The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive is far behind its goal this year, but it’s not too late to give.Dan Miller of the The Salvation Army in Hamilton joined us live on News Now Midday.
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Buckeyes aim to continue Cornhusker lockout
Senior guard Shannon Scott (3) defends Penn State freshman guard Shep Garner during a Feb. 11 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 75-55.Credit: Samantha Hollingshead / Lantern photographerMost top-tier basketball teams have the luxury of coming home to a state of the art locker room nowadays.While the same can be said for the Ohio State men’s basketball team as they return home after suffering back-to-back road losses, the Nebraska Cornhuskers haven’t seen their lockers in days.After a 74-46 drubbing from Iowa on Sunday, Nebraska coach Tim Miles banned his players from the friendly confines of the Cornhusker facilities.While some might think that style of motivation is drastic, OSU coach Thad Matta said it doesn’t surprise him.“You would be shocked at how many coaches do that. You hear coaches talk about doing that all the time. I think from that perspective, as a coach, you are doing everything you can,” Matta said Wednesday. “At times, you almost feel like you are begging guys in a certain point of a season to do their best.”Nebraska is set to travel to Columbus to take on OSU at the Schottenstein Center on Thursday at 7 p.m.The Buckeyes, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, are set to play three of their last four regular season games at home before heading to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament.Senior forward Sam Thompson, a Chicago native, said while it is nice to be returning home, the recent losses are unacceptable.“Obviously it feels different being on the road than it does being at home. But that in no way justifies the way that we came out to play some of these road games that we had,” Thompson said. “No matter where we are playing, no matter who we’re playing, our goal is to come out and play our best basketball.”Matta agreed with Thompson and added that he, more than anyone, wants to see his players get back on the right track against Nebraska.“Nobody in the world understands that the No. 1 person that wants his players to play their best is not their family, it’s not their (Amateur Athletic Union) coach, it’s the head coach and our lives are tied to it,” he said. “All I want to do tomorrow night is play our best basketball and compete and play with toughness and get the job done.”The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers are set to do battle for the first and only time this regular season after splitting the regular season matchups last year.OSU beat Nebraska in the 2014 Big Ten Tournament, overcoming an 18-point deficit, and Matta said he expects a similar team to come to Columbus on Thursday night.“I saw them play two games ago against Maryland at Maryland and you are watching them play and you are saying, ‘These guys are probably first or second in the Big Ten,’” Matta said. “They looked unbelievable. They are a rough, tough physical basketball team. Smashmouth on defense and we gotta execute our offense, we gotta move ‘em. Defensively, they’ve got a couple guys, and we’ve seen this first hand, that can go for 35 on you if you’re not ready to defend.”Perhaps one of those players Matta was talking about was junior guard Terran Petteway, who scored a career-high 35 points against Minnesota as a sophomore.This season, Petteway ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring with 18.2 points per game, to go along with five boards per game, which ranks him second on Nebraska’s roster.Much like OSU freshman guard D’Angelo Russell, Petteway dominates the basketball on offense, as he leads his team in both points and assists.Russell, despite leading the Buckeyes in scoring, turned the ball over five times in a loss to Michigan on Sunday. Matta said, however, he doesn’t think it is because Russell is trying to do too much.“I think you got to give sometimes the defenses credit. If he and Shannon are out there, whoever gets it or gets the outlet (pass) can push the transition,” Matta said. “(But) if he can get it and make a play, I am good with that.”While Russell and the Buckeyes have not been kicked out of their locker room, Matta joked the idea is not too farfetched.“I’ll tell you what, a couple of years ago they were doing ours (renovating the locker rooms) and we were in some side locker room and we were playing our asses off. Maybe we need to go back over there,” he said.
Part of ancient fresco stolen from Pompeii
THIEVES HAVE STOLEN part of an ancient fresco from Pompeii, breaking in to a closed area of the UNESCO World Heritage landmark and chipping off a portrait of a Greek deity.A custodian doing rounds last week discovered “the removal of a part of a fresco in the House of Neptune,” where a depiction of the goddess Artemis had been “chiseled off with a metallic object,” the Roman site’s curator department said in a statement.Police have launched an investigation into the theft of the 20 centimetre wide fragment, which occurred in an area closed to the public, leaving a glaring white slash in the pink-toned fresco, where a second Greek character now stands forlornly alone.The discovery sparked outrage in Italy, with Il Messaggero describing it as “a shame for the country”, made doubly embarrassing by the recent appointment of a new “super-superintendent” for the site.The theft comes on the back of a series of collapses in the long-neglected ruins near Naples, which have drawn international concern.The Temple of Venus and walls of a tomb were damaged earlier this month after heavy rains, prompting the European Union to urge Italy to “take care of Pompeii, because it is emblematic not only for Europe but also for the world”.In response, Italy said it would unblock some €2 million to help oil the wheels of a major EU-backed project to restore the site.Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also appealed to private investors to help restore the ruins.Last year, conservation workers began a €105 million makeover of Pompeii, funded by the EU to the tune of €41.8 million.But according to the Corriere della Sera daily, only €588,000 have been spent so far – just 0.56 per cent of the funds.The project is seen as crucial to the survival of the 44-hectare site in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed the city of Pompeii in 79 AD.More: Could Mona Lisa have been a feminist who wanted more women in the Church?Read: Jay Z and Beyonce depicted as famous works of art
Investigation launched after child 3 dies on farm
A CHILD HAS died on a farm in Cork.Gardaí said that they are investigating the death, which is being treated as a tragic accident.They said the three-year-old boy was injured in an incident involving a digger at Drimoleague in Bantry, Co Cork at around 10.30am today.The child was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.The Health and Safety Authority said it is aware of the incident and told TheJournal.ie it is investigating the death.
