| Pres. Trump Plays Down Controversies As WH Hires Lawyer for Russia Posted: 15 Jul 2017 09:08 AM PDT  The president took to Twitter to play down the controversies of the last week surrounding his son Don Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer. Inside the White House, the administration named a Washington veteran to handle the Russia investigation internally.
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| Teen charged in London acid attacks as UK plans crackdown Posted: 16 Jul 2017 04:26 AM PDT  LONDON (AP) — British police have charged a teenager with a spate of London acid attacks, as authorities considered whether tougher sentences would curb a spike in assaults with corrosive liquids.
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| The Plant-Based Burger That Smells, Tastes and Bleeds Like the Real Thing Posted: 15 Jul 2017 09:13 AM PDT  Pat Brown, the scientist and chief executive behind the plant-based burger from Impossible Foods, is on a mission to recreate the texture, smell, and flavor of meat that carnivores crave — while cutting down on the waste in meat production.
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| Why Nixon matters in the era of Donald Trump Posted: 16 Jul 2017 01:00 AM PDT  It begins with a break-in at Democratic Party headquarters. There are protests in the streets. War with the press. A megalomaniacal Republican president, elected by an aggrieved minority of the American electorate, sacks the officers leading the investigation of his campaign's links to the crime. There are cries of "Cover up!" A special prosecutor is appointed. And a bill of impeachment, alleging that the president has obstructed justice, is filed in the US House of Representatives. As that notable American philosopher, catcher Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees, is said to have said: "It's déjà vu all over again." And yet there are important differences in the seemingly parallel sagas of Richard Nixon and Donald Trump. And how they are resolved may ultimately determine if Trump meets Nixon's fate, and how America proceeds. Analogies have limits. If history sometimes rhymes, it never faultlessly repeats. There are always wrinkles, and in the creases sometimes lie the most revealing lessons The catastrophic Watergate break-in, of course, involved flesh-and-blood burglars; bumblers in suits and rubber gloves, caught by police at Democratic headquarters. Their bungling brought nothing to Nixon but woe. The 2015 Russian rifling of the Democratic Party's computers is quite a different story, with quite differing results. That break-in, and the subsequent dispersal of damaging material, was conducted by offshore hackers, allegedly in concert with a foreign power, with as-yet unknown assistance from American confederates. And, unlike Nixon and his burglars, Russian President Vladimir Putin has gained much from this digital coup de main: Trump's election; Hillary Clinton's humiliating defeat and, if not yet the fatal undermining of Nato, then at least the fulfilment of the old naval toast: "Confusion to our enemies!" So, analogies have limits. If history sometimes rhymes, it never faultlessly repeats. There are always wrinkles, and in the creases sometimes lie the most revealing lessons. The Left, especially, should remember this. White House of ill repute: President Nixon became the first president in US country to resign, In August 1974 Credit: Bettmann/ Bettmann US liberals are giddy at last week's revelations that three Trump confidantes – his son Donald Jr, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top campaign strategist, Paul Manafort – met with a lawyer they'd been told was an agent of the Russian leadership, conveying a pail of mud to cast at Mrs Clinton. Amid fevered talk of treason, an article of impeachment was introduced by Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California and, in this era of instant gratification, it was widely predicted in the precincts of the Left that Congress would act, and act quickly. Ding, dong, the witch seemed dead. Not so fast. For there are numbers to keep in mind as one compares Trump's troubles to those of Richard Nixon. There are numbers to keep in mind as one compares Trump's troubles to those of Richard Nixon - such as 67, the number of senators that it takes to convict a US president and drive him from office Begin with 67. That is the number of senators – two-thirds of the 100-member body – that it takes to convict a US president and drive him from office. It's a tough nut, especially now, as there are 54 Republican senators in control of the chamber, part of the biggest congressional majority that the Republicans have enjoyed since before the Great Depression. Trump's party rules Congress; in Nixon's years in office, it was his foes. The arithmetic in the House is different. A simple majority is all that's required to impeach a chief executive, and send him to a Senate trial. Yet House Republicans now hold a 240-194 edge. Trump on Don Jr: 'Anyone would have taken that meeting' 01:21 Nixon, of course, was not impeached. Before the House could vote, he resigned. And the two US presidents who were impeached – Bill Clinton in 1998 and Andrew Johnson in 1868 – survived their Senate trials. In both cases, the call for impeachment seemed tainted by political bloodlust. And so, here's the verdict of history: to be successful, an impeachment must be bipartisan. It was not Democrats, but the House and Senate Republican leaders and their 1964 presidential standard-bearer, republican senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, who called on Nixon in August 1974 to report that he had lost his party's support, faced conviction in a Senate trial, and so persuaded him to resign. Nixon liked to joke that Spiro Agnew, his vice-president, was impeachment insurance – as Agnew had all of Nixon's baser traits and none of his best. That is not the case with Trump There are constitutional remedies for removal of presidents who are