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House Democrat Calls Texas “Crazy,” Won’t Apologize until “Hell Freezes Over” (video)

• LiveLeak

Things got heated on Monday at a House committee hearing during a discussion on Obamacare, when a Democrat from Florida made inflammatory an...

Things got heated on Monday at a House committee hearing during a discussion on Obamacare, when a Democrat from Florida made inflammatory and unprofessional remarks about the state of Texas and presumably its leaders and residents as well. Republican Congressman Michael Burgess (TX) took immediate issue with the insult Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) hurled at him, unprovoked. Burgess asked for an apology, which only resulted in Hastings becoming even more combative and petulant. The exchange began with Rep. Burgess criticizing the Obama administration for not being willing to work with GOP governors concerning Obamacare. Hastings rudely interrupted with the first of several nasty comments. “Had governors worked with the administration, we might not be in this position,” Hastings sniped in response. “I don’t know about in your state, which I think is a crazy state to begin with – and I mean that just as I said it, ah, um, some of the policies…” At that moment, the acting Committee Chairwoman, Virgina Foxx (R-NC), hammered her gavel, stopping his diatribe mid-sentence, which set Hastings off on an eye-rolling, argumentative tangent. Burgess quickly stepped in with a staunch defense of his state and the people he serves, to which Hastings responded with even more bitter rhetoric. The Congressman from Texas addressed the chairwoman, saying, “The gentleman made a very defamatory statement about my state and I will not stand here and listen to it.” “Fine, then you don’t have to listen, you can leave if you choose,” Hastings responded. “I told you what I think about Texas – I wouldn’t live there for all the tea in China.” Things became even more tense when Burgess pressed for an apology from the offensive Florida Congressman. “You will wait until hell freezes over, for me to say anything in an apology,” spat Hastings. “I would apologize to you, if I was directing my comments to you. I was commenting about the state that you happened to be a resident in.” Hastings’ last sentence is a good example of a typical Democrat attempt at back-pedaling when they realize they’ve gone too far. Unfortunately for him, saying, “I was commenting about the state you happened to be a resident in,” was a lame effort at making his statement seem as if it wasn’t a personal attack. When you disrespect and make hateful comments about a state, Mr. Hastings, you also direct those venomous words toward all the people who reside there. You see, it’s the citizens in any state who vote to elect their leadership, ideally, to work for the good of the people. When you refer to Texas as being “crazy,” you are also implying that all of Texas’ representatives and the people who voted for them are crazy too. I just hope that our fellow Americans in Florida will “wait until hell freezes over” before electing you again. http://madworldnews.com/house-democrat-texas-crazy/   Less

Jordan vows to avenge pilot’s brutal execution

• LiveLeak

The widow of Mouath al-Kasaesbeh had waited in dread for more than a month to learn her husband’s fate. The Jordanian Air Force pilot wa...

The widow of Mouath al-Kasaesbeh had waited in dread for more than a month to learn her husband’s fate. The Jordanian Air Force pilot was captured by the jihadist movement ISIL on 24th December, shot down with a missile over enemy territory. He was burned alive in a cage on 3rd January, according to Jordanian security services, recording this on video which was released on Tuesday. We spoke to a Jordanian former general, Fayez Doueri, asking his opinion why al-Kasaesbeh’s captors chose to kill him like this, after previous prisoners were decapitated. Doueri said: “Firstly, because he was military, and the others were civilian journalists or humanitarian workers. ‘Shashtag’, one of the leaders of ISIL, voiced the question on the day after the pilot was captured — what method of execution would set an example? I read some of the answers, saying make it an auto-de-fé [of condemned apostates], burn him.” Amman promised an ‘earth-shaking’ response. King Abdullah condemned the burning as a cowardly act of terrorism. He vowed to wage unrelenting war against ISIL. How far can Jordan go? According to Doueri: “Jordan will increase its cooperation with the western-led coalition against ISIL, increasing surgical air strikes against well-chosen positions or leaders. That is if Jordan can get highly precise intelligence. There is no way, for the moment, of getting into ground combat against ISIL. Conditions for that would have to be right, and Jordan doesn’t have the resources for it. There would have to be pan-Arab and international support that doesn’t exist. Jordan can’t go off on an adventure more than 350 km from its own border.” The pilot’s immolation, after it rallied Jordanians to their king, sent shock waves through all the Arab countries. The outrage and grieving have been shared; now to see what form of retaliation there might be against ISIL.   Less

Homelessness in Washington DC reaches record levels

• LiveLeak

Washington DC is struggling for answers after figures reveal that a record 4,000 people now live in the capital’s homeless shelters. It ...

