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Kim Dotcom declares himself broke

Nancy Clayson
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Kim Dotcom declares himself broke

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has declared himself “broke”.

Kim Dotcom said he had spent $10 million on legal costs since being arrested in New Zealand in 2012 and accused of internet piracy.

He had employed a local law firm to fight the US’s attempt to extradite him, but his defense team stepped down two weeks ago without explaining why.

Kim Dotcom said he would now represent himself at a bail hearing on November 27.

He denies charges of racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering.

Kim Dotcom told a conference in London, via a video link, that his lawyers had resigned because he had run out of money.

“The [US authorities] have certainly managed to drain my resources and dehydrate me, and without lawyers I am defenseless,” he said.

“They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that’s what I’m facing.”

Kim Dotcom’s declaration comes seven months after he won back access to about $750,000 worth of property – including several of his cars – that had been taken at the time of his arrest. However, other assets, including dozens of bank accounts, remained frozen.

The German national’s finances have also been put under strain after he helped bankroll a political party that failed to win a seat in September’s general election in New Zealand.

“Before I started my political movement – the Internet Party – I was quite popular in New Zealand,” Kim Dotcom told the digital business conference.

“After I got involved in politics and the prime minister of New Zealand and his party attacked me viciously, labeling me a Nazi… and [saying] I’m only starting my political party to fight my extradition… New Zealanders unfortunately have bought into that narrative and today I’m a pariah.

“The witch-hunt worked, and everyone wants to see me burn, and next Thursday I might go to jail because of that.”

Kim Dotcom does, however, continue to retain a lawyer in the US, who gave an interview to Radio New Zealand after Kim Dotcom’s comments.

“There are assets frozen across the globe, there are mechanisms in place for getting relief from those frozen assets – we’re hopeful that courts across the globe, including in Hong Kong and New Zealand, will do the right thing and release funds to counsel,” said Ira Rothken.

“This is the largest copyright case in the history of the United States and New Zealand. It’s a very expensive case. And the governments are making this a war of attrition.

“They’re trying to outspend Kim Dotcom. They are trying to win on procedure rather than merit. And we’re going to do the best that we can so Kim Dotcom has a fair playing field.”

Ira Rothken added there were still about 20 lawyers working on the case.

Kim Dotcom launched a follow-up online storage company, Mega, in 2013, and in March said it was valued at 210 million New Zealand dollars ($164 million).

The business is set to be floated on New Zealand’s stock exchange later this year.

However, Kim Dotcom does not directly own a stake in the business himself and is no longer one of its directors.

Kim Dotcom’s wife, Mona, does own 16.2% of its shares, but the two are separated.

Mona Dotcom revealed in June that she had moved into a guest house about 165ft away from Kim Dotcom’s mansion so their five children could still be close to their father.

Kim Dotcom has revealed that his rent is pre-paid until mid-2015 and he plans to return to court “soon” to try to unfreeze more of his assets.

The next extradition hearing into his case is not scheduled until February 2015, providing him an opportunity to hire more local lawyers if he can obtain the funds.

The US Justice Department claims Megaupload made more than $175 million before it was closed and cost film, TV and other rights-holders more than $500 million.

Katekavia passengers push frozen plane in Siberia

Nancy Clayson
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Katekavia passengers push frozen plane in Siberia

Passengers on board a Katekavia airline flight due to take off from Siberia had to get out and push the aircraft after its brake pads froze solid, Russian media reported.

The plane was trying to take off from the town of Igarka, but was unable to move after the temperature fell to -52C, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.

Passengers on board the flight, many of them shift workers, apparently offered to lend a hand, fearing that otherwise their journey home would be delayed, The Siberian Times reports.

The Katekavia airline flight later took off and landed safely in the city of Krasnoyarsk.Photo Siberian Times

“According to the initial account, the air temperature dropped to -52C, and the braking system in the plane’s landing gear froze in the parking position,” Oxana Gorbunova, a senior aide at the Western Siberia state transport prosecutor’s office, tells RIA Novosti.

“The pushback tractor was unable to budge the aircraft onto the taxiway, and the passengers decided to help give it a push, which is not permitted, as this can damage the aircraft skin.”

Prosecutors are now checking whether the airport, the airline, the crew or the passengers broke any air safety laws.

The town of Igarka lies 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle, so chilly winter temperatures are not unusual. However, -52C is significantly colder than normal; the average low temperature is closer to -30C.

Igarka’s airport is a regional airline hub used by 100,000 passengers a year, many of them working in Russia’s Arctic oil and gas fields.

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Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to star in Big Little Lies TV series

Lisa.Felice
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Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to star in Big Little Lies TV series

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are to star in Big Little Lies TV series by Ally McBeal writer David E. Kelley.

Based on the book Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, it tells of three mothers with children in nursery school who get caught up in a murder mystery.

The actresses will play two of those women, whose seemingly perfect lives unravel during a school fundraiser.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will also co-executive produce alongside David E. Kelley.

The third role has yet to be cast.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman’s respective production companies, Pacific Standard and Blossom Films, had originally optioned the rights to the Australian author’s book earlier this year as a feature film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the comedy drama is being shopped to US cable networks and streaming services like Netflix as a “limited series”.

Although it could run as a one-off, a limited series still offers the opportunity for a show to be renewed for further episodes if it goes down well with viewers, like CBS sci-fi drama Under The Dome.

Reese Witherspoon last appeared on TV in 2000 in sitcom Friends, guest-starring as Jennifer Aniston’s on-screen sister Jill. She has also voiced characters in animated series King of the Hill and The Simpsons.