Players recovering at home after freak injuries in abandoned Munster schools rugby
Share9 Tweet Email By Fintan O’Toole 26 Comments 36,882 Views Players recovering at home after freak injuries in abandoned Munster schools rugby game The match was abandoned at Musgrave Park yesterday. Two changes for England as they get ready for Wales clashGood news for Virgin customers as Ireland’s Rugby World Cup games will also be on RTÉ http://the42.ie/3226857 An ambulance arrives at yesterday’s Munster Junior Cup game. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHOA MUNSTER SCHOOLS Junior rugby cup tie was abandoned yesterday at Musgrave Park in Cork after just nine minutes when three players from Limerick school St Munchin’s were seriously injured.The Irish Examiner reported that Munchin’s players Dylan Higgins and Craig Carew were removed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital while another player Dean Callinan had to leave the field with a head injury.But the Limerick school last night revealed in a statement on the school’s Facebook page, that players had been released from hospital and all three were recovering at home last night.St Munchin’s also praised opponents Presentation Brothers College Cork for their support and their captain for visiting the injured players in hospital. Source: Facebook – @stmunchins Source: Facebook – @stmunchinsThe match was abandoned with Pres ahead 5-0 as the St Munchin’s players were unwiling to continue. No decision has yet made as to whether a refixture will take place.The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us! Follow us: the42.ie Feb 9th 2017, 11:15 AM Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Thursday 9 Feb 2017, 11:15 AM Short URL
Arrest Garda dog locates man in his 20s as gardaí probe Cork
By Hayley Halpin Fri 2:49 PM Laser the Garda dog 31 Comments Laser the Garda dog Image: Garda Press Office 23,100 Views Arrest: Garda dog locates man in his 20s as gardaí probe Cork city burglaries The incidents happened at around 3pm in the Rochestown area. Image: Garda Press Office
Share4 Tweet Email1 https://jrnl.ie/4808250 Short URL GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING for witnesses in relation to a number of burglaries that occurred in Cork City yesterday. The incidents happened at around 3pm in the Rochestown area. Gardaí responded to reports of a burglary in process. The suspect vehicle then rammed a Garda patrol car and left the scene. No garda member was injured at the time of the collision. The suspect vehicle was abandoned at Mahon Golf Club.A number of garda members, assisted by the garda dog unit and air support unit, then commenced an extensive search. During the course of the search a number of stolen items were recovered and a vehicle was seized for technical examination. At around 6.40pm, a man in his 20s was found by garda dog Laser and was arrested by gardaí. He is currently being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act at Togher Garda Station.Gardaí are continuing to carry out searches and are appealing for any witnesses to the incident. They are also appealing to anyone who may have witnessed two men, who are believed to be aged in their 20s or 30s, in the area and who may appear to have muddy or dirty clothes to contact them immediately. Gardaí can be contacted at Anglesea Street Garda Station on 021 452 2000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station. Friday 13 Sep 2019, 2:49 PM Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
October elections a growing likelihood
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Greece appears to be heading nearer to snap polls, possibly as early as October 4, sources told Kathimerini yesterday, as the government spurned opportunities to deny that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is considering such a move.According to sources, Karamanlis is set to announce by Thursday his intentions, clearing the ground for his economic policy speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair on Saturday, an annual landmark in the political calendar.It is thought that if Karamanlis does opt for a snap poll, he will tell voters that he is basing his decision on the lack of consensus with the opposition parties on issues that are vital to Greece’s future.In a meeting yesterday with the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA), Constantinos Michalos, Karamanlis was urged to find common ground with the opposition but the prime minister responded by saying that he had already sought consensus and that his attempts had been rebuffed by other leaders.The issue of whether Karamanlis should call elections straight away continues to divide New Democracy. Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias has been identified as one of the senior conservatives advising the premier to opt for a snap poll.“My actions, my thoughts, my ideas and my suggestions during my whole political career have always been based on what is in the national interest,” said Souflias in an ambiguous response to a question about whether he was advising Karamanlis on the election date.However, former Culture Minister Michalis Liapis seized upon this comment. “How can it serve the national interest when holding elections now would either lead to no outright winner or a PASOK government?” said Liapis.
Facebook help for students
To coincide with the beginning of the tertiary semester, the Department of Human Services on Thursday hosted a live Facebook Q&A session especially for people to ask about Centrelink payments and services for students.Department of Human Services general manager Hank Jongen said that since February 2012 the department has hosted seven successful live Facebook Q&A sessions for students. In these sessions expert staff answer students’ questions from all over Australia in real time, covering topics such as eligibility [for payments], the Parental Means Test and how they can do business with us online,” Mr Jongen said.“So far, through hosting interactive sessions on the Student Update Facebook page, our staff has been able to answer over 700 questions from close to 1,500 people who are either currently receiving a student payment or have questions about Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY.“As well as answering questions, we have been able to inform students of other payments they may be eligible for, such as the Student Start-up Scholarship, Rent Assistance, Relocation Scholarship and the Low Income Health Care Card.“These live Facebook Q&A sessions provide a great opportunity for students, especially those who live in rural, regional and remote areas, to have direct access to specialist information without having to call or travel to visit a service centre,” said Mr Jongen.An option the Department of Human Services has available for students in order to help them manage their Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY payments is the Express Plus Students app.“The app offers a simple, fast and mobile way for students to do Centrelink business on the go without having to visit a service centre, which is great for busy people,” said Mr Jongen. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Aide humanitaire au Pakistan lONU assure quelle se poursuivra malgré les menaces