Washington DC is struggling for answers after figures reveal that a record 4,000 people now live in the capital’s homeless shelters. It is an expensive and complex problem for the city as authorities are legally required to provide shelter for those in need when temperatures fall below freezing. As many as 12 new homeless families contact the city for help every night. Anthony White is one such man who has fallen into the homeless trap: “I feel hurt on the inside, I do not feel like a man on the inside, because I can’t provide for my family, I can’t provide for my kids. And I’m asking everybody for a handout.” An acute shortage of affordable housing, rising rents and low-pay are key factors. Jasmine Hayes is from the Council of Homelessness: “DC is an example of what is happening in cities across the country – there is a severe lack of affordable housing. I think anywhere in this city you see a lot of construction and building but this is not affordable housing for the really low-income families and individuals that need access to those kinds of resources.” The problem has been acknowledged by the administration with President Obama announcing an extra $345m to tackle the issue nationwide.   Less

Mobile phone app helps Syrian refugees settle in Turkey

• LiveLeak

Millions of Syrians have been forced to leave their war-torn country and many have taken refuge in neighbouring Turkey. Settling in a new co...

Millions of Syrians have been forced to leave their war-torn country and many have taken refuge in neighbouring Turkey. Settling in a new country where many don’t speak the language is a huge challenge. That is why computer programmer Mojahid Akil, himself a Syrian refugee, has created the Gherbtna app, which helps exiled Syrians adjust to life in Turkey. It provides much-needed guidance to the confusing and disorienting process of settling into a new country. “We created this application just over a year ago to help Syrians living in Turkey who don’t know how to communicate with people in Turkey, or face difficulties obtaining residency and opening bank accounts, people who suffer from a lack of information. So that’s why we created this application and website,” says Mojahed Akil. Both the app and its website have proved extremely popular among Syrian refugees in Turkey. Currently available on Andorid handsets, the app should soon be available for a variety of other smartphone users. “Initially, there were just two of us who launched this project. After eight months, we developed the website and the application so it became easier to use. We have one app for Androids and we are going to launch an app for the iPhone and Windows Phone,” says Akil. Gherbtna, the name of the app, is an Arabic word that means exile, loneliness, and the feeling of being foreign – a concept not at all unfamiliar to the millions of people who have been displaced because of the conflict in Syria. A customisable phone you can print at home A British start-up that allows you to create your own mobile phone is now hoping to go global via a Kickstarter campaign. The OwnFone kit allows users to draw their own individual design for a four-button handset and print it, either as a two-dimensional cover, or a three dimensional shell to be fitted around the cell phone. OwnFone is the brainchild of Tom Sunderland: “What we’ve done is we’ve merged a drawing app with the process of making your own phone. So simply, what you do is draw your phone. So here’s the app, you can choose a four-button image phone and draw whatever you want on it. Once you’ve finished we then take your design and we print it for you straight away and then you walk out with the phone that you’ve just drawn, and it’s ready to use,” he says. If you have access to a 3D printer, OwnFone also proposes the PrintFone Kit, which includes blank mobile phone units as well as 3D printer filament and software. “It’s a developer’s kit that enables someone to print their own phone at home, either on a standard inkjet printer or a 3D printer. You get the phone components that you need to do that, the software, and really it gives people total freedom to create whatever they want. So the possibilities are endless in terms of creating your own customisable phone,” says Tom Sunderland. Simplicity is the name of the game. The OwnFone is designed solely for talking and consists of just four programmable numbers – perfect for children, elderly people or people with disabilities. People with visual impairments, for example, can 3D print out specific names in braille which act as a tactile face plate for the phone.   Less

18+ Syria - archives of the "glorious revolution" part 1. Houla massacre of pro-government civilians at the hands of "rebel" forces.

• LiveLeak

See for example the wristband of one of the children, showing the real Syrian flag. This means, many pro-government civilians including chil...

See for example the wristband of one of the children, showing the real Syrian flag. This means, many pro-government civilians including children were massacred and filmed for PR, then the Western "media" blamed this all on the Syrian army. How convenient, but as always a little detail gave it all away. The killers and mercenaries of FSA forgot to remove that damn wristband.   Less

Moron Say,why do people act stupidly sometimes?,against their own interests?,why can't modern science answer this question?,

• LiveLeak

every week here on Liveleak we see examples of moronic behavior,here I provide 2 video examples of stupid acts,why can't science tell us why...

every week here on Liveleak we see examples of moronic behavior,here I provide 2 video examples of stupid acts,why can't science tell us why people act like morons?...your thoughts appreciated!   Less

A day at the Poopy Cat Office

• LiveLeak

At Poopy Cat we have cats living in the office permanently. This way we can develop, test and improve our concepts in close collaboration wi...

