of course, these days they often seem esoteric if not completely insane. KEYES: Matthaeus says in the diary's pages Rosenberg never once questioned Nazi ideology. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum has made all 425 pages of the Rosenberg diary available on its website. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) BLOCK: This is NPR.", "More than 2,000 of you weighed in with nominations for the best books for young readers. Our expert panel combined audience favorites with their own choices to come up with this curated list of 100 must-reads — click here to see the full list of 100 books. Below is a printable version of that list. Watership Down, by Richard Adams The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott The Chronicles of Prydain series, by Lloyd Alexander The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie The Strange Case of Origami Yoda series, by Tom Angleberger The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater Poppy, by Avi Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie Oz series, by Frank Baum The House With a Clock in its Walls, by John Bellairs Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros Ramona series, by Beverly Cleary The Dark is Rising series, by Susan Cooper Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl Danny the Champion of the World, by Roald Dahl Matilda, by Roald Dahl The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau Half Magic, by Edward Eager The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Edwards The Saturdays, by Elizabeth Enright The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh The Lincolns, by Candice Fleming The Diary of Anne Frank, by Anne Frank Eleanor Roosevelt, by Russell Freedman The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman Julie of the Wolves, by Jean CraigheadGeorge My Side of the Mountain, by Jean CraigheadGeorge Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry Bunnicula, by James Howe Redwall series, by Brian Jacques The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, by Jeff Kinney The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler, by E.L. Konigsburg A Wrinkle in Time series, by Madeleine L'Engle Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai The Earthsea Cycle series, by Ursula K. Le Guin To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine The Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry The Giver, by Lois Lowry Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne Anne of Green Gables series, by Lucy Maud Montgomery The Borrowers, by Mary Norton Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell Wonder, by R.J. Palacio Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen A Long Way From Chicago series, by Richard Peck The Twenty-One Balloons, by William Pène du Bois The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett His Dark Materials series, by Phillip Pullman Where The Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, by Rick Riordan Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan Holes, by Louis Sachar Okay For Now, by Gary Schmidt The Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick Bomb, by Steven Sheinkin A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, by Betty Smith The Bone Series, by Jeff Smith A Series of Unfortunate Events books, by Lemony Snicket The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder The Arrival, by Shaun Tan The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales, by Maria Tatar Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White The Sword in the Stone, by Terence Hanbury White Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang", "In Elles, a Paris journalist has an eye-opening experience when she interviews two university students who moonlight as prostitutes. So do the movie's viewers, presented with beaucoup de nudite. No genitalia are on display, but there are a few kinky moments that justify the NC-17 rating. Anne (Juliette Binoche) writes for, yes, Elle. Her normal beat seems to be fashion, but now she's reporting on undergraduates who support themselves as hookers. She finds two: Charlotte (Anais Demoustier), a girl-next-door type from the suburbs, and Alicja (Joanna Kulig), a busty blond from Poland. Charlotte likes the extra cash; Alicja couldn't afford to live in France without it. The interviews with the two young women are presented in fragments, inserted into a few days of home life that test Anne's domestic skills. Her younger son spends too much time playing video games; her older one is cutting classes and smoking pot. As the article's deadline looms, Anne's husband expects her to cook and host a gourmet dinner for his boss and his wife. And, he warns her more matter-of-factly than imperiously, Anne mustn't upset their guests with any \"feminist\" remarks. The implication is that Anne is less free than Charlotte (whose clients know her as Lola) and Alicja. Following Binoche closely with a hand-held camera, director Malgoska Szumowska depicts Anne's upscale apartment as confining and even hazardous. The journalist is harried, exhausted and sexually frustrated, leading to a series of minor kitchen accidents that serve as metaphors for the injuries inflicted by bourgeois marriage. Meanwhile, Anne develops a big-sisterly rapport with Charlotte, who reports that her clients are surprisingly chatty and \"completely normal.\" Alicja, who insists that any interview be lubricated by vodka, soon has Anne giggling and ready to dance — and maybe more. It might seem that Szumowska, a Polish director making her first feature outside her homeland, has arrived a little late with the news that women are subjugated by men. Elles was inspired by news reports about student-hookers, much as Godard's Two or Three Things I Know About Her was sparked 45 years ago by coverage of homemaker-hookers. Not long after that, movies like Diary of a Mad Housewife conveyed the frustrations of gilded-cage wives and mothers. Yet Elles has contemporary pertinence. As the Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair showed, feminism hasn't significantly mellowed France's macho culture. And sexual predation on young women from Eastern Europe remains a timely topic. While the contrast between Anne and the call girls is a little glib, Szumowska doesn't present Charlotte and Alicja's trade as entirely benign. The two young women tell the reporter that they're content, but scenes of them with some clients reveal that they can feel threatened or degraded. (The hookers dismiss the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, however, on the grounds that their clients are \"bored married men\" whose only other partners are their wives.) The sex scenes are attention-getting, but Elles is most remarkable as a naturalistic portrait of a woman. Binoche, in one of her rawest performances since 1991's The Lovers of the Pont Neuf, is seen masturbating, examining one of her breasts, even chewing with her mouth open. In more prosaic moments, Anne visits her father (played by Binoche's actual father) in the hospital and listens to the radio station that provides the movie's predominantly Euro-classical score. Such touches ensure that, for all the movie's contrivances, its central character feels genuine.", "Literary recollections of childhood seem to exist at extremes. In memoirs and fiction alike, privation is the rule, and the rare exception involves not comfort but outright danger or trauma. The Marches of Little Women obsess over silk yardage. The Ingallses live in a Little House on the Prairie ... except when they live in their covered wagon, or in what amounts to a sod hole. Harry Potter is an orphan who has to battle black magic just to get through the school year. Mary Karr gets molested by the babysitter. Augusten Burroughs lives in a funhouse. Stephen King's protagonists in It face off against a murderous clown, S.E. Hinton's characters get killed by the cops or ditched by their parents ... and this isn't even mentioning Anne Frank. What's interesting about the hardships and travails of kiddie lit, though, isn't their bleakness per se, but the way it contrasts with our mutually-agreed-upon cultural conception of childhood as a time of golden innocence: sledding, trick-or-treating, and valuable lessons learned. And what's interesting about Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is the way the daily frustrations of an acerbic, somewhat lazy and selfish middle-class kid, rendered as a stick figure, succeed as storytelling despite the absence of spell-casting, abuse, and mustache-twirling villains. Nobody is defeated; the diarist, Greg Heffley, never really learns anything. He doesn't have much of an arc. It works, though -- not in spite of that, but because of it. It feels true. A book for the ten-year-old and the thirty-year-old, after the jump... Read More &gt;&gt; It's also hilarious. Kinney is not above some cheap humor (Greg's older brother Rodrick's heavy-metal band is called \"Löded Diper\"), which is my favorite kind, and his illustration style is not exactly layered and complex, but his rendering of sound effects is expert. \"Splish\" (a tiny wave knocks over a sand castle and sends Greg screaming). \"SLORK SLORK\" (the dog gives himself a slurpy bath on Greg's pillow). \"Fpoo!\" (Greg's best friend, Rowley, spits out a piece of birthday cake). I obsess over how to render sounds in my own writing, so I admire Kinney's ear for \"doink\"s and \"thwip\"s. Mostly, though, the", "Updated at 11:06 a.m. ET The Justice Department's internal watchdog agency unveiled a doorstop-sized report Thursday that provides an inflection point — but no closure — in the never-ending war over the 2016 presidential campaign and its aftermath. The nearly 600-page opus by Inspector General Michael Horowitz offers political ammunition for both Republicans and Democrats and resolves a few key questions about what happened behind the scenes during some critical moments of the last presidential election year. Read the report's executive summary here. But it also confirmed that this saga has no end in sight. Here's what you need to know about what it said — and what will happen next. The Justice Department and the feds did not go easy on Hillary Clinton Horowitz's report excoriates then-FBI Director James Comey, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and others for violations of policy, insensitivity toward appearances and other conduct in 2016, but it said none of them acted out of political partisanship. That's important because charges of \"bias\" have formed the basis of months of political attacks by President Trump and his Republicans allies against federal law enforcement. Lynch and Comey let Democratic presidential nominee Clinton off the hook in the matter of her handling secret information on her personal email server while secretary of state, some in the GOP argue. What's more, they say, people inside the Justice Department and the FBI continue working to \"frame\" Trump. No, the IG said: \"We found no evidence that the conclusions by department prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations; rather, we determined that they were based on the prosecutors' assessment of the facts, the law, and past department practice.\" That will not end the charges of \"bias\" and abuse of power by the president and his allies, especially because the IG report did uncover new evidence that individual people on the inside at the bureau, at least, were decidedly anti-Trump. FBI officials talked about wanting to \"stop\" Trump from being elected ... Exhibit A in the case about \"bias\" against Trump is the cache of text messages between an FBI lawyer who has since left the FBI and a senior special agent who is, so far, still employed by the bureau. The frank political opinions in those messages have embarrassed the bureau, and there were still more in the report on Thursday. In the newly released exchange, attorney Lisa Page asks agent Peter Strzok: \"(Trump's) not ever going to become president, right? Right?!\" Strzok responds: \"No. No he's not. We'll stop it.\" The IG and congressional investigations have debunked conspiracy theories about a cabal of insiders using their power to unfairly attack Trump, but this Page-Strzok exchange shows that there really were people inside the bureau who personally opposed his election. Page and Strzok also worked at one time on the unit conducting the investigation into Russia's attack on the 2016 election and whether anyone on the Trump campaign was involved. Strzok was removed from that investigative team in the summer 2017 once the text messages came to the attention of the special counsel's office, according to media reports. And Page had already completed her stint on that team and returned to the FBI by that time. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Thursday that messages like those revealed in the report vindicated the worries Trump and his allies have expressed about the ability for federal law enforcement to be impartial now or going forward. That comports precisely with Trump's political strategy of attacking Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller and his team, including the accusation that they are perpetuating a political \"witch hunt\" against him. ... but Strzok also wondered about the substance of the Russia investigation An attorney for Strzok defended him on Thursday and cited evidence in the report about how strongly he pushed for aggressive investigative techniques in the Clinton email investigation. There's also at least one key message that suggests Strzok and Page didn't join the Russia investigation with clear evidence in hand of wrongdoing by Trump or his campaign but, instead, with open skepticism about whether they might discover any wrongdoing. The two officials texted back and forth about offers to join Mueller's team at the time of his appointment. Although Strzok ultimately joined Mueller's unit, here's how he responded to a message from Page that mentioned the prospect that Trump might be impeached: \"you and I both know the odds are nothing,\" he wrote. \"If I thought it was likely I'd be there no question. I hesitate in part because of my gut sense and concern there's no big there there.\" Strzok later told investigators, as the IG report goes on to describe, that \"my question [was] about whether or not this represented a large, coordinated conspiracy or not.\" Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey The IG report ta", "Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat from Florida, served as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee after 9/11 and during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. Although he left the Senate in 2005, he fought for years to get 28 pages of a congressional report on the 9/11 terrorist attacks declassified. He believes they reveal that the hijackers who carried out the attacks received support from the Saudi government while they were in the United States. The pages were declassified in July, and the Saudi government says they don’t show a connection between it and the terrorists. But Graham is still working to uncover more information that proves Saudi involvement in 9/11. Here & Now&#8216;s Jeremy Hobson talks with Graham about why. \nRead the 28 declassified pages from the congressional inquiry\n\nInterview Highlights: Bob Graham On making a case for the release of more declassified information &#8220;I want everything that the U.S. government has that cannot meet a very high standard of national security to be released. I believe the American people deserve to know what their government is doing in their name. &#8230; Those investigations should be made public so that we can know what was the conclusion as to those unfinished items. &#8230; The fact is we know a lot more about the hijackers today than we did then. So there&#8217;s new information that was not timely when the 28 pagers were written. &#8230; And finally, the families of the victims have, for over a decade, been attempting to litigate against the Saudi government and various entities based on their being co-conspirators with the 19 hijackers. They have thus far been frustrated by the principle of sovereign immunity &#8212; that the king can do no wrong so you can&#8217;t sue the king. There is legislation, which is acroynmed to JASTA, which would carve out a narrow exception.&#8221; On why the United States would cover up evidence of the Saudi government&#8217;s involvement &#8220;President Bush had stated in one of his early messages to the American people after 9/11 that we would pursue anyone that was found to have given aid and comfort to the 19 hijackers to the ends of the earth and bring them to justice. Well when all of this information about the Saudis&#8217; involvement became apparent, it was inconvenient to the goal of the Bush administration to go to war with Iraq. Thus, the information was suppressed and has largely been suppressed since Sept. 11, 2001. It&#8217;s more difficult to answer the question that you ask as it relates to the Obama administration. I can ascribe it only to the fact that the Middle East has been in such turmoil that the administration has made a decision that, in spite of the consequences of not holding Saudi Arabia to account for what it did almost 15 years ago, we would continues this practice of submerging information.&#8221; On Saudi Arabia&#8217;s potential motives in the attack &#8220;My speculation is that Osama bin Laden, armed with 30,000 warriors who had just played a major part in removing the Russians from Afghanistan, threatened the kingdom that if it would not provide him assistance in a plot that he was developing, and realized that would require some support from inside the United States, and knew that the Saudis had the capability to provide that support, threatened the kingdom with civil unrest if they did not do so.&#8221; On the necessity of more information &#8220;I describe [the 28 pages of congressional report] as the cork in the bottle, and now we need to pour out the information that I think would&#8217;ve been unavailable before the 28 pages were released but now are available, and that follow-up information to the leads that were first encountered in the 28 pages. We need the full information in order to make an informed and final judgment as to the role of Saudi Arabia in 9/11.&#8221; On why this information matters &#8220;In order to fully protect the American people, we need to know all of the facts about 9/11, and then from that decide what are the steps that are most likely to protect the American people from a repetition.&#8221; Guest Bob Graham, former Florida governor and U.S. senator, now with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. The center tweets @GrahamCenter.", "Nearly two dozen diaries and notebooks of Siegfried Sassoon — among a handful of prominent soldier-poets whose artistic sensibilities were forged in the trenches of World War I — are being published online for the first time by the Cambridge University Library. Sassoon, who served in the British Army, was a \"gifted diarist [who] ... kept a journal for most of his life,\" the library says. \"The papers include a run stretching from 1905 to 1959,\" the library says of the diaries and journals made public to coincide with the centenary of the start of the war. \"At the heart of this series are the war diaries, a fascinating resource for the study of the literature of the First World War which enables a fresh analysis of Sassoon's experience of the catastrophic war which influenced him profoundly,\" the library says. As the BBC reports: \"Until now only Sassoon's official biographer — Max Egremont — has had access to the complete 4,100-page archive due to its fragile state. \"Librarian Anne Jarvis said the war diaries were of 'towering importance.' \"The journals, which are made freely available online from Friday, offer a unique insight into life on the front line during World War One. \"Writing in a 'distinctive' but clear hand, Sassoon describes life in the trenches, including the moment he was shot by a sniper at the Battle of Arras, and his depiction of the first day of the Battle of the Somme as a 'sunlit picture of hell.' \" In one journal entry dated 13 July 1916, Sassoon writes movingly of a generation of men being slowly consumed by the conflict that took some 17 million lives: \"all their hope & merriment snuffed out for ever, and their voices fading on the winds of thought, from memory to memory, from hour to hour, until they are no more to be recalled.\" In a sketch in one notebook titled \"The Soul of An Officer,\" Sassoon — who had served as an ordinary enlisted soldier before becoming an officer himself — showed his disdain for those who were, quite literally, calling the shots. Under a picture of a figure in officer's cap, he scrawled \"death\" and \"fear,\" and below \"eating and drinking,\" and \"commonplace chatter about war.\" Although Sassoon survived the war and went on to write novels as well as poetry, dying in 1967 at age 80, other WWI poets, most notably Wilfred Owen, were not as lucky. Owen, who wrote Anthem for Doomed Youth, in which he describes the soldiers \"who die as cattle,\" was himself killed in November 1918, exactly one week before the signing of the armistice.", "It's time to unwrap the latest batch of newly arrived recordings to hear what's new from established artists and uncover the emerging talent.", "The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly. Amazon debuted a virtual currency called \"Amazon Coins\" on Monday. The coins can be used to buy apps in Amazon's Appstore and on Kindle Fire. A dollar will get you 100 of the new coins, though the Internet retailer will discount coins bought in bulk. Although you can't yet buy books with Amazon Coins, the move has raised eyebrows in the publishing industry. Amazon did not respond to an inquiry about the exchange rate between its coins and the currency of Chuck E. Cheese. A lost journal written by poet W.H. Auden at the onset of World War II has been discovered. The notebook runs 96 pages and spans the period from August and November 1939 — around the time he wrote the poem \"September 1, 1939.\" The Independent cites one journal passage that reads: \"Paper reports German attack on Poland. Now I sit looking out over the river. Such a beautiful evening and in an hour, they say, England will be at war.\" The manuscript will be auctioned at Christie's in June. Glen Ellyn School District 41, an Illinois school district, has banned the young adult novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower from its library and classrooms after parents complained about its discussions of sex and drug use. At least they can probably still read The Diary of Anne Frank. For Out magazine, Bret Easton Ellis, the controversial author of American Psycho (who identifies as gay), denounces what he says is the stereotypical roles gay men play in the media: \"The reign of The Gay Man as Magical Elf, who whenever he comes out appears before us as some kind of saintly E.T. whose sole purpose is to be put in the position of reminding us only about Tolerance and Our Own Prejudices and To Feel Good About Ourselves and to be a symbol instead of just being a gay dude, is – lamentably — still in media play.\" Barbara Salinas-Norman, a Chicana author and activist, was found dead in her apartment in Santa Fe, N.M., earlier this month. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that police speculate the 70-year-old woman known as Bobbi had been dead for several months. Salinas-Norman had been a successful children's author and the founder of Piñata Publications, but she later fell out of contact with friends and family, and her home was said to be in foreclosure.", "Ten years ago Monday, two boys went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Colorado. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 13 people at the suburban Denver school before taking their own lives. Many students were witness to the horrific killings and have had to deal with the repercussions ever since. In 1999, Colorado Public Radio gave one student, junior Kim Blair, a tape recorder so she and her twin sister, Patti, could describe how they were feeling in the days after the attacks. The audio diary is still hard to listen to. On the day of the shooting, Kim was eating lunch outside with friends, including her best friend, Ann Marie Hochhalter. \"We were sitting there, talking,\" she recalls. \"And we saw Dylan and Eric come; we saw them put down the bags and they started shooting. Ann Marie was the third person I had seen shot.\" Hochhalter survived, but was paralyzed. Two others outside were killed. The shooters went on to storm the school's library, where Kim's twin sister, Patti, was studying. Patti heard the gunmen approaching and hit the floor. \"My friend and I were under the table,\" she remembers. \"Eric glanced underneath our table with his gun and stood back up and walked to the table behind us and shot the people there.\" Ten people died in the library, but the killers chose not to shoot Patti. \"I knew I had a guardian angel that day,\" she says. \"I just don't understand why those other people in the library did not.\" Ten years later, Patti is a computer programmer and Kim is a teacher. Both say time has helped a great deal. The flashbacks have gone away and they don't constantly think about those who died. They see this year's anniversary as a turning point. \"This is the year that I think we can finally put it behind us and start seeing it as a piece of our lives and not having it be our lives,\" Kim says. Zachary Barr reports for Colorado Public Radio. SCOTT SIMON, host: Ten years ago on Monday, two boys went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School, and they killed 13 people at that suburban Denver school before taking their own lives. Many students witnessed the killings and then had to deal with the repercussions. Ms. KIM BLAIR: It's one o'clock Monday morning. I'm awake again. I just wish I wouldn't have any more flashbacks. It's the hardest part. SIMON: That's a young woman named Kim Blair from a 1999 audio diary. Colorado Public Radio gave Kim a tape recorder so she and her twin sister Patti could describe how they were feeling in the days after the attacks. From Colorado Public Radio, Zachary Barr has more. ZACHARY BARR: Ten years on, the audio diary is still hard to listen to, even with a high school girl's pop music playing in the background. Here Kim recalls that on the day of the shooting she was eating lunch outside alongside two friends. Ms. BLAIR: And we were sitting there talking and we saw Dylan and Eric come. I saw them put down the bags and they started shooting. Ann Marie was the third person I had seen shot. BARR: Kim's talking about Ann Marie Hochhalter, her best friend at the time. Ann Marie survived, but was paralyzed. Two others outside were killed. The shooters, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, later stormed the school's library, where Kim's twin sister Patti was studying. Patti heard the gunmen approaching and hit the floor. Ms. PATTI BLAIR: My friend and I were under the table. And they came over to our table and Eric glanced underneath our table with his gun and just stood back up and walked to the table behind us and shot the people there. BARR: Ten people died in the library, but the killers chose not to shoot Patti. Ms. P. BLAIR: I knew I had a guardian angel that day. I just don't understand why those other people in the library did not. BARR: A few days after the shootings, Patti's home watching a gory movie where high school students battle giant alien bugs for control of the universe, and twin sister Kim is flabbergasted. Ms. K. BLAIR: Patti, gosh, I came home today and she's sitting on the couch watching \"Starship Troopers.\" Okay, how much more violent do you want to get? (Soundbite of movie, \"Starship Troopers\") Ms. K. BLAIR: Maybe she's okay with seeing violence and stuff like that, but I'm not ready for it. BARR: The audio diary covered the first few weeks after the tragedy, then the diary ended. Talking to the sisters today revealed something surprising. It turns out Patti's decision to watch \"Starship Troopers\" was one part of a calculated plan. She had prescribed herself heavy doses of fake violence. Ms. P. BLAIR: Literally, I would watch a movie like every night or actually even a couple times during the day just to desensitize myself. BARR: Patti's recovery plan went way beyond action movies. For about a year, Patti flooded herself with sights and sounds that made her fearful: crowds at the mall, fire engines with sirens blazing, even insisting a friend shoot off a paintball gun while she stood by. Ms. P. BLAIR: My whole entire f", "Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews <em>Reborn: Journals & Notebooks, 1947 – 1963</em>, the newly published intimate ruminations of Susan Sontag.By the end of her life in 2004, the novelist and essayist Susan Sontag had turned the most persistent critique of her talent — that her greatest creation was her own daunting persona — to a point of pride. \"Good for her! More power to her,\" she said about Emma Hamilton, the rags-to-riches heroine of her 1992 novel, The Volcano Lover. \"I love self-made people.\" Sontag was one herself. Born Susan Rosenblatt and raised in Tucson, Ariz., and North Hollywood, she had, by age 30, catapulted herself to the center of America's literary establishment. With the just-published Reborn, the first installment of Sontag's journals — edited by her son, David Rieff — we now have the absorbing story of the inner evolution that made that journey possible. The strong-willed voice was there from the beginning. In her very first journal entry, the then 14-year-old writer declares there is no afterlife. Among her other beliefs: \"that an ideal state ... should be a strong centralized one with government control of public utilities, banks, mines + transportation.\" Her seriousness does not let up. Reborn is full of earnest exhortations to read books (Moll Flanders, another tale of self-creation) and smile less (\"Think of Blake. He didn't smile for others\"), as well as descriptions of lectures attended and films inhaled, sometimes at the rate of three a day. Were Reborn merely a diary of such intellectual conquests, it would grow tedious, even to fans. But in passages chronicling the experiences that gouged her, the self-consciousness that dogged her, the marriage that nearly smothered her and the self-discoveries that redefined her, the famously fierce Sontag retreats to a sometimes humble, sometimes confused tone that is a revelation. \"Being queer,\" she wrote in one diary entry from 1959, \"makes me feel more vulnerable.\" Another, from 1960, records a day: \"Awake at 7:00 — rage.\" As the journals progress, Sontag's thoughts on love and sexuality and the car-wreck relationships she had with women push from the page her earnest list-making of books to read. It's as if the poles of the private life and the life of the mind are bending toward each other. Finally, on the book's last page, they touch in a sentence fragment: \"Intellectual 'wanting' like sexual wanting.\" As do all the best critics, Sontag gave us new metaphors for how to read and see. Fabulously, surprisingly, Reborn shows she used that skill to understand her own pell-mell life.", "This post was updated at 5:35 p.m. ET. Eli Wallach, whose acting work ranged from Westerns to the Godfather series and beyond, has died. For decades, Wallach won fans by bringing humanity and humor to roles that pitted him as a villain against titans such as Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen. Wallach died Tuesday at the age of 98. The news was first reported Wednesday by The New York Times, which confirmed his passing with the actor's daughter. Wallach's long career paired him with stars from Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe (The Misfits, 1961) to Ewan McGregor (The Ghost, 2010) and Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, 2009). And it seems certain his work will keep on winning viewers, as classics such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, How the West Was Won, and The Magnificent Seven find new audiences. Years after they were made, the films are routinely rebroadcast on TV. In 2010, Wallach received an honorary Oscar for a 60-year career that included a memorable role as a Mafia don in The Godfather: Part III. \"As an actor I've played more bandits, thieves, warlords, molesters and Mafioso than you could shake a stick at,\" the actor said as he accepted the award. Eli Herschel Wallach was born in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, N.Y. As The Hollywood Reporter explains, he cut his own path through life: \"Wallach was born on Dec. 7, 1915, the son of Polish immigrants who owned a candy store and lived in the back. He went to Erasmus Hall High School and didn't have the grades to get into City College in New York, so he wound up at the University of Texas, where he was friends with Zachary Scott and Walter Cronkite. After graduation, he ventured back to the Big Apple and studied method acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where his fellow students included Tony Randall, Gregory Peck and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.\" Even Wallach's characteristic smirk had range: It was equally perfect for a devious villain or for an underdog who had just beaten the odds. David Thomson, author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, says Wallach was best at \"sneering, sadistic, wicked roles — the things that he seemed to do very naturally,\" Thomson says on All Things Considered. \"In a lot of his films, he did not shave,\" he says, adding that it was from a time when by not shaving you could \"be almost any disreputable person from anywhere in the world.\" The actor once said he used his film work to support his stage career. As The New York Times reports, he often worked in the theater alongside his wife, actress Anne Jackson: \"The couple appeared in a revival of The Diary of Anne Frank in 1978, in a production that also featured their daughters Roberta as Anne Frank and Katherine as her onstage sister. In 1984, they presided over a chaotic Moscow household in a Russian comedy, Viktor Rozov's Nest of the Wood Grouse, directed by Joseph Papp at the Public Theater. Four years later, they returned to the Public as a flamboyant acting couple in a revival of Hy Kraft's Cafe Crown, a portrait of the Yiddish theater scene in its heyday.\"", "About 100 pages of newly released State Department documents show Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani had at least two phone conversations in the weeks before a U.S. ambassador in Ukraine was removed from her post. Additionally, the files show a White House aide played a role in connecting Giuliani's team with officials at the State Department so that Giuliani could get on Pompeo's official call schedule in late March. The conversations between Pompeo and Giuliani took place around the time Giuliani and two of his associates were working to push U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch from office. She was recalled from her post in Kyiv in May. These events are central to the impeachment inquiry being led by House Democrats against President Trump. It also pulls Pompeo, who has sought to distance himself from the Ukraine affair, closer to the center of the crusade to oust Yovanovitch. The documents were released late Friday by the group American Oversight, which bills itself as a nonpartisan ethics watchdog group. The documents were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the organization. Austin Evers, the executive director of American Oversight, promises more documents will be released in the future, adding the documents are evidence of \"a clear paper trail.\" \"It reveals a clear paper trail from Rudy Giuliani to the Oval Office to Secretary Pompeo to facilitate Giuliani's smear campaign against a U.S. ambassador,\" Evers said in a statement. The State Department has not responded to requests for comment. What is in the documents? The documents show Pompeo and Giuliani spoke twice in late March but do not reveal what was discussed. The timing of the calls — and how they were arranged — appears to underscore testimony during this week's impeachment inquiry from U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who testified that everyone \"was in the loop\" when it came to the Trump administration and the Ukraine affair. The documents show that on March 27, Jo Ann Zafonte, an assistant to Giuliani, reached out to a White House aide for help arranging a call between Pompeo and Giuliani. \"Hate to bother you but might you be able to send me a good number,\" Zafonte writes, looking for the way to connect the two men. \"I've been trying and getting nowhere through regular channels.\" Zafonte's email was sent to Madeleine Westerhout, a former personal assistant to the president, who at the time was a key gatekeeper to the Oval Office. Westerhout forwarded Zafonte's email to the State Department asking \"What number can I give her for S?\" S is a shorthand for the Secretary of State. By the next day, Giuliani was on Pompeo's schedule, slated for a call on March 29. Another document, dated March 28, has a subject line \"S requested to speak with Mr. Giuliani.\" The unnamed emailer writes: \"please advise if there will be any monitors.\" Documents dated March 29 show the call between Pompeo lasted approximately four minutes. Another document shows that Pompeo and Giuliani had a call three days earlier on March 26. Giuliani responds to document release Giuliani defended the calls with Pompeo, telling The Wall Street Journal on Saturday he reached out so that he could voice his reservations about Yovanovitch. Giuliani has claimed that Yovanovitch was openly critical of the president and was not doing enough to root out corruption in Ukraine. The paper also notes that according to Giuliani, Pompeo asked him if he had written documents. The Journal writes: \" 'God almighty I have a lot of stuff in writing,' Mr. Giuliani said he responded. When Mr. Pompeo urged him not to 'flood' him with information, Mr. Giuliani said he decided to send over a nine-page document, dated March 28, that included allegations of impropriety against Ms. Yovanovitch, including that she was 'very close' to Joe Biden, the former vice president.\" Yovanovitch told lawmakers leading the House impeachment inquiry that she did not \"understand Giuliani's motives for attacking\" her. In her testimony earlier this month, Yovanovitch said she felt \"kneecapped\" for political reasons. \"Shady interests the world over have learned how little it takes to remove an American ambassador who does not give them what they want,\" Yovanovitch said. She added that in late April, she was told to be \"on the next plane\" from Ukraine back to Washington by a top State Department official. She told lawmakers she was informed \"the President no longer wished me to serve as Ambassador to Ukraine.\" Yovanovitch said she was never given a reason but was told she \"had done nothing wrong.\" President Trump sought to have Ukraine launch an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Hunter served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father worked on Ukraine policy during the Obama administration. Trump and his allies have raised questions about Hunter Bide", "Good morning. News from Iran continues to move quickly. Among the developments since we last left you: -- The country's Islamic leadership says it's willing to recount a limited number of ballots from Friday's disputed presidential election. -- According to state media in Iran, seven people were killed in a clash with pro-government militiamen during yesterday's massive protest in Tehran. -- The leading reformist presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has asked his supporters not to rally today, according to the Reuters news agency. While Iran's Interior Ministry says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected by a 2-1 margin, Mousavi says Ahmadinejad and Iran's religious leaders are trying to steal the election. On Morning Edition today, NPR's Mike Shuster reported from Tehran about yesterday's massive rally: Also on Morning Edition, former under secretary of State Nicholas Burns said the Iranian government is \"reeling\" from the protests, but that it's unlikely the ruling clerics will set aside Ahmadinjead's official victory. Burns was a key player in policy toward Iran during the George W. Bush administration: Among other stories about Iran worth checking out: -- The New York Times -- Iran's 'Iron Cleric' Is 'Blinking': Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reversed course and OK'd a review of some votes from the election. \"Few suggest yet that Ayatollah Khamenei's hold on power is at risk. But, analysts say, he has opened a serious fissure in the face of Islamic rule and one that may prove impossible to patch over.\" -- BBC News -- Though A Partial Recount May Be Done, Result Not Likely To Be Annulled: \"The Guardian Council -- Iran's top legislative body -- said votes would be recounted in areas contested by the losing candidates. But a spokesman for the council told state television it would not annul the election -- as moderate candidates have demanded.\" As for some of the other stories making headlines today, they include: -- Fox News -- Cheney Hopes Panetta Was 'Misquoted': \"Dick Cheney says he wants to know if he heard Leon Panetta correctly. After the CIA director apparently told The New Yorker that he thinks the former vice president is crossing his fingers for another attack on America, Cheney said Monday he hopes his 'old friend' didn't really say those words. 'I hope my old friend Leon was misquoted,' Cheney said, in a written statement to FOX News. -- Los Angeles Times -- Letterman Apologizes To Palin: \"Under fire for a risque joke last week, David Letterman has apologized to Gov. Sarah Palin and her supporters. But a group urging CBS to fire the host says it's still not enough.\" On his Late Show last night, Letterman said he \"told a bad joke,\" about one of Palin's daughters. \"I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It's not your fault that it was misunderstood, it's my fault.\" -- Dow Jones Newswire -- Swedish Company Agrees To Buy Saab From GM: \"Swedish boutique supercar maker Koenigsegg Group AB has reached an agreement to acquire General Motors Corp.'s Saab Automobile AB unit for an undisclosed sum, the companies said Tuesday.\"", "Music is an aural medium, but the two musicians represented on this album have careers defined, at least in part, by visuals. Valentina Lisitsa, the 44-year-old Ukrainian-born pianist, revived her stalled career by uploading videos of herself playing Chopin to YouTube. After millions clicked, she landed a record deal. And Michael Nyman, the restlessly inventive British composer, is best known for his dozens of movie scores — chiefly the one he wrote for Jane Campion's Oscar-winning The Piano (1993). That movie casts a spell over Lisitsa's new album, Chasing Pianos, released April 8 and timed to mark the composer's 70th birthday March 23. The cover re-creates the arresting image from the film of a piano set on a barren beach while the album includes solo piano transcriptions from The Piano sprinkled throughout its 25 tracks, all of which are drawn from Nyman film scores. Nyman, a former critic who coined the term \"minimal\" for the steady-state sounds emerging in the late 1960s, made a name for himself composing music for esoteric films by Peter Greenaway (The Draughtsman's Contract, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, Prospero's Books). Blending minimalist techniques with pop sensibility and skillful, hummable melodies, Nyman has been labeled the British Philip Glass — a convenient oversimplification that actually benefits neither composer. The music on Chasing Pianos unfolds like a 78-minute solo piano suite, launched with the rolling, sweepingly romantic arpeggios of \"The Heart Asks Pleasure First,\" the irresistible theme from The Piano. The music covers a broad range of moods and styles. \"Sheep and Tides,\" from Greenaway's Drowning by Numbers — the entire score for which is based on Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante — sports a cheery, lilting, Poulenc-style waltz. \"Why?\" from an animated version of The Diary of Anne Frank is built from a gorgeous pop-like hook Radiohead would be proud to call its own, and \"Diary of Love,\" from Neil Jordan's The End of the Affair, croons like a slow song without words. In Lisitsa's more than capable hands (she's used to playing knuckle-busters by Rachmaninoff and Liszt) Nyman's music shines in all its simple, emotional and propulsive beauty." ]

[ "B'nai Brith" ]

[ "Mean", "organically", "organic", "an organ", "Mean dean", "Mean Girls", "the means test", "No Name", "Russell Means", "Mean Streets", "Little children", "Ways and Means", "Mean queen", "organ grinder", "organized crime", "an organ donor", "Children's Television", "have children", "\"The Happy Organ\"", "Organic chemistry", "Name That Tune", "cybernetic organism", "House organ", "a color organ", "the end justifies the means", "\"Mean Joe\" Greene", "Ways and Means Committee", "Greenwich Mean Time" ]

[ "Zacatecas" ]

[ "Produce", "MoST", "Chili Palmer", "The Producers", "that which burns", "that which purifies", "chili burger", "energy producers", "producer Labrinth", "Mickie Most", "most creative", "that which is heard", "producer and consumer", "to produce electricity", "David Most", "producing offspring", "Don Most", "line producer", "television producer", "chili powder in the eyes", "independent producer", "A traditional producer", "record producer", "Most People Are Good", "the program in which they are enrolled", "at most a constant factor", "executive producer", "A Most Violent Year", "Produce 101", "Ben's Chili Bowl", "to produce their young", "earn the most stars" ]

[ "So this stuff taste great. It feels a lot better mentally knowing that it's a natural product and has roughly the same consistency/viscosity as real sugar/sugar crystals. There is one caveat with this product, you will likely have diarrhea until you get used to it. If you use this for coffee like myself and you like to have that coffee before work or something, i would advise you to use it when you won't have issues with that. Supposedly this will stop once you develop some kind of tolerance, but i can't vouch for that since i've used it for the last few days. Other than that i think this is a great alternative to real sugar and the chemicals in other artificial sweeteners." ]

[ "I absolutely swear by this oil. It tastes great on toast instead of butter and it is wonderful in a stir fry. It is also a great oil for your skin. It is great for the inside and outside. Try it, you will love it.", "I use the hazelnut flavor to make my own coffee syrup. It smells great and tastes great. It's does a great job of saving me money on the syrup I was purchasing at my favorite coffee shop.", "I have ordered arrowroot powder from Barry Farm on previous occasions. Great product, great price and great service from Barry Farm! I use the powder to make a scented body powder. It is luxurious!", "planters daybreak blend berry almond trail mix is a great in between meals snack to stave off hunger. it's also great for busy working people who don't have time for any other sit down snacks. it's also great if you are either trying to lose weight and/or maintain your weight. oh, the best thing about it is that it tastes great !", "True Orange is a great way to add interest to bottled water or tap water. It's good to drink lots of water and this product keeps it from getting boring. Tastes great - and the other flavors, True Lemon, True Lime - they are great, too.", "I adore curry- I even put it in my eggs. This curry powder is great for curried chicken salad. It's a great value with some complex flavors. I love Frontier Spices. Great products- extremely good value!" ]

