The 25-year-old is making his Roland Garros main draw debut and will meet Britain’s Kyle Edmund for a place in the last 32.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Wednesday
French Open: One and done for home hope Tsonga
The 25-year-old is making his Roland Garros main draw debut and will meet Britain’s Kyle Edmund for a place in the last 32.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Tuesday
Powder by Japanese retailer can make your baths smell like pizza or beer
To spice things up, Japanese novelty retail chain Village Vanguard, created bathing powders themed after food favorites like pizza and yakiniku, reports RocketNews24.
Other flavors include coriander, gyoza, edamame soybeans, and even beer. Mixed in the bathtub, they give off the same delicious aroma that one can expect from the foods that inspired their creation.
Of course the bathing powders are not edible, though they can probably make the bathers smell luscious.
All six of the flavors are now available for pre-order at the Village Vanguard website and stocks will be ready by mid-June. Alfred Bayle/JB
source: lifestyle.inquirer.net
Home Equity vs. a Loan: How to Choose the Best Option
For many Canadian homeowners, their home is the biggest
investment they will make in their lifetime. There are several options
for loans for homeowners, and in this article we’ll look at two options:
an equity mortgage versus a mortgage loan.
Home Equity Mortgage
A home equity mortgage is different than a regular mortgage loan in that it acts more as a line of credit. If you take out an equity mortgage, the bank will agree to lend you a certain amount, but with the equity in your home acting as collateral.
An equity loan will usually have lower interest rates than a line of credit, and these rates will usually be variable, fluctuating with the market.
An equity mortgage does not require a monthly payment like a traditional mortgage loan does. Rather, it works like a credit card where you will need to make a minimum monthly payment. Taking out only what you need rather than having to make a set monthly payment can help homeowners save money on interest rates.
Many homeowners prefer the flexibility of an equity mortgage. However, it can be riskier than a traditional mortgage in that if you cannot make your payments, your home is at risk.
Mortgage Loans
A traditional mortgage loan can come as a fixed rate mortgage or variable rate mortgage. First, you will need to be approved by your lender. Once you have been approved, your mortgage is calculated based on your income, any existing debt, and the price of the property. Mortgage rates are based on the mortgage market.
Whether you have a fixed or variable rate mortgage, you will make the same monthly payment for the duration of your mortgage term. With a variable rate mortgage, the interest rate fluctuates based on the rates set by the bank. A variable rate mortgage, though riskier than a fixed rate, can save homeowners money if interest rates fall, and offer greater flexibility.
The biggest factor in deciding which loan is right for you is your financial planning. A mortgage loan is best for people who want to pay off their mortgage in a specific amount of time and make the same payment each month. A home equity mortgage allows greater flexibility and can be more adaptable, especially if you have unexpected expenses.
There are many complex factors when it comes to choosing the right loan. Consult one of our professional, experienced mortgage agents today to discuss which option is right for you!
source: northwoodmortgage.com
Home Equity Mortgage
A home equity mortgage is different than a regular mortgage loan in that it acts more as a line of credit. If you take out an equity mortgage, the bank will agree to lend you a certain amount, but with the equity in your home acting as collateral.
An equity loan will usually have lower interest rates than a line of credit, and these rates will usually be variable, fluctuating with the market.
An equity mortgage does not require a monthly payment like a traditional mortgage loan does. Rather, it works like a credit card where you will need to make a minimum monthly payment. Taking out only what you need rather than having to make a set monthly payment can help homeowners save money on interest rates.
Many homeowners prefer the flexibility of an equity mortgage. However, it can be riskier than a traditional mortgage in that if you cannot make your payments, your home is at risk.
Mortgage Loans
A traditional mortgage loan can come as a fixed rate mortgage or variable rate mortgage. First, you will need to be approved by your lender. Once you have been approved, your mortgage is calculated based on your income, any existing debt, and the price of the property. Mortgage rates are based on the mortgage market.
Whether you have a fixed or variable rate mortgage, you will make the same monthly payment for the duration of your mortgage term. With a variable rate mortgage, the interest rate fluctuates based on the rates set by the bank. A variable rate mortgage, though riskier than a fixed rate, can save homeowners money if interest rates fall, and offer greater flexibility.
The biggest factor in deciding which loan is right for you is your financial planning. A mortgage loan is best for people who want to pay off their mortgage in a specific amount of time and make the same payment each month. A home equity mortgage allows greater flexibility and can be more adaptable, especially if you have unexpected expenses.
There are many complex factors when it comes to choosing the right loan. Consult one of our professional, experienced mortgage agents today to discuss which option is right for you!
source: northwoodmortgage.com
Saturday
Macron, Trudeau ‘bromance’ fires up internet
The Internet was abuzz Friday with pictures of French President Emmanuel Macron and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau schmoozing at the G7 summit in Sicily, strolling through flowered walkways and chatting against the backdrop of a sparkling blue Mediterranean sea.
“Apparently Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron flew to Sicily for their wedding photoshoot,” netizen @sherlockify joked on Twitter.
The reaction to the telegenic pair’s encounter in the picturesque, hillside town of Taormina, immortalized by Macron himself who tweeted a video of their meeting, provided some light relief from a summit otherwise devoted to thorny issues such as climate change and the threat of extremism.
“The Franco-Canadian friendship has a new face,” Macron tweeted after sitting down for talks with Trudeau and taking the now famous stroll.
“@JustinTrudeau, it’s up to us to take on the challenges of our generation!”
“Sitting down with @EmmanuelMacron for the first time, talking jobs, security & climate -– looking forward to more conversations, my friend,” Trudeau responded on Twitter, posting pictures of both smiling, shaking hands, and looking out over the Mediterranean, their dapper suit jackets billowing in the breeze.
Macron, 39, has only been in power for 12 days but enjoys similar kudos, particularly abroad where he has been compared to Trudeau.
“This image of Trudeau and Macron in Sicily is right out of a liberal fantasy dream sequence,” tweeted Dhruva Jaishankar, an expert on foreign policy at the India section of the Brookings Institution think tank.
Others were even more explicit.
“Le swoon, le sigh,” tweeted netizen MissMary, above a photo of both leaders in apparent earnest chat.
“Is there a budding bromance between Macron and Trudeau? Two hunks!” added @MaureenRamsden.
source: technology.inquirer.net
A little chocolate each week may help prevent a heart flutter, study says
Also known as a heart flutter, atrial fibrillation affects more than 33 million people worldwide, and one in four adults are likely to develop the condition at some point in their life. However, it’s not clear what causes it or how to prevent it, and there is no known cure.
As regular chocolate consumption, especially of dark chocolate, has been shown to be beneficial for other heart conditions, the team behind the new research wanted to see if chocolate could also help reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation.
The researchers looked at data from 55,502 (26,400 male and 29,100 female) participants, aged between 50 and 64, who were taking part in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study.
Participants reported on their usual weekly chocolate consumption, with one serving classified as 1 ounce (30 g).
Although they were not asked to specify what type of chocolate they consumed, most chocolate eaten in Denmark is milk chocolate, which has a minimum 30 percent cocoa solids.
The team also gathered information on participants’ diet and lifestyle at the beginning of the study, including information on heart disease risk factors such as smoking. Participants were then monitored for an average of 13.5 years.
The results showed that the diagnosis rate of atrial fibrillation rate was 10 percent lower for those who are 1-3 servings of chocolate a month than it was for those who ate less than 1 serving a month.
Those who ate one serving of chocolate a week benefited from a 17 percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation, and those who increased this to 2-6 weekly servings benefited from a 20 percent lower risk.