At Poopy Cat we have cats living in the office permanently. This way we can develop, test and improve our concepts in close collaboration with the end-user. They make our employees and visitors smile and they provide enchanting ‘aaawww’ moments. Cats want their hard working humans’ undivided attention. If not serviced immediately this may result in serious consequences… Meowing thru calls, screen blocking, keyboard naps, all examples of distracting and unprofessional cat behavior! At the end of the day though, we love the crazy catmosphere at our office and we would not want it any other way! We decided to make a short video of a regular office day to show cat lovers around the world how awesome cats can be in an office environment! A day at Poopy Cat, enjoy…   Less

A History of Exoplanet Detection in [over] 60 Seconds

• LiveLeak

An exoplanet astronomer has created a GIF that charts 250 years of planet detection in just 60 seconds. It should come as no surprise that t...

An exoplanet astronomer has created a GIF that charts 250 years of planet detection in just 60 seconds. It should come as no surprise that the last couple of decades have been rife with exoplanet discoveries as detection technology has advanced. However, the GIF does more than just show the recent exoplanet gold rush, it also compares the size and orbital distance of these planetary discoveries to our own solar system. “The idea of this plot is to compare our own solar system (with planets plotted in dark blue) against the newly-discovered extrasolar worlds,” wrote Hugh Osbourn the creator of the GIF, on his website. “Think of this plot as a projection of all 1,873 worlds onto our own solar system, with the Sun (and all other stars) at the far left.” Note: The first exoplanets were not discovered in the 1700s. Those dark blue dots are actually solar system planets that have been placed there for comparison. Here is a color cipher to help differentiate between the marks. • Dark blue: Solar system planets. • Light blue: RV planets. • Maroon: Direct Imaging planets. • Orange: Microlensing discoveries. •Green: Planets found via the transit method. The horitzontal axis (x-axis) measures the orbital period of a planet, which is how long it takes for the planet to orbit around its star. The vertical axis (y-axis) is simply the mass of the exoplanet in Earth masses. Upon closer inspection, a few interesting patterns emerge. For example, the top left is dense with large worlds, or "hot Jupiters." Even though they are relatively rare, they are easy to find because they produce a large radial velocity by orbiting so close to their parent star. “The bottom group is from the Kepler space telescope," wrote Osborn. "This clustering is the only one that’s actually real and not just a systematic effect. This is because Kepler was capable of finding every type of planet down to ~1 Earth radius. So this clustering shows that there are more Earth and super-Earth sized planets than any other. Hopefully we can begin to probe below it’s limit and into the Earth-like regime, where thousands more worlds should await!" Source: I Fucking Love Science I converted the original GIF to video.   Less

World’s leading Simcard maker confirms British and US spooks “probably” stole security codes

• LiveLeak

The Franco-Dutch world number one simcard maker Gemalto has concluded its own investigation into a hacking of its security codes. Last wee...

The Franco-Dutch world number one simcard maker Gemalto has concluded its own investigation into a hacking of its security codes. Last week an investigative website, acting on information supplied by whistleblower Edward Snowden, accused the British and American security services of the hack so they could monitor calls, texts and emails. “This attack very likely has happened. We can correlate what is described in the document allegedly coming from the NSA or GCHQ with events we have observed. This attack was very innovative, it has never been seen before. So it was likely not done by a hacker or mafia as is usual,” said Gemalto’s boss Olivier Piou. Gemalto added that legally it would be hard to prove, and that past attempts to sue a state had proven well-nigh impossible and ruinously expensive. How many codes had been stolen and how many had been used was even harder to say. Contacting the US or British intelligence agencies about the matter would be a “waste of time” the company said. The attack was mainly but not only directed at countries in upheaval or with insecure regimes, or developing nations, and would not have affected users of newer 3G and 4G devices. The biggest example was the theft of 300,000 security codes from cards destined for Somalia. The company’s statement outlining the likely limits of the hack helpedlift its shares 3.1 percent in late afternoon trading in Amsterdam to 71.54 euros, marking a full recovery from losses of as much as  10% last Friday following the publication of the original report.   Less

Some Software I wrote a long time ago in Microsoft Excel

• LiveLeak

I had to write this program in Microsoft Excel because I needed something I could use at work without having to compile or use installables ...