Aide humanitaire au Pakistan : l’ONU assure qu’elle se poursuivra malgré les menaces des talibansNew York, États-Unis – Jeudi 26 août, le responsable de l’ONU chargé de l’aide au Pakistan a déclaré que les secours aux populations touchées par les inondations devaient se poursuivre, malgré la menace des talibans de s’attaquer aux humanitaires internationaux.John Holmes, en charge du dossier humanitaire au Pakistan pour l’ONU, réaffirme la légitimité et la nécessité de l’aide internationale apportée aux sinistrés pakistanais, confrontés à de terribles inondations. Sans négliger pour autant les menaces des talibans. Des menaces concrètes, révélées mercredi par un haut responsable américain et visant les humanitaires étrangers à l’œuvre dans le pays. À lire aussiUn violent séisme fait au moins 208 morts au PakistanDes fonctionnaires locaux pourraient aussi être menacés. M. Holmes souligne cependant que de tels risques existaient déjà au Pakistan avant les inondations.Le pays vit aujourd’hui sa plus grave crise humanitaire : les autorités d’Islamabad parlent d’au moins 1.500 morts et, selon l’ONU, plus de 17 millions de personnes seraient affectées, dont 8 millions de sinistrés, parmi lesquels on dénombre 5 millions de sans-abri. Au total, plus d’un cinquième du pays est inondé. Des chiffres qui justifient largement l’aide d’urgence estime l’ONU.Le 27 août 2010 à 14:49 • Emmanuel Perrin
The Flash Season 5 Ep 5 Recap Scary Villain Brings the Family
The CW superhero shows can sometimes feel lacking in the special effects department. Good CGI is expensive, and these shows don’t always have the budget for it. This episode found a solution: Hire a guy who can actually do creepy contortions with his body to play the villain. It’s definitely effective. Before we get there though, The Flash has some family drama to take care of. Just as in the last few episodes this season, it all works together surprisingly well.The show may have skipped a week, but XS is still mad. After both Barry and Iris agreed that there must have been a good reason to suppress her powers in the future, she’s not answering her parents calls. It has an effect on her crimefighting work too. When The Flash responds to an early morning robbery, she helps, but hangs up on both her parents. She catches the robber’s accomplice by yanking him off his motorcycle. Unfortunately, she didn’t secure the bike, which almost hits an old couple crossing the street. Fortunately, The Flash arrives to run them out of the way, leading to another parental scolding. It’s still funny how easily Barry and Iris fall into their mom and dad roles around her. And it’s still fresh enough that the can-I-talk-to-you scenes don’t feel like the show’s repeating itself.Rag Doll (Photo Credit: Dean Buscher/The CW)The future family drama will have to wait at least a little bit, though. There’s a new metahuman this week, and it’s a real creepy one. Rag Doll has the power to fold and shape his body any way he wants. If you thought Elongated Man’s power lent itself to body horror, it’s got nothing on Rag Doll’s. The creepy mask only makes the contortions and finger-flattening all the creepier. His crimes are escalating too. At first, he sneaks into a rich woman’s wedding presents to steal a tiara. Next, he blows up an architect’s building. He would have killed the architect too, if the Flash hadn’t shown up. By the second time we see him (folding himself through a vent), I’m convinced that this power never won’t freak me the F out.The case gives Barry and Iris some much-needed alone time as they try to investigate the identity of this scary masked figure. So much of the show has focused on them keeping secrets from each other or having to save each other, it’s a nice reminder that they really are partners. It’s important that we see them working together every so often like this. It makes us believe in their marriage, letting us see why they side with each other so easily and naturally. Grant Gustin and Candice Patton work really well together after all these years too, which only helps sell the romance more. Through their investigations, they figure out Rag Doll’s identity. His name is Peter Merkel, the son of a wealthy socialite and philanthropist who maybe wasn’t the most attentive parent. Suffice it to say, he’s got some issues, which are at the core of his targets. He’s all sad, so he wants to hit his targets where it really hurts.Candice Patton as Iris West – Allen and Grant Gustin as Barry Allen (Photo Credit: Dean Buscher/The CW)Of course a case as steeped in mommy issues as this is brings up a whole mess of feelings for Iris. Seeing just how bad a mother-child relationship can turn causes Iris to re-think her future self. She starts to realize she doesn’t like the person she apparently turns into. She comes to realize that future-her hurts Nora in the same way her own parents hurt her. She doesn’t want to be that person. By now, we know it’s not that simple. Often, the more you try to change the future, the more you cement it. Even Iris doesn’t know how much of her future choices she’ll be able to change, but she’s going to try. Hopefully, she can at least be more honest with her daughter in the future.What’s especially promising is how quickly this season is moving this particular story along. If this were either of the last two, it’d be easy to see the show drag the mother-daughter drama out past midseason. While it’s not resolving it unnaturally fast, there are signs of reconciliation starting to build. While Barry and Iris are adorably playing detective Cecile gives Nora a new appreciation for both her parents, telling her stories of Iris doing cool things under the guise of Flash stories. Hearing what a great person her mom has always been starts to bring Nora around, but Iris wins her daughter’s trust back herself. Rag Doll, whose figured out The Flash’s identity… somehow, attacks Barry. He slaps anti-metahuman cuffs on him and plans to push him off a building. Thanks to some Spider-Man style swinging, Elongated Man and Iris arrive just before Barry takes a plunge. Unfortunately, they’re not fast enough to stop Rag Doll from pushing Barry over the edge.Jessica Parker Kennedy as Nora/XS, Candice Patton as Iris West – Allen and Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash (Photo Credit: Robert Falconer/The CW)It’s disappointing that we don’t get to see a real battle with Rag Doll. He fights Elongated Man off screen, and ends up trapped inside him. I really want to see how that fight played out, but it’s left to our imaginations. You know what? It’s probably better there anyway. Still, I’d have liked to see a good Elongated Man action scene. It’d be more of a problem if what we’re shown instead wasn’t so cool. Iris instinctively dives after Barry Allen, angling her body to catch up with him and unlock his cuffs. His super speed back, Barry’s able to bring them both safely to the ground. Not only is it a cool sequence, it moves the story forward. Nora sees her mother’s physics-defying display of badassery, which is enough to at least