Those who ate one or more servings daily showed a 14 percent lower risk.
When they looked at any sex differences between the results, the findings showed that the association seemed to be strongest for women when they ate 1 weekly serving of chocolate (21 percent lower risk), and strongest for men when they consumed between 2 and 6 weekly servings (23 percent lower risk).
As an observational study, no firm conclusions can be made, and certain factors could affect the health benefits of the chocolate, for example adding milk.
However the team still concluded, “Regardless of the limitations of the Danish chocolate study, the findings are interesting and warrant further consideration, especially given the importance of identifying effective prevention strategies for [atrial fibrillation],” which have so far proved elusive.
The findings can be found published online in the journal Heart. KI
source: lifestyle.inquirer.net
Clinton daughter calls Duterte ‘murderous thug,’ slams rape joke
Chelsea Clinton, a former broadcaster and daughter of Hillary and Bill Clinton, called President Rodrigo Duterte a “murderous thug without regard for human rights” after criticizing the Filipino Chief Executive for joking about soldiers committing rapes in Mindanao while the region is under martial law.
“Duterte is a murderous thug with no regard for human rights. It’s important to keep pointing that out (and) that rape is never a joke,” Chelsea said, reacting to a news report on Duterte’s statement, over her Twitter account on Saturday (Manila time).
Chelsea is the only child of former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the democratic presidential candidate who lost to businessman-turned-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In an earlier tweet, Chelsea retweeted the news report about Duterte’s joke and captioned it with: “Not funny. Ever.”
Speaking before soldiers in Iligan City on Friday, Duterte assured the troops that he will be responsible for the consequences and ramifications of martial law, even if it includes rape by bad military forces.
“Trabaho lang kayo. Ako na bahala. Ako na magpakulong sa inyo. Kapag naka-rape ka ng tatlo, aminin ko na akin ‘yun. ‘Pag nag-asawa ka ng pang-apat, bugbugin ka I will go to jail for you. (Just work. I will support you. I will go to jail for you. If you happen to have raped three women, I will own up to it. If you marry four, son of a bitch, you will get beaten)” Duterte said.
The former Davao mayor declared martial rule in the whole of Mindanao after an intense firefight between government forces and members of the terror Maute group in Marawi City.
What triggered the clash was the government forces’ attempt to capture Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was said to be the leader of Islamic State in the Philippines. IDL
source: globalnation.inquirer.net
Friday
Bitcoin experiences surge in value of cryptocurrency
Bitcoin is a portmanteau compounding “bit” (the basic unit of information in computing, itself a portmanteau of “binary digit”) and “coin.” It is a virtual cryptocurrency created in 2009 and released as open-source software. For a long time, the currency was only really used by serious computer geeks, but it has progressively gained ground among the wider public. In fact, a growing number of products and services can now be paid for using the currency. The coinmap.org website shows nearby places that accept the bitcoin.
For everyday web users, the bitcoin is an alternative means of exchanging money online. Bitcoin transactions are secure and encrypted to such an extent that—in theory—no-one can use someone else’s account or steal their identity. Transactions are carried out via a peer-to-peer network (P2P), within which each user is a link in the chain. Transactions take place between users directly, without an intermediary.
The bitcoin has long had a controversial reputation, often associated with the so-called “dark web” and its various underground markets (drugs, weapons, etc.). More recently, the famous WannaCry ransomware brought the currency back into the spotlight, as the hackers requested payment in bitcoins. While the bitcoin may facilitate money laundering, it has above all gained a reputation as a secure alternative payment method to credit card transactions.
Although the bitcoin is yet to become a fully mainstream payment method, the currency’s pioneers and early adopters have seen the value of their investments soar. KI
source: technology.inquirer.net
Thursday
High blood platelet count a ‘strong predictor’ of cancer, study finds
Led by the University of Exeter Medical School, the large-scale study is the first to thoroughly investigate the association between thrombocytosis and cancer—by looking at 40,000 patient records in the UK.
The team found that 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women over the age of 40 with thrombocytosis went on to be diagnosed with cancer within a year.
This number rose to 18 percent of men and 10 percent of women being diagnosed with cancer if a second raised platelet count was found within six months.
The most commonly diagnosed cancers after a thrombocytosis diagnosis were lung and colorectal cancer, and one third of these patients had no other symptoms that would indicate to their General Practitioners (GP) that they had cancer—except for thrombocytosis.
The team are now urging GPs to consider that those with unexpected thrombocytosis may go on to also be diagnosed with cancer, in order to try to catch the disease early on.
“We know that early diagnosis is absolutely key in whether people survive cancer. Our research suggests that substantial numbers of people could have their cancer diagnosed up to three months earlier if thrombocytosis prompted investigation for cancer. This time could make a vital difference in achieving earlier diagnosis,” commented lead author Dr Sarah Bailey, of the University of Exeter Medical School.
University of Exeter Medical School Professor Willie Hamilton also added that: “The UK lags well behind other developed countries on early cancer diagnosis. In 2014, 163,000 people died of cancer in this country.”
He added: “Our findings on thrombocytosis show a strong association with cancer, particularly in men — far stronger than that of a breast lump for breast cancer in women. It is now crucial that we roll out cancer investigation of thrombocytosis. It could save hundreds of lives each year.”
The paper can be found online published in the British Journal of General Practice. KI
source: lifestyle.inquirer.net
Taiwan’s gay marriage ruling raises hopes across Asia
Challenges to an Asia-wide embrace of same-sex unions were highlighted by this week’s caning of two Indonesian men as punishment for gay sex and a South Korean military court’s jailing of a soldier for having intercourse with another man.
In mainland China, two men lost a court battle to get married last year.
But activists are hopeful that the push for marriage rights will be reinvigorated by Taiwan’s constitutional court decision, which paves the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to allow same-sex couples to tie the knot.
The court ruled Wednesday that laws preventing same-sex unions violated the constitution’s guarantees of freedom of marriage and gave the government two years to implement the decision.
“We’re very happy,” said Vuong Kha Phong, a rights assistant at iSEE advocacy group in Vietnam. “This is a historic victory for the LGBT groups in Asia.”
The first domino?
Gay marriage is currently legal in only around 20 countries around the world, 13 of which are in Europe. New Zealand also allows same-sex couples to legally marry.
Taiwan is seen as one of the most progressive societies in Asia when it comes to gay rights.
“While I think it is still a long way to the equality dominos falling all over Asia, I think a few East Asian countries, such as Japan and Vietnam, may be more ready to consider equality legislation,” Ray Chan, Hong Kong’s first openly gay lawmaker, told Agence France-Presse.
“I can foresee many couples in Hong Kong will try to get married in Taiwan. When they return home, they will press the government and even the private sector for recognizing them because the current laws, policies, and rules are blatantly discriminatory.”
In Vietnam, which is seen as socially progressive on LGBT issues and where a vibrant gay scene flourishes online and in some big cities, hopes for marriage reform have stalled.
But iSEE’s Phong said the Taiwan ruling “will give us momentum to mobilize the community to take action — to do something so that gay marriage can be considered when lawmakers discuss changing the marriage law in 2020.”
Gay activists in China expressed optimism that their country’s cultural connections with Taiwan could help their efforts to change the law on same-sex nuptials.
Homosexuality was officially decriminalized in 1997 but only taken off the list of psychiatric disorders four years later.
“Taiwan and mainland China have the same roots and culture so it suggests that Chinese society could also accept the idea of gay marriage,” said Li Yinhe, a renowned Chinese sexologist who has pressed Beijing policymakers on the issue.