I had to write this program in Microsoft Excel because I needed something I could use at work without having to compile or use installables or executables as that was strictly against their Computer / Network TOS (Verizon Wireless). .. The idea behind the software, was to create something I could easily access any given program on my pc using shortcodes... .. Rather than typing out the entire name, or perhaps I forgot the name of the program that I want to use, but I know its function... I could simply type in its function or an acronymed version of it and the program will open. . So, example: If I wanted to ftp, I would use my favorite ftp program FileZilla simply by typing ftp... . Or perhaps I wanted to use SSH over Windows.... I would type in ssh to open putty.. Or sftp to open WinSCP. . Most software I've written has been out of explicit intent for my necessity only. Many find my softwares unusual, un-useful or just plain boring. I can understand that since they don't have the same needs as myself. That said, I don't expect reactions to be very different than what I've gotten in the past :D #financial_support_div{ display:none; position: absolute; width:300px; height:180px; margin-left: -150px; margin-top: -70px; /*- half of width and height */ top:50%; left:50%; padding: 5px; opacity:0.9; filter:alpha(opacity=90); z-index:1000; background-color:#000; color: white; } .close_box{ background: gray; color:#fff; padding:1px 3px; display:inline; position:absolute; right:1px; margin-right: -13px; margin-top: -13px; border-radius:3px; cursor:pointer; border: 1px #000 solid; } $(document).on("click",".close_box",function(){ $(this).parent().fadeTo(300,0,function(){ $(this).remove(); }); }); Loading the player ...   Less

Kurdish Pseudo-Man is Beating his Wife and Singing

• LiveLeak

Althought YPG has taken some parts of Syria from weak Syrian people and defended it well againts ISIS, Kurds doesn't do well when the point ...

Althought YPG has taken some parts of Syria from weak Syrian people and defended it well againts ISIS, Kurds doesn't do well when the point is the place of women in society. Now a new example of this situation appears with this video. In this new leaked video, a cro-magnon kurdish pseudo-man is beating his wife and singing. But the whole worlds know that real men dont attack woman... How sad!...   Less

EU call for unity as Spain and Portugal enter war of words with Greece

• LiveLeak

The European Commission is pushing for unity after Greece’s new prime minister accused Spain and Portugal of leading a conservative consp...

The European Commission is pushing for unity after Greece’s new prime minister accused Spain and Portugal of leading a conservative conspiracy to topple his anti-austerity government. More used to clashing with Berlin over years of austerity imposed by international creditors, Alexis Tsipras turned on Madrid and Lisbon as he addressed his radical left Syriza party at the weekend. Tsipras accused the Spanish and Portuguese of trying to sabotage recent euro zone talks on extending Greece’s bailout programme, prompted by fears over the rise of the left in their own countries. “We found opposing us an axis of powers … led by the governments of Spain and Portugal which for obvious political reasons attempted to lead the entire negotiations to the brink,” Tsipras said. “Their plan was and is to wear down, topple or bring our government to unconditional surrender before our work begins to bear fruit and before the Greek example affects other countries,” he said. That claim is flatly rejected by Mariano Rajoy, the centre-right prime minister of Spain which, alongside Portugal, has complained to the EU executive about the accusations from Athens. Campaigning ahead of regional elections, Rajoy said his country, struggling with its own financial problems, had lent billions of euros to help Greece. Spain he said was not responsible “for the frustration generated by the radical Greek left that promised the Greek people something it couldn’t deliver on”. Tsipras rejects claims he had to climb down to get an extension of the financial lifeline, even though it meant extending the bailout programme he had promised voters he would scrap. The Greek government on Sunday sought to play down the row, saying that the comments by Tsipras had been misinterpreted.   Less

Muslim threatens to cut heads off of Jews at Miami Synegogue

• LiveLeak

Another excellent example of the religion of peace.  

Germany reverses headscarf ban for Muslim teachers

• LiveLeak

Today Germany’s highest court will lift the ban on headscarves for teachers, correcting a 2003 verdict. It follows an appeal made by two...