get her to start talking. It’s not a full resolution, but it’s a start, which feels natural at this early stage in the season. Maybe it’s just the fact that the lessons being learned aren’t rehashes of past episodes, but all the family drama is really working for me this season.Meanwhile, we’re finally getting back to the mystery behind Caitlin’s father. As interested as I am is Cicada as a big bad, this is really the story I want to here more of. Cisco vibes with some of his recovered belongings, which leads them to Dr. Stein’s old lab. (Which only served to remind us how much we miss Victor Garber on Legends of Tomorrow.) There, they find even more things for Cisco to vibe on, leading him to another equation-based puzzle. One that points to a Greek goddess with Killer Frost-style powers. Meaning Caitlin’s father knew about and was around for the birth of Killer Frost.Candice Patton as Iris West – Allen and Jessica Parker Kennedy as Nora/XS (Photo Credit: Dean Buscher/The CW)The investigation hits a setback, though. Every time Cisco vibes something, he starts to bleed. It progresses to the point where he collapses on the ground. Caitlin figures it out immediately. The dark matter is affecting his central nervous system. He might not be able to keep being Vibe for much longer, and it’s tearing him up inside. Unfortunately, don’t get much further than that this week. Caitlin and Cisco have a sweet moment where she assures him that, even without his powers, he’s still an important part of the team. Who else could improvise brilliant technical solutions and punny supervillain names?Besides, the show appears to realize that the mystery is what makes this b-story really fun. And it’s not going to be quite so fun if Cisco can just Vibe the answer whenever they reach a new area. Instead, the next step of the puzzle is solve the way it should be: With Wells and Dibny putting their detective heads together and following clues. Now, it would have been so much better if we actually saw them do that. The fun part of any mystery is watching the detectives piece clues together, and something is definitely lost when you skip straight to the solution like this. To the show’s credit it did place the clues well enough throughout the episode that the solution wasn’t a total deus ex machina. Plus, the character drama in this episode was well-written enough that I didn’t mind the focus on that. It looks like we’re going to get some answers next week anyway. Wells and Dibny have narrowed down Caitlin’s father’s location to a number of supposedly defunct black sites. We get to see the emotional confrontation next week.The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.Previously on The Flash:The Flash Season 5, Episode 4 RecapThe Flash Season 5, Episode 3 RecapThe Flash Season 5, Episode 2 Recap Stay on target Top Movies and TV Panels to Keep on Your Radar for SDCC 2019’The Flash’ Season 5 Finale Recap: 2 Big Bads and 1 Pre-Crisis 
Ministers meet to discuss new civil aviation policy 520 rule may be
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met Thursday ministers to discuss the new civil aviation policy, which may be finalised soon. According to officials who attended the meeting, abolishing the 5/20 rule was also discussed.The meeting was attended by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey, official sources told Hindu BusinessLine.Under the 5/20 rule, an airline that has had five years of domestic industry experience and a fleet of 20 aircraft can operate on international routes. Abolishing the rule would benefit new airlines such as AirAsia India and Vistara.”The 5/20 norm is likely to go and will be replaced by a rule that will ensure domestic connectivity is not compromised after airlines are allowed to go international,” an official, who requested anonymity, told the Economic Times.The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has reportedly opposed abolishing the policy. The FIA, along with member airlines such as GoAir, SpiceJet, Jet Airways and IndiGo, have demanded that the matter of “effective control of carriers” be solved before the government changes international operation rules.The draft civil aviation policy also proposes launch of “regional flights” at a minimum fare of Rs 2,500, ET added.The InterGlobe Aviation (which owns IndiGo) stock closed at Rs 839.50 Friday, down 1.21 percent from its previous close, while the Jet Airways scrip gained 2.82 percent and settled at Rs 557.50.SpiceJet rose 4.11 percent to close at Rs 68.40 on the BSE.
SpiceJet to declare Q3 results on February 14
SpiceJet, the Ajay Singh-owned budget airline, will be declaring its December 2016 quarter (Q3) results next week. Jet Airways and Interglobe Aviation, owner of IndiGo, have already announced their Q3 financial performance, reporting a fall in net profit due to weak pricing and high fuel costs.”Spicejet Ltd has informed BSE that the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on February 14, 2017, inter alia, to consider and approve, the un-audited financial results of the Company for the third quarter ended December 31, 2016,” the company had said earlier this month.Read: SpiceJet cabin crew and ground staff get new uniform courtesy Nimish Shah; 5 best airline uniformsFor Q3, Interglobe Aviation posted net profit of Rs 487 crore, down 25 percent from Rs 650 crore in the corresponding period last financial year while Jet Airways saw its net profit fall 69 percent to Rs 142 crore in comparison to Rs 467 crore for the third quarter in 2015-16. The companies had attributed lower ticket prices and rising fuel (ATF) costs to the fall in net profit.The share price of SpiceJet closed 0.23 percent higher at Rs 64.05 on Friday (February 10, 2017) on the BSE. Jet Airways shares ended 0.19 percent lower at Rs 373 apiece while Interglobe closed 0.89 percent lower at Rs 838.For the second quarter ended September 2016, SpiceJet had reported 103 percent spurt in net profit to Rs 58.9 crore from Rs 29 crore in the corresponding period last year, on the back of lower fuel costs and higher operating income. It was also the seventh straight quarter when the airline earned net profit after years of losses.Its income from operations rose 35 percent to Rs 1,400.39 crore from Rs 1,040.13 crore in the year-ago period.Recently, SpiceJet was in the news for its mega order to buy 205 aircraft from Boeing for $22 billion.”SpiceJet’s new order underscores its drive to compete more effectively in India’s cut-throat low cost travel market. The deal for up to 205 737MAXs will certainly put it on par with Indigo for domestic dominance and the added range of the 737MAX fleet will allow SpiceJet to open up routes deeper into Asia and even parts of Europe/CIS states,” Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, told the International Business Times, India.The current fleet size of SpiceJet is 40 aircraft as against 126 of IndiGo and 114 of Jet Airways.Other players in the Indian civil aviation market include unlisted entities such as state-owned Air India, AirAsia India, Vistara and GoAir.IndiGo has the largest market share in terms of passenger volumes in the domestic air traffic business.
