Questions Froome performance
As Froome dominates the Pyrenees Mountain stage of the Tour, Armstrong questions if he is cheating
1. Clearly Froome/Porte/Sky are very strong. Too strong to be clean? Don’t ask me, I have no clue.
@danieljcastille I’m not accusing anyone In fact, quite the opposite. I’m not interested (nor do I have the credibility) to opine there.
App backs up photos without users’ knowledge
A user reports that Google’s Photos app, a default on many new Android devices, backs up new photos even if the app is disabled. The issue occurs when users enable the backup feature on their devices, then remove the app – new photos are still sent to Google’s servers, and are visible if the Photos app is reinstalled by the user at a later time. When he contacts the company they say:
The backup was as intended.
Twitter removes epileptic videos
Twitter removes “#DiscoverMusic campaign” Vine videos that use bright flashing effects that cause epileptic seizures in viewers. Epilepsy Action:
For a huge corporation like Twitter to take that risk was irresponsible.
CDC security failures
A report shows CDC fails to prevent power outages between January 2013 and July 2014, leading to staff evacuation to prevent pathogen exposure. The report indicates one incident in Building 23 of Atlanta, Georgia where a lightning strike lead to airflow failures, the inability to open hallway doors, and loss of phone communication. The report also includes instances of worker pathogen exposure by needles, maintenance workers opening doors to restricted areas, and malfunctions in gear that protect scientists from pathogens. However, the report lacks comprehensive details. Biosafety Consultant:
This is not a comprehensive list. I look at these documents, and it’s very clear to me that leadership has not defined for the workforce what is a reportable incident or accident.
Colorado Representative:
It is unacceptable that the CDC, our nation’s premier institution committed to preventing the spread of infectious disease, has not resolved these problems after years of oversight and attention. It is more vital than ever that the CDC, from leadership on down, commit to a strategy that will prevent future lapses in safety.
Low-flying pilot was tired, ill
Investigators release a report stating that the pilot who flew too low on a landing at Melbourne was tired, hungry and also had a cold. Qantas has promised to review its protocols and training after the report.
While backup systems worked as they should have, including the intervention by the first officer and the automated warning from the on-board computer, we certainly don’t take this incident lightly
‘Cursing’ toy
A Florida family claims that a minion toy they received at McDonald’s says “What the f*ck.” Others say they hear it saying, “Well I’ll be damned.” Parent:
It turned out to be a toy that decided to talk profanity. I can’t believe it’s coming out of a toy.
McDonald’s says the Minion toy actually says “para la bukay,” “hahaha” and “eh eh.” Spokesperson
The allegation that this toy is saying anything offensive or profane is not true.
Coffin, who invented the Minionese language:
I’m not saying what people with a twisted mind seem to be hearing. If it was my intent to say inappropriate stuff, you’d hear it, I promise you. But I’d be pretty stupid doing it in a movie for all audiences including kids. I don’t think myself as being very intelligent, but I’m certainly not that dumb.
https://youtu.be/tEnPYxFP9Vc
WHO can’t handle Epidemics
A 28 page report by a panel led by Dame Stocking says the World Health Organisation unable to handle public health emergencies judging from its performance in the Ebola epidemic. The report suggests fault in WHO’s financial preparedness, reliance on diplomacy, and lack of decisive actions by director general Chan. Furthermore, the report recommends regional and country representatives to play a more active role in pushing their governments to take immediate action to epidemics; this is in response to WHO’s delayed declaration of an Ebola crisis only after the death of 1,000 people.
WHO does not currently possess the capacity or organisational culture to deliver a full emergency public health response.
WHO accepts the report’s criticism and prepares improvements to its workforce and financial reserves. Medecins Sans Frontieres Dr. Liu:
The question is how will this translate into real action on the ground in future outbreaks?
Clinic vaccination errors
In an annual audit, authorities shut down a clinic in Salem County, N.J. that gave expired or wrong vaccinations to uninsured children through the Shots for Tots program between October 2014 and June 2015. The audit reveals a two-year-old boy was given an excessive dose of an HPV vaccination for cervical cancer (Gardasil), a one-year-old child was given a flu mist dose at the wrong age, two children were given expired vaccinations, and one child was given a wrong vaccination for an unconfirmed disease. Authorities also dispose of $20,000 worth of vaccines that perished following improper storage. Salem County Counsel:
If errors occur, errors occur. And you got to step up to the plate, and you have to make sure somebody’s not harmed further.
Claim: $700million transferred to personal account
The Wall Street Journal says that Malaysian government investigators have discovered evidence of potential corruption involving Prime Minister Razak, alleging that almost $700 million linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd. investment fund was transferred into his personal accounts. The original source and ultimate destination of the money is unclear. Prime Minister’s office:
There have been concerted efforts by certain individuals to undermine confidence in our economy, tarnish the government and remove a democratically-elected prime minister.
Accuses Rose of gambling while playing
Dowd releases documents that prove Rose bet on baseball while an active player, including copies of pages from a notebook from the home of Bertolini during a raid by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in 1989. The notebook is currently in the National Archives’ New York office, where officials decline requests to release it. Dowd:
This does it. This closes the door…We knew that [Bertolini] recorded the bets, and that he bet himself, but we never had his records. We tried to get them. He refused to give them to us. This is the final piece of the puzzle on a New York betting operation with organized crime. And, of course, [Rose] betting while he was a player. Bertolini nails down the connection to organized crime on Long Island and New York. And that is a very powerful problem…The implications for baseball are terrible. [The mob] had a mortgage on Pete while he was a player and manager.
