| Mueller report: ‘Beyond implausible’ Trump team was unaware of Russian election interference, says legal expert Posted: 19 Apr 2019 12:30 AM PDT  With the release of the Mueller investigation on Thursday, albeit in lightly redacted form, there are now as many questions as there are answers.And while the investigation did not find evidence the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, it uncovered "multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government". The Independent spoke to legal expert and writer Colin Kalmbacher, who had much to say about Mr Mueller's findings. The report highlighted that multiple members of the Trump campaign received some form of communication from Russian officials. Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Roger Stone, Alex van der Zwaan, Konstantin Kilimnik, and 25 Russian nationals were indicted by the Special Counsel. On that, Mr Kalmbacher said that: "It's beyond implausible the Trump Administration was unaware of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and any sleight-of-hand responses from administration officials that downplay such knowledge are not only off-base but, because they're so ridiculous, also read as suspect."President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr, and other campaign officials have touted the claim of "no collusion" as the Special Counsel was "unable" to come to the conclusion that the group "willfully" violated the law in the case of the Trump Tower meeting, or intentionally colluded with Russia, but could not prove overall that justice was not obstructed. Mr Kalmbacher said that "it is imperative to differentiate between: (1) Russian government actors; and (2) non-governmental actors. Mr Mueller's redacted report – and years' worth of public knowledge – have established that highly placed Trump 2016 campaign officials made contact with Russian nationals not directly affiliated with the Russian Federation." "In other words, obviously the Trump campaign had contacts with Russians but there's nothing immoral, illegal or otherwise untoward about that. Only the most irresponsible and reckless – and almost certainly incorrect – reporting has suggested that Trump campaign apparatchiks actually had conspiratorial meetings with Russian Federation agents keyed toward cheating Donald Trump across the finish line by way of razor-thin margins in the Midwestern United States." "As far as the latter is concerned, if I were summing up the extent of the Trump campaign's efforts with Russian Federation agents, I'd have to emphasise the Mueller report's bottom-line finding that 'the investigation did not establish such coordination.'"As for the charges laid against Manafort in Virginia? They weren't linked to collusion at all. Mr Kalmbacher said: "I covered the Manafort trial in Virginia in person. This was all fairly run-of-the-mill gilded upper crust tax evasion and bank fraud. In other words: the story of American wealth. It would have been nice if the Manafort prosecution led to an American Spring focused on uprooting the methods by which the wealthy and well-connected game our system: but that's not where things were headed. Manafort, the president's former campaign manager, was in March sentenced to nearly four years in prison on tax and bank fraud."You could prosecute most people who make over six figures for the same kind of stuff Manafort was convicted of in Virginia – but our system is actually set up to facilitate white collar crime – and none of that had anything directly to do with politics; he was interested in finding ways to launder his money earned in Ukraine, sure. But even these white collar crimes were fairly pedestrian stuff: lying on his taxes, hiding income, inflating assets. Is this the kind of thing society really thinks people should be caged for?"The section on Trump Campaign and the Dissemination of Hacked Materials begins with: "The Trump Campaign showed interested in WikiLeaks's releases of hacked materials throughout the summer of 2016," and is mostly redacted from that point.The report states "On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks posted thousands of internal DNC documents revealing information about the Clinton Campaign. Within days, there was public reporting that US Intelligence agencies had "high confidence" that the Russian government was behind the theft of emails and documents from the DNC."Was Mr Mueller aware that the Trump campaign knew the emails were going to be released before they were? Mr Kalmbacher believes so.He replied, "Well, yes. But that's hardly surprising – and not the least bit incriminating – because Wikileaks themselves teased the existence of the leaks before they were released."Continuing, he added: "This is one of the more hare-brained episodes in the entire Russiagate drama. The idea that a hatchet man like Roger Stone had access to some secret pool of knowledge or that he was buddying around with Julian Assange in a bid to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House. It's absolutely ridiculous. There's no need for grand designs or cloak-and-dagger espionage. We're not dealing with a Graham Greene character here. Anyone on either side of the equation should think twice about romancing Roger Stone. He's not a scheming mastermind or a windswept hero. The Trump campaign knew about potentially harmful Clinton-related releases because Roger Stone was capable of using a Twitter account."The report notes that "Beginning in June 2016, [redacted] forecast to senior Campaign officials that WikiLeaks would release information damaging to candidate Clinton. WikiLeaks's first release came in July 2016.'" "What an interesting coincidence," said Mr Kalmbacher. "Except that it's not interesting whatsoever.""Wikileaks publically teased the forthcoming release of Clinton-centric data in May of 2016. May comes before June. The real story here – and the revealing piece of information – is why it took Roger Stone at least two weeks to alert his