Dear Virat Kohli dont blame media for speculating you and Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli should have done more to dispel rumours of riftICCIn the press conference that Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri addressed before embarking on the tour of West Indies, the Indian captain lashed out at the media for wildly speculating about a supposed rift between him and Rohit Sharma.”In my opinion, it’s baffling and ridiculous to read such stuff. Public talks about how well we’ve played, and here we’re feeding lies and talking about negative things. And I’ve seen this being brought up for far too long now. It’s bizarre how people are creating these things,” Kohli stated emphatically.Now, it is a fact that the Indian media can be overzealous in speculating about the cricket team and famous personalities. But in this case, the media is in no way responsible for fuelling the speculation. Let’s be clear, reports of rifts in cricket teams, especially Indian cricket teams are a common phenomenon. From the supposed estrangement between Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar in the 1980s to the problems MS Dhoni had with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, such instances and their reporting are nothing new. Both men have not even posted a photo together despite being together in West IndiesGetty Images/ICCSo, Kohli cannot claim that he is being subjected to unprecedented scrutiny. The same media which builds up stars like him has the right to also ask questions which may not be flattering. But what makes the Indian captain’s anger all the more surprising is the fact that it is his and Rohit Sharma’s actions, or the lack of it, that has led the rumours become so widespread.Till that particular press conference, both men, and the BCCI refused to utter a single word regarding this issue. If Kohli finds these speculations in the media ‘baffling’ and ‘ridiculous,’ what stopped him from issuing a small statement or just posting a message on Twitter.Besides, some of the biggest stories on this issue has come through comments by highly-placed sources within the BCCI as well as an unnamed member of CoA. With a storm brewing in the media, was it not incumbent on the two players to put out just one sentence negating these reports, if indeed they were incorrect. The social media activities of the two players have also added fuel to the rumoursInstagramWhile Kohli lashed out at the media in the pre-tour press meet, Rohit has remained silent. Despite being together in the squad in West Indies, the two men haven’t even posted a photo together which can be the strongest proof of their being no resentment between them. This is a very strong clue of the reports of this dissension being very much true.Lastly, media-persons would remember what happened in 2017. There were stories in the media in the middle of that year suggesting problems between Kohli and the then coach Anil Kumble. At that time also, Virat had categorically rejected these reports, only for them to be proved right. So, media is perfectly justified in speculating.Till now, not a word has been heard from the side of Rohit and a picture that Virat tweeted of his team didn’t include him. If this doesn’t make people suspect, what will?
For Black Children Attending School Is an Act of Racial Justice
By Kayla Patrick, Special to the AfroAs a seemingly twisted way to ring in 2019, the Trump administration has sent a loud and clear message that it’s okay for educators and school leaders to keep Black children out of school buildings and exclude them from opportunities to learn. It may sound extreme, but that’s exactly what it means to rescind school discipline guidance that was put in place explicitly to ensure that Black children were not treated this way and discriminated against.The current administration, however, wants us to believe that discrimination against Black children is a myth. It is not. It is the lived experience of too many, if not all Black children. In the 2015-16 school year, Black boys made up 8 percent of public school enrollment, but they were 25 percent of the boys suspended out of school. Black girls were 8 percent of enrollment, but 14 percent of the girls suspended out of school. While Black children are overrepresented in practices that exclude or remove students from school, White children are underrepresented. Such data are clear evidence that racism and bias often drive exclusionary practices. To ignore this is to preserve the status quo.In the 2015-16 school year, Black boys made up 8 percent of public school enrollment, but they were 25 percent of the boys suspended out of school. (Photo by Tiffany C. Ginyard)If the numbers aren’t enough to show that discrimination exists in American classrooms, studies have shown that Black children do not misbehave more than their White peers, rather they are punished more. In fact, Black students are more likely than their White peers to receive a disciplinary action for a discretionary offense like talking back, violating a dress code, or being defiant. Black children are also more likely to be suspended out of school for their first offense. Clear, appropriate, and consistent consequences and educator training — as the guidance calls for — helps to eliminate the discrimination and bias that fuel the disproportionate punishment of Black children.This administration would also have us believe that discipline disparities are a result of poverty, arguing that experiencing childhood trauma and living in distressed communities are to blame. But poverty cannot explain away the discipline disparities: Studies have shown that when taking a student’s economic background into account, Black children are still more likely to be suspended than students of other races. And let’s not forget that poverty, too, is a result of deliberate policy choices that leave Black children isolated in neighborhoods with little resources — including the longstanding impact of discriminatory housing policies such as redlining. These are choices that this administration has done nothing to address.Studies have shown that when taking a student’s economic background into account, Black children are still more likely to be suspended than students of other races. (Photo by Tiffany C. Ginyard)What many (including this administration) fail to realize is that there is a difference between discipline and punishment. Suspensions and expulsions don’t teach. They punish. And far too often, adults decide that Black children are not worthy of teaching and second chances. Excluding students from classrooms does not help them to correct the mistakes that children inevitably make. It also has negative long-term consequences. These negative outcomes include poor academic performance, lower levels of engagement, leaving school, and increased likelihood of involvement with the criminal justice system.Unfortunately, attempts to exclude Black children from educational opportunities are not new. America has a rich history of locking Black children out of the classroom. This list includes anti-literacy laws, past and current resistance to school desegregation, lack of access to well-resourced schools, school based arrests, poor course access, enormous higher education costs, and unjust exclusionary policies. Every barrier and trick in the book has been used to limit the education of Black children. The removal of the discipline guidance is just the latest.Rescinding the guidance is a reminder to those fighting for educational equity: For Black children, simply attending school is an act of protest, and learning and excelling while there is an act of racial justice. Every time a Black child is sent home for a minor offense, they are sent the message that they are unwanted or don’t belong. But Black children do belong, and they deserve to be safe, included, and to have access to a quality education. Despite the current administration’s actions, this is the message that advocates must make clear at the beginning of 2019 — and every year hereafter.It’s up to us as advocates for educational justice to ensure that schools do not illegally discriminate against Black children. Encourage school leaders to commit to ongoing racial bias training; require culturally sustaining classroom management strategies; examine their school and district data to help determine if race and bias are driving who gets punished; adopt clear, fair, and transparent consequences; and eliminate school exclusion for discretionary non-violent offenses.Kayla Patrick is a policy analyst with the Education Trust.