incapacitated, but they also require Republican participation. Until the make-up of the Congress drastically changes, only a drastic change in sentiment within the Republican Party can boot Trump from office. And – barring striking allegations of wrongdoing, supported by evidence from Special Counsel Robert Mueller – that currently seems unlikely. But what about resignation? If their party faced certain political ruin, wouldn't Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, like Goldwater and the others in 1974, make the trip down Pennsylvania Avenue, to urge Donald Trump to make Mar-a-Lago a more permanent address? The Republicans have behaved honorably, in the main, in dealing with the Russian disruption of the US elections. Trump rages and blusters that it is all "fake news", but Republican-led committees have held public hearings and grilled witnesses. A Republican Attorney General recused himself, and Mueller was appointed with Republican concurrence. How President Trump could be removed from office 02:29 Trump retains his populist appeal, but there is limited evidence that Republican senators and governors have embraced the dictum of Trump's more extreme supporters (Fox News, Tea Party), that the enemy (Russia) of my enemy (Clinton) is my friend. And then there is this. Nixon liked to joke that Spiro Agnew, his vice-president, was impeachment insurance – as Agnew had all of Nixon's baser traits and none of his best. That is not the case now. Trump's vice president, Michael Pence, as a former Republican governor and a previous member of the GOP House leadership, is liked within the party and by many in the media. A Pence administration, rid of Trump's alienating antics and the cloud of the Russian hacking scandal, might make progress on the Republican political agenda, pleasing its donor class and lobbyists. What might trigger an insurrection? An inescapably damning report from Mueller, and indictments of Trump's confidantes, might suffice. Democratic sweeps in November's state elections in Virginia and New Jersey could raise enough alarum in Republican circles to make regicide an option. So, most certainly, would a Democratic triumph in the 2018 congressional elections. Remember there's a reason Trump is president. It's much the same reason that Nixon survived for more than two years after the Watergate burglars were arrested The Senate seems out of reach, but a Democratic takeover of the House would give its party's leaders the power to launch investigations, schedule hearings and subpoena witnesses. They could make Trump's existence a purgatory, if not Hades, and bruise the Republican brand for 2020. But remember, there's a reason Trump is president. It's much the same reason that Nixon survived for more than two years after the Watergate burglars were arrested. The Democratic base in the working class has eroded – due to economic change, globalisation and the skilled Republican manipulation of race and culture – leaving the party in the hands of a liberal, multi-racial coalition whose roots can be traced back to Democratic senator George McGovern's guerrilla-like march to the presidential nomination (and landslide defeat at Nixon's hands) in 1972. Trump Jr: I would have done things differently 01:01 Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush I and II and now Donald Trump have exploited the opening created by McGovern, luring blue- and white-collar workers into what Nixon famously christened his "great silent majority". The liberal elite is now aging, wealthy, soft and complacent. They look to the courts, the media and charismatic presidential campaigns to win their victories – not to the hard work that is required (at which Republicans currently excel) to win state legislative seats, governors' offices and majorities in Congress. While the Trump/Nixon analogies are fun and seductive, the Left should remember how quickly national parties can rebound from apparent disaster Barack Obama's victories spurred hopes, among Democrats, that a fresh coalition of young voters, minorities, gays, women and immigrants would join with the remnants of the McGovern coalition and dominate US politics. The long-term trends seem to favour them. But after eight years of unrelenting attack, Obama and his Democrats showed fatigue. They still "beat" Trump by more than two million votes in the popular voting, but lost the Electoral College, Congress, two-thirds of the statehouses and philosophical control of the US Supreme Court. While the Trump/Nixon analogies are fun and seductive, the Left should remember (as, take note Mr President, McConnell and Ryan undoubtedly recognise) how quickly national parties can rebound from apparent disaster. Watch Frost extract Nixon apology 01:41 The Republicans went from Goldwater's dismal loss in 1964 to Nixon's narrow victory in 1968 and landslide triumph in 1972. And it was but six years after Nixon's resignation that Ronald Reagan completed the Republican revival, and ushered in a new, conservative, golden era for his party. Now it is the Obama coalition's turn to prove itself, by showing Nixonian resilience. "It is only a beginning, always," he liked to say. That's the real test in American politics. That is where to keep your eye. John A Farrell's Richard Nixon: The Life will be published by Scribe in October Donald Trump Jnr emails related content
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| Iran front pages mourn trailblazing female mathematician Posted: 16 Jul 2017 04:12 AM PDT  Iranian media have hailed trailblazing Iran-born mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani following her death from cancer, with her image blazoned across newspaper front pages on Sunday. Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the coveted Fields Medal, died aged 40 on Saturday in a US hospital after the breast cancer she had been battling for four years spread to her bone marrow. Mirzakhani was born and studied in Iran before leaving to pursue her career in the United States.