[ "Scientists have mapped out the visual acuity of roughly 600 animal species, revealing just how differently we all see the world.\nWhile humans aren’t the most advanced when it comes to certain aspects of eyesight, our vision is about seven times sharper than a cat’s, dozens of times sharper than a rat or goldfish, and hundreds of times more precise than a mosquito.\nThe fascinating study shows how particular scenes might look from the eyes of several different species.\nScientists have mapped out the visual acuity of roughly 600 animal species, revealing just how differently we all see the world\nIn the study published to the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, researchers estimated visual acuity – or the sharpness of vision – across hundreds of species based on the anatomy of the animal’s eye.\nCompared to humans, most species ‘see the world with much less detail than we do,’ says lead author Eleanor Caves, a postdoctoral researcher at Duke.\nThe researchers measured cycles per degree, or the number of pairs of black and white lines a species can discern within one degree of the field of vision before it becomes a blur.\nHuman eyes can resolve about 60 cycles per degree, according to the study.\nSome birds of prey, on the other hand, can see as much as 140 cycles per degree. This allows eagles and other predators to pick out small prey from thousands of feet overhead.\nOther birds see less than 30 cycles per degree, as do fish.\n‘The highest acuity in a fish is still only about half as sharp as us,’ says Caves.\nIn the study published to the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution , researchers estimated visual acuity – or the sharpness of vision – across hundreds of species based on the anatomy of the animal’s eye\nWhile humans aren’t the most advanced when it comes to certain aspects of eyesight, our vision is about seven times sharper than a cat’s, dozens of times sharper than a rat or goldfish, and hundreds of times more precise than a mosquito\nImages designed to replicate how animals see the world show just how dramatic these differences are.\nThese were made using a program called AcuityView, which takes a digital photo and strips away the spatial detail based on the animal’s abilities.\nWhile a human with less than 10 cycles per degree is considered legally blind, most insects can only see about one.\nIt’s been proposed that butterflies’ wing patterns may be a way to secure potential mates, in addition to thwarting predators.\nWHAT ARE RODS AND CONES? Most vertebrates, including humans, have two types of visual cells in the retina, called rods and cones. Cones enable us to see color, but they require a lot of light too and so stop working in low-light. In dark conditions, the rods take over so we're still able to seem, but in black and white. The retina contains two different types of visual cells, called rods and cones Signals from the cones are sent to the brain which then translates these messages into the perception of color. Some people can't tell some colors from others - they're color blind. People who are color blind don't have a particular type of cone in the retina or one type of cone may be weak. In the general population, about 8% of all males are color blind and about 0.5% of all females are color blind. Source: University of Washington.\nBut, the research suggests this might not be entirely true.\n‘I don’t actually think butterflies can see them,’ Caves said.\nThe images in the study only represent their visual acuity, the researchers explain, and other factors come into play when the brain is processing visual information.\n‘The point is that researchers who study animal interactions shouldn’t assume that different species perceive detail the same way we do,’ Caves said." ]