Today Germany’s highest court will lift the ban on headscarves for teachers, correcting a 2003 verdict. It follows an appeal made by two female Muslim teachers from Northrhine-Westfalia. The verdict now reads that the headscarf can only be banned if the peaceful situation at the school is in danger – for example if parents are protesting against it. The court ruled that as Christian symbols are still allowed by many regional school laws, headscarves should not be banned. The press statement for the verdict appeared prematurely on the constitutional court’s website before being taken down, but not before German paper Taz had a good read and published most of the details.   Less

The final frontier: astronauts on ISS tell euronews about humanity’s future in space

• LiveLeak

The future of space exploration, the emergence of the private space sector and daily life in orbit were among the topics Euronews’ Claudio...

The future of space exploration, the emergence of the private space sector and daily life in orbit were among the topics Euronews’ Claudio Rosmino discussed with two astronauts on board the International Space Station: Terry Virts, the current ISS commander and Samantha Cristoforetti, the first Italian female astronaut spoke to Claudio directly from their orbiting space lab. euronews “I would like to start by asking how you feel about the other three crew members returning to Earth. As the next crew won’t arrive until the end of March, do you feel a bit lonely up there in space?” Terry Virts “You know, it was sad seeing these guys leave. We were together for four months, we were very good friends, we really enjoyed our time together, so it was sad seeing them leave. But we are not too lonely though, we have me, Samantha, Anton together now, and it’s an interesting two weeks time where we will have the space station to ourselves before the next crew arrives” euronews “In the first four months of your mission you have carried out some scientific experiments. Samantha could you tell us more and explain the importance of these tests? Samantha Cristoforetti “The Space Station is an outstanding laboratory that allows us to do research in a very special condition, just as microgravity or weightlessness, which is very very intriguing in many scientific fields. Because by doing scientific observations in microgravity you can observe and measure and quantify phenomena that, otherwise, you might not be able to even notice, and certainly not to study in detail, in the presence of the effect of gravity on Earth. “I have done a lot of things in the last few months. I can mention the few things that I have been working on recently and I will be working on soon, which are two European Space Agency experiments: airway monitoring and triplelux. “Both of them have actually been a little bit troublesome and I like to say this because you don’t want to give the impression that in science everything works right off the bat and immediately. “Sometimes it is hard, it takes several trials, it takes a little bit of trial an error, it takes adjustments, it takes learning and that is definitely the case, for example, for an experiment we are monitoring, which is a very intriguing scientific protocol that for the first time is going to study how gas is exchanged in the lungs, is affected by both weightlessness, microgravity and even reduced pressure. “One which is going to come up is triplelux, which is another intriguing scientific protocol aimed at studying the effect of weightlessness on the immune system, on the behaviour of some specific immune cells that are involved whenever our body finds a disease” euronews Terry, another goal of this mission was to prepare the station for the arrival of future private spaceships. For Nasa it will mean, once again, having direct access to space. How important will it be having a partnership with private companies for space exploration? Terry Virts “Well, it has been a big part of the mission so far, both doing spacewalk and doing work inside, to get ready for the future vehicles that will be coming to the Space Station. And it is very important for Nasa, our way forward, the way we are going to launch astronauts from Florida once again to the Space Station. “It is going to be on both the Boeing capsule and the SpaceX capsule, starting sometime probably in the next two years. We are looking forward to that, it is an important part of the Space Station programme, it is an important logistical thing that needs to be solved in order to get people to the station and back. So, it is very important” Euronews What comes after the international space station once its mission is over? How do we ensure the continue presence of humans in space? Terry Virts “Well, that is a great question. The plan that Nasa is to build a rocket called SLS (Space Launch System) which is a heavy-lift rocket, it is something that is much bigger than what we have today and it will be able to launch the Orion capsule with humans aboard as well as landers or other components to destinations beyond the orbit. “Right now we can only fly in Earth orbit, that is the part where we can go. This new system that we are building is going allow us to go beyond and hopefully take humans into the solar system to explore, so the Moon, Mars, asteroids, there are a lot of destinations that we could go to and we’re building these building block components in order to allow us to do that eventually” euronews Samantha, according to a recent survey, based on research on the internet, you are now the most popular Italian woman in the world, ahead of Monica Bellucci (actress) and Laura Pausini (singer). Does it mean that science may be more attractive than showbiz? Samantha Cristoforetti “Well (laughing), I am not sure that survey was conducted according to more scientific and statistical criteria, but (I) just to take it for the fun, that I am sure it was meant to be. “I am certainly happy that a person like me, who is really nobody as a person, has the privilege of being the representative of something really special, which is the Space Station programme – having this incredible, technological, scientific achievement, which is really a testament to what humanity can achieve when we decide to work together and to put together our best minds all over the world to do something which is really amazing. So in that sense, of course, I happy about the outcome of this survey, which, again, I am sure it was meant in the fun” euronews Now some questions sent in by one of our social media followers: in around two months you will come back to earth. What did you miss the most during your stay in space? Terry Virts “Well, that is a great question. Living here is very pleasant, we have everything we need, the food is good, we are here with good friends. So life in space is pretty cool. “The thing I think we miss the most is people. You know, we are missing our family on Earth, missing our friends, getting back to see folks. That is really the thing you really miss more than anything. “Another thing is weather. We do not have weather here, we were just talking about rain and snow and what it is like have it on Earth. So that is something I miss and I am looking forward to experiencing a little bit of weather, hopefully a lot of sun and more, you know, rain, snow, the kind of stuff we do not get here” euronews To finish, I would like to ask how you on the station remembered the actor Leonard Nimoy. Was your interest in space inspired by Star Trek and Mr Spock, just like it was for so many people? Samantha Cristoforetti “Thanks for the question. Definitely I was a big Trekker growing up, I was really, really, really a big fan. I do think he has played a part in helping to show me this path, to help me become aware that was what I wanted to do, you know, become an astronaut, travel to space and play a lit bit my part in this human adventure of space exploration, which is just one long journey. An one day maybe, I believe, the Star Trek reality will become true. “So I felt like I had an obligation to honour Leonard Nimoy when he passed away recently.” euronews “Thank you very much for having been with us, enjoy the rest of your mission and as Mister Spock would have said ‘live long and prosper’.”   Less