There have been small signs of progress. While a Chinese court last year ruled against two men seeking to marry, the fact the case even made it into the judicial system was seen by many as an achievement.
“I am very happy and very excited that homosexual marriage is legalized in Taiwan. It’s a pity that the mainland has not taken this step,” said Sun Wenlin, one of the men in the case.
“But I’m optimistic about the legalization of same-sex marriage in China.”
Elisabeth Lund Engebretsen, a senior lecturer at the University of Oslo’s Centre for Gender Research, said Taiwan’s court ruling “creates a momentum for putting this on the table as a political issue” in Asia.
Gay sex illegal
South Korea allows homosexual acts between civilians but not military personnel and a high-profile legal challenge to the country’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2015 by movie director Kim Jho Gwang-Soo and his long-time partner Kim Seung-Hwan failed.
“People say that it’s too early for our society to handle but I think if there is an open debate about the troubles of sexual minorities then I hope South Korean society can also walk a similar path,” said Lee Na-Ra from Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea.
Before they can consider marriage, activists must win other battles in places such as India, Singapore and Indonesia’s Aceh province, where gay sex is still outlawed.
“Legally we are not even pressing for gay marriage now. We are being denied our fundamental right,” said Manvendra Singh Gohil, one of India’s most vocal gay rights activists. “We have to go step by step.”/rga
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
Wednesday
Olympic 100-meter swim champion to have heart surgery
Chalmers has supraventricular tachycardia, or recurrent rapid heartbeat, that is normally not life-threatening but can impact on his quality of life.
“I have increasingly begun to suffer from an abnormally fast heart rhythm during training and competitions, which now requires surgery,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “I have had surgery in the past and, unfortunately, it did not work.”
The 18-year-old Chalmers said it was a difficult decision to miss the world championships in Budapest, but he did so with a longer-term view, setting his sights on the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
In April, he finished second to Cameron McEvoy at the Australian championships.
Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren said athletes’ health and well-being were the priority.
“We are at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle and, for some of our athletes, we need to look at longevity to allow them to stay at the highest level for longer,” he said. “Kyle has our full support and we know he will use this time away from competition positively and to his advantage to return for a home Commonwealth Games in 2018 and beyond.”
Chalmers will have the heart operation within several weeks.
“There is never a good time for this type of procedure, but given I’ve suffered from these symptoms during two of the past three major meets and, following my doctor’s advice, I have made the tough decision to withdraw,” he said.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Tuesday
IS claims Manchester concert bombing
The group said in a statement published on its social media channels that “one of the caliphate’s soldiers placed bombs among the crowds”, and it threatened more attacks.
The group’s self-styled news agency Amaq separately said that “an Islamic State fighter” had carried out the attack.
In an earlier statement, Amaq said it was carried out by “a security squad”.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
Warriors set 12-0 record for 3rd straight trip to NBA Finals
Golden State led by as many as 22 points in cruising to its third straight NBA Finals. The Warriors await a possible third straight championship matchup with Cleveland, which leads Boston 2-1 in the East finals.
“It’s great to be one of the last two teams standing, we’ll see how it goes,” said Kevin Durant, who had 29 points and 12 rebounds.
San Antonio’s only lead came on the opening possession when Manu Ginobili tossed in a left-handed scoop shot. The Spurs started Ginobili in what could be his final game with the team. The 39-year-old had maintained he will not ponder whether to retire or return until after the season.
Unsure if the beloved veteran will return, the crowd serenaded Ginobili with “Manu, Manu” chants as the game came to a close.
“An amazing competitor, even more fun playing against him,” Durant said of Ginobili. “He was phenomenal this series.”
Kyle Anderson scored 20 points to lead the Spurs, who were without Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and David Lee. San Antonio didn’t go down without a fight despite the injuries.
Anderson dove on the court for a loose ball that the Spurs had tipped away defensively, pushing the ball upcourt to Patty Mills who fed Ginobili for a 3-pointer that pulled San Antonio to 108-94 with 7 minutes remaining.
The effort made Spurs coach Gregg Popovich smile and clap at times, but the Warriors’ depth and talent proved too much for short-handed San Antonio.
Golden State shot 56 percent and were 14 for 39 on 3-pointers.
Draymond Green had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Warriors.
Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge closed out a disappointing series with his second eight-point effort against the Warriors.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Monday
LOOK: Serena Williams enjoys off-court schedule with baby bump
The unmatchable Serena Williams is getting her due rest and relaxation after winning the Australian Open—all while she’s expecting.
Now around halfway into her pregnancy, Serena has had a very active social calendar, from making an appearance at the Met Gala, throwing her bridal shower, enjoying Disney World, and working the baby bump on a yacht. She was also a guest at Beyoncé’s VIP-studded baby shower, the Carter Push Party.
Last May 1, she swished in a Donatella Versace gown at the Met Gala:
People magazine shared exclusive photos from Serena’s bridal shower held on May 11 at Miami, where family and friends joined the tennis superstar for yoga and massages:
She had a blast at Disney World:
She radiated effortlessly on a yacht in a black one-piece:
The Greatest of All Time also squeezed into her schedule Beyoncé’s Moroccan-themed push party:
Her fiancé, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has said that “she gives 100 percent of herself to everything she does: as a friend, as a lover, and soon, as a mother.” Niña V. Guno/JB
source: entertainment.inquirer.net
Drake wins record 13 Billboard Music awards
"I want to say, hold tight Adele, because when a new thing drops you'll be back to get the record back," the Canadian recording artist said in accepting one of his awards at the star-studded event held in Las Vegas.
Drake, who also won top artist, top male artist and top rap album for "Views", later posed for photographers surrounded by his microphone-shaped trophies.
The three-hour show -- hosted by hip-hop artist Ludacris and former High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgins -- included performances by Miley Cyrus, the Chainsmokers, Nicki Minaj and Imagine Dragons.
Beyonce and Twenty One Pilots each took five awards, although they were absent from the ceremony. The Chainsmokers earned four, including top collaboration and top hot 100 song for "Closer" with Halsey.
Blake Shelton took home the award for top country artist, and top country song went to Florida Georgia Line.
Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" won top selling song and top radio song.
The Icon Award for achievement in music went to Cher, 71, who gave a heartfelt speech after performing two of her biggest hits -- "Believe" and "If I Could Turn Back Time".
"I want to thank my mom because when I was really young, my mom said 'You're not going to be the smartest. You're not going to be the prettiest. You're not going to be the most talented, but you're going to be special,'" Cher said.
Canadian singer Celine Dion delivered an emotional performance of her award-winning song "My Heart Will Go On" from the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic" to mark 20 years since its release.
Dion, who was Billboard's Icon last year, lost her husband and former manager Rene Angelil to cancer in 2016. —Reuters
Barcelona hoping Ramirez can spoil Madrid’s title march
BARCELONA, Spain — A year ago, Sandro Ramirez wasn’t good enough for Barcelona.
Now, the Catalan club is hoping the cast-off forward can upend Real Madrid’s march to the Spanish league title.
For Barcelona to win a third consecutive league title it needs to beat Eibar at home on Sunday and have Malaga defeat Madrid, which enters the final round needing only one point to claim its first title since 2012. And the in-form Ramirez is Malaga’s biggest threat.
Told last May there was no room for him alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, Ramirez could understandably savor Barcelona’s struggles this season. But the 21-year-old Spaniard said he would love nothing more than to give back something to the club that made him into a professional at its “La Masia” academy.