[ "A household scene as viewed by various pets and pests. Human eyesight is roughly seven times sharper than a cat, 40 to 60 times sharper than a rat or a goldfish, and hundreds of times sharper than a fly or a mosquito. Credit: Eleanor Caves Compared with many animals, human eyes aren't particularly adept at distinguishing colors or seeing in dim light. But by one measure at least—something called visual acuity—human eyes can see fine details that most animals can't, Duke University researchers say.\nA new study of animal vision compared hundreds of species by the sharpness of their sight.\nIn a paper published in the May 2018 issue of the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, the researchers compiled previously published estimates of visual acuity for roughly 600 species of insects, birds, mammals, fish and other animals.\nAcross the animal kingdom, most species \"see the world with much less detail than we do,\" said first author Eleanor Caves, a postdoctoral researcher at Duke.\nThe study measured acuity in terms of cycles per degree, which is how many pairs of black and white parallel lines a species can discern within one degree of the field of vision before they turn into a smear of gray.\nResearchers can't ask a camel to identify letters on an eye chart. Instead, they estimate visual acuity based on an animal's eye anatomy—such as the spacing and density of light-sensing structures—or using behavioral tests.\nThe limit of detail that human eyes can resolve is about 60 cycles per degree, which helps us make out road signs and recognize faces from afar.\nChimpanzees and other primates can pick out similarly fine patterns.\nA few birds of prey do better. For instance, the wedge-tailed eagle of Australia can see 140 cycles per degree, more than twice the limit of human visual acuity. Eagles can spot something as small as a rabbit while flying thousands of feet above the ground.\nThe image on the left shows the wings of a map butterfly as they might look to a jay looking for a snack, and on the right, to another member of its kind, such as a rival or potential mate. Credit: Eleanor Caves\nBut apart from some eagles, vultures and falcons, the results show that most birds see fewer than 30 cycles per degree—less than half as much detail as humans.\nThe same goes for fish. \"The highest acuity in a fish is still only about half as sharp as us,\" Caves said.\nHumans can resolve four to seven times more detail than dogs and cats, and more than a hundred times more than a mouse or a fruit fly.\nA person who sees less than 10 cycles per degree is considered legally blind. Most insects, it turns out, can't see more than one.\nOverall, the researchers found a 10,000-fold difference between the most sharp-sighted and the most blurry-eyed species.\nThe researchers also created a series of images showing how different scenes might appear to animals with different acuities, using a software package they developed called AcuityView. The software takes a digital photo and strips away all the spatial detail that may be too fine for a given animal to distinguish.\nThe converted images reveal animal patterns that, while easy for some species to see, may be imperceptible to others, or only recognizable from a short distance.\nTake the patterns on a butterfly's wing. Scientists have debated the function of their spots, stripes and splotches.\nOne common assumption is that they warn birds and other predators to stay away. It has also been proposed that they help butterflies check out or seduce potential mates.\nSpider web as seen in bird vision (left), and fly vision (right). The zigzags on the spider's web send a secret message to birds that their insect prey can't see, even from less than a foot away. Credit: Eleanor Caves\nThe researchers determined that the wing patterns of, say, the map butterfly may be apparent to many birds, but to others of their kind their wing patterns are likely a blur, even from just a few inches away.\n\"I don't actually think butterflies can see them,\" Caves said.\nSome animals may use such differences in acuity to send secret messages that sharper-sighted species can read but others can't, Caves said.\nFor instance, orb-weaver spiders decorate their webs with white silk zigzags, spirals and other designs whose function has been debated.\nOne theory is that they keep larger animals from accidentally colliding with their delicate webs, like the window stickers used to keep birds from flying into the glass. Another idea is that they lure insect prey.\nBut images of spider web decorations as they might appear to different species suggest that, while birds can spot them from as far away as six feet, they are virtually invisible to house flies and other small insects that might blunder into the spider's sticky traps.\nIt seems the decorations help spiders alert birds to webs that might be in their flight path, without blowing their cover with the creatures they might be trying to catch for lunch.\nThe converted images the team produced don't represent what animals actually see, the researchers caution. That's because while the eyes take in visual information, the brain must make sense of it.\nIt is likely that certain things may be sharper or easier to detect thanks to edge enhancement and other forms of \"post-processing\" that occur once the visual information is relayed to the brain, Caves said. But the software gives researchers a sense of what visual information the brain has to work with.\n\"The point is that researchers who study animal interactions shouldn't assume that different species perceive detail the same way we do,\" Caves said.\nExplore further: Archerfish get an eye test (w/ video)\nMore information: Eleanor M. Caves et al, Visual Acuity and the Evolution of Signals, Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.001", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe See our privacy notice Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAnimals around Britain are being celebrated for their bravery, dedication and resilience with a prestigious award ceremony and pet lovers can now nominate their local hero.\nThe sixth Animal Hero Awards celebrates the most inspiring pets and wildlife alongside individuals and teams who have shown outstanding commitment to improving their lives.\nThe categories this year include Special Recognition, Young Animal Hero, RSPCA Superstar, Conservationist of the Year, Animal Rescue, Services to Wildlife, Hero Animal and Inspirational Animal.\nWinners will be chosen by a judging panel from a shortlist drawn from all the nominations received.\n(Image: Daily Mirror)\nThey will then attend a star-studded ceremony hosted by Amanda Holden in London on Thursday 6th September.\nPrevious winners Storm Burgess, a 12-year-old who raised £12,000 for 16 animal charities in the past two years despite suffering with her own health problems and PD Finn, the police dog who nearly died after he was stabbed by an armed robber.\nFinn’s Law – draft legislation that would have stopped people who attack police dogs claiming self-defence - was blocked by Tory MP Christopher Chope earlier in the year, but last week it received the government's backing to help make it become law.\nAnother of last year's highlights was Emerald, a neglected horse who was so close to death she couldn't stand, but is now the picture of health thanks to the team at Bransby Horses in Lincolnshire.\nOur sister title The Mirror is teaming up with pet food, treats and toys brand, Webbox and the UK’s leading animal charity, the RSPCA, to pick the most inspiring stories from the animal world.\nBack to host the Awards for the sixth year running, Amanda Holden said: “I love these awards, and I’m thrilled to be coming back to host them again this year.\n\"The stories of the people who dedicate themselves to animal welfare, and the courage of the animals themselves, is absolutely inspirational. And of course we want people to tell us about them, so I’d urge everyone to nominate their Animal Heroes today.”\nTony Raeburn, CEO of Pets Choice, the brand owner of Webbox said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce our new partnership with the Animal Hero Awards.\n\"The awards recognise the everyday heroes that work tirelessly to help our nation of animals, and we look forward to supporting something so close to our hearts.”\n(Image: Daily Mirror)\nChris Wainwright, Deputy Chief Executive RSPCA, said: \"The Animal Hero Awards are a truly humbling celebration of how fortunate we are to share our lives with animals. They can be our best friends, our protectors, our work partners, our lifesavers and our inspiration to strive for better.\n\"The RSPCA is excited to be part of such a wonderfully moving event and we are looking forward to seeing the nominations come flooding in.\"\nIf you think your pet or someone you know deserves to be recognised, you can nominate them online at www.animalheroawards.co.uk\nNominations close on Sunday 15th July.", "The popular Pets’ Corner in Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen has recorded its highest visitor numbers after a £750,000 renovation and two new baby meerkat residents were introduced to the facility.\nNumbers of people visiting Pets’ Corner in July 2017 were 24,971, compared to 8,300 for July 2016 and the total for 2016 (January to October) was 45,434. And, Saturday, July 8, had the highest number of visitors the facility has ever had in one day - 1,640.\nAberdeen City Council communities, housing and infrastructure convener Councillor Yvonne Allan said the renovation which was finished at the end of June and the two new furry friends introduced on July 7 have proved the attraction has been made even more popular.\nShe said: “The number of extra people is fantastic coming to see the meerkats and the £750,000 renovations and I’m sure visitors from both near and far have enjoyed the new facilities and residents.\n“Pets’ Corner has been popular with families for years and the refurbishments and new additions have made it a really exciting place to go for people of all ages, particularly in the beautiful setting of Hazlehead Park.\n“We hope more new visitors come to Pets’ Corner to see all the attractions.”\nOther animal attractions at Pets’ Corner include alpacas, kune kune pigs, geese, turkey, chickens, sheep, goats, Shetland pony, miniature donkeys, fish, reptiles, budgies, ducks, finches, chipmunks, guinea fowl, ferrets, rabbits, chinchilla, guinea pigs and Vadar the albino Burmese python.\nGethin the pygmy goat was a new arrival last July and has proved a popular attraction for both young and old alike.\nDonald Shaw, chairman of Friends of Hazlehead Park charity group which works with Aberdeen City Council to improve the facilities at the park and promote its attractions, said: “One of our top priorities was to modernise and improve Pets’ Corner and further transform it into an interpretive/educational centre for the city and shire. We’ve worked tirelessly with the City Council over the past five years to make this happen.\n“It’s fantastic, the work to the aquarium and reptile section is now finished and the interpretation centre in extended Pets’ Corner will be fully opened shortly providing a boost to the park which will give people, and particularly families, a great reason to visit the area and see for themselves all the fantastic facilities and animals there are.\n“We are really delighted with the finished facility. The huge interest and support shown by the public has been brilliant and is testament to vision of this investment.\"\nThe summer opening hours for Pets’ Corner are every day from 10am to 5.30pm", "Get politics updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nComedy star and passionate animal welfare campaigner Ricky Gervais is backing the Mirror's campaign to help puppies and dogs.\nCalled Lucy's Law , the campaign is demanding a ban on puppy sales by pet shops and other dealers, a trade which supports horrific commercial dog breeding farms.\nRicky wants anyone thinking of getting a dog to consider saving one from a rescue centre.\n“This weekend plan a visit to your local rescue shelter, where your new best friend is waiting for you,” he has Tweeted to his 13 million followers, adding #LucysLaw.\n(Image: Daily Mirror)\nThe comedy legend has been travelling the world with his Humanity tour which has featured 100 performances in 40 cities, and his intervention is a powerful boost for Lucy's Law.\nIt was launched in Parliament in December and has support from MPs from all parties and numerous animal charities from grass roots volunteers to big names such as the RSPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare .\nIt was founded by Brighton vet Marc Abraham, who has long called for families wanting a dog to adopt from a rescue centre rather than buy from a pet shop or other third party dealer.\n(Image: Daily Mirror)\nHe said it was a myth that rescue dogs are problematic, most are just “unlucky”, being abandoned because their owners have died or otherwise become unable to look after them.\n“Go to a rescue centre,” he urges.\n“5,000 healthy dogs are put down every year because they cannot be re-homed.\n“As a nation of animal lovers we should be disgusted that we allow this to happen.”\nLucy's Law is named after a remarkable Cavalier Spaniel called Lucy who rescued from a Welsh puppy farm and became a celebrity in her own right on social media before her death more than a year ago.\nIf passed, puppies will only be allowed to be sold if they are present with their mothers, or in rescue shelters. This will effectively put out of business the squalid large scale commercial puppy farmers who operate behind closed doors.\n\"It’s never appropriate to sell a puppy without its mum, unless it is adoption from a rescue centre,” said Marc Abraham.\n“The advice of the Government and every vet is that if you take a puppy away from its mum it will be immediately detrimental to its welfare.\n“That puppy will be a timebomb of behavioural and medical problems. If it lives it can cost the new owner hundreds if not thousands of pounds, and some of these problems like nervous aggression are life-long.”\nRicky's support for Lucy's Law is no surprise, given his incredible track record of forthright attacks on animal abusers.\n(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)\nIn 2015 he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution honour at the Daily Mirror’s Animal Hero Awards, saying that the sickening videos of dolphin cruelty and bullfighting that were shown at the ceremony made him so angry it reduced him to tears.\nHe said: “The Mirror are the best at tackling animal cruelty.”\nHere are some of his powerful animal Tweets.\n\"A matador being killed by a bull is not the tragic bit. Torturing the bull for fun in the first place is the tragic bit.\"\n\"How weird will we seem to future generations for enslaving dolphins, torturing bulls, and wiping out rhinos for fake medicine?\"\n\"Trophy Hunting, poaching, dog torture festivals...it seems like a losing battle. But let's fight it any way.\"\n\"It's misleading to call Yulin a Dog Meat Festival. It should be called a Dog Torture Festival. Because that's what it is.\"\n\"'It is better to smash a dog torturer's face in with a f*****g hammer than to let that dog be tortured' - Old Chinese Proverb.\"\n\"What must've happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling?\"\n\"Well done. You managed to shoot a stationery, 14 foot peaceful creature with a high velocity rifle. Very sporting.\"\n\"The West African Black Rhino has been officially declared extinct. It was hunted for its horn. Shame on our species.\"\nThese psycho trophy hunters always have stuff about their family being everything to them on their profiles. Elephants love their family too.\n\"The only way Fox Hunting would count as vermin control is if the posh twats fell off their horses and broke their necks. #KeepTheBan\"", "Cleo, the Siamese cat, seeks a new domicile: Weekly Pet Adoption\nCleo is a female Siamese Tortoiseshell mix and on the small side. She’s approximately a year and a half old. She’s very friendly, loves people and other animals, and is very vocal. As with typical Siamese cats, she is social and wants to be involved in everything.\nClick on photo for larger image\nBeautiful, blue-eyed Cleo needs a new home\nHere’s how the adoption process works:\nAnimals are available only by application. If you are interested in an animal, you must complete an application in person at the shelter. The application form asks such things as your reasons for adoption, your previous animal ownership, current pets, and the environment the animal will share with you.\nAfter you apply, there is a waiting period. During this waiting period, the adoption committee reviews all applications submitted for the animal. Decisions are made according to the best interest of each animal.\nThey encourage all household members to meet the prospective pet.\nAdoption decisions are made semi-weekly on Wed and Sat after the animal is released from any medical hold.\nThe fee for cat adoption is $85. The following services are included with each cat or kitten adoption: Veterinarian exam, 2 FVRCP vaccines, 1 rabies vaccine, Felv/Fiv test and first vaccine, 4 intestinal wormings, flea baths, neuter/spay, microchip implant, and any medical treatments required while at the shelter.\nAll cats adopted must leave in a carrier (your carrier or one purchased for a small fee at the shelter).\nThe LB Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd, (949) 497-3552, or go to the website www.puplagunabeach.org/our-pets.php.", "F ourth of July can be one big, day-long celebration of our nation’s birthday with picnics, barbecues, backyard get-togethers and much more all capped off with a booming display of fireworks. Fido might have a great time at these celebrations, but come the fireworks, Fido can get terrified and escape.\nAnd that’s the end of the party as far as Fido and other dogs are concerned.\n“Dogs can panic and they’ll do anything to escape the noise,” County Animal Services Director Daniel DeSousa said. “That includes digging under, climbing over or even breaking through gates, screens, fences, windows and doors.”\nAs dogs run headlong away from fireworks’ screaming whistles, thunderous booms and bright colors lighting up the night sky, they risk being hit by a car, getting hurt by other animals or becoming lost. Dozens of dogs end up at the County shelters every year.\nSome are quickly reunited with their owners because the dogs were licensed and microchipped. Residents in the unincorporated areas can get their dogs microchipped from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3 at the County’s two shelters in Carlsbad and Bonita. The cost is $10.\nCounty Animal Services no longer serves residents in the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Santee and Solana Beach because contracts with those cities ended June 30. Residents in those cities with animal-related issues can contact the San Diego Humane Society.\nAnimal Services also recommends that you register your dog with Finding Rover before the fireworks. The free facial recognition app matches dogs’ faces with those that have been lost or found. One time, the app found a dog within five minutes!\nHere are some additional tips on how to protect your pet this Fourth of July:\nStay home with your dogs.\nAvoid taking your pet to fireworks displays. Keep your pets indoors in a sheltered, quiet area.\nSome dogs become destructive when frightened so remove dangerous objects your pet may chew. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company while you’re away.\nNever leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard. In their fear, pets that normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and get lost.\nIf you know your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult your veterinarian to see if anxiety-relieving medication is appropriate.\nDo not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects, even death, within minutes.\nWith only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects, even death, within minutes. If you are walking your dog near fireworks displays, be sure your pet is secured on a leash in case it tries to bolt.\nIf you find a lost pet in the unincorporated area of the County after the fireworks, call County Animal Services’ 24-hour emergency dispatch number at (619) 236-2341 so the animal can be cared for at the shelter. If you lose your pet, check the department’s lost and found page online and Finding Rover.\nIf you see your dog is at County Animal Services, you can pick up your pet starting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 5.", "You’re certainly not alone if you think that two pets are better than one, but bringing home a new pet doesn’t always go smoothly when there’s another animal already in the house.\nIntroducing your new pet to resident pets that have already been in your life can be a tricky process, one that’s going to require some patience, according to guidelines from several animal welfare groups. They and experts say pets can be territorial, defensive, attached to the hierarchies they know or temperamentally different.\nYou may want to make the introduction over a long holiday weekend or even take some time off work to ensure that your new friend gets along with other furry family members before leaving them alone together, according to Kenny Lamberti, acting vice president for companion animals at the Humane Society of the United States. And be aware that pets need some private space to take a break by themselves.\nBut the best way of ensuring that all-important introduction goes smoothly comes even before you find the new pet, according to Lamberti. Telling a shelter worker about the kind of pet you already have, like a picky pooch or a clingy cat, will help them figure out which animals to show you.\n“I think of it like match.com for the pet. The more information you can go with to wherever you’re acquiring your new pet can help minimize the possibility of it not going well,” he said.\nOnce you do find a new pet and get them in the car, you may not want to head straight home, at least with a new dog. It’s often recommended that you introduce them outside of the home, on neutral ground. And no matter what animal you bring home, get ready for what might be a dayslong process.\n“The one really important rule is you want to spend as much time … before you start leaving them to themselves. You want to ease into that,” Lamberti said.\nThe Humane Society’s detailed guidelines for introducing a new dog to an old one boil down to do it on neutral territory, watch their body language, go at their speed and keep a close eye on them at home, reinforcing positive interactions with treats. Read more.\nPAWS, the animal advocacy group, breaks down the neutral territory meeting further, suggesting using positive reinforcement and watching body postures in case you need to intervene. Read more.\nFor cats, the Humane Society recommends having realistic expectations — they just may not get along — keeping the new cat in confinement for a few days while introducing the cats’ smells to one another before a face-to-face meeting. Read more.\nIntroducing a dog and a cat? The Animal Humane Society recommends these steps: Separate the animals at first, feeding them on either side of a closed door before starting to introduce them in a place that neither considers its sanctuary area and go through those face-to-face sessions before leaving them alone together. Read more.\nShould something go wrong and the animals aren’t getting along, bring in a trained behaviorist or trainer to facilitate, Lamberti said. You may also have to adjust your own house rules, too.\n“The process can take a few days to several months, and as much as owners can consult trusted professionals like their veterinarians and trainers, the smoother the process should go,” said Bob Vetere, chairman of the Pet Leadership Council.\nBut don’t lose hope! Vetere took the recent movie “The Secret Life of Pets” as an example. (Disclosure: the move was produced by Universal Pictures, whose parent company NBCUniversal owns this station.)\n“Max was none too pleased about his new ‘brother’ Duke’s arrival at first, but eventually they become the best of friends,” he said. “While understandably life isn’t always like a blockbuster movie, this does happen often and things can get better with patience and persistence.”\nIf it all sounds daunting, remember that there are plenty of rewards for getting through it — and not just for you.\nLamberti has owned several dogs and fostered more, he said. His current dog is “an old man” now at 14, but when he’d hit middle age, a foster dog Lamberti brought home made him feel like a puppy again.\n“It kind of invigorated my dog, it gave him a play partner. He got this spark of youthful exuberance,” he said.\nPhoto Credit: Getty Images", "Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi had to evacuate their pets from their Californian home after raging wildfires threatened to destroy it.\nThe talk show host revealed the couple have removed their animals from their $18.6 million beachfront Santa Barbara house after The Thomas Fire, one of the blazes scorching California, neared their plush pad.\nEllen wrote on Twitter: \"Our house is under threat of being burned. We just had to evacuate our pets. I'm praying for everyone in our community and thankful to all the incredible firefighters. (sic)\"\nBut the 'Ellen Show' presenter admitted she was \"proud\" to be part of the community after seeing everyone come together at such a scary time, and she praised the firefighters for their efforts.\nShe tweeted: \"Everyone in the Montecito area is checking up on each other and helping to get people and animals to safety. I'm proud to be a part of this community. I'm sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs. Thank you all. #ThomasFire (sic)\"\nThe Thomas Fire has scorched more than 200,000 acres in the Santa Barbara area and more than 88,000 people have had to evacuate, with 85,000 without power.\nAround 4,000 firefighters have been deployed to deal with the blaze.\nLast week, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency as wildfires ripped through California.\nHe told CBS News: \"These fires are unprecedented. We've never seen anything like it. Scientists are telling us, 'This is the kind of stuff that's gonna happen.' And we gotta deal with it.\"", "Now that you've locked down your job and found a sweet place to live, you may be thinking it's time to start a family. No, not that kind of family. We're talking about becoming a proud pet parent.\nAmong Americans in their 30s, three out of four have a dog compared with just half of the U.S. population as a whole, according to a Mintel survey. Cats are popular too, with just over half of all thirtysomethings saying they share their home with a feline companion.\nBut before you head to the pet shelter and fall in love with the mutt of your dreams, you might want to consider the costs of pet ownership.\nEven if you opt for a rescue pet over a pure breed, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that your first-year total costs will run anywhere from $1,471 to $2,008 for a dog — to $1,174 for a cat.\nOuch.\nAnd that's just for the basics like food, kitty litter, grooming supplies and spaying and neutering fees. Add in extras like pet boarding and cat sitting while you're on vacation, and you could wind up paying hundreds more a year.\nStart with the upfront adoption costs.\nAdopting a rescue pet costs anywhere from $25 to $300, Money reports. Younger animals, including kittens and puppies, are in higher demand than older animals and tend to more expensive as are breed-specific rescues.\nIf you buy from a breeder, expect to spend much more. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, for example, runs anywhere from $1,800 to $3,500, according to Forever Guardians of the Cavalier. A Russian Blue cat, on the other hand, will set you back anywhere from $400 to $600, according to Cat Breed List.\nTo find out how much the animal you are interested in might cost just to bring home, contact your local pet shelter or email owners on PetFinder.\nMake sure your pet is spayed or neutered and has all the right shots.\nAdorable kitty eyes and sweet puppy breath can be really tempting, but younger animals typically come with a lot of extra expenses.\nSome shelters and rescue groups won't release a pet to its new owners unless the animal has been spayed or neutered, or unless the owner signs a contract to get the animal fixed. Breeders may also require you spay or neuter your pets so you don't become a competitor.\nPetfinder indicates spay and neuter surgeries typically cost around $200. However, you can sometimes find low-cost spay and neuter clinics. The ASPCA has a database to find a clinic in your area.\nWhile going to a clinic can lower your cost, spaying and neutering is still an operation. You are going to have to pay for a doctor's time, anesthesia and other basic fees, like the cost of a cone so your pet does not chew the stitches. Shop around in your area, as costs can vary significantly.\nA kitten can be costly. Source: The Len/Shutterstock.com\nYoung pets also need an initial series of vaccinations. You can expect to spend around $70 for a dog, and $130 for a cat, including rabies vaccine, according to ASPCA estimates.\nWhile you can find low-cost vaccination clinics in most areas, be sure your pet is vaccinated by someone who is licensed and can give you the proper tags and certifications.\nSpeaking of licensing, you may also need to get a license for your pet, depending on the state where you live. Expect to spend $10 to $20.\nMaking your animal feel at home.\nBefore you bring you even bring your animal in the door, you'll need a few supplies, like a carrier or crate ($5 - $90), a kitty litter box ($5 - $35), cat litter ($10 for a 25-lb. bag) and a leash and collar for a dog ($5 - $25). And of course pet food, which will set you back anywhere from $200 to $400 a year.\nYou'll need all that at the bare minimum. But you may also spring for a pet bed ($10 - $100), toys ($1 - $45 each), a scratching post for a cat ($15 - $125) and a trainer's time to help your new pup behave ($30- $100/hr).\nEven brushes can be expensive, ranging from around $8 for a simple cat comb to around $42.99 for a Furminator de-shedding tool.\nDog treat cost Source: Edgar Bullon/Shutterstock.com\nOf course, these prices are subject to change — and may vary depending on where you live. But it all adds up.\nRoutine care to keep your pooch or cat healthy and happy.\nBut wait, there's more! Routine checkups can help nip health problems in the bud and extend your pet's life.\nThe American Kennel Club warns you will spend around $650 per year on vet visits, if your pet suffers an average of one serious illness annually. Cats are cheaper, with annual costs for routine exams estimated at around $150. Costs tend to be higher for older pets.\nA heartworm test is usually part of your pet’s annual exam. If it’s negative, you’ll pay anywhere from $25 to $60. If it comes out positive, you’ll pay as much as $300 to $350 for lab tests and radiographs.\nPet insurance will protect your pet (and your wallet) from big medical expenses. The ASPCA estimates these costs at $175 to $225 per year, depending on your pet's age and the insurance you get.\nDogs cost money too Source: agrofruti/Shutterstock.com\nShould you take the leap?\nIt's hard to put a price on pet ownership when puppy kisses and kitty purrs are priceless. Still, you don't want to take on the costs of pet care if you can't commit or if your pet will prevent you from being financially secure.\nSo do the math before you make the leap.\nAs any pet owner will tell you, chances are you'll be more than happy to pay for your pet — even if you wind up spending more than you imagined.\nFeb. 14, 2017, 1:00 p.m. Eastern: This story has been updated.\nSign up for The Payoff — your weekly crash course on how to live your best financial life. Additionally, for all your burning money questions, check out Mic’s credit, savings, career, investing and health care hubs for more information — that pays off.", "Women in the Pet Industry Network Award Co-Founder of Dog is Good, Gila Kurtz with their annual Woman of the Year Award\nGila Kurtz\nContact\nBeke Lubeach\n***@dogbonemarketing.com Beke Lubeach\nEnd\n-- Gila Kurtz, co-founder of Dog is Good, located in Los Alamitos, CA, is the winner in the fifth annual Pet Industry Woman of the Year Award competition.Kurtz, who has been in business for almost 10 years, was nominated in the Corporate Category, which she won before going on to win the overall title. The other award categories are Solopreneur, Entrepreneur, Advocate, and Rising Star.A panel of four independent judges reviewed and scored nominations for applicants in the five categories. This year's judges included a director of a non- profit organization, a founder of a successful pet organization, a COO of a design firm, and a director of a top women's scholarship organization.\"The Pet Industry Women of the Year Awards were designed to recognize the amazing women who dedicate their time and talents to improving the lives of all pets – dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses and exotics – and their parents/guardians,\"said Shawna Schuh, president of WIPIN. \"These awards are a celebration of women who have made highly successful careers in the pet industry: They shine in large part because they are so passionate about helping women as well as pets. Gila Kurtz is a perfect example! It is exciting to honor her and other women with a genuine calling to make the pet industry stronger.\"Gila has helped to expand the mission of Dog is Good from being a gift and apparel business to an international pet lover brand through the publication of her book \"Fur Covered Wisdom, A Dog Can Change The Way You See The World\" and as a featured speaker at various pet industry and women focused conferences. In honor of winning the award, Gila has made her book available to download for free. Please visit: https://www.dogisgood.com/ freefurcoveredwisdom to download your copy.\"I am humbled and honored to receive this award among other amazing women being recognized for their achievements in business. Entrepreneurship is a journey in which one does not walk alone. I am grateful for an outstanding business partner (also my husband) and an amazing team who have all helped to take my vision to make a difference in the lives of dogs and their people,\" said Gila Kurtz.Located in Los Alamitos, CA, Dog is Good sells wholesale and retail, and licenses the brand to numerous manufacturers in the pet, gift and home decor industries. Their products are renowned for their clever and poignant sentiments, which appeal strongly to dog lovers worldwide. Primarily still known for their award-winning apparel line, the brand is quickly becoming widely recognized in the pet, gift and home decor markets. Dog is Good has developed a reputation for generously giving back to animal welfare wcj organizations throughout the United States. For further information about Dog is Good, visit http://www.dogisgood.com or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.WIPIN is an international membership networking organization where more than 300 pet professionals gather to grow, give and connect. WIPIN is the only organization serving professionals in ALL segments of the pet industry, as well as ALL types of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, small animals, pocket pets, horses and exotics.WIPIN members share three core philosophies:Give first, grow continuously and connect for reasons that matter. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member at www.womeninthepetindustry.com/join/. For more information, please visit www.womeninthepetindustry.com, or contact Schuh at 503-970-5774;[email protected].", "BY LANDON WOODROOF\nThey skulk around at dusk, peering for prey wherever they can find it, in forests, open fields, city streets or maybe even your own back yard.\nFor many Williamson County residents coyotes are nothing new. In fact, for most in Middle Tennessee residents, sightings are nothing new. Even those who have never encountered one on an evening stroll or when letting their dog out at night, may have heard the animal’s distinctive cry from afar.\nHowever, their presence still unnerves many for whom the idea of coyotes in a suburban environment just seems out of place. The animals seem more fit for wide western expanses than they do fenced, one-acre lots.\nYet Brentwood has plenty of coyotes and that means plenty of interactions involving humans or pets. In recent months, local social media has carried reports of several such interactions, which range from mere sightings to a story about a homeowner finding two coyotes munching on a deer carcass in her yard.\nThese reports have led to some speculation that coyote sightings are up in the area or that coyotes have become bolder or more vicious. While there are conflicting reports about just how much more prevalent coyotes are around town, several experts agree that coyotes are simply a fact of life in Brentwood and throughout the state. Although they can not be completely avoided, there are steps that citizens can take to limit unwanted encounters with the critters.\nIt is first important to understand why coyotes hang out where they do. Despite persistent popular images of coyotes braying beneath a desert moon, they are at home in suburbia because of the abundance of food options available for them.\n“A coyote is very adaptable to different habitats,” Barry Cross, the Region II information and education coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, said. “Especially if there’s available food. If a neighborhood’s having trouble it’s likely they’re in wooded areas, or it could be these animals have found food in the neighborhood whether it be other wild animals or trash or somebody’s leaving pet food out.”\nCoyotes are opportunistic feeders and the more opportunity they can find the better it is for them.\n“A coyote has to hunt for its food,” Cross said. “That’s not easy. It takes a lot of work. But if somebody leaves food out or trash they can get into, that’s an easy meal.”\nCoyotes have not always been in the region. A publication by the TWRA says the animals really only moved into Tennessee from western states in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was even later before they got to the Middle Tennessee area.\n“They weren’t a native animal 35 or 40 years ago,” Cross said. “They migrated in much like the armadillos.”\nJ.J. Wegner, an animal control officer with the Williamson County Animal Center, said the center has not really seen an increase in call volume around coyotes this year, but that they do not track that information since they forward calls about nuisance animals to the TWRA.\nThe TWRA website, though, does state that coyotes are seen more and more in Tennessee these days. They attribute that fact to the encroachment of development into rural areas where coyotes may previously have lived as well as to the availability of food in a more population-rich vicinity.\nAs far as the threat they pose, coyotes are mostly only dangerous to smaller wild animals or pets.\n“I am not aware of an attack by a coyote on a human in the 29 years I have worked for the city,” Brentwood Police Department Assistant Chief Thomas Walsh wrote in an email. “There have been cases where a coyote has attacked a pet, and they certainly prey on other animals in the wild, but by following a few simple steps residents are unlikely to see or encounter a coyote.”\nHunting is the the only widespread means of controlling coyotes in Tennessee, Cross said. Unlike with some species, there is no hunting season for coyotes. The state considers them to fair game all year-round.\nBrentwood has an ordinance that puts strict rules on weapon use in the city, though. City ordinance 42-161(c) states that firearms and any other weapons can only legally be discharged “on generally vacant, undeveloped land exceeding five acres in size” or “at a minimum distance of 400 feet from any public road right-of-way or adjacent property.” Even when those conditions are met, the city only allows shotguns to be fired.\nOf course, even if the city did not have those rules, the notion of suburban hunting raises obvious safety concerns.\n“In most cases it is more dangerous to the public to fire a weapon to attempt to kill a wild animal than the danger associated with the animal itself,” Walsh stated.\nWalsh also stressed that just because you see a coyote does not mean you should contact the authorities about it. If the animal is injured or seems unusually aggressive, however, Walsh said it was a good idea to alert police and they would respond to the situation.\nLast week the city of Brentwood published a list of things residents can do to make their homes and neighborhoods less attractive to coyotes. The list includes such advice as “Keep garbage in tight fitting containers” and “Do not over feed birds, as birdseed attract small animals like rodents, which in turn attract the coyotes.”\nKeeping coyotes away from food was the main thing Cross recommended as well.\n“If those animals are continuously coming around, they’re finding food,” he said.\nIf residents have noticed coyotes around their homes, they need to take precautions to ensure their pets’ safety as well.\n“If you’ve got small animals and you want to let them out unattended they need to be in a secured area that wild animals can’t get to,” he said. “A coyote’s not gonna make a distinction between pet and food.”\nCross also recommends trying to keep coyotes uncomfortable around humans. He said coyotes naturally should be afraid of humans, but that close contact over a number of years has made them more comfortable. As a result, if coyotes seem to be lurking around the same places, he suggests banging pots and pans when you see them or yelling at them in an attempt to drive them off.\nThat might not always work, though, and in those cases both Cross and Walsh agree on what to do.\n“If I was going to recommend anything, if a neighborhood was having trouble and wanted to do something about it, and it’s not feasible to hunt, then contact a professional contractor who will come out and trap animals,” Cross said.\nA quick online search turns up a number of such companies in the area. One of those companies that serves the Brentwood area is Animal Pros, owned by Ryan Hall.\nHall said calls about coyotes who do not seem to respond to scare tactics are a regular part of his business.\n“It’s a pretty common call,” he said. “It happens a lot more than you would realize.”\nAnimal Pros typically removes coyotes from an area using custom traps that keep the coyote in one place without injuring it. That way the traps are safe for use in areas with pets and humans around. Trapped coyotes are later euthanized, though, Hall said.\nAs Hall explained, though, traps are not the first step in dealing with a customer’s call about a coyote.\n“We bring realistic expectations to coyote control,” Hall said. “Just because somebody encounters a problem we don’t automatically go out there and set traps.” Instead, Hall said they will often set up a camera on someone’s property for a period of time to determine how often coyotes are passing through the area, how many coyotes are coming through and when they are coming through. Hall said that information can help a client better determine whether they want to spend the money to trap an animal.\nEven then, Hall readily admitted there is only so much his company, or any company, can do about coyotes.\nAgain, Hall said he stresses realistic outcomes with his clients, telling them that Animal Pros cannot simply “come in there and wipe all the coyotes out.”\n“I can tell you realistically that’s not gonna happen,” he said. “There’s no way anybody’s gonna go in there and wipe them all out.”\nFrom his experience, though, it is not uncommon for people to have trouble with a “problem” coyote, a loner perhaps who is unusually lackadaisical when it comes to encountering people. In those instances, removing just one coyote can solve a homeowner’s problems, Hall said.", "Get Manchester United FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nThis huge hospital for pets could soon be built in Manchester .\nThousands of animals would be cared for at the £2.4m ‘Pet Wellbeing Centre’ in Gorton .\nThe People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) charity, celebrating its centenary year, has outgrown its current premises in Old Trafford .\nVets and nurses treat nearly 12,000 pets a year at the site.\nStaff deal with everything from emergency life-saving surgery to routine vaccinations and dental operations. After 40 years of treating sick and injured pets, the hospital, on Warwick Road South, has reached ‘breaking point’.\nVet Fiona Buchan said: “Our pet hospital is a vital lifeline for local owners struggling to provide vet care for their pets.\n“For many of the people we help their pet is their only companion: we help keep these families together.\n“As much as we love it, this building is too old. It’s been patched up over the years but now struggles to cope with the number of pet patients who need us. It desperately needs replacing, and to do that we need your help.”\n(Image: Julian Brown for the PDSA)\nThe charity is hoping to begin building work on the new facility by the end of 2018 - and open it by summer 2019.\nIt will feature a bigger waiting room with separate areas for cats and dogs.\nIt will also house improved kennel facilities - to allow pets to recover quicker from surgery and treatment in a better environment - a diagnostic room and digital x-ray facilities.\n“It will enable us to provide the best treatment possible to pet patients, in state-of-the-art surroundings, long into the future,” Fiona added.\n“It will give us more consulting rooms, two operating theatres and a specialist dental theatre, meaning we have more capacity to help pets in need.\n“It will also allow us to do more than just treat animals – we want it to become the heart of the Manchester pet community. Somewhere people can get advice and guidance on how to keep their best friends happy and healthy.”\nThe PDSA provides free and cheap veterinary services to the pets of people in need or on benefits.\nGot a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing [email protected], calling us on 0161 211 2323, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page . You can also send us a story tip using the form here .", "Today marks the 30th anniversary of the GIF, and in celebration, Facebook is introducing a new feature.\nFacebook users can now send GIFs in comments directly from a button, allowing them to send an animated image when they just can't find the words.\nAs part of the celebrations, the social media firm is also releasing a poll asking users to answer one of the longest-standing questions in the technology world – how do you pronounce GIF?\nScroll down for video\nFacebook users can now send GIFs in comments directly from a button, allowing you to send an animated image when you just can't find the words\nHOW TO ADD A GIF INTO A COMMENT To add a GIF into your comment, just tap the GIF button in the comment bar. You can then type in what you're looking to say and pick the perfect GIF.\nSince 2015, users have been able to send GIFs in comments by copying and pasting the URL of a GIF from an external website.\nBut Facebook hopes that by adding a GIF button directly into the comment bar, it will encourage more people to reply with animated images.\nIn a blog introducing the feature, Facebook said: 'Today we're introducing the ability to add GIFs in comments for all people on Facebook globally.\n'Just tap the GIF button when you go to make a comment, type in what you're looking to say, and add the GIF that really nails it!'\nGIFs were introduced to Facebook Messenger in 2015, and since, people have sent nearly 25,000 GIFs every minute.\nAnd in the past year, GIF sends on Messenger tripled to nearly 13 billion.\nFacebook is also introducing 20 GIFs featuring some of the internet's most recognisable faces, including DNCE, Logan Paul and Landon Moss (pictured)\nGIFS ON MESSENGER - AN INSIDE LOOK Facebook has released statistics on GIF use on Messenger, which has been available since 2015: - People on Messenger sent nearly 13 billion GIFs in the last year, or nearly 25,000 GIFs every minute - GIF sends on Messenger have tripled in the past year - New Year’s Day 2017 was the most popular day ever for GIF sends on Messenger, with more than 400 million GIF sends\nFacebook is also introducing 20 GIFs featuring some of the internet's most recognisable faces, including DNCE, Logan Paul and Landon Moss.\nFacebook said: 'Each GIF is a unique and shareable morsel of human expression.\n'They will be available to use by searching #GIFparty when sharing a GIF on Facebook or Messenger or by visiting GIPHY.com/Facebook.'\nFinally, as part of the 30 year celebrations, Facebook is looking to solve the long-standing debate over how the word 'GIF' is pronounced.\nOver the next few days, US Facebook users may see a poll asking them to cast their vote, with the results revealed later this week.", "This article is sponsored by Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital\nBy Dr. Steven Wolchinsky\nWhen a pet medical emergency occurs, pet parents may find it difficult to make rational decisions, especially if something happens in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and because time is always of the essence in these situations, it’s crucial to have a plan in place before an emergency occurs. After all, you don’t want to find yourself asking advice from Google or Siri in a moment of crisis. Here are 5 tips to follow that may save your pet in an emergency.\nLocate a 24-hour Emergency Hospital Near Your Home\nTalk to your veterinarian about an emergency protocol. Does your vet provide 24-hour service or do they work with an emergency care facility in the area? Some practices have multiple veterinarians on staff who rotate on-call services after hours. Check to see if your primary care vet has partners who might answer an emergency call. It’s also a smart idea to keep the name, number and address of your local emergency care facility tacked to the refrigerator or stored in your cell phone for easy access.\nBe Aware of the Signs\nPets may need emergency care because of severe trauma—caused by an accident or fall—choking, heatstroke, an insect sting, household poisoning or other life-threatening situation. If you suspect your pet is undergoing an emergency, consider their visible symptoms. If your pet is experiencing any of the following symptoms, they should be treated immediately:\nPale gums\nRapid breathing\nWeak or rapid pulse\nChange in body temperature\nDifficulty standing or apparent paralysis\nLoss of consciousness\nSeizures\nExcessive bleeding\nExcessive vomiting or diarrhea\nInability to urinate or defecate\nIn some instances it’s fair to think that an incident is treatable without a visit to a vet or emergency care facility, but it’s better to be on the safe side and take your pet to be examined as soon as possible. The exam fee is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you will get after the visit.\nTransport Your Pet with Care\nIf your pet is in an emergency situation, it’s important to transport them safely to the closest emergency care facility. But beware; pets who are severely injured may act aggressively toward their pet parents, so it’s important to first protect yourself from injury.\nFor dogs: Approach your dog slowly and calmly; kneel down and say their name. If the dog shows aggression, call for help. If they’re passive, fashion a makeshift stretcher made out of some rigid material such as an appropriate sized, sturdy piece of wood and gently lift them onto it. Take care to support their neck and back in case they’ve suffered any spinal injuries.\nFor cats: Gently place a blanket or towel over the cat’s head to prevent biting; then slowly lift the cat and place them in an open-topped carrier or box. Take care to support the cat’s head and avoid twisting their neck in case they’ve suffered a spinal injury.\nOnce you feel confident and safe transporting your pet, immediately bring them to an emergency care facility. Be sure to call the emergency center when you’re on your way so they can prepare for your arrival. Explain what has happened and follow the specific advice given.\nBe Familiar with At Home First Aid Treatments\nMost emergencies require immediate veterinary care, but first aid methods may help you stabilize your pet for transportation.\nIf your pet is suffering from external bleeding due to trauma, try elevating and applying pressure to the wound.\nIf your pet is choking, place your fingers in his mouth to see if you can remove the blockage. Only insert your fingers into your pet’s mouth if you believe you can remove the item safely without being bitten.\nIf you’re unable to remove the foreign object, perform a modified Heimlich maneuver by giving a sharp rap to their chest, which should dislodge the object.\nIt’s also a great idea to create a first aid kit for your pet. Carefully putting together a well-provisioned first aid kit will make you more equipped to deal with a medical emergency. Have this kit in the house and fully stocked with supplies at all times, next to the first aid kit for your family. Check out our first aid checklist for how to stock your kit.\nAlthough a good knowledge of first aid is helpful, pet parents should never give any sort of medication, especially over the counter pain relievers, without the advice of a veterinarian. Also, never perform any at home remedies found online. The safest option for your pet is to take them to a veterinary professional for examination as soon as possible.\nIf Your Pet Eats Something Poisonous\nIf you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, immediately call your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. Trained toxicologists will consider the age and health of your pet, what and how much they ate, and then make a recommendation—such as whether to induce vomiting—based on their assessment. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.\nYour pets are your cherished companions, that’s why it’s important to have a plan in place should an unexpected emergency occur. If you have any questions about emergency plans or services, feel free to contact us here at Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital.\nRocky Gorge Animal Hospital in Laurel, Maryland is proud to offer 24/7/365 veterinary care to the Washington DC area, including Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. We even offer emergency pre-registration for non-clients, which provides us with the necessary background and medical records for your pet, so if something should happen we can save valuable time by having all of the proper information on hand.", "MILAN, Italy — July 3, 2018 — Despite the efforts of the apparel industry to move towards a more sustainable and cruelty-free approach, recent surveys report that 80 percent of cold weather clothing is still insulated with duck feathers. This is mainly due to the lack of a synthetic solution that provides the same look and loft as down. Thermore® takes the first step towards sustainability by releasing a truly revolutionary and blowable product: Ecodown® Fibers.\nEcodown® Fibers ensure the same loft as high quality 90/10 feathers and can likewise be blown into a garment. The loft of down products is calculated with the “fill power test”: fibers are blown through a cylinder and their volume is measured. The higher the “fill power”, the puffier the jacket. Tests performed on Ecodown® Fibers have reported an outstanding fill power of over 600, which is how the product is able to guarantee that “puffy” look.\nMoreover, this insulation is incredibly durable: itsone-of-a-kind multi-shape structure allows high resistance and prevents it from clumping when washed.\nNot only are Ecodown® fibers animal-free, but they are also made from 100-percent PET bottles. Every jacket insulated with Thermore®’s fibers allows recycling up to 10 post consumer bottles. Along with a warm feel, the insulation achieves a soft touch without the use of microfibers, which would contaminate oceans and, ultimately, our own food.\nDesigners can finally let their creativity flow with no limitations, knowing Ecodown® Fibers will allow them not only to recreate that puffy down look, but also to support environmental sustainability.\nYou can see Ecodown® Fibers presented at the forthcoming trade shows around the world: Milano Unica July 10-12; Performance Days New York City July 23-24; Outdoor Retailer July 23-26; Munich Fabric Start September 4-6; and Première Vision September 19-21.\nFor those who cannot make it to the shows, Thermore® has also recently released its new ad campaign with a catchy video to promote the product, featuring Thermore®’s best friend, Zorba the Duck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5GqdvikKTM).\nPosted July 3, 2018\nSource: Thermore", "We might be suffering in the heat, but think about our poor, furry pets...\nThe summer season can be a tricky time for pets and with the latest weather predictions revealing that the heatwave in Britain is set to stay for another two weeks, and temperatures soaring up to 33 degrees, it’s important to keep your pets cool and calm.\nJenny Philp, managing director and practising vet at Vet’s Kitchen, gives her five top tips on keeping your dog or cat happy and healthy as temperatures continue to hit new heights.