Tuesday

GIF of Daniel Radcliffe, Elijah Wood drives social media nuts

A lot of fans speculated that two stars from rival franchises, former Harry Potter protagonist Daniel Radcliffe and Lord of the Rings lead Elijah Wood, have similar physical features. Well, an online evidence supports this claim.

On Tuesday, an anonymous user edited a GIF of Elijah Wood morphing into Daniel Radcliffe on social media site Imgur. The GIF typically ‘won the internet’ with 7.7 million views and 5,326 points.




http://imgur.com/gallery/96Lt6dJ


Imgur users regarded the GIF as a ‘comic relief’ and a spooky treat at the same time. “Daniel Wood? Elijah Radcliffe?” one user commented.

“This is slightly unsettling,” another user critiqued.

Other users suggested the GIF creator to ‘alert’ JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter saga. Gianna Francesca Catolico/rga

— Jonathan (@Beardandcamera) May 26, 2016
 
source: technology.inquirer.net

Monday

Being transgender: facts, myths and rights


WASHINGTON, United States — Transgender people live under dramatically varying circumstances around the world — often facing violent repression, but also conquering crucial new rights most notably in Europe and the United States.

There are few reliable statistics on the community, in part because many transgender people around the world are unable to come out. And there are sometimes misunderstandings of the complex and changing vocabulary involved.

Transgender people

According to a study published in 2011 by The Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank, an estimated 0.3 percent of the US population is transgender. There are no reliable global statistics on the community, but India’s historic transgender minority alone, known as Hijras, number half a million according to the 2014 census.

The term “transgender” or “trans” refers to people whose gender identity — their innate, deeply-felt psychological sense of being a man, a woman, or neither — is different than the sex assigned to them at birth.

It includes people who have had reassignment surgery, those who have had hormone treatments, or people who have had no medical treatment at all.

– A person who is born female and now identifies as a man is a “transgender man”, or trans man.

– A person who is born male and now identifies as a woman is a “transgender woman,” or trans woman.

Note that it is considered pejorative to use “transgender” as a noun. It is an adjective, as in “a transgender person.”

The term “transsexual” is increasingly avoided.

Transition

A transgender person who is “transitioning” is shifting into their new gender identity by changing their “physical and sexual characteristics from those associated with their sex at birth,” says the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association in the US.

This can be a complex process that might include surgery and body modification, but it does not always. It might also include hormone treatments, group or individual therapy, telling family or friends, or changing one’s name on legal documents.

‘Sex change or ‘reassignment’?

Transgender advocacy groups warn against use of the term “sex change” to describe the surgical processes that some undergo. The groups explain that this is an outdated term, and that transgender people actually put “their bodies in line with who they are” rather than changing who they are.

Their stance is borne out by a growing body of research indicating that sexual anatomy and gender identity are the products of different biological processes — determined by genes as well as hormones — that occur before birth. Sexual anatomy and gender identity usually match, but many events can lead to an incongruence between the two.

Sexual orientation

Gender identity is not the same thing as sexual orientation. A transgender man or woman can have any sexual orientation: gay, straight or bisexual.

Anti-discrimination laws

The situation varies greatly for transgender people around the world.

Human Rights Watch counts 80 countries that continue to criminalize consensual same-sex relations or discussion of LGBT rights, with punishments including prison sentences, flogging, and even the death penalty.

In Europe, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in 1989 prohibiting discrimination against transgender people. But among the 28 member states, laws vary greatly. Only 13 states explicitly prohibit violence against transgender people, according to “Transgender Europe”, a European association.

In the United States, anti-discrimination laws are among the most advanced. But whether those laws are also applied to transgender people varies from state to state.

A dozen states including New York, California and the District of Columbia ban the exclusion of gender transition-related care from both private insurance programs and the public Medicaid insurance program, which caters to the poorest segment of the population. Another half dozen states have rules ensuring a limited level of coverage, while the rest offer none.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

America Commemorates Memorial Day


Columbia, SC (WLTX) - It's Memorial Day, a time set aside for America to remember its men and women who died to give us all our freedoms and liberties.

The exact origin of Memorial Day is somewhat in dispute, but most sources say it began after the Civil War to honor those killed in that conflict. At least one account says freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina were the first to mark the occasion, when they celebrated the end of the war in 1865.

First known as "Decoration Day," the first official proclamation of the holiday was made in 1868 by an organization of Northern veterans which said that people should celebrate the day on May 30. It would remain on that exact date for almost 100 years.

In the 1880s, people began to refer to it as Memorial Day, and over time (particularly after World War I) that became the adopted standard. It wasn't until 1967, however, that federal law officially named it "Memorial Day."

A year later, Congress passed a measure which made the official observance of Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, rather than always on May 30.

Over the years, of course, the day has also become a time when Americans spend time with their families as the summer travel season begins.

But of course, we want to honor the true meaning of the day, and it's within that spirit that News19 joins everyone across the nation in recognizing the sacrifice of America's fighting forces.

source: wltx.com

Sunday

Portable ultrasound device addresses healthcare for moms in rural areas


Thirteen Filipino mothers die every day due to complications in child birth.

That’s exactly what statistics will tell you. But what the figure doesn’t tell you is this: Mothers remain unaware of the nature of their pregnancies due to the lack of proper neonatal care, with complications only revealing itself during child birth, leaving less time for mothers and newborns from being saved.

They say maternal death due to complications is easily preventable when diagnosed early. But in places where even clean water and electricity are luxuries, maternal healthcare remains to be a dream.

Most often, majority of expectant mothers at risk live in places hard to find on the map. From the main road, sometimes one has to trek up mountains or sail through rivers to reach these rural communities—a shared odyssey of both health officers and pregnant women.

The nearest provincial hospital is often 20-30 kilometers away from the main road. Barrios are lucky if a midwife comes by at least once a week.

“In the province, I think we only have three hospitals. The nearest to my town is 40 kilometers away,” Banna, Ilocos Norte Mayor Carlito Abadilla says.  “Maternal death in the eastern towns of Ilocos Norte is one of the highest with five to seven deaths a year.”

The entire region of Ilocos Norte, despite the contribution of its rich dwellers like Vigan and Paoay, has about 115 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births.

Abadilla wants his municipality to focus on maternal healthcare, noting about 130 pregnant women are currently residing in Banna.

The municipality’s goal is in line with that of GE Philippines, which recently launched a portable ultrasound machine, the VScan Access. The portable ultrasound machine has a simple touchscreen interface, allowing it to scan 20-35 patients with its more than one-hour battery capacity.

It was designed with far-flung areas in mind—lightweight, battery-operated, shock-resistant and dust-proof. It also has a built-in manual to guide local healthcare workers.

One distinct feature of the VScan Access is the device’s capability to store up to 10,000 unique patient profiles, making it easier to monitor the health of many mothers and their children.

GE segment leader Rajan Kalidindi says healthcare workers have been trained to “tag” at-risk patients and be able to closely monitor their progress and safety.

He says the machine makes it easier for midwives and local health officials to refer patients to provincial doctors once complications have been identified. The scans made by the machine can easily be sent to mobile phones using a Bluetooth capability feature. It also has a USB port allowing files to be easily transferred to computers and other devices.

The VScan Access also boasts of a multimedia feature that allows the Department of Health or local government units to produce educational materials, which could then be shown to patients during an ultrasound procedure and checkup. These videos are ideally centered on patient education and nutrition or family planning or pregnancy care, depending on what the government or institution deems essential.

In the town of Banna, midwives and nurses were trained for two days to familiarize themselves with the machine. Around 132 patients, most on their 20th week of pregnancy, underwent scanning by local healthcare workers.

According to Dr. Godofreda Dalmacion, one of the leaders of GE Healthcare’s training program, the participants were trained to identify the position of the fetus, the placenta and the orientation of the head of the baby, details which could easily determine future pregnancy complications.