Nicole Kidman appeared in a number of Australian TV series at the start of her career including A Country Practice and Five Mile Creek.

She starred in TV movie Hemingway and Gellhorn alongside Clive Owen in 2012, which earned her a best actress Golden Globe nomination.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are the latest A-list stars try their hand at the small screen, joining the likes of Kevin Spacey, Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and, for one season only, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in True Detective.

Sabah dies in Beirut at the age of 87

Sonia Pantiss
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Sabah dies in Beirut at the age of 87

Legendary singer Sabah, one of the Arab world’s best-known entertainers, has died in Beirut at the age of 87.

The Lebanese singer and actress, whose real name was Jeanette Gergis al-Feghali, first came to prominence in the 1950s as star of Egyptian movies.

During her more than six-decade long career, Sabah released over 50 albums and acted in 98 films.

Sabah died at her home in Beirut of an unspecified illness, reported Lebanon’s National News Agency.

She was the first Arab singer to perform at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Piccadilly Theatre in London and the Sydney Opera House.

Born in Bdadoun, a Lebanese town in the Baabda-Aley province, Sabah released her first song in 1940.

Sabah soon caught the eye of Egyptian film producer Asia Dagher, who immediately signed her for three films.

The first of these, El-Qalb Louh Wahid (The Heart Has Its Reasons), made her a star – and she was known by her character’s name, Sabah, ever after.

She also acquired several affectionate nicknames, including “Shahroura”, Arabic for “singing bird”, and “Sabbouha,” a diminutive of Sabah.

Among her most popular films were Soft Hands (1964), Ataba Square (1959) and The Second Man (1960), in which she played a cabaret singer who vows to avenge her brother’s death at the hands of a smuggling ring.

Sabah held Egyptian, Jordanian and US citizenship as well as Lebanese, and continued to perform and make television appearances into her 80s.

At home, she was humorously mocked for refusing to leave the limelight, as well as her garish outfits and use of cosmetic surgery.

Sabah married nine times, most notably to Egyptian actor Roshdi Abaza and Lebanese author-director Wassim Tabbara.

Her last marriage, to Lebanese artist Fadi Lubnan, lasted 17 years.

Sabah had two children, Dr. Sabah Shammas and actress Howayda Mansy, both of whom live in the US.

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William Shakespeare First Folio discovered in Saint-Omer library

Sonia Pantiss
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William Shakespeare First Folio discovered in Saint-Omer library

William Shakespeare’s First Folio, regarded as the most important book in English literature, has been discovered in a library of a small French town.

The rare and valuable book had lain undisturbed in a library in Saint-Omer, near Calais in northern France, for 200 years.

It was discovered by librarians planning an exhibition on the historic links between the region and England.

“The work has several pages missing, including the title page,” librarian Remy Cordonnier told the press.

The loss of the first page and introductory material may have led to the book being catalogued as an unexceptional old edition, he added.

The Folio collects 36 of Shakespeare’s 38 known plays for the first time, and was originally printed in 1623, seven years after the playwright’s death.

Edited by his friends and fellow actors John Heminges and Henry Condell, it is credited with being the reason his literary legacy survived. It is the only source for 18 of his plays, including Macbeth.

It is thought that 800 copies were produced, of which 233 are believed to still exist.

New discoveries are made roughly once a decade, and they are scrutinized by scholars for minor variations (each copy is different) and what they might reveal about Shakespeare’s intentions.

The copy discovered in Saint-Omer is only one of two known to reside in France.

Remy Cordonnier, who runs the library’s rare books collection, said he had not initially realized the significance of his find.

“I didn’t instantly recognize it as a book of value,” he said.

“It had been heavily used and was damaged. It had seen better days.

“[But] It occurred to me that it could be an unidentified First Folio, with historic importance and great intellectual value.”

The librarian contacted one of the world’s foremost authorities on Shakespeare, Professor Eric Rasmussen of the University of Nevada, who happened to be in London working at the British Library.

“He was very interested by the elements I had sent him by mail and said he would come over and take a look,” said Remy Cordonnier.

Prof. Eric Rasmussen took the Eurostar to France last Saturday and authenticated the Folio within five minutes.

“This is huge,” he told the New York Times.

“First folios don’t turn up very often, and when they do, it’s usually a really chewed up, uninteresting copy. But this one is magnificent.”

“It was very emotional to realize we had a copy of one of the most famous books in the world,” said Remy Cordonnier.

“I was already imagining the reaction it would cause.”

The Folio contains several handwritten notes, which may illuminate how the plays were performed in William Shakespeare’s time.

In one scene from Henry IV, the word “hostess” is changed to “host” and “wench” to “fellow” – possibly reflecting an early performance where a female character was turned into a male.

The library says it has no plans to sell the book but intends to display it as the centerpiece of the forthcoming exhibition of its rare books by English authors.

However, the Folio is not the rarest book the Saint-Omer library owns. It also has a Gutenberg Bible, of which fewer than 50 are known to survive.

Lionel Messi becomes Champions League’s all-time top scorer

Clyde K. Valle
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Lionel Messi becomes Champions League’s all-time top scorer

Lionel Messi became the Champions League’s all-time top scorer with a hat-trick in Barcelona against Apoel Nicosia match.

Lionel Messi, 27, went into the Group F game in Cyprus level on 71 goals with former Real Madrid forward Raul.

Luis Suarez had already opened the scoring with his first goal for the club when Lionel Messi diverted Rafinha’s 38th-minute shot past the keeper.

Lionel Messi netted his second in the 58th-minute with a low right-foot finish before tapping home from close range.

“I am happy for having achieved such a nice record in a competition of this importance,” he said.