“I really hope I can score a goal and give Barca the league,” Ramirez told BEIN television. “I really hope that this dream comes true. I owe them everything.”
Ramirez left his home in the Canary Islands to join Barcelona’s academy when he was 14. His road wasn’t easy, however. He had to recover from injuries to both knees before he earned his debut with the first team under Barcelona coach Luis Enrique in 2014.
But not even Pedro Rodriguez’s departure for Chelsea opened up consistent playing time. With six goals in two seasons playing limited minutes, Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez decided not to renew Ramirez’s contract last May.
So, for nothing in return, Barcelona let Ramirez walk away while it paid Valencia 30 million euros (then $33.5 million) for striker Paco Alcacer.
“Last season was the most difficult one for me,” Ramirez said. “But you know that the guys in front of you are the best, so I don’t regret anything.”
Ramirez found a spot on Malaga, signing for three seasons. After a slow start, he is finishing the season in spectacular form. Malaga has won six of its last eight matches, with Ramirez scoring seven of his 14 goals this season in those recent victories.
None was bigger than his opening goal in a 2-0 win over Barcelona on April 8 that robbed it of the chance of capitalizing on Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid just hours before.
Ramirez said the goal against his former team “helped vindicate me.”
“I didn’t celebrate it like a goal scored against the best team in the world, but I must give it my all for Malaga,” he said.
Malaga’s surge has come under coach Michel Gonzalez, a former Madrid player who took over in March with the team in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight.
The players responded and reeled off wins over Sevilla, Valencia and Celta Vigo, in addition to the upset of Barcelona, to settle into 11th place.
“From the very first day (Michel) said that I was fundamental for him and that is what a football player needs to hear,” Ramirez said. “Confidence is critical in football. I am ambitious and I know I can give a lot more. We are playing well. It’s my desire to finish this in the best way possible.”
No doubt Barcelona shares that wish as well.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Sunday
NBA: Durant powers Warriors past slumping Spurs
The Warriors now lead the Spurs 3-0 in the best-of-seven series with game four set for Monday in San Antonio.
No NBA team has ever come back to win a series after losing the first three games.
The host Spurs trailed by nine points at the half and came within 69-65 two minutes into the third quarter before Golden State seized command with another incredible scoring performance.
This was the Spurs’ chance to claw their way back into the series, but by the middle of the fourth quarter they appeared spent.
San Antonio players began settling for shots early in possessions and missed the majority of them as the Warriors compiled an 18-point lead in front of 18,700 mostly supportive spectators.
The Spurs’ hopes were severely damaged earlier Saturday when the team announced that star forward Kawhi Leonard would not play in game three because of his sprained left ankle.
Leonard originally injured it in game five of the second round against Houston and reinjured it in the series opener against the Warriors.
Stephen Curry added 21 points for the Warriors, who are now a perfect 11-0 in the post-season to match the best start in NBA playoff history. They have won 26 of their past 27 games. CBB
source: sports.inquirer.net
Friday
Katy Perry tricks museum-goers with her ‘disembodied’ head
With the help of Vanity Fair, the pop star tricked random visitors at New York’s The Whitney Museum of American Art by transforming her cover art for “Bon Appetit” into a real museum art piece. While Vanity Fair’s Derek Blasberg was luring visitors to check Santa Barbara-based artist Katheryn Hudson’s (Perry’s real name) exhibit, Perry surfaced her head in the middle of a fruit platter to deceive them.
The unsuspecting visitors were ushered into a dark room where Blasberg lifted a metal dome covering Perry’s head. At one point, Perry joked that she was Miley Cyrus to a fan asking if she was actually Katy Perry.
Perry returns from years of career hiatus with her singles “Chained to the Rhythm” and “Bon Appetit.” Soon, she will sit on the judges’ panel of ABC’s reboot of “American Idol” and drop her album entitled “Witness” this coming June. Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra
source: entertainment.inquirer.net
Lauded rocker Chris Cornell killed himself by hanging
The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday it completed the preliminary autopsy on Cornell, but that “a full autopsy report has not yet been completed.” A police spokesman told two Detroit newspapers that the singer was found with a band around his neck.
Cornell’s death stunned his family and his die-hard fans, who Cornell just performed for hours earlier at a show in Detroit. Soundgarden’s current tour kicked off in late April and was planned to run through May 27. He was found dead at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel by a family friend who went to his room after Cornell’s wife asked him to check on the singer, police said.
Cornell was a leader of the grunge movement with Seattle-based Soundgarden — with whom he gained critical and commercial acclaim — but also found success outside the band with other projects, including Audioslave, Temple of the Dog as well as solo albums. He was widely respected in the music industry: He reached success in every band lineup he was part of it, his voice was memorable and powerful, and he was a skilled songwriter, even collaborating on a number of film soundtracks, including the James Bond theme song for 2006’s “Casino Royale” and “The Keeper” from the film “Machine Gun Preacher,” which earned Cornell a Golden Globe nomination.
“To create the intimacy of an acoustic performance there needed to be real stories. They need to be kind of real and they need to have a beginning, middle and an end,” Cornell said of songwriting in a 2015 interview with The Associated Press. “That’s always a challenge in three in a half or four minutes — to be able to do that, to be able to do it directly.”
Cornell, who grew up in Seattle, said he started using drugs at age 13 and was kicked out of school at 15.
“I went from being a daily drug user at 13 to having bad drug experiences and quitting drugs by the time I was 14 and then not having any friends until the time I was 16,” he told Rolling Stone in 1994. “There was about two years where I was more or less agoraphobic and didn’t deal with anybody, didn’t talk to anybody, didn’t have any friends at all. All the friends that I had were still (messed) up with drugs and were people that I didn’t really have anything in common with.”
But at 16 he grew serious about music, learning to play the drums while also working as a busboy and dishwasher.
“That was the toughest time in my life,” he told Rolling Stone.
He eventually became a Grammy winner with Soundgarden, formed in 1984 and coming out of the rapidly growing Seattle music scene, which included Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains.
“There’s something about Seattle, it’s always been a hard rock town, too. I didn’t realize growing up as kid that Seattle had much more of a hard rock focus and a guitar rock focus than other cities did,” Cornell told the AP in 2011. “It was like a Detroit, only northwest kind of. There’s no reason that I would think I know how to define it, but it’s always been there.”
The band, which had released hit songs and found success, marked a mainstream breakthrough with “Superunknown,” its 1994 album that won them two Grammys, sold more than five million units in the U.S., and launched five hits, including “Black Hole Sun,” one of the most popular alternative rock songs from the 1990s.
The group, formed with guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Hiro Yamamoto, broke up in 1997.
In 2001, Cornell joined Audioslave, a supergroup that included former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford. The band released three albums in six years and also performed at a concert billed as Cuba’s first outdoor rock concert by an American band, though some Cuban artists have disputed that claim.
Audioslave disbanded in 2007, but Cornell and Soundgarden reunited in 2010 and released the band’s sixth studio album, “King Animal” in 2012.
Cornell also collaborated with members of what would become Pearl Jam to form Temple of the Dog, which produced a self-titled album in 1991 in tribute to friend Andrew Wood, former frontman of Mother Love Bone. In 2011, Cornell was ranked ninth on Rolling Stone list of the best lead singers of all-time, selected by its readers.
He also released solo albums, and Nielsen Music said as a band member and solo act, the singer sold almost 15 million albums and 8.8 million digital songs in the U.S.
His first solo album, 1999’s “Euphoria Morning,” was a dark album that was initially supposed to be titled “Euphoria Mourning.”