Kalidindi says the volunteers’ readings improved to 80 percent when they used the ultrasound machine and underwent the training program.

Apart from knowing the health of the pregnant mothers, workers can finally “tell government to give the proper support needed by these women, because not all them planned their pregnancies. Most of them are unplanned, unwanted, untimed,” Dalmacion says.

GE Healthcare plans to extend the program to other provinces, noting this is a comprehensive local program that implements a customizable deployment system, periodic training and years of service support for the ultrasound device.

“The vision was for every barangay to have a VScan Access ultrasound system. We will be taking it one step at a time and try to get a hundred units into the localities and move on from there,” GE Healthcare Philippines country manager Ivan Arota says.

source: business.inquirer.net

Social media buzzing over Harvard grad’s spoken-word speech


CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— Social media is buzzing over a Harvard graduate’s poetic commencement speech, which has garnered millions of views and the attention of celebrities.

Donovan Livingston, who received his master’s degree in education, addressed his classmates Wednesday with a spoken-word poem outlining the historic obstacles that have prevented African-Americans from getting an education.

The speech begins with a quote by education reformer Horace Mann and references influential African-Americans including poet Langston Hughes and abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education posted a video of Livingston’s speech on Facebook, saying it was “One of the most powerful, heartfelt student speeches you will ever hear!”

More than 8 million have viewed the video, including superstar Justin Timberlake, who shared it on Facebook, adding the caption: “You don’t feel inspired?? Here you go.”


source: technology.inquirer.net

Getting Your Auto Insurance Quote


If you felt like the car insurance business number was on the rise recently, you would be absolutely right. baseball games and football are simply overwhelmed during commercial breaks with messages from sponsors that happen to hold drivers in Texas and all other states of the Union. If you believe the claims of different companies large discounts are waiting on the other end phone? What’s the solution? As a smart consumer, you have to look at all of Texas self insurance quote to find out.

to start, you should be a little worried when a company says there is a great opportunity on the waiting premiums down at the end of your way. How can they offer the same coverage at a price that is noticeably inferior? Probably, they can not. What they can do is provide a certain level of coverage for the lowest price. It can lead to you paying a little more if you have to resort to your insurance company and make a claim, but you have to calculate this risk. If you are confident that you will never need them (which may already be?), It does not matter one bit.

Anyway, there are many resources on the internet when you want to compare the rates. You may have to deliver a lot of information or you may be able to get in and out of a website, depending on the company involved. Of course, it would not be in the best interest of a company to offer everyone a quote without allowing a representative to sweeten the deal in person or by phone with you. This is something that you have to remember throughout the process of finding an insurance provider. They are not called insurance ‘sellers’ for nothing. If there is an agreement that will make money, they will push you.

There will be a series of standard requirements that must meet, no matter what situation you are driving in Texas. You have to have a minimum amount of liability coverage for at least two people behind the wheel when an accident occurs. Also, you need to cover the damage if it is involved. Your driving record will be closely examined during this process as well. If you have a number of accidents you caused on your record, it is unlikely that you will find waiting for discounts. Drivers with an impeccable record, on the other hand, should expect good things.


Source by James Hyder

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Saturday

FIFA impose stadium bans, fines for homophobic chants



FIFA on Friday handed out fines to the football associations of Chile, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Paraguay and Peru for homophobic chants by supporters during qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup.

Chile were banned from playing at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago for two official matches and fined 30,000 Swiss Francs ($30,000, 27,000 euros).

The first match-ban will be served at the next World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, with the second suspended subject to a two-year probation period.

“The proceedings relate to homophobic chants by the team’s fans and follow previous sanctions for similar incidents during the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement.

Mexico were fined a total of 35,000 Swiss Francs for two cases, while Honduras were fined 40,000, El Salvador 35,000, Paraguay 20,000 and Peru 15,000 for individual cases related to incidents involving discriminatory and unsporting conduct by fans, including homophobic chants.

Croatia were also ordered to play their next two World Cup qualifiers –- against Turkey on September 5 and Iceland on November 12 -– without spectators and fined a total of 150,000 Swiss Francs for two cases of discriminatory chants by fans, which occurred at friendly matches against Israel and Hungary last March.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Friday

Starting School Later Can Help Reduce St. Louis Teen Car Accidents

Car accidents are a leading cause of death among teenagers – 20 percent are caused by drowsy driving.


In 2014, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project launched the Awake at the Wheel campaign to educate young drivers about the risks associated with drowsy driving. It is a campaign that may have made a difference for someone like Ronnie Lynn Thompson, who died at age 16 after being killed in an accident when his friend fell asleep while driving.

No Drowsy Driving (NOD.D.)

Ronnie’s mother founded No Drowsy Driving (NOD.D.) to bring more awareness to the growing number of car accidents caused by young teenagers not getting enough sleep. This has been a huge problem for teenagers as studies have shown that teenagers who do not get proper sleep are at a higher risk of being involved in car accidents; possibly because of the increased drowsiness combined with the inexperience they have behind the steering wheel.

Car accidents are a leading cause of death among teenagers and about 20 percent of those deaths can be linked to someone not getting a good night’s rest. More than half of all accidents involving someone being tired behind the wheel involve young drivers aged 25 and younger.

 Sleep Recommendations For Teenagers

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, only about 31 percent of children in high school are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep per night that is required for good health and alertness. The reason for this lack of good sleep is what some sleep experts call the adolescent phase delay – a natural shift in a teen’s circadian rhythm. Researchers have found that an optimal sleep schedule for a teenager is from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Changing School Schedules 

Considering this sleep schedule, there is a push for schools to change the starting time for school. Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, the President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, reports that about 50 percent of the communities that have later school start times have seen teenage car accident rates decrease between 65 and 75 percent.

The proposal to change school start times has also been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics because of reasons beyond the car accidents. In a statement that was published in September 2014, parents and physicians were reminded that children who do not get enough sleep at night also develop mental problems (i.e. problems performing in the classroom) and physical problems in addition to the increased chances of being involved in a car accident.

Talk with a St. Louis Car Wreck Lawyer

If you have been injured by a negligent driver, consult a St. Louis car wreck lawyer to understand your legal rights. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.LC. at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.

source:  hoffmannpersonalinjury.com

Thursday

Johnny Depp’s wife files for divorce in Los Angeles


LOS ANGELES — Johnny Depp’s wife has filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences after 15 months of marriage.

Amber Depp, an actress known as Amber Heard, filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court and is seeking spousal support from the Oscar-nominated actor.

Heard listed their date of separation as Sunday. The pair has no children together.

Depp and Heard met while co-starring in the 2011 film “The Rum Diary.” Depp’s latest film, “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” is due to be released on Friday.

The actors have been embroiled in a dispute with Australia’s deputy prime minister, who last year threatened to euthanize their dogs, Boo and Pistol, after they were illegally smuggled into the country. Heard pleaded guilty last month to falsifying documents to conceal the pets when she arrived by private jet to join her husband on the set of the fifth movie in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series.

The pair videotaped an apology as part of a deal that allowed Heard to avoid a conviction. But the actors have been derided because of their wooden deliveries in the film.

Earlier this week, the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, boasted that he had gotten inside Depp’s head like fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter after the actor quipped that the ruddy-faced lawmaker appeared to be “inbred with a tomato” during an interview on the U.S. talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Depp has one previous marriage and was in a long relationship with French actress and model Vanessa Paradis before he began dating Heard.

The divorce was first reported Wednesday by celebrity website TMZ.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Wednesday

Twitter campaign wants Captain America, Bucky Barnes to be a couple


Fresh from an online crusade to give Elsa a girlfriend for Frozen 2, a similar demand has recently caught fire on Twitter.