Road rager in Houston metro area.

• LiveLeak

*Volume warning* Turn your volume down or off. Here is an example of a road rager that decided to take it upon themselves to regulate other ...

*Volume warning* Turn your volume down or off. Here is an example of a road rager that decided to take it upon themselves to regulate other people. If they have such a desire to regulate traffic they can go through the police academy and graduate like I did. I was approaching an exit this driver had about 10 car links open in front of them. In this area about 50 people will try to fill that spot quickly so I decided to go around. I accelerated and went at least 2 car links before getting back in front using my blinker. I have a Supercharged vehicle so I have to power to clear and make space quickly. I could've speed up, but I didn't want to keep driving along the emergency lane, to risky. When I slowed down, he slowed down to block me in. I eventually slowed down enough to get back in traffic. How did this end? With me staying calm, dialing 911, following this person at a safe distance, and when the officers reached us. I left as he was detained by the police. Of course, he told a whole different story, but when they saw the video. From the very beginning the officer was asking why was he braking. I still have to go file charges in Katy. He's so screwed. Idiot! So for all you other out of control idiots. Remember someone might have a camera in their car so put your a** in check before they do with one phone call. ( I apologize in advance for volume and wrong time stamp. Both of which have been fixed now) This is directly in relation to a similar video from someone else: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=aa6_1426636898   Less

Cold war erupts over the world’s smartest helmet

• LiveLeak

Riding in and out of city traffic can test the patience of most motorcycle riders, especially when trying to find their way. Old style GPS u...