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| A Skydiver Told His Wife He Wasn't Going to Pull Parachute Cord. She Arrived 'Moments' Too Late Posted: 15 Jul 2017 09:40 AM PDT  The wife of a skydiver arrived moments too late to save him after he sent her a message saying he wasn't going to pull his parachute cord.
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| Five Congo rangers killed in joint army operation to rescue U.S. journalist Posted: 16 Jul 2017 04:25 AM PDT  Five park rangers were killed in a joint operation with the army to rescue an American journalist and three park rangers, who went missing in a wildlife reserve in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said on Sunday. Unidentified gunmen attacked the group late on Friday in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Mambasa territory. Mambasa administrator Alfred Bongwalanga said security forces and park rangers had launched a rescue operation that located the missing members of the group.
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| Officers Help Delivery Woman's Baby Boy on Side of the Road Posted: 15 Jul 2017 01:03 PM PDT  The baby's head was already coming out when officer's arrived.
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| Nevada Marijuana Shortage: State Officials Scramble to Stock up Posted: 15 Jul 2017 09:10 AM PDT  Just two weeks after pot sales began, state officials are scrambling to prevent a shortage. The stakes are high — the state budget is counting on millions in anticipated tax revenue from pot sales.
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| Justin Trudeau meets Syrian baby named after him Posted: 16 Jul 2017 06:32 AM PDT  Justin Trudeau has met his younger Syrian namesake. The Canadian Prime Minister came face to face with two-month-old Justin Trudeau Adam Bilan – the son of a Syrian couple who fled war-ravaged Damascus to start a new life in Canada. The boy's parents, Muhammad and Afraa Bilan, named their newborn son after the Prime Minister to pay tribute to his open refugee policy and show their gratitude for the offer of refuge.
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| Trump brushes off record low approval rating: ‘Not bad at this time’ Posted: 16 Jul 2017 02:06 PM PDT  Trump brushes off record low approval rating: 'Not bad at this time'
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| US-China citizen given 10 years for espionage in Iran: media Posted: 16 Jul 2017 02:52 PM PDT  A Chinese American accused of "infiltration" in Iran has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, local media reported on Sunday. The man was identified as Xiyue Wang, a 37-year-old researcher at Princeton University, according to Mizanonline, the official news agency of Iran's judiciary. Wang, who was born in Beijing according to the report, was arrested on August 8, 2016 while trying to leave the country.
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| How a Connecticut Nonprofit Aims to Foster Employment for Autism Posted: 15 Jul 2017 09:26 AM PDT  Roses for Autism is a non-profit social enterprise that sells roses and a variety other flowers — all proceeds from the sales fund scholarships and career training for transition age Autism.
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| Huge California wildfire spreads overnight as crews dig in Posted: 15 Jul 2017 02:58 PM PDT  By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Firefighters battled on Saturday to gain control of a destructive wildfire burning near Santa Barbara, California that mushroomed in size overnight, pushed by gusty offshore winds into dry brush that has not burned in decades. The Whittier Fire, which broke out July 8 and has already destroyed eight homes, had been more than 50 percent contained on Friday before so-called "Sundowner" winds picked up in the evening, according to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) website. Nearly 3,000 people who were forced to flee their homes near Cachuma Lake and the community of Goleta remained under evacuation orders as fire officials said another evening of Sundowners could drive the flames toward populated areas.