Citing a report from TIME, the internet has now turned its attention to convincing Marvel to give one of its biggest stars— Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America, a boyfriend.

The hashtag, #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend started trending on Tuesday, where fans expressed their desire for Rogers (Chris Evans) and his on-screen best bud, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), to partake in a romantic relationship.

The odd pairing was even playfully labeled by some netizens as ”Stucky”.



One Twitter user pointed out that having a ‘boyfriend’ in the movie is still pretty normal, considering there are powered individuals in the Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.


Meanwhile, Evans, who plays the man behind the shield, isn’t opposed to the idea of a romance between Bucky and Steve.

“That wouldn’t be so bad,” said Evans in an interview with E!Online. “It’s just never been part of my approach to the character. My subtext didn’t involve that dynamic. I think even with the first Captain America film you see how drawn he is to Peggy Carter. I thought I put all that in the final scene, but maybe I didn’t. Maybe I was just gazing at Sebastian too much.”

“Captain America: Civil War” is still playing in theaters, and has reportedly earned $347 million domestically, as of writing. Khristian Ibarrola

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Tuesday

7 Facts About Cervical Cancer that Can Save a Life


“The Big C” is one thing people would rather talk about and deal with when it’s already there. It’s only normal lest we succumb to ureasonable fear and worry. Still, early awareness is a must especially since there is a big double C, if you will: cervical cancer. As the second highest cause of cancer death for Filipinas, it’s something we have to tackle ASAP. It was something cancer survivor Rose Manzano realized when she battled through the disease while her daughter, host and radio DJ Andi Manzano-Reyes, who stood by her side. “It really changed my life and it’s the reason why I want to start the conversation among women,” she shares.



We at Preen, aren’t here to scare you with graphic descriptions and sob stories, however. We’re here to empower you with what you need to know about the disease, how you can prevent it, and how you can spread the information to the women in your life. Here are seven quick and pertinent facts we learned from the speakers at the Power Over Cancer Cancer: You Can and You Will event which was held in light on Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

#1 Know the five risk factors
Dr. Leah Mano of Glaxo Smith-Klein explains to us that there are five main risk factors when it comes to cervical cancer: smoking, early sexual activity, having multiple sexual partners, catching HPV, and giving multiple births. If you are exposed to these risks, get yourself checked and screened by your gynecologist yearly.

#2 Get vaccinated
Part of the reason why it’s still shocking that people succumb to cervical cancer is because there is already an effective vaccine to prevent it. Dr. Erwin De Mesa of the Philippine OB-GYN Society tells us that it is important to get the vaccine as soon as possible, preferably before being sexually active. “Though it is good to get the vaccine when you can, it is advisable to have it even before you become sexually active,” he says. It is also important to make your daughters or nieces aware of the disease so they can get their shot. There’s no such thing as being too young for it as Dr. Anna Belen Ignacio-Alensuela says as she’s seen a patient as young as nine years old.

#3 It doesn’t stop with a shot
After you get your vaccine, you shouldn’t be so lax. “It’s important to have a doctor to see your cervix every year,” says Dr. Maria Julieta-Germar. This is because a malignant mass can grow inside you, without you being able to feel it. “The cervix is very accomodating,” says Dr. Maria, “It can accomodate something as big as a baby so it’s important to have an OB-Gyn look at your cervix and see if there’s already something suspicious inside.”

#4 Tell your man
Since there are many strains of HPV, it becomes a good breeding ground for cervical cancer. Since the most common way to get HPV is through sexual intercourse, open up to your man or your partner to have himself checked. Dr. Maria emphasizes that men are also responsible in decreasing the risk of getting cervical cancer.

#5 Don’t be overconfident
Abbygale Arenas de Leon, former beauty queen and member of the Bravehearts Coalition, which campaigns for cervical cancer awareness says that most women always think they will never get cervical cancer. “Masyado silang kampante,” she says. This is where we see how the lack of awareness is one of the biggest reasons cervical cancer vaccine and cure isn’t getting to the people who need it the most. Always remember that no one is safe and that the disease cuts across economic and social classes.

#6 Poor hygiene doesn’t necessarily cause the disease
On the topic of lack of awareness, it is a myth that poor hygiene, dirty sanitary napkins or tampons can increase your chances of getting the cancer. “It’s not true that you get the disease through unhygienic practices,” says Dr. Maria. “There was also a myth about the disease transferring via dirty towels. That has been proven false.”

#7 It’s one thing we need to get the government on
Geting checked, having a pap smear, using contraceptives, and sexual education all go hand in hand in preventing cervical cancer and similar diseases. Dr. Anna tells us that most of the doctors are pushing for preventive measures such as doctor’s appointments to be more accessible in schools and offices. This all falls into the clauses found in the RH Bill and other laws that tackle women’s health. So it’s important to be more vocal about the need for the government to play its part when it comes to battling this life-threatening disease.

Photo courtesy of Cervical Cancer Awareness Instagram

source: preen.inquirer.net

‘Sexier’ new model of MacBook Pro to have OLED touch bar–reports


The next breed of Apple’s popular laptop prototype MacBook Pro will be ‘cooler’ – it will be thinner, lighter, and equipped with an OLED function panel, according to a research note from well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo, reported on Apple site 9to5Mac and MacRumors.

The amazing thinness and lightness of the newest MacBook Pro is a result of metal-injection-molded hinges installed in it, the reports said.

Also, the tech giant would introduce Touch ID fingerprint scanners in its newly-furnished prototypes and all MacBook Pro models would feature a USB-C and Thunderbolt 3.

Both reports said Apple aspires to make the MacBook Air the ‘entry-level option’, the MacBook a ‘mid-tier choice’, and the MacBook Pro a ‘high-end variant’.

Apple will also remodel a 13-inch laptop similar to the latest 12-inch Retina model upgraded with performance boosts.The last innovation of Apple gossiped by tech entrepreneurs was that a ‘sexier’ 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook will be unveiled in the market during the fourth quarter of 2016. Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: technology.inquirer.net

Monday

Clinton, in ‘dead heat’ with Trump, offers sharper contrast


WASHINGTON, United States — Hillary Clinton tried to draw a sharper contrast with Donald Trump on Sunday, saying the central message of her campaign was “We’re stronger together,” even as a new poll showed the two candidates in a statistical tie.

The new Washington Post/ABC News survey found the presidential frontrunners in “a virtual dead heat” among registered voters.

Never in the poll’s history, The Post said, had two major party nominees been viewed as harshly, with nearly 6 in 10 voters holding negative impressions of both candidates.

That underscored a growing sense of urgency in the Clinton campaign to define her both more clearly and positively — a task made harder by her inability to shake off her tenacious Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders.

Clinton, in an appearance on NBC, challenged Trump’s “Make America Great” slogan, suggesting that “he seems to be particularly focused on making himself appear great.”

The former secretary of state said her campaign would be “demonstrating the hollowness of his rhetoric, and the danger of a lot of what he has said.”

‘We’re stronger together’


Asked to sum up her own message, Clinton said, “We’re stronger together.”

She said Americans needed to unify and work together to improve the economy. “We’re stronger together when we have a bipartisan, even nonpartisan foreign policy that protects our country. And that provides the kind of steady, strong, smart leadership that the rest of the world expects.”

But the new poll seemed to show that if Americans are united about anything, it is in their dissatisfaction with the two leading candidates.

What is shaping up to be the nastiest American presidential campaign in recent memory is beginning with voters expressing historically deep and practically identical levels of discomfort with both Trump and Clinton.

This has shaken up some in the Democratic camp, who assumed Trump would be an easy target, and it has provided encouragement to Sanders, the Vermont senator who trails Clinton but keeps winning primaries.

Appearing on Sunday talk shows, Sanders pleaded with the hundreds of the party’s so-called super-delegates who support Clinton to reconsider their allegiance ahead of the Democratic nominating convention in late July.