\n1. Avoid walking your dog during the hottest periods of the day\nBe sure to walk your dog either early in the morning or late at night as hot pavements can burn delicate paws. Even at cooler periods of the day, the pavement can still be warm so try to keep to the shade, wherever possible. If it’s too hot for you to hold the palm of your hand against the pavement, it will most certainly be too hot for your dog to walk on.\n2. Identify the coolest rooms in your home\nKeep your pets as comfortable as possible by encouraging them to stay in the coolest areas of your home. Rooms with tiled floors can provide a good space for them to relax away from the sun, whilst cooling mats and wet towels can help keep their body temperature down. Drawing the curtains will also prevent direct sunlight from heating up your home but your pets are still suffering from the heat, wetting their ears and paws can help to cool them down.\n3. Protect your pets’ skin and coat\nSimilar to humans, sunburn can affect animals too so it’s important to keep them protected with pet safe sun cream, by providing plenty of shade and using protective t-shirts for hairless breeds.\nCool coats have become increasingly popular items for dogs to keep their body temperature down and protect against sunburn however, these only work if the coat is kept wet at all times. If allowed to dry out, it will heat up and will make your dog even warmer. A good alternative would be to drape a wet towel over them and sitting them in front of a fan!\n4. Keep your pet hydrated\nHydration is very important, particularly in warm weather, so why not use ice cubes in your pet’s water bowl to keep the water cool? This will give them a cold, refreshing treat and by providing extra bowls in different areas around the home, you can ensure they are properly hydrated in the heat.\n5. Think creatively when it comes to treats and exercise\nVideo Of The Week\nFreezing treats in ice cubes can be a fun reward that will keep your dog cool. Also, why not get your dog a paddling pool? This provides a creative alternative to walking them and playing with toys in a shade covered pool can be just as rewarding and will keep them cool whilst ensuring they are still getting enough exercise.\nFor smaller animals, be sure to move hutches into the shade and use ice pods or frozen water bottles to keep them cool. To avoid sun stroke, it’s also important to ensure that protective rain covers are not covering the hutch and blocking air flow.\nHow will you keep your pets cool this summer?", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nRSPCA bosses trying to identify 11 cats removed from a house in Trafford say they had a month’s worth of calls in less than 24 hours from people hoping to be reunited with their lost pet.\nPolice were called to a home in Stretford on Wednesday night following reports an elderly woman had been ‘stealing’ cats.\nOfficers discovered a ‘significant’ number of felines at the property, 14 of which were seized by GMP because they were not registered as living there.\nThe animals had all been well-cared for, and were handed to the RSPCA.\nAccording to the charity, three of the cats removed have been reunited with their owners.\nThe remaining 11 were not microchipped. Officers have released images in a bid to identify them.\nIn less than a day, the RSPCA’s dedicated appeal line took more than a hundred calls, which is more than what it would normally receive in a month.\nMany people, the charity said, did not give descriptions matching those of the seized cats.\nA spokeswoman said: “Staff on our dedicated inspector appeal line have taken a month’s worth of calls in less than 24 hours, with over 100 people ringing in about these cats so far.\n“Whilst we absolutely understand how desperate people who have lost their cats are for the chance to be re-united with them, many of the calls coming in are about cats that don’t fit the descriptions of any of the ones in our care.\n“Please look closely at the photographs and descriptions, and consider that these cats are likely to come from the local Urmston area, before calling, and only do so if you really believe one of them to be yours. We are going through the calls and will get back to those people whose missing cats could be a match over the coming days.\n“We are a charity with very limited resources and our officers are already very busy dealing with animal welfare emergencies so we do ask people to bear with us.”\nThe charity also emphasised how important it is for people to have their pets microchipped.\nIt added: “Microchipping your pet gives you the very best chance of being reunited if you are separated for any reason and the RSPCA urges all cat owners to ensure their cats are chipped.”\nGMP confirmed that enquiries were ongoing and officers are working with the RSPCA to reunite any cats with their rightful owners.\nGot a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing [email protected], calling us on 0161 211 2323, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page. You can also send us a story tip using the form here.", "STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dozens of animals in the care of Staten Island's volunteer animal rescue groups are waiting for their forever families -- and you can save them. Click through the photo gallery above to see the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens up for adoption at events this weekend.\nFOR YOUR CALENDAR:\nOct. 7: Strut Your Mutt\nJoin actress and singer-songwriter, Amanda Seyfried, Louie's Legacy foster families and hundreds of other animal lovers for Strut Your Mutt Day. A one day celebration happening all across the country to help save the lives of homeless pets.\nBest Friends' Strut Your Mutt, a lifesaving dog walk and family festival will be held at Hudson River Park's Pier 26 in Manhattan, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, October 7. It's more than just a dog walk, Strut Your Mutt is a huge celebration with vendors, activity zones for pets and kids, live entertainment and more.\nThis year's Strut Your Mutt event will include a special adoption event- Attendees will have the opportunity to adopt a pet affected by hurricanes in Texas and Florida. It's the best day ever for animal lovers, but it's also a huge fundraiser for the participating Best Friends No More Homeless Pets Network partners. Register at strutyourmutt.org and help us reach our goal of raising $425,000 for New York City's homeless pets.\nAll animal lovers, with or without a mutt are welcome to attend along with well-behaved, leashed dogs under adult control. For your safety and theirs, please do not bring your other pets (e.g., cats, birds). For more information, adoption requirements or to register, visit strutyourmutt.org.\nOct. 8: Barktoberfest\nLouie's Legacy annual charity event runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 8, at Big Nose Kates, 2484 Arthur Kill Road. A doggy costume contest will be at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the patio. (Entry is free for those who enter dogs in the contest.) There will prizes, giveaways, raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, live music, food and drinks! All $10 donations at door support Louie's Legacy. To register, your dog in the costume contest or for more information contact Rocker Jenn 631-645-6448 or Leighanne 718-877-3588 or Big Nose Kates 718-227-3282.\nOct. 21: Go Get It Life 5K Race Series\nGo Get It LIFE invites you to the 2nd Annual 5K Race on Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Rain or shine! (Race Day Schedule: 9 a.m. Packet pickup/ Registration opens, 9:30 a.m. race begins!)\nThis family-friendly run/ walk will benefit the Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue and the Silver Lake Park Conservancy. There will also be an animal adoption event hosted by Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue.\nThe Go Get It LIFE 5K Run will take you through the sprawling green acreage and around the picturesque waterway of Silver Lake Park.\n*Start Line/ Base Camp will be set up at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue.\n**There are no refunds. T-Shirts are not guaranteed for race day registrants.\nTo sign up now or for more info, visit eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-go-get-it-life-5k-r.\nImportant info regarding \"October- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month\"\nOctober, during Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, the ASPCA(r) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(r)) is collaborating with hundreds of animal shelters, rescue groups, and partners across the United States to support ASPCA Find Your Fido, a unique digital campaign to demonstrate how much love, loyalty, and joy adopted animals can bring to peoples' lives.\nASPCA aims to expand digital exposure for the approximately 3.3 million dogs who enter the country's shelters each year and help increase their chances of adoption by asking everyone to join the #FindYourFido movement!\nDuring the month of October, Fido - a life-size cardboard cutout ambassador for shelter dogs across the nation - will be traveling the country through virtual fosters to raise awareness about the many benefits of adopting a pet. Fido's fosters will share their exciting adventures with him - hitting the town, visiting a local park, or socializing with other dogs at a shelter - on their social media with links directing back to the ASPCA Find Your Fido website, which features profiles of adoptable dogs across the country.\nAnimal lovers everywhere can follow Fido's adventures and help his mission by posting photos on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with their own rescue pet or a shelter pet in need of a home (a.k.a. a \"Fido\") with the hashtag #FindYourFido. Fido's fans can also enter to win a year's supply of dog chew toys courtesy of proud sponsor Nylabone(r) by sharing what makes their shelter pet so special.\nFor more information, visit: aspca.org/findyourfido. For shelters or rescues looking to join Find Your Fido, visit aspcapro.org/adopt-out-more-dogs-find-your-fido-campaign.", "The Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta star gave birth to her baby girl, Bonnie Bella , just under a week ago, and her post-baby snapback is seriously out of this world.\nIf you're still on the fence about committing to a revamped fitness routine in the new year, Joseline Hernandez just might be the extra push of inspiration you need.\nTaking to Instagram, Hernandez stripped down to her bra to show off her incredible body, and it really is unbelievable when you remind yourself she gave birth less than a week ago.\n\"When your baby is 4 days old!\" she captions her post. \"And you looking like this.\"\nWhile her pregnancy wasn't without a boatload of drama with Stevie J, it's amazing to see the new mom adjusting so well into the world of parenthood, and impressively already back to her former physique. Simply unreal.\nCompare the two images below and see for yourself just how crazy Joseline's post-baby snapback is.", "Get the Think newsletter. SUBSCRIBE\nBeing the referee for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl is really exciting and I couldn't be more grateful to have this opportunity. I’ve been doing this for seven years (which is 49 in dog years), and it is my dream job. They're going to have to pry it from my dead arms: The only way I'm going to give up this job is if I can pass it on to one of my kids.\nI have always loved dogs (as most of us do), and, prior to this job, I had worked for Animal Planet as a host for various pet technology specials — \"Your Pet Wants This,\" and \"Your Pet Wants This, Christmas Special\"— these one hour, one-offs about awesome pet products, like a fetching machine that throws the ball by itself.\nWhen Puppy Bowl first began airing on Animal Planet in 2005, there was no ref, there was no nothing. Puppy Bowl I was a turf with lines across it, the end zones and a couple of puppies, that was it.\nThen, in 2011, the people behind the show decided to get a professional to replace the show producer, Andrew Schechter, who had stepped in as the first ongoing ref for Puppy Bowl IV in 2008, just to keep the chaos at bay (and because they thought it would be cute to have a human in there wearing ref stripes).\nBut after a few years, they realized that they needed somebody to interact with the dogs, and be more of a spokeperson for the dogs — because, obviously, they don't have a voice — so they put out this casting call, and I got in line.\nStill, I had to prove myself, because they could have been thinking, I don't know, how much does he really love dogs? I immersed myself in dog refereeing: I went to dog parks throughout New York City, where I live, and just asked random dog owners if I could play with their dogs… and blow a whistle in their faces and throw a flag down.\nPuppy Bowl Referee Dan Schachner takes the field during Puppy Bowl XIV. Damian Strohmeyer / Animal Planet/Damian Strohmeyer\nI got a lot of weird looks and a lot of rejections, but one or two people said yes. (Plus, I forced my sister to let me play with her dogs.) And I videotaped it, cut it together with some footage of my messy house with two young kids, goldfish and hamsters, and said, \"I have plenty of experience officiating small animals, please take a look.\"\nThey bought it, and here I am, seven years later.\nThe show has really has grown over the years: Over the course of our day of airing, we regularly have over 10 millions viewer, and we're the second most trending thing on social media after the big game on Super Bowl Sunday.\nBut the best part, really, is the ability to facilitate adoptions, which we’ve continued to expand this year.\nNow, I always do see old players, because of Instagram: The Puppy Bowl pedigree is a big calling card for a lot of these pups, and many of them have become stars in their own , especially if they were voted MVP, (Most Valuable Pup).\nBut two years ago, for Puppy Bowl XII, we started doing a Hall of Fame with NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, and all these old players from past years — like Rudy, who is our little pup that could – came up and were able to get another little bit of affection and love.\nThat led to us thinking about older dogs. Now, all of our pups get adopted, especially the MVPs, but there are plenty of older dogs out there in rescues and shelters that are not adopted, and we thought that we could also shed a light on them.\nThat eventually led all of us to the idea of the Dog Bowl, which will air for the first time the day before the Puppy Bowl this year. And if you combine the dogs from Dog Bowl, which is, and the 90 from the Puppy Bowl, we’ll have 140 adoptable dogs participating this weekend. I guarantee you that they'll all find homes by the time we air. It's a record for us; this is a really big year.\nBut beyond that, the shelters that we partner with — and we've partnered this year with 48 across the country, and even one in Mexico — all report an uptick in adoptions for months after the Puppy Bowl.\nPuppies take the field for Puppy Bowl XIV. Damian Strohmeyer / Animal Planet/Damian Strohmeyer\nOften, yes, people go searching for those pups that they've fallen in love with on the show. Say you fall in love with J- Paw ( Jennifer Paw-rence,) and you go online to Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue this Sunday because you want to adopt her, but she's already gone. Maybe, though, she's part of a litter and she's got siblings, or maybe there are dogs very similar to J-Paw at this particular shelter, and you fall in love again.\nThe idea is not to simply get you connected with that one Puppy Bowl star — which is possible, but the chances are slim; the goal is to get you connected with a shelter in your community, and to facilitate an ongoing relationship. Eventually, if you keep that partnership alive and communicate with them about your needs, they will find the perfect dog for you.\nPuppies take the field for Puppy Bowl XIV. Damian Strohmeyer / Animal Planet/Damian Strohmeyer\nThe fun of Puppy Bowl is getting all of these untrained, un-housebroken dogs in one spot, at the same time, and seeing what happens. It's chaos, but in a controlled way — snouts and tails, the napping, and the pancaking (which is when the dogs flatten each other), the hiding in the tunnels, the bathing in the water bowls and all of the accidents that come with it. We want it to be puppies being puppies, because we don't want to send a false impression to our audience that if you adopt a puppy it's going to be just like cuddles and roses all day.\nYou're going to get an active animal in your house that you're going to have to take care of, and we want to show all of it. I like that about us, we're really putting it all out there for our audience, because we love dogs in all their chaos, and we want people to love them, too.\nAs told to THINK editor Megan Carpentier, edited and condensed for clarity.\nDan Schachner is an actor, voice-over artist and television host. He has served as the referee for Animal Planet's annual Puppy Bowl since 2012.", "The officials running New York’s animal shelter system were grilled over their animal kill list during a City Council hearing Tuesday — with members demanding to know how long pets are kept before being placed on death row.\nThe hearing, which centered on a bill to put a full-service animal shelter in every borough, was held after The Post on Tuesday revealed a slew of problems with the kill list at Animal Care Centers, including wrongly condemning pets and placing massive bureaucratic hurdles in front of would-be adopters.\nManhattan Councilman Keith Powers asked ACC CEO Risa Weinstock the average time an animal spends at a shelter before being placed on the kill list — which ACC euphemistically calls the “at risk” list.\n“I can’t talk in terms of how much time before they are at risk,” she said. “It’s an individual determination.”\nPowers didn’t seem happy with that non-answer, saying, “I think it’s a fair question to ask what the average time is.”\nWeinstock also said that of all the animals that wind up at ACC shelters, 7 percent land on the kill list, where they have just 18 hours to be adopted before being euthanized.\n“The 18 hours is an additional amount of time that we give to an animal that we consider at risk of euthanasia,” she said, meaning sick or dangerous animals. “There is no time limit if an animal is healthy and has good temperament.”\nAnimal-rights activists at the hearing also commented on The Post’s report, which revealed that adopters had to go through a third-party group to adopt a pet placed on the 18-hour kill list.\nCraig Semen of Compassion for Animals brought up how The Post found that out of 55 rescue partners who are supposed to help people save animals on the list, only 16 answered phone calls in the time frame. The crowed burst into applause.\nCouncil members also expressed concern that animals were getting sick in the shelters and then being put on the kill list.\nDiseases as seemingly harmless as kennel cough — the canine equivalent of a cold — are enough to land animals on the kill list.\nKeeping animals in close quarters can lead to the spread of illnesses, Weinstock said, and shelters want sick animals out as quickly as possible for that reason.\nThe City Council passed a law in 2000, mandating that ACC have at least one shelter in every borough. The law was scrapped before it could be implemented, but Queens Councilman Paul Vallone introduced a new bill this year to make it law once again.\n“It’s troubling and disturbing because it should have been done a long time ago,” Vallone said.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nChemicals used to keep Liverpool’s roads clear during the cold snap could prove DEADLY to your pets - but one simple step may help avoid a trip to the vets.\nWith a yellow warning for icy weather in place across Merseyside , gritters will be out on the streets to keep us safe - but the substances used on the roads and pavements could be slowly killing our four-legged friends, experts have warned.\nBoth rock salt - commonly known as grit - and anti-freeze are dangerous for both cats and dogs - and could cause vomiting and diarrhoea, skin irritations, kidney failure and in extreme cases even brain damage.\nVets up and down the country are warning that hundreds of pets could become ill after walking through the treated streets and then licking the substances off their irritated paws.\n(Image: Getty Images)\nJohn Sheppard, from Vets4Pets, warned: “When dogs and cats lick their paws after walking through grit and salt, they can develop irritation of the gastro-intestinal tract leading to vomiting and diarrhoea and in extreme cases, salt could also affect the brain and kidneys.”\nBut it’s not just the threats from outside that could be harming our pets - as a commonly used chemical most people have in their sheds and garages at Christmas is not only deadly - but also extremely tasty for our pets.\nAnti-freeze contains a sweet-tasting but highly toxic substance which can prove fatal.\nMr Sheppard added: “Antifreeze is another potential threat as it contains ethylene glycol a sweet tasting but highly toxic substance. When consumed, even in small amounts, ethylene glycol can be fatal.”\n(Image: TMS)\nOf course, our furry friends still need exercise - even if going out in the cold is not enticing for their owners - so taking one simple step after walkies could save their life.\nWashing and drying the paws of your dog immediately after they’ve been outside could wash off traces of the chemical, and avoid them ingesting it.\nMr Sheppard explained: “Our advice would be to try to avoid walking your dog over gritted areas and wash and dry paws immediately after animals have been outside and make sure you don’t leave any antifreeze that cats or dogs could ingest.”\nDog rescue charities are also warning of the dangers of snow for our pets.\nBullie Trust UK took to Facebook to share a warning over grit which went viral on Facebook after being shared by over 1,000 concerned pet owners.\n(Image: Getty Images)\nThe post read: “With the snow and ice expected, the roads may well be gritted, if you walk your dog on gritted roads/paths please make sure that their paws are washed either by walking them through a few puddles away from the gritted surfaces or by dipping their feet in fresh water once at home.\n“Every year hundreds of pets throughout the country become seriously ill and in some cases die because of the rock salt and antifreeze being used during the cold snap. Dogs and cats walk through the substances left by gritters trying to clear roads and car drivers defrosting their windscreens and then licking them off their paws.\n“Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested.”\n*If you are worried about your pets’ health, you should contact your vet immediately. The RSPCA has issued this guidance on how to avoid poisoning", "ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Son of Sam, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and the Columbine High School shooters are among the infamous criminals who had a history of hurting animals before they went on to target humans, a tendency that’s part of what’s behind a movement to create public online registries of known animal abusers.\nNew York is among 11 states with animal abuse registry bills pending in their legislatures, following Tennessee, which started its in 2016 along with a growing number of municipalities in recent years, including New York City, and the counties that include Chicago and Tampa, Florida.\n“Animal abuse is a bridge crime,” said the sponsor of New York’s bill, Republican state Sen. Jim Tedisco, who noted that Nikolas Cruz, accused of killing 17 people in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting on Feb. 14, reportedly also had a history of shooting small animals.\nWhile the main goal of collecting names of convicted animal abusers is to prevent them from being able to adopt or purchase other animals, registry backers say such lists could also be a way to raise red flags about people who may commit other violent crimes ranging from domestic violence to mass shootings. But some animal welfare advocates, mostly notably the ASPCA, question how effective they can really be.\nUnder registry laws, people convicted of felony animal cruelty are required to submit information to the registry and pay a maintenance fee. Failing to do so brings fines and jail time. Shelters and pet dealers in a county with a registry are required to check it and risk stiff fines for providing an animal to anyone listed. It’s not difficult, since most registries have only a handful of names and mug shots of cruelty crimes ranging from dog fighting to beating or starving a pet to death.\nA high-profile animal cruelty case is often the impetus for passing a registry law. In Nassau County on New York’s Long Island, it was the case of Miss Harper, a fawn-colored 7-month-old pit bull left earless and badly infected after the couple who bred her paid a friend to perform surgery he wasn’t licensed to do.\nThe couple had previously been charged with cruelty for putting bleach on another puppy. Since their convictions predated the registry, they’re free to buy and breed more dogs. Another loophole is the current scattershot nature of such registries. While neighboring Suffolk County on Long Island has a registry, along with 11 counties in upstate New York, many do not.\n“There really needs to be a statewide law,” said Gary Rogers of the Nassau County Humane Society, which manages that county’s registry established in 2014. “Otherwise, someone on our registry can just go to another county to get an animal.”\nTedisco, who pushed through New York’s felony animal cruelty law in 1999, said the Miss Harper case underscores the need for passage of his statewide registry law, which would also require convicted offenders to get psychological evaluation and treatment.\nStephanie Bell, director of cruelty casework for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said PETA is strongly in favor of animal abuser registries. But not all animal welfare groups agree.\n“Given the limited scope, reach and utilization of animal abuse registries, it is unlikely they would have any significant impact on the incidence of animal cruelty,” said Randall Lockwood, senior vice president of anti-cruelty projects for the ASPCA. The number of people who end up on registries is negligible, he said. Tennessee’s has just 12.\nLeighann Lassiter, of the Humane Society of the United States, said that while her organization agrees with the motivation behind registries, it’s already possible to do a nationwide criminal background check on a potential pet adopter, which would reveal not only cruelty convictions, but also other violent crimes.\nInstead, Lockwood said, communities should focus on strengthening anti-cruelty laws, using no-contact orders to prevent offenders from having contact with pets, livestock and wildlife, and expanding protective orders in domestic violence situations to include animals.\nThe other states considering registries are Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.", "Facebook/PixarTheIncredibles Promotional image for 'The Incredibles 2'\n\"The Incredibles 2\" is set to arrive in theaters next year and a new image from the movie has just been dropped. The image reveals that the sequel will pick up right where the original 2004 movie left off and that Mrs. Incredible, a.k.a. Elastigirl, is taking the lead as she tackles her personal ambition.\nJust as revealed in the record-breaking teaser trailer that was released last month, \"The Incredibles 2\" will find Mrs. Incredible into the center of the action while Mr. Incredible stays in the family's new hideout headquarters, contending with Baby Jack-Jack's developing superpowers.\nIn a recent interview about the upcoming sequel, writer-director Brad Bird said, \"'Incredibles 2' picks up, literally, where the first film left off, with Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl battling the Underminer, while Violet and Dash are stuck with babysitting Jack-Jack. That's all we're saying for now, but rest assured, there are a lot more superheroics in store for our family dynamic.\"\nAccording to Bird, Elastigirl will unleash her appetite for adventure in \"The Incredibles 2,\" allowing her to take the lead when it comes to action and heroics. He revealed that unlike in the first movie where she was driven to become Mrs. Incredible out of necessity, in the sequel, she will make a decision to meet her own ambition head-on. \"The ambition of being an adventure is something that we get to explore,\" he said.\nActress Holly Hunter, who voices Mrs. Incredible, also teased that Bird's storytelling abilities had a different kind of lift-off in \"The Incredibles 2.\" \"Brad's imagination veers off into intensely funny stuff, and I find that so fresh. And of course, that also includes the character development of Helen throughout this movie. It just feels really rich, and like... this guy is a true feminist,\" said Hunter.\nThe movie will see the return of original voice cast members Hunter (Mrs. Incredible/Elastigirl), Craig T. Nelson (Mr. Incredible/Bob), Samuel L. Jackson (Frozone/Lucius), and Sarah Vowell (Violet).\n\"The Incredibles\" will open in theaters on June 15, 2018.", "Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi aren’t taking any chances with their pets’ safety.\nOn Sunday, DeGeneres announced that the couple evacuated their pets from their home near Santa Barbara, California, because of the Thomas Fire.\nThe daytime show host Tweeted, “Our house is under threat of being burned. We just had to evacuate our pets. I’m praying for everyone in our community and thankful to all the incredible firefighters.”\nThe Thomas Fire is one of several active wildfires in California causing evacuations, road closures, property damage and other devastation. This fire is now threatening Santa Barbara County, including the city Carpinteria, where DeGeneres and de Rossi have an $18.6 million home, according to E! News.\nThe couple shares six pets together: three rescue cats and three dogs. All of the animals, now in a safe place, are featured on DeGeneres’ animated YouTube series Ellen’s Pet Dish.\n“Everyone in the Montecito area is checking up on each other and helping to get people and animals to safety,” DeGeneres Tweeted later. “I’m proud to be a part of this community. I’m sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs. Thank you all. #ThomasFire.”", "According to reports over the weekend, fleas in two Arizona counties tested positive for the plague.\nRELATED: The Black Death had no mercy on its victims\nHere are 10 things you should know about the infamous disease, how it is found, and what the danger level really is in the United States.\n1. What is it?\nPlague is known for killing millions in Europe during the Middle Ages, but that was before the invention of antibiotics.\nThe plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) is transmitted by fleas and is regularly seen in wild rodents.\n2. Where is it seen now?\nIt occurs naturally in the western United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Plague bacteria survive for prolonged periods in the soil, where burrowing rodents might directly acquire it.\n3. What are the forms?\nBubonic plague is the most common form – it usually occurs after the bite of an infected flea. The key symptom is a swollen, painful lymph node, usually in the groin, armpit or neck. If it goes untreated, it can spread to the rest of the body as septicemic plague or pneumonic plague.\nSepticemic plague happens when plague bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. It can quickly cause shock and organ failure, leading to death.\nIf the bacteria reach the lungs, it causes pneumonic plague, which is also almost always fatal if not treated properly.\n4. How would you get it?\nPeople get it through the bites of infected fleas, by touching or skinning infected animals (such as prairie dogs, squirrels, rats and rabbits), or inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal (particularly sick cats).\n5. What are the symptoms?\nHigh fevers, aches and pains, chills, swollen and painful lymph nodes and weakness are some of the common symptoms.\nRELATED: How to kick the common cold in just 5 days\nSepticemic plague can include abdominal pain, while pneumonic plague victims often cough up bloody mucus.\n6. How many people does it affect?\nPlague usually affects only a handful of people in the United States annually. According to the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, only 57 cases were reported between 2000 and 2009.\nWorldwide, 21,725 cases were reported, with more than 10,000 in the Congo and 7,000 in Madagascar.\n7. Why is there plague now?\nStudies suggest that outbreaks of the plague occasionally occur in southwestern U.S. states like Arizona during cooler summers that follow wet winters. Those weather patterns often create epizootics – outbreaks in which large numbers of susceptible rodents die. When this happens, hungry infected fleas leave the dead rodents and seek blood from other hosts, including humans and domestic pets.\n8. How can it be prevented?\nIf you own pets and live in an area susceptible to plague, you should prevent food sources from accumulating outside their homes as these invite wild animals. Keep clutter and undergrowth out from under decks and porches and out of yards, where animals can hide. Avoid picking up dead animals – instead, report them to local law enforcement or health officials.\n9. How can I protect my pets?\nUse flea control medications on your pets regularly. Keep your pet food in rodent-proof containers. Don’t let them hunt or road in rodent habitats, such as prairie dog colonies.\n10. What’s being done?\nReports say that a vaccine is expected in the next decade for soldiers, first responders, lab workers and travelers.\nUntil then, it’s important to remain vigilant. Plague can resurface after decades of being absent – notably it returned in Algeria after 57 years without a reported case.", "The Tulsa SPCA is making it more affordable for pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. The first of their low-cost clinics was held Wednesday.\nThe clinic will be open on each Wednesday, but pet owners do need to make appointments. They hope to cut down on the number of animals that are crowding area shelters.\n\"An unaltered female dog and her offspring can have as many as 500 pups in several years; cats as many as 5,000 within a few years,\" said Curtis Adams, Tulsa SPCA. \"So spaying and neutering your pets really helps reduce animal overpopulation.\"\nAdams said they had 10 animals for their first clinic. Call 918-428-7722 to make an appointment. They're located at 2910 Mohawk Boulevard.\nCosts:\nSpay/neuter dog over 30 pounds or over 6 months of age: $55\nSpay/neuter puppy: $40\nSpay/neuter adult cat over 6 months of age: $35\nSpay/neuter kitten: $25\nDental – includes antibiotics (at time of spay/neuter): $70\n2/7/2017 Related Story: Tulsa's SPCA To Hold Low Cost Spay, Neuter Clinic", "Get Daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nGrenadier Estates say the high volume of feedback they received during the consultation period over their plans for a new watersports centre on Exmouth seafront is why no planning application has yet been submitted.\nThere are major plans to renovate the seafront for development as part of the Exmouth vision to regenerate the town and its economy on the site of the former Fun Park on Queen’s Drive that closed for the last time at the end of August.\nDescribed as a community-focused and not-for-profit development, the centre is the second phase of the major seafront project.\n(Image: Grenadier)\nThree consultation events were held earlier this year and after the consultation event finished, developers Grenadier Estates said they hoped to submit a formal planning application by the end of November.\nHowever, no planning application has yet been submitted to East Devon District Council, and a Grenadier spokesman said: “\"Due to the high volume of feedback received via our dedicated website and at the consultations, we are taking the time necessary to fully digest all comments. Once we are satisfied we have done this, we will be in a position to feed-back and prepare the planning application.\"\nVideo Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now\nAfter the consultation events, Peter Quincey, Director of Grenadier, said: “We were really pleased with the attendance across the three consultation events, with many of the Exmouth community coming along to meet with our team, view the proposals and offer feedback. We also had an excellent response to our dedicated consultation website which was also really encouraging.”\n(Image: Grenadier)\nOn the plans, Mr Quincey added: \"Exmouth has got world class facilities for its watersports as far as its actual environment, it's got incredibly flat water and wind accessible from a variety of directions.\n\"The watersports centre is all about providing the facilities to enable Exmouth to use its natural assets better and to encourage the uptake of watersports activities within the town in general.\n\"We're passionate about watersports itself and we are confident that this is something that will have a real benefit to the whole community.”\nThe watersports centre is the second phase of the plans to regenerate the seafront.\n(Image: Grenadier)\nLast week, the council’s cabinet agreed with a report outlining the future of the Queen’s Drive development and to allow a new ‘visioning exercise’ to take place in 2018, which will involve detailed community engagement.\nWhile the visioning exercise is carried out, temporary attractions will be provided on the site – and it will include pop-up cafes, a free play park, and a big screen that could act as a cinema or to show sporting events such as the 2018 World Cup.", "President Donald Trump is welcoming North Korea's statement that it was still willing to meet despite his cancellation of the summit\nPresident Donald Trump is welcoming North Korea's statement that it was still willing to meet despite his cancellation of the summit\nA British woman who says Harvey Weinstein subjected her to unwanted groping and kissing in 1991 says she's thrilled at his arrest Friday on sex charges involving two other women.\nA British woman who says Harvey Weinstein subjected her to unwanted groping and kissing in 1991 says she's thrilled at his arrest Friday on sex charges involving two other women.\nPresident Donald Trump is welcoming North Korea's statement that it was still willing to meet despite his cancellation of the summit\nPresident Donald Trump is welcoming North Korea's statement that it was still willing to meet despite his cancellation of the summit\nAn American delegation is holding talks with North Koreans officials in the Demilitarized Zone as planning seems to move ahead for the on-off-perhaps on again summit between President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un.\nAn American delegation is holding talks with North Koreans officials in the Demilitarized Zone as planning seems to move ahead for the on-off-perhaps on again summit between President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un.\nThe National Weather Service says nearly eight inches of rain flooded a Maryland community that was devastated by an earlier flash flood just two years ago\nThe National Weather Service says nearly eight inches of rain flooded a Maryland community that was devastated by an earlier flash flood just two years ago\nPresident Donald Trump is being criticized for his self-congratulatory tone in a Memorial Day tweet in which he said \"those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today\" and then cited the economy\nPresident Donald Trump is being criticized for his self-congratulatory tone in a Memorial Day tweet in which he said \"those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today\" and then cited the economy\nFresh from another devastating flash flood that ripped apart their historic Maryland town, hundreds again ask themselves: 'Should I stay or should I go?'.\nFresh from another devastating flash flood that ripped apart their historic Maryland town, hundreds again ask themselves: 'Should I stay or should I go?'.\n(DroneBase via AP). This image made from video provided by DroneBase shows vehicles swept by floodwater near the intersection of Ellicott Mills Drive and Main Street in Ellicott City, Md., Monday, May 28, 2018. Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman s...\n(DroneBase via AP). This image made from video provided by DroneBase shows vehicles swept by floodwater near the intersection of Ellicott Mills Drive and Main Street in Ellicott City, Md., Monday, May 28, 2018. Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman s...\nNew guidelines says US adults should begin colon cancer screenings at 45, not 50.\nNew guidelines says US adults should begin colon cancer screenings at 45, not 50.\n(NCI Center for Cancer Research/NIH via AP). This undated microscope image provided by the National Institutes of Health shows human colon cancer cells with the cell nuclei stained red. According to new American Cancer Society guidelines released on We...\n(NCI Center for Cancer Research/NIH via AP). This undated microscope image provided by the National Institutes of Health shows human colon cancer cells with the cell nuclei stained red. According to new American Cancer Society guidelines released on We...\nDozens of women say a former gynecologist made creepy comments, improperly took photos and did other cringe-worthy acts during exams, but experts say he would likely only go to prison if evidence shows his actions went beyond dubious doctoring.\nDozens of women say a former gynecologist made creepy comments, improperly took photos and did other cringe-worthy acts during exams, but experts say he would likely only go to prison if evidence shows his actions...\n(AP Photo/Richard Vogel). People enter the University of Southern California's Engemann Student Health Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Four former USC students have sued the school and an ex-campus gynecologist who they accuse of sexual b...\n(AP Photo/Richard Vogel). People enter the University of Southern California's Engemann Student Health Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Four former USC students have sued the school and an ex-campus gynecologist who they accuse of sexual b...\nA pathway flanked by six stones meant to symbolize strength and determination will be added to the Sept. 11 memorial site in lower Manhattan to honor the rescue and recovery workers who toiled for months at ground zero.\nA pathway flanked by six stones meant to symbolize strength and determination will be added to the Sept. 11 memorial site in lower Manhattan to honor the rescue and recovery workers who toiled for months at ground...\n(AP Photo/Joe Skipper). FILE - In this March 24, 2018 file photo, people take part in a \"March For Our Lives\" rally Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. TA new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MTV reveal...\n(AP Photo/Joe Skipper). FILE - In this March 24, 2018 file photo, people take part in a \"March For Our Lives\" rally Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. TA new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MTV reveal...\nIn New York, a novel domestic violence shelter is being custom-built to include pets.\nIn New York, a novel domestic violence shelter is being custom-built to include pets.\n(AP Photo/Ron Todt, File). FILE – In this April 15, 2018, file photo, demonstrators protest outside the Starbucks cafe in Philadelphia where two black men were arrested three days earlier for waiting inside without ordering anything. On Tuesday, May 29...\n(AP Photo/Ron Todt, File). FILE – In this April 15, 2018, file photo, demonstrators protest outside the Starbucks cafe in Philadelphia where two black men were arrested three days earlier for waiting inside without ordering anything. On Tuesday, May 29...\nA Kentucky fire official says about a dozen people received medical attention after an explosion damaged a UPS freight hub in Lexington.\nA Kentucky fire official says about a dozen people received medical attention after an explosion damaged a UPS freight hub in Lexington.\nRapper Meek Mill is back in a Philadelphia courtroom, hoping to get his appeal moved to a different judge and a new trial.\nRapper Meek Mill is back in a Philadelphia courtroom, hoping to get his appeal moved to a different judge and a new trial.\nSoggy remnants of Alberto are spreading rain deeper into the nation's midsection, still raising possible flood threat.\nSoggy remnants of Alberto are spreading rain deeper into the nation's midsection, still raising possible flood threat.\n(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP). Dania Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguard Michael Vasta paddles out, Tuesday, May 29, 2018, as his colleague Peter Fournier watches from a beach tower in Dania Beach, Fla.\n(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP). Dania Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguard Michael Vasta paddles out, Tuesday, May 29, 2018, as his colleague Peter Fournier watches from a beach tower in Dania Beach, Fla.\nBy JENNIFER PELTZ\nAssociated Press\nNEW YORK (AP) - From easy-to-clean floors to a grooming room to a color palette toned for dog and cat eyes, a building rising in New York is clearly a place for pets.\nBut it's not an animal hospital or a doggy daycare. Rather, it's what organizers say is the nation's first domestic violence shelter custom-built for victims to keep their pets in their apartments.\nExpected to open in October and house up to 100 people, it builds on a growing roster of shelters that accommodate animals so their owners won't hesitate to leave abusive homes. Organizers say it's the first specifically designed for every apartment to house people with pets.\n\"By doing so from the ground up, with not only humans in mind but pets in mind, it's going to allow for a fuller recovery for pets and the entire family,\" says Dr. Kurt Venator, chief veterinary officer of Nestle Purina PetCare Co., which is contributing supplies and expertise to the $20 million project.\nThe Urban Resource Institute, a shelter operator, is running the facility, financed through private donations and some government support.\nStudies have documented links between domestic violence and animal cruelty and have noted some victims' reluctance to leave without their pets. Some fear their abusers will retaliate by harming the animals.\nThe number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters nationwide has grown from four in 2008 to dozens in recent years. But about 97 percent of shelters still don't accept pets, according to Urban Resource Institute CEO Nathaniel Fields. (Some of them do help arrange foster care.)\nURI has opened 52 pet-friendly apartments around New York City in the last four years but still got about 350 more requests than it could fulfill.\nAdvocates for pet-friendly shelters have faced questions about whether accommodating animals siphons focus and resources from abused people, or how people who fear for their lives can think about their pets.\nBut for many victims, Fields says, \"it's not an either-or.\"\nHope Dawson adopted her dog, Coco, to cheer up her two children after they awoke to sounds of thrown objects crashing and then saw police lead her boyfriend away from their Houston home in December 2015. She soon decided to move to New York to get away from him.\nShe had savings and a housing voucher but couldn't find an apartment and eventually moved with her kids into a no-pets shelter. An agency agreed to board Coco for 30 days; after that, the family would have to consider giving her up. Dawson still gets emotional thinking what that would have been like for kids who had already been through a lot.\n\"The way she just looks and interacts with us and makes us feel so comforted and cared for, that was something that would not be able to be replaced, and we needed it so much,\" says Dawson, 32. \"When she was reunited with us, it really did bring that light back into our situation.\"\nURI's facilities have welcomed 118 animals in four years - cats, dogs, turtles, birds, fish, a guinea pig and a bearded dragon.\nThe new seven-story, 30-apartment shelter will have a shared pet-grooming room and a secluded dog park, so residents fearful of abusers finding them don't have to leave to walk dogs.\nWindows won't open wide enough for cats to get out, but there may be shelves so felines can look outside. Flooring won't be too slippery or too sticky for paws. Paint won't be bright white, as some manmade white materials may appear fluorescent to cats and dogs, Venator said.\nDawson, meanwhile, moved her family into its own apartment after six months in shelter. She's working as a ride-hailing service driver, her kids are in middle school, and Coco is doing well.\n\"When life happens and it comes at you really hard, having a pet,\" she says, \"really does help.\"\n___\nOnline: Urban Resource Institute pet-friendly shelter program: http://urinyc.org/program/uripals/\nCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "The Maricopa County Animal Care and Control is aiming to adopt a no-kill community status by adopting out as many pets as possible.\nThe shelter’s director, Mary Martin, did clarify to local news stations that a no-kill community is different than a no-kill shelter, according to AZFamily.\nBecause the shelter does not turn away any pet, they cannot guarantee the shelter won’t have circumstances where they have to euthanize an animal due to severe illness, age, or behavioral issues.\nThe MCACC has recently adopted a new program called “Dogs Playing for Life” which allows the animals housed within the shelter to get play time outside of their kennels with other dogs.\nThe program, the first of its kind to be adopted by a county shelter in Arizona, gears to help dogs socialize and better prepare them to be a good adoption candidate, according to Fox 10.\nThe shelter has long been at capacity, and has been looking for solutions to help balance the amount of animals they receive with the amount of animals being adopted out to forever homes.\nIn December 2016 the MCACC reported they were in need of help when 100 animals were brought into the shelter on a single day.\nAnd in the shelter’s annual 2015 fiscal report they stated out of the 36,000 intakes they received, 8,000 animals had to be put down.\nMost of the animals were healthy, and it’s a difficult decision the shelter no longer wants to be forced to make in the future.\nOn Wednesday night various adoption groups and advocates across the Valley are meeting to discuss how to help improve the shelter’s adoption rate, according to AZFamily.\nOne item on the agenda is to help with owner education and aid. Many times owners are in situations where they either surrender their pet out of frustration, or they’ve hit a rough patch and can’t care for their pet.\nThe shelter hopes to teach owners how to be responsible with their pets or provide assistance in times of need.\nThrough community outreach and better programs, the shelter is hoping to see more adoptions and less pets walking into their facility.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAlmost one in four motorists drive with an unrestrained pet in their car, a new survey has revealed.\nThe study by AA Car Insurance found that 24% out of the 4,000 drivers who were surveyed admitted to driving without proper restraints for a pet during in their motoring history.\nAnd 6% of those who were surveyed admitted to having done it in the last month.\nConor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs, warned about the dangers of letting pets roam free in a moving car.\nCommenting on the survey, he said: \"Many people will have seen our new car insurance advertising campaign with our dog Mulligan who is a big fan of driving around in the car, but if you are travelling anywhere with a pet it’s important that you use a pet safety belt or a travel carrier as opposed to having them loose in the car with you.\n“While it may seem harmless to allow your pet to pop his head out the window or sit in the passenger seat next to you, animals are, by their nature, unpredictable and could easily become startled or react in a way which takes your concentration off the task at hand.\n\"Ultimately, very few people would allow a passenger in their car without using a seatbelt and we need to take the same precaution with our pets too.”\nBy contrast, the AA Car Insurance survey found that less than 1% of motorists surveyed had driven a car where one or more passengers weren’t using their seat belts in the past month.\nIn total, just 0.82% of respondents admitted to driving with an unrestrained passenger in their car in the last month.\nBut 11.4% of motorists admitted to driving while one or more passengers were not using their seatbelt on at least one occasion in the past.\nMr Faughnan added: “While it is worrying that this is a behaviour we have seen in the past, with almost one in 12 motorists admitting to allowing a passenger not use their seatbelt at some point over three years ago, it’s welcome to see such low levels of non-compliance with the use of seat belts in more recent times.\nVideo Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now\n\"Everyone thinks that it’ll never be them that’s involved in an incident but unfortunately accidents do happen and ensuring everyone in the car is properly restrained could be the difference between a minor bump and a more serious injury or worse.\n“In the event of an accident an unrestrained passenger, whether human or animal, could experience far more severe injuries and potentially cause additional injury to other passengers in the car as they are thrown around the vehicle following the impact.\n“Over the coming weeks and into the summer season more and more of us will be undertaking longer car journeys so it’s important that we all buckle up to keep the roads safe.”", "Thirteen overweight pets – seven dogs, five cats and the rotund rodent called Mr T – have been put on the scales at the start of their weight loss programme. It shows that together are an astonishing 201 kg (31st 7lb) and now need to shed almost a third of this over coming weeks to reach their ideal weights. Gluttonous stories of stealing food and being spoilt with treats helps explain their obesity issues. One of the canine contestants once stole an entire Sunday roast, while a ravenous feline feasted on a whole cheesecake. What concerns vets is how their weight issues are indicative of Britain’s pet health crisis, with 5.7 million animals being fed treats daily and up to 50 per cent of the nation’s domestic animals officially overweight or obese. PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan said: “Pet obesity is an epidemic that is seriously impacting the lives of millions of pets across the country.\nAs with humans, carrying excess weight has serious health implications for our four-legged friends. It increases the chances of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart diseases. “With the help of PDSA and Pet Fit Club, these pets and their owners are making the necessary diet, exercise and lifestyle changes to get down to healthier weights. We will support them every step of the way over the next six months to ensure they succeed. “If owners are worried about their pets' weight they should seek advice from their local vet or vet nurse. They will make sure pets are on the right type of diet, being fed the correct amount and work with owners to help increase their pet’s exercise levels.” Pet Fit Club has run by leading veterinary charity PDSA since 2005 and has helped 124 overweight and obese pets (79 dogs, 37 cats and 8 rabbits) lose an incredible 450kg (71 stone), the equivalent to 160,000 doughnuts. Last year’s winner, Alfie the Beagle, from Middlesbrough, successfully shed an astonishing 34 per cent of his bodyweight. As a strict six-month diet and exercise programme, Pet Fit Club will see participating animals placed on individually tailored regimes.\nNC Mr T is double hid ideal weight\nHere are this year’s contestants: Bella: Weighing in at a whopping 24kg (3st 11lb), Bella the beagle once stole an entire beef joint which had been cooked for Sunday dinner. Benji: At 11.3kg (1st 11lb), Benji the five-year-old cat is now so large he can no longer fit through the cat flap. Elvis: At his heaviest, Elvis weighed a whopping 10kg (1st 8lb). He’s been on a diet since January but is still more than double his ideal weight. Billy: Billy the 11.25kg (1st 11lb) Shih Tzu has ballooned over the past 18-months after discovering his puppy dog eyes could land him extra treats.\nSWNS Bella, the beagle\nBorris: Bulging Borris has been pampered so much he is almost double his ideal weight at 27kg (4st 4lb). The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s monstrous appetite once saw him devour a set of false teeth. Chester: Having once stolen an entire cheesecake, Chester the cat has scoffed and snoozed his way to a whopping 7.6kg (1st 3lb). Mr T: This supersize rat with a love for snacks needs to lose half his bulk to reach the ideal weight of 0.5kg/1lb. Pen: Pen the cat has eaten and napped her way to around one-and-a-half times the size she should be. She needs to lose 6.kg (13lb) to reach her ideal weight (4kg/9lb). Pepsi-Cola: This heavyweight cat, now so big that she can no longer jump the garden fence, weighs in at a whopping 8.8kg (19lb) and needs to lose a colossal 3.3kg (7lb) to reach her ideal weight.\nSWNS Elvis, the cat" ]