Riding in and out of city traffic can test the patience of most motorcycle riders, especially when trying to find their way. Old style GPS units mean riders have to look away from the road, and sometimes even stop to check where they’re going. Russian start-up company LiveMap wants to change that with its smart helmet prototype equipped with a built-in navigation system. The directions appear on the helmet’s see-through display directly in the rider’s field of vision thanks to voice control and GPS navigation, so he can see directions without having to fiddle with another device or look away from the road. The display is transparent enough to not obscure his vision. “When it comes to security, the idea is to create a helmet that enables the rider to navigate while driving without needing to stop and type in a new address on his mobile phone, so he can just do it through voice recognition, by saying “Madison Avenue” for example, and the computer works out the route,” says LiveMap CEO Andrei Artishchev. Its developers say the advantage over other such helmets being tested on the market is that this one is smaller and lighter. Already on sale over the internet, the American Skully AR-1 is being touted as the world’s smartest motorcycle helmet, with its 180 degree rear view camera that projects what’s happening behind the rider, too. But there is one down-side according to its Russian rivals. “There is a difference in the parametres between our helmet and the Skully. The American helmet is much heavier, I think it weighs almost two kilos, and the Russian one weighs 1,4 kilos. So, there is a big difference. Anything that weighs more than 1,5 kilos is not a helmet,” says Anatoly Sukhov, editor-in-chef at Russia’s Moto Magazine. While it doesn’t offer a rear view, some prefer LiveMap’s to Skully’s display system, saying it’s easier to see and less distracting. Both retail for around US$ 1500. Safer riding is also a concern when it comes to horse-riding. With the aim of enhancing the performance of racehorses and reducing the risk of injury to both man and animal, a research team from the Royal Veterinary College in England has equipped riders and horses with sensors. Thanks to the data collected, they are able to compare the riding style of more experienced jockeys with that of novice riders and are hoping to thereby establish the optimal riding position. “We have 14 inertial measurement units on the jockey and the horse. So they basically measure the movement of the different parts of the jockey relative to the horse. We’re also measuring the forces within the stirrup so we can look at the symmetry of the forces that coincide with the various movements that are measured,” says Dr. Anna Walker, who is leading the research. While the data is still being collected and analysed, it’s hoped it will lead to improved teaching methods that will ultimately help apprentice jockeys progress faster, the ultimate goal being to reduce the risk of injury. “If you increase the rate of training, therefore they gain experience or improve their technique very quickly, then you reduce the risk of falls. And if the jockey is more balanced, the horse is more balanced because it’s not having to constantly counteract a wobbly jockey,” says Dr. Anna Walker. While definite figures are difficult to find, it’s estimated that the risk of serious injury is approximately the same for a horse-rider as for a motorcyclist. With horse-racing frequently slammed as cruel by some animal rights groups, it’s hoped this kind of research will help improve overall security for both horse and man.   Less

Kerry and Rodriguez make ‘progress’ as US and Cuba prepare for historic reconciliation

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As Presidents Obama and Castro arrived in Panama for the Summit of the Americas, reports said the US State Department had recommended removi...

As Presidents Obama and Castro arrived in Panama for the Summit of the Americas, reports said the US State Department had recommended removing Cuba from its list of nations said to sponsor terrorism. The two countries’ foreign ministers have already been meeting. US Secretary of State John Kerry “made progress“ in talks with Cuba’s foreign minister on Thursday night as the two countries seek to put behind decades of animosity and restore full diplomatic relations, the US government said. “Secretary Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister (Bruno) Rodriguez had a lengthy and very constructive discussion this evening. The two agreed they made progress and that we would continue to work to resolve outstanding issues,“ a senior State Department official said. In Jamaica, earlier though, President Obama urged patience when it comes to US-Cuba relations. “I never foresaw that immediately, overnight, everything would transform itself, that suddenly overnight Cuba became a partner diplomatically the way Jamaica is for example. That is going to take some time,” he said. The US says the two foreign ministers have made progress after a lengthy discussion. It’s the first such high-level meeting between the former Cold War enemies since 1958. Removing Cuba from the list would clear a major obstacle in the effort to restore diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana, paving the way for the reopening of embassies that have been shut for 54 years, and signal momentum in ending America’s isolation from the Communist island nation. Obama did not signal how he was leaning, but his previous statements have suggested that he would approve taking Cuba off the list. Cuba was added to the list of terrorism sponsors in 1982, when it was aiding Marxist insurgencies in Colombia and elsewhere. Other countries on the list include Iran, Sudan and Syria.   Less

Movie-makers and critics pull out of Istanbul Film Festival amid censorship row

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Nearly two dozen movie-makers and a group of international critics have pulled out of the Istanbul Film Festival, amid a censorship row. T...

Nearly two dozen movie-makers and a group of international critics have pulled out of the Istanbul Film Festival, amid a censorship row. The government has blocked the screening of a film about Kurdish militants, citing paperwork issues. The festival competition has been called off. “We are asking the freedom of showing the films that we are selecting in our programme, without requiring any documents within the context of festivals and cultural activities, which is happening like everywhere else in the world,” said Azize Tan, festival director. “If a film doesn’t get that document, what happens is that the film is censored in that sense.” The barred film – “North” – documents the lives of militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The government says ‘PKK propaganda’ has no place in a democratic society. “Cinemas have to be open to the public. I mean, you buy your ticket go and watch the film and after you tell what you think about it. You shouldn’t be afraid of that. This is not helping the peace process,” said Erol Mintas, a film director. The cinema industry says the blocking of “North” is the latest example of censorship in Turkey. The country’s frequent crackdowns on political expression critical of the government’s position – including on social media – have alarmed activists. Speaking from Istanbul, euronews reporter Wolfgang Spindler said: “The result of this political intervention is that most important Turkish film festival will neither have an award nor a closing ceremony. It may also make already difficult relations between Turkey and Kurds even worse. A sad outcome.”   Less

Russia media: Russia joins the Silk Road Economic Belt

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MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Moscow’s decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) amid Western anti-Russian financial sa...