“It was a pretty dark album lyrically and pretty depressing, and I was going through a really difficult time in my life — my band wasn’t together anymore, my marriage was falling apart and I was dealing with it by drinking way too much, and that has its own problems, particularly with depression,” he told Rolling Stone in 2015.
Cornell referenced death — and suicide — in 2007 interview with the AP when discussing his single, “No Such Thing.” It appeared on his second solo album, “Carry On.”
“The ‘no such thing as nothing’ line comes from the concepts that humans don’t really have a flat line until we’re dead. If we are not leading a happy productive life, we are leading probably an unhappy non-productive life. If a person doesn’t have enough food, they actually are hungry. If they don’t have enough money it’s not that they have no money, they actually have something and it’s called poverty. There’s no just kind of flat lining coasting. You’re either going in one direction or in another direction. All that came out of me trying to imagine why somebody would be, for example, a suicide bomber.”
The music industry mourned his sudden death online. Elton John tweeted, “Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of @chriscornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man.”
KEXP, Seattle’s popular independent radio station, paid tribute to Cornell throughout Thursday morning. The station played non-stop songs from Soundgarden and Cornell’s other bands and solo work, as well as artists who covered Cornell’s material and those who were influenced by him.
“Seattle’s son, Chris Cornell, has passed away,” DJ John Richards told listeners.
source: entertainment.inquirer.net
Car mows down Times Square pedestrians for blocks, killing 1
The driver, a 26-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, told officers he was hearing voices and expected to die, two law enforcement officials said.
Helpless pedestrians had little time to react as the car barreled down the sidewalk and through intersections before smashing into a row of steel security barriers installed in recent years to prevent vehicle attacks on the square where massive crowds gather every New Year’s Eve. The car came to rest with its two right wheels in the air.
“He didn’t stop,” said Asa Lowe, of Brooklyn, who was standing outside a store when he heard screaming as people scattered. “He just kept going.”
Police said 23 people were hit by the car, including an 18-year-old tourist from Michigan who died. The woman’s 13-year-old sister was among the injured.
A fire department chief, Mark Foris, was at an unrelated elevator rescue when he saw the car speed by.
“This is more than just a car accident,” he thought as he walked among bleeding victims.
The carnage raised immediate fears of terrorism, fueled by recent attacks in England, France and Germany in which vehicles plowed through crowds of pedestrians. But investigators quickly turned their focus to the sobriety and mental health of the driver, identified as Bronx resident Richard Rojas.
“There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Photographers snapped pictures of Rojas after he climbed from the wrecked car and ran through the street before he was tackled by a group that included a ticket seller and a muscular door supervisor at a nearby Planet Hollywood restaurant.
Rojas initially tested negative for alcohol, but more detailed testing was being done to determine if he was high, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
The officials said Rojas told officers he had been hearing voices.
A week ago, Rojas was arrested and charged with pointing a knife at a notary, whom he accused of stealing his identity. He pleaded guilty to a harassment violation.
He was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated in 2008 and 2015, police Commissioner James O’Neill said. He pleaded guilty to an infraction in 2015 and was ordered to complete a drunken-driving program and lost his license for 90 days.
In previous arrests, he told authorities he believed he was being harassed and followed, one of the law enforcement officials said.
Police identified the woman killed by the car as Alyssa Elsman, of Portage, Michigan.
Elsman graduated last year from Portage Northern High School.
“If you didn’t know her, you might think she’s reserved or shy,” school principal Eric Alburtus said. “But if you could talk to her for a minute, you’d realize she was engaging. She was bright. She was funny.”
In the Bronx, neighborhood acquaintances said Rojas was a friendly man who had been having problems. Harrison Ramos said Rojas wasn’t the same when he came back from active duty in 2014.
“He’s been going through a real tough time,” he said.
Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician’s mate fireman apprentice. In 2012 he served aboard the U.S.S. Carney, a destroyer.
Navy records show that in 2013 he spent two months at a naval brig in Charleston, South Carolina. They don’t indicate why.
Rojas was based at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, before being discharged in 2014 as the result of a special court martial, a Navy official said. Details were not immediately available.
Thursday’s mayhem began at noon on a hot, clear day that brought large crowds of people into the streets to enjoy the good weather.
Police said Rojas had been driving south on Seventh Avenue when he made a quick U-turn at 42nd Street and drove up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist draws like the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant.
Security camera video showed people being flung in bunches over the car’s hood.
“People just got stunned,” said Bruno Carvalho, a student at SUNY Albany. “I don’t think there was actually time for screaming.”
As Rojas ran from his wrecked vehicle, Ken Bradix, a door supervisor at Planet Hollywood, struck him to get him to stop. Alpha Balde, who works in the square selling sightseeing tour tickets, said he and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas and held him until police took over.
Planet Hollywood said Bradix “selflessly and heroically took action, helping to stop the fleeing suspect.”
The White House said President Donald Trump was informed of the situation in Times Square and would continue to be briefed as it unfolded.
The apartment building where Rojas lives was cordoned off by police Thursday. It was unclear when Rojas, who was in custody, would get a lawyer or face formal charges in court.
The sidewalks in many parts of Times Square and surrounding blocks are lined with metal posts designed to prevent cars from getting onto the sidewalks and other public areas.
That network of barricades, though, is far from a complete defense. There are many areas where vehicles could be driven onto packed sidewalks or public plazas.
Sunita Prasad and her family, visiting from Guyana, were marveling at the sights when the car came toward them.
She pushed her children, 3 and 6, out of its path. But an uncle was struck on the head by a pole dislodged by the vehicle, relatives said as they left the hospital where he was being treated.
“We were just touring, seeing how beautiful Times Square was,” Prasad said. “And this came.”
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
Thursday
Seattle rocker Chris Cornell dead at 52 —reports
A report on The Telegraph said Cornell died Wednesday night (US time) in Detroit. —KBK, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
Wednesday
New MacBooks expected to be revealed at Apple developers conference
According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning upgrades for the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro product line which would be announced at WWDC, to be held from June 5 to 9 in San Jose, California.
The Pro line is said to be getting a 7th-generation Intel Core (Kaby Lake) processors. On the other hand, the 12-inch MacBook is only hinted at getting a “faster Intel chip.”
Insiders have also claimed that an update to the aging 13-inch MacBook Air is being considered. What the update entails is not clear, but it is likely that U-series Core i5 and i7s can be expected.
Apparently, the updates serve as a response to circulating rumors that Apple has been neglecting development for the Mac. Either way, the speed boost should be a good enough statement that Apple has not forgotten the Mac just yet. Alfred Bayle/JB
source: technology.inquirer.net
Taylor Swift now dating British star Joe Alwyn—report
According to The Sun, the pop star and 26-year-old Joe Alwyn have been lovey-dovey for the past several months. To bypass unruly paparazzi spies, Swift, who has rented a place near her beau’s home in London, wears hats and wigs while walking with him.
“Taylor and Joe are the real deal, this is a very serious relationship,” one insider told the news site. “But after what happened with Tom Hiddleston (Swift’s ex-boyfriend), they were determined to keep it quiet.”
Aside from maintaining her romance with Alwyn under wraps, Swift flies on private jets whenever she travels, a lesson she learned with Tom Hiddleston last year. “Taylor has flown in via private jets and her security has made it a military-like mission to prevent her from being seen,” the source divulged.
Although not as famous as his new flame, Alwyn appeared in “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” and is in the forthcoming movie “The Favorite” alongside Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.