[ "They feel like they are sacrificing something and that this sacrifice will please God." ]

[ "Any citizen of the united states can be elected president. \\nand no neither do I believe he would make religious laws any more than say a Catholic President would bring in laws to say, stop us eating meat on friday.\\n\\nDoes that make sense?\\n\\nPs Im not the worlds best speller either, but\\nthe word is Polygamy. lol!", "Food you eat can also cause I change in smell. Asparagus and Brocolli are notorious. Excessive red meats can do it too.", "Eat less and exercise more. It's not really quick, but it is effective. Eat a healthy balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat. For exercise, do both cardio exercise like walking, running, swimming, or whatever you like and resistance training like pilates or weight lifting.", "Anemia is usually just a lack of iron in the blood and to cure it all she has to do is eat more iron like from leafy green veggies, red meats, and eggs.", "First...don't fall for the \"Eat veggies and fruits!\"...eat fat! i was 135lbs...i couldn't squeeze juice from a lemmon......but i actually started eating...bacon...hamburger...and the most important of all...Tuna Fish!!! tuna fish helps define the muscles...fast! just stick with meats, fruits and veggies are good for you but they speed the toning process up...not good for streanth...but eat what you need...bananas...apples...carrots...and peas...streangh for the system...and the meat's go to the bones and muscles...for added weight and muscles bulk...if you don't want to bulk than streatch the arms, lat's', back and other muscles...but you'll still have the streanth. remember...meat's and Exspecially Tuna! durring all of this...you Must lift weights...toning exersices will do nothing for your streanth. at 6'3 200lbs...i'm glad i done this myself. So try this if you will...fatty foods, meat's and alot of it...work out...lift...you'll get it. measure yourself...do this...and 3 months later...measure again. max strengh...do this for 3 months...do it again...you won't be disappointed...it worked for me and every small guy i told this to at the gym...try if you will and good luck.", "Just eat a little more of what you are eating. Like one more slice of bread, one more egg, a little bit more meat, extra scoop of ice cream, etc\\n\\nTake it slowly. In addition, do a little bit more exercise like weight training to stimulate growth.", "Eat lots of protein. Meat,meat,meat! Pinto beans are a great source of protein. Eat lots of them. You need plenty of milkshakes, nothing fancy just go to McDonalds. AS SOON as you get through working out, drink a bottle of grape juice. This is really great for repairing those muscles, since you are ripping your muscles by working out.", "40 sandwiches because if you do it how it should be done and cut one sanwich into 4 triangles that will give you 160 which is plenty as not everyone will eat, you could do cheese and pneapple on cocktail sticks, Jelly, Cakes, Chicken Legs, Pizza slices, cocktail sausages pickles, cold meats, pickles, salad, quiche", "The best hair colour for you to use would be anything with 'ash' tones that will take away the 'yellowy' blonde that makes it brassy. A nice 'light ash blonde' should do the trick x", "some birds eat bugs, etc, while some eat grains or fruit. Suet would appeal to the meat or insect eating birds.", "Start eating fruits such as pineapple, grape, pappaya, watermelon, mango, kiwi, strawberry etc as much as you want. Two hours later, eat a large salad with everything except meat, fish, or egg. Two hours after (at least) eat the dinner with your favarite meat,fish, etc. Do not go for seconds. Drink a glass of water just before eating the dinner, this will help you not to want to go for seconds, and using a small plate also will help. Drink 7 glasses of water all through out the day. One more thing do not eat anything three hours before going to sleep only water if the urge comes up.\\n\\nKeep doing this for a week, you will loose weight in a healthy way, and this will help you keep it off as well because you are eating everything you want to eat and you do not have the feeling of hunger or thirst. \\nThe fruits in the morning will help you to curb your need for eating all the time feeling for the rest of the day because it is natural sugar\\nMake sure you do not eat for two hours after each meal and when you feel like eating something grab a glass of water. Replace your sugar drinks with water and after dinner you can have a glass of wine or beer as well.\\n\\n\\nI tried every diet in the world and nothing worked and at 53 it worked and I am at 57 healthy and very energetic.", "Well I have watched a lot of shows about body builders and they dehydrate their bodies before compititions to make them look more ripped but i dont recommend this lol. try to eat lots of lean meats and poultry and fish. drink lots of water. If you dont already do cross-situps on exercise balls. Do reverse situps also.", "UMMMMM why do you want to get sick???? Go eat something rotten, that will do the trick, but good luck with that... Yuck!", "In general, diet pills don't work. You are looking for a quick and easy fix to a long and hard problem. You should lose weight gradually through a reasonable change in diet, and exercise. I DO NOT recommend the Atkins diet. Most nutrician experts will tell you that the Atkins diet can be very harmful. Yes, you will lose weight. But at the risk of your health. Smoking can help you keep your weight down, at the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. Use common sense. Eat less starches, sugars, and carbs. Don't drink sodas, drink water. Don't eat one or two large meals a day, then starve for the rest of the day. Eat a small breakfast lunch and dinner. Eat a small healthy snack (like peanuts) between meals. The problem with the Atkins diet is you eat no carbs and too much red meat. Some red meat is ok. Too much red meat increases your chances of developing heart disease. Atkins dieters lose weight. But the end doesn't justify the means.", "You are very brave to ask this question. First of all I have heard that what you eat has alot to do with you'll taste and smell like. For example if you eat onions alot, you'll have an onion smell,not just down there but your sweat,etc.If you want to taste sweet eat alot fruit and drink juice. Vegetarians smell different than people who eat meat. Also if the smell is really bad you probably have an infection. All women have a smell to them but it shouldn't be bad. A bad odor almost never has to do with cleanliness, but is a sign of infection. Ask you gyno. But do not douche or use perfume on that area it is not good for you at all. Douche is probably the worst thing you could do. Your body is self cleaning, as far as the inside of you is concerned. Good luck.", "First of all, u are doing it the wrong way...U MUST eat 3 meals a day even if they are small ones. Eat more vegetables and lean meat. Cut down on your coke and go into diet coke or coke zero. Be careful, what u are telling me is that u are going to make yourself sick. If u need help go see your doctor", "I would stop doing the smoothies as there are lots of calories in them; I know because my husband & I tried them for over six months and we did not lose very much weight. And we were still hungry afterwards. What really helped us was Weight Watchers and eating a variety of foods and of course exercise. You need to do aerobic exercise. Your body also needs to have energy (calories) to lose weight and I think you are actually giving yourself too few calories. I would try to up the calorie count a little bit, say to 2000. \\n\\nDrink your milk with 1 or 2% fat, eat apples and berries (lots of fiber) have some lean meat (like broiled chicken or pork loin), eat oatmeal (not the little packs but the real stuff) for breakfast (my husband swears by it-and he lost lots of weight by having breakfast) have sandwiches with low cal bread and low fat meat or cheese with mustard for lunch and have veggies like brocolli and carrots (broiled or steamed) with your meat for dinner. Do not eat fried foods at all as they will set you back a bit. And lastly, drink your water - you do not talk about that at all and that is probably the most important thing about nutrition and being healthy. It will also keep you feeling fullish. One last thing, I would strongly recommend going to a doctor and a nutritionist to make sure about what you are doing and before you start to do any of these things recommended by anyone on this topic.", "you can do this work with some program that make partition with another format like ash that xp and other OS don't know it", "Stop eating so much. Eat a more balanced diet, including frutits and veggies along with meats and complex carbs. Also start exercising, try joing a gym. If you can't afford that, just do the simple stuff like sit-ups, crunches, and running. You have to be disciplined though, and don't let yourself slip that much. I'm sure you will see improvement in a few weeks.", "I do the same thing. The best things I have found is before you eat write down what you are going to eat and why, then redirect your self to something time consuming, comp. chores anything but eating.", "Why would you be eating peanut butter if you are allergic to peanuts in the first place. Do you have a death wish? I bet if you keep eating the peanut butter you will go into anaphalatic shock.", "I think it's pretty much to do with your food that you eat. Try not eat too much of meat, spicy or oily grilled stuff. Your stomach will be dump with too much rubbish. Eat somehing more moderate... like vegetables, wheat, soy bean...and drink more water. Water is very important to our body system. By the way...you should get started to exercise more if don't because it does help to get us healthy when you sweat.", "I am on Atkins right now it's not easy especially if you are like me and love fruits and veggies you wont be able to eat any fruits and veggies as you like and if you don't like too much meat or eggs and fats well that is Atkins! If you want quick results that should do it if you follow it strictly but if you want healthy , lifetime maintenance try eating healthy , small portions and exercise.", "No contest for me:\\n\"I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)\" by Meat Loaf.", "Lost is on ABC Wednesday nights at 9:00... \\n\\nHighly recommended (although you might need to do some catching up on the website).", "...Ummm, you should do one that contains words or phrases that relate to you and your position. Like the slogan should include your name and the position you run for. For example, \"Grace\"...Vote for Grace, so she can win the race. Vote for me, Billy Lee, for vp.(vice president)\\n\\nUmmm, if your name is Ash- from your screename, you can do like...Vote for ash to get some cash! (Nah, one would break that promise- Vote for Ash to bring the school and you some cash) ...How you make slogans, try using some rhyme in it." ]

[ "КЛЮШКА\n\n\n Искон. Суф. производное от клюка «клюшка, посох, палка с изогнутым\n концом»; чк > шк, ср. городошник &lt; городочник.\n\n\nКЛЮЧ \n\n\n (1) (родник). Общеслав. Суф. производное (суф. -j-, kj > ч) от той\n же основы, что клюкать «клокотать, бурлить».\n\n\nКЛЮЧ\n\n\n (2) (для запора и отпирания). Общеслав. Суф. производное (суф. -j-,\n kj > ч) от той же основы, что и клюка «клюшка, посох, палка с\n загнутым концом», лат. clavis «ключ», нем. Schloß «замок» (см.\n слесарь). Ключ исходно — «кривая, изогнутая палка». См. случай,\n приключение.\n\n\nЭтимология по Фасмеру:\n\n\n Происходит от праслав. *ključь, от кот. в числе прочего произошли:\n ст.-слав. ключь, русск. ключ, болг. ключ, укр. ключ, сербохорв. кљу̑ч\n (род. п. кљу́ча) «крюк, ключ», словенск. ključ, чешск. klič, словацк.\n kľuč, польск. klucz, в.-луж. kluč, н.-луж. kluc. Родственно индоевроп.\n skl-; балт. словам, приведенным на клюка́, а также греч. κληΐς, дор.\n κλᾱίς, κλάξ «ключ», κλείω «запираю»; лат. clāvus «гвоздь», clāvis\n «ключ», claudō «запираю», ирл. cló (мн. clói) «гвоздь»; др.-в.-нем.\n slioʒan «запирать», sluʒʒil «ключ», др.-сакс. slutil.\n\n\nМожно говорить об историческом - этимологическом - родстве слов \"клюшка\" и \"ключ\"; сейчас они не относятся к однокоренным." ]