superiors about this impending release. That's hardly expert timing or even great ability to read for comprehension. But, of course, it's not Roger Stone's timing or reading comprehension that's important here. The key point: the narrative of Stone's scheming nefariousness is almost completely fictitious."As for the legal implications of the report? "Most of the report on this subject is redacted. So, there are, presumably legal implications and I'd imagine the lines dedicated to those implications outline some of the still-working parts in the ongoing Stone prosecution."Mr Kalmbacher continued: "More directly: don't be so stupid as to lie about non-crimes. Other than that, no. There's nothing illegal about relying on Wikileaks for campaign dirt. Wikileaks is a publishing company. They provide information – they do journalism – that powerful people do not like."Mr Mueller has decided to not prosecute those involved with the Trump tower meeting (Donald J Trump Jr, Manafort, and Jared Kushner) despite Mr Trump Jr setting up the meeting due to the offer of "some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father" as there was no proof that they "willfully" violated the law. But which campaign law is this based on, and what exactly about their behaviour didn't violate it? "This is based on 11 CFR 110.20. I've actually written about why Mr Mueller wouldn't charge Trump Jr. over this meeting before. Turns out my prediction was half right. Mr Mueller, like most lawyers, has a habit of arguing with himself. In essence he decided not to prosecute Trump Jr. for two reasons: (1) it would be hard to classify opposition research as "a thing of value" and this would have been the first time in US history that such an effort would have been made; and (2) because of a tick (feature or bug?) in campaign finance law, ignorance of the law actually is an excuse and here, Mr Mueller determined that Trump Jr. was not familiar with the intricacies of campaign finance law. Who really is, though? Campaign Legal Center – that's about it. "Mr Mueller is a conservative Republican whose interests and loyalties are pretty clear – he wasn't there to rock the boat or make precedent. So, it's no surprise that he didn't go after the 45th president's oldest son."Finally, why did none of this add up to collusion? "Collusion was almost always never going to be proved or shown simply because it's not the legal term of art applicable here." He continued: "Collusion only exists in antitrust law in the US. I can't recall exactly when or how it transposed itself into our cultural lexicon but it's basically been used as a smokescreen."Mueller obviously can't prove something that's entirely inapplicable. But, again, prosecutors can easily prove conspiracy if they want to. They can easily prove campaign finance crimes if they want to. They can easily go after regulatory infractions a la Manafort if they want to.""The decision not to charge here was a conscious one not to create controversy because the case, if charged, would have, simply, ruined people's lives. And, it seems, Mueller didn't deem that damage equivalent to the potential crimes he probably saw."
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| Israel destroys family apartments of accused Palestinian killer Posted: 19 Apr 2019 12:50 AM PDT  Israeli forces destroyed two apartments in the occupied West Bank on Friday that housed the family of a Palestinian accused of killing an Israeli woman in February, the army said. Some clashes broke out between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces during the operation, AFP journalists reported.
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| Fire-ravaged Notre Dame now stabilized, firefighters leave Posted: 19 Apr 2019 03:32 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — Architects and construction workers have stabilized the damaged structure of Notre Dame cathedral, four days after a fast-spreading fire ravaged the iconic Paris building, and firefighters were leaving the site Friday night, a fire service official said.
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| US appeals court rejects Trump administration lawsuit, upholds most of California's sanctuary laws Posted: 18 Apr 2019 06:35 PM PDT  A federal appeals court upheld California's sanctuary state law, ruling it does not interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
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| This 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Restomod Is A Showstopper Posted: 18 Apr 2019 04:16 AM PDT  Case and point, this 1957 Cadillac Eldorado SeVille restomod currently listed by Streetside Classics. Finished in Bright Ruby Red and detailed with polished chrome work elevates this iconic design to new levels. Its creators were careful not to detract away from the timeless styling of the Eldorado, and have instead exaggerated its highly fashionable character.
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| UPDATE 2-Sears sues Lampert, claiming he looted assets and drove it into bankruptcy Posted: 18 Apr 2019 10:52 AM PDT ![UPDATE 2-Sears sues Lampert, claiming he looted assets and drove it into bankruptcy]( "UPDATE 2-Sears sues Lampert, claiming he looted assets and drove it into bankruptcy") Sears Holdings Corp sued longtime former Chairman Eddie Lampert, his hedge fund ESL Investments and others like Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, claiming they illegally siphoned billions of dollars of assets from the retailer before it went bankrupt. The lawsuit, made public on Thursday, was filed by the restructuring team winding down Sears' bankruptcy estate and suing on behalf of creditors, many of whom blame Lampert for the retailer's downfall. The complaint seeks the repayment of "billions of dollars of value looted from Sears," including while it was in what Lampert would later call a "death spiral" where it sold core assets to meet daily expenses with no real plan for becoming profitable.