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Moscow’s decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) amid Western anti-Russian financial sanctions will yield mutual benefits for the project’s participants and contribute to further Eurasian integration, experts polled by TASS said on Wednesday. The AIIB is an international financial organization proposed by China in the autumn of 2014. The organization will focus on operations to stimulate financial cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and finance infrastructural projects in Asia, from the construction of roads and airports to economy-class housing. The bank will have an authorized capital of $100 billion. At a ceremony held in the bank’s headquarters in Beijing on October 24, 2014, a total of 21 countries joined the AIIB: China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Russia's application for Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank participation approved Russia filed an application for joining the AIIB on March 30, 2015, a day before the deadline. China approved the application on April 14. "Russia’s decision to join the AIIB is a correct decision meeting the national interests of the country and of all the states of the Asia-Pacific region," Director of the Strategic Analysis and Development Department at Vnesheconombank Vladimir Andrianov said. "The AIIB is viewed as an alternative and a potential rival of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European and Latin American Development Banks, in which Washington plays a dominating role. It is not accidental that several European states, including the UK and Germany, have joined this project," the expert said. "The fact that Russia has been among the last states to join the AIIB can be explained by purely bureaucratic discussions of the size of the bank’s authorized capital, which originally stood at $50 billion and was subsequently doubled," he said. "The fears that China’s ambitious project of the third Great Silk Road made Moscow uneasy as a rival for the Baikal-Amur Main (BAM) Railway and the Trans-Siberian rail road are inconsistent because these transport arteries can be integrated with the AIIB’s support and become integral parts. The countries situated along the Silk Route can take joint efforts for building international transport corridors and gradually creating an infrastructure network that will link all the Asian regions, and also Asia, Europe and Africa," the export said. "The main thing in this project is that Beijing is creating a financial structure designed to become a source of economic growth for the AIIB member states. At the same time, China is becoming a global power - a leading competitor of the US not only in terms of GDP but also in the financial sphere," Andrianov said. "The AIIB is viewed in the world as a financial institution of China because precisely the People’s Republic of China is the basic and largest shareholder of the project and will determine this institution’s policy," former Russian Central Bank Chairman and now Chairman of the Vnesheconombank Supervisory Board Sergei Dubinin told TASS. "The project was supported by over twenty countries, including the leading European economies, and so the bank has all the chances to turn into a serious source of investment. That is why, Russia’s decision to support the project was rational and expedient," the expert said. "Russia’s participation in the AIIB will not be burdensome for the country’s budget as the share of the Russian Federation in the authorized capital is small but access to its resources will be beneficial for Russia, especially for developing the Far East," Dubinin said. "But not only that. For example, if the AIIB invests in Vietnam’s infrastructural projects, Russia can act as the supplier of equipment for the Vietnamese construction industry and electric power engineering as the country is well familiar with this market. That is, the AIIB project is attractive as an instrument of developing international cooperation and trade. The main thing is that a decision to spend money should be economically substantiated for Russia," the expert said. "For developed Western countries, the AIIB is attractive, first of all, by giving them a possibility to participate in quite profitable infrastructural projects in Asia where the fastest economic growth rates and the largest requirements for investments are registered," Deutsche Bank Chief Economist for Russia Dmitry Lisovolik told TASS. "In a perspective, the Asia-Pacific region has the prospects of becoming the largest capital reservoir and forward-looking Western financiers cannot but take this fact into account," he added. "On the other hand, European countries are interested in integration with the states of the Asia-Pacific region to attract large capital to developed states, which currently have problems with economic growth," the expert said. #financial_support_div{ display:none; position: absolute; width:300px; height:180px; margin-left: -150px; margin-top: -70px; /*- half of width and height */ top:50%; left:50%; padding: 5px; opacity:0.9; filter:alpha(opacity=90); z-index:1000; background-color:#000; color: white; } .close_box{ background: gray; color:#fff; padding:1px 3px; display:inline; position:absolute; right:1px; margin-right: -13px; margin-top: -13px; border-radius:3px; cursor:pointer; border: 1px #000 solid; } $(document).on("click",".close_box",function(){ $(this).parent().fadeTo(300,0,function(){ $(this).remove(); }); }); Loading the player ...   Less