[ "Almost all of the monsters of Greek myth are clearly said to have been children of deities or at least were quite closely related to the gods, whether the divinities in view were Titanic, primaeval or otherwise.\n\nGood Old Regular Wildlife\n\nThere is also an assortment of monstrous beasts, quite popular especially in later mythography, which appear to have been thought of simply as naturally occurring animals like any other ordinary critters such as dogs, cattle, birds or tigers, etc. \n\nTypically these \"animals\" were understood to dwell quite far outside Greece and the Roman Empire, at the edges of the world, such as Greco-Roman writers believed Africa, Arabia and India were located at. It was often essentially a matter of most of their readership never having been to these places and thus all manner of tall tales grew up about the fabulous populations thereof.\n\nAelian's book On Animals catalogues a good number of these, such as: \n\n\nNeades, which were monsters, inhabiting the island of Samos in prehistoric times, whose powerful roars could split the ground;\nthe Scolopendra (not to be confused with the modern scientific term\nfor a genus of centipedes), which he says was the largest of all sea\nmonsters;\nvarious Indian sea monsters which he describes as fish-like things\nthat had the heads of lions, leopards, sheep and wolves;\nunicorns, also originating in India, some of which were actually single-horned donkeys the size of horses, with some interesting colour features as well as other unusual characteristics which made them very dangerous;\ngigantic Indian snakes which preyed on elephants (Philostratus tells us in his Life of Apollonius of Tyana that griffins, another naturally occurring beast, had an advantage over these snakes because, unlike the serpents, they had wings and therefore could fly); and\ngigantic Aethiopian snakes dwelling in the same land as the virtuous long-lived (or immortal) Africans among whom the Greek gods used to take their annual vacations such as Homer's Iliad describes (these serpents being the largest such reptiles, says Aelian, they grew to as long as 180 feet [about 55 metres = at least seven times as long as some of the biggest anacondas] and, also living longer than any other animal, they too, like the Indian variety thereof, preyed upon elephants).\n\n\nOther \"natural\" cryptids in the mythology include basilisks, manticores and Hippocamps (Hippocampi), the last of these being used as steeds by the sea-gods, and regarding which Aaron Atsma says that:\n\n\n The ancients believed they were the adult-form of the small fish\n we call the \"sea-horse\". Hippokampoi were the mounts of Nereid nymphs\n and sea-gods, and Poseidon drove a chariot drawn by two or four of the\n creatures.\n \n Other fish-tailed land animals which appear in ancient art\n include the \"Leokampos\" (fish-tailed lion), \"Taurokampos\" (fish-tailed\n bull), \"Pardalokampos\" (fish-tailed leopard), and \"Aigikampos\"\n (fish-tailed goat). The last was the form of the constellation\n Capricorn. Fabulous creatures of this type were believed to be common\n in the Indian Ocean.\n\n\n\n\nDivine Descent\n\nThe parentage of a few of the more classical monsters is not mentioned, such as the sea monster which Poseidon sent to Aethiopia and which Perseus rescued the local princess Andromeda from being sacrificed to.\n\nMost of the rest, however, usually have at least one deity for a parent. The clearest exception that I can think of is the example of the grizzly man-eating giants Agrius and Oreius, whose mother Polyphonte had conceived them by mating with a bear. Although neither of these giants' parents was a deity, Polyphonte's mother Thrassa was the daughter of the war-god Ares, thus making Agrius and Oreius the great-grandsons of Ares.\n\nThe parentage of Agrius and Oreius is quite similar to that of the Minotaur, whose father was a bull and whose mother Pasiphae was queen of Crete Island. Since Pasiphae was a goddess, this technically made the Minotaur part god and part ox. The Minotaur's grandfather was Helios, the Sun.\n\nThe hundred-eyed giant Argus Panoptes, \"Argus All-Eyes,\" has a variety of different parentages ascribed to him, most having to do with the royalty of the city of Argos. Several authors say that Argus, like many other giants, was an Autochthon, which is to say that he was born spontaneously out of the ground so that Gaia, the Earth, was called his mother.\n\nOne alternative says that Argus was a son of the River Inachus, who was also the father of the Naiad Io. After Zeus had almost been caught in the act of cheating on Hera with Io but then quickly disguised Io as a cow and pretended that that's all she was, Hera took the cow and recruited Argus Panoptes to guard her. If Argus's father was Inachus, this would mean that Argus was guarding his own sister. \n\nApollodorus lists a few other versions of Argus's origin, in one of which his mother Ismene is a Naiad of the Asopus River, and his father is also called Argus. This other Argus, after whom the city of Argos was named, was a grandson of Phoroneus, who in turn was yet another son of Inachus. In an additional version, the mother of the All-Eyed Giant is the Naiad Mycene, a daughter of Inachus. \n\nDivine Parentage\n\nIn every single other example of monster that comes to mind, at least one of the creature's parents is a major deity, mostly either Gaia or Poseidon or both. \n\nThe Roman writer Hyginus tells of a primaeval Gorgon named Aega or Aex, whose father was the Sun. She had a dazzlingly beautiful body, \"but in contrast to this beauty, had a most horrible face\", and the Titans were so terrified of her, or so overwhelmed by her brilliance, that they begged their mother, the Earth, to hide her from them. Mother Earth complied by concealing Aega in a cave on Crete Island, where this solar Gorgon became a nurse of the infant Zeus. \n\nWhen war broke out between Zeus and the Titans, an oracle told Zeus that if he wanted to win, he should wear armour made from a goat-skin combined with the head of Aega, who was presumably already dead at this point. Zeus made the prescribed ingredients into his famous shield, arm-guard or breastplate called the Aegis, which acquired its name from the Gorgon. Using this he was thus able to conquer his enemies, and it later became a signature emblem of Zeus's daughter Athena.\n\nIn the better-known classical story involving a Gorgon, there are three of them: triplet sisters named Medusa, Sthenno and Euryale, who were the daughters of the sea-god Phorcys by the sea-monster Ceto, who is both Phorcys's sister and his wife. This is from Hesiod's Theogony, the source that you reference in which Echidna is the offspring of a sea-god. Here, Echidna would be a sister of the Gorgons, who have another set of triplet sisters, the Graeae, \"Grey Ones.\"\n\nIn the Theogony, Ladon, the sleepless hundred-headed who guards the garden of the Hesperides and is killed by Heracles (Hercules), is a brother of Echidna, and of the Gorgons and the Graeae. Apollodorus and Hyginus say, rather, that he is a son of Typhoeus and Echidna.\n\nBy a goddess named Crataeis (who was probably an Oceanid of the Underworld), Phorcys was the father of two beautiful sea-nymphs, Scylla and Thoosa. Out of jealously the immortal witch Circe, using a noxious concoction, changed Scylla into a fearsome monster encountered by Odysseus on his calamitous journey home from Troy. By Poseidon, Thoosa became the mother of the Cyclops Polyphemus, whom Odysseus also met under less than ideal circumstances.\n\nAccording to Servius' commentary on the Aeneid, Gaia bore Poseidon a voracious gigantic daughter named Charybdis, who stole oxen from Heracles. With a lightning-blast, Zeus hurled her into the sea, where she transformed into the famous whirlpool, still called Charybdis, which was paired with Scylla as a danger to sailors. Apollodorus says that Gaia also bore Poseidon the Libyan giant Antaeus, whom Heracles wrestled with and killed. \n\nThe giant Laestrygon, from whom the monstrous Laestrygones of the Odyssey are descended, was also a son of Poseidon and Gaia, according Hesiod's Catalogues of Women. The Catalogues also mention a race of dog-headed people called the Hemikynoi, \"Half-Dogs,\" whom later writers called the Cynocephali, \"Dog-Heads.\" These were Gaia's offspring either by Poseidon or by Zeus' Egyptian son Epaphus. \n\nThe golden fleece which the Argonauts went to fetch from Colchis originally belonged to Chrysomallus, a golden, winged, talking ram which was the offspring of Poseidon by a princess named Theophane. \n\nThe famous winged horse Pegasus was a son of Poseidon and Medusa, and the triple-bodied red ogre Geryones, whose oxen Heracles had to steal in order to fulfill his tenth labour, was the grandson of Poseidon and Medusa. \n\nAccording to Quintus Smyrnaeus' Fall of Troy, the four fire-breathing horses of the war-god Ares were the offspring of Boreas, the North Wind, by one of the Erinnyes. \n\nEarly in his career Apollo killed two gigantic offspring of Gaia. The first was the dragon Python, in one of whose birth stories this dragon hatched from the mud which had silted together after the Flood was over. The other offspring was the giant Tityus, who was actually a son of Zeus by a princess named Elara. Having debauched Elara, Zeus buried her under the earth for fear of his wife Hera's jealousy. Their son Tityus, a child of enormous size, burst forth from the ground some time afterwards, having been given a double birth, emerging first from Elara and then from Gaia's body. When Tityus had grown up, he tried to rape Apollo's mother Leto and paid for the offence by being shot to death by Apollo. \n\nAccording to Pindar and Philostratus the Elder, the Centaurs of Thessaly were the offspring of Centaurus, a son of Apollo. In Apollodorus' Library, the Centaur Pholus is the son of the god Seilenus and the nymph Melia.\n\nHesiod says that the Titan Oceanus was the father of a pair twin monkey-like gnomes called the Cercopes, whom Heracles encountered in his adventures.\n\nThere's more where that came from in The Theoi Project's quite comprehensive Bestiary.", "First, let's see what the expressions might mean:\n\n\n\"Bater à porta\" always means \"to knock on the door\".\n\"Bater a porta\" almost always means \"to slam the door\". In some very unusual and specific contexts, it may also mean \"to collide/crash/hit the door onto something or someone\".\n\"Bater na porta\" usually also means \"to knock on the door\". However, accordingly to the context, this may also mean \"to collide/crash into the door\" or \"to hit the door\".\n\"Bater com a porta\" may mean \"to slam the door\". However accordingly to the context, it may also mean to \"to crash into the door\", \"to collide with the door\", \"to smash into the door\" or \"to come and face the [closed] door\". In some very unusual and specific contexts, it may also mean \"to beat someone using a door\".\n\n\nTo make it clear, let's see some examples:\n\nExamples:\n\n\n\n [en] Somebody knocked the door this morning. When I opened it, it was my mother.\n [pt] Alguém bateu à porta hoje de manhã. Quando abri, era a minha mãe. \n [pt] Alguém bateu na porta hoje de manhã. Quando abri, era a minha mãe.These two are ok and they have the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bateu\" is \"knocked\".\n [pt] Alguém bateu a porta hoje de manhã. Quando abri, era a minha mãe.\n This is WRONG, \"bateu\" is \"slammed\".\n [pt] Alguém bateu com a porta hoje de manhã. Quando abri, era a minha mãe.\n This is WRONG, \"bateu com a porta\" may be \"slammed the door\", \"came and faced the closed door\" or \"collided with the door\".\n\n\n [en] If nobody answer to the doorbell, knock the door.\n [pt] Se ninguém atender a campainha, bata à porta.\n [pt] Se ninguém atender a campainha, bata na porta.\n These two are ok and they have the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bata\" is \"knock\".\n [pt] Se ninguém atender a campainha, bata a porta.\n [pt] Se ninguém atender a campainha, bata com a porta.\n These two are WRONG, \"bata\" is \"shut\" or \"close\".\n\n\n [en] Don't let the wind slam the door.\n [pt] Não deixe o vento bater a porta.\n [pt] Não deixe o vento bater com a porta.\n These two are ok and they have the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bater\" is \"[to] slam\".\n [pt] Não deixe o vento bater à porta.\n This is WRONG, \"bater\" is \"[to] knock\".\n [pt] Não deixe o vento bater na porta.\n This is WRONG, \"bater\" is \"[to] knock\" or \"[to] hit\".\n\n\n [en] Boy, don't slam the door like that! This makes a lot of noise!\n [pt] Menino, não bata a porta desse jeito! Isso faz muito barulho!\n [pt] Menino, não bata com a porta desse jeito! Isso faz muito barulho!\n These two are ok and they have the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bata\" is \"slam\".\n [pt] Menino, não bata à porta desse jeito! Isso faz muito barulho!\n This is WRONG, \"bata\" is \"knock\".\n [pt] Menino, não bata na porta desse jeito! Isso faz muito barulho!\n This is WRONG, \"bata\" is \"knock\" or \"hit\".\n\n\n [en] Ouch, I hitted my foot in the door!\n [pt] Ai, eu bati o meu pé na porta!\n This is ok and the meaning is the same as the English phrase, \"bati\" is \"hitted\".\n [pt] Ai, eu bati o meu pé à porta!\n This is WRONG, the phrase does not makes sense anymore, and it would be translated back to the English (needing some adaptations to be translateable) as \"Ouch, [something] hitted my foot [when I was] at the door\".\n [pt] Ai, eu bati o meu pé com a porta!\n This MAY BE WRONG. It admits the original English phrase translation, but it also admits some different ones like \"Ouch, I hitted my foot using a door\".\n [pt] Ai, eu bati o meu pé a porta!\n This is WRONG. The phrases is not well-formed and do not makes any sense at all.\n\n\n [en] My neighbour is cruel, he always hits the door in the dog.\n [pt] Meu vizinho é cruel, ele sempre bate a porta no cachorro.\n [pt] Meu vizinho é cruel, ele sempre bate com a porta no cachorro.\n These two are ok (the phrase translation, not the act of being cruel to animals) and the meaning is the same as the English phrase, \"bate\" is \"hits\".\n [pt] Meu vizinho é cruel, ele sempre bate à porta no cachorro.\n This is WRONG and it is hard to make any sense of it. This translates back to the English as \"he always knocks on the door on the dog\" which is close to \"he always rings the doorbell on the dog\" if you prefer to ring the doorbell instead of knocking the door.\n [pt] Meu vizinho é cruel, ele sempre bate na porta no cachorro.\n This is WRONG. The phrases is not well-formed and do not makes any sense at all.\n\n\n [en] The car crashed into the garage's door.\n [pt] O carro bateu na porta da garagem.\n This is ok and the meaning is the same as the English phrase, \"bateu\" is \"crashed\".\n [pt] O carro bateu com a porta da garagem.\n This is very similar, but a bit different. It translates back to English as \"The car crashed with the garage's door.\"\n [pt] O carro bateu a porta da garagem.\n This is WRONG, because now the meaning changed to \"The car smashed the garage's door\". It is similar but it is different, now the thing that was probably damaged or destroyed is the door, not the car. It could also be translated into the bizarre phrase \"The car slammed the garage's door.\"\n [pt] O carro bateu à porta da garagem.\n This is WRONG, \"bateu\" is \"knocked\".\n\n\n [en] Ok, funny boy, it is time for a few more torture! So, today I will hit your arms with the door.\n [pt] Ok, engraçadinho, é hora de mais um pouco de tortura! Então, hoje eu vou bater com a porta nos seus braços.\n This is ok (the phrase translation, not the act of torturing someone) and the meaning is the same as the English phrase, \"bater\" is \"hit\".\n [pt] Ok, engraçadinho, é hora de mais um pouco de tortura! Então, hoje eu vou bater a porta nos seus braços.\n This is very similar, but a bit different. It translates back to English as \"I will hit the door into your arms.\"\n [pt] Ok, engraçadinho, é hora de mais um pouco de tortura! Então, hoje eu vou bater na porta nos seus braços.\n [pt] Ok, engraçadinho, é hora de mais um pouco de tortura! Então, hoje eu vou bater à porta nos seus braços.\n This is WRONG, \"bater\" is \"knock\". So it would come back to English as something like \"I will knock on the door [being] on your arms\". At least, this time this sounds romantic instead of cruel and violent.\n\n\n [en] I will slam the door in his face if he comes again.\n [pt] Eu vou bater a porta na cara dele se ele aparecer de novo.\n [pt] Eu vou bater com a porta na cara dele se ele aparecer de novo.\n These two are ok and they have the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bater\" is \"[to] slam\".\n [pt] Eu vou bater à porta na cara dele se ele aparecer de novo.\n [pt] Eu vou bater na porta na cara dele se ele aparecer de novo.\n These two are WRONG, \"bater\" is \"[to] knock\".\n\n\n [en] I din't saw that there was a glass door when I were running, I collided with the door in my leg.\n [pt] Não vi que havia uma porta de vidro quando estava correndo, bati com a porta na perna.\n This is ok and is has the same meaning as the English phrase, \"bati\" is \"[I] collided\".\n [pt] Não vi que havia uma porta de vidro quando estava correndo, bati na porta na perna.\n This is very similar, but a bit different. It translates back to English as \"I collided in the door in my leg.\"\n [pt] Não vi que havia uma porta de vidro quando estava correndo, bati a porta na perna.\n This is very similar, but a bit different. It translates back to English as \"I collided the door in my leg.\"\n [pt] Não vi que havia uma porta de vidro quando estava correndo, bati à porta na perna.\n This is WRONG, and they don't makes any sense at all. It would translate to \"I knocked in the door in the leg.\" which does not makes sense.\n\n\n\nWell, that was a long list of examples. So, it is time to actually answer your questions:\n\n\n 1. In bater a porta, does the a correspond to at or to the?\n\n\nRoughly, the \"a\" corresponds to \"the\" and the \"à\" corresponds to \"at\" or \"at the\".\n\n\n Or is that form just a typo?\n\n\nIt is not a typo.\n\n\n 2. Is the choice from among à/na/a related to a different meaning or dialect?\n\n\nIt has nothing to do with dialects, it is all about the possibly wildly different meanings.\n\n\n 3. Can I take something from this example that will help me to understand prepositions in other contexts (e.g., adjacent to other verbs)?\n\n\nThe verb \"bater\" is particularly a very troublesome one. As you can see from the examples, it can have a lot of different meanings accordingly to the context: \"to crash\", \"to hit\", \"to smash\", \"to collide\", \"to knock\", \"to slam\", \"to beat\". However when aplied to physical objects, it always means some form of something colliding with some other thing. But, to make thinks worse, it sometimes might be used as something completely different like \"to correlate\" or \"to match\", as in the phrase \"Percebi que o número de telefone do usuário bate com o número que foi bloqueado\" which translates as \"I perceived that the user's phone number matches with the number that was blocked\".\n\nSo, I think that the verb \"bater\" is a very bad choice to help you understand prepositions in other contexts. It is better to start with some other verb that does not features a lot of differently context-dependent meanings.\n\n\n For example, does [verb] + com + [object] usually suggest a more vigorous manipulation of the object?\n\n\nNo, this has absolutely nothing to do with vigour. It really means just \"with\". However, sometimes to make sense or just because it would be reduntant, in the translated English the \"with\" might disappear. Like in those examples:\n\n\n \"Ferrar com o plano\" -> \"To screw with the plan\" -> \"To screw the plan\" -> \"Ferrar o plano\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Plantar com as sementes\" -> \"To plant with the seeds\" -> \"To plant the seeds\" -> \"Plantar as sementes\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Acelerar com o carro\" -> \"To acelerate with the car\" -> \"To acelerate the car\" -> \"Acelerar o carro\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Bater com a porta\" -> \"To slam with the door\" -> \"To slam the door\" -> \"Bater a porta\"\n\n\n\n\nOr, the \"with\" might be transformed into something else to make the phrase sound better (or kept as is):\n\n\n \"Roubar com uma faca\" -> \"To rob with a knife\" -> \"To rob using a knife\" -> \"Roubar usando uma faca\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Dirigir com o cinto de segurança\" -> \"To drive with the seatbelt\" -> \"To drive using the seatbelt\" -> \"Dirigir usando o cinto de segurança\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Cavar com uma pá\" -> \"To dig with a shovel\" -> \"To dig using a shovel\" -> \"Cavar usando uma pá\"\n\n\nIn other cases, the \"with\" should be kept as it is (removing it would change the meaning of the phrases):\n\n\n \"Viajar com minha esposa\" -> \"To travel with my wife\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Andar com um amigo\" -> \"To walk with a friend\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Cantar com a plateia\" -> \"To sing with the audience\"\n\n\n\n\n\n \"Desenhar com as crianças\" -> \"To draw with the kids\"\n\n\nNote that all the cases where the \"with\" should be kept, disappear or be replaced by something else happens after the translation and happens only to make the phrases not sounding weird in English, so this is just an artifact from the translation process." ]

[ "The UK government is stepping up efforts to stimulate the growing of crops for use in generating renewable energy." ]

[ "Europe’s farmers are beginning to grow crops that can be turned into fuels meant to produce fewer emissions than gas or oil.", "By Morris, Helen This staff-owned firm finds investing in its products and a 100m biomass plant yields rewards. By Helen Morris Paper manufacturing in the UK has gone through a torrid few months.", "The UK is lagging behind other countries on biomass and biofuels, says a parliamentary committee.", "Britain's newest biodiesel plant, capable of turning recycled cooking oil and animal fats into fuel for cars, is due onstream in Scotland this spring, boosting output of the green fuel by up to 35,000 tonnes a ...", "The processes for growing crops as raw material for fuel and converting it to liquids are in their infancy, so expect ethanol and", "BERLIN, Dec 29 (IPS/IFEJ) - Until a few months ago, the production of crop-based fuels was the best energy business imaginable in Germany, thanks to growing demand supported by the government. That's no longer the case.", "Science & environment: Proposed Sellafield fuel-processing plant could provide 60 per cent of UK's electricity until 2060", "By CHRIS YOUNG OUTDOORS EDITOR The push to produce more renewable fuels such as ethanol has to be about the best news for corn growers since Henry Wallace introduced hybrid varieties in the 1920s.", "British government ministers have decided to back a campaign to introduce genetically-modified crops in the country, The Guardian reported in an early edition of its Monday paper.", "Genetically-modified sugar beet can be grown in a way that helps wildlife, UK researchers say.", "Plans to make cars greener by using fuel made from crops and animal fat are in doubt", "By NO BYLINE A TASKFORCE is to be set up to find ways of increasing the supply of wood to make biomass energy. Mike Russell, the environment minister, announced the move yesterday on a visit to E.ON's soon-to- open GBP 90 million plant in Lockerbie. (c) 2007 Scotsman, The.", "Stocks indexes rose on Thursday as higher oil prices lifted energy stocks while a crop of positive headlines boosted pharmaceutical stocks.", "The UK strawberry crop may be under threat due to a shortage of migrant workers, the farmers' union warns.", "Good rains and improved seeds boost crop production in Ethiopia but emergency assistance is still needed.", "It is too early to say if the recent torrential rain will hit UK potato supplies, the crop's main trade body insists.", "Virgin Mobile UK, the UK mobile virtual network operator, is boosting its mobile data capabilities through a key deal with InfoSpace Mobile.", "The government awarded $385 million in grants last week aimed at jumpstarting ethanol production from nontraditional sources like wood chips, switchgrass and citrus peels. What's surprising is that half of the six projects chosen will use a process first discovered almost a century ago to turn coal into a gas.", "Crop switch likely to increase emissions Good science news (or bad, depending on your point of view) has arrived with two reports on the carbon footprint of biofuels, in the paper edition of Science magazine. They deal serious damage to the belief - which up to now has been driving the biofuel bubble - that stepped-up ethanol production in the US is an answer to global warming.…", "Life & style: First coffee served made with UK-grown beans but Eden Project crop enough for just 20 cups", "North Carolina is trying to boost the buzz surrounding the state's crops. As farmers leave tobacco and move into new crops like cucumbers, melons, and berries, the state is confronting a crisis: it simply doesn't have enough honeybees to pollinate all those flowering plants.", "Countries need to be producing their own biofuels such as ethanol because importing green energy can damage the environment, UK lobby groups say.", "British scientists say they have found a new, greener way to power cars and homes using sunflower oil, a commodity more commonly used for cooking fries.", "Travel: Airline says UK's ethnic minorities fuel demand.", "If approved, the law would prohibit the importation of fuels derived from crops grown on certain kinds of land — including forests, wetlands or grasslands.", "DuPont and BP have announced they will invest $58 million in biofuel production assets at two facilities in the U.K. The two plan to construct a biobutanol demonstration facility, what the companies call the ... via Inside Greentech", "Producing biofuels from a fast-growing grass emit up to 94% less carbon dioxide than petrol, a large-scale study finds.", "Afghanistan's poppy crop, which is turned into most of the world's heroin and helps fuel the Taliban insurgency, should be used instead to make pain killers, the European Parliament said on Thursday.", "UK scientists develop a process for making hydrogen from sunflower oil which may become an important future source of eco-friendly energy.", "At a mega fuel depot for tanker trucks, President Bush heralded a new ethanol agreement with Brazil Friday as way to boost alternative fuels production across the Americas.", "Afghans significantly increased their poppy crop in the past year, fueling a narcotics trade that endangers U.S.-led efforts to stabilize the country, officials said Thursday.", "International aviation not included in UK figures while mild winter means country used less fuel" ]

[ "The international group, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, warns that the unemployment rate for its 30 member nations could reach a high of 10 percent by 2010. The unemployment rate across the countries in the O.E.C.D. was 8.5 percent for July. From the New York Times: Government spending programs on the labor market -- re-training programs, for example -- do not appear focused enough to bring the unemployment rate down soon, the report said. \"A major risk is that much of this large hike in unemployment becomes structural in nature as many of the unemployed drift into long-term joblessness or drop out of the labor force,\" said John P. Martin, director at the O.E.C.D. for employment. That occurred in a number of O.E.C.D. countries during past recessions, \"when unemployment remained at a new higher plateau compared with the pre-crisis level even after output returned to potential and it took many years, if ever, to bring it down again to the pre-crisis level.\" The report recommends governments focus a significant amount of attention on young people to avoid the risk of a generation of people \"losing touch with the job market.\"" ]