“But the really relevant thing is that we took the three points.

“Barcelona played a great match.”

It is Lionel Messi’s second major record in four days, having scored a landmark 253rd Spanish top-flight goal with a hat-trick against Sevilla on November 23.

Lionel Messi’s latest achievement earned him glowing praise from his manager Luis Enrique.

“I’ll say it again, he’s the best ever in this game,” said the former Spain midfielder.

Both teams finished with 10 men on November 25, Rafinha sent off for two bookable offences 20 minutes from time before Apoel Nicosia’s Joao Guilherme followed him 14 minutes later, also for a second booking.

It was Lionel Messi’s 28th Barcelona hat-trick, and his fifth in the Champions League.

The Argentina international now has 74 Champions League goals in 91 appearances in the competition.

Raul’s 71 goals came in 142 games.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to line up at Basel on November 26 in the competition, has 70 goals.

Barcelona had already qualified for the knockout stages before their visit to Cyprus.

Jean-Claude Juncker unveils €315 billion investment plan to kick-start EU economy

Clyde K. Valle
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Jean-Claude Juncker unveils €315 billion investment plan to kick-start EU economy

Jean-Claude Juncker, the newly appointed European Commission president, has revealed details of a €315 billion ($393 billion) investment plan to kick-start Europe’s economy.

At the heart of Jean-Claude Juncker’s 5-year agenda is a new €21 billion fund, which would be used as “seed money”, to entice private backers to “pitch in” most of the rest.

Only €8 billion of the original money would come from the EU budget itself.

The project would take the burden off national governments, already facing big debts after the financial crisis.

Critics have already suggested that the scheme is too small, and needs far more hard cash if it is to make a major difference.

However, Jean-Claude Juncker said Europe had to face “the challenge of a generation” head-on, without a money-printing machine, describing his plan as the greatest effort in recent EU history to trigger additional investment without changing the rules.

Illustrating the type of projects he had in mind, Jean-Claude Juncker said he had a vision of:

  • Schoolchildren walking into a brand new classroom equipped with computers in the Greek city of Thessaloniki
  • European hospitals saving lives with state of the art medical equipment
  • French commuters charging electric cars on motorways in the same way as petrol stations were used now
  • Households and companies becoming more energy efficient

The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) would create the fund’s €21 billion reserve, according to Jean-Claude Juncker, which would then enable the EIB to fund loans worth €63 billion. Private investors would be expected to put forward the lion’s share of the money, some €252 billion.

Jean-Claude Juncker’s speech came a day after Pope Francis addressed the same parliament, criticizing an “elderly and haggard” Europe that had become less and less protagonist.

Initial reaction to Jean-Claude Juncker’s plan came from Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told the German parliament that her government supported the package in principle, but it had to be clear to everyone where the projects were in the future.

The Commission president, who came to office at the start of November, said he could not promise how much investment would go to each country, but he argued that investment in one country could only be good for growth in another.

Structural reforms were necessary to modernize Europe’s economy and fiscal responsibility was needed to restore confidence in public finance, but now investment had to be boosted as well, he said.

The start of the former Luxembourg prime minister’s term as president has been overshadowed by his country’s role in a tax break row.

Hundreds of multi-national firms were reportedly attracted to Luxembourg in legal tax avoidance schemes. Jean-Claude Juncker was prime minister at the time but denies wrongdoing.

Although a vote against Jean-Claude Juncker is due to take place at the European Parliament on November 27, it is unlikely to attract widespread support.

Kool Smiles Sets Out to Improve Oral Health in Underserved Areas All over the United States

Dana R
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Kool Smiles Sets Out to Improve Oral Health in Underserved Areas All over the United States

The mission of the company is to provide dental care to underserved communities to help strengthen the dental health all over the nation. While the United States is the wealthiest country in the world, dental health is the most neglected healthcare category. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 can be found to have a cavity over fifty percent of the time. This percentage increases with age and at age 17, nearly 78% of young adults can be found to have a cavity. This company has set out to improve these statistics in children and family oral care. Oral healthcare is vital for overall health in children and adults. It can even improve self-esteem and help children perform better in school. It begins with good practice in children and with the vision to help improve this statistic, the dental organization has made its mission to improve oral healthcare at the start.

oral-health
Photo Source: tlevit-dds.com

What Is Happening to Repair This?

No one enjoys going to the dentist but it is necessary if you want to maintain dental health. It is one of those things in life that must be done. Unfortunately, many people put it off until they have no option but to make an appointment at a local dentist in order to fix a big problem. Luckily, there are many dental offices that make dentist appointments as painless and quick as possible. One of those dental offices is Kool Smiles, headquartered in Marietta, Ga.

Where Can You Find an Office?

The dental company has offices in 16 states including Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. They service patients all of over the country and have thousands of employees that can help change your view on dentistry. You can find an office close to you by going to their website and you can easy make your appointment online! It is extremely easy to get started with the company and begin your journey to dental health.

A Dental Practice That Accepts Medicaid

The company was founded in 2002 and has grown exponentially in recent years. It is a privately held company with a strong desire to offer aide to children and families. Not only did they set out to improve oral care in underserved areas, they now offer dental services to those seeking a State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid dentist. Because of this, they can help families who would not normally have the funds to pay for dental care. The majority of other dental practices do not accept Medicaid but this practice has paved the way to begin this trend. For now, this company has practices all across the country that can assist needy families.

What Can You Do To Improve Your Oral Health?

Even if you cannot find an office near you, it is extremely important to find a local dentist office in your area and begin a path to oral health. The main goal is to improve oral care and create a better world for the future. It can lead to other health benefits as well as a heightened self-esteem. It is easier to maintain oral care than to deal with a major issues once it arises.