Authorities Warn Against Thousands Planning to Storm Loch Ness
Thousands of people have signed up to storm Loch Ness to see if the monster is real. A week after nearly 1 million people signed up for a tongue-in-cheek event storming of Area 51 in Nevada to find proof of alien life, an initiative has sprung up to storm Loch Ness in Scotland in search of its famously elusive monster. As of July 22, 2019, over 60,000 people had signed up to go to Loch Ness on September 21st. The Nessie event details are summed up by a single sentence: “The time is now for us to find dat big boi.”The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is cautioning that the lake is 745 feet deep and even in September people risk cold water shock and hypothermia if they fall into the water.Loch Ness with Urquhart Castle. Photo by Sam Fentress CC BY-SA 2.0“Concerned that hundreds, or even thousands, of people head out on to the loch for Storm Loch Ness on 21 September, the volunteer crew said it could not match the resources being used by the US military to deal with Storm Area 51,” said the BBC.Area 51 has baffled and intrigued people for more than 50 years. The U.S. Air Force warned on July 19, 2019, against visiting the secretive base, saying that “any attempt to illegally access the area is highly discouraged.”The Facebook page encouraging people to go said, “We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Center tourist attraction and coordinate our entry. If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Lets see them aliens.”Officially an outpost of Edwards Air Force Base in California, the site became known as Area 51, which was its designation on maps of the Atomic Energy Commission, in the 1950s. The base covers a total of 2.9 million acres and 5,000 square miles of restricted airspace. It is the largest combined air and ground space for peacetime military operations. Conspiracy theorists are convinced that at Area 51 alien spacecraft have been analyzed and visitors from other worlds confined. Check out a history of Area 51 with the video below:Loch Ness has been a tourist attraction since the 1930s. The Loch Ness monster has attracted more visitors to the Scottish Highlands than many other natural attractions or museums. The lake draws tourists who are willing to wait around the lake with cameras for hours, all hoping to capture a shot of the famous water monster.The Arthur Grant sighting. Hoaxed photo of the Loch Ness Monster from 21 April 1934.The legend of “Nessy” dates to the 7th Century, but it wasn’t a worldwide attraction until the 20th century, when a London man claimed to have seen the water beast. Debatable video footage soon followed. There have been many investigations in the latter part of the 20th century, including 24 sonar-equipped boats that scanned the lake’s bottom, but there has never been any evidence announced to the public.However, people persist in believing in the incredible story of a dinosaur-type water monster that hides in the waters of Loch Ness.Sketch of the 1934 Arthur Grant sightingLoch Ness authorities are less than pleased with the planned storming. A spokeswoman said to the BBC: “With no US Army involved, Loch Ness looks a little less hazardous than storming Area 51, but here we have our own set of problems. Our Atlantic 85 lifeboat has an impressive survivor-carrying capacity, but even that will be stretched by the ‘attendees’ of this event.”The Loch Ness statement said that, “joking aside,” there were some facts to share about the water mass: “The water temperature is cold. In fact, an average of six degrees centigrade all year round, meaning cold water shock and hypothermia are real dangers.”In 2015, a kayaker developed hypothermia so quickly after his boat capsized at Loch Ness that he was unable to swim just 15m to the shore, said The Telegraph. He survived the ordeal after being rescued by Loch Ness RNLI.Related Article: The first recorded story about the Loch Ness Monster is of St. Columba in the 6th century trying to protect a swimming monk“Weather conditions and water state can deteriorate rapidly, going from flat calm to a large swell in minutes. There are very few areas on the shoreline where it is possible to make it up to a road,” the RNLI said to The Telegraph. It also pointed out that the waves in the loch are generated by wind, not a tide and that it was more difficult to swim in than sea water.“Waves are wind generated rather than tidal, so they behave differently to how users might expect. Its fresh water is less buoyant than salt, meaning more effort is required to float/swim.”