Rose:
Since we submitted the application earlier this year, we committed to MLB that we would not comment on specific matters relating to reinstatement. I need to maintain that. To be sure, I’m eager to sit down with [MLB commissioner Rob] Manfred to address my entire history — the good and the bad — and my long personal journey since baseball. That meeting likely will come sometime after the All-Star break. Therefore at this point, it’s not appropriate to comment on any specifics. Bertolini’s lawyer, Nicholas De Feis, said his client is not interested in speaking to anyone about these issues.
Told to quit Ombudsman position
Mayor Condon calls for Dolezal to resign from her chairpersonship of the Office of the Police Ombudsman Commission. A city report states that she has failed to safeguard secret information and talks about it publicly, among several violations. Report findings:
Commissioner Dolezal engaged in conduct that humiliated, insulted or degraded…While working for the commission, she was simultaneously protesting police violence and speaking out about recent police cases involving violence against blacks.
Training incident details:
[She] asked questions that were, ‘hostile and accusatory,’ specifically inquiring if all the suspects in the training scenarios were black. When told that the first scenario of training had included only white suspects, she turned her body away from the officers and busied herself with her cellphone.
Family say Dolezal not black
Dolezal’s parents, who say they are estranged from their daughter, accuse her of lying about her racial idenity. They say she began to “disguise herself” in 2006 or 2007, after the family had adopted four African-American children and Dolezal had shown an interest in portrait art. Mother:
It’s very sad that Rachel has not just been herself. Her effectiveness in the causes of the African-American community would have been so much more viable, and she would have been more effective if she had just been honest with everybody.
When asked about her racial identity by a local reporter, Dolezal responds:
That question is not as easy as it seems. There’s a lot of complexities … and I don’t know that everyone would understand that. We’re all from the African continent.
Victim named
Reinboldt’s sister says she first learned of her late brother’s sexual abuse in 1979 when her brother revealed to her that he was gay and had been out of high school for eight years. The abuse lasted throughout Steve’s four years of high school as he served as team student manager.
I asked him, when was your first same sex experience. He looked at me and said, ‘It was with Dennis Hastert’. I was stunned.
She asked him why he never told anyone.
And he just turned around and kind of looked at me and said, ‘Who is ever going to believe me?’
She said she was angered when Hastert showed up at her brother’s funeral in 1995 (he had died of AIDS):
I followed him out into the parking lot of the funeral home. I said, ‘I want to know why you did what you did to my brother.’ And he just stood there and stared at me. He didn’t say, ‘What are you talking about?’ you know, [or], ‘What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He just stood there and stared at me. Then I just continued to say, ‘I want you to know your secret didn’t die in there with my brother. And I want you to remember that I’m out here and that I know.’ And again, he just stood there and he did not say a word.
She says she tried to contact the media and the authorities with no response, and had given up hope. Then, a few weeks ago, she received a call from the FBI:
I feel vindicated and that Steve’s vindicated, that Mr. Hastert can’t pull this wool over everybody’s eyes. Finally the truth comes out.
‘Pretty Little Liar’ poster campaign
Posters go up around the Columbia campus accusing Sulkowicz of lying. Related posters also criticize Lena Dunham.
Apparently posters calling Emma Sulkowicz a "Pretty Little Liar" such as this one went up overnight around campus. pic.twitter.com/2YlgFsKoOS
— Teo Armus (@teoarmus) May 20, 2015
Three more accuse Cosby
Allred hosts a press conference where three more women, Burns, Kinney and Tate jointly accuse Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them in three separate incidents. Kinney:
I was mortified at what had happened; all this time, and for many, many years, I felt that this was my fault.
Towing company against termination
The towing company that employs the woman McHenry verbally abused on camera states they do not want the reporter to lose her job.
Parking enforcement is contentious by nature. At the same time, neither Gina, our lot clerk, nor our company, have any interest in seeing Britt McHenry suspended or terminated as a result of her comments. Ms. McHenry is our neighbor, and, as she said, to paraphrase, made remarks that were out of line. She is human and errors in judgement can be made in the heat of the moment.
Gervais criticizes Francis
Gervais criticizes Francis for killing a giraffe and posing next to it.
What must've happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling? pic.twitter.com/DyYw1T5ck2
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 13, 2015
Upset over Cat Daddy video release
Upton claims Richardson released the video without her consent saying the video was shot for fun, and she never thought it would be uploaded on YouTube. When asked if she stood up to Richardson:
Yes, I did. I was like, ‘That was disrespectful, you could have told me!’ Now, obviously, it’s fine.
Richardson is asked if he feels somewhat responsible for Upton’s rise to fame:
No. Kate was born a star.
Groping accusation
Battilana accuses Weinstein of grabbing her breasts and slipping a hand under her skirt during a “business meeting.” She says she went to Weinstein’s third-floor office the day after the pair met on the red carpet at a Radio City Music Hall event. Police:
He initiated the contact. He saw her and spoke to her. She didn’t know who he was until he approached her.
Police say the get-together was billed as a chance for Battilana to discuss her career with the producer, but she claims Weinstein asked if her breasts were real before ignoring his protests and groping her and slipping a hand under her skirt. She tells police he finally backed off after she rejected his request for a kiss. Police:
He asked if her breasts were real before touching them. She asked him to stop, and he put his hand up her skirt. He asked for a kiss; she responded ‘No’.
After leaving Weinstein’s office Battilana contacted a friend and went to the police with her allegations later that night. The friend took her to the 9th Precinct stationhouse in the East Village, and officers there drove her to the 1st Precinct station in Tribeca to report the incident.
Questioned by police
Police question Weinstein after a young woman claims he groped her at the Tribeca Film Center. No charges have been filed.
He initiated the contact. He saw her and spoke to her. She didn’t know who he was until he approached her.