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| Honolulu wants to ban cellphone walking. Here's 8 petty laws they could pass instead. Posted: 16 Jul 2017 07:00 AM PDT  If you are a human with a cell phone, odds are you've broken this law that could soon be passed in Hawaii. On Wednesday, in an extraordinarily ambitious effort to make Hawaii's streets safer, the Honolulu City Council passed a bill that prohibits pedestrians from staring down at their cell phones while crossing the street. Yes, you read that correctly. Hawaii essentially wants to prohibit people from texting and walking. HA, good luck with that. SEE ALSO: So a bunch of Twitter users actually sued Trump for blocking them As CNN reported, if you're caught staring at your phone, in violation of Bill 6, you could be fined anywhere from $15 to $99 unless it's a 911-worthy emergency. Sure it's in the best interest of safety, but the proposed law begs the following massive question. Q: Is this really necessary? A: Hell freaking no. According to councilman Ernie Martin, who voted against the bill, the world has other far more pressing issues that should take priority over walking and texting, like, uh, homelessness. Rather than enforce a law, he suggests a public awareness campaign via social media. Sounds way more fun, and hey, people could even learn about it on their phones while simultaneously walking. Not to mention, this is not a thing that's going to work. Do you think people are going to put down their phones at crosswalks and give up valuable seconds that could be spent potentially right-swiping their soulmate? No. Do you really think anyone is going to resist responding to Slack messages from their boss on-the-go, thereby shattering the illusion that they're already diligently working from their desks instead of running 20 minutes late? LOL good one. We text, we walk, we multi-task. Get over it. Other petty laws the world could use instead While we're on the topic of petty laws, there are SO many pieces of legislation we'd rather see passed. Here are eight other laws that should be enforced: 1. Don't take up the entire sidewalk with your squad when people are trying to pass, OMG. 2. Don't you dare eat food in a way food was not intended to be eaten. (No biting string cheese, no eating pizza crust-first, no ice cubes in your cereal. JFC, people.) 3. No leaving shopping carts in parking spots like an a-hole instead of taking 40 seconds to return them. 4. Don't stand over the yellow line at airport baggage claim. Wait for your damn luggage a respectable distance away from the belt so when you grab it you don't wind up taking out three innocent bystanders. 5. No listening to audio in public without headphones. (Same goes for having conversations on speaker phone.) 6. Thou shalt not post spoilers online. 7. You must clean gym equipment after sweating all over the damn place. 8. Cashiers who hand you change on top of your bills so that it inevitably slides off and embarrasses you should PAY the legal price. What the fresh hell, Hawaii? According to CNN, Brandon Elefante, the Honolulu city councilman who introduced the bill, got this idea from high school students, so you know it's gotta be brilliant. "These high school groups were concerned for their peers being distracted while crossing the streets and looking at their phones instead of looking both ways," Elefante said. "The advancement of technology can sometimes be a distraction and cause people to not pay attention." Since the city council successfully passed the bill, the fate of cellphone addicts in Hawaii now rests in the hands of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. He has 10 business days to make this final life-changing decision. Choose wisely, sir. WATCH: A one-wheeled electric scooter you'll want to show off
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| Shepard Smith breaks with Fox News line on Trump: 'Why all these lies?' Posted: 15 Jul 2017 07:48 AM PDT  Shepard Smith said: 'The deception, Chris, is mind-boggling. Fox News host Shepard Smith broke with network orthodoxy on Friday, issuing a sharp denunciation of the Trump administration's handling of investigations into its links with Russia. Smith, a relative moderate in the Fox ranks who has decried Trump camp untruths before, described White House "deception" as "mind-boggling".
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| Buzz Aldrin Is Raising Money to Send People to Mars Posted: 16 Jul 2017 06:44 AM PDT  "We can have a trillion humans in the solar system"
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| Police hunt man who 'tried to pull off woman's hijab' at Baker Street Tube station Posted: 16 Jul 2017 10:07 AM PDT  Police are investigating a suspected hate crime after a man tried to pull off a Muslim woman's hijab and spat at her friend. The woman, who posted about the incident on Twitter, was waiting for a Tube at Baker Street in the early hours of Saturday morning when she was set upon. Tweeting under the name Aniso Abdulkadir, she posted a picture of the man who allegedly attacked her, writing: "This man at Baker Street station forcefully attempted to pull my hijab off and when I instinctively grabbed ahold of my scarf he hit me." She continued: He proceeded to verbally abuse my friends and I, pinning one of them against the wall and spitting in her face— Aniso.safiaadya (@AnisoAbdulkadir) July 15, 2017 Ms Abdulkadir added that a woman who was present was also threatened and verbally abusive. She urged others to share the image in order to identify the suspect, earning more than 24,000 retweets by Sunday afternoon. A man claiming to be the man in the image later identified himself on Twitter and hit back at the allegations. Pawel Uczciwek, 28, from London, said he was sticking up for his girlfriend and attempting to defuse what he called a "racist attack from three random females". Mr Uczciwek wrote: "I would like to confirm I never hit or attacked anyone I simply defused the situation by separating them. "The police is fully cooperating with me and will be able to obtain CCTV footage showing the three women attempting to attack my partner because we are in an interracial relationship." @standardnews@Independent@DailyMailUK@MetroUK@metpoliceuk I did not try to take off her scarf or ask to see her hair— Pawel Uczciwek (@PawelUczciwek) July 16, 2017 A British Transport Police spokesman said the force were investigating the incident and had been sent the statement from Mr Uczciwek. The BBTP spokesman added the matter is being treated as a hate crime. "Behaviour like this is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This incident has been reported to us and we're investigating." Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to get in touch by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.
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| The Latest: Muslim worshippers visit Jerusalem holy site Posted: 16 Jul 2017 01:23 PM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — The Latest on Israeli-Palestinian tensions following last week's attack at a Jerusalem holy site, in which three Arab Israelis shot dead two police officers before being killed (all times local):
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| National Ice Cream Day 2017 Freebies Posted: 15 Jul 2017 04:57 AM PDT  Former President Ronald Reagan observed this day first in 1984, and said ice cream was the "perfect dessert and snack food."