Young engineers imagine the Royal Marines of 2050
Distant fish relatives share looks Ekranoplan with hatches open We recommend “The Marines form over 40 per cent of Britain’s special forces and are seen as the tip of the spear,” says Major General Matt Holmes, Commandant General Royal Marines. “Our objective has been to envisage radical capabilities to make us more agile and lethal, while being able to operate in a complex digital and networked future environment. We can’t say how much or how quickly the reality of these visions will come to fruition. But what we can say is that if only 20 percent of these ideas come to reality, then we will be at the cutting edge of tomorrow’s technology.”The predictions of the Royal Marines of 2050 were made into the short video below and some of the technology will be on display next month at the 2019 DSEi defense and security show in London. Even the gloves and boots will be high tech. The footwear will have piezoelectric devices embedded in them to convert and store energy as the Marines walk. When climbing cliffs, the gloves and boots can be electrically charged to make them sticky with extra-wide palms and soles for better contact with surfaces.If electric sticky pads are too slow and the cliff is small enough, the Marines will be able to opt for using silent micro-turbine jets to fly short distances or hop over obstacles and minefields.For going on the mission, the Marines will use Ekranoplan flying wings instead of landing craft. These are ground-effect vehicles that look like airplanes, but actually fly at extremely low altitude on a cushion of air trapped between the aircraft and the ground, allowing it to fly under the radar at 300 knots (345 mph, 560 km/h) even with heavy loads before switching to low speed for a silent landing using advanced stealth and camouflage technology. The Ekranplans will be protected by heavily armed escort drones connected by a neural network and “grunt” drones that use ion engines to maneuver and can both act as transports and laser gun platforms for covering fire. If the Marines need resupply or reinforcements, both gear and troops can be sent at supersonic speed using “sycamore” pods that are large enough to hold one person and kit. These can be fired from electromagnetic rail guns at a range of 100 mi (160 km), then descend safely using two sets of contra-rotating vanes that act like a parachute and recapture energy with a built-in dynamo.If food and water runs low, the Marines will have a 3D printer unit that can both distill water and turn the local flora and fauna into edible meals. It will even be able to print out simple replacement parts and tools. The sleeping mats are also a bit sci fi as they do triple duty with their solar panels and 80-in (200 -cm) tactical display screens.As to weapons, aside from having instant call on their ship’s rail guns and a variety of armed drones, the Marines will have rifles and pistols that incorporate both conventional rounds and lasers – both targeted through the visor display using target motion analysis algorithms for much faster and accurate fire. Live fast die young: Updating signal detection theory Phys.org, 2011 Powered by Phys.org, 2017 Britain’s armed forces has taken a look into the future through a team of young engineering graduates from the UK Naval Engineering Science and Technology forum (UKNEST) who have offered their predictions of what the Royal Marines will look like in 2050. Drawing on extrapolations of present technological trends, they foresee the elite combat arm of the Royal Navy using a suite of exotic gear, including bionic exoskeletons and chameleon-like camouflage that makes commandos “invisible.”Making predictions about the super soldier of tomorrow may seem like a bit of self-indulgent science fiction writing, but it does have a number of very serious goals. For one thing, it has the obvious one of sparking development of new military systems that will be needed in the years to come.But it can also give planners and politicians a heads up about what may be coming, so they can prepare beforehand, even if they have no plans to develop such things themselves. In addition, it can be a powerful recruiting tool for not only future Marines, but also engineers by showing them that their job won’t all be designing USB plugs and hair dryers. 2050 briefing aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth Prospectus addresses most pressing marine science questions Phys.org, 2012 Exoskelton infographic Phys.org, 2018 For the Royal Marines of 2050, a group of young engineers from various leading defense, technology, and engineering firms was taken to the Commandos’ Training Centre at Lympstone near Exeter to learn how the Royal Marines train and operate. They were then told to come up with new commando kit based around the scenario of a Royal Marine assault on an enemy clifftop missile site from a support ship well over the horizon. And from what they came up with, it’s clear that they took the bit between the teeth and ran with it.Operating from the supercarrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Marine unit of 2050 will be equipped with special combat exoskeleton suits that will not only allow them to carry heavy loads and perform superhuman feats, but will also have built-in bio-monitors and an active chameleon skin that makes them seamlessly blend into the background – effectively, making them invisible. If that isn’t enough, the Marines will also be able to project holographic decoys to confuse the enemy.Meanwhile, their Bergen rucksacks will be lighter and stronger with incorporated motion dampers to make them less unwieldy, and they’ll be attached to the exoskeleton by magnetic links, so they’ll be easy to don and remove. Each Marine will also have his or her own personal drone to provide intelligence direct to their helmet, which is equipped with artificial intelligence and special visors or contact lenses that can display data or use heat signatures to distinguish combatants from civilians. Phys.org New rocketplane ‘could fly Paris-Tokyo in 2.5 hours’ Source: Royal Navy Yes No Scientists discover new species of ancient marine lizard Google Analytics settings I consent to the use of Google Analytics and related cookies across the TrendMD network (widget, website, blog). Learn more Phys.org Motor-boat noise makes fish bad parents, leading to the death of their babies Privacy policy Cliff climbing, 2050 Royal Marines 2050
MEC responds to storm damage issuesMEC responds to storm damage issues
WebsiteWebsiteWebsite WebsiteWebsiteWebsite WebsiteWebsiteWebsite MEC Ravi Pillay was at the Acaciavale sports grounds today (October 26).The purpose of his visit was to respond to storm damage issues.A large crowd gathered under a marquee to listen to what he had to say.Other MECs are attending to other areas.Public Safety is escorting them around town.This story will be updated with more information.DID YOU KNOW? Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. If you are reading this on your cellphone and there are telephone numbers provided in the text, you can call these simply by clicking on them. To receive news links via WhatsApp.For the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