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| View Photos of the Volkswagen I.D. Buggy Posted: 18 Apr 2019 02:01 PM PDT |
| A Flight Attendant Is Reportedly In a 'Deep Coma' After Contracting Measles Posted: 18 Apr 2019 12:36 PM PDT  She has inflammation of the brain
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| 'It's a report he did for me': Barr shoots down questions over handling of Mueller probe Posted: 18 Apr 2019 08:44 AM PDT  Attorney General William Barr ended his press conference about special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Thursday after a testy exchange with reporters who questioned him about the notion that he was trying to "protect" President Trump.
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| Notre-Dame esplanade to get 'ephemeral' wooden cathedral during rebuild Posted: 18 Apr 2019 12:16 AM PDT  Catholic worshippers feeling orphaned by the fire that ravaged part of Notre-Dame will be welcomed in an "ephemeral cathedral" of wood in front of the Paris monument until it reopens, Notre-Dame's chief priest said Thursday. Speaking to France's CNews television channel Monsignor Patrick Chauvet said: "We mustn't say 'the cathedral is closed for five years and that's it'. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had backed the idea and agreed to give over part of the esplanade to the church for a wooden structure, he said.
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| Police official: Short-circuit likely caused Notre Dame fire Posted: 18 Apr 2019 06:59 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — Paris police investigators think an electrical short-circuit most likely caused the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, a police official said Thursday, as France paid a daylong tribute to the firefighters who saved the world-renowned landmark.
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| How Pete Buttigieg handled anti-gay protesters shouting about Sodom and Gomorrah at Iowa rally Posted: 18 Apr 2019 06:24 AM PDT  "The good news is, the condition of my soul is in the hands of God, but the Iowa caucuses are up to you," Buttigieg responded, pointing at the crowd.
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| New York Auto Show: Kia debuts ‘hot' and ‘spicy' fully-electric concept Posted: 18 Apr 2019 04:59 AM PDT  On Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, Kia unveiled the HabaNiro, aka "The Everything Car."
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| Don't Wait to Book Summer Air Travel | 737 Max Posted: 18 Apr 2019 09:17 AM PDT  737 Max Fallout: Don't Wait to Book Summer Air Travel If you're thinking of taking a summer vacation but haven't yet booked your airline tickets, here's one bit of advice: This is not the year t...
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| The Latest: Portugal confirms 29 Germans killed on Madeira Posted: 18 Apr 2019 05:10 AM PDT  LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The Latest on the deadly bus crash on Portuguese island of Madeira (all times local):
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| Microsoft’s new Surface Hub 2 is $9,000, or you can turn any TV into a giant touchscreen for $272 Posted: 18 Apr 2019 05:17 AM PDT ![Microsoft's new Surface Hub 2 is $9,000, or you can turn any TV into a giant touchscreen for $272]( "Microsoft's new Surface Hub 2 is $9,000, or you can turn any TV into a giant touchscreen for $272") The new Surface Hub 2 from Microsoft was announced well over a year ago, and now it finally has pricing and a release date. If you want one when it hits the street this coming June, you'll have to part with a whopping $9,000. The Surface Hub 2 is awesome, don't get us wrong, but is it really worth $9 grand even if you're spending your company's money? Whether you're working with your company's budget or your own, we've got another option for you that costs a minuscule fraction of the price of the new Surface Hub. It's called the Touchjet WAVE Virtual Touchscreen TV System, and it turns any TV up to 65 inches into a massive touchscreen in seconds. Definitely check it out -- especially right now while it's on sale!Here's some important info from the product page: * Please refer to the user manual for setup instructions. If there are issues, please contact Touchjet Customer Service at 415-579-3399 for assistance. * Virtual Touchscreen - Touchjet WAVE adds a virtual touchscreen onto flat screen TVs and display monitors up to 65" (smart TV is not required). * Simple Connection - Simply attach the WAVE to the top of your TV and plug the WAVE into your TV via HDMI. * Giant Tablet - The WAVE is preloaded with the Android OS, Wi-Fi and it comes preloaded with apps so that you can start enjoying right out of the box. * Work View / Class Time - Flip through your presentation directly on the big screen just like John King on cnn. * Streaming - Stream your favorite shows and movies on Netflix or your favorite streaming app without having to connect to other devices. * Support - Please download the Touchjet App onto your smart device (iOS and Android) for step-by-step instructions. * Connect, Collaborate, and Share - With WAVE, bring presentation and education apps, and connect individual tablets to the big touchscreen. An affordable alternative to IWB and giant tablets.
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| Here Are All the Ways Trump May Have Obstructed Justice Posted: 18 Apr 2019 01:48 PM PDT  Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated a number of ways in which President Donald Trump have have attempted to obstruct justice.