A frequent critic of the Democrats’ selection process, he said the party was headed for an “anointment” of Clinton.

As the race for the White House grows closer, Clinton supporters and some Democratic Party leaders have made increasingly insistent calls for Sanders to step aside and let Clinton turn her full attention to Trump.

But Sanders vowed yet again on Sunday to stay in the race at least until California, the most populous state, stages its primary on June 7.

The Post/ABC poll found the two leading candidates are in a statistical dead heat, with 46 percent of registered voters favoring Trump and 44 percent supporting Clinton.

That amounted to an 11-point shift in the Republican’s favor since March.

Clinton’s net negative rating among registered voters was a minus 16, virtually the same as Trump’s minus 17, though his negatives were significantly higher among all adults.

Positive ratings

Voters gave Sanders the most positive ratings of the three, with a net positive of 8 points among registered voters.

But Clinton suggested on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the Sanders numbers might be meaningless, because early polls are often unreliable and because Sanders has not borne the brunt of the intense scrutiny that she has faced for decades.

“I don’t think he’s ever had a single negative ad against him,” she said. “That’s fine, but we know what we’re going into and understand what it’s going to take to win in the fall.

“Finally, I would say that polls this far out mean nothing. They certainly mean nothing to me.”

Voters also continued to express positive views of President Obama, to whom Clinton has closely tied her campaign, giving him a 51-percent approval rating.

Clinton has largely aligned herself with Obama — while taking her distance on issues like trade with Asia — but said Sunday that she is her own person.

“I’m not running for anybody’s third term,” she said on NBC. “I’m running for my first term. I also want to do what works. My goal is to produce positive results for the American people.”

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Auto Insurance Quote Considerations


Learn more about the car insurance is the best way to make sure you have adequate coverage and that you are also getting the best deal possible . Continue reading to understand how various factors can impact your auto insurance quote.

Buying a used car is a good way to save money on your insurance premiums, since the older models are not as valuable. If you want to keep this car for years, you should get an insurance policy that will cover most of the damage. Because insurance on a used car is cheap, you should get a comprehensive policy. However, if you do not plan to keep your car for a long time or want to save money on your premiums, you should consider dropping some items on your policy, as aesthetic repairs.

A new car is not likely to break, which means you probably do not need your policy to cover towing and similar expenses trucks. If the new car is fully paid, you should protect your investment with an accident coverage policy that might happen. And if you are still making payments on your new car, the financial institution that you are using will probably have a set of guidelines on the type of insurance policy you need to start. Otherwise, select such a comprehensive policy as you can afford to make sure that you can continue to make the payments.

If you have a good driving record and does not present any complaints, you can benefit from interesting discounts. Each insurance company has different discounts. You need to contact your insurance agent and ask about good driver discounts. You may really want to think twice before submitting a request for very minor damage that you could pay for yourself, since you will not benefit from the discount more good driver.

Other drivers can use their car if they have insurance on their behalf or if you add them to your policy. It is usually cheaper to add someone to your policy to pay for individual coverage. Contact your insurance agent to find out how to add someone to your policy will cost you. You should know that if you add your children to your policy, you can usually qualify for a good student discount if they have good grades.

Protecting more than one vehicle with the same policy is a good way to save money. This is called package insurance, and insurance agents will encourage you to take additional policies in his other car, your motorcycle or even your home. Before getting a package plan, compare coverage and price you get the other options. package plans come with good discounts but do not get the coverage that you do not really need just because you can get it at a discounted price.

Learn as much as possible about the car insurance is the best way to make informed decisions. You should take the time to compare your options to request an auto insurance quote and go about your policy carefully to make sure you are getting the best coverage you can afford.

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Contestants of ‘The Biggest Loser’ Were Allegedly Told to Throw Up to Lose Weight


Ever wondered how contestants in shows like The Biggest Loser would lose a lot—I mean A LOT—of weight in a short span of time? Apparently, it’s more than just the strenuous exercise that they do on the show. Contestants are now coming forward, saying that they were constantly given drugs to lose the weight.

These testimonies came after a study came out on why the show’s contestants gain weight again. It was found that it was because of a slowed metabolism caused by starvation.

An unnamed source tells The New York Post that then trainer, now host Bob Harper would provide contestants with drugs like Adderall and Ephedra, which is reportedly an FDA-banned drug.

Season two contestant Suzanne Mendonca also shared her experience in the show. “People would take amphetamines, water pills, diuretics, and throw up in the bathroom,” she says. “They would take their spin bikes into the steam room to work up a sweat. I vomited every single day. Bob Harper tells people to throw up: ‘Good,’ he says. ‘You’ll lose more calories.'”

Another contestant, Mark Yesitis, also shared that he had his gall bladder removed after joining the show.

Meanwhile, a representative of Bob released a statement saying, “These allegations are absolutely false and are in direct conflict with my lifelong devotion to health and fitness. Safety is paramount in my training regimen and, while demanding, my approach has always focused on the overall well-being of contestants as they lose significant weight and educate themselves, for the first time, on living a healthy lifestyle.”

But with this many testimonies, who’s to say what’s really happening and what is not? And now that Bob is hosting the show, will it also happen with future contestants? Likely, if proven true. We just hope this gets settled before something worse happens.

[The Cut]

Photo courtesy of The Biggest Loser’s Instagram

source: preen.inquirer.net


Sunday

Nadal back in Paris, no title to defend, no Federer to face


PARIS — Through the years, Rafael Nadal grew accustomed to a couple of givens at the French Open: He would arrive as the defending champion, and Roger Federer would be somewhere in the draw, often awaiting a showdown in the final.

This time around, neither is the case.

Federer withdrew a few days before Sunday’s start of the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, ending his record run of 65 consecutive major appearances.

“For the fans, for the tournament, for the world (of) tennis, in general, is … very negative news, no?” Nadal said.

Nadal won the title at Roland Garros every year from 2005-08 and from 2010-14 — a record nine in all, beating Federer in four of those finals — but returns to town trying to earn back the trophy after relinquishing it in 2015.

He is seeded fourth.

“It’s a tournament that I know I can play well,” said Nadal, who lost in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic a year ago. “If I am playing well, I know I can do good things.”

Nadal, who owns 14 major championships in all, could face No. 1 Djokovic in about two weeks in the semifinals — on what would be the Spaniard’s 30th birthday.

Asked about that milestone, Nadal waxed philosophical.

“You know, time never stops. Nobody stops the time,” he said. “That’s not a good thing, but at the same time, I am happy with my life. I enjoyed all these years on the tour, and I hope to keep enjoying the next couple of years.”

After dealing with health problems and a crisis of confidence last season, Nadal has been playing better on his favorite red clay of late.

He is 19-4 on the surface this season, including titles at Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Not bad, but not up to his old standards. In his past two tournaments, Nadal lost in the Madrid semifinals to Andy Murray, and the Rome quarterfinals to Djokovic.

“A lot of tournaments in a row playing well,” said Nadal, who faces Sam Groth in the first round in Paris. “I need to just keep going.”

Other things to know about the French Open, which begins Sunday:

Serena’s ‘drought’

Much was made of Serena Williams’ title in Rome last weekend being her first trophy in nine months. She does not consider that gap a big deal.

“I guess when you win all the time, if you go a couple of tournaments and don’t win them, it’s like you’re in a drought,” Williams said.

She is the defending champion and seeded No. 1 at Roland Garros, and another title would be her 22nd at a Grand Slam tournament, equaling Steffi Graf for the most in the Open era, which started in 1968.

Security stepped up

From patdowns at entrance gates to a 25 percent rise in the number of security agents, there is an obvious increase in protective measures at the tournament, about six months after terrorist attacks around the French capital.

“I notice more security pretty much everywhere,” No. 2-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska said.