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| West, Russia battle for Balkans gas corridors Posted: 15 Jul 2017 08:26 PM PDT  The West and Russia are battling for control of the transport of natural gas through the Balkans, as both sides pursue their geopolitical agenda in the volatile region. Moscow has suffered a series of setbacks in the Balkans. Montenegro has joined NATO, while Macedonia's new social democratic government seems to be distancing itself from its previous pro-Russia stance.
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| Chechen leader invokes damnation for gay persecution claims Posted: 15 Jul 2017 08:35 AM PDT  MOSCOW (AP) — Chechnya's strongman leader has harshly denounced claims that his southern Russian republic has tortured and even killed gay men, denying that there even are any homosexual men in his region.
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| China rescues 49 tourists stranded on island by typhoon Posted: 16 Jul 2017 04:17 AM PDT ![China rescues 49 tourists stranded on island by typhoon]( "China rescues 49 tourists stranded on island by typhoon") Forty-nine tourists stranded on an island off the coast of China's southern Guangdong province have been picked up and taken to safety as Typhoon Talas approaches, authorities said on Sunday. The tourists belonged to four camping groups that had been stranded on Nanpeng island some 35 km (22 miles) east of Yangjiang city on the mainland, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. On Sunday morning, all of the tourists were transferred safely to a ship and a helicopter dispatched by the Guangzhou-headquartered Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport.
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| Trump may reverse decision on climate accord, France's Macron says: JDD Posted: 15 Jul 2017 04:59 PM PDT  French President Emmanuel Macron said he was hopeful that U.S. President Donald Trump would reverse his decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord, according to weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD) on Sunday. "(Trump) told me that he would try to find a solution in the coming months," Macron told the paper, referring to meetings the two leaders had this week in Paris. "We spoke in detail about the things that could make him come back to the Paris accord," he added.
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| What Led To The Deaths Of 4 Missing Pennsylvania Men? Posted: 15 Jul 2017 10:09 AM PDT  Cosmo DiNardo admitted to the murders, but what was his motive?
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| Canceled $30K wedding becomes dinner for Indiana homeless Posted: 16 Jul 2017 11:10 AM PDT ![Canceled $30K wedding becomes dinner for Indiana homeless]( "Canceled $30K wedding becomes dinner for Indiana homeless") INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana woman didn't want her canceled $30,000 wedding to go to waste, so she threw a dinner party for the homeless.
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| Three soldiers killed in Ivory Coast barrack shooting Posted: 15 Jul 2017 08:33 AM PDT  Three soldiers died after shooting erupted overnight at a base in Ivory Coast, which has been gripped by tensions within the military, security sources said Saturday. Gunfire was heard coming from the barracks at Korhogo, a city in the north of the the West African country, at around 1:00 am (0100 GMT), Adama Coulibaly, a local carpenter reached by phone said. "There are three dead soldiers," an officer told AFP separately, without giving further details.
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| US and Australia test hypersonic missiles that fly at a mile a second Posted: 15 Jul 2017 08:33 AM PDT  The US has been testing hypersonic aircraft missiles that could fly at a mile per second. It has collaborated with Australia to research and pilot weapons able to fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound - anywhere from 3,836mph up to 7,700 mph. The round of experiments concluded on 12 July, confirmed Australian defence minister Marise Payne.
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| U.S.-China trade talks sputtering at 100-day deadline Posted: 16 Jul 2017 02:07 AM PDT  By Andrew Galbraith and Dominique Patton SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Bilateral talks aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficit with China have yielded some initial deals, but U.S. firms say much more needs to be done as a deadline for a 100-day action plan expires on Sunday. The negotiations, which began in April, have reopened China's market to U.S. beef after 14 years and prompted Chinese pledges to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas. American firms have also been given access to some parts of China's financial services sector. More details on the 100-day plan are expected to be announced in the coming week as senior U.S. and Chinese officials gather in Washington for annual bilateral economic talks, rebranded this year as the "U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue." "We hope to report further progress on the 100-day deliverables next week," a U.S. Commerce Department spokesman said on Saturday.