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| Amazon to pull plug on China retail operations: report Posted: 18 Apr 2019 12:15 AM PDT  Amazon plans to close down its online retail operations that cater to consumers in China in an apparent admission of defeat to local e-commerce rivals such as Alibaba and JD.com, a report said on Thursday. The US e-commerce pioneer will maintain other operations in China such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kindle e-books and cross-border teams that help ship goods from Chinese merchants to customers abroad, Bloomberg News said, citing unidentified people familiar with the plans. An Amazon spokesperson did not explicitly confirm plans to throw in the towel on domestic e-commerce, but said the company was looking to focus more on cross-border sales.
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| How Did Notre Dame Come to Be So Neglected? Posted: 18 Apr 2019 06:10 AM PDT  With Notre Dame still smoldering, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the great cathedral and called for donors. France's luxury industry led the way, with Bernard Arnault, the billionaire founder of the LVMH fashion conglomerate, promising 200 million euros ($226 million) and Francois Pinault of rival fashion group Kering 100 million euros. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo offered money from city coffers and promised to organize an international donor conference.
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| New York man accused of threatening Rep. Ilhan Omar remains behind bars Posted: 17 Apr 2019 06:13 PM PDT  Two Rochester-area men charged with threats against Muslims remained behind bars after detention hearings were postponed Wednesday.
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| Israel's president formally nominates Netanyahu as PM Posted: 17 Apr 2019 08:33 PM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's president on Wednesday formally nominated Benjamin Netanyahu for a fourth consecutive term as prime minister, officially launching a process that is expected to result in a new government dominated by religious and nationalist parties in the coming weeks.
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| Erdogan says to keep up election challenge but Turkey must move on Posted: 18 Apr 2019 03:55 AM PDT  President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday his AK Party would keep up its challenge to the Istanbul election results after the main opposition candidate became mayor, but Turkey needed to end debate on the issue and focus on issues like the economy. After 17 days of objections and recounts, the secularist opposition Republican People's Party new mayor Ekrem Imamoglu took office on Wednesday, despite a pending request by the AKP to annul and repeat mayoral elections in Istanbul. When the YSK (High Election Board) says the last word, the matter will be closed for us," Erdogan said a speech at a union confederation event.
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| Fossil hunter tries to sell baby T-Rex skeleton on eBay for £2.25m, enraging scientists Posted: 18 Apr 2019 04:37 AM PDT  A fossil hunter's attempt to sell a young Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on eBay for $2.95 million (£2.25 million) set off a furore among scientists who warned that it needed to be studied, not sold to the highest bidder.The skeleton's owner, Alan Detrich, defended his decision to try to sell the 15-foot fossil to a wealthy private collector, arguing that it could still be subject to research."It's very hard to reach a billionaire," he said Wednesday, noting that he hoped a wealthy bidder from Europe or Asia would emerge. "Putting it on eBay is one way to do it."That outlook has angered scientists who have questioned why Mr Detrich lent the skeleton to the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum two years ago, saying that putting it on public view was part of a strategy to sell the specimen to a rich investor."Mr Detrich has tried to capitalise on the museum's good faith by using the exhibition and scientific attention as selling points" on eBay, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology said in a letter last week.It added: "These events undermine the scientific process for studying past life as well as the prospect for future generations to share the natural heritage of our planet."The skeleton, believed to be a four-year-old T-Rex, was displayed at the museum until recently and has been returned to Mr Detrich.The museum asked that Mr Detrich remove all references to the museum from the original eBay listing, which advertises the fossil's 21-inch skull and 12 teeth in the lower jaw. The fossil hunter complied."Most Likely the Only BABY T-Rex in the World!" the ad reads. "It's a RARE opportunity indeed to ever see a baby REX."Mr Detrich, who lives in Overbrook, Kansas, said he hoped the exposure from the eBay sale would attract a billionaire wealthy enough to pay his $2.95 million price tag. He did not inform the museum of the sale, he said, but did offer to give it a cast of the specimen.He said he agreed to lend the fossil to the museum two years ago after he and his brother, Robert, unearthed it in 2013 on property he leased near Jordan, Montana, where he hunts for fossils.Mr Detrich said it was not the first time he had received pushback from the scientific community for selling fossils.In 1999, he sought to sell a T-Rex skeleton on eBay for $5.8 million (£4.5 million) and was unsuccessful after pranksters flooded the auction with fake bids. He said he wanted the juvenile skeleton to be studied even if it ended up with a wealthy collector.Mr Detrich, who said he is in his 70s, began hunting fossils three decades ago.He is also a sculptor who creates religious iconography and other works from dinosaur bones, petrified wood and steel. During the interview, he pointed out that he was voted one of People magazine's "Top Bachelors" in 2001.Leonard Krishtalka, the director of the museum, declined to be interviewed.But Anne Tangeman, a spokeswoman for the museum, said in an email: "Our intent was to keep the specimen in the museum sphere to be enjoyed by visitors until it was sold to a museum."She added, "We learned early last week that the owner had abruptly listed the specimen for sale on eBay without prior warning or checking with us."Mr Detrich said he had recently tried to find a museum to buy the skeleton but had no luck.That caused a rift with the Kansas museum, he said, because the original eBay listing made it appear as if the museum was promoting the sale to a wealthy investor. It was not.Early this month, Mr Detrich said, he received an email from Krishtalka balking at the eBay sale."He said, 'What are you doing?'" Mr Detrich recalled."Well, I own this thing," Mr Detrich said of the T-Rex. "It is mine. I can do whatever I want." So far, he has not received any bids.The New York TImes
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| 2020 Hyundai Venue Preview Posted: 18 Apr 2019 05:42 AM PDT   2020 Hyundai Venue Crossover Packs Versatility and Tech Into Tiny Package It's fitting that Hyundai took the wraps off the tiny Venue SUV at the New York International Auto Show, because it's sm...