Despite mounting international stardom for her chart-topping songs, Swift, 27, has dated several men and broke up with them. Aside from Hiddleston, Swift shared a “love story” with Calvin Harris, Harry Styles, Joe Jonas and Conor Kennedy.
For the meantime, Swifties (Swift’s fans) could only hope that her new affair will not lead to another breakup song soon. Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra
source: entertainment.inquirer.net
What we currently know about the global cyberattack
After two security researchers greatly slowed down that attack , which effectively held people’s documents, photos and other digital files hostage, hard-hit organizations such as the UK’s National Health Service seem to be bouncing back. While it’s a crude measure of the impact, it also appears that relatively few of those affected were desperate enough to actually pay the ransom demanded by the attackers.
On the other hand, the attack has served as a live demonstration of a new type of global threat, one that could encourage future hackers.
Here’s what we currently know about the ransomware known as WannaCry, which locked up digital photos, documents and other files to hold them for ransom.
Where it came from
Researchers are still puzzling out how WannaCry got started. Figuring that out could yield important clues to the identity of its authors.
The malware spread rapidly inside computer networks by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in mostly older versions of Microsoft Windows. That weakness was purportedly identified and stockpiled for use by the US National Security Agency; it was subsequently stolen and published on the internet.
But it remains unclear how WannaCry got onto computers in the first place. Experts said its rapid global spread suggests it did not rely on phishing, in which fake emails tempt the unwary to click on infected documents or links. Analysts at the European Union cybersecurity agency said the hackers likely scanned the internet for systems that were vulnerable to infection and exploited those computers remotely.
Once established, WannaCry encrypted computer files and displayed a message demanding $300 to $600 worth of the digital currency bitcoin to release them. Failure to pay would leave the data scrambled and likely beyond repair unless users had unaffected backup copies.
Ransom payments
Investigators are closely watching three bitcoin accounts associated with WannaCry, where its victims were directed to send ransom payments. The digital currency is anonymized, but it’s possible to track funds as they move from place to place until they end up with an identifiable person.
So far, there have been no withdrawals from those accounts.
Given the scope of the attack, relatively few people appear to have actually paid the ransom. According to a Twitter account that monitors those accounts , they’ve received only about 250 payments worth a total of slightly more than $72,000.
North Korea
Several sets of investigators have now reported tentative findings that suggest hackers linked to North Korea might have been involved with WannaCry. But they could all be drawing conclusions from a very small set of clues.
On Monday, the Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab said portions of the WannaCry program use the same code as malware previously distributed by the Lazarus Group, a hacker collective behind the 2014 Sony hack. Another security company, Symantec, related the same findings, which it characterized as intriguing but “weak” associations, since the code could have been copied from the Lazarus malware.
Two law enforcement officials likewise said US investigators suspect North Korea based on code similarities; the officials called that finding preliminary. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.
But WannaCry remains a puzzle, in part because some of its elements seemed amateurish. Salim Neino, CEO of the Los Angeles-based security firm Kryptos Logic, said the WannaCry worm was “poorly designed” — patched together and consisting of a “sum of different parts” with an unsophisticated payment system.
Typical ransomware also generates a unique bitcoin account for each payment to make tracing difficult. That wasn’t done here.
Digging out
One of the organizations hardest hit by WannaCry — the UK’s National Health Service — appears to be recovering. On Friday, many NHS hospitals had to turn away patients after WannaCry locked up computers, forcing the closure of wards and emergency rooms.
NHS Digital, the body that oversees cybersecurity in Britain’s health system, said that as of now, it has “no evidence that patient data has been compromised.” The agency told hospitals to disconnect all infected computers, apply a Microsoft patch that closes the vulnerability, then “roll back” the infected computers and restore them from backed-up files.
UK hospitals are supposed to back up data frequently and at multiple locations. It’s possible that some data that wasn’t backed up could be lost.
Sign of hacks to come
WannaCry could also serve as a kind of template for future cyberattacks.
Neino of Kryptos Logic, for instance, said the leak of the NSA hacking tools have significantly narrowed the gap between nations and individuals or cyber gangs.
“The concern has always been, when are the real bad guys, the ones that don’t care about rules of engagement, the ones who are really out to hurt us, will they become cyber-capable?” he said in an interview Monday night with The Associated Press. “I think today we found out that those who really want to hurt us have begun to, because they became cyber-capable the moment that the NSA cybertools were released.”
source: technology.inquirer.net
Warriors trounce Spurs minus Leonard for 2-0 series lead
Kevin Durant added 16 points and Draymond Green provided another strong all-around performance with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Rookie Patrick McCaw had 18 points and five assists off the bench shooting 6 for 8 as Golden State earned its most lopsided victory of the playoffs to go to 10-0.
Jonathon Simmons scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half as the lone bright spot for the short-handed Spurs.
Leonard re-injured his left ankle in Sunday’s 113-111 Game 1 loss after coming down on Zaza Pachulia’s foot. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on Monday called out the Warriors starting center for the “dangerous” and “unsportsmanlike” closeout — which had Pachulia insisting he is not a dirty player, was only playing hard, and felt badly that the All-Star forward was injured.
Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in San Antonio.
Pachulia left the game injured for a Warriors team already without key reserve forward Andre Iguodala, held out because of soreness in his left knee that limited him to 10 minutes in Game 1.
Pachulia didn’t come out for the second half because of a bruised right heel. He was scheduled for an X-ray. The big man played nearly 7 minutes but sat the entire second quarter before Matt Barnes took his place.
Golden State quickly established its pass-happy, up-tempo style to take the Spurs out from the opening tip. It was a drastic difference from a game of catch-up two days earlier when the Warriors rallied from 25 down and a 20-point halftime deficit.
Klay Thompson, still struggling to find his steady shooting touch, had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Warriors had 39 assists — the most by any team this postseason — including 30 on their initial 38 baskets.
Shaun Livingston scored in double figures for the first time this postseason with 10 points for Golden State.
Simmons started in Leonard’s place and made 6 of 9 shots to begin the game while the rest of the Spurs were 3 for 22.
The Warriors began 10 for 16 as Curry hit three quick 3s and Green added two more for a 25-12 lead late in the first and 33-16 advantage after one quarter.
LEONARD STATUS
Popovich wasn’t about to guess whether Leonard would return in time for Saturday’s game, saying it could be Friday or even game day before that would be determined.
“I have no idea. Just depends on how the ankle heals,” Popovich said. “I’d probably list him as questionable. But the thing that worries me is that he did it again, the exact same thing. So one would logically think maybe it will take longer, but I’m hoping that’s not true and we’ll have him for Game 3. But I don’t know. I don’t think we’re going to know until Friday and Saturday, probably.”
Popovich said before the game Leonard was back at the hotel “ordering dinner.”
TIP-INS
Spurs: The Spurs had another 23 offensive rebounds after 14 in Game 1. … Patty Mills, playing in place of the injured Tony Parker, had another quiet night. After he went 1 for 8 and missed all six of his 3s in the first game, he finally hit from long range midway through the second Tuesday.
Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr attended his second game this series but again watched behind the scenes as he recovers from a May 5 procedure at Duke University to repair a spinal fluid leak. … Golden State’s 23 first-half assists were its most ever in a playoff half, topping 22 against Phoenix on May 4, 1994. The Warriors notched their fourth 30-assist game this postseason. … Curry extended his NBA record by hitting at least one 3 in his 68th straight postseason game, every one he has played.
source: sports.inquirer.net
Tuesday
American teen dies after consuming too much caffeine
One high school student in South Carolina, USA, found it out the hard way, as he passed away after consuming too much of the energy-inducing substance, a coroner confirmed.