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| PSA: You might want to look up at the sky on Sunday night Posted: 15 Jul 2017 08:53 AM PDT  If you're free on Sunday night and you live within a certain range of northern latitudes, you might want to look out a window. Meteorologists are predicting an aurora borealis, or northern lights show. Do you live where the #Aurora may be visible Sunday night?Don't forget to check the cloud forecast! https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP #AuroraBorealis pic.twitter.com/gmggkmScDv — NWS (@NWS) July 14, 2017 The northern lights are the result of our sun's solar storms, which emit streams of charged particles that can reach Earth. Magnetic fields from the north and south poles pull the particles into the upper or occasionally lower atmosphere, where they collide with neutral particles. The result? A majestic, glowing sky. Oftentimes, the northern lights are only visible at higher latitudes (like in Scandinavia during the summer), but occasionally — as is the case this time, apparently — they'll reach lower down the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere can get light shows too, but those southern lights are called aurora australis. If you look at the National Weather Service's map of the upcoming aurora borealis, you can see if the lights are expected to be visible from where you are. Parts of New England, the upper Midwest, the northwest, and Canada should definitely be able to see the lights on Sunday. WATCH: These tiny foods look just like the real thing
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| The Latest: US appeals travel ban ruling to Supreme Court Posted: 14 Jul 2017 10:48 PM PDT  HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on a judge's decision on President Donald Trump's travel ban (all times local):
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| Indian Goes Badass With New Scout Bobber Posted: 14 Jul 2017 09:45 PM PDT  Indian Motorcycle Goes Badass With New Scout Bobber New Scout variant features chopped fenders, cooler headlight, lowered suspension Indian Motorcycle has pulled the cover off the new Scout Bobber – a sexed-up version of its popular Scout model aimed at a
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| Square, Inc, 'Internet Troll' Engage Into War Of Words Posted: 16 Jul 2017 01:24 AM PDT  In a series of comments, Square Inc. attempted to shut up the Twitter user that goes by the name of "Fart Sandwich."
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| Police chief meets with Texas mom who recorded sons' arrests Posted: 14 Jul 2017 08:03 PM PDT  DALLAS (AP) — The police chief in the Dallas suburb of Arlington met Friday with a woman who alleges officers offered to drop charges against her two teenage sons in exchange for cellphone video she recorded — footage that she says shows an officer needlessly pushing her older son and arresting him.
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| Never marry your daughter: the fatherhood lessons we can all learn from Game of Thrones Posted: 16 Jul 2017 01:00 AM PDT  Game of Thrones makes its much anticipated return to TV screens on Sunday. And if the epic fantasy is about anything – aside from politics, dragons, murders, and zombie snowmen – it's about the father-heir relationship. Fathers passing on the lineage of their House, or sentencing their offspring to death for not cutting the family mustard. Sons trying to live up to their father's name, or bumping off the old man for power instead. Yes, those parent-child relationships can be tricky. So, taking examples from the best (and worst) fathers from Westeros, here are a few lessons in parenting that all dads can relate to. Game of Thrones Season 7 trailer 01:35 1. Lead by example (your kids will follow – good or bad) Dad Lesson From: Ned Stark & Roose Bolton You know deep down that you're far from perfect, but your kids will look up to you no matter what. Ned Stark was honourable (to a fault, in fact – it's that kind of integrity that got him executed) and so are his kids (though it got a couple of them executed too). Roose Bolton, on the other hand, was a treacherous double-crosser who turned on the Starks and stole their castle. It's little surprise then, that his son Ramsey grew up to be the North's most vicious delinquent – and murdered his own father so he could have the castle himself. 2. You won't get a minute's peace (not even on the toilet) Dad Lesson From: Tywin Lannister Tywin knows about the unglamorous side of being a dad. You can't even sit on the loo without one of your kids hassling you. I know how he feels. In Tywin's case, it's his Imp son Tyrion, who he's just sentenced to death – the final act of fatherly disappointment. In my case, my eighteen-month-old, who admittedly just wants to sit on my lap or unravel a toilet roll, rather than confronting me about why I never loved him and then skewering me a crossbow. Still annoying though. 3. You can't have favourites (even if one of them is a little b-word) Dad Lesson From: Ned Stark It's arguably the greatest parenting taboo of them all, admitting that you've got a favourite. But chances are, if you're in any way human, the thought has passed through your mind – especially when one of the kids is playing up. But if Lord Eddard Stark has a favourite, he never showed it. Even Jon Snow – the boy Ned raised as his illegitimate son – got equal treatment. You have to admire Ned's commitment to good, fair parenting – especially in a world where the only thing more complicated than the father-son relationships are the father/b*stard son relationships. Jon Snow has turned out pretty well. In fact, a tenner says he's king by the end of the series. 