Lifetime ‘Big Driver’ adaptation
Lifetime is set to film an adaptation of King’s novella, Big Driver, starring Maria Bello, Olympia Dukakis, Will Harris and Joan Jett. The short story was originally included in the 2010 collection Full Dark, No Stars and focuses on a mystery writer obsessed with revenge against the man who assaulted her.
Ordering app available
McDonald’s tests the ‘McDonald’s Mobile Ordering’ app in 22 locations in Georgia and Alabama. Customers can order and pay for their food on the app and pick up their food outside at a curbside check-in or inside from a special queue. The app is free on Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems.
We are testing these technologies in a few markets, so it’s premature to speculate on the decisions we may make after the tests, but we’re excited to bring a cutting-edge experience in the future to our customers.
Google Domains
Google announces the launch of Google Domains, a by invitation only service that will help small business find, register and manage their domain names. The service is now in the beta testing phase. This new venture puts Google in competition with companies they have partnered with in the past, the largest being GoDaddy.com. The pricing information has not been made public at this time.
Businesses will be able to search, find, purchase and transfer the best domain for their business — whether it’s .com, .biz, .org, or any of the wide range of new domains that are being released to the Web.
Android Auto
Google announces Android Auto, which is a platform that integrates Android phones into the driving experience. Users can use voice commands to get directions, play music, set reminders, and call contacts while driving. The platform is expected be available at the end of 2014.
Android One
Google announces the Android One, a sub-$100 smartphone aimed at India and other developing nations. The phone will have a 4.5 inch display, dual SIM card slots, and an FM radio. Sundar Pichai, head of Google’s Android division, discusses the phone at Google’s I/O conference:
Our goal is to reach the next five billion people in the world. In India and other countries like that, it’s disappointing that less than 10 percent of the population have access to smartphones.
Chromebooks get Android apps
Google announces that they are bringing select Android applications to Chromebooks, starting with Evernote, Vine and Flipboard. Users can nominate their favorite Android applications to be released for Chromebooks.
https://plus.google.com/100585555255542998765/posts/2LR7bd3xPe8
Aide was racist
Mandela’s long-time personal assistant, Zelda la Grange, a white Afrikaner, reveals to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour:
I was a full-on racist by the time I started working for him. Now looking back, if you [asked] me at the age of twenty-three I would probably have denied being a racist.Now it’s easier, because you can recognize the change in yourself.
She tells Amanpour that meeting Nelson was “the turning point in my life.”
He was kind. He smiled. He extended his hand, and he spoke to me in my own language. He spoke to me in Afrikaans. And that is the last thing you expect of him, because I was brought up to fear this man.
Tunisia changing drug laws
Tunisia is revamping its drug laws. The laws have been criticized for having a one-year minimum sentence and for not distinguishing between hard and soft drugs. More than half of the 25,000 inmates in the nation of 11 million are in prison on drug offenses. According to a 2013 U.N. report, prisons in Tunisia are overcrowded, and some facilities are at 150 percent of capacity. The revamping of the drug law was spurred by the arrest of a popular activist and blogger, Aziz Amami. Amna Guellali, a researcher for Human Rights Watch group, says:
This law has destroyed the lives and futures of millions of young Tunisians who, like Aziz, found themselves, at one point or another, caught in the gears of the justice system. Law 52 reveals the fundamental problems of the penal and judicial system in Tunisia, which does not guarantee people’s rights and clogs prisons with minor offenders.
Military power use revoked
A vote by the upper parliament prevents Putin from using troops in Ukraine to deal with the crisis. Putin had requested the order be revoked on June 24. Only one lawmaker votes against revoking his power to use force, 153 vote in favor.
Wants Gomez
Lopez announces she wants Gomez to portray her in a movie about her life.
I would want Selena Gomez to play me in a movie. She is a cutie.
Takes control of oil fields
Sunni militants in Iraq take control of several oil fields. The militants launched a dawn raid on the Beiji refinery, which along with a nearby power plant supplies Iraq with approximately one-third of its fuel and one-tenth of its electricity. A Western diplomat tells Britain’s Daily Telegraph:
We have used the word crisis about Iraq before, but this is the real thing. Iraq’s political leaders now mostly realize the problems. But has it translated into action yet? It has not.