Olympic push


A Grand Slam tournament is a Grand Slam tournament, so there is plenty at stake as always over the next 15 days, but there is an added incentive for some players: the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The ATP and WTA rankings of June 6 — the day after the men’s final in Paris — will be the basis for Summer Games qualification.

Doping talk

Two recent events put the topic of performance-enhancing drugs on the table in tennis.

Maria Sharapova’s positive test for meldonium and provisional suspension are keeping her out of the field at a tournament she won in 2012 and 2014.

And Nadal filed a defamation lawsuit in Paris last month against France’s former minister for health and sport, Roselyne Bachelot, after she said on a television show the player’s seven-month injury absence in 2012 probably was due to a positive drug test.

Cheating


A report about whether tennis was doing enough to investigate possible corruption stirred things up at the start of the Australian Open in January.

While the chatter has mostly subsided, the French Open revoked the wild-card entry granted to a French player, Constant Lestienne, because the Tennis Integrity Unit said he violated a rule.

source: sports.inquirer.net

How Much Does Data Recovery Cost?


Almost all reputable data recovery companies will charge for individual scenarios, and that has sometimes led to confusion about the rate for professional services. To put it simply, in most cases you are not given a single flat rate. This is because the average data recovery cost comes with hidden fees. In a lot of cases, a data recovery company you contact will give you a broad-ranging quote that makes it impossible to know how much you will actually pay. Once you hand your device or PC over, you are in a weaker position, so that’s why you get a quote up front.

Different Way To Charge For Data Recovery Services
 
When you visit a quality data recovery company, you should know what to expect early on in the transaction. Transparency is important and can be based on a few factors: • Size of the drive • Problem with your device • Whether previous attempts to recover have worked In most cases, problems will fall into the following categories: Basic, Firmware or Mechanical. Basic looks at bad sectors, deleted data and data corruption. Firmware address damage or corruption to components that needs repairing. If there is a mechanical problem, that sometimes cost extra. This happens because technicians have to slowly go through every part of your computer to see where it’s going wrong and there are replacement costs. A well-regarded company describes any pricing options with its customers before starting any work.

Data recovery questions and answers
 
We get a ton of questions about the cost of data recovery services. Here are a few answers to those frequently asked questions.

How much do data recovery services cost upfront?

In all but the rarest of circumstances, you do not need to pay a fee for our services before we do any work. You will only pay after we successfully recover your missing data. Should you decide you need it, we offer prepaid shipping so that you can send us your device for an evaluation.

Will you give an estimate?
 
You do not have to walk into our data recovery services blindly. Yes, we give our customers free data recovery evaluations. We also have a risk-free data recovery evaluation for almost every technological device. Some of the components we often work with include: • RAID Arrays • Hard Drives • Servers • Systems Our evaluation includes a diagnostics report with detailed information about whether our services will be the best choice for you. The report includes a list of the recoverable files, an accurate price estimate and an estimated turnaround time for your issue. What if there is no way to recover my files? Because we have top-of-the-line technology with qualified and reputable experts, we can help you to stop losing information from almost all devices. Unfortunately, there are cases where we cannot recover the data. When that happens, we do not charge fees. We understand. We would not want to pay for services that didn’t work, either.

How much does data recovery cost?

That depends on who you use and what type of services you need. Get a quote in advance and don’t work with anyone who won’t do that for you. You want to entrust your data recovery efforts to an expert who will not just take your money.

source: securedatarecovery.com

5 Ways Small Businesses Must Protect their Data



Cyber security is a new concern for all businesses. Big hacks, like the Target, Home Depot, and Sony attacks, have only emphasized how much small businesses need to protect themselves. Large businesses have a lot of resources to do this, but small businesses often do not have the budget or knowledge to perform due diligence against cyber security attacks. Here are 5 ways a small business can protect itself from data threats.

Protecting Small Business Data: Backup
The new threat on the block is ransomware. Symantec estimates that 60% of small businesses face significant financial hardships after being attacked by ransomware. Some of these businesses even discontinue service or go out of business as a result of the attacks. Ransomware encrypts important files, like documents, pictures, and CAD files, on a PC. The local PC isn’t the only victim either. Ransomware will also attempt to reach out to other PCs on the network, especially mapped network drives. Once the ransomware finishes encrypting files and drives, the software demands money to un-encrypt the data that the business can no longer access. The ransom can be expensive.

Small business can’t afford that kind of monetary hit. However, if a system gets attacked by ransomware and the business has a quality backup, the business can simply wipe the PC and start over. Re-imaging a PC and restoring data only takes a day or two and saves the business thousands of dollars. Backing up and protecting small business data is easy. There are a lot of good, online services that automate this process for an affordable yearly fee. Likewise, it’s easy enough to setup on your own. The important thing is to keep 3 different backups for the 3 different time periods for each PC. Each backup set needs to be kept on-site, off-site but local, and not local. This ensures that data is saved in case a business goes up in flames or the offsite backup is hit by a natural or man-made disaster. Data storage is cheap today so there’s a backup is an easy choice..

Protecting Small Business Data: Switch to the Cloud
The cloud is still a scary thing for businesses. I understand why. Using a cloud infrastructure means that businesses have to hand over control of their IT systems and depend on another business to stay in business. Think of it this way, though, cloud businesses build their business on reliability, speed, and security. Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon’s S3 services are incredibly powerful. They both have over a 99% uptime guarantee in their Service Level Agreements. Both replicate data in servers throughout the country. Both backup data. Microsoft has the advantage of adding their entire Office Suite in the cloud, too. Best of all, cloud services can lower ownership expenses.

Protecting Small Business Data: Purchase, Update Quality AV
Antivirus protection is still needed in today’s environment. By now we shouldn’t have to warn anyone to install a quality antivirus program and keep it up-to-date. So many businesses still don’t follow this basic rule, though. This is something that any small business can implement in a few hours and automate.

Protecting Small Business Data: Restrict Admin Accounts
Most small businesses buy a few PCs and attach them to a small local area network. They don’t use domain services or group policies. That’s okay. It’s not always appropriate for a small business to utilize these kinds of services. It is important to make sure that employees aren’t using admin accounts on their PCs, though. Admin accounts are setup by default. Changing a user’s profile from being an admin to a standard user eliminates 90% of virus and attack-ware threats. Employees can always elevate privileges on the PC when they need to install software.

Protecting Small Business Data: Education
Nothing is more important than education. Employee education can significantly reduce the threat of cyber attacks. Even simple reminders to avoid opening links or attachments in email will significantly reduce the chances of an attack. Hold monthly education meetings or assign a “security guru” to send out weekly or monthly newsletters for employees to read and act on. These are basic steps but speaking to the last point, awareness and education is a significant part of the battle against data breach and data corruption. Please let us know if you have other questions. The needs of our customers frequently grow in one area or the other, such as the recent spike in ransomware. We might bring your concerns to the blog to help others, as well.

source: securedatarecovery.com

Saturday

Federer absence a ‘loss’ for French Open


World number one Novak Djokovic headed a cast of leading players expressing their disappointment on Friday at Roger Federer’s injury-enforced withdrawal from this year’s French Open.

Federer’s absence was a primary topic of conversation at Roland Garros with the 17-time major winner announcing he would miss the tournament after failing to recover from a back injury, bringing an end to his astonishing run of 65 consecutive Grand Slams.

“It’s definitely a loss for the tournament,” lamented Djokovic. “We’re definitely not used to seeing Roger skipping Grand Slams,” he added, with Federer missing a major tournament for the first time since the 1999 US Open.

“Obviously the nature of his injury is not light, and it kept him off this tournament that I’m sure that if there was any chance he could play he would participate.”

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal said Federer’s absence was a blow to tennis fans, but the Spaniard admitted it wouldn’t personally impact his preparations.

“I think for me it is not changing much. But I understand that for the fans, for the tournament, for the world in tennis in general it’s very negative news,” said the world number five.