4. Tell your kids they make you proud (no matter how utterly useless they are) Dad Lesson From: Randyll Tarley Lord Tarley, a proud warrior and nobleman, has always been ashamed of his son Samwell, who – to be fair – is a clumsy heffalump who's more interested in books that beheading enemies. Whether we want to admit it or not, a lot of us dads know how Randyll feels. For instance, my five-year-old's performance in the three-legged race last year was an embarrassment for everyone who witnessed it. I would never tell him, of course. I certainly wouldn't have sent him to the Night's Watch for a lifetime of celibacy and servitude. That's asking for guaranteed daddy issues and resentment. 5. Don't spoil them (unless you want to raise a tyrant) Dad Lesson From: Robert Baratheon It's easy to get carried away. You want your kids to have the best. You love the excitement on their faces when they get a new toy or open a bag of sweets. But it's double-edged sword (and it could be a literal double-edged sword, if you're spoiling them with, erm, swords). Look at King Robert Baratheon and his heir Joffrey. Willfully ignoring the fact that Joff's not his biological son, Robert's riches and nonchalant parenting (he only seems bothered about Joffrey when the boy's out-duelled by a girl) turned Joffery into a spoilt brat/sadist monster. Spoilt rotten, you could say. 6. Give your kids some attention (or they'll do crazy things to get it) Dad Lesson From: Balon Greyjoy How many times have you skipped a bedtime story because you were too tired? Or plonked your kids in front the TV because you're too busy? And how many times have the kids played up just to get a few seconds of valuable fatherly attention? If there was ever proof that you'll regret not being an attentive dad, it's Balon Greyjoy. He spurned his estranged son Theon, prompting Theon to seek his father's approval by sacking Winterfell and murdering everyone – which he ended up getting the, well, chop for. Bet Balon wishes he'd just given his son a cuddle as he opened up that parcel containing Theon's favourite body part. 7. You always regret tough love (it really, really burns them) Dad Lesson From: Stannis Baratheon We've all been there. The kids won't eat their dinner. They won't put their shoes on. They're screaming in the backseat. All of a sudden, you snap – raise your voice, dish out some unreasonably tough discipline, then spend the rest of day worrying you've been too harsh and you're somehow psychologically damaging your children. It's that kind of thing that makes fatherhood one long anxious worry. So think about how Stannis Baratheon feels. He dished out the toughest love of all – burning his daughter Shireen at the stake. And she wasn't anywhere near as annoying as my kids are. It's no wonder Stannis welcomed his death at the hand of Brienne just days later. 8. Treat boys and girls the same (girls can play with swords too, you know) Dad Lesson From: Ned Stark & Craster That's not to say gender neutral parenting is the only way (it's a bit hippy-ish, even for the decidedly gender-neutral eunuchs), but it's a sad day when your kids start seeing the world in terms of "boy things" and "girl things" – like their innocence has been lost. Put them on the right track by teaching them boys and girls are equal. Ned Stark – yes, that relentless do-gooder again, but to be fair, he's a ruddy good dad – broke gender norms by letting tomboy Arya swordfight, which put her in good stead. On the flipside, there's wilding nutcase Craster, who's so backward on the whole "boys and girls are equal" thing that he leaves his baby sons out in the woods to be gobbled up by White Walkers. Saying that, he marries his daughters too. Terrible parenting.
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| Merkel stands by Hamburg G20 despite violent protests Posted: 16 Jul 2017 09:41 AM PDT  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she stood by her decision to hold a G20 summit in Hamburg even after it was marred by street protests that turned violent. Local lawmakers from her centre-right Christian Democratic Union have blamed Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz for failing to organise sufficient police protection. "It was clear that it had to take place in a big city, and I was pleased that Olaf Scholz agreed... I've made it clear to the Hamburg CDU that I think they're wrong" to criticise him.
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| How to Survive the Whole30 Challenge and Live to Tell the Tale Posted: 15 Jul 2017 07:00 AM PDT  Liz, Caitlyn, and Brian — all had different motivations for starting the Whole30, from attempting to self-diagnose some minor health issues to trying to break unhealthy eating habits formed in college dining halls. But interestingly enough, all three jumped into the program pretty quickly. "You almost have to dive in," Brian told me. Each also faced their own unique challenges throughout the 30 days. "I thought about pasta a lot," Liz confessed.
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| Russia sees growing acceptance of Assad as key to Syria talks Posted: 15 Jul 2017 06:10 AM PDT  By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N.-led Syria talks have a chance of making progress because demands for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad have receded, Russia's ambassador in Geneva, Alexei Borodavkin, told reporters on Saturday. The seventh round of talks, which ended on Friday, had produced positive results, especially a "correction" in the approach of the main opposition delegation, the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee, he said. "The essence of this correction is that during this round the opposition never once demanded the immediate resignation of President Bashar al-Assad and the legitimate Syrian government." The HNC and its backers in Western and Gulf capitals had realized that peace needed to come first, and then political reforms could be negotiated, he said.