Phil Rudd shows up late in New Zealand court

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil Rudd shows up late in New Zealand court

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has briefly appeared in court in New Zealand on charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.

The judge at the court in the North Island city of Tauranga briefly issued an arrest warrant for Phil Rudd, 60, after he failed to appear on time.

The warrant was withdrawn when Phil rudd appeared minutes later.

Australian Phil Rudd entered no plea and was remanded on bail until December 2.

A charge of attempting to arrange a murder was dropped earlier this month.

Phil Rudd had been due to appear in court at 09:00 local time.

When he failed to appear, Judge Timothy Brewer issued a warrant for his arrest, saying it would be enacted in half an hour if Phil Rudd did not show.

Phil Rudd was in court when the hearing resumed about 15 minutes later.

Justice Brewer then sent the case back to the district court as police had dropped the charge of attempting to procure murder.

In court, Phil Rudd put on a show for the gallery, winking at the media and tapping a rhythm on the dock.

As he left, he jumped on his security guard’s back and was carried to his sports car.

Phil Rudd’s lawyer, Paul Mabey, has said his client will deny the threatening to kill charge and described the drugs charges as “minor”.

He said the case had attracted sensational worldwide publicity and Phil Rudd had suffered “incalculable damage”.

Phil Rudd, who has lived in New Zealand for more than two decades, was kicked out of AC/DC in 1983 but rejoined in 1994.

AC/DC is one of the biggest-selling bands in history.

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Ferguson grand jury decision: Protests spread from New York to Seattle

Nancy Clayson
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Ferguson grand jury decision: Protests spread from New York to Seattle

Ferguson protests have spread across the US after the grand jury’s decision not to charge white policeman Darren Wilson who shot black teenager Michael Brown.

Demonstrations from New York to Seattle were mostly peaceful but rioting broke out in Oakland, California.

There was some unrest in Ferguson itself, with police making 44 arrests, but the town did not see rioting on the scale of Monday night.

Officer Darren Wilson says he has a “clean conscience”.

Darren Wilson, who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, told ABC News that in the struggle which preceded the shooting, he had felt “like a five-year-old holding on to [US wrestler] Hulk Hogan”.

Many in Ferguson’s predominantly African-American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder, but the grand jury’s decision means the police officer will not face state criminal charges over the shooting.

Lawyers for Michael Brown’s family denounced the grand jury’s decision as “unfair” while condemning the violence that followed the decision.

St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said November 25 had been “generally a much better night” in Ferguson, a town of 21,000 people.

Tear gas was fired just once, he said, when rioters smashed windows at the Ferguson town hall. There was only one report of shooting, he added, when a car was set alight.

Some 2,200 National Guard soldiers were deployed to assist police in keeping order in and around the town.

Protests were reported in 12 cities: St Louis itself as well as Seattle, Albuquerque, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago and Boston.

In Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay area, rioters vandalized police cars and businesses in the centre during a second night of unrest in the port city of 406,000 people.

Looting was reported in several locations, including a classic car dealership and a mobile phone store, while a main road was briefly blocked, the US broadcaster CBS reports.

Speaking from Chicago on November 25, President Barack Obama said there was “no excuse” for destructive behavior and criminal acts of rioting, adding that those responsible should be prosecuted.

The frustration seen by the grand jury’s decision, the president said, had “deep roots in many communities of color who have a sense that our laws are not being enforced uniformly or fairly”.

Barack Obama said he had ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to look at what steps could be taken to build trust in communities and make sure that “law enforcement is fair”.

Much of the debate since August has centered on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot.

Speaking to ABC News in his first public comments, Darren Wilson said there was nothing he could have done differently.

“The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right,” he said.

Darren Wilson denied witness statements that Michael Brown had put his hands up, insisting race had played no part in the confrontation.

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Ferguson grand jury decision: Michael Brown’s lawyers denounce process as unfair

Nancy Clayson
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Ferguson grand jury decision: Michael Brown’s lawyers denounce process as unfair

Michael Brown’s lawyers have denounced the process that cleared police officer Darren Wilson who killed the 18-year-old as “unfair”.

Attorney Benjamin Crump said the process was “broken” a day after a grand jury opted not to send white police officer Darren Wilson to trial.

Michael Brown was killed on August 9 in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking unrest.

A police chief said violence that followed the yesterday’s verdict was worse than any the St Louis suburb had seen.

More than 80 people were arrested amid riots across several areas of St Louis. Sixty-one of those arrests were in Ferguson, with charges including burglary and trespassing.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton, who attended a news conference with Michael Brown’s family, criticized the prosecutor’s decision to announce the verdict late at night on Monday, saying it was “irresponsible”.

Al Sharpton said the jury had “broken our hearts” but he vowed to continue “to fight for a new level of accountability of policing in this country”.

Violent protests were not in the spirit of Michael Brown, Al Sharpton added, saying the young man would not “be remembered for the ashes of buildings burning in Ferguson”.

Instead, he said Michael Brown’s family would push for new legislation to protect citizens and support a “Michael Brown law” that required all police officers to wear body video cameras.

Many in Ferguson’s predominantly African-American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder, but a Missouri grand jury – of nine white and three black members – made no recommendation of charges.

Lawyers for the Brown family criticized the decision to call a grand jury rather than appointing a special prosecutor and accused state prosecutor Robert McCulloch of seeking to “discredit the victim”.

“We could see what the outcome was going to be and that is what occurred last night,” Benjamin Crump told reporters.

“This process is broken. This process should be indicted,” he added.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tried to head off further riots on November 25 by ordering National Guard reinforcements to take to the streets of St Louis.