“Every tournament that a big player like him is not able to play is negative news for the world of tennis.”

Serena Williams, who like Federer will turn 35 later this year, hailed the Swiss star’s longevity and conceded it would be strange not to see the 2009 French Open champion in Paris.

“I think he plays most slams, so definitely — 65 in a row? That’s a lot.

“I think it’s just pretty awesome, but it means he cares about his future and the Olympics this year and Wimbledon and US Open. He probably wants to give himself the best chance. It’s a shame not to see him in the draw. He’s always such a staple.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Friday

9% of California kids have never seen a dentist


PALO ALTO, California – Nine percent of children ages 2 to 11 in 2013-14 had never had a dental visit, according to data from the California Health Interview Survey.

The Length of Time Since Last Dental Visit for kids in California survey comes on the heels of the Little Hoover Commission’s scathing report on Denti-Cal, the dental health care program for 13 million low-income Californians.

Counties with the highest percent of young children who had never visited a dentist were San Joaquin County at 28 percent, Shasta County at 19 percent and Fresno County at 18 percent.

In over 12 additional counties, at least 10 percent of children hadn’t visited a dentist, including Santa Clara County, Sacramento County and Los Angeles County.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children ages 6 to 18. Untreated dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease, can affect a child’s health and quality of life by causing pain, nutritional and sleep problems, impaired concentration and increased school absences, as well as lost work hours for parents.

If dental disease is not treated early, it can result in more serious and expensive intervention later on.

Tooth decay and other oral diseases disproportionately affect low-income children, children of color, and uninsured children. For this reason, the federal government has set a public health goal focused on improving access to preventive dental services for low-income children.

The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes dental health care for children in the essential health benefits that must be covered by all qualified health insurance plans, a major step forward in ensuring access to oral health care for children.

According to experts, policy options that could influence children’s dental health include: increasing reimbursement rates for dental providers under public insurance programs; creating incentives for them to treat low-income children; increasing the number of pediatric dentists where Medi-Cal patients live; setting pediatric dental benefits under ACA at affordable rates to allow low-income families to access the services; reinstating state support for children’s dental disease prevention; and ensuring that all communities have fluoridated drinking water, as evidence suggests that it reduces cavities among children.

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Thursday

After conservative meet, Zuckerberg says Facebook open to ‘all ideas’



SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday that conservatives are an important part of the social network after a meeting aimed at defusing concerns it is politically biased.

“We’ve built Facebook to be a platform for all ideas,” Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page after a meeting at the company’s California headquarters to discuss allegations in a news article that Facebook was suppressing conservative voices in its “trending” news stories.

“Our community’s success depends on everyone feeling comfortable sharing anything they want. It doesn’t make sense for our mission or our business to suppress political content or prevent anyone from seeing what matters most to them.”

Zuckerberg called the meeting after technology news outlet Gizmodo last week reported allegations that Facebook was deliberately omitting articles with conservative viewpoints from a sidebar that lists popular stories.

Facebook has denied the allegations, reportedly made by a former employee, while promising to investigate.

“The reality is, conservatives and Republicans have always been an important part of Facebook,” Zuckerberg wrote after Wednesday’s meeting.

“Donald Trump has more fans on Facebook than any other presidential candidate. And Fox News drives more interactions on its Facebook page than any other news outlet in the world. It’s not even close.”

He added that he recognizes that “many conservatives don’t trust that our platform surfaces content without a political bias” and noted that “I wanted to hear their concerns personally and have an open conversation about how we can build trust. I want to do everything I can to make sure our teams uphold the integrity of our products.”

The meeting was scheduled to include political commentator Glenn Beck and talk show host Dana Perino.

Others invited included Zac Moffatt, a political consultant who worked for former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney; Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute; and Barry Bennett, an advisor to presumptive Republican presidential candidate Trump.

CNN conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, another attendee, tweeted after the gathering, “Very productive meeting at @Facebook with Mark and team. Strong commitments to address issues, as well as to work together on common goals.”

Zuckerberg’s post elicited more than 17,000 “likes” shortly after the message appeared but some questioned the allegations.

“Frankly, I do not know where they got this perception” of bias, wrote Loni Reeder.

“I have more Republican/Trump nauseating propaganda floating across my page (unwanted propaganda, I might add!) than I do of nominees Clinton and Sanders. It’s MY perception that they simply wanted to find a way to further inflate their pathetic agenda and to get some additional undeserved press.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Wednesday

WATCH: Google unveils ‘superpower’ camera designed to snap museum art


Good news for museum curators out there. A cutting-edge camera designed by Google Cultural Institute has innovated a camera with superpowers to snap century-old masterpieces in lucid detail, unlike a smartphone.

Art Camera, the institute’s infant camera prototype, is invented for museum curators to digitalize their paintings, artifacts, and documents in the collection. It can capture gigapixel images and reveal minuscule details not visible to the naked eye, according to tech news sites The Verge and Gizmag. Also, the time for snapping photos will be efficiently scaled down from several hours to only 30 minutes.

The camera also allows any user to play around and zoom the gigapixel images in its optimized and sharpest form.

Likewise, laser and sonar technologies guarantee that the Art Camera clearly targets on each painting’s brushstroke, scratch, and hidden signature.

However, the Art Camera can only be used for flat objects, such as paintings and documents. The prototype is unable to capture 3D objects or anything particularly large, and Google is developing a separate gadget for artifacts and 3D objects.

Thanks to the Art Camera, Google tripled its production of striking and ultra-high resolution images of artworks by acclaimed painters such as Signac, Van Gogh, and Monet. To encourage art institutions to digitize their collections, the company will lend twenty Art Camera portable units to various art institutions for free. Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: technology.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Transformers franchise reveal title for 5th film on social media


The never ending metal-clad war between the Optimus Prime-led Autobots against Megatron’s Decepticons is reportedly returning to cinemas soon, with a fancy new title to boot.

Dubbed as ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’, the film, which has been previously known simply as ‘Transformers 5’,  was unveiled on Instagram on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

The short clip featured a close-up image of Prime’s alien-robotic face, with the sounds of heavy cybernetic breathing resonating in the background.

The image then fades into a title treatment, showing what seems lot be like an Excalibur-type sword, followed by the revelation that production will start in June.

Although the new title has been made public, plot details have yet to be released for the film which will once again be headlined by Mark Wahlberg and be directed by Michael Bay.

The pair spearheaded the the success of the 2014 film, Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Transformers: The Last Knight will reportedly hit theaters on June 23, 2017. Khristian Ibarrola

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Apple stock surges after Warren Buffett’s hefty investment


Warren Buffet has been wary of making tech-related investments in the past because he reportedly doesn’t understand it, but apparently, the octogenarian investment guru has had a change of heart.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BH), the conglomerate run by Buffett, disclosed in a regulatory filing on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) that it purchased more than 9.8 million shares in Apple during the first quarter.

The move marks BH’s first investment with Apple, which has been steadily adding to its stake in IBM (International Business Machines) in recent years, as per reports from stock market website, MarketWatch.

Shortly after the purchase, the California tech giant’s stock experienced a 2 percent surge during premarket trades.

BH acquired its position at an average price of about $109 a share, the report said, while the value of the original investment,  $1.1 billion, has already dropped significantly due to the slow demand for iPhones in recent months.

The company also disclosed that it had sold over 99 percent of its holdings in Procter & Gamble, retaining just 315K shares in the multinational product manufacturer, to make room for the Apple investment.

BH also reportedly thinned its holdings of multi-national retail corporation, Walmart by 1.7%

Apple’s stock price, meanwhile, has since fallen to just above $90, meaning that Berkshire’s stake in Apple is now worth about $888 million.