[ "On-air challenge: Today's puzzle is geographical. Every answer is the name of a river — identify it using its anagram minus a letter. Example: Top minus T = Po (River). Last Week's Challenge: Name part of a TV that contains the letter C. Replace the C with the name of a book of the Old Testament, keeping all the letters in order. The result will name a sailing vessel of old. What is it? Answer: Viking Ship Winner: Jay Adams of Monticello, Fla. Next week's challenge: From 11-year-old listener, Eli Shear-Baggish, of Arlington, Mass. Name a certain trip that contains the letter S. Change the S to a C and rearrange the resulting letters. You'll name the location where this trip often takes place. Where is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: This is WEEKEND EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Rachel Martin. Bartender, a puzzle please. Neat. Joining me now is Will Shortz. He is the puzzle editor of the New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle master. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel. MARTIN: OK, what was last week's challenge? SHORTZ: Yes, I said name part of a TV that contains the letter C. I said replace the C with a name of a book of the Old Testament, keeping all of the letters in order. And the result will name a sailing vessel of old. What is it? Well, the part of the TV is a V-chip. If you switch the C out to make first Kings - that's I-K-I-N-G-S. And read all those letters in order you get Viking ship. MARTIN: (Laughing) So this one was tough. We only got around 150 correct answers. And our randomly selected winner is Jay Adams of Monticello, Florida. He joins us now on the line. Hey, Jay. Congratulations. JAY ADAMS: Thank you very much. MARTIN: So this was a hard one. How did you figure it out? Did you have to work on it for a while? ADAMS: I did, actually. I got it about two in the morning, Thursday morning. I was looking at chip thinking ship. And I kept looking at king ship, king ship. And I just thought at one point, if I only had a V-I... (LAUGHTER) ADAMS: ...And then I thought, wait, I do have a V-I. MARTIN: So you live in Monticello. I'm saying that right, correct? It's not Monticello, Florida? ADAMS: You are. We're simple people. We didn't know how Jefferson pronounced it. MARTIN: (Laughing) Well, that was the name of the street I grew up on, so (laughing) I'm right there with you. So with that, Jay, are you ready to play the puzzle? ADAMS: I'll do my best. MARTIN: All right, that's all we can ask for. Let's give it a go, Will. SHORTZ: All right, Jay and Rachel. Today's puzzle is geographical. Every answer is the name of a river, which I'd like you to identify from its anagram. For example, if I said top, T-O-P, minus T, you would say Po. That, of course, is the easiest one... (LAUGHTER) SHORTZ: ...With only two letters. They move up from there. MARTIN: (Laughing) OK. You got it, Jay? ADAMS: I've got it, I think. MARTIN: All right, let's give it a try. SHORTZ: Number one is elfin - E-L-F-I-N - minus F. ADAMS: Would be the Nile. SHORTZ: That's right. Number two is cooing - C-O-O-I-N-G - minus I. ADAMS: The Congo. SHORTZ: Congo, good. Enrich - E-N-R-I-C-H - minus C. ADAMS: Oh, boy, they're - we're getting more letters. SHORTZ: Think Germany for this one. MARTIN: Oh. SHORTZ: And it works... ADAMS: The Rhine? SHORTZ: The Rhine, yeah. Either English spelling or German spelling. How about boiler - B-O-I-L-E-R - minus B. ADAMS: The Loire. SHORTZ: The Loire, yes. MARTIN: Good. SHORTZ: Nieces - N-I-E-C-E-S - minus C. ADAMS: The Seine. SHORTZ: Oh, that's fast. MARTIN: Seine, yeah. SHORTZ: Hamster - H-A-M-S-T-E-R - minus R. ADAMS: The Thames. MARTIN: Good. SHORTZ: The Thames in London, good. Subdean - S-U-B-D-E-A-N - minus S. ADAMS: Oh, my, could you spell that again please? SHORTZ: S-U-B-D-E-A-N. Like at a college, it would be the second in command. ADAMS: Yeah, that's not a real word. (LAUGHTER) SHORTZ: I like that. I believe it's the longest river in Europe. MARTIN: Oh. Can you tell us what it starts with? SHORTZ: It starts with a D. MARTIN: Yeah, OK. Oh, I know. ADAMS: The Danube. MARTIN: Yes. SHORTZ: The Danube, yes. Snagged - S-N-A-G-G-E-D - minus the D. ADAMS: The Ganges? SHORTZ: Ganges, good. MARTIN: Good, Jay. SHORTZ: All right, talking about words that you're not going to believe, how about coronoid - C-O-R-O-N-O-I-D - coronoid, minus D. ADAMS: An Orinoco, something along those lines? SHORTZ: I'll give you that. In South America, the Orinoco. MARTIN: Wow. SHORTZ: And your last one is corrigenda - C-O-R-R-I-G-E-N-D-A - corrigenda, minus C. And here's your hint, it's two words. And I'll tell you it's in North America. ADAMS: Nothing is coming to mind. MARTIN: OK, tell us what the first word starts with. SHORTZ: The first word starts with R. MAR", "Bobby Braddock was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1981. By that point, he had amassed a string of hit songs, including George Jones' \"He Stopped Loving Her Today,\" Tanya Tucker's \"I Believe the South Is Going to Rise Again,\" Tammy Wynette's \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E\" and Toby Keith's \"I Want to Talk About Me.\" Braddock joined Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 2007 to discuss his memoir, Down in Orburndale, where he detailed growing up in old Florida, as well as his thoughts on the difference between the old-school and new-school country musicians with whom he's worked over the years. \"George [Jones] comes from a different era, and it's more from the perspective of maybe somebody who does not have as much self-confidence,\" he says. \"This was an era when country music was about, 'She went off and left me, you know, my heart's broken.' You don't exactly hear that [now]. I can't imagine Toby Keith saying, 'Baby, you left me, I love you so much, please come back to me.' Country singers did a lot of that back in the '50s and '60s. You don't hear as much about that now.\" Interview Highlights On Writing 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E' I had written a song called \"I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U, Do I Have to Spell It Out for You?\" And it wasn't very good, and that sort of inspired this song. And I wrote it; nobody recorded it. I asked my friend Curly Putnam why did he think no one had recorded it, and he said he thought the melody was a little bit to happy for a sad song. And I said, 'What would you do?' And he got around the title line and just made it sound real mournful, and mine sounded sort of like a detergent commercial. And I said, 'Hey, let's get it on the tape like that.' And he didn't want any of it, and I wanted him to have half, so we compromised and took a quarter of it, and Tammy Wynette recorded it within, I'd say, probably a week or two after that.\" On Writing 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' \"It's the story of a man whose love was so strong that the only way he could get over this woman was to die. I think he was a terrible role model, a very bad role model. The man was obsessed with this woman and he never got over; he never moved on. Again, this is one I wrote with Curly Putnam, and I thought it was just an okay song. I didn't think it was that great a song. And when the producer Billy Sherrill played me George's recording of it, I went, 'Wow, this is something really great.' And I think in this instance, the artist and the production elevated the song to a place that it wouldn't have been otherwise. I really attribute so much of the success of this to George Jones and his producer. Because after I heard it, I realized then it was indeed something very special.\" On Today's Country Musicians \"What does bother me is that I think to get a record deal now, somebody has got to be very handsome or very pretty ... because I look back at some of the great singers, you know, they never would have gotten a deal today. Because aesthetically or cosmetically speaking, you know, I think they probably don't meet the standard of today... I mean, I've heard that said in retrospect about, say, for instance, Marty Robbins... or Hank Williams, or Patsy Cline... or Kate Smith. You know, I think we probably would have missed out on a lot of good music. And we're probably missing out on a lot of good music now because they want people who are very video-friendly.\" TERRY GROSS, host: Our Country Music Week continues with Bobby Braddock, who wrote George Jones' hit \"He Stopped Loving Her Today,\" and co-wrote Tammy Wynette's hit, \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E,\" before she married George Jones. Braddock also wrote Tanya Tucker's \"I Believe the South is Gonna Rise Again\" and Toby Keith's \"I Wanna Talk About Me.\" Bobby Braddock was inducted into the Nashville Hall of Fame in 1981. After decades of lyric writing, he wrote a memoir about growing up in old Florida. I interviewed him when it was published in 2007. Let's start with a Braddock song that was a number one hit on the country music charts in 1968. Here's Tammy Wynette. (Soundbite of song, \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E\") Ms. TAMMY WYNETTE (Musician): (Singing) Our little boy is 4 years old and quite a little man. So we spell out the words we don't want him to understand. Like t-o-y, or maybe s-u-r-p-r-i-s-e. But the words we're hiding from him now tear the heart right out of me. Our d-i-v-o-r-c-e becomes final today. Me and little J-o-e will be going away. I love you both, and this will be pure h-e-double-l for me. Oh, I wish that we could stop this d-i-v-o-r-c-e. GROSS: Bobby Braddock, welcome to FRESH AIR. So tell us the story behind this song. How did you write it? Mr. BOBBY BRADDOCK (Songwriter): \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E,\" I had written a song called \"I L-O-V-E Y-O-U, Do I Have to Spell it Out for You?\" And it wasn't very good, and that sort of inspired this song. I wrote it. Nobody recorded it. I asked my friend Curly Putnam, why did he think no one had recorded it? And he said he thought the melody was a little bit too ", "On-air challenge: Today's puzzle is called \"Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.\" Every answer is a word starting with the letters \"ch,\" and your clue will be an anagram of the word. Last week's challenge: Name a famous actress of the past whose last name has five letters. Move the middle letter to the end to name another famous actress of the past. Who are these actresses? Answer: Greta Garbo/Eva or Zsa Zsa Gabor Winner: Craig Moreland from Okemos, Mich. Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Ben Kaufman of Portland, Ore. Think of a popular TV show about cooking. I guarantee it's a show everyone has heard of. Remove the second and third letters of the first word and insert them after the first letter of the second word. You'll get a phrase for a different kind of cooking. What is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. ARUN RATH, HOST: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Arun Rath. In a world where anagrams and acronyms lurk in dark corners, and the only defenses are wit and words, one listener must go forth and puzzle. Joining me now is Will Shortz. He is of course the puzzle editor of the New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION'S puzzle master. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Morning, Arun. RATH: So last week you challenged us to a Hollywood inspired puzzle, which was nice for me since I live in Los Angeles. Can you remind us what the challenge was? SHORTZ: Yes. I said, name a famous actress of the past whose last name has five letters. Move the middle letter to the end to name another famous actress of the past. I asked, who are these actresses? Well, the first was Greta Garbo, G-A-R-B-O. Move the R and you get Gabor, as in Eva or Zsa Zsa. RATH: Nice. We got about 1,900 correct answers this week. And our randomly selected winner is Craig Moreland from Okemos, Michigan. He joins us on the line now. Congratulations, Craig. CRAIG MORELAND: Thank you very much. RATH: So Craig how did you figure this one out? MORELAND: You know, this is one of those ones that just really came to me without thinking about it very much. I don't know why. You know, sometimes that happens. I don't know why. I was out walking the dog, and I thought of Greta Garbo and - hey, that works. I was thinking of Eva more than Zsa Zsa, but I got it. RATH: Nice. Well, lucky you. How long have you been playing the puzzle? MORELAND: Since Mr. Shortz was at Games magazine. So like... RATH: Woah. MORELAND: Well over 20 years I think. RATH: Nice. So that must make the victory especially sweet. MORELAND: Yeah, especially when I hear people that have been on more than once or, you know, win with their first entry, so. RATH: And Craig, what you do for a living? MORELAND: I am a news photographer at a TV station in Detroit. RATH: Excellent. That sounds like an exciting job. MORELAND: It can be. It can be. RATH: So Craig, are you ready to play the puzzle? MORELAND: I am ready. RATH: OK, let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Craig and Arun. Today's puzzle is called ch-ch-ch-changes. Every answer is a word starting with the letters C-H, which I'd like you to get from its anagram. For example, if I said C-H plus tale - T-A-L-E, you should say chale. So it always starts with C-H. Your first one is C-H plus cane, C-A-N-E. MORELAND: C-H-C-A-N-E. RATH: Think I got this. MORELAND: Oh, OK go ahead, Arun. RATH: Is it chance? SHORTZ: Chance is it, good. All right. Number two is C-H plus lies, L-I-E-S. Think of a tool. MORELAND: A chisel. SHORTZ: Chisel is it. C-H plus sour, S-O-U-R. MORELAND: Chorus. RATH: Good one. SHORTZ: Chorus is it. C-H plus nose, N-O-S-E. MORELAND: Chosen. SHORTZ: Excellent. C-H plus more, M-O-R-E. MORELAND: Arun? RATH: I'm... (Laughing). SHORTZ: That ball's thrown into your court. This is a little tricky 'cause it does not - the next letter is not a vowel. It's one of the consonants. MORELAND: Chrome. SHORTZ: Chrome is it. C-H plus plea, P-L-E-A. MORELAND: Chapel. RATH: Yeah. SHORTZ: Plus rube, R-U-B-E. MORELAND: Cherub. SHORTZ: Plus eyes, E-Y-E-S. MORELAND: Cheesy. SHORTZ: Cheesy is it. RATH: I'm not cheesy. Oh, that's your answer. Sorry. MORELAND: No, no. SHORTZ: Plus grain, G-R-A-I-N. MORELAND: Is that chagrin? SHORTZ: Excellent. RATH: Nice. SHORTZ: Plus times, T-I-M-E-S. MORELAND: Chemist? SHORTZ: Oh, yeah. RATH: Wow. SHORTZ: Plus dread, D-R-E-A-D. MORELAND: D-R-E-A-D. Is it cheddar? SHORTZ: Cheddar is it. Plus rowed, R-O-W-E-D. MORELAND: Is it chowder? SHORTZ: Plus ratio, R-A-T-I-O. RATH: Ah, mode of transport? SHORTZ: Yes. MORELAND: A chariot. SHORTZ: That's it. Nice clue, too. Plus prate, P-R-A-T-E. MORELAND: Is that chapter? SHORTZ: Plus marina, M-A-R-I-N-A. MORELAND: I'm drawing a blank on this one. SHORTZ: And it's a hint - it's something a meeting would have. Maybe. MORELAND: Oh, a chairman. SHORTZ: A chairma", "many surrounding areas. The historic C and O canal is once again in danger only a month after a $25 million repair job following the winter flood.", "Test your fireworks knowledge. Give yourself 10 points for each correct answer. If you get 50 points or less, it means \"your matches are wet;\" 60 points: \"your matches blew out;\" 70 points: \"too few matches;\" 80 points: \"you're ready to fire,\" 90 to 100: \"you're a qualified fireworks nut.\" 110 points is a perfect score. Good Luck. 1. Who is the honorary Fireworks Commissioner of New York City? a. The late George Plimpton b. Ed Koch c. Alfonse D'Amato d. John Gotti e. Henry Kissinger. For an extra 10 points - name the book he wrote. 2. What fireworks color draws the most ooh's and aah's from an audience? a. Red b. White c. Blue d. Gold e. Black 3. What year was the Statue of Liberty Centennial fireworks displayed? a. 1886 b. 1976 c. 1986 d. 1996 e. 2006 4. What three ingredients are used to make black powder? a. Sugar and spice and everything nice b. Potassium chlorate, sulfur and charcoal c. Sodium Oxalate, sulfur and charcoal d. Potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal e. None of these 5. Which of these fireworks are banned in over 35 states? a. M-80s b. Roman Candles c. Ladyfingers d. Bottle Rockets e. All of the above 6. What national agency helps to regulate the fireworks industry? a. NFPA b. NYCFD c. OSHA d. NASA e. USOC 7. What metal salt is used to make red fireworks? a. Barium b. Strontium c. Sodium d. Magnesium e. Rhubarb 8. How much approximately does the average Grucci 4th of July fireworks display cost? a. $7,500 b. $16,750 c. $35,500 d. $50,000 e. $1 million 9. The Gruccis displayed a 40-inch fireworks shell, the largest ever displayed in the United States, Aug. 14, 1977 at Tidesville, Fla. What was the name of their shell? a. Universe I b. Starship Enterprise c. Discovery II d. Fat Man II e. Mad Bomber 10. The fireworks effect that goes bang in the night is called a... a. Maroon b. Salute c. Report d. Kaboom e. All of the above. CLICK FOR THE ANSWERS", "What do a quiet afternoon with a book and fireworks after dark on the Fourth of July have in common? Donna Grucci-Butler. Grucci-Butler is president of the famed Grucci Fireworks company of Long Island. And while she's not preparing for Commerce Bank Celebrates America -- her company's big Independence Day show -- she's trying to sneak in some reading. She tells Liane Hansen what she's been reading lately... and what she might get to when things quiet down a bit. Test your fireworks knowledge. Give yourself 10 points for each correct answer. If you get 50 points or less, it means \"your matches are wet;\" 60 points: \"your matches blew out;\" 70 points: \"too few matches;\" 80 points: \"you're ready to fire,\" 90 to 100: \"you're a qualified fireworks nut.\" 110 points is a perfect score. Good Luck. 1. Who is the honorary Fireworks Commissioner of New York City? a. The late George Plimpton b. Ed Koch c. Alfonse D'Amato d. John Gotti e. Henry Kissinger. For an extra 10 points - name the book he wrote. 2. What fireworks color draws the most ooh's and aah's from an audience? a. Red b. White c. Blue d. Gold e. Black 3. What year was the Statue of Liberty Centennial fireworks displayed? a. 1886 b. 1976 c. 1986 d. 1996 e. 2006 4. What three ingredients are used to make black powder? a. Sugar and spice and everything nice b. Potassium chlorate, sulfur and charcoal c. Sodium Oxalate, sulfur and charcoal d. Potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal e. None of these 5. Which of these fireworks are banned in over 35 states? a. M-80s b. Roman Candles c. Ladyfingers d. Bottle Rockets e. All of the above 6. What national agency helps to regulate the fireworks industry? a. NFPA b. NYCFD c. OSHA d. NASA e. USOC 7. What metal salt is used to make red fireworks? a. Barium b. Strontium c. Sodium d. Magnesium e. Rhubarb 8. How much approximately does the average Grucci 4th of July fireworks display cost? a. $7,500 b. $16,750 c. $35,500 d. $50,000 e. $1 million 9. The Gruccis displayed a 40-inch fireworks shell, the largest ever displayed in the United States, Aug. 14, 1977 at Tidesville, Fla. What was the name of their shell? a. Universe I b. Starship Enterprise c. Discovery II d. Fat Man II e. Mad Bomber 10. The fireworks effect that goes bang in the night is called a... a. Maroon b. Salute c. Report d. Kaboom e. All of the above. CLICK FOR THE ANSWERS", "A British court bars Diane Duffin from playing country music classics between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Duffin's neighbors in Leeds complained she played the same songs — including Tammy Wynette's \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E\" — 20 times in one day.", "On-air challenge: For each word, change one letter in it to name a drink. Ex. LATER --&gt; WATER or LAGER1. COFFER2. TOPIC3. WIDER4. WHISKER5. PINCH6. SCORCH7. MARTINS8. POSTER9. MILD10. BEAR11. LEAD12. WINK13. COLD14. LAKE15. BRANDS16. SO LONG Last week's challenge: This challenge came from listener Patrick Berry of Jasper, Alabama. It was another anagram. Rearrange the 15 letters of COOL HIT FARE IN L.A. to name a famous song that's appropriate to the given phrase. Answer: \"Hotel California\" by the Eagles Winner: Steven Reisman of Afton, Minn. Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Al Gori of Cozy Lake, N.J. Think of a famous quotation with 8 words. The initial letters of the first 4 words themselves spell a word, and the initial letters of the last 4 words spell another word. Both words rhyme with \"jab.\" What quotation is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m. ET. LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: Football season is back in full force, but you know what's even better than watching the home team score a touchdown? It is The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) WERTHEIMER: Joining me as always is Will Shortz. He is puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION'S puzzle master. Will, good morning. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Linda. Welcome back. WERTHEIMER: Thank you. Thank you. So, Will, can you remind us of last week's challenge? SHORTZ: Yeah, it was on the easy side but very pretty. It came from listener Patrick Berry of Jasper, Ala. And I said rearrange the 15 letters of cool hit fare - F-A-R-E - in LA to name a famous song that's appropriate to the given phrase. And the answer is \"Hotel California\" by The Eagles. WERTHEIMER: So we received this week - I guess you must have struck some sort of chord - 1,450 correct responses. Our randomly selected winner is Steven Reisman of Afton, Minn. Congratulations, Steven. STEVEN REISMAN: Well, thanks, Linda. Thanks, Will. WERTHEIMER: So I understand, Steven, that you have been playing the puzzle since its very first broadcast, which, I guess, is about - what? - 1987? REISMAN: Well, about 30 years. I was listening to the inaugural broadcasts of Weekend Sunday and Weekend Saturday. And yeah, I played with postcards - an unknown number of postcards and I've got to... (LAUGHTER) REISMAN: I've saved all copies of my email and web submissions. And it looks like I have about 390 email and web submissions. WERTHEIMER: Oh, my goodness. Well, I am told that in all of that, one particular puzzle stands out for you. What was it? REISMAN: Well, it was June 11 of '95. Will, you remember back then the puzzle was, given the 26 letters of the alphabet, form two words using as many letters as possible without duplication. And there were only four of us who came up with the answer. WERTHEIMER: (Laughter) What was the answer? REISMAN: The answer was blacksmith and gunpowdery. And I was called and told that I was an honorable mention. SHORTZ: Nice. WERTHEIMER: (Laughter) So are you ready to try it again? Play the puzzle? REISMAN: I'm ready. WERTHEIMER: OK. Will, let's play. SHORTZ: All right. Steven, sounds like you are really ready after 30 years. I'm going to give you some words. For each one, change one letter in it to name something to drink. For example, if I said later - L-A-T-E-R - you could say either water or lager. Either one would work. REISMAN: OK. SHORTZ: Here's number one, coffer - C-O-F-F-E-R. REISMAN: Coffee. SHORTZ: That's right. Number two is topic - T-O-P-I-C. REISMAN: Tonic. SHORTZ: Wider - W-I-D-E-R. REISMAN: Cider. SHORTZ: That's it. WERTHEIMER: Very good. SHORTZ: Whisker - W-H-I-S-K-E-R. REISMAN: Whiskey. SHORTZ: Pinch - P-I-N-C-H. REISMAN: Punch. SHORTZ: That's it. Scorch - S-C-O-R-C-H. REISMAN: Scotch. SHORTZ: Martins - M-A-R-T-I-N-S. REISMAN: Martini. SHORTZ: Mild - M-I-L-D. REISMAN: Milk. SHORTZ: Bear - B-E-A-R. REISMAN: Beer. SHORTZ: Lead - L-E-A-D. Something that people don't drink much nowadays, but they did maybe five, seven hundred years ago. REISMAN: Oh, mead. SHORTZ: Mead is it, good. REISMAN: It's honey... WERTHEIMER: Back when they were drinking porter. SHORTZ: That's right. Wink - W-I-N-K. REISMAN: Wine. SHORTZ: Cold - C-O-L-D. REISMAN: Well, I can think of Colt 45, but... SHORTZ: Colt, yeah. No, brand names here though. REISMAN: Cola. SHORTZ: Cola, is it? REISMAN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Lake - L-A-K-E. It's a tricky one because the answer is in two syllables. REISMAN: Oh, sake. SHORTZ: That's it. And here's your last one, so long - S-O-L-O-N-G. WERTHEIMER: I'm not getting it. REISMAN: No, I'm not seeing that offhand. SHORTZ: Yeah, change the first letter. REISMAN: Oh, oolong. WERTHEIMER: Oh, tea. It's tea. REISMAN: Oolong tea. Good job. WERTHEIMER: Very good. So, Steven, you're obviously up on your booze. REISMAN: (Laugh", "&nbsp;&nbsp; On-Air Challenge You are given three four-letter words. Think of three letters that can precede each of them to complete familiar seven-letter words. For example, given \"each,\" \"rove\" and \"lode,\" the answer would be \"imp\" for \"impeach,\" \"improve\" and \"implode.\" Challenge From Last Week Think of a word starting with \"T-E\" and another word starting with \"S-T\" that are synonyms. Hint: The \"T-E\" word has two syllables; the \"S-T\" word has one. Answer: Tempest and storm Winner: Harley Cahen of University Park, Md. Next Week's Challenge From Henry Hook: Take the name Kevin Kline. The first and last names both have five letters. Written in capital letters — KEVIN KLINE — each name consists of exactly 13 straight lines and no curves. Name a well-known TV personality with five-letter first and last names. Each name contains exactly 14 straight lines and no curves. Who is this? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. ALISON STEWART, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Alison Stewart. Joining us is puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hey, Alison. STEWART: All right. Now, I heard the challenge last week when I was home in my living room, but let me hear it now that I'm here in the NPR studios. SHORTZ: Yes, it was a straightforward challenge. I said, think of a word starting with T-E and another word starting with S-T that are synonyms. And as a hint, I said the T-E word has two syllables, the S-T word has one. STEWART: So, Will, what's the answer? SHORTZ: Answer is tempest and storm. STEWART: Ah. We had over 1,500 entries this past week, and our lucky winner is Harley Cahen of University Park, Maryland. And since he's a local to the Washington area, well, he just jumped on the Metro and he's joining us here in the studio for today's puzzle. Hi, Harley, welcome. Mr. HARLEY CAHEN: Hi, Alison. STEWART: How long did it take you to solve that puzzle? Mr. CAHEN: I got this one right away. We've had about a month of very stormy weather here in the Washington area, and it came to me. Right. (Soundbite of laughter) STEWART: How long have you been playing the puzzle, Harley? Mr. CAHEN: I go back to the postcard days. (Soundbite of laughter) Mr. CAHEN: My wife, who remembers most of my life for me, tells me that we've been listening since the inaugural show 20 years ago or so. STEWART: Wow. Mr. CAHEN: And we were in Ithaca, New York at the time. STEWART: Okay, Will, meet Harley. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Harley. I'm going to give you three four-letter words. Think of three letters that can precede each of these to complete familiar seven-letter words. For example, if I said each, rove R-O-V-E and lode, L-O-D-E, you would say I-M-P, which is impeach, improve and implode. STEWART: Oh, my. Mr. CAHEN: All righty. SHORTZ: Not so bad. Here's number one: riot, R-I-O-T, lice, L-I-C-E, and grin, G-R-I-N. Mr. CAHEN: Uh-oh. I'm stuck on two letters, police. SHORTZ: What goes in front of riot? Mr. CAHEN: Riot. It's not a laugh riot. (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Something you saw in the movie \"Ben-Hur.\" STEWART: Oh, of fire. Mr. CAHEN: Chariot. SHORTZ: Chariot. Mr. CAHEN: Chalice, chagrin. SHORTZ: That's it. Here's your next one: gain, G-A-I-N, rack, R-A-C-K and rage, R-A-G-E. Mr. CAHEN: Oh, boy. It's not going to be: out. I am… SHORTZ: And if you go for the gain word, if you go to a store, what would you look for? Mr. CAHEN: A bargain SHORTZ: A bargain. Mr. CAHEN: Barrack, barrage. SHORTZ: And barrage. Good. Mite, M-I-T-E, race, R-A-C-E, and mini, M-I-N-I. Mr. CAHEN: Ter: termite, terrace, termini. SHORTZ: That's correct. Roof, R-O-O-F, lace, L-A-C-E and tile, T-I-L-E. Mr. CAHEN: Roof, lace, tile. STEWART: Seven-letter words, right? Mr. CAHEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Yeah. STEWART: Hmm. SHORTZ: And for the tile word, what's an alligator an example of? STEWART: Reptile. Mr. CAHEN: The reptile, reproof, replace. SHORTZ: That's correct. Mr. CAHEN: Oh, my gosh. SHORTZ: And, that's it. That's it. Verb, V-E-R-B, pane, P-A-N-E and fuse, F-U-S-E. Mr. CAHEN: Pro. SHORTZ: That's it. And propane and profuse. Good. (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Soon, S-O-O-N, arch, A-R-C-H and eyed, E-Y-E-D. Mr. CAHEN: It looks like mon. SHORTZ: Yes, monsoon, monarch and moneyed. How about this one, loon, L-O-O-N, last, L-A-S-T and dish, D-I-S-H? Mr. CAHEN: Oh, boy. Balloon, ballast and baldish? (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Baldish, yeah. If you're losing your hair a little. STEWART: Harley has a full head of hair, for the record. SHORTZ: Okay. STEWART: That's why he didn't (unintelligible). (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: That's why he didn't catch that one. Yeah. Dual, D-U-A-L, nite, N-I-T-E and sped, S-P-E-D. Mr. CAHEN: Okay, that's G-R-A. SHORTZ: That's it: gra", "On-air challenge: For each word, change one letter in it to get a common boy's name. Ex. VECTOR --> Victor or Hector 1. CHARGES 2. TENNIS 3. CARGOS 4. SPENDER 5. EVEREST 6. WAVIER 7. MARGIN 8. COWARD 9. SEVILLE 10. NORMAL 11. WAITER 12. SLIVER 13. CORDON Last week's challenge: This puzzle was for the new school year. Think of two antonyms, each in three letters. Set them side by side. In between them arrange the letters of TRY TO ACE in some order. The result will name someone at school. Who is it? Answer: History Teacher Winner: : Gordon Brown of Winston-Salem, N.C. Next week's challenge: Think of a familiar 6-letter boy's name starting with a vowel. Change the first letter to a consonant to get another familiar boy's name. Then change the first letter to another consonant to get another familiar boy's name. What names are these? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. ET. LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: Today is National Punctuation Day. And you know where we always use multiple exclamation points - of course, it's The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) GARCIA-NAVARRO: Joining me as always is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster. Will, good morning. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Lulu. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Remind us of last week's challenge. SHORTZ: Yeah. It was one for the new school year. I said think of two antonyms, each in three letters. Set them side by side. And in between them, arrange the letters of - try to ace - in some order. And I said the result will name someone at school. Who is it? And the opposites are his and her. And in between, put those letters, you get history teacher. GARCIA-NAVARRO: We received more than 1,500 responses. And our randomly selected winner is Gordon Brown of Winston-Salem, N.C. Congratulations. GORDON BROWN: Thank you very much. GARCIA-NAVARRO: How long have you been playing The Puzzle, sir, if I may ask? BROWN: Well, I've been listening regularly for about 14 years, I think, and submitting answers for about the last 10. And so it's been a little while. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And do you have a question for Will? BROWN: I don't. GARCIA-NAVARRO: (Laughter) Fair enough. SHORTZ: That's perfectly fine. GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's perfectly fine. Don't worry. BROWN: I thought about asking him what he thought about the UVA football game yesterday. But, you know... GARCIA-NAVARRO: He's not a football fan. I can just jump in right there and tell you. SHORTZ: Oh, well, I am a UVA fan. But I wasn't following the game. So I have no opinion on that. GARCIA-NAVARRO: All right. Well, there you go. I'm sorry. I didn't - I spoke for you, Will, and that was incorrect of me. I take it all back. SHORTZ: As a UVA grad, yeah, that is one I'm interested in. GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK, there you go. It's just that we've talked about the Super Bowl before and both of us, you know, weren't as invested as we could have been. All right, are you ready to play The Puzzle, Gordon? BROWN: Yes, ma'am. GARCIA-NAVARRO: All right, let's go. SHORTZ: All right, Gordon, I'm going to give you some words of six or more letters. For each one, change one letter to get a common boy's name. For example, if I said vector - V-E-C-T-O-R - you could say Victor, changing the E to an I. You could've also said Hector, changing the V to an H. That one had two answers. Here's number one, charges - C-H-A-R-G-E-S. BROWN: Charles. SHORTZ: Charles is right. Number two is tennis - T-E-N-N-I-S. BROWN: Dennis. SHORTZ: Dennis is it. Cargos - C-A-R-G-O-S. BROWN: Carlos. SHORTZ: Carlos, nice. Spender - S-P-E-N-D-E-R. BROWN: Drawing a blank on that one. GARCIA-NAVARRO: If you think of a famous actor whose last name is Tracy. BROWN: Oh, Spencer. Yeah. SHORTZ: Spencer does it. Good. Everest, E-V-E-R-E-S-T. BROWN: Everett. SHORTZ: That's it. Wavier, W-A-V-I-E-R. BROWN: Xavier. SHORTZ: Xavier works, also Javier, either one. How about margin - M-A-R-G-I-N? BROWN: Help again there. SHORTZ: Change the G. BROWN: Marlin. SHORTZ: Marlin is good, also Martin and Marvin. That one had three answers. How about coward - C-O-W-A-R-D? BROWN: Howard. SHORTZ: Seville - S-E-V-I-L-L-E. BROWN: Drawing a blank on that one again. GARCIA-NAVARRO: The first name of a very famous prime minister of England during - in advance of World War II. SHORTZ: Yeah first name of Prime Minister Chamberlain. BROWN: Neville, Neville. SHORTZ: Neville is it. Good. Normal - N-O-R-M-A-L. BROWN: Norman. SHORTZ: That's it. Waiter - W-A-I-T-E-R. BROWN: Walter. SHORTZ: Walter, good. Sliver - S-L-I-V-E-R. That's a tricky one because you want to change the first letter. You want to change the S to a vowel. BROWN: Olivea (ph) (laughter). SHORTZ: Oliver. BROWN: Oliver, Oliver, yeah. SHORTZ: And one more - it's a tough one - Cordon - C-O-R-D-O-N. BROWN: Go", "Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. Challenge from March 11: Take a six-letter word used in a certain sport. Add the letter \"I.\" Re-arrange the resulting seven letters to spell the first name of a famous actress. This actress's last name, in five letters, identifies the place where the sport is played. Who is the actress and what is the sports term? Answer: Kirstie Alley, Strike, Bowling Winner: Joseph DeVincentis from Salem, Mass. Challenge for March 18: Think of a well known two-word motto. Say it quickly and it will sound like a different two-word phrase for the result of some auto garage work. What is it? LIANE HANSEN, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Liane Hansen, and joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. Mr. WILL SHORTZ (Crossword Editor, New York Times): Hi, Liane. HANSEN: Next weekend, big deal, huh? Mr. SHORTZ: Yes, the 30th Annual Crossword Championship in Stanford, and that's actually our last one in Stanford because we've just outgrown the hotel there. We're having a record crowd. Almost 700 puzzlers signed up. HANSEN: Any celebrities? Mr. SHORTZ: Well, just a little bit ago I learned that Phil Donahue was a huge crossword fan, and he's going to come and compete. How cool is that? HANSEN: It's real cool, but he doesn't get any kind of handicap for being a celebrity, does he? Mr. SHORTZ: No handicap, and no help either. HANSEN: All right, good enough. Remind us of the challenge you left us with last week. Mr. SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Henry Hook, who's one of the country's top crossword-makers. I said take a six-letter word used in a certain sport. Add the letter I, re-arrange the resulting seven letters to get the first name of a famous actress. This actress's last name identifies the place where the sport is played. Who is the actress and what's the sports term? HANSEN: And your answer? Mr. SHORTZ: Well, the word is strike, as in bowling. Add the letter I, re-arrange, you get Kirstie, K-I-R-S-T-I-E. Her last name is Alley, and you bowl in an alley. HANSEN: Excellent. We had over 900 entries from people who solved the puzzle, and our randomly selected winner is Joseph DeVincentis from Salem, Massachusetts. Hi, Joseph. Mr. JOSEPH DeVINCENTIS (Puzzle Winner): Hi. HANSEN: What do you do in Salem? Mr. DeVINCENTIS: I'm technical writer. HANSEN: How long have you been playing the puzzle? Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Six or seven years. HANSEN: All right. Well, are you ready to play today? Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Yes, I am. HANSEN: Will, meet Joe, and let's play. Mr. SHORTZ: All right, Joe, I'm going to give you two words. Rearrange the letters of the first word to get a new word, and that new word and the second word are both parts of a familiar proverb or saying. For example, if I said words, W-O-R-D-S, and pen, P-E-N, you'd re-arrange the letters of words to make sword, and you'd say the pen is mightier than the sword. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Okay. Mr. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is shore, S-H-O-R-E, and water. Re-arrange the letters of shore to make a... Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Horse. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. And what proverb... Mr. DeVINCENTIS: - water, but you can't make him drink. Mr. SHORTZ: Excellent. Number two, epics, E-P-I-C-S, and life, L-I-F-E. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Variety is the spice of life. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Super, S-U-P-E-R, and ear, E-A-R. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Oh, purse. Mr. SHORTZ: Uh-huh, that's right. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Yeah, there's something - there's some proverb about a purse and a sow's ear, but I don't remember it. HANSEN: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, is that it? Mr. SHORTZ: Nice job, that's it. More, M-O-R-E, roads, R-O-A-D-S. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: All roads lead to Rome. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Least, L-E-A-S-T, and dead, D-E-A-D. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Dead men tell no tales. Mr. SHORTZ: Good job. Earth, E-A-R-T-H, and home, H-O-M-E. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Heart. Mr. SHORTZ: Yeah. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Home is where the heart is. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Hated, H-A-T-E-D, and taxes. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: That's death. The only things that are guaranteed in life are death and taxes. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Deaf, D-E-A-F, and soldiers. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Old soldiers never die. They just fade away. Mr. SHORTZ: Good job. Runt, R-U-N-T, and another. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: One good turn deserves another. Mr. SHORTZ: Excellent. Shade, S-H-A-D-E, and one, O-N-E. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Two heads are better than one. Mr. SHORTZ: Good job. Vile, V-I-L-E, and money. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Money is the root of all evil. Mr. SHORTZ: Right, or also the love of money is the root of all evil, either way. Evil, E-V-I-L, and stones. HANSEN: So evil, I mean you can't do too many things with it. So live? Mr. SHORTZ: Yes. Mr. DeVINCENTIS: It's probably live, but I can't think of any - live and stones in it. HANSEN: People who live in glass houses... Mr. DeVINCENTIS: Oh, people who live", "This week's on-air puzzle has a familiar three-word phrase in which the first word is a verb, the second word is \"the\" and the third word is a noun. I'll give you the phrase, but with an anagram of either the first or last word, you give me the phrases. For example, if I said \"Flee the pinch,\" you would say \"Feel the pinch.\" Challenge from Last Week: Name a well-known movie in five letters, two syllables. The vowel sound in the first syllable is a short \"i.\" Change that vowel to a long \"i\" and phonetically, you'll name another famous movie, in six letters. What movies are these? The answer: SICKO and PSYCHO The winner: Nina Uzick from Olney, Md. This Week's Challenge: Think of a six-letter word ending in a vowel that names something worn outdoors. Change the vowel to a \"G\" and you'll name a popular outdoor activity. What activity is it? LYNN NEARY, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Lynn Neary, sitting in for Liane Hansen. And joining us now is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. Good to talk with you again. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Lynn. It's great to be with you again. NEARY: Having a good summer? SHORTZ: Yeah. It's hot, of course, but what else is new? NEARY: That's right. (Soundbite of laughter) NEARY: Well, let's get right to the challenge. Tell us again what the challenge was about last week? SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Henry Hook, who is one of the country's top crossword constructors. I said, name a well-known movie in five letters, two syllables. The vowel sound in the first syllable is a short I. Change that vowel to a long I and phonetically, you'll name another famous movie in six letters. What movies are these? NEARY: And the answer to that is? SHORTZ: Answer is \"Sicko\" and \"Psycho.\" NEARY: Kind of related too, aren't they? (Soundbite of laughter) NEARY: Well, we had about 1,100 correct entries for this puzzle. And our randomly selected winner is Nina Uzick from Olney, Maryland. Good to talk with you, Nina. Are you there? Ms. NINA UZICK (Puzzle Winner; Resident, Olney, Maryland): Yes, I am. NEARY: Nina, you're on the road now, I know. You're not in Olney, but what do you when you're at home? Ms. UZICK: I'm an educator. I work in a Jewish day school and I took a second job this summer as a religious director of the principal of our Synagogue school. NEARY: And how long have you been playing the puzzle? Ms. UZICK: Almost since it started. I mean, I was in graduate school in California. I followed you to Oklahoma City to San Antonio, Texas and now to Montgomery County, so I'm a very strong advocate and follower of the puzzle. Wherever we are, we listen to it. NEARY: So it's always good when a long-time listener wins a chance to do this with Will. Ms. UZICK: Yeah. NEARY: Are you ready to play now? Ms. UZICK: I'm nervous, but I'm ready. NEARY: Okay. SHORTZ: Hi, Nina. There is no reason to be nervous today. Ms. UZICK: Okay. SHORTZ: Every answer today is a familiar three-word phrase in which the first word is a verb. The second word is the, and the third word is a noun. I'll give you the phrase but with an anagram of either the first or last word, you give me the phrases. For example if I said flee the pinch, you would say feel the pinch, since feel is an anagram of flee. Ms. UZICK: Okay. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is miss the pinto. Ms. UZICK: Miss the pinto. SHORTZ: Yeah. Ms. UZICK: Oh, dear. SHORTZ: And you want - you want an anagram pinto, miss the blank. Ms. UZICK: Okay. Lynn, help me on. NEARY: I'm kind of stump. I'm not sure how to do this. SHORTZ: All right. I'll tell you what it is. It's miss the point. Rearrange the letters of pinto… Ms. UZICK: Okay. SHORTZ: …to get point. NEARY: Okay, got you. Ms. UZICK: Okay. SHORTZ: Miss the point. Number two is taste the obvious. Ms. UZICK: Okay. Let's see. Taste the obvious. SHORTZ: And what's the - you anagram of the first word. So think of blank, the obvious. NEARY: Oh, I have an idea. Ms. UZICK: I'm brain dead right now. NEARY: Is it state the obvious? SHORTZ: State the obvious. Good job. Okay, try this one. Find the item. I-T-E-M. Find the item. Ms. UZICK: Find the item. Okay. Is it… SHORTZ: And switch the first and third letters there. Ms. UZICK: E - okay, find the time. SHORTZ: Find the time. Good job. Ms. UZICK: Okay. Finally. SHORTZ: Show the odor. O-D-O-R. Show the odor. Ms. UZICK: Show the odor. Okay. Show the - show the door. SHORTZ: Show the door is it. Cork the boat. C-O-R-K. B-O-A-T, the cork. Ms. UZICK: C-O-R-K? SHORTZ: C-O-R-K. Ms. UZICK: Oh, C-O-R-K, the boat. SHORTZ: Yeah. Ms. UZICK: Rock the boat. SHORTZ: Rock the boat is it. Stem the diet. S-T-E-M. D-I-E-T. Ms. UZICK: Stem the diet. I'm on it right now. Okay. Mets the diet. Oh, stem the tide. SHORTZ: Stem the tide is it. Parse the rod. P-A-R-S-E. R-O-D. Ms. UZICK: Spare the rod. SHORTZ: Spare the rod. That was fast. Try this. Learn the prose. P-R-O-S-E. Ms. UZICK: Mmm. NEARY: Begins with an R, I ", "On-Air Challenge: Every answer today is the name of a card name. You must name the games from their anagrams. For example: \"THIS\" plus \"W\". The answer: \"WHIST\". Last Week's Challenge: Take the name of an aquatic animal, in two words, six letters in the first word and four letters in the second. Remove the first letter of each word, the remaining eight letters in order, will spell a word that might describe an animal that is not aquatic. Answer: \"Harbor Seal = Arboreal\" Winner: Jeff Jacot from Houston, Texas Next Week's Challenge comes from listener Ed Pegg Jr.: Rearrange the twelve letters of the words \"AIR CUSHIONED\" to name a person in the media, first and last names. Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. JOHN YDSTIE, Host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm John Ydstie. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, John. I understand this is our last week doing the puzzle together. YDSTIE: Yes, it is, unfortunately. I've really enjoyed it during the last month. So, remind us of the challenge you left our listeners with last week. SHORTZ: Yes. It came from listener David Ellis Dickerson of New York City. I said take the name of an aquatic animal in two words - six letters in the first word; four letters in the second. Remove the first letter of each word. The remaining eight letters in order will spell a word that might describe an animal that is not aquatic. What's the animal and what's the word? YDSTIE: And the answer is? SHORTZ: Well, the animal is a harbor seal. Drop the initials and you get arboreal, which means tree dwelling. YDSTIE: We had about 1,100 entries this week - not bad going - and out of those entries we have a winner. He's from Houston, Texas. Hello, Jeff Jacot. Congratulations. JEFF JACOT: Thank you, John. Thank you, Will. YDSTIE: And what do you do down in Houston, Jeff? JACOT: I'm an assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice University and Texas Children's Hospital. YDSTIE: And how long did it take you to solve the puzzle? JACOT: I solved it almost immediately. I was driving back from breakfast with my five-year-old son and heard it on the radio and went about it kind of backwards. I tried to think of the eight-letter adjective that couldn't describe an aquatic animal and arboreal came to me. Almost the first thing I thought of. YDSTIE: Very, very clever. And are you ready to play today? JACOT: I am. YDSTIE: OK. Will, meet Jeff. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Jeff, I have a feeling you're going to be good at this because it involves anagrams. Every answer today is the name of a card game. You name the games from their anagrams. For example, if I said this T-H-I-S plus W, you would say whist. JACOT: OK. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is rope R-O-P-E plus K. JACOT: Poker. SHORTZ: Poker is it. Number two: rebid R-E-B-I-D plus G. JACOT: Rebid? YDSTIE: Rebid. JACOT: OK. So, it can't be cribbage. SHORTZ: Hold that thought. It's R-E-B-I-D plus G. JACOT: Bridge. SHORTZ: Bridge is it. Stare S-T-A-R-E plus H. JACOT: Hearts. SHORTZ: Hearts is it. Cheer C-H-E-E-R plus U. JACOT: Euchre. SHORTZ: That's it. Passe P-A-S-S-E plus D, as in dog. JACOT: Spades. SHORTZ: Spades is it. Add oil A-D-D O-I-L plus M, as in Mary. JACOT: Old Maid. SHORTZ: Old Maid is it. Pinhole P-I-N-H-O-L-E plus C, as in Charles. JACOT: This one seems tough. YDSTIE: I've got that one actually, if you need any help but keep thinking about it. I bet you'll get it. JACOT: Pinochle. SHORTZ: Pinochle, good. In my mug. That's I-N M-Y M-U-G plus R. JACOT: Gin rummy. SHORTZ: That's it. YDSTIE: That's excellent. SHORTZ: How about rice bag R-I-C-E B-A-G plus B, as in boy. JACOT: That's cribbage. SHORTZ: There's your cribbage. Zesty cigar Z-E-S-T-Y C-I-G-A-R plus H. It's a two-word name and a popular card game among kids. JACOT: Kids. YDSTIE: It's got a Z in it. That's unusual. JACOT: It is. Having trouble with this one. YDSTIE: I'm afraid I can't help you either. SHORTZ: I stumped you both. Okay, I'll tell you. It's crazy eights. YDSTIE: Oh, crazy eights. JACOT: Yeah. SHORTZ: OK. Your last one is motel heads M-O-T-E-L H-E-A-D-S plus X. JACOT: Is it one word? SHORTZ: It's two words and it's a card game you see on TV. JACOT: Texas Hold 'Em. SHORTZ: Texas Hold 'Em is it. Nice job. YDSTIE: All right. Great work, everybody. JACOT: That was a lot of fun. YDSTIE: Yeah, that was. Jeff, you did a great job. JACOT: Thank you. SHORTZ: I knew you'd be good. JACOT: Thank you. I really love this chance. I've admired all your puzzles for years, Will. SHORTZ: Hey, thanks a lot. I appreciate that. JACOT: Welcome. YDSTIE: Great work, Jeff. And for playing our puzzle today, Jeff, you'll get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin as well as puzzle books and games that you can read about at NPR.org/Puzzle. What m", "Country music impresario, BUDDY KILLEN. For many years KILLEN was the head of Tree International, Nashville's leading music publisher, writer and producer. KILLEN once played bass in Hank Williams' band for ten dollars a night; in 1989 he sold Tree to Sony for 50 million. He's worked with just about every star in the Country firmament: Elvis Presley (Tree published \"Heartbreak Hotel\"), Dolly Parton (KILLEN signed her when she was fourteen), Willie Nelson (was a songwriter for Tree); and many classics in the Country cannon: \"King of the Road\", \"Okie from Muskogee\" and the immortal \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E\". KILLEN's new autobiography is \"By the Seat of My Pants\" (Simon &amp; Sch", "Bobby Braddock is the award-winning country songwriter behind tunes including \"He Stopped Loving Her today,\" \"D-I-V-O-R-C-E,\" and \"Did You Ever.\" Now he's tackled a different kind of writing: His memoir, Down in Orburndale: A Songwriter's Youth in Old Florida, is out now from Louisiana State University Press.", "On-air challenge: This week's on-air puzzle is similar to last week's, only a little harder. Every answer is the name of a country. For each word given, ignore the vowels. The consonants, in order from left to right, are the same consonants in the same order as in the country. For example, given the word \"omelet,\" the answer is \"Malta.\" Last week's challenge: This challenge came from listener Rudy Simons of Southfield, Mich. The letters of the one-syllable word \"groan\" can be rearranged to spell \"organ,\" which has two syllables. The challenge: Think of a common one-syllable, five-letter word whose letters can be rearranged to spell a common two-syllable word — and then rearranged again to spell a common three-syllable word. Answer: Aides, aside, ideas OR aimed, amide, media. Winner: Joe Martin of San Francisco Next week's challenge: This is a spinoff of the on-air puzzle. Name a country with at least three consonants. These are the same consonants, in the same order, as in the name of a language spoken by millions of people worldwide. The country and the place where the language is principally spoken are in different parts of the globe. What country and what language are these? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: On this day way back in 1875, a horse named Aristides won the very first Kentucky Derby. On May 17 1939, two baseball teams faced off in the very first televised sports game. And in 2015, another epic competition for the history books. And guess what - history is happening right now, people. It's time for the puzzle. Joining me now is Will Shortz. He's the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle master. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel. R. MARTIN: What was last week's challenge? SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Rudy Simons of Southfield, Mich. I said think of a common five-letter word in one syllable whose letters can be rearranged to spell a common two-syllable word and then rearranged again to spell a common three-syllable word. I said I had two different answers in mind. You only had to think of one. Well, the best answer, I think, is aides, A-I-D-E-S, and you can rearrange those letters to make aside and ideas. I was also thinking of aimed, A-I-M-E-D, which can make amide and media. We had some alternatives. The best one I thought was route, R-O-U-T-E, which you can rearrange to spell outer and utero, as in in-utero. Anyway, we accepted anything that worked. R. MARTIN: Very cool. Over 300 of you got the correct answer. And our randomly-chosen winner this week is Joe Martin of San Francisco, Calif. Hey, Joe. Congratulations. JOE MARTIN: Hi. Thank you, Rachel. R. MARTIN: So did this come pretty easily to you. How did you figure it out? J. MARTIN: You know, it did. I thought that it would have three vowels for sure so I kind of worked from there, got to the I's, and I got ideas. R. MARTIN: And what's lifelike in San Francisco? What do you do there, Joe? J. MARTIN: I'm in IT. I work with computers all day. R. MARTIN: And I understand that you and your fiance are pretty hardcore puzzlers. J. MARTIN: We are actually. This call is kind of - it feels somewhat destined to be this week's winner 'cause she was actually called a few weeks ago... R. MARTIN: Oh, really? J. MARTIN: ...Regarding the bootie and bowtie puzzle. She didn't answer the call for whatever reason. R. MARTIN: Oh, no. SHORTZ: Oh, man. R. MARTIN: So we missed her? That's why you have to answer the phone when we tell you to, right. Wow, so are you ready to do this, Joe? You want to try your hand at the puzzle? J. MARTIN: Let's do it. R. MARTIN: OK, Will, you heard the man. Let's do it. SHORTZ: Let's do it. Joe and Rachel, this week's on-air puzzle is similar to last week's only a little harder. Every answer is the name of country. I'm going to give you some words. For each one, ignore the vowels. The consonants, in order from left to right, are the same consonants in the same order as in the country. For example, if I said omelet, O-M-E-L-E-T, you would say Malta 'cause the consonants in omelet are M, L, T, and those of the consonants of Malta. R. MARTIN: OK. SHORTZ: Number one is supine, S-U-P-I-N-E. J. MARTIN: That would be Spain. SHORTZ: That's it. Number two is climb, C-L-I-M-B. J. MARTIN: Columbia. R. MARTIN: Yeah, fast. SHORTZ: Columbia is right. Hinders, H-I-N-D-E-R-S. J. MARTIN: Honduras. SHORTZ: Yes. Rouses, R-O-U-S-E-S. J. MARTIN: Russia. R. MARTIN: Great. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Encourage, E-N-C-O-U-R-A-G-E. J. MARTIN: Nicaragua. SHORTZ: Whoa, that's fast. Nicaragua, yes. Cloned, C-L-O-N-E-D. J. MARTIN: These are harder than last week's. (LAUGHTER) J. MARTIN: Iceland. R. MARTIN: Oh, see, you got it. Great. SHORTZ: Iceland, nice job. Yeah, yeah, Joe you'", "Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. Challenge from Last Week: Think of two countries whose names start with the same three letters. Set these names side by side, drop the first three letters from each of the names, the remaining letters, in order, will spell the name one of the longest rivers in the world. What is it? Answer: The countries are Chile and China, and the river is the Lena. Winner: Alisha McWilliams of Brooklyn, N.Y. This Week's Challenge: Name certain internal parts of the human body, five letters, the word is plural. This word contains an \"i.\" Change the \"i\" to an \"o,\" spell the result backward, and you'll name another part of the body that's very near the first ones. What body parts are these? This challenge comes from Henry Hook of from Brooklyn, N.Y. LIANE HANSEN, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. Happy Mother's Day. HANSEN: Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate that. And it wasn't quite Mother's Day related, but I had a nice visit with WBFO in Buffalo this past week. They were doing their first annual wine tasting event, and it was a lot of fun. It's just, I couldn't really have too much of a taste of any of the wines because they were expecting me to speak. And I will say that all of the questions were about you. Everybody wants to know what you're like. SHORTZ: Oh, no. I hope you lied. Thank you. HANSEN: I do. Now, you're not at your home. You're not in New York. You're in Portland, Oregon at Palatine Recordings. What are you doing in Portland, Oregon? SHORTZ: Well, I'm on a six-day speaking tour and I've been in Sta. Barbara, Berkeley, Scottsdale, Arizona; Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and Napa, California. HANSEN: Oh, wow. So you get to go to a wine country, too, huh? SHORTZ: Yes, I do. HANSEN: All right. We had a challenge last week. Remind us of what it was. SHORTZ: Yes. I said think of two countries whose names start with the same three letters. Set these names side-by-side, drop the first three letters from each of the names. The remaining letters, in order, will spell the name one of river in the world. What is it? HANSEN: What is it? SHORTZ: Well, the countries are Chile and China. Put them side-by-side. Drop C-H-I, both places. You're left with Lena, L-E-N-A, which was one of the longest rivers of Asia. HANSEN: Wow. We have over 1,900 entries from people who solved the puzzle. And our randomly selected winner is Alisha McWilliams from Brooklyn, New York. Hi, Alisha. Ms. ALISHA McWILLIAMS (Puzzle Winner; Resident, New York): Hi, Liane. HANSEN: What you do in New York? Ms. McWILLIAMS: I'm a cataloger at Scholastic Library. HANSEN: How long have you been playing the puzzle? Ms. McWILLIAMS: Not very long. I guess, like, a few months. HANSEN: Well, you know what happens now. Ms. McWILLIAMS: I do. I do. HANSEN: And you sound ready to play. Ms. McWILLIAMS: I am. I hope I do, like, not badly. (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: I think that's we all hope. But, I think our greatest hope is to have some fun. So, Will, the fun starts here. Meet Alisha. Let's play. SHORTZ: Hi, Alisha. Today's puzzle is in honor of Mother's Day… Ms. McWILLIAMS: Okay. SHORTZ: I'm going to give you some words. For each one, change one of the letters in the word to M-A to spell a new word. For example, if I said croon, C-R-O-O-N, you would maroon. That changes the C to MA. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Okay. SHORTZ: All right? Number one is table, T-A-B-L-E. Ms. McWILLIAMS: I might need some help on that. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Okay, I'll give you. I'll just… HANSEN: Oh. SHORTZ: …get you off and running. Change the B to MA. HANSEN: To MA. SHORTZ: What does it make? You had T-A-B-L-E, make that T-A-M-A-L-E and you have… Ms. McWILLIAMS: Tamale. HANSEN: Tamale. SHORTZ: Tamale is right. Number two is dishy, D-I-S-H-Y. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Dismay? HANSEN: Yes. SHORTZ: Dismay. Good job. Here's the next one: optic, O-P-T-I-C, as in the optic nerve. Ms. McWILLIAMS: All I can think of… SHORTZ: And the… Ms. McWILLIAMS: …is optima. But I don't think… SHORTZ: Optima is right. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Really? SHORTZ: That's the plural of - that's one of the plurals of optimum. You can have optimums or optima. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Ah. SHORTZ: So good job. Try this one: slice, S-L-I-C-E, as in a slice of pizza. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Malice? SHORTZ: Malice. Good. Now, we go a little longer. Your word is sucker, S-U-C-K-E-R. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Smacker? SHORTZ: Smacker. Yeah. Plunge, P-L-U-N-G-E. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Plumage? SHORTZ: Plumage. Now, you're rolling. Flagon, F-L-A-G-O-N. I'll give you a hint. This is somebody you might see on a highway when there is roadwork being done. HANSEN: So that means changing the O? SHORTZ: Yes. Ms. McWILLIAMS: Flagman. SHORTZ: Flagman. That's right. How about this one? Unkind, U-N-K-I-N-D. Ms. McWILLIA", "Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. Challenge from November 26: From listener Dan Pitt of Palo Alto, California: Take the name \"Sacramento,\" the capital of California. Re-arrange these 10 letters to spell two words that are synonyms. Answer: Scent and Aroma Winner: Kathy McGinnis-Craft from Knoxville, Tenn. Challenge from December 3: There's a familiar five-word saying in which one of the words ends in the letter T and the other four words all start with T. What is the saying? ANDREA SEABROOK, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Andrea Seabrook. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. Mr. WILL SHORTZ (Puzzle Master): Hi, Andrea. SEABROOK: How are you? Mr. SHORTZ: I'm doing excellent. How about you? SEABROOK: Good, thank you. Remind us of the challenge you left us with last week. Mr. SHORTZ: Yes. It came from listener Dan Pitt of Palo Alto, California. I said take the name Sacramento, as in the capital of California. Rearrange these 10 letters to spell two words that are synonyms. What are they? SEABROOK: And the answer? Mr. SHORTZ: The answer is scent, S-C-E-N-T, and aroma. SEABROOK: We had over 1,300 entries from people who tried to solve the puzzle, and our randomly selected winner is Kathy McGinnis-Craft from Knoxville, Tennessee. Hi, Kathy. Ms. KATHY McGINNIS-CRAFT (Puzzle Winner): Hello. SEABROOK: How are you? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: I'm okay. SEABROOK: What do you do in Knoxville? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Well, sad to say, I'm currently unemployed, but I like to think that with my Master's degree in child development something will be coming along soon. SEABROOK: Unemployed doesn't sound that bad, actually. (Soundbite of laughter) SEABROOK: Now, how long did it take you to solve the puzzle? And I understand your son had something to do with it. (Soundbite of laughter) Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: He's usually with me when the puzzle is on, and so if I get them right, he just - oh, you should send it in. And I said no, I'm not going to do that because I would never, ever, ever agree to be on the air and make a fool of myself in front of, you know, millions of people. (Soundbite of laughter) Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: But anyway, I sent it in just because I figured I would never, ever be chosen. (Soundbite of laughter) Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: So anyway, it kind of shows you what kind of luck I have. And anyway, so I just knew that if I didn't do this, he - I mean, he would just be really sad. So he is way more excited about this than I am. SEABROOK: What's your son's name? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: His name is Sean. SEABROOK: Okay, and this is for Sean. How old is Sean? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: He's 18. SEABROOK: Eighteen years old. All right, Sean, this is for you. Will - Will Shortz, meet Kathy. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Hi, Will. Mr. SHORTZ: Hi, Kathy. I'm going to give you some six-letter words. For each one, add a doubled letter somewhere in the word to complete a familiar eight-letter word. For example, if I said coated, C-O-A-T-E-D, you would say collated, adding two L's. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Okay. Mr. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is exceed, E-X-C-E-E-D. And as you might guess, the doubled letter goes between those two E's to make a past-tense verb. SEABROOK: Also, you worked on your spreadsheet. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Oh, excelled. Mr. SHORTZ: Excelled, excellent. (Soundbite of laughter) Mr. SHORTZ: Your next one is aurate, A-U-R-A-T-E, aurate meaning containing gold. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: A-U-R-A-T-E, okay. Mr. SHORTZ: Right. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Accurate. Mr. SHORTZ: Accurate, excellent. SEABROOK: Nice. Mr. SHORTZ: Try this one: string, S-T-R-I-N-G. This one, as you've probably guessed, is going to be a vowel you add. SEABROOK: Yeah, gotta be. Mr. SHORTZ: Where do you think the double letter goes, Kathy? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Between the T and the R? Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Steering. Mr. SHORTZ: Steering is right. (Soundbite of laughter) Mr. SHORTZ: Dismay, D-I-S-M-A-Y. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Dismally? Mr. SHORTZ: Dismally, excellent. SEABROOK: Good one. Mr. SHORTZ: Try this one: poster, P-O-S-T-E-R. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Pollster. SEABROOK: Nice. Mr. SHORTZ: Pollster, excellent. That was fast. Candle, C-A-N-D-L-E. SEABROOK: Is this a funny word? Mr. SHORTZ: It's a funny little word. If you're in a café with somebody and making out, you might do this. (Soundbite of laughter) SEABROOK: I got it. Mr. SHORTZ: In gossip columns, sometimes you hear about two celebrities in a corner of a bar doing this. Andrea, you want to jump in on this? SEABROOK: How about canoodle? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Oh, of course, okay. Mr. SHORTZ: Canoodle is right. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: That's not usually a word that I use. SEABROOK: Yeah. Mr. SHORTZ: How about coerce? Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: C-O-E-R-C-E? Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Ms. McGINNIS-CRAFT: Commerce. Mr. SHORTZ: Commerce is right. And here's your", "On-air challenge: For the Sunday before the Fourth of July weekend, every answer is the last name of a U.S. president, which comes from their anagrams. For example, \"shrub\" without R is \"Bush.