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Referring physicians and the patients they treat depend on getting data quickly, and Web technologies in modern viewers ensure this happens in a way not previously possible.The Enterprise ChallengeMedical imaging is not restricted to radiology. Healthcare systems are facing increasing challenges in effectively managing and sharing all clinical imaging data across the enterprise. This challenge is exacerbated by an explosive growth in imaging data and a sprawl of vendor-proprietary data silos (PACS) that have locked-in both their users and the organization’s data. Today’s CIOs can break this deadlock by serving as the stewards of their organization’s clinical imaging information. By offering enterprise-class image management services, diagnosticians can be afforded freedom of choice for tool selection, while clinicians are provided with access to all images and results inside a universal remote viewer through the electronic medical records (EMR). The Wish List of TechnologiesA modern remote viewer can solve enterprise distribution and viewing needs, enabling a longitudinal imaging patient record in the continuity of care. Gone are the days where DICOM data had to be migrated to a proprietary remote viewer with its own data cache and expensive storage. Modern viewers connect using standards to existing PACS, vendor-neutral archives (VNA) and even stand-alone modalities utilizing the existing storage to read the data from.Application program interfaces (API) integrate these remote viewers seamlessly in the EMR and avoid the need to switch to a different application when viewing a patient’s medical history. Enterprise medical image viewers, which allow clinicians to access imaging information securely and independent of location on a variety of Web-enabled devices, can be launched from the EMR, health information exchange (HIE) or most any Web app. They are easily deployed to existing PCs, tablets and mobile devices. Clinicians will benefit, as it allows them to easily manage consultations with colleagues and provide patient education.For improved care delivery, the ability to store an image once and integrate it everywhere without having to send images will make the concept of personal health records (PHRs) a reality. Patients will be more involved healthcare decisions and access to their records will be fundamental.All clinical users in an enterprise will benefit from a viewer component in their EMR. Referring physicians and other caregivers can view historical images at the time of ordering, at the point of care and to share with patients, which may prove beneficial to the entire diagnostic chain. Mobile support provides clinicians fast and on-demand access to their patients’ images and reports, regardless of the location or origin. 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Study Sometimes theres no substitute for a travel agent
Australians prefer agents over the net to gather information. More Australian travellers are choosing travel agents in favour of the internet when it comes to gathering information for their international getaway, according to new data.Roy Morgan Holiday Tracking Survey revealed, 37 percent of Australians taking an overseas holiday used a travel agent to help them choose their destination last year, ahead of the 34 percent using the internet.Although agent popularity when it comes to planning an overseas trip has slipped since October 2010, when it was at its peak of 40 percent, it remains higher than the 11 percent in March 2011.Roy Morgan international director of tourism, travel and leisure Janie Ianniello said travel agents are still “the most popular source of information” when it comes to deciding an international destination.“Although fewer Australians are seeking the expert advice of travel agents when planning their overseas holiday itinerary the majority end up booking with a travel agent, either online, in person or by phone,” she said.“However, with the increasing penetration of home computers and iPhones, the trend towards using the internet to research and book overseas holidays directly is likely to continue.“It is important for travel agents and airlines to understand the demographics, attitudes and behavioural profile of their target market, so as to tailor appropriate messages that get them visiting their websites and retail outlets.”Source = e-Travel Blackboard: N.J.
Bad News for Walter Investments Origination Servicing Segments
Walter Investment Management Corp., on Tuesday continued a trend observed among many non-bank servicers in the last year and the start of this year with a major loss to its first quarter earnings, particularly in its mortgage servicing and origination segments.Just last week, Ocwen Financial reported a first quarter net loss of $111.2 million. Nationstar Mortgage’s earning are expected tomorrow.Walter Investment reported in its first quarter 2016 earnings statement that the servicing segment of the company added approximately $17.5 billion of UPB to the serviced book of business, bringing the quarterly total to approximately 2.2 million total accounts serviced with a UPB of approximately $255.3 billion.The company experienced a net disappearance rate of 13.0 percent as compared to 13.8 percent in the prior year quarter which was “aided by the retention performance of the originations segment,” Walter Investment said in the report.Servicing also endured negative revenue of -$63.3 million, down $207.0 million from the first quarter of 2015. The company said that this reflects “the impact of fair value charges to our mortgage servicing rights.”According to the earnings statement, total pull-through adjusted locked volume for the first quarter of $4.6 billion declined as compared to $6.9 billion in the first quarter of 2015, “primarily due to volume decreases in the correspondent lending channel resulting from an increase to return hurdles for acquired MSR and increased market competition,” Walter Investment reported.Funded loans in the current quarter totaled $5.0 billion, down 9.1 percent from the prior year quarter. Approximately 36 percent of that volume is in the consumer lending channel and approximately 64 percent is generated by the correspondent lending channel.The originations segment generated revenue of $100.3 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 23 percent decline as compared to the prior year quarter. This occurred mostly because of a $37.4 million decrease in net gains on sales of loans driven by a lower volume of locked loans during the current quarter as compared to the prior year quarter resulting from an increase in market competition within the correspondent lending channel and lower retention volumes as there was a slight market shift toward increased volumes of purchase money originations and away from refinancing volumes, the company said.A significant rate decline in the first quarter negatively impacted earnings for Walter Investment Management Corp., and as a result, the company took a net loss of $172.7 million during the three-month period, according to the company’s Q1 2016 financial results released Tuesday.The net loss represented a year-over-year decline of about $142 million in net income; in Q1 2015, Walter suffered a net loss of $31 million. Walter’s total serviced portfolio had $275.7 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB) at the end of Q1 2016, an increase of 3 percent from the previous quarter, and the company was ranked nationally as a top 10 servicer, according to the announcement from Walter.The company’s total revenue in the first quarter declined by $244.1 million year-over-year down to $66.8 million, largely due to a $196.6 million decline in net servicing revenue and fees reflecting a $197.3 million change in fair value changes to mortgage servicing rights, according to Walter.“First quarter performance was significantly impacted by the challenging rate environment. The decline in rates drove a volatile MSR market and negatively impacted results through the revaluation of mortgage servicing rights and accelerated prepayments,” said Denmar J. Dixon, Walter Investment’s Vice Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President. “We are moving with a sense of urgency to improve upon both the customer experience and our operating performance, and we are in the early stages of a transformation of the company. We are working to significantly lower our cost structure while redesigning our processes and driving a culture of excellence at Walter that puts our home-owning customers first.”Dixon continued, “We are moving with a sense of urgency to improve upon both the customer experience and our operating performance, and we are in the early stages of a transformation of the company. We are working to significantly lower our cost structure while redesigning our processes and driving a culture of excellence at Walter that puts our home-owning customers first.” First Quarter Earnings Originations Servicing Walter Investment Management Corp. 2016-05-03 Staff Writer Bad News for Walter Investment’s Origination, Servicing Segments May 3, 2016 614 Views 
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