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| Switch to Google Wifi and you won’t even remember what wireless dead spots were like Posted: 16 Jul 2017 07:30 AM PDT 
There are a few good reasons that the Google Wifi mesh wireless system is so popular right now. The first is that, well, it's Google! The company has become well-known for its high-quality hardware products that complement its high-quality software products, and the Google Wifi system fits the bill. This mesh Wi-Fi system murders any and all dead spots that you used to have with your old router, covering up to 4,500 sq.ft. with blistering-fast Wi-Fi. Oh, and did we mention it's on sale at a discount right now on Amazon? Here's what you need to know from the product page: - A new type of connected system for seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead zones and buffering
- Replaces your current router, and works your modem and internet service. It's compatible with major internet service providers including Comcast, Time Warner, and Verizon Fios
- A single Wifi point covers up to 1,500 sq. ft, a set of three covers homes up to 4,500 sq. ft. Wifi points work together so you can add more if you need additional coverage
- Network Assist technology keeps your connection fast by always selecting the clearest channel and fastest band for your devices
- A simple app gets you set up quickly and allows you to see what's connected, prioritize devices, and pause the Wi-Fi on kids' devices
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| Afghan girls robotics team arrives in US just in time Posted: 15 Jul 2017 07:01 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Twice rejected for U.S. visas, an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan arrived in Washington early Saturday after an extraordinary, last-minute intervention by President Donald Trump.
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| Kindhearted UPS Driver Adopts Dog She Met on Her Route After Owner Dies Posted: 16 Jul 2017 10:59 AM PDT  The dog is loving his new dog siblings.
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| 6 Massive Things Smaller Than The Iceberg That Just Broke Off Antarctica Posted: 15 Jul 2017 06:00 AM PDT  The iceberg that just broke off from Antarctica is one of the largest ever recorded. Here's how it stacks up against locations around the world.
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| Columbia settles lawsuit filed by target of mattress protest Posted: 15 Jul 2017 03:11 PM PDT ![Columbia settles lawsuit filed by target of mattress protest]( "Columbia settles lawsuit filed by target of mattress protest") NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University has settled a gender bias lawsuit brought by a male student who said the school failed to protect him when a female student called him a rapist and carried a mattress around campus to dramatize her pain.
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| Brain scanning could improve dementia diagnosis for two thirds of patients, study finds Posted: 16 Jul 2017 01:30 AM PDT  Routine brain scanning could improve dementia diagnosis for two thirds of patients, ending years of misdiagnosis, a study has found. Currently the only way to determine whether Alzheimer's is present is to look at the brain of a patient after death. For patients who are still alive, doctors usually use special cognitive tests which monitor memory and everyday skills such as washing and dressing, but the results are often be misleading or inaccurate. Now new findings presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London show that Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans altered the diagnoses for more than two thirds people. Currently people with early stage Alzheimer's can wait up to four years to receive a correct diagnosis because PET scans are rarely carried out on the NHS as they cost up to £3,000 a time. But PET scans show the build-up of sticky amyloid plaques in the brain which prevent neurons from communicating and eventually kill areas, wiping out memories and can help with a definitive diagnosis. Thousands of people are misdiagnosed because the NHS does not carry out routine brain scanning for people with suspected dementia Credit: Paula Solloway/Alamy Not only do scans pick up problems early, when drugs or lifestyle changes could make a difference, but they could also help reassure people who are suffering mild memory problems that they do not have the disease. Dr David Reynolds, Chief Scientific Officer at Alzheimer's Research UK said: "Diagnosing dementia is a complex challenge, and doctors have to gather a range of clues to create a picture of what is going on in the brain. "This new research highlights that value that amyloid brain scans can bring in helping doctors make a more informed diagnosis, either by indicating or ruling out Alzheimer's as the possible cause of someone's dementia symptoms. "The current drive for life-changing dementia treatments means that in the future, the use of amyloid PET scans or other innovative diagnostic methods will be important to ensure that new medicines reach the right people at the right time." The difference between dementia and Alzheimers – in 60 seconds 01:06 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans work by picking up how good parts of the brain are at sucking up glucose, which is injected into the body bound to a radioactive tracer which can be seen on screen. Parts of the brain that are clogged up and not functioning will not light up. The new study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden involving 135 people who had been referred for memory problems found that 68 per cent had a change in diagnosis, following the scans. A separate study led by GE Healthcare in the UK analysed data from four previous studies looking at the use of brain amyloid PET scans in the process of dementia diagnosis, combining information from 1106 people, found the use of brain amyloid PET scans led to a change in diagnosis in 20 per cent of people. "A negative brain PET scan indicating sparse to no amyloid plaques rules out Alzheimer's disease as the cause of dementia symptoms," said Dr James Hendrix, Alzheimer's Association Director of Global Science Initiatives. "This makes it a valuable tool to clarify an uncertain or difficult diagnosis. Misdiagnosis is costly to health systems, and expensive and distressing to persons with dementia and their families."
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| 2 Penn State ex-officials begin jail terms in Sandusky case Posted: 15 Jul 2017 12:18 PM PDT  2 Penn State ex-officials begin jail terms in Sandusky case.
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