“The violence we saw in areas of Ferguson last night is unacceptable,” Jay Nixon said in a statement.

“That is why today I am meeting with leaders from the Guard and law enforcement to ensure the protection of lives and property.”

Much of the debate since August has centered on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot, but Robert McCulloch said physical evidence had contradicted some of the witness statements.

The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens from the state of Missouri. At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment.

Michael Brown’s family could yet file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Darren Wilson, who is currently on paid leave.

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June Shannon makes brief appearance in Dumb and Dumber To

Lisa.Felice
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June Shannon makes brief appearance in Dumb and Dumber To

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo matriarch June Shannon makes a brief appearance in the recently released Dumb and Dumber To.

Mama June plays the trailer park wife of Jeff Daniels’ character Harry in a short dream sequence.

The role was kept secret until the film’s release last week. 

June Shannon’s scene shows the character Lloyd – played by Jim Carrey – going to pick up Harry’s young daughter for a date, only to grope the breast of Mama June instead.

Allegations that Mama June is dating convicted child molester Mark McDaniel led TLC to cancel her reality program last month, but it hasn’t altered her film debut in Dumb And Dumber To.

TLC dropped Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after images emerged apparently showing June Shannon with Mark McDaniel.

Phil and Si Robertson’s brother Jimmy Frank dies from heart attack at 78

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil and Si Robertson’s brother Jimmy Frank dies from heart attack at 78

Author Jimmy Frank, the brother of Duck Dynasty’s Phil and Si Robertson, died unexpectedly from a heart attack over the weekend.

James Francis Robertson died on Friday, November 21, at the age of 78. He was born on February 28, 1936.

He graduated from Vivian High School and LSU with a degree in journalism, and was affectionately known to friends and family as Jim or Jimmy Frank.

Jimmy Frank served in the US Air Force before attending LSU. After retiring from a successful career in journalism and public relations, he was able to pursue his passion for writing especially in the area of historical fiction. Although Jim was an avid LSU alumni and Boston Red Sox fan, his first loves were God and his family. Those around Jim enjoyed this man with a kind heart whose spirit was larger than life.

The announcement was made on Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson’s Facebook page: “Please pray for the Robertson family. Phil & Si’s brother, Jimmy Frank, passed away this weekend. Please pray for Connie his wife, their sons & families. It’s tough to lose such a wonderful man so quickly, he had a heart attack. It will hard on them this week & for a long time after the funeral. Pray for strength for all of them.”

Jimmy Frank and his Connie lived in Elgin, Texas.

Phil and Si Robertson’s parents, Merritt and James Robertson, had seven children: Jimmy Frank, Harold Gene, Judy Gimber, Tommy, Phil, Si and Jan. All of the brothers and sisters graduated from college and some obtained master’s degrees.

Their brother, Harold Gene Robertson, died on October 27, 2017, at the age of 74. Phil and Si Robertson also lost their parents and sister Judy Gimber.

James Francis Robertson was a loving husband, father, brother, son and friend to many. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Connie Robertson, sons Jim and wife Masako Robertson, Stephen and wife Holli Robertson, Matthew and wife Su Robertson, Quentin Rance and wife Celeste, David Robertson, John Robertson and eight grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, November 25, at Elgin Church of Christ, 703 N Avenue C, Elgin, TX 78621. Graveside service will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Duck Dynasty video game available at low price for Black Friday

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck Dynasty video game available at low price for Black Friday

The Duck Dynasty video game is available at a low price for Black Friday.

The game is available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and Nintendo 3DS.

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Duck Dynasty family shares tips for celebrating Thanksgiving

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck Dynasty family shares tips for celebrating Thanksgiving

Members of Duck Dynasty family share tips for celebrating Thanksgiving when they take over a local television show.

The Robertsons are cookin’ up a redneck Thanksgiving.

Watch the Robertson’s Turkey Day takeover Wednesday, November 26, at 9.30/8.30 C on A&E.

University of Texas buys Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s personal archive

Sonia Pantiss
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University of Texas buys Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s personal archive

University of Texas in Austin has acquired the personal archive of Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, including manuscripts for 10 of his books.

Colombian Culture Minister Mariana Garces said it was a loss for Colombia, but the author’s family said the government had not approached them.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died in April at the age of 87, was born in Colombia but did much of his writing in Mexico.

The archive spans more than 50 years and includes letters between Gabriel Garcia Marquez and writers such as Graham Greene, Gunter Grass and Carlos Fuentes.

There is also material related to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s political work and his close friendship with Fidel Castro.

Among the manuscripts is the original One Hundred Years of Solitude, perhaps Garcia Gabriel Marquez’s most famous book.

The collection will be placed in the University of Texas’s research library, the Harry Ransom Center.

University of Texas president Bill Powers said: “The University of Texas at Austin with expertise in both Latin America and the preservation and study of the writing process, is the natural home for this very important collection.”

Brain has a weak spot for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, say researchers

Kathryn R. Bown
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Brain has a weak spot for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, say researchers

British researchers have identified a weak spot in the brain which is responsible for developing Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

According to the scientists who have pinpointed the region using scans, the brain area involved develops late in adolescence and degenerates early during ageing.

At the moment, it is difficult for doctors to predict which people might develop either condition.

The findings, in the journal PNAS, hint at a potential way to diagnose those at risk earlier, experts say.

Although they caution that “much more research is needed into how to bring these exciting discoveries into the clinic”.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) team who carried out the study did MRI brain scans on 484 healthy volunteers aged between 8 and 85 years.