\" Last week's challenge: Write down these five words: \"aide,\" \"heart,\" \"tough,\" \"gelatin\" and \"emanate.\" There is something very unusual they have in common. What is it? And what's another word with this property? Answer: mite, item Winner: Gig Moineau of Newton, Mass. Next week's challenge from Al Gori of Cozy Lake, N.J.: It involves a spoonerism, in which you reverse the initial consonant sounds in one phrase to make another phrase. For example, if you spoonerize \"light rain,\" you get \"right lane.\" Name part of a truck in two words; spoonerize it, and you'll name something FEMA uses. What is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer in for Rachel Martin. And there goes our weekly toe-tapping tune that says it's time to do the puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF THEME MUSIC) WERTHEIMER: Joining me now is WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle-master Will Shortz. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Linda. WERTHEIMER: Now, could you remind us what the challenge was? SHORTZ: Yes. Last week, I said to write down five words: aide A-I-D-E, heart, tough, gelatin and emanate. And I said there's something very unusual they have in common - what is it? And to signal you have the answer, provide another word that has the same property. Well, the answer was each word can be transformed into a new word by moving the first letter to the end. So, for example, aide - most the A to the end and you get idea; heart becomes earth and so on. And other words with the same property are plum, dread and tangs. WERTHEIMER: And this week we got more than 900 correct answers. Our randomly selected winner is Gig Moineau from Newtown, Massachusetts. Congratulations, Gig. GIG MOINEAU: Thank you. WERTHEIMER: I would think you would be Gigi with a last name like that. MOINEAU: It has been said that way. It went into my high school yearbook as Gigi. WERTHEIMER: It's a very interesting name because you got all the A-E-I-O-U. It's all there. SHORTZ: And I understand that Moineau is French for sparrow. And did you know that the French word for bird, oiseau O-I-S-E-A-U, in just six letters, has all five vowels. There you go. WERTHEIMER: Well, let's get to it. Are you ready to play? MOINEAU: Sure. SHORTZ: She says hesitantly. WERTHEIMER: OK. Will, you're in charge. SHORTZ: All right, Gig and Linda. For the Sunday before the Fourth of July weekend, I brought a presidents puzzle. Every answer is the last name of a U.S. president, which I'd like you to answer from their anagrams. For example, if I said shrub minus R, you would say Bush. Number is frond F-R-O-N-D, minus N. MOINEAU: Ford. SHORTZ: Ford is right. Number two is fatty F-A-T-T-Y, minus Y. MOINEAU: Taft. SHORTZ: Um-hum. Hyenas, minus N. MOINEAU: Hayes. SHORTZ: Hayes is it. WERTHEIMER: Well, you are really just rolling along here. SHORTZ: Garnet, minus E. MOINEAU: Grant. SHORTZ: Is right. Realty R-E-A-L-T-Y, minus A. MOINEAU: Ooh, I'm having a tough time with this one. WERTHEIMER: Tip a canoe. SHORTZ: There you go. MOINEAU: Oh, Tyler. SHORTZ: Excellent. yes. Amoeba A-M-O-E-B-A, minus E. MOINEAU: Obama. SHORTZ: That's it. Terrace T-E-R-R-A-C-E, minus E. MOINEAU: Carter. SHORTZ: That's it. Tantrum T-A-N-T-R-U-M, minus T. MOINEAU: Truman. SHORTZ: That's it. Flowing F-L-O-W-I-N-G, minus G. MOINEAU: Wilson. SHORTZ: That's it. Arrange A-R-R-A-N-G-E, minus R. MOINEAU: Oh, Reagan. SHORTZ: That's it. Royalty, minus Y. MOINEAU: Taylor. SHORTZ: That's it. Diamonds D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S, minus D. MOINEAU: Madison. SHORTZ: Madison is it. How about handgrip H-A-N-D-G-R-I-P, minus P. WERTHEIMER: This is not arranging it in my head either. SHORTZ: It's a 20th century president. MOINEAU: Oh, Harding. SHORTZ: Harding is it. And here's your last one: narrowish N-A-R-R-O-W-I-S-H, minus W. And your hint is it was the name of two presidents. MOINEAU: Is that Harrison? SHORTZ: Harrison. Nice job. WERTHEIMER: Very nice job. I am very impressed. And for playing our puzzle, you'll get the WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin plus puzzle books and games. You can read all about that at npr.org/puzzle. But before we let you go, what is your public radio station? MOINEAU: I'm a listener and member of both WBUR and WGBH, both in Boston. WERTHEIMER: That's fabulous. I can never decide between them either. Gig Moineau of Newtown, Massachusetts. Thank you very much for playing our puzzle. MOINEAU: Oh, thanks so much for having me. It was great fun. WERTHEIMER: So, Will, do you have the challenge for next week? SHORTZ: Yes, I do. It comes from listener Al Gori of Cozy Lake,", "In this week's on-air puzzle, you are given anagrams of the names of constellations. You name the constellations. For example, given \"ray\" plus L, the answer would be \"Lyra.\" Challenge from Last Week: Take the title \"Candid Camera.\" Write down the first appearance of each letter, ignoring any repeats, in the order these letters appear. You get C, A, N, D, I, M, E, R. By doing the same thing to the title of what other well-known TV program do you get the letters S, E, A, M, T, R? The answer: Sesame Street The winner: Barbara Harris, Carbondale, Ill. Next Week's Challenge: From Andrew Chaikin of San Francisco. Insert a long E sound after the first letter of \"bond\" and phonetically you get \"be-ond.\" Insert a long E sound after the first letter of \"renter\" and you get \"re-enter.\" Name something found in outer space. Insert a long E sound after the first letter, and you'll name a resident of a major American city. What are the words? LIANE HANSEN, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: Any news? SHORTZ: Well, a couple of things. First of all, I'm going to be on Martha Stewart's show this Friday. They have a… HANSEN: Are you going to cook? SHORTZ: …they have a… (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Fortunately, she did not ask me anything to do with food. But it's a segment about crosswords and it was taped last week, and I think it'll look good. HANSEN: Oh, that's a good thing. What else? (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Very good. And also I want to mention the Sunday Times crossword today has one of the youngest contributors ever. His name is Oliver Hill. He's 17 years old, a high school senior and he lives a block and a half from me. HANSEN: No kidding. Oh, man, I'm going to be embarrassed if I can't solve this one, boy. (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: Well, you left us with an interesting challenge last week. And it's kind of interesting that TV shows figured in. Remind us what it was. SHORTZ: Yes. I said take the title Candid Camera. If you write down the first appearance of each letter, ignoring any repeats, in the order these letters appear, you get C-A-N-D-I-M-E-R. And I said by doing the same thing to the title of what other well-known TV program do you get the letters S-E-A-M-T-R? HANSEN: What's your answer? SHORTZ: Answer is \"Sesame Street.\" HANSEN: Oh, nice. We had over 3,000 entries from people who solved the puzzle. Our randomly selected winner is Barbara Harris from Carbondale, Illinois. Hi, Barbara. Ms. BARBARA HARRIS (Caller): Hi, Liane. How are you? HANSEN: I'm well, thank you. What do you do in Carbondale? Ms. HARRIS: I'm a study at the university. I study plant and soil science. HANSEN: Oh, really. What do you want to do with that once you graduate? Ms. HARRIS: I want to get my Master's degree because I don't really know what I want to do with that one eventually. (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: But you seem to someone obviously who loves plants then. Ms. HARRIS: Indeed. Thank you. I do. HANSEN: Lovely. Well, how long have you been playing the puzzle? Ms. HARRIS: Well, technically playing since about December of last year. HANSEN: Wow. And you know what happens, so you're ready to play, right? Ms. HARRIS: Yes, I am, thank you. HANSEN: All right. Well, Will, please meet Barbara. Barbara, meet Will. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Barbara. Today's puzzle is called Seeing Stars. I'm going to give you anagrams of the names of some constellations. You name the constellations. For example, if I said ray, R-A-Y, plus L, you would say lyra, L-Y-R-A. HANSEN: I don't know my constellations. Ms. HARRIS: And, you know, I don't really either, so we're going to have to really like stretch our brains for this. HANSEN: Then I guess Will will be the star of this show, right? (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: Okay, Will. SHORTZ: Here's a hint: many of the answers are also the names of signs of the zodiac. Number one is sire, S-I-R-E, plus A. Ms. HARRIS: Aries. SHORTZ: Aries is right. Number two is bail, B-A-I-L, plus R. Ms. HARRIS: Libra. SHORTZ: Libra, good. Iron, I-R-O-N, plus O. Ms. HARRIS: Orion. SHORTZ: Orion, good. C-A-R-D plus O. Ms. HARRIS: Virgo. SHORTZ: No, but hold that answer. C-A-R-D. Ms. HARRIS: C-A-R-D, pardon me. SHORTZ: Yeah. HANSEN: C-A-R-D plus O. SHORTZ: It's a constellation dragon. HANSEN: Really? Ms. HARRIS: Draco? SHORTZ: Yeah. Draco is it. Very good. HANSEN: Draco, oh, okay. SHORTZ: Next one is voir, as in French for to see, V-O-I-R, plus G. HANSEN: Remember your last answer, Barbara? Ms. HARRIS: Virgo. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Virgo, yes, very good. (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Sutra, S-U-T-R-A, plus U. Also the name of the sign of the zodiac. Ms. HARRIS: Taurus. SHORTZ: Taurus is it, good. Ms. HARRIS: That's my zodiac too. HANSEN: There you go. (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: You must have a birthday around now, right", "&nbsp; On-Air Challenge You are given two seven-letter words. Rearrange the letters in one of the words to get a synonym of the other. For example, if the clue is \"gratify\" and \"eluding,\" the answer would be \"indulge,\" which is an anagram of eluding and means gratify. The anagram can be the first or second word. Challenge From Last Week The words \"chic\" and \"squeak\" rhyme with each other, even though they have no letters in common. Think of three words containing a total of 12 or more letters that rhyme and have no letters in common. The words must be common, uncapitalized words, and each will have just one syllable. Answer: Screw (or strew), pooh and flu (or gnu). Also acceptable: three, quay and ski. Winner: Miranda Phillips of Ithaca, N.Y. Next Week's Challenge From listener Martin Eiger of Montville, N.J.: Name a musical instrument, change the third letter to a different letter and double the last letter. The result will name a famous singer, in two words. Who is the singer and what is the instrument? LIANE HANSEN, host: From NPR News this is Weekend Edition. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: You're on the phone. Where are you? SHORTZ: I am in Toronto on a weeklong table tennis road trip. HANSEN: Excellent, excellent. OK, Will, so we can let you go and play some table tennis, we'll do the puzzle. And to begin, as you know, you have to tell everybody what the challenge was last week. SHORTZ: Yes, I said the words chic, C-H—I-C, and squeak, S-Q-U-E-A-K, rhyme with each other even though they have no letters in common. And I asked, can you think of three rhyming words containing 12 or more letters, but have no letters in common? And I said the words must be common, uncapitalized words. And each will have just one syllable. HANSEN: Now, there's more than one answer? SHORTZ: Yeah, I'll tell you my intended answer started with either screw or strew. The second word was pooh, P-O-O-H. And the third word could be either gnu, G-N-U, or flu, F-L-U. Any combination there works. And I also saw a nice answer - three, quay, which is Q-U-A-Y, and ski. HANSEN: Well, I know it stumped a lot of people. We only received about 400 correct entries. And that entry that you mentioned - three, quay and ski - actually came from our randomly selected winner, Miranda Phillips in Ithaca, New York. So she's playing the puzzle with us today. Hi, Miranda. Ms. MIRANDA PHILLIPS (Competition Winner): Hi. HANSEN: It's interesting you came up with kind of this alternative answer in your entry. How long did it take you? Ms. PHILLIPS: Well, I spent about an hour on my own. And my husband and I put our heads together, and he thought of ski and I thought of quay, and together we thought of three. So it was joint work, definitely. HANSEN: All right, team effort, just like the on air puzzle. Are you ready? Ms. PHILLIPS: I'm ready, yeah. HANSEN: I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be. So, Will, meet Miranda. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Miranda and Liane, I'm going to give you two seven-letter words. Anagram one of them to get a synonym of the other. For example, if I said, gratify, G-R-A-T-I-F-Y, and eluding, E-L-U-D-I-N-G, you would say indulge because indulge is an anagram of eluding, and it means gratify. The anagram can be either the first or the second word. That's for you to figure out. HANSEN: Miranda, are you good at anagrams? Ms. PHILLIPS: I love anagrams. Not so speedy, but I'll give it my best. HANSEN: All right. Well, we'll just take our time then. Will, go ahead. SHORTZ: Number one is sincere, S-I-N-C-E-R-E, and ingenue, I-N-G-E-N-U-E. Ms. PHILLIPS: OK, genuine. SHORTS: Genuine, good job. Number two is witness, W-I-T-N-E-S-S. Ms. PHILLIPS: OK. SHORTZ: Verbose, V-E-R-B-O-S-E. Ms. PHILLIPS: So, observe is witness. SHORTZ: Nice job. HANSEN: Nice. SHORTZ: Relieve, R-E-L-I-E-V-E. Ms. PHILLIPS: OK. SHORTZ: Sausage, S-A-U-S-A-G-E. Ms. PHILLIPS: Well, a sausage is probably not a synonym. SHORTZ: You're right, try the other way. Ms. PHILLIPS: Yeah! (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: Rearrange the letters of... Ms. PHILLIPS: There's not a lot of synonyms of sausage. Relieve is assuage. HANSEN: Good. SHORTZ: That's it, assuage, good. Try this one, phantom, P-H-A-N-T-O-M, respect, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Ms. PHILLIPS: Specter. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Yes, specter, good. Ecstasy, E-C-S-T-A-S-Y. Ms. PHILLIPS: OK. SHORTZ: And toenail, as in the bottom of your foot, T-O-E-N-A-I-L. (Soundbite of laughter) HANSEN: These are ridiculous. Ms. PHILLIPS: OK, lovely. Well, toenail doesn't have a lot of... SHORTZ: How many synonyms does toenail have? HANSEN: Not too many, no. Ms. PHILLIPS: Another word for ecstasy is wonderful feeling. I'm thinking elated or something. That doesn't work. HANSEN: Oh, that's elation. SHORTZ: As in the noun. Ms. PHILLIPS: Oh, oh, all right. HANSEN: Nice. SHORTZ: Good one. HANSEN: That was one we got tog", "Ralph's World is a place where the girl next door has a dinosaur, where riding with no hands is cause to burst into song and where a man named Ralph Covert makes a living singing silly songs. Covert started a career as a rock musician with a Chicago-based indie band called the Bad Examples, which had a devoted local following. After earning national fame and a Grammy nomination, Covert decided to try to set a good example for kids — with songs featuring upbeat lyrics and pop melodies that parents also can appreciate. And what started as a sideline has become his main act: Ralph's World. Covert tells Michele Norris that the key to writing songs for children is to forget that you are writing songs for children. His latest CD is the aptly named Welcome to Ralph's World. MICHELE NORRIS, host: Ralph's World is a place where the girl next door has a dinosaur, where green gorillas eat red bananas and throw blue tomatoes, and where a grown man makes a living - and a good one at that - singing silly songs. (Soundbite of song, \"Fee Fi Fo Fum\") Mr. RALPH COVERT (Singer): (Singer) It doesn't matter what you look like, if you've got some Fee fi fo fum. And let me tell you everybody got some. Jump up and down. NORRIS: Ralph Covert started a career as a rock musician with the Chicago-based indie band called The Bad Examples, the group with a devoted local following. He earned national fame and a Grammy nomination when he decided to try to set a good example for kids with upbeat lyrics and pop melodies that parents also appreciate. What started as a sideline has become his main act: Ralph's World. He says the key to writing for kids is to forget you're writing for kids. Mr. COVERT: One of the things about kid's music that's so exciting is it reminds me of that period of the late '60s and the early '70s when rock music still had that innocence because of the cultural innocence that was so childlike at the time. So, in a lot ways, in kid's music, you get to explore almost like that Beatles, Kinks, type of crazy play crown. (Soundbite of song, \"Fee Fi Fo Fum\") Mr. COVERT: (Singing) And let me tell you everybody got some. Twist and shout. Everybody twist and shout now. Yeah. NORRIS: Ralph, you're a guy in your forties, you got a mortgage and a lot of responsibilities. How do you - when you sit down to write music, do you have to somehow get in touch with your inner eight-year-old to be in the right, write this kind of music. Mr. COVERT: My inner eight-year-old kind of drives with a car. NORRIS: The reason I ask you is that you go back and forth. I mean, sometimes, in a song like \"Coffee\" writing from perspective of a kid looking up at adult, like, mommy and daddy aren't quite the same person, and how they get that cup of ground stuff. (Soundbite of song, \"The Coffee Song\") Mr. COVERT: (Singing) M-o-m-m-y needs c-o-f-f-e-e. NORRIS: Yeah. And then, the early times, you're writing from the perspective of an adult that seems to be looking back at childhood. Mr. COVERT: Mm-hmm. NORRIS: You seem to have, sort of, go back and forth in your perspective and your music. Mr. COVERT: Okay. I'll take your word for it. \"The Coffee Song,\" I was doing little kid's music class at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. I walked in one morning and the moms were all collectively having a morning. And they looked at me and they said, you've got your cup of coffee. We don't have anything. The least you could do is write us a coffee song. And you've got eight to 10 moms, staring you in the face - you do what they say. NORRIS: So did you come up with a coffee song right on the spot? Mr. COVERT: I wrote and sung on the spot. NORRIS: Let's hear the song. (Soundbite of song, \"The Coffee Song\") Mr. COVERT: (Singing) M-o-m-m-y needs c-o-f-f-e-e. D-a-d-d-y needs c-o-f-f-e-e. I love my kids. I love my kids. Gosh, I love my kids. But I need what I need, and I need a lot of what I need. And that's c-o-f-f-e-e. And on and on it goes. NORRIS: So, did they have the desire, the fact that the moms, sort of, perk up and get to a better place after hearing this? Mr. COVERT: Absolutely. They were smiling and laughing and we went on from there. And it was all good. (Soundbite of song, \"The Coffee Song\") Mr. COVERT: (Singing) I want a latte, a cappuccino. And tonight, I think I'll have a little vino. M-o-m-m-y needs c-o- NORRIS: The arts can help children make sense of their world. And we live in what some might say a very interesting time, certainly very challenging times. Mr. COVERT: Yeah. NORRIS: Kids right now are trying to make sense of some, you know, really complicated and sometimes, scary stuff. Mr. COVERT: Yeah. NORRIS: Do you ever use your music in that way to help kids make sense of things? Mr. COVERT: I have performed a lot of shows, at some, I wrote a lot, right after that whole 9/11 catastrophe. And every interview, they would, well, how have you changed your music to reflect this. And I said to every single intervi", "On-air challenge: Change one letter in each word to name something to eat. Ex. STEAL --> STEAK1. BREAK2. BUDGE3. ROUST4. BARON5. FILED6. DUMBO7. LIVEN8. PRUDE9. PASTY10. CHILD11. BUTLER12. TICKLE13. BOOKIE14. POODLE15. CLEESE16. BUTTON17. RAN OUT18. DELISH Last week's challenge: This challenge came from Joseph Young of St. Cloud, Minn. Take the singular and plural forms of a particular noun. Remove the first two letters of the singular form and you'll name a country. Remove one letter from inside the plural form to name another country. What words and countries are these? Answer: Yeoman, yeomen --> Oman, YemenWinner: Shaun Kuter of Phoenix, Ariz.Next week's challenge: A playful challenge comes from Carole Highland of Ephrata, Wash. The name of what vehicle, spelled backward, becomes phonetically a four-word phrase identifying another vehicle?Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. ET. LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: Houston, we have a problem. I've always wanted to say that. In fact, we've got several, and we need your help solving them. It's time for The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) GARCIA-NAVARRO: Joining me as always is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster. Will, good morning from Houston. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Lulu. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Remind us of last week's challenge. SHORTZ: Yeah. It came from listener Joseph Young of St. Cloud, Minn. I said take the singular and plural forms of a particular noun. I said remove the first two letters of the singular form, and you'll name a country. And remove one letter from inside the plural form to name another country. What words and countries are these? Well, the answer is yeoman and yeomen. And you do those operations, you get Oman and Yemen. GARCIA-NAVARRO: We received more than 600 correct responses. Our randomly selected winner is Shaun Kuter of Phoenix, Ariz. Congratulations. SHAUN KUTER: Thank you so much, Lulu. GARCIA-NAVARRO: I hear you're somewhat of a wordsmith and, at one point, a competitive one. KUTER: Yes. I competed in the National Poetry Slam as a younger man. I'm still involved in poetry. But, yeah, I was - I represented the city of Mesa at the National Poetry Slam in 2006. GARCIA-NAVARRO: You know, I am going to have to ask you to do something right now and give me a little example. (LAUGHTER) KUTER: Well, most of my poetry, unfortunately, was not NPR appropriate. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Oh. (LAUGHTER) KUTER: You know, as an angry young man, I had to use some choice language, so (laughter). GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK. And you are an attorney now. KUTER: I am, yes. GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK. Do you have a question for Will? KUTER: Yeah. Will, I know a lot of people are featured as answers in the crossword puzzle. Has anybody ever been mad about the clue that led them to that answer? SHORTZ: Interesting, mad about the clue. I can't remember that. No, most people are flattered to be in the puzzle. I do remember once getting a letter from a semi-famous playwright listing all his accomplishments to help me write future clues about him. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Exactly. Your mind is in the mail, Will, whenever I finally get my moment in the sun. (LAUGHTER) GARCIA-NAVARRO: All right, Shaun, are you ready to play The Puzzle? KUTER: I'm ready. GARCIA-NAVARRO: All right. Take it away. SHORTZ: All right, Shaun, I'm going to give you some words. Change one letter in each of them to name something to eat. For example, if I said steal, S-T-E-A-L, you would say steak, changing the L to a K. So here's number one - budge, B-U-D-G-E. KUTER: Fudge. SHORTZ: Fudge is right. Roust, R-O-U-S-T. KUTER: Roast. SHORTZ: Baron, B-A-R-O-N. KUTER: Bacon. SHORTZ: Filed, F-I-L-E-D. KUTER: Filed. Let's see, filet. SHORTZ: Filet, nice. Dumbo, D-U-M-B-O. KUTER: Gumbo, of course (laughter). SHORTZ: Good. Liven, L-I-V-E-N. KUTER: Liven, that - L-I-V-E-N - that would mean, oh, liver. SHORTZ: Liver is good. Prude, P-R-U-D-E. KUTER: Prune. SHORTZ: Pasty, P-A-S-T-Y. KUTER: If you just change the pronunciation, that's a pasty, which is a very good thing to eat. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It is. Cornish pasty. KUTER: Is that what you were going for? SHORTZ: Interesting, yeah. But I'm going to force you to change a letter. KUTER: OK (laughter). I was so proud of myself that I didn't even think further ahead. How about pasta? SHORTZ: Pasta is it, good. Child, C-H-I-L-D. KUTER: Child, chile. SHORTZ: Chile. Butler, B-U-T-L-E-R. KUTER: Butter. SHORTZ: Tickle, T-I-C-K-L-E. KUTER: Pickle. SHORTZ: Bookie, B-O-O-K-I-E. KUTER: Cookie, C is for. SHORTZ: Good. Poodle, P-O-O-D-L-E. KUTER: Noodle. SHORTZ: Ran out, R-A-N-O-U-T. KUTER: Ragout. SHORTZ: Oh, you're good. And here's your last one - delish, D-E-L-I-S-H. KUTER: Relish. SHORTZ: Relish. Shaun, you did great. KUTER: Thank you (", "On-air challenge: Today's puzzle is geographical. I'm going to give you some words and phrases. In each one, change two consecutive letters to name a country. Example: SUDDEN --&gt; SWEDEN 1. FRAPPE 2. GREEDY 3. ALGEBRA 4. CANARY 5. SIROCCO 6. BARGAIN 7. SERENA 8. JOBMAN 9. MALADY 10. SENSUAL 11. CAME UPON Last week's challenge: Think of a brand name you might see on your breakfast table. Change one letter to a Y and rearrange the result to get a familiar two-word phrase that names something else you might see on your breakfast table. What phrase is this? Answer: Kellogg's --&gt; Egg Yolks Winner: Andrew Laeuger of New Berlin, Wis. Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Dominick Talvacchio of Chicago. Think of a well-known musician whose last name contains a body part. The musician has a single-word nickname that anagrams to a different body part. Who is this musician, and what is the nickname? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. ET. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: And it's time to play The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) BLOCK: Joining me as always is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster. Will, good to talk to you again. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Welcome back, Melissa. BLOCK: Thanks. And this is not just any Sunday, I'm told. It's also your birthday. SHORTZ: That is true. Now, how did you know that? BLOCK: I have sources. SHORTZ: (Laughter) As good journalists do. BLOCK: Yes, exactly. What are you doing for your birthday? SHORTZ: Well, my table tennis club has a big tournament this weekend, so I'll be busy all day. BLOCK: OK, great. Well, Will, go ahead and remind us of last week's Puzzle challenge. SHORTZ: Yes, it came from Joseph Young of St. Cloud, Minn. who conducts the blog Puzzleria. I said, think of a brand name you might see on your breakfast table. Change one letter to a Y and rearrange the result to get a familiar two-word phrase that names something else you might see on your breakfast table. What phrase is it? The brand name is Kellogg's. And you make that change - you get egg yolks. BLOCK: Egg yolks. Awesome. Well, we had more than 700 correct responses. And this week's winner is Andrew Laeuger (ph) from New Berlin, Wis. Andrew, congratulations. Welcome to the program. ANDREW LAEUGER: Hi. Thanks for having me. And Happy Birthday, Will. BLOCK: (Laughter). SHORTZ: Thank you. BLOCK: Andrew, you are one of our younger puzzle winners. You're just 17 years old. How long have you been playing The Puzzle? LAEUGER: I've been playing as long as I can remember. I've been listening on Sunday mornings with my dad. And it's been a thing he and I have always done together. And it's great to finally be on it. BLOCK: And now you have won. Dad did not. Is he kind of bummed out that you're on The Puzzle, and he's not? LAEUGER: He was definitely proud of me. But I think he's a little jealous. SHORTZ: (Laughter). BLOCK: I don't blame him. I would be, too. OK. Are you ready to play The Puzzle? LAEUGER: Let's do it. BLOCK: Will, take it away. SHORTZ: All right, Andrew and Melissa. Today's puzzle is geographical. I'm going to give you some words and phrases. In each one, change two consecutive letters to name a country. For example, if I said sudden, S-U-D-D-E-N, you would say Sweden, changing the U and D of sudden. LAEUGER: Sure. BLOCK: All right. Here we go. SHORTZ: Number one is frappe, F-R-A-P-P-E. LAEUGER: France? SHORTZ: France is right, changing the two Ps. Number two is greedy, G-R-E-E-D-Y. LAEUGER: Greece. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Algebra, A-L-G-E-B-R-A. LAEUGER: Algebra. Algeria? BLOCK: There you go. SHORTZ: That's it. Canary, C-A-N-A-R-Y. LAEUGER: Canary. Canada. SHORTZ: That's it. Sirocco, S-I-R-O-C-C-O. BLOCK: Oh. LAEUGER: Morrocco. SHORTZ: Morocco, nice. Bargain, B-A-R-G-A-I-N. LAEUGER: Bargain. Bargain. BLOCK: I was thinking Belgium, but that is so not right. (LAUGHTER) SHORTZ: It's got a few letters there. BLOCK: Oh, OK. You want a clue, Andrew? LAEUGER: I was thinking Botswana (ph), but I think I need a clue. BLOCK: OK. Middle East. LAEUGER: Middle East. SHORTZ: That's a good clue. And here's a second one. Change the R and the G. LAEUGER: Bahrain? SHORTZ: Bahrain is right. BLOCK: There you go. Awesome. SHORTZ: Serena, S-E-R-E-N-A. This is a tough one too... LAEUGER: A tough one. SHORTZ: ...I'll tell you - change the E and N. LAEUGER: Serbia? SHORTZ: Serbia is it. BLOCK: Nice. SHORTZ: Job man, J-O-B-M-A-N. LAEUGER: Jordan. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Malady, M-A-L-A-D-Y. LAEUGER: Malady. Is it Malawi? SHORTZ: Uh-huh. It's Malawi, isn't it? But you got the answer. LAEUGER: OK. SHORTZ: Sensual, S-E-N-S-U-A-L. LAEUGER: Sensual. Senegal. SHORTZ: Senegal. God, you're good. BLOCK: Nice. Wow. SHORTZ: Here's your last one. Came upon, C-A-M-E-U-P-O-", "On-Air Challenge Every answer is the name of a college or university. Given an anagram, the contestant names the school. For example, if the clue is \"lay\" plus \"e,\" the answer is \"Yale.\" Last Week's Challenge Think of a common first name for a boy, starting with the letter E, two syllables. Rearrange all of the letters to form a common first name for a girl, also with two syllables. What names are these? ANSWER: Ernie becomes Irene WINNER: Eleanor Carlson of Corvallis, Ore. Next Week's Challenge Take four words: Croquet; Lunette; Renoir; Turnstile. They are all two-syllable words, but aside from that, they all have something unusual in common: a property that virtually no other words have. What property is it? Hint: Think phonetically. Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. LIANE HANSEN, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Hey, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: How are you? SHORTZ: I'm doing fine. What's new? HANSEN: Not much, not much. Waiting for the Grammy Awards tonight. Always like to see what the show is going to be like. But the problem is I have to go home, take a quick power nap to make sure that I'm up for the entire broadcast. So, but your challenge wasn't record related, it was name related, right? Remind us of it. SHORTZ: Yeah. I said think of a common first name for a boy, starting with the letter E and two syllables. I said rearrange all the letters to name a common first name for a girl also in two syllables. What names are these? HANSEN: What's your answer? SHORTZ: Well, the only answer involving both common names are Ernie to Irene. We also received Edwin to Wendi, W-E-N-D-I, and Evan to Neva, N-E-V-A, so we accepted those as well. HANSEN: Excellent. I should've known this. My uncle's name is Ernie. It didn't come to me. My father's name is Edwin, so I stuck with that, that's why. Well, we had actually more than 1,500 entries this week. Our randomly selected winner from those entries is Eleanor Carlson of Corvallis, Oregon. Hi, Eleanor. Ms. ELEANOR CARLSON: Hi, Liane. Hi, Will. SHORTZ: Hi. HANSEN: How long did it take you to solve the puzzle, Eleanor? Ms. CARLSON: Well, that came to me pretty quickly, within about 10 minutes. HANSEN: Oh. Ms. CARLSON: Because I don't know that many men's name that start with E. HANSEN: Well, there you go. How long have you been playing our puzzle? Ms. CARLSON: On and off for over 10 years. HANSEN: So, are you ready to play? Ms. CARLSON: I am. HANSEN: All right, Will, you've met Eleanor. Now it's time to play. SHORTZ: All right, Eleanor, every answer today is the name of a college or university. I'm going to give you an anagram, you name the school. For example, if I said lay, L-A-Y, plus E, you would say Yale. Ms. CARLSON: Okay. SHORTZ: Number one is worn, W-O-R-N, plus B, as in boy. Ms. CARLSON: Brown. SHORTZ: Brown is right. Number two is royal, R-O-Y-A-L, plus B, as in boy. I'll give you a hint - it starts with the letter B. Ms. CARLSON: Liane, I'm stuck. HANSEN: You're stuck, maybe you don't know this - Baylor? SHORTZ: Baylor is it, good. All right, try this one: alloy, A-L-L-O-Y, plus O. Ms. CARLSON: Loyola. SHORTZ: Loyola, good. Prude, P-R-U-D-E, plus U. Ms. CARLSON: Oh, my husband's alma mater. (Soundbite of laughter) Ms. CARLSON: Purdue. SHORTZ: Purdue, no delay on that one. Rhoda, R-H-O-D-A, plus W. Rhoda plus W. Ms. CARLSON: Okay. It's Howard. SHORTZ: Howard, nice job. Enroll, E-N-R-O-L-L, plus C, as in Charles. Ms. CARLSON: I'm thinking. I'm still here. (Soundbite of laughter) SHORTZ: It's an Ivy League school. Ms. CARLSON: Cornell, Cornell. SHORTZ: Cornell, good. How about boiler, B-O-I-L-E-R, plus N, as in Nancy. Give you a hint - the first letter is O. Ms. CARLSON: Oh, Oberlin. SHORTZ: Oberlin is it. Ms. CARLSON: Okay. SHORTZ: All right, now we're getting with longer ones. Biventral, B-I-V-E-N-T-R-A-L, plus D, as in dog. Biventral plus D. Ms. CARLSON: Okay. SHORTZ: Give you a hint - the first letter is V as in Victor. Ms. CARLSON: I'm not, no, I'm not getting it. SHORTZ: I'll tell you that one, it's Vanderbilt. HANSEN: Of course. SHORTZ: All right, here's your last one: enamored, E-N-A-M-O-R-E-D, plus T as in Thomas. It's a two-word answer. Enamored plus T. And it's a powerhouse in football. Think of a school in the Midwest. Ms. CARLSON: You have it, Liane? HANSEN: I think so. Ms. CARLSON: Oh, go ahead. I don't. HANSEN: Notre Dame. SHORTZ: Notre Dame, nice job. HANSEN: Notre Dame. I kept thinking... Ms. CARLSON: That's good. HANSEN: It is good. I'm just glad Rensselaer did not show up or... Ms. CARLSON: I would've gotten that. HANSEN: Yeah, you did really well. You were on a roll there. Well, as I mention", "Think you're part of the food-literati? True or false: 13 million more acres of farmland would be required to produce enough fruit and vegetables for the daily diets of all Americans to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines. The official answer is Yes, according to the James Beard Foundation, which put out the quiz. (You can see the whole quiz below). But we reached out to Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund who's being honored by the JBF tonight, for a slightly more nuanced response. For starters, Clay says, it's important to point out that we import about 30 percent of the fresh fruits we consume now. So perhaps we could make up difference by increasing our imports. But Clay says we can — and should — be smarter about what we do at home with what we already have. \"We could intensify production without expanding into additional farmland. We need to improve productivity in farming by focusing on what matters most. Instead of focusing on increasing tons of product per acre, we could focus on calories and nutrients consumed per acre or per gallon of water,\" he says. So, there's really no quick and easy answer. Here's the whole quiz: 1. Which of the following is not one of the top five commodity crops that receive subsidies through the Farm Bill? A. Rice B. Soybeans C. Cotton D. Oats 2. Which of the following crops does not qualify as specialty produce according to the Farm Bill? A. Corn B. Broccoli C. Carrots D. Cauliflower E. None of the above 3. True or false: Thirteen million more acres of farmland would be required to produce enough fruit and vegetables for the daily diets of all Americans to meet USDA guidelines. A. True B. False 4. True or false: The majority of the Farm Bill is designated for agricultural appropriations. A. True B. False 5. Roughly how many Americans identify themselves as farmers, according to recent Census data? A. 2 percent B. 5 percent C. 10 percent D. 20 percent 6. How much of the nation's total land area is controlled by farmers? A. 10 percent B. 20 percent C. 40 percent D. 60 percent 7. Over the last 25 years, the nation has lost roughly how many acres of farmland to development? A. 10 million B. 20 million 8. True or false: Since 1995, 10 percent of all farmers have received 74 percent of all subsidies: A. True B. False 9. True or false: Over 60 percent of farmers in the US do not collect subsidy payments: A. True B. False click here for answers P.S: JBF is hosting foodies and food thinkers today and tomorrow at a conference called \"Creating a Better, More Sustainable Food World We Can Trust.\" (You can watch it all on the live stream.) I was supposed to be there moderating but was felled by a stomach bug, so I'm at home in DC recovering with some chamomile tea.", "&nbsp; On-Air Challenge Each clue is a pair of four-letter words. Each can be found inside the first and last names, respectively, of a famous person. For example, given \"rend\" and \"rase,\" the answer would be \"Brendan Fraser,\" the actor. Challenge From Last Week Think of a six-letter word in which the third letter is \"S.\" Remove the \"S\" and you'll be left with a five-letter word that means the opposite of the six-letter one. What is it? Clue: The six-letter word has two syllables. The five-letter one has one. Answer: Resign, reign Winner: Dan Shapiro of Corvallis, Ore. Next Week's Challenge Think of a famous person whose first and last names both have seven letters. Only two different consonants appear in this full name, each used more than once. Out of the 14 letters in the name, 13 of them appear in the first half of the alphabet, A-M. Who is this person? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. LIANE HANSEN, Host: And joining us is puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Hey, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hey, Liane. HANSEN: Have you ever used the word Twitter in a crossword puzzle? I mean, not the sound the bird makes, but, you know, that social network community? SHORTZ: Yeah, I haven't yet. No, I was a pioneer with podcasting. I used that just right out of the box. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: But haven't had occasion to use Twitter. Why? HANSEN: Someone asked. I entered the Twitter-verse this week and wait till you hear who gave me some tips on how to tweet. You'll hear that later on in this hour. So first of all, let's start our puzzle. What was the challenge that you gave us last week? SHORTZ: Yes. I said think of a six-letter word in which the third letter is S. Remove the S and you'll be left with a five-letter word that means the opposite of the six-letter one. And as a hint, I said the six-letter word has two syllables, the five-letter word has one. What words are these? HANSEN: And what words are these? SHORTZ: It's resign and reign. He might resign a job, or a king might resign or reign. HANSEN: Hi, Dan. I did pronounce your last night right, didn't I? DAN SHAPIRO: Oh, yeah. HANSEN: Because I know someone named Shapiro, so I'm always very careful. How long did it take you to solve the puzzle? SHAPIRO: What's typical for me is I will start thinking about the puzzle right away. And I spent maybe five minutes or so pondering it and didn't get anywhere. The next day I had a spare moment. I was walking through the house maybe carrying a laundry basket or something exciting like that, and it came to me in about 12 seconds. HANSEN: Yeah. Yeah. Oftentimes, when I'm doing a crossword puzzle, for example, and I get stuck, I'll put it down. And then I'll pick it up again, and all of sudden, dawn breaks over marblehead. So, it's kind of nice. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) HANSEN: How long have you been playing our puzzle? SHAPIRO: Well, as a friend of mine used to say, since Hector was a pup. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SHAPIRO: I think it goes back to the days when Will was the editor of Games magazine. HANSEN: Way back. SHORTZ: Whoa. SHAPIRO: Back in the 1980s. HANSEN: Yeah. Late '80s. Absolutely. SHAPIRO: Yeah. HANSEN: Absolutely. Well, it sounds like you're in good shape to play our puzzle. You ready? SHAPIRO: I am. HANSEN: All right. Will, meet Dan. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Dan and Liane, this is a good two-person puzzle. I'm going to give you two four-letter words, each can be found inside the first and last names, respectively, of a famous person, past or present. For example, if I said rend, R-E-N-D, and rase, R-A-S-E, you would say Brendan Fraser, as in the actor. HANSEN: Right. SHORTZ: Here's number one is arlo, A-R-L-O, and rand, R-A-N-D. SHAPIRO: Oh, Marlon Brando. SHORTZ: Marlon Brando is right. SHAPIRO: Yeah. SHORTZ: Good. Number two is lady, L-A-D-Y and nigh, N-I-G-H. SHAPIRO: Gladys Knight. SHORTZ: Gladys Knight. HANSEN: Fast. SHORTZ: You're next one is meld, M-E-L-D, and arco, A-R-C-O. SHAPIRO: Imelda Marcos. SHORTZ: That was fast. Now, they start to get harder 'cause you have to start adding more letters. And this one is acid, A-C-I-D, and ming, M-I-N-G, as in a Ming vase. SHAPIRO: And these are longer words now? SHORTZ: Yeah. This is one's seven... SHAPIRO: Oh. Oh. SHORTZ: ...seven, seven. SHAPIRO: I'm sorry. I figured it out, Will. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) SHAPIRO: I didn't mean to cut you off. Placido Domingo. HANSEN: Good job. SHORTZ: That's correct. Else, E-L-S-E, and lint, L-I-N-T. SHAPIRO: Oh, Kelsey Grammer doesn't work. HANSEN: No. SHAPIRO: Oh, Chelsea Clinton. SHORTZ: Chelsea Clinton. Good one. Here's your next one, list, L-I-S-T, and lock, L-O-C-K. SHAPIRO: Oh, Calista... SHORTZ: Yes. SHAPIRO: ...Flockhart. HANSEN: Flockhart, well done. SHORTZ: Calista Flockhart. Good. Rove, R-O-V-E, and elan, E-L-A-N. SHA", "On-air challenge: Given a four-letter word and a six-letter word, rearrange the letters of one of them to get a synonym of the other. For example: Risk, garden --&gt; DANGER. Last week's challenge, from listener Timothy Gotwald of Chambersburg, Pa.: Think of a word that means \"entrance.\" Interchange the second and fourth letters, and you'll get a new word that means \"exit.\" What words are these? Answer: Gateway, getaway. Winner: Albert Tumpson of Los Angeles. Next week's challenge, from listener Peter Weisz of West Palm Beach, Fla.: Name something in 11 letters that's a common household item. You can rearrange the first six letters to form a synonym of a word spelled by the middle three letters. What is the item, and what are the words? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, May 12, at 3 p.m. ET. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: It's WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block. Scrambling for a last-minute Mother's Day gift? Well, what about a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin and some puzzle books and games? We'll even ship them right to your door. That is once you win the puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) BLOCK: Joining me now is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle master. Will, good morning. WILL SHORTZ: Good morning, Melissa. Happy Mother's Day. BLOCK: Thank you. I'm so excited to be doing this after so many years of playing the puzzle in my living room to actually play along with you on the air. It's a huge thrill. SHORTZ: Likewise. BLOCK: Will, why don't you remind us what last week's challenge was? SHORTZ: Yes. I said think of a word that means entrance. Switch the second and fourth letters, and you get a new word that means exit. What words are they? Well, the answer was gateway and get away. BLOCK: Gateway and get away. And we have to give thanks to some careful listeners who pointed out that we had given you the exact same challenge back in 2008. This time around we got almost 900 correct answers. And our randomly selected winner is Albert Tumpson of Los Angeles. Albert, congratulations. ALBERT TUMPSON: Thank you very much and happy Mother's Day. BLOCK: Thanks. And another bit of deja vu here - this actually is not your first time playing the puzzle on the air right here on WEEKEND EDITION, right? TUMPSON: That's correct. I played back in 2009 with Will and Liane Hansen. BLOCK: All right. Well, are you ready to play the puzzle again? TUMPSON: Absolutely. BLOCK: All right. Let's do it, Will. SHORTZ: All right. Albert and Melissa, I'm going to give you a four-letter word and a six-letter word. Rearrange the letters of one of them to get a synonym of the other. For example, if I said risk and garden you would say danger because danger is an anagram of garden and it means risk. Which word is the anagram and which is the synonym is for you to discover. BLOCK: Oh, OK. TUMPSON: Oh, boy. SHORTZ: Number one is dare, D-A-R-E and peruse, P-E-R-U-S-E. TUMPSON: That would be read. SHORTZ: Read is right. Tame, T-A-M-E, coiled. BLOCK: Oh, OK. SHORTZ: Melissa, you're a Scrabble player, right? BLOCK: I am a bit of a Scrabble player. I'm the worst Scrabble player in my family. But, yeah. What do you think, Albert? You got it? TUMPSON: I'm having a problem with this one. Let me think a minute. SHORTZ: Rearrange the letters of coiled to get a synonym of tame. TUMPSON: That's what I thought, but - docile. BLOCK: There you go. SHORTZ: Docile. Got it. Peek, P-E-E-K and retain, R-E-T-A-I-N. TUMPSON: Keep. SHORTZ: That's it. Clam, C-L-A-M, serene, S-E-R-E-N-E. BLOCK: Oh. TUMPSON: Calm. BLOCK: Nice. SHORTZ: Taco, T-A-C-O, jacket. TUMPSON: That would be coat. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Hats... BLOCK: Tacos in the news this week, yeah. SHORTZ: Yeah, that's true. (LAUGHTER) SHORTZ: Try this one. Suds, S-U-D-S, halter, H-A-L-T-E-R. TUMPSON: Lather. SHORTZ: That's it. Grin, G-R-I-N, circle. TUMPSON: Ring. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Rote, R-O-T-E, ripped, R-I-P-P-E-D. TUMPSON: That would be tore. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Wolf, stream. TUMPSON: Was that first word wolf? SHORTZ: Wolf, W-O-L-F. TUMPSON: So flow. SHORTZ: That's it. Dial, D-I-A-L, placed, P-L-A-C-E-D. TUMPSON: Laid. SHORTZ: That's it. And your last one - hear, H-E-A-R, silent, S-I-L-E-N-T. BLOCK: Hard to think of how you would rearrange hear, isn't it? SHORTZ: That's true. It's hare but there's no synonym of the animal, so you want a synonym of hear to get an anagram of silent. BLOCK: Oh. It's what we do on the radio all the time. SHORTZ: That's true. TUMPSON: Listen. SHORTZ: Listen, good job. BLOCK: Albert, that was great. You were a solo act there needing absolutely no help at all. TUMPSON: Well, I'm sorry I didn't enlist your talents. BLOCK: (Laughter) We'll have to do it another time. For playing our puzzle today, Albert, you'll get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin as well as puzzle bo", "On-air challenge: Every answer today is the name of a popular prime-time TV series from this century, on either broadcast or cable. Identify the shows from their anagrams. For example, OBLIGE + V = BIG LOVE. Last week's challenge: Take the first four letters of a brand of toothpaste plus the last five letters of an over-the-counter medicine, and together, in order, the result will name a popular beverage. What is it? Answer: Pepsodent + Ricola = Pepsi Cola Winner: Brendan Pimper, LaHabra, Calif. Next week's challenge: Name a certain country. Change one letter in its name to a new letter and rearrange the result to name another country's capital. Then change one letter in that and rearrange the result to name another country. What geographical names are these? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Ari Shapiro. And it's time now for the puzzle. And joining us, as he does every week, is Will Shortz, puzzle editor of the New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION'S puzzle master. Good morning, Will. WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Ari. SHAPIRO: You know, I was recently having dinner with my NPR mentor, Nina Totenberg, and started to wonder about your puzzle mentors. Was there somebody who paved the way for you on the path to puzzling? SHORTZ: My heroes were, first of all, Margaret Farrar who was the first New York Times crossword editor from 1942 to 69. And she had a classical style of editing which I've always admired. And honestly, my hero growing up was Sam Loyd, the great puzzle maker of a century ago. SHAPIRO: Well, speaking of puzzles, remind us what last week's challenge was. SHORTZ: Yes, I said take the first four letters of a brand of toothpaste plus the last five letters of an over-the-counter medicine. And together, in order, the result will name a popular beverage. SHAPIRO: I spent all week mulling this over and was unable to solve it. What was the answer? SHORTZ: Well, the toothpaste is Pepsodent. The product is Ricola. And you take those letters, you get Pepsi-Cola. SHAPIRO: Brilliant. Well, we had more than 1,230 correct responses to the puzzle. And our randomly selected winner is Brendan Pimper of LaHabra, California. Congratulations, Brendan. BRENDAN PIMPER: Thank you. SHAPIRO: What do you do in LaHabra? PIMPER: I commute to a job in Redondo Beach where I am a mechanical engineer. SHAPIRO: Cool. And how did you solve the puzzle? PIMPER: Well, like most of the Sunday puzzle challenges, I either get it in a minute or never. SHAPIRO: And this one came in a minute, I take it? PIMPER: This one came in a minute, yeah. My mother used to use that brand of toothpaste. So from Pepsident I got Pepsi-Cola and then worked backwards to Ricola. SHAPIRO: All right. Well, are you ready to play the puzzle? PIMPER: I'm ready. SHAPIRO: Let's take it away, Will. SHORTZ: All right, Brendan and Ari. Every answer today is the name of a popular primetime TV series from this century on either broadcast or cable. Identify the shows from their anagrams. For example, if I said oblige, O B L I G E, plus V, you would say \"Big Love\" which is that show on HBO. SHAPIRO: All right, you ready Brendan? PIMPER: I guess so. SHAPIRO: Let's do this. SHORTZ: Number one is leg, L E G, plus E. PIMPER: \"Glee?\" SHORTZ: \"Glee\" on Fox. That's true. Number two is shoe, S H O E, plus U. PIMPER: Oh, I got it. \"House.\" SHORTZ: \"House\" is it. Rigs, R I G S, plus L. PIMPER: R I G S plus - oh, \"Girls.\" SHORTZ: \"Girls\" is it on HBO - Lena Dunham. Curbs, C U R B S, plus S. PIMPER: C U R B S plus - oh, \"Scrubs.\" SHORTZ: \"Scrubs\" is it. Treed, T R E E D, plus X. PIMPER: Oh, yes. My wife loves that one - \"Dexter.\" SHORTZ: \"Dexter\" on Showtime is it. Named, N A M E D, plus M as in Mary. And it's two words. PIMPER: Named plus M. SHAPIRO: Two words - it's on AMC. PIMPER: Ah, oh, \"Mad Men.\" SHORTZ: \"Madmen\" is it. Writhe, W R I T H E, plus E. It's two words on HBO. SHAPIRO: Oh, no longer on TV but still iconic and legendary, set in Baltimore. SHORTZ: That's it. PIMPER: Oh, \"The Wire.\" SHORTZ: \"The Wire\" is it. Good. Try Cheviot, C H E V I O T - it's a breed of sheep. SHAPIRO: I'm embarrassed to say I've never heard of that word. SHORTZ: Oh, you don't need to know that. It's a breed of sheep. Cheviot, plus E - two words. SHAPIRO: Oh, I got it. My college friend is on it this season. SHORTZ: Whoa. SHAPIRO: She was - here's a clue. She was in my a cappella group in college. PIMPER: Oh, \"The Voice.\" SHAPIRO: Yes. SHORTZ: \"The Voice,\" good. All right, here's your last one - solaced, S O L A C E D, plus C as in Charles - two words. SHAPIRO: Appropriate that it would be the last one. SHORTZ: It's a CBS crime drama - 2003 to 10. Two words, four letters in each word. SHAPIRO: If you solved the final puzzl", "On-air challenge: The theme of today's puzzle is giving. I'm going to give you two words. You give each of them a letter — the same letter for each word — in order to complete a familiar two-word phrase. Ex. CAT AIDE --&gt; Cast aside1. SINGE FIE2. TOPICAL BID3. RAFT BOAR4. DIVE THOUGH5. PONE BOOT6. HEATH CUB7. RABBI RAIL8. BACK BET9. SEED BUM10. FOOD PAIN11. SHOT SHIFT12. TRIPE PAY13. SPRY PINT14. THIN TAN15. HOSE ACING16. LOG RAGE17. FIST STING18. LIE RAT Last week's challenge: A very elegant challenge this week, which comes from listener Janet McDonald of Baton Rouge, La. Take the initials and last names of two opposing historical figures. Add a C and mix all the letters together. You'll get the title and last name of another historical figure from approximately the same era. Who are these people? Challenge answer: U.S. Grant + R.E. Lee + C = General Custer Puzzle winner: Margo Huffman of Corvallis, Ore. Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Peter Collins of Ann Arbor, Mich. Think of three words used in golf. Say them out loud one after the other. They'll sound like a group that was in the news in 2016. What group is it? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Dec. 29 at 3 p.m., Eastern. AILSA CHANG, HOST: OK. For those of you who are stuck peeling vegetables or stirring the gravy, it's time to take five. So turn up your radio, find a closet to hide in and get ready to play The Puzzle. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) CHANG: Of course, I'm joined by the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster Will Shortz. How are you doing, Will? WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Excellent. Good morning, Ailsa. Merry Christmas. CHANG: Merry Christmas to you, too. Do you have any special Christmas Day plans? SHORTZ: Well, last night, I made Christmas dinner for some visitors from Ghana and Togo, and tonight I'm having dinner with friends. CHANG: Sounds like a fun time. SHORTZ: Yes. CHANG: All right, so refresh my memory. Tell me - what was last week's challenge? SHORTZ: Yeah, it was a very elegant challenge. It came from listener Janet McDonald of Baton Rouge. I said, take the initials and last names of two opposing historical figures, add a C and mix all the letters together. You'll get the title and last name of another historical figure from around the same era. Who are these people? Well, the people are U.S. Grant and R.E. Lee. Add a C, mix it all up, you get General Custer. That is just brilliant. I have no idea how she discovered that. CHANG: Well, this week's winner is Margo Huffman of Corvallis, Ore. Congratulations, Margo, and happy holidays. MARGO HUFFMAN: Thank you very much. Merry Christmas to you, too. CHANG: So how did you figure out the answer to that puzzle? HUFFMAN: I don't know. I looked at it, and - I even forgot to look at it till Tuesday. And then I immediately said conflict - you know, people in conflict. And I - initials of the generals just popped right into my head. So - then I messed around with it and saw that you could get sergeant out of it, too. But then nothing worked with that and then general and, of course, the letters left - ah, Custer - OK. CHANG: I hear you are a violinist. You used to play in a symphony orchestra? HUFFMAN: Yeah, for four years - the Rogue Valley Symphony, down in Ashland, Ore. That was, like, 20 years ago. CHANG: How long have you been playing the violin? HUFFMAN: Since I was 12-and-a-half. CHANG: So do you still pick it up and play once in a while? HUFFMAN: Occasionally, not as often as I should. CHANG: All right, Margo. Are you ready to play The Puzzle? HUFFMAN: Oh, gosh. Yes, I guess. CHANG: OK. Well, let's do this. SHORTZ: All right, Margo and Ailsa - since today is Christmas, the theme of today's Puzzle is giving. I'm going to give you two words. You give each of them a letter - it's the same letter in each word - in order to complete a familiar two-word phrase. For example, if I said cat, C-A-T, and aide, A-I-D-E, you would add an S to make cast aside. HUFFMAN: So you can put the letter in the middle. It doesn't have to be on one end. SHORTZ: Could be anywhere in the word. OK, here we go. Number one is singe, S-I-N-G-E, and fie, F-I-E. HUFFMAN: One would want five, but where would you put a V in singe? Single and file. SHORTZ: Single file... HUFFMAN: Single file. CHANG: Nice. SHORTZ: That's the phrase. HUFFMAN: Yeah, OK. SHORTZ: Raft, R-A-F-T, and boar, B-O-A-R. HUFFMAN: Draft board. SHORTZ: Oh, that was fast. CHANG: Good job. Nice. SHORTZ: Dive, D-I-V-E, and though, T-H-O-U-G-H. HUFFMAN: Drive through. SHORTZ: That's it. CHANG: Oh. SHORTZ: Pone, P-O-N-E, as in cornpone, and boot, B-O-O-T. HUFFMAN: OK, letter... CHANG: Oh. SHORTZ: Yes, Ailsa? CHANG: I think I know. SHORTZ: Yeah? CHANG: Phone booth? SHORTZ: Phone booth - add an H. HUFFMAN: Oh, p", "On-Air Challenge You are given a five-letter word and a seven-letter word. Rearrange the letters of one of the words to get a synonym of the other word. For example, given \"alloy\" and \"devoted,\" the answer would be \"loyal.\" (Loyal is an anagram of \"alloy\" and a synonym of \"devoted.) Last Week's Challenge Take the word \"bookman.\" Change one letter and rearrange the result to name a famous person who wrote books. Who is it? Answer: Nabokov Winner: Kevin Callahan of Eugene, Ore. Next Week's Challenge From Eric Iverson of Eagan, Minn.: What is the longest common word in which all the letters rhyme with E? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. LIANE HANSEN, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is Puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Hey, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: So, is your life today more puzzles than ping-pong or vice versa? SHORTZ: Oh, it might be veering toward ping-pong. I have just bought 50 percent of a building in my hometown to open a table tennis club. We're going to have about 11,000 square feet of playing space, which is enough for 18 tables. I think it'll be the largest table tennis club in the Northeast. We hope to be open by November. HANSEN: Wow. You wouldn't do anything unless it had an ST at the end. You know, the best, the best, the best. You had a challenge that had absolutely nothing to do with table tennis last week. Would you repeat it, please? SHORTZ: Yes. I said take the word bookman, B-O-O-K-M-A-N, change one letter in it, and rearrange the result to name a famous person who wrote books. Who is it? HANSEN: Who is it? SHORTZ: Answer is Nabokov, as in Vladimir Nabokov. HANSEN: Author of the book \"Lolita\" and more. We received more than a thousand entries this week. Our randomly chosen winner is Kevin Callahan from Eugene, Oregon. Hi, Kevin. Mr. KEVIN CALLAHAN: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: How long did it take you to solve the puzzle? Mr. CALLAHAN: That one came pretty fast. HANSEN: Good for you. What do you do in Eugene? Mr. CALLAHAN: I'm a math teacher at Madison Middle School. HANSEN: You must be very, very busy this time of year. Mr. CALLAHAN: I am, yes, I am. HANSEN: All right. Well, Kevin, meet Will; Will, meet Kevin. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Kevin. I'm going to give you a five-letter word and a seven-letter word. Rearrange the letters of one of these words to get a synonym of the other. For example, if I said alloy, A-L-L-O-Y, and devoted, you would say loyal, because loyal is an anagram of alloy and it's a synonym of devoted. Mr. CALLAHAN: OK. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is thing T-H-I-N-G and evening. And here's a hint to get you off to - rearrange the letters of thing to get a synonym for... Mr. CALLAHAN: Night. SHORTZ: Night, right. And the anagram could be either word. That's for you to figure out. HANSEN: That's what I was afraid of, is that it could be either one. SHORTZ: Number one is state, S-T-A-T-E, and cleared, C-L-E-A-R-E-D. Mr. CALLAHAN: Declared. SHORTZ: Declare, good. March M-A-R-C-H; delight. Mr. CALLAHAN: Delight? SHORTZ: Um-hum. Mr. CALLAHAN: Charm. SHORTZ: Charm, good job. Timer T-I-M-E-R and deserve. Mr. CALLAHAN: Timer and deserve. HANSEN: How are you doing there? Mr. CALLAHAN: I'm still working. HANSEN: OK. SHORTZ: Which word did you anagram, Liane? HANSEN: Timer. SHORTZ: That's correct. Mr. CALLAHAN: I still don't have it. SHORTZ: You want to go for it, Liane? HANSEN: Sure. Merit. SHORTZ: Merit, good. Mr. CALLAHAN: Merit, yeah. HANSEN: It's those... Mr. CALLAHAN: Thanks, Liane. HANSEN: It's the definitions because they can have more than one and that's what... Mr. CALLAHAN: Yeah. HANSEN: confabulate everything. SHORTZ: That's right. Try this: irate, I-R-A-T-E, and grenade, G-R-E-N-A-D-E. This is interesting. There's actually two answers here but you only need to give one. HANSEN: I think I've got one. SHORTZ: Yeah? Which word did you anagram. HANSEN: Grenade. Mr. CALLAHAN: Grenade. HANSEN: That's right. Meaning irate. Mr. CALLAHAN: I'm not getting it. HANSEN: Enraged. SHORTZ: Enraged. Mr. CALLAHAN: Enraged. SHORTZ: Enraged. Also angered works, either way. HANSEN: Oh. Mr. CALLAHAN: Oh. HANSEN: That would've been easier. SHORTZ: Try this one: nadir, N-A-D-I-R, and deplete, D-E-P-L-E-T-E. HANSEN: Will gave me a hint when doing anagrams, if you actually put the words in, like, bowling pin formations, so the first word is the... Mr. CALLAHAN: Oh. HANSEN: ...one pin and then two, then three. It helps your head get out of the linear way of thinking. Mr. CALLAHAN: Linear mode, yeah. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: All right, Liane. Jump in - what's your answer. HANSEN: Drain and deplete. SHORTZ: Drain is right. Mr. CALLAHAN: Drain. Awesome. SHORTZ: All right.", "On-Air Challenge Every answer is a familiar word with two B's in a row somewhere inside it. You are given an anagram of the other letters in the word. For example, given \"oat,\" the answer would be \"abbot.\" Last Week's Challenge From listener Mike Shteyman of Reisterstown, Md.: Take the first seven letters of the alphabet, A through G, change one of these letters to another letter that is also either A, B, C, D, E, F or G. Rearrange the result to spell a familiar seven-letter word. What word is it? Answer: Feedbag. Winner: Barbara Larcom of Baltimore. Next Week's Challenge Name a nationality. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th letters in order name a country. Also the fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth and 12th letters in order also name a country. Neither country is related to the nationality. What nationality is this? Submit Your Answer If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern. LIANE HANSEN, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Hi, Will. WILL SHORTZ: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: You know what I love about today? You can say it's easy as 1-2-3. SHORTZ: Uh-huh, uh-huh. You know, I was just noticing recently the date was, of course, 1-11-11, and in November it's going to be even better. It'll be 11-11-11. HANSEN: I bet people are planning weddings right now, as we speak. Well, I don't know how easy the challenge was last week but why don't you repeat it for us. SHORTZ: Yes. It came from listener Mike Shteyman of Reisterstown, Maryland. I said: Take the first seven letters of the alphabet - A through G - change one of these letters to another that's also either A-B-C-D-E-F or G, rearrange the result to spell a familiar seven-letter word. What word is it? HANSEN: And your answer? SHORTZ: Answer is feedbag. HANSEN: Well, it wasn't too hard, I guess, because we received more than 1,200 entries, and that's a little more than we've been receiving in a while. And out of those entries, our winner is Barbara Larcom from Baltimore, Maryland. Hi there, Barbara. Ms. BARBARA LARCOM: Hi, Liane. HANSEN: What do you do in Baltimore? Ms. LARCOM: Well, I am very active with the sister city project called Casa Baltimore Limay, connected with Nicaragua. And I play the piano for a Catholic church and I'm doing some contractual work with Alliance for Global Justice. HANSEN: Wow. All that fun and work in Charm City, huh? Ms. LARCOM: That's right. HANSEN: How long have you been playing the puzzle? Ms. LARCOM: Well, this is my first entry in fact, although I've been listening for about two years. HANSEN: And how long did it take you to solve this one? Ms. LARCOM: Less than 15 minutes. I thought this one was easier than some. HANSEN: All right. And you were courageous enough to send in an entry and we picked you. And are you ready to play? Ms. LARCOM: I hope so. HANSEN: Me, too. All right, Will, meet Barbara. Let's play. SHORTZ: All right, Barbara, today's puzzle is called To B or Not Two B. Every answer is a familiar word with a doubled B - that is two Bs in a row somewhere inside it. I'll give you an anagram in the other letters in the word. You tell me the word. For example, if I said oat O-A-T, you would say abbot. Ms. LARCOM: Oh, OK. SHORTZ: All right. Number one is air A-I-R. Ms. LARCOM: Oh dear. HANSEN: And the Bs have to be together so... SHORTZ: The Bs will be together in that word. Ms. LARCOM: Rabbi. SHORTZ: Rabbi - you didn't need a hint. Number two is loge L-O-G-E. Ms. LARCOM: Gobble. SHORTZ: Gobble, good. Hays H-A-Y-S. Ms. LARCOM: Shabby. HANSEN: Yeah. SHORTZ: Shabby, good job. Line L-I-N-E. Ms. LARCOM: Nibble. SHORTZ: Nibble, good. Lead L-E-A-D. Ms. LARCOM: Dabble. SHORTZ: Oh, that's fast. Inge I-N-G-E. Ms. LARCOM: Ebbing. SHORTZ: Ebbing, good one. Noir N-O-I-R. Ms. LARCOM: Ribbon. SHORTZ: Ribbon, good. OK. Rita R-I-T-A. Ms. LARCOM: Rabbit. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Hasta H-A-S-T-A. Ms. LARCOM: Oh gosh, getting harder. Shabbat. SHORTZ: Shabbat or Sabbath, either way. Lutes L-U-T-E-S. Ms. LARCOM: Stubble. SHORTZ: Stubble, good. HANSEN: You're so fast. SHORTZ: Cagier C-A-G-I-E-R. Ms. LARCOM: Cribbage. SHORTZ: I can give you a hint - cribbage. HANSEN: Good. SHORTZ: No hint needed. Good one. Slicer S-L-I-C-E-R. And this is a verb that describes what you probably do, what you're doing on the paper right now. What you do for... Ms. LARCOM: Oh, scribble. SHORTZ: Scribble is right. And your last one is mulled M-U-L-L-E-D. And your hint is: the answer is something that you are not. Ms. LARCOM: Oh dear. SHORTZ: Something you... Ms. LARCOM: Oh, dumbbell. SHORTZ: Dumbbell, good job. HANSEN: Dumbbell. Barbara, leaving me in the dust when it comes to the puzzle. Man, you are good, man. Nice work. Well, you know you get some things for playin" ]