According to New York Daily News, 16-year-old Davis Allen Cripe was rushed to Palmetto Health Parkridge Hospital after collapsing inside a classroom last April 26.
Upon being examined by Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, the young lad was deemed to have died due to a cardiac event, caused by an excessive amount of caffeine in his body.
“We lost Davis from a totally legal substance,” Watts was quoted as saying in the report. “It was so much caffeine at the time of his death, that it caused his arrhythmia. These drinks can be very dangerous.”
Two hours before he lost consciousness, Cripe reportedly consumed a large diet Mountain Dew, a cafe latte from McDonald’s and some kind of energy drink—which triggered arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat.
Surprisingly, Watts added that Cripe had no signs of any “unfounded” or “undiagnosed heart condition” whatsoever.
Furthermore, the pathologist explained that a cup of caffeine or soda is highly unlikely to cause a cardiac episode.
However, Cripe’s decision to ingest large quantities in a short time span might have played a huge factor.
When consumed in regulated moderation, caffeine is considered as the world’s most used psychoactive drug due to its ability to alter brain functions such as perception, mode, consciousness and even behavior. Khristian Ibarrola /ra/rga
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
Monday
Warriors rally to take Game 1 as Spurs lose Leonard
Draymond Green gave Golden State the lead for good on a three-point play after the Warriors trailed by as many as 25 points.
Leonard left in the third quarter after he re-injured his left ankle and the Warriors capitalized with an 18-0 run.
Kevin Durant scored 10 straight points during a key fourth-quarter stretch on the way to 34 points, while Zaza Pachulia had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Leonard had 26 points and eight rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge delivered another clutch playoff performance with 28 points and eight boards.
Somehow, these unusually careless, cold-shooting Warriors found a way to keep their unblemished postseason record alive at 9-0.
Game 2 in the series is Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila) back at Oracle Arena.
Curry scored 19 points in the third quarter and went 7 for 16 on 3s and 14 of 26 overall.
Leonard first went down after stepping on a teammate’s foot along the bench after taking a shot. Pachulia later slid into him as he came down from shooting and Leonard fell into the Spurs bench, grabbing his ankle.
Losing Leonard could be a story of this series. He shot 7 of 13 in 23 minutes to go with eight rebounds and three assists. He made all 11 of his free throws.
He sat out Game 6 of the last round against Houston, a 39-point, series-clinching win on Thursday, after injuring the ankle in a Game 5 overtime victory.
Durant has repeatedly spoken of elevating his game when it matters most — and he did it at the very moment the Warriors needed a huge lift on their home floor.
His 3-pointer with 7:53 to play got Golden State within 94-88, then he drove to his left and right by Kyle Anderson for an emphatic one-handed slam the next possession to ignite a deafening sellout crowd. Durant hit another 3 at the 6:10 mark and a jumper the next time down before Shaun Livingston’s driving dunk.
Gregg Popovich lost to good friend and old pupil Mike Brown, filling in as Warriors acting coach for the ailing Steve Kerr — who played for Popovich.
Yet for much of the afternoon, the Spurs outplayed the Warriors on both ends of the floor. They crashed the offensive glass as they so like to do — something Golden State stressed all week — going right at defenders in the paint and forcing the Warriors into tough shots. Even the open looks weren’t falling.
The Warriors missed their initial five 3-point tries before Curry hit 5:05 before halftime to ignite a stunned-into-silence sellout crowd as Golden State got within 46-32.
The next sequence the Spurs managed three offensive rebounds before scoring.
San Antonio had six steals among the Warriors’ initial nine turnovers and Golden State wasn’t getting the kind of easy shots it was used to going almost untested the first two rounds.
Even when the Warriors did things right the Spurs answered.
Kerr watched the game from behind the scenes in the arena a day after returning to the practice floor for the first time in more than three weeks.
“He’s gone through hell,” Popovich said pregame. “I’m sure most people don’t really know, and I’ll leave that to him to describe as much as he wants to describe. But it’s been very difficult for him. He’s shown a lot of courage getting through what he’s gone through.”
source: sports.inquirer.net
Saturday
How Mortgage Rates Are Determined in Canada
For many Canadians, their home is the biggest investment they will
ever make, and their mortgage the most significant loan. When shopping
for a mortgage, people generally look for ways to get low mortgage
rates.
A mortgage rate doesn’t refer to the size of the mortgage loan, but rather the interest rate on your mortgage. Obviously before you buy, you’ll want to search for a low mortgage rate. There are many factors that affect mortgage rates in Canada, and a fuller understanding of these factors can be an immense help to the inexperienced buyer when applying for a mortgage.
In this article, we’ll look at a basic outline of how mortgage rates are determined in Canada, including some ways to get a low mortgage rate.
Fixed vs. Variable Rate Mortgages
There are two kinds of mortgage loans available to Canadians: fixed or variable rate mortgages. A fixed rate mortgage, as the name suggests, keeps the same interest rate and monthly payment for the duration of the term. A fixed rate mortgage is ideal for those who want more stable financial planning, and want to avoid any surprises due to sudden inflation.
A variable rate mortgage adjusts based on the lender’s prime rate, which is determined by the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate. This means the interest rates can change day to day. While obviously there is some risk involved with a variable rate mortgage, they can often save Canadian homeowners money. While the monthly payment remains the same, lower interest rates mean that more of your monthly payment goes towards your principal. While some homeowners fear sudden increases in mortgage rates, banks generally avoid this so as not to incur any backlash.
The Mortgage Market
Mortgage rates are set based on a number of factors. These factors, or steps, are referred to as the secondary mortgage market. When you are granted a mortgage loan, the following steps occur:
It can be complicated to understand everything that goes into determining mortgage rates in Canada. The best way to understand mortgage rates is to consult with one of our mortgage professionals. They understand the market thoroughly and will be able to explain how everything works, and help you find a low mortgage rate! Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
source: northwoodmortgage.com
A mortgage rate doesn’t refer to the size of the mortgage loan, but rather the interest rate on your mortgage. Obviously before you buy, you’ll want to search for a low mortgage rate. There are many factors that affect mortgage rates in Canada, and a fuller understanding of these factors can be an immense help to the inexperienced buyer when applying for a mortgage.
In this article, we’ll look at a basic outline of how mortgage rates are determined in Canada, including some ways to get a low mortgage rate.
Fixed vs. Variable Rate Mortgages
There are two kinds of mortgage loans available to Canadians: fixed or variable rate mortgages. A fixed rate mortgage, as the name suggests, keeps the same interest rate and monthly payment for the duration of the term. A fixed rate mortgage is ideal for those who want more stable financial planning, and want to avoid any surprises due to sudden inflation.
A variable rate mortgage adjusts based on the lender’s prime rate, which is determined by the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate. This means the interest rates can change day to day. While obviously there is some risk involved with a variable rate mortgage, they can often save Canadian homeowners money. While the monthly payment remains the same, lower interest rates mean that more of your monthly payment goes towards your principal. While some homeowners fear sudden increases in mortgage rates, banks generally avoid this so as not to incur any backlash.
The Mortgage Market
Mortgage rates are set based on a number of factors. These factors, or steps, are referred to as the secondary mortgage market. When you are granted a mortgage loan, the following steps occur:
-
Your mortgage is sold by the bank/lender to a third party investor, known as the aggregator.
-
Your loan is combined with other loans by the aggregator to form a mortgage-backed security.