BH is also reportedly eyeing  a takeover bid for the core assets of another struggling Internet company, Yahoo. Khristian Ibarrola

source: business.inquirer.net

Monday

Auto Insurance Quote for Teens


Children today want to be more independent and have more freedom. But as parents who find it difficult to let them go. Everyone wants the best for their children, as parents, we want to make sure that they are in good hands. When requesting several self insurance quote , we can better understand the coverage they need at a price we can afford. Make a list of the following important factors before signing the line where the insurance policy.

1. Driving history. Always explain to them how important a good driving history is. Your rate will always reflect this.

2. Set an example first, make sure that you follow all laws and teach them to do the same.

3. Saving is also the security is not logical to have your teen drive a Honda or a Volvo than a fast car and furious sports? Or a heavy SUV? Or a Mercedes-Benz or Porsche. The safest and cheapest car your teen or less power you have will equate to a lower premium.

4. A vehicle that has a history of accident damage will only increase your premium rates. Buying a vehicle has a clean title, make sure it is not a salvage title. How do you know? It’s easy, just ask for a Carfax.

5. Make sure the car your teen drives has all the safety features like air bags and anti-lock breaks. This will not only protect your child, it will also reduce your insurance rates.

6. Make sure your child does his homework. Teenagers who excel in school can sometimes get special discounts with certain insurance companies.

7. Increase your cover, you never know how many cars the teenager will bump into.

8. Lecture their children. This is not pleasant for your children, but they need to remember safe driving measures as always the seat belt, no texting while driving, limit the passengers in the car, etc. The less the cheapest accidents the self insurance .

9. Just like at home, there should be ground rules that the teen should follow while driving. Otherwise, if they do not follow them to reach the earth. Driving a vehicle is a level of maturity and it is meant to be taken seriously.

10. Get the most secure self quote as you can. The more the better, often insurance companies will increase their premiums if they see that you have been with them for a number of years.

As a parent, you are responsible for educating your teen about the responsibilities of driving a vehicle on the road. They are also responsible for their passengers and other drivers on the road. Make sure they realize the impact of being caught driving under the influence (DUI) for themselves and the lives of others as well. Just have a good insurance self is not enough to get them off the hook. We want to protect them not only today but tomorrow as well, following the above tips, we can ensure that they receive the best insurance policy for the lowest price possible.

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Sunday

Getting Instant Auto Insurance Quotes Has Never Been Easier


Remember the bad old days? When at any time you wanted to know anything about anything you lucky enough to track it in a week? Or two? Many of us seem to think that we are still living at the time. The truth is that with just a few keystrokes you can get an instant self insurance quote online.

How important is it? It can make a huge difference in how you make choices and why. Before many people have made choices based on large PR, an ad seen on TV, a recommendation from a friend, or spot sales talk of a qualified insurance salesman. Now you can ignore all this.

None of us are immune to PR, advertising, sales routines, or a good word of mouth from friends. But these things do not provide the facts, and not all of them. They rarely offer a fair comparison how a moment self insurance quote a competitor would be, too. No matter how many times a seller tells you that your company offers the best price in business as he prove it, and do it rig the data?

Using online quote [19459006serviços] you can get instant car insurance quote that allow you to compare prices and policies of a wide range of insurance companies. You are no longer tied to a razzle-dazzle presentation and a written sales brochure to avoid all the difficult questions or initial comparisons. You put in your information, and within seconds you have a number … a real number that you can use to start making decisions based on facts, not fantasy and fiction.

A moment self insurance quote is more than a convenience. It is a powerful tool. In a single night, you can put together a complete profile of a range of options offer you. By the time you have done your homework you are in a position to make the best decision open to you.

The bad old days were not so long ago. It is not surprising that so many of us still get our quote long way, slow, difficult and inefficient. But the value of the use of modern technology and modern information retrieval is too big to miss. There are many fine online quote services. With a click of a button, you can make yourself the biggest favor ever.

Get your instant self insurance quote today and be ready to make a choice until tomorrow. Is not it great to know the power and truth are on your hands?

source: autoinsurancequotes2.info

Saturday

Jewish bus blaze evokes tension of 1991 Brooklyn riots


NEW YORK—Twenty-five years after violent race riots in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, a new incident — the torching a school bus outside a Jewish school — has raised questions about whether tensions are starting to fray again.

Police have arrested five black boys in this week’s blaze.

Tensions between blacks and Jews in the neighborhood were thought to have largely eased since 1991, when the neighborhood’s black residents exploded into days of rioting after a 7-year-old boy was accidentally struck and killed by a car in the motorcade of the leader of the Lubavitcher sect.

A rabbinical student was stabbed and died. TVJ

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Barcelona, Madrid play last games with title in the balance


BARCELONA, Spain — It all comes down to the last match.

With the title still up for grabs, Barcelona and Real Madrid have one game to play on Saturday with only one point separating them.

Barcelona can retain its title, making it eight in 12 years and 24 in club history, with a victory at Granada. At the same time, Madrid visits Deportivo La Coruna hoping to culminate a spectacular comeback and get a huge boost of confidence for its Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on May 28.

“This match is custom made for Barcelona’s players. This type of game is what inspires teams,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said Friday. “There are games when you have to motivate players, but there is more than enough motivation for this game. It is more about controlling the emotions.”

Barcelona holds a one-point advantage and the tiebreaker over Madrid, so the team coached by Zinedine Zidane needs to beat Deportivo and hope Barcelona drops points to add to its record 32 titles.

Zidane has asked his players to concentrate on their match, and said he would not follow the score from Barcelona’s game from the dugout while his team plays.

“I’m not going to find out what has happened (with Barcelona’s match) until the end,” Zidane said. “We don’t depend on ourselves, but we have to think only about our match and how we can win and get the three points. Then we will see.

“We have faith. We have won 11 games (in a row) and we are within one point with one match to go. We have to believe until the very last second.”

Here are some more things to know about Saturday’s decisive matches:

___

LUIS’S LEGACY

Last season, Luis Enrique matched Pep Guardiola’s treble of Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles.

And his team was on course to repeat that feat until it fell to Atletico in the Champions League quarterfinals. That coincided with a three-game losing run in the Spanish league which let Madrid surge back into contention.

Now, Barcelona’s season, regardless of the outcome of the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla on May 22, rests on whether it can handle the pressure at Granada.

“I think we recovered the level of play that we are accustomed to several weeks ago,” Luis Enrique said. “Now, it is just like every week. We have to play better than Granada, create more chances and limit theirs to get as close as we can to taking the three points.”

___

THE ZIDANE EFFECT

Zidane made his debut as a top coach against Deportivo in January, when his new team thrilled the Santiago Bernabeu with a decisive 5-0 win that its fans hoped was a sign of bigger things to come.

Since replacing the fired Rafa Benitez, Zidane has guided the team to the Champions League final and a strong record of 16 wins, two draws and one loss in the Spanish league.

“I am happy, not only my work, but that of all my players,” Zidane said. “But I haven’t won anything yet. We will see after the season is over. We have two very important finals to play.”

___

TOP GUNS

Barcelona and Madrid claim six of the top seven goal scorers in the competition, and the title could depend on which trio has its day.

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez leads the league with 37 goals. The Uruguay striker is supported by Lionel Messi, who has scored 26 times, and Neymar with 24.

Suarez has scored 11 of those goals in the last four matches, helping Barcelona end a four-game winless slide that almost cost it the league lead with a run of four straight wins by the combined score of 21-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo tops Madrid’s scorers with 33 goals in the league. Karim Benzema has added 24, with Gareth Bale contributing 19, including a few critical winners in recent weeks.

Bale returned to practice after missing last weekend’s match with a leg injury. Zidane said that Ronaldo and Benzema were completely recovered from their nagging leg injuries as well.

___

THE OPPONENTS

Both Granada and Deportivo are safe from the relegation fight and without options of earning a berth in European competition next season.