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| Driver with STAYUMBL license plate, notorious for cutting people off around Durham, charged in incident with bus Posted: 19 Apr 2019 05:15 AM PDT  The STAYUMBL license plate is notorious on the road and social media. Folks say the driver behind the wheel will speed up, cut people off and then slam on her brakes, sometimes causing a crash.
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| How to Get Rid of Lawn Weeds Posted: 19 Apr 2019 05:30 AM PDT  Unless you stop them, weeds are going to grow in your lawn. Here's what you need to do.
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| Thousands of Peruvians say goodbye to ex-president following suicide Posted: 18 Apr 2019 01:16 PM PDT  Garcia shot himself in the head on Wednesday to avoid arrest in connection with alleged bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht, in the most dramatic turn yet in Latin America's largest graft scandal. Friends, allies and leaders across the political spectrum paid homage to Garcia at the headquarters of his APRA party, one of Latin America's oldest political parties, and one which twice helped usher Garcia to the presidency. Vizcarra ordered flags to be flown at half mast at the country's Congress and other public buildings to honor the ex-President and former lawmaker.
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| Ukraine's presidential candidate pledges NATO referendum Posted: 18 Apr 2019 08:49 AM PDT  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The comedian who is odds-on favorite in Ukraine's presidential election promised Thursday to hold a nationwide referendum on joining NATO only after building a national consensus on the issue.
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| Appeals court upholds California 'sanctuary state' bill Posted: 18 Apr 2019 07:35 PM PDT  A US appeals court on Thursday upheld a California "sanctuary state" bill that blocks state and local law enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities. The three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, headquartered in San Francisco, unanimously ruled to uphold Senate Bill 54, which prohibits police and sheriffs from collaborating with immigration authorities. "SB 54 may well frustrate the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts," said Judge Milan Smith in the ruling.
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| 8 Things We Learned Driving the Roush Ford F-150 SC, a Pickup Truck on Steroids Posted: 19 Apr 2019 05:00 AM PDT |
| The $8 fast wireless charging pad people went crazy for is back in stock… but it’ll sell out soon Posted: 18 Apr 2019 04:54 AM PDT ![The $8 fast wireless charging pad people went crazy for is back in stock… but it'll sell out soon]( "The $8 fast wireless charging pad people went crazy for is back in stock… but it'll sell out soon") Wireless chargers can cost as much as $50 if you buy them from big brands. Of course you follow the BGR Deals team, so you know that you can get the same quality for a fraction of the price on Amazon. We covered a crazy sale last week that got you the 4.5-star rated Seneo 10W Fast Wireless Charging Pad for just $8.49, but it quickly sold out. Well guess what: it's back! This sale is definitely going to sell out quickly yet again, so hurry up if you want to get in on the action.Here's more info from the product page: * 【WORLD-LEADING WIRELESS CHARGER BRAND】As the leader of wireless charger industry, Seneo focuses on the innovation of design and technology to provide the best wireless charging experience to customer from all over the world. Seneo has sold more than 2,000,000 wireless chargers and always be committed to offer FIVE YEARS WARRANTY to our friendly customers * 【10W & 7.5W FAST WIRELESS CHARGER】Compatible with any phones that support fast charging or Qi-Enabled. 7.5W fast wireless charging speed is for iPhone Xs/Xs Max/XR/X/8/8 Plus and 10W wireless charging speed for Samsung Galaxy S10/S9/S9+/S8/S8+/Note9/8/S7/S7 Edge/S6 Edge+/Note5, 5W for New Airpods/Galaxy Buds, google Pixel 3/3XL, Lg V30 and all Qi-enabled Cell Phones * 【MULTIPLE PROTECTION & NOTE】Qi certified and adopted with exclusive technology of ATB (Automatic Temperature Balance), wireless charging speed is up to 15% faster than others; With temperature protection, input voltage protection, input current protection, short circuit protection and other multiple safety protection. The mobile phone should be away from any extra metal objects to effectively prevent the phone from overheating * 【SLEEP-FRIENDLY】Intelligent LED indicator to indicate the charging status for safe charging. The green light is moderate in brightness when charging, so that you can easily find your phone in the dark and it will not disturb your sleep * 【PACKAGE & WARRANTY】Package contains 1 x Wireless Charger, 1 x 3.3ft Micro USB Cable, 1 x User Manner. Your satisfaction is our first goal. Every wireless charger includes a 45 days money back and 5 YEARS warranty (No AC Adapter)