-
The mortgage backed security is divided into shares, which are sold to other investors.
It can be complicated to understand everything that goes into determining mortgage rates in Canada. The best way to understand mortgage rates is to consult with one of our mortgage professionals. They understand the market thoroughly and will be able to explain how everything works, and help you find a low mortgage rate! Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
source: northwoodmortgage.com
Friday
LOOK: Justin Bieber reaches out to poor Indian kids
In a video posted on an Instagram fan page, the 23-year-old Canadian pop star shook hands with impoverished children inside a bus and said, “You guys good?”
In another clip that surfaced on social media sites, Bieber was sighted humbly playing a game of kickball with locals. But his charity work did not conclude there—Bieber reportedly handed free VIP tickets to 100 Indian children for his one-night gig on Wednesday, according to the Hindustan Times.
Bieber also set up a lounge and pampered the children with food and beverages.
Another video of Justin Bieber playing football with kids in Mumbai, India yesterday. (May 10) pic.twitter.com/GieSxmzepr
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) May 10, 2017
Since his highly anticipated “Purpose” world tour kicked off in 2016, Bieber conducted gigs in Japan, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and key cities in Europe and the US.
Starting his career with song covers uploaded on YouTube, Bieber shot to fame with the popular tracks “Baby,” “Love Yourself,” “What Do You Mean?” and “One Less Lonely Girl.” Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra
source: entertainment.inquirer.net
Thursday
Cancer researchers accidentally discover cure for baldness, gray hair
But in the process of doing so, the team found a genetic cure for baldness and hair graying.
According to a report from The Sun, the breakthrough was made possible after multiple cellular experiments with lab mice.
After certain cells were removed, the mice became bald, while deleting a gene in the cells turned its hair white.
“Although this project was started in an effort to understand how certain kinds of tumors form, we ended up learning why hair turns gray and discovering the identity of the cell that directly gives rise to hair,” said Dr. Lu Le, associate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
“With this knowledge, we hope in the future to create a topical compound or to safely deliver the necessary gene to hair follicles to correct these cosmetic problems,” he added.
Furthermore, the study revealed that the protein called KROX20—a vital key in nerve development—was primarily responsible for turning skin cells into hair follicles.
The group’s findings were recently published in the Genes and Development journal. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
source: technology.inquirer.net
Wednesday
Spurs overcome Leonard injury, Harden to beat Rockets in OT for 3-2 lead
Leonard had 22 points and 15 rebounds in 38 minutes before exiting with an injured right ankle. Leonard stepped on Harden’s foot with 5:37 left in the third quarter and then played limited minutes before sitting out overtime.
Harden had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He had a chance at potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of OT, but was blocked from behind by Manu Ginobili.
Game 6 is Thursday in Houston.
Each team stalled at the start of the extra period. Patrick Beverley made a 3-pointer with 2 minutes remaining for the first points of the period, giving Houston a 104-101 lead.
Green made a go-ahead 3-pointer and converted a three-point play to make it 109-107 Spurs with 30.1 seconds left. He also made a foul shot down the stretch to help San Antonio hold on.
Two questionable plays closed regulation with the game tied at 101.
Harden was whistled for a charge after dribbling all but a few seconds off the shot clock before driving to the basket on Jonathon Simmons. The Spurs failed to take a shot on their final possession, with Patty Mills banking in a 3-pointer after the buzzer sounded.
Harden also played solid defense, helping hold Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge to 15-for-42 shooting as he rotated assignments in Houston’s smaller lineup. But he finished with nine turnovers.
With the Rockets leading 82-81, officials ruled a ball out of bounds on the Spurs that replays showed was actually off Harden. Beverley drained a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, prompting San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to scream and point at official Derrick Stafford.
The play ignited what had been a rather listless San Antonio, leading to a 10-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarters for a 92-87 lead.
The Spurs tried to exploit a size advantage over the Rockets’ small lineup early, especially when Harden was guarding either Aldridge and Pau Gasol. The Spurs’ big men only managed 2-for-5 shooting in the opening three minutes, leading San Antonio to abandon the strategy midway through the first quarter and sub Simmons for Gasol.
Simmons responded by scoring 10 points on 5-for-13 shooting in 26 minutes.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Houston has lost four straight best-of-seven series when it was tied 2-2. The last time the Rockets won a series after being tied 2-2 was in the 1995 Western Conference finals when they beat the Spurs. . Nene is out for the remainder of the postseason after tearing his left adductor in Game 4. . The team that led at the half had won every game in the series until Game 5.
Spurs: Ginobili has 313 3-pointers in his postseason career, which is third in league history behind Ray Allen (385) and Reggie Miller (320). . Ginobili drove the lane for a one-handed dunk with 2 minutes left in the first half.
source: sports.inquirer.net
iPhone 8 set for October release; reports assure no production delays
DigitTimes and Economic Daily News report that the launch for the iPhone 8 will happen in September, and Apple will start selling the new devices by October. Normally, new iPhones would be available in stores by September.
As for the device itself, speculations hint at a curved design and an edge-to-edge display. It is said that it will also have wireless charging and augmented reality features, reports TechRadar.
If you skipped on the iPhone 7, then October 2017 appears to be the month to look forward to. Alfred Bayle/JB
source: technology.inquirer.net
Tuesday
Curry leads Warriors’ rout of Jazz to complete sweep
The Warriors advanced to a Western Conference finals showdown against either Houston or San Antonio after overcoming a fleeting Utah rally to take the series 4-0 at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Smart Home Arena.
It was a second consecutive 4-0 series victory for the Warriors, who also notched a sweep against Portland in the opening round of the playoffs.
“We gotta good thing going, we’re playing well,” Curry said afterward.
“Tonight we had an opportunity to seal the deal and thankfully we came out on top,” added Curry, praising the Warriors all-round offensive display.
“That’s our approach to every game. We don’t know who’s going to have a hot night. We want to keep that going,” he said.
The Warriors laid the foundation for the win with a devastating first quarter performance which saw them pour on 39 points to open up a double-digit lead against a shellshocked Utah.
The Jazz battled back to reduce the deficit to eight points at half-time at 60-52.
Utah remained in touching distance throughout the third period but the Warriors always looked capable of finding an extra gear when it mattered.
The decisive period came at the end of the third period when both Curry and Andre Iguodala both hit three-pointers in quick succession to help the Dubs pull away to 93-79 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lessons through winning
That burst of scoring was a foretaste of what was to follow in the fourth quarter, with the Warriors pulling further clear to wrap up victory by a 26-point margin.
Curry was one of five Warriors players to hit double figures, with Klay Thompson adding 21 points and Kevin Durant 18. Draymond Green added 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double.
For Utah, Gordon Hayward top scored with 25 points while Shelvin Mack had 18 and Dante Exum 15.
Curry meanwhile played down the suggestion that the Warriors may suffer deeper into the playoffs after romping through the first two rounds without dropping a game.
“Every team that we’ve played had a lot of pride,” Curry said. “We haven’t lost but within these games we’ve really had to check ourselves.
“You can learn lessons through winning and that’s what we’ve done.”
Jazz star Hayward, who may have played his last game for the team as he prepares for free agency, said Utah had been defeated by a “historically great team.”
“They make you pay for your mistakes,” Hayward told reporters. “You have to be almost perfect every possession, or else they turn it into a 9-0 run or 10-0 run.
“You can’t have one mental lapse against them. This was a great learning experience for us. They showed why they are who they are, and we’re not quite there yet. But you have to take positives from it.”
source: sports.inquirer.net
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