Madrid has won on its last four visits to Deportivo, but Riazor Stadium is traditionally a tough ground for Madrid, where it has won 13 times in 49 visits.

Barcelona has dropped points on nine of 21 trips to Granada’s Los Carmenes Stadium.

___

THE PRECEDENTS

If history matters, it’s on Barcelona’s side.

This will be the eighth time the two powerhouses have both arrived to the final round with options to win the title. Barcelona came out on top in six of the previous seven occasions.

The Catalan club edged Madrid in the inaugural 1929 league and did so again in 1960.

It got much worse for Madrid during back-to-back debacles in 1992 and 1993, when it lost an advantage to Barcelona in the final round with losses at Tenerife.

Madrid finally outdid Barcelona in 2007, while a Barcelona side coached Guardiola protected its lead to win in 2010.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Friday

How To Buy Stock Online – Your Ultimate Guide


If you would like to buy stock online, then you’re making a smart move – because more and more traders are using the Internet to place their trades conveniently and easily by using an online brokerage service. In this guide, we are going to share some further information on the subject of purchasing stock online, so by the time you have finished reading, you will know which steps to take next.

To begin with, the most efficient way to buy stock online is to simply use an online broker, but it’s important to remember that not all of these services are created equally. In general, they come with various features and functions that you need to understand before you settle on a specific platform.

In particular, you need to pay close attention to the commission that’s involved when using an online brokerage to trade stock for you. In most cases, this commission will be a percentage of the stock purchase price, but there will be a variety of different deals available if you investigate further.

Next, it’s well worth finding a stockbroker who has expert advice and knowledge to share – because this goes a long way towards making sure you purchase stock that will give you a respectable return on your investment rather than become a liability. Several of the top online stockbroker services come with a range of educational and training materials, and this information is very useful – especially if you are a beginner.

Something else you need to consider when it comes to purchasing stock online is whether you want to use a full-service solution. The key benefit of using full-service brokers is that you will not need to follow the markets yourself, and you can trust the experience and knowledge of your broker to make savvy trading decisions for you.

Of course, this involves a great deal of trust, and there will usually be no guarantees of a return on your investment –so you will need to do plenty of research into the overall track record of any full-service broker before you part with your cash.

However, many people greatly appreciate the convenience offered by a full-service solution, and this is often an effective way to invest part of a retirement fund or a cash windfall that you want to make the most out of. By placing these funds into the hands of a skilled broker, you will be able to secure your financial investment for the long term, and possibly earn an excellent profit in the process.

Yet another option you may be interested in is using a discount broker. While these services do not require such a hands-on experience, they can certainly save you quite a bit of money – so many people refer them for this reason alone.

If you already have expert knowledge in the stock market and know exactly which stocks you want to buy and sell, then using a discount broker who charges a minor fee will usually be a good decision. In most cases, these services are best for people who already have a great deal of experience, so they do not need the extra handholding that comes with using a full-service broker.

Finally, it’s wise to devise a system for buying and selling your stocks, rather than doing it in a careless and haphazard manner. Many people use a stock pick service which gives them expert picking advice, and this type of assistance can be a huge boon to your stock trading efforts.

Conclusion

Overall, learning how to buy stock online is a relatively straightforward process – but the hard part comes with knowing which stocks to buy and when to sell them. However, the first step is to find a quality broker, and the information in this guide should guide you towards a savvy decision.

source: stocktrading4beginners.info

Jimmy Kimmel launches ‘campaign’ for US veep


NEW YORK — Late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel says he’s looking for a new job — vice president of the United States.

The ABC jokester launched his “campaign” on his show Thursday with a speech on Hollywood Boulevard. Kimmel says “it’s time to take our country back! From whom? I don’t know, but I want it back.”

He’s not the first comic to lampoon politics in such a manner: Pat Paulsen got laughs for his bid for president in 1968, and Stephen Colbert launched a short-lived campaign before the 2008 election.

Kimmel says he’d never stop fighting for his fellow Americans, unless “Game of Thrones” is on, then he’d stop for as long as it takes for him to figure out what’s going on in the show.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Google redeems spot as world’s most valuable company


Again, tech giant Google dethroned Apple as the ‘World’s Most Valuable Company’ by market capitalization.

Apple, Google’s competitor in the tech industry, experienced their shares sink below $90 (4,192 PHP) on Thursday, the first time since June 2014. As a result, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, overtook Apple on the same day.

Alphabet’s market valuation peaked at $498 billion (23.1 trillion PHP) , compared to Apple’s $494 billion (23 trillion PHP), CNN Money and Time noted.

Alphabet previously overtook Google last February.

For the past six months, Apple’s shares dropped nearly 20 percent due to the decline of iPhone-chip shipments, one of the company’s trademark products since 2007.

Other tech titans, Intel and Microsoft, also declared disappointing slump in sales this quarter. Reversely, social media giant Facebook and online shopping site Amazon bolstered higher earnings this quarter. Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: technology.inquirer.net

Thursday

Review: Clooney gets a conscience in ‘Money Monster’


George Clooney plays a Jim Cramer-like television personality who’s forced to grow a conscience when a disgruntled viewer holds him hostage on live TV in “Money Monster,” a serviceable, if slight, real time thriller from director Jodie Foster.

Clooney’s character Lee Gates is one of those cable news stars who probably hasn’t spoken to a non-celebrity in decades. His flashy show opens with him in dancing in costume with two gyrating ladies at his side like he’s in his own rap video, and the vulgarity just escalates from there with ridiculous graphics and sound effects that even a shock jock radio host would likely find tasteless.

We see him being dismissive of the pleas from his put-upon producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) to stick to the script, or at least give her a heads up as to where he’s planning to go, but Lee Gates is one of those roguish improvisational types who is somehow charismatic enough to get away with it. This is not really a likable guy, and it’s not even clear how smart a financial mind he is, but Clooney has that perfect combination of non-threatening smarm and swagger to make Lee not completely reprehensible.

It does, however, make it a little hard to care when Jack O’Connell’s character Kyle comes skulking in through the back of the set with a gun and a vest full of explosives made especially for Lee. Kyle, we find out, trusted Lee’s advice on an investment that went awry when a stable company’s stock plummeted and he lost everything. The company’s explanation and the narrative in the press is that it was just a computer glitch, but Kyle’s not buying it and wants some answers.

It’s an odd pairing, this somewhat daffy television dope against an unhinged blue collar fool with a hunch that $800 million didn’t just disappear because of a glitch. Although it doesn’t make for the most scintillating conversation, as Kyle wails about the system being rigged tension builds and it seems like perhaps “Money Monster” is heading somewhere significant — an all-out indictment of Wall Street corruption, maybe, that movies as different as “Margin Call” and “The Big Short” have done so well.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

Instead, “Money Monster” stays rather small and fictional in its aim. It’s partially interested in the idea of systemic corruption in the finance world, sure, but it seems to be even more critical of the cable news media types who have grown soft, complacent and careless.

Foster, in the director’s chair for the fourth time, proves once again to be an assured and malleable in this role, ready to proficiently fulfill the needs of any genre with a steady, straightforward style. “Money Monster” feels like a solid ’90s studio thriller in some ways — a movie for adults and made by adults with a crop of charismatic A-listers at the center.

Clooney and Roberts, by the way, are very good together but hardly get any time to just be charming in this tightly-woven pic. It also seems like a cruel trick to have those two in a movie and to keep them in separate rooms for a large portion of it, communicating only through a speaker system as Patty attempts to “direct” the hostage situation from the control room. O’Connell, while committed, is playing too much of a working class stereotype to truly make an impact, and a third act turn really doesn’t help.

“Money Monster” might not be a great movie, but it is a comforting movie-movie that’s still fun to watch even if it whiffed on being something more.

“Money Monster,” a Sony Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “language throughout, some sexuality and brief violence.” Running time: 90 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net