Agency punishes nurse whistleblower
A nurse working at a VA facility in Albany, NY claims her supervisors turned on her when she reported mistreatment of patients and stolen drugs. After Val Riviello reported that doctors had restrained a patient for seven hours, violating a VA rule, she was punished. She said the restraints are for patients who are a threat to themselves and others, and they are supposed to come off when that is no longer the case.
That’s really kind of barbaric.
She is now working in an office cubicle and has been stripped of her nursing duties and supervisory role at the facility. Rivello is facing a 30-day suspension without pay.
Presidential abuse of power suit
Citing alleged abuse of executive power, House Speaker John Boehner announces he will file a lawsuit against Obama. The suit needs formal approval by a group of House leaders. Once that step is complete, the suit is expected to be filed in a few weeks. The plaintiff will be the House of Representatives.
This is not about impeachment — it’s about him faithfully executing the laws of this country. My view is the president has not faithfully executed the laws. What we have seen clearly over the last five years is an effort to erode the power of the Legislative Branch.
NATO reviews Russia relationship
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s top civilian official, says that Russia’s occupation and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula has led the alliance to suspend programs for practical cooperation with Moscow.
This is “a critical moment for our security. When we face old threats and new, from Eastern Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. So we need to continue to adapt our readiness, and reinvest in our capabilities and partnerships. And I regret to say that we see no signs that Russia is respecting its international commitments. So today we will review our relations with Russia and decide what to do next.
FIFA investigates Suarez bite
FIFA opens disciplinary action against a member of the Uruguay team, who is accused of biting a member of the Italian team during the game that took place on June 24, 2014. The Mexican referee did not see the incident and did not take action against Suarez. Suarez has been suspended on two previous occasions for biting an opponent, once in Netherlands and once in England. Suarez and the the Uruguayan soccer federation have until 5:00 pm on June 25, 2014 to respond to the latest charges. Suarez commented:
These are things that happen on the pitch, we were both in the area, he thrust his shoulder into me,” Suarez said in Spanish. “These things happen on the pitch, and we don’t have to give them so much (importance).
Nokia X2
0 0 lesley lesley2014-06-28 00:16:052015-02-06 09:41:03Nokia X2
Officials: Iraq warned of ISIS theat
Iraq received warnings about the “growing threat” from Sunni militants in Iraq as early as the beginning of 2014. US intelligence agencies say:
During the past year, the intelligence community has provided strategic warning of Iraq’s deteriorating security situation. We routinely highlighted (ISIS’) growing threat in Iraq, the increasing difficulties Iraq’s security forced faced in combating (ISIS), and the political strains that were contributing to Iraq’s declining stability…We knew exactly what strategy they were going to use, we knew the military planners.
Aside from the warnings from US intelligence agencies, both The Telegraph and Daily Beast are claiming Kurdish sources did warn American and British officials that ISIS was gaining strength and was ready to advance, but it “fell on deaf ears.”
Russia landmine use
In a report made to an international landmine conference, Ukraine accuses Russia of using landmines in the Crimea Region. Ukraine also says that Russia seized 605 anti-personnel landmines stored at a Ukrainian military depot in the Saki area of Crimea, which Ukraine was allowed to keep for training under the international Mine Ban Treaty. Russia is not a participant in the treaty. The report states that one Ukrainian soldier was killed and three others were wounded by mines and other explosive devices in southeastern Ukraine during April and May.
Bigger iPhones on the way
According to Bloomberg, suppliers in China are working on two new iPhones with larger displays. The display screens on the new phones will be 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, and the phones will also be rounder and thinner. The current screens on the current 5S and 5C models measure 4 inches. The phones are expected to be at retailers around September, 2014.
Will live off taxpayer’s money
At the White House Summit on Working Families, Biden claims he has no savings account and plans to live off of taxpayers when he retires. He also claims he has no stocks or investments.
I have no savings account, but I have a great pension and a great salary