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| Mueller report: Trump leaves town claiming victory and with Democrats scrambling to respond Posted: 18 Apr 2019 03:46 AM PDT  Donald Trump has flown out of Washington to his resort in Florida, falsely claiming Robert Mueller had totally exonerated him, and with Democrats assessing how best to respond to a report that failed to provide them with a true smoking gun.Five hours after the special counsel's lightly redacted report was finally made public, the president waved and grinned as he boarded Air Force One, for a three-day weekend. He did not speak to reporters but earlier said at the White House was having a good day as the report revealed "no collusion, no obstruction". Later, apparently tweeting while on his way south, Mr Trump urged people to watch Fox News later and said: "It was a really great day for America."In truth, Mr Mueller's report did not the represent total exoneration, the president claimed it did. While the investigation did not find evidence the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, it uncovered "multiple links between Trump campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government". Likewise, the full report, confirmed what had been conceded by attorney general William Barr, who said Mr Mueller wrote "while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him".The report contained much damaging information about the president's behaviour, not least his efforts to fire the person who led the investigation. Indeed, after Mr Mueller was appointed in May 2017 to lead the probe after the presidents firing of FBI Director James Comey, he believed his presidency was over and that he was "f***ed". He tried to have him fired or the investigation halted, something White House lawyers lawyers pushed back on.Mr Mueller's report contained 11 instances that he and his team examined as possible breaches either of protocol of legality. He provided evidence to find both for and against such a finding.For instance, the report noted, in June 2017, Mr Trump directed White House counsel Don McGahn to tell the then-acting attorney general, Jeff Sessions, that Mr Mueller had conflicts of interest and must be removed, Reuters noted.It also said there was "substantial evidence" the president fired Mr Comey as FBI director in 2017 due to his "unwillingness to publicly state that the president was not personally under investigation".It also said there was some "some evidence" suggesting Mr Trump knew about former national security adviser Michael Flynn's controversial calls with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office, but evidence was "inconclusive" and could not be used to establish intent to obstruct.The report said Mr Trump directed former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to ask Mr Sessions to reconsider the decision to recuse himself from the probe and say the Russia investigation was "very unfair".Indeed, large chunks of Mr Mueller's report detail the president's efforts to halt the investigation into Russia's alleged election interference and possible collusion.When Mr Sessions told the president about his appointment in the spring of 2017, an appointment made following Mr Trump's firing of Mr Comey, he was said to have slumped into his chair and declared: "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm ****ed."He then turned to the one time Alabama senator who had joined his cabinet as chief law enforcement and legal officer, and blamed him. "How could you let this happen, Jeff," he said. "You were supposed to protect me." He added: "Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won' t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me."> It was a really great day for America! A special evening tonight on @TuckerCarlson, @seanhannity & @IngrahamAngle Will be very interesting!> > — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) > > April 18, 2019Such was the president's determination to halt the process, he telephoned Mr McGahn, who left the White House in October 2018, and asked him to intervene. Mr McGahn told Mr Mueller's team he was told by the president: "Call Rod, tell Rod that Mueller has conflicts and can't be special counsel."Mueller has to go" and: "Call me back when you do it."The White House and supporters of Trump were quick to claim a victory. Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway told reporters: "We're taking apologies."Mr Trump's 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale, said Republicans should turn the tables and "investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation." Meanwhile, Democrats were struggling to find a way forward. They said Mr Barr's decision to hold preemptive press conference sought to create a false narrative and that the actual report revealed troubling details about Trump's conduct in the White House. In a joint statement, House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote: "One thing is clear: attorney general Barr presented a conclusion that the president did not obstruct justice while Mueller's report appears to undercut that finding." House judiciary committee chairman Jerrold Nadler said the report "outlined disturbing evidence that President Trump engaged in obstruction of justice and other misconduct." He sent a letter to the justice department requesting that Mr Mueller himself testify before his panel "no later than May 23" and said he would be issuing a subpoena for the full special counsel report and the underlying materials. At the same time, Democrats are probably unlikely to pursue Mr Trump's impeachment, jugging that the country is in little mood for another lengthy probe, and that their efforts are better focussed on trying to beat the president in the 2020 presidential election."Based on what we have seen to date, going forward on impeachment is not worthwhile at this point," Ms Pelosi's deputy, Steny Hoyer told CNN. "Very frankly, there is an election in 18 months and the American people will make a judgement."