The researchers, led by Dr. Gwenaëlle Douaud of Oxford University, looked at how the brain naturally changes as people age.

The images revealed a common pattern – the parts of the brain that were the last to develop were also the first to show signs of age-related decline.

These brain regions – a network of nerve cells or grey matter – co-ordinate “high order” information coming from the different senses, such as sight and sound.

When the researchers looked at scans of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and scans of patients with schizophrenia they found the same brain regions were affected.

The findings fit with what other experts have suspected – that although distinct, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia are linked.

Prof. Hugh Perry of the MRC said: “Early doctors called schizophrenia <<premature dementia>> but until now we had no clear evidence that the same parts of the brain might be associated with two such different diseases. This large-scale and detailed study provides an important, and previously missing, link between development, ageing and disease processes in the brain.

“It raises important issues about possible genetic and environmental factors that may occur in early life and then have lifelong consequences. The more we can find out about these very difficult disorders, the closer we will come to helping sufferers and their families.”

Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion costume fetches $3 million at New York auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion costume fetches $3 million at New York auction

The costume of Cowardly Lion from classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz has sold for more than $3 million at an auction in New York.

The famous outfit went for $3.07 million at a Bonham’s auction of Hollywood memorabilia on November 24.

It had been authenticated as the one Bert Lahr wore in more than a dozen scenes in the film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

The outfit was made out of real lion hide.

Other items that went under the hammer included a piano from 1942 film Casablanca, which sold for $2.9 million.

The instrument was sold along with more than 30 items from the World War II drama.

The piano, one of two used in the film, had been owned by Los Angeles dentist Gary Milan.

Dr. Gary Milan said the piano came with chewing gum under the keyboard, but that the owner of the fingerprint embedded in it was unknown.

In one famous scene, Humphrey Bogart uses the piano as a hiding place for illegal transit papers.

The “letters of transit” were also sold at auction, fetching more than $100,000.

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How to Break Through Your Company’s Plateau of Growth by Using a Smartphone

Dana R
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How to Break Through Your Company’s Plateau of Growth by Using a Smartphone

You may have been successfully running your business for quite some time without any major hiccups or complications. However, as is the case with most new businesses, you will eventually reach a plateau or stopping point where you are no longer able to generate very much growth.

In order to break down that wall and continue growing your business, you need to find an efficient way to increase revenue and sales opportunities. Using a mobile device, such as your smartphone, as an effective business tool can help you to do just that.

 mobile-applications

Manage Time Wisely with Productive Applications

Chances are that you are already using some sort of mobile application on a daily basis with your smartphone or tablet for personal purposes. One report shows that over 102 million mobile applications have been downloaded around the world. That figure is projected to rise to well over 268 million by 2017, according to Statista. Whether you are using an Apple or Android device, there are literally hundreds of thousands of applications that are easily accessible through your smartphone or tablet.

You can actually use this accessibility to your advantage when it comes to breaking through that stopping point. There is an abundance of applications specifically designed for time management and productivity purposes that can save you a considerable amount of time each day when it comes to time-consuming tasks, such as file management and administrative work. By taking the time to explore those options, you may find that you have more time to work on more profitable aspects of your business and less time with those tedious and time-consuming obligations.

Expand Your Hours with Mobile Sales

One of the best ways to use your smartphone to break through the plateau is to embrace the world of mobile sales. Perhaps you have a traditional, brick-and-mortar storefront that requires customers to come to you during your hours of operation. On the other hand, you might run an eCommerce business from the comfort of your own home.

Either way, you are still confined to a physical space with its own requirements. Using a smartphone will allow you to expand your hours in order to remain flexible for your prospective customers, because you will be able to use the device as a credit card processing system whenever and wherever you need it.

Create Sales Opportunities in the Community

Another effective way to break through the plateau is to create brand new sales opportunities for your company within the community. Within your physical or virtual business, you might currently be limiting to your sales potential to the traffic that flows directly to your storefront. However, you can maximize exposure and increase your sales by using the mobile capabilities of your smartphone to search for profitable opportunities elsewhere.

For example, you can sell your products and services at local trade shows or conventions. Perhaps the service that you offer can be done remotely instead of from your office – such as a mobile mechanic or IT specialist. Even though these opportunities would require you to be a little more flexible with your scheduling, the sales opportunities that they will create as a result will make it all worthwhile.

Cut Down Overhead Costs and Related Expenses

In most cases, the overhead costs and related expenses that you have to pay out every month just to keep your business running can also hinder the business from growing due to the decrease in profit that they cause. Therefore, an efficient course of action to take would be to study your current list of overhead expenditures – searching for target areas that can be drastically (or even slightly) reduced.

For instance, you might currently use a standard POS system to process your front-end transactions. This type of equipment can easily cost thousands of dollars to purchase upfront and tens of thousands of dollars to maintain over time due to recurring charges and licensing fees, according to Entrepreneur.

Investing in a mobile POS system, such as an equipment kit offered by Shopify, will allow you to process your front-end transactions efficiently for a fraction of that overwhelming cost. Remember, the more money that you save on the frontend, the more money you will be able to keep on the backend which will place your company in a position for positive, long-term growth.

Stay Connected to Your Customers

Use your mobile technology to stay connected to your customers and clients. Doing so will allow you to drastically improve the quality of your customer service, especially when it comes to responding to their complaints and issues in a timely manner. Keep in mind that nearly 90 percent of consumers stop doing business with the average company after having a poor customer service experience, according to Sales Force.

However, the same study shows that resolving issues in a timely manner will increase the chances of winning those customers back. Using your smartphone or tablet to respond to email inquiries, social media messages and other types of correspondence between yourself and your customers will open more doors of opportunity for your business – including repeat customers and referrals.

400,000 People Suffer From Work-Related Stress In US

Dana R
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400,000 People Suffer From Work-Related Stress In US

With working hours getting longer and pay staying the same, many people in the US are now suffering from stress. Few people realize the impact that their working life has on their well-being. Work-related illnesses are a growing issue in the country. When people think of their general health, they often neglect their mental health. Surprisingly, there is still a huge stigma when it comes to psychological issues. With the number of suffers growing in strength every year, the question is, how much is too much?

stressful-job

Image by Eneas De Troya

How stressful is your job?

The first thing that people have to consider is how stressful their job is on a day to day basis. Professionals, like doctors, teachers and social workers, are all in a high-risk stress category. People who work long hours are likely to suffer from stress. Last year, doctors across the country noted a significant rise in people with stress and anxiety. When you are working long hours and fail to get an adequate break, you might struggle at home.

It is your boss’ duty to look over your work situation and see whether there are ways in which he or she can change your experience. Remember, your boss should care about your health and safety at work. He or she has a responsibility to you when you are on the premises. Many people avoid talking about their mental health, but they shouldn’t fear expressing themselves. If you feel as though you are unhappy in your workplace, you must talk to someone about it as soon as possible.

Signs of work-related stress

When you feel anxious, you might not even realize it yourself. Often, other people will pick up on certain behavioral and personality changes. If people start to worry about your welfare, it is likely that they have noticed a change in the way that you behave. Stressed people tend to become angry easily. If you used to be well-mannered and calm, but now freak out about the slightest thing, workplace stress could be to blame.

There are also physical signs of stress. Many people think that their emotional state has no impact on their physical health, but they are wrong. When you stress yourself out every day, your body feels the strain. You might begin to sweat whilst you are at work or in stressful situations. You may also notice that your heart speeds up when you are anxious. These minor changes are not normal and can lead to serious health complaints. You may also experience frequent headaches, blurred vision and sickness. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to see a medical professional sooner rather than later. He or she can talk to you about your issues and help you to work out a plan of action.

Prolonged stress can lead to diseases and sickness

When people suffer from prolonged bouts of stress, it can lead to serious health conditions. Stress and anxiety put extra pressure on your heart on a daily basis. Your heart is a muscle and can only take a certain amount of strain. If you are stressing your heart out every day, it will not function well. Many people who suffer from stress end up having heart conditions in later life. If you fail to treat stress, you may find that you struggle when it comes to health issues.

The other major concern is that the stress may depress people. Depression is a serious affliction that affects one in three people in the country. When people have depression, they fail to function in society. They sometimes have to have time off from work. There is a common misconception that people can overcome depression alone. That is not always the case. People with severe forms of depression need to get help for their illness. Without the help that they need, these people can fall further into their mental illness. Suicide rates are consistently increasing in the US. There is a strong correlation between people with stress and suicide victims.

What happens if you need to take time off?

If you need to take time off because of work-related stress, you should talk to your employer. Explain your situation and why you need time off. Don’t make the mistake of lying to your employer about your situation. Stress is a legitimate affliction, and you should tell your employer about it. Whilst you are off, you will get sick pay from your employer for the first six months. You can gain compensation for your stress-related illnesses if you need to. Sometimes people need compensation money to sustain themselves while they are ill or to pay medical bills. Contact a company, such as the russellworthsolicitors personal injury firm, so that you can get help.

Who can you talk to about stress?

If you are anxious and work stresses you out, you need to talk to someone. Top psychologists suggest that talking to family members and friends might be helpful. In fact, having a strong social support system around you will make a world of difference to your situation. If you feel as though you can’t confide in your friends or family, you can see your doctor. Few people realize that their doctor can help them with psychological issues. The lack of understanding of mental issues in society means that some people don’t see the stress as an illness. It is an illness, and you deserve help for it.

How can you reduce stress in your workplace?

People who suffer from stress need to find coping mechanisms in their workplace. Your employer will work with you to find ways to help you cope. You should never take on more work than you can handle. You need to make sure that you manage your time well while you are at work. You can also start doing breathing exercises so that you can control your heart rate. When you stop your heart from speeding up, you can stay calm. If you struggle at work and feel anxious, make sure that you take action for the good of your health.

Pope Francis arrives in Strasbourg to address European Parliament and Council of Europe

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis arrives in Strasbourg to address European Parliament and Council of Europe

Pope Francis is visiting Strasbourg where he will address the European Parliament and Council of Europe on social and economic issues.

The Pope is expected to speak about anti-immigration sentiment and unemployment during his four-hour trip.

Many of Strasbourg’s Catholics are upset that he will not meet them or visit the city’s cathedral.

Some Catholics have accused the Pope of neglecting Europe since his election in 2013.

Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa in July 2013 to meet and pray for illegal immigrants, and went to Albania in September. The Pope has said that he is planning a second visit to France in 2015.

Residents of Strasbourg have been told they can watch both of the pontiff’s speeches on a giant screen that will be installed inside the cathedral, which is celebrating its millennial anniversary.

Pope Francis is making the second papal visit to Strasbourg after Pope John Paul II visited the city in 1988.

Pope John Paul II addressed the European parliament where he was heckled by Northern Irish MEP the Rev Ian Paisley.

During his speech the late Pope called Europe “a beacon of civilization”.

However, Pope Francis has called Europe a “tired” continent which worships the “idol of money”.

In Strasbourg, Pope Francis is expected to call for greater tolerance and inclusion in response to the success nationalist parties have seen in parts of Europe.

In May, several of these parties performed strongly in the European parliamentary elections.