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| Here's What's Open and Closed on Easter 2019 Posted: 18 Apr 2019 06:05 AM PDT  Wondering where to get eggs on Easter Sunday 2019? Don't worry, we know!
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| Columbine focuses on healing as questions loom after manhunt Posted: 19 Apr 2019 03:26 AM PDT  LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado community changed forever by the attack that killed 13 people at Columbine High School moved ahead Thursday with ceremonies marking the anniversary of the tragedy while awaiting more details on what led a Florida teen "infatuated" with the shooting to buy a shotgun and kill herself in the snowy foothills nearby.
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| India holds new vote amid violence and protests Posted: 18 Apr 2019 07:42 AM PDT  Millions of voters across India cast ballots in the second round of the world's biggest election Thursday amid violence and protests that highlighted the intensity of animosity in the campaign. With more than a month to go before the marathon ends, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept up a punishing schedule of rallies as he seeks a second term, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi maintained attacks on the right wing Hindu nationalist government. Voting went ahead in 95 of India's 543 constituencies, most of it peacefully, but with noticeable blackspots.
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| Intelsat says satellite made by Boeing fails Posted: 18 Apr 2019 02:08 PM PDT ![Intelsat says satellite made by Boeing fails]( "Intelsat says satellite made by Boeing fails") Satellite operator Intelsat S.A. said on Thursday one of its satellites made by Boeing Co has failed due to an anomaly related to its propulsion system. The company, which disclosed a service outage on its 29e satellite on April 10, said a failure review board has been convened with Boeing to complete an analysis of the cause of the anomaly. On April 7, the 29e propulsion system experienced damage, and while working to recover the satellite a second anomaly occurred, after which efforts to save the satellite were unsuccessful, the company said.
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| People think Instant Pot is pricey, but the company’s sous vide cooker is half as much as rivals Posted: 18 Apr 2019 09:53 AM PDT ![People think Instant Pot is pricey, but the company's sous vide cooker is half as much as rivals]( "People think Instant Pot is pricey, but the company's sous vide cooker is half as much as rivals") Instant Pot multi-use cookers might be a bit pricey compared to rival products, but they're worth every penny and then some when you consider how often you use them. While Instant Pot is indeed on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to multi-use cooker prices, the company has another product that's actually much less expensive than similar devices from rivals. Check out the Instant Pot SSV800 Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator, which is on sale for $70 today on Amazon. It doesn't connect to your smartphone like a $200 Joule, but why would you even want to bother controlling your sous vide cooker with a smartphone anyway?Here's more info from the product page: * Creates Quality Dishes - Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator prepares high-end restaurant quality dishes at home, turning home cooks into gourmet chefs * Consistent Cooking - Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator creates and maintains an even and accurately controlled cooking water-bath for perfect cooking results each and every time * Sous vide cooks easily, cooking times range from 10 minutes to 72 hours and temperature ranges from 104F - 195F / 40C - 90C * Easy-to-Use - Easy-to-read display, touch-screen digital controls, lightweight stainless steel with a rubber coating on the handle. * Active Pump System - Accu Slim Sous Vide Circulates water without relying on convection currents, resulting in uniformly heated water bath free of hot or cool spots. * Includes a 12V DC motor - Extremely quietly and has enhanced durability in comparison to standard AC motors used. Motor stops when removed from the water. * Clamps securely - To the 6 and 8 Quart inner pot either in or out of the Instant Pot, and can be used with or without an Instant Pot. * Easy-to-clean - Secure stand up design and removable stainless steel skirt, almost no cleaning required, simply wash and air dry the skirt * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz
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| 'Democratic socialists' Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and Tlaib prefer socialism to democracy Posted: 18 Apr 2019 09:59 AM PDT  "Democratic socialism" turned out to be a chimera, and today's "democratic socialists," care more for socialism than democracy.