Pope Francis is also thought likely to address Europe’s ongoing economic crisis and the social problems that it has created.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Women need equal respect rather than equality

Diane A. Wade
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Women need equal respect rather than equality

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said women cannot be treated as equal to men, and has accused feminists of rejecting motherhood.

“You cannot put women and men on an equal footing,” the Turkish president told a meeting in Istanbul.

“It is against nature.”

He also said feminists did not grasp the importance of motherhood in Islam.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously urged women to have three children, and has lashed out against abortion and birth by Caesarean section.

His latest remarks were delivered at a women’s conference in Istanbul.

“In the workplace, you cannot treat a man and a pregnant woman in the same way,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, according to the Anatolia news agency.

Women cannot do all the work done by men, he added, because it was against their “delicate nature”.

“Our religion regards motherhood very highly,” he said.

“Feminists don’t understand that, they reject motherhood.”

He said women needed equal respect rather than equality.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also told the Istanbul meeting that justice was the solution to most of the world’s issues – including racism, anti-Semitism, and “women’s problems”.

The Turkish leader often courts controversy with his statements.

Earlier this month, he claimed that Muslims had discovered the Americas more than 300 years before Christopher Colombus.

In his 11 years as prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan became a crucial player in regional politics.

However, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reputation has suffered recently over the crisis in Syria, and accusations of authoritarianism.

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Ferguson grand jury decision is not to bring charges over Michael Brown’s killing

Diane A. Wade
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Ferguson grand jury decision is not to bring charges over Michael Brown’s killing

The Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown sparked violence in the St Louis suburb.

A local police chief said the violence was “probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August” after the black teenager was killed.

St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar said he had heard 150 shots fired by crowds.

Michael Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, sparking protests.

Many in the African American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.

President Barack Obama joined Michael Brown’s family on November 24 in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was “the grand jury’s to make”.

“I didn’t see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I’m disappointed about that,” Jon Belmar said.

“Unfortunately this spun out of control.”

Most of at least a dozen burned businesses were “total losses”, he said, and two police cars had been “basically melted”.

“I don’t think we were underprepared,” he added.

“But I’ll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don’t think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community.”

Some protesters charged barricades and taunted police. Chants of “murderer” could be heard.

Police responded with smoke and tear gas.

After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an “opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown’s] death didn’t mean nothing”.

Explaining the jurors’ decision, state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said their job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence.

“These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process,” he said.

Protesters have been chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot” – a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Michael Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.

Police say there was a struggle between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson before the shooting.

In his own testimony, Darren Wilson says that before the shooting Michael Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun.

The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens – nine white and three black.

At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment.

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Michael Brown case: Grand jury reaches decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Brown case: Grand jury reaches decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson

A grand jury has made a decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

Michael Brown’s family confirmed that the jury’s decision is expected to be announced later on Monday.

Michael Brown, 18, was killed by Darren Wilson on August 9 in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.

The teenager’s death sparked protests, sometimes violent, as police were criticized for using military grade riot gear.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in the area and called in 400 National Guard troops in anticipation of protests, should charges not be filed in the case.

A White House spokesman said that President Barack Obama had urged those who wished to protest against the jury’s decision to “do so peacefully”.

The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, with many in the African American community calling for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.

Witnesses say Michael Brown had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.

Police have said there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting.

Protests have continued in the area over the past few days in anticipation of a grand jury decision, including in Clayton, where the grand jury is meeting.

Police have put up barricades around the court house, while many shops in Ferguson have boarded up their windows ahead of the announcement.

Michael Brown’s family has appealed for calm ahead of a grand jury decision against the officer.

His father, Michael Brown Sr., said “hurting others or destroying property it not the answer” in a video posted online.

On November 24, the family called for four-and-half-minutes of silence following the jury’s decision, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor of St Louis.

Correspondents say that leaks from the grand jury testimony, including the official autopsy report, indicate there may be no indictment.

The grand jury is responsible for deciding whether Darren Wilson should be charged with any one of four possible crimes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.

Nine out of the 12 members of this jury must vote yes to indict.

The jury consists of 12 randomly picked impartial citizens – six white men, three white women, one black man and two black women.

If the grand jury decides not to indict, the state prosecutor, Robert McCulloch, could still bring a case against Darren Wilson.

However, Robert McCulloch has already said he would not do this, but would seek permission to release as much information as possible so the public could understand the decision.

Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014: Route and best places to watch

Nancy Clayson
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Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014: Route and best places to watch

The 95th annual 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on November 27 starting with 8.30 AM.

Parade route:

  1. Start point: 20th Street and JFK Boulevard. From there, the parade proceeds east on JFK Boulevard to 16th Street.
  2. The Parade turns left onto 16th Street, marching towards Arch Street and making a left onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
  3. The Parade continues on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway until reaching Logan Circle.
  4. The Parade loops around the south side of Logan Circle and then continues on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Eakins Oval.
  5. The Parade proceeds along the south side of Eakins Oval finishing in front of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Best places to watch:

  1. One of the best places to watch is at the parade’s finish at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  2. The south side of Eakins Oval (in front of the Art Museum) is also recommended. Campbell’s Soup sponsors a tent there where there’s hot food, warm drinks and entertainment for kids.
  3. Other locations along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, like Logan Circle, are also good bets.
  4. You can also watch the parade begin at 20th and JFK Boulevard and then take a shortcut on foot heading north on 20th Street five blocks to the Parkway and catch the parade again as it goes by. If you need to warm up, head to the nearby Comcast Building and catch the Comcast Holiday Spectacular on the massive Comcast Experience Video Wall.

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