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| Mueller report summary: Every detail in the explosive Trump-Russia investigation document Posted: 18 Apr 2019 11:36 AM PDT  Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report has finally been released to the public — and we're beginning to get a sense of what's inside. The Department of Justice released a redacted version of the report into Russian interference in the 2016 election Thursday following a press conference held by Attorney General William Barr. The Independent's Chris Riotta, Victoria Gagliardo-Silver and Lily Puckett reviewed the report, finding numerous examples of inappropriate contacts between Russian operatives and members of the Trump campaign throughout the 2016 presidential election, as well as extensive business discussions between Mr Trump and his associates to discuss a major real estate project in Moscow as he was running for the White House. Mr Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," according to the report, but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."Mr Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing the president's requests to interfere in the investigation.The most heavily redacted portion of the report appears in its first section, which covers Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and examines contacts between Russian representatives and the Trump campaign. The report concludes there was no criminal culpability by Trump aides.Several pages in that first section are almost entirely blacked out. The report's second section, examining possible obstruction by Mr Trump, appeared more lightly redacted.The Justice Department's careful excisions begin as early as the fourth page of the report.Mr Barr said he was withholding grand jury and classified information as well as portions relating to ongoing investigation and the privacy or reputation of uncharged "peripheral" people.In referencing an oligarch who headed up a team of Russian tech experts who used US social media to exploit American political controversies, Justice officials blacked out details about the man's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Additional reporting by AP. Check out The Independent's initial live-read of the document below.Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load
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| BlackBerry Messenger or BBM to be shut down for consumers on May 31 Posted: 19 Apr 2019 08:16 AM PDT  The mobile messaging service BBM, one of the last remnants from BlackBerry's heyday is about to be closed for consumers.
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| How To Build a Wind Tester Posted: 19 Apr 2019 01:41 PM PDT |
| Opioid crisis: US doctors accused of trading prescriptions for sex and cash in major scandal Posted: 18 Apr 2019 05:25 AM PDT  Scores of medical professionals across seven states were charged by federal prosecutors on Wednesday with schemes to illegally distribute millions of pain pills — in some cases exchanging opioid prescriptions for sex, in others for cash with an added "concierge fee", and in one case routinely prescribing opioids to friends on Facebook.Officials called the case the "single largest prescription opioid law enforcement operation in history".The indictments, unsealed in federal court in Cincinnati on Wednesday, accuse 60 people, including 31 doctors, seven pharmacists and eight nurses of involvement in the schemes, which included opioid prescriptions issued for gratuitous medical procedures like unnecessary tooth-pulling.In some cases doctors simply handed out signed blank prescription forms."These cases involve approximately 350,000 opioid prescriptions and more than 32 million pills — the equivalent of a dose of opioids for every man, woman and child across the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and West Virginia combined," Brian Benczkowski, an assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division, said at a news conference.Most of the charges were filed against people in those five states; one person was charged in Pennsylvania and one in Louisiana.Nationally, more than 70,000 deaths in 2017 were attributed to drug overdoses, with about one-quarter of them caused by prescription opioids.States wholly or partly in Appalachia recorded some of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths that year: West Virginia was first in the nation, Ohio second and Kentucky fifth."The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history, and Appalachia has suffered the consequences more than perhaps any other region," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.Prosecutors accused the medical professionals who were charged on Wednesday of conducting a wide range of schemes.Some involved small leagues of doctors and their office staffs, while in other cases, people acted alone, according to the indictments.Some doctors performed unneeded medical procedures to justify the pills they prescribed, prosecutors said, while others simply passed out prescriptions without going to the trouble of disguising their purpose.One of the doctors facing charges in Ohio had at one time prescribed more controlled substances than anyone else in the state, prosecutors said.A pharmacy in Dayton, Ohio, was accused of dispensing more than 1.75 million pills.And a doctor in Tennessee who called himself the "Rock Doc" was accused of prescribing hundreds of thousands of pills in exchange for sex.A doctor in Alabama, federal prosecutors said, "allegedly recruited prostitutes and other young women with whom he had sexual relationships" to become his patients, and allowed them to use illicit drugs at his home.In some cases, the quantity of drugs prescribed to the same patients at short intervals indicated that they could have been taking as many as 15 pills a day, prosecutors said.The charges announced Wednesday include unlawful distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud.Prosecutors said that the charges could result in sentences of up to 50 years in prison.The indictments stem from four months of investigative work by the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Task Force, a group of prosecutors, federal agents and data analysts that was created in December 2018 to find patterns suggesting that doctors were prescribing inordinately high numbers of pain pills, and then follow up with traditional law enforcement techniques, including the use of informants and undercover investigators.Cases like this have been prosecuted before, including a Justice Department operation in June that resulted in charges against 162 defendants, including 76 doctors, for fraudulently prescribing and distributing opioids.Those cases were handled within the larger health fraud unit at the Justice Department.The Appalachian task force is different, Benczkowski said, because it is exclusively concerned with corrupt medical professionals, and is "doing it in a region of the country that is probably the hardest hit."The New York Times
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