With another 3,000 positions cut today, Microsoft's protracted series of layoffs is now at an end, according to GeekWire. A few more jobs may still be cut in early 2015, but the largescale redundancies are over.
Microsoft Finishing Last Big Phase Of Layoffs
Microsoft has completed almost all of the 18,000 job cuts it announced earlier this year.
YouTube Now Supports 60 FPS
After announcing support back in June, it looks as though YouTube has finally implemented support for 60 FPS video. You have to watch the video below in at least 720P to really appreciate what a difference 60FPS brings to the table.
Microsoft and Intel Announce Collaboration at Open Compute EU Summit
Today at the Open Compute Project (OCP) European Summit,
Microsoft announced the contribution of the 2nd generation Open
CloudServer (OCSv2) specification to the OCP. Through a joint
engineering collaboration with Intel, the companies have developed a
board to go into OCSv2 that features a dual-processor design, built on
Intel® Xeon® E5-2600 v3 processors, enabling 28 cores of compute power
per blade. Systems based on the OCSv2 and Xeon E5v3 processors are
designed to set a new high watermark for performance per watt per
dollar. The OCSv2 spec if also designed to maximize performance per unit
of data center TCO.
DFW Airport : Man afraid of gay man (Dallas Airport Fight Caught On Video As Crowd Takes Down Angry, Ranting Homophobe)
Before the fight, the man in the cowboy hat tries to intervene. "What are you upset about?" he asks.
"Queers is what I'm upset about!" the homophobic man shouts, gesturing wildly at a traveler wearing a pink shirt. "This faggot right here."
Driving a BMW with night vision proves illuminating
We recently had the opportunity to experience the latest in night vision technology on a BMW 7 Series. Though we have evaluated night vision systems in the past, this one proved to have far clearer images and was also able to highlight animals and pedestrians. Today’s systems utilize advanced infrared cameras to “see” heat, not light, making anything that has a “thermal” image visible even through darkness or fog.
If the system determined that an animal or pedestrian was dangerously close or approaching the car’s lane of travel, it gave an audible beep and a visible warning in the car’s head-up display. This added warning proved important as the normal night vision view is on the screen in the dash and not in the driver’s normal line of sight—our only complaint.
As with many new safety technologies, the newest night vision systems are currently available on BMW and other high-end makes such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Over time, the production cost and marketplace acceptance often allows pricey systems to “trickle down” to cars more of us can afford over time. We haven’t seen that with night vision yet, despite Cadillac's offering it many years ago.
If the system determined that an animal or pedestrian was dangerously close or approaching the car’s lane of travel, it gave an audible beep and a visible warning in the car’s head-up display. This added warning proved important as the normal night vision view is on the screen in the dash and not in the driver’s normal line of sight—our only complaint.
As with many new safety technologies, the newest night vision systems are currently available on BMW and other high-end makes such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Over time, the production cost and marketplace acceptance often allows pricey systems to “trickle down” to cars more of us can afford over time. We haven’t seen that with night vision yet, despite Cadillac's offering it many years ago.
I'm Dating a Guy Almost 20 Years Younger Than Me
By Christine Fitzgerald.
This post originally appeared on xoJane.
I'm 45. I've been through two unsuccessful marriages. I drive a red Camaro. I guess you can say I'm in the throes of a major midlife crisis. I've been checking a lot of things off of my bucket list. One of them was to try my hand at stand-up comedy. The first thing you learn in Stand-up 101 is "write what you know." I've had a lot of life experiences one could label as interesting, but my current dating situation is certainly fodder for comedy -- and maybe it shouldn't be.
A 40-something lady and her "midlife crisis mobile." Photo credit: Carlos Navarro/Photography by Navarro
Audi A3 Diesel Could Be Ultimate Road-Trip Champion at 63 MPG
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Last June, my article about the Volkswagen (VLKAY) -made Audi A8 with 868 miles of range caused quite a stir, as it showed how diesel cars could be superior to electric cars -- like those Tesla (TSLA) makes -- for road trips. Challenged to prove diesel's range, I hit the road not with the A8's 21.7 gallon fuel tank, but in the A3 -- with a fuel tank of only 13.2 gallons.
Solid Concepts Announces Another 3D-Printed Metal Gun
Solid Concepts, a company that specializes in 3D printing in metal and now owned by Stratasys, as announced their second 3D-printed metal gun, the Reason.
Their first gun, the 1911, as well as this one were made by sintering – melting – metal powder with a laser. However, from the detail on the barrel and handle it’s clear the company has improved the technology immensely over the year.
Mazda6 Diesel Sets World Speed Record
Falling oil prices may finally make diesel fuel more attractive to Americans. If so, let me be the first to suggest the Mazda6 diesel starting shipping to the U.S. immediately.
The Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel completed a 24-hour marathon run of the ATP test oval in Papenburg, Germany, to set the 24-hour world speed record in its class at 137.37 mph. Actually, all 3 Mazda6 models on the track shattered the old record of 130.30 mph.
The U.S. collaborated with hundreds of Nazis during the Cold War
As the old saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. There are exceptions though — like when the enemy of your enemy is a Nazi.
However, that didn't stop the U.S. government from recruiting up to 1,000 ex-Nazis during the Cold War to spy on the Soviet Union and counter the red menace, according to The New York Times, citing thousands of new documents released under Freedom of Information Act requests and other sources. The main offenders appear to be the FBI and the CIA, which in the 1950s recruited ex-Nazis despite their "moral lapses," as one American official put it, in perpetuating Hitler's empire.
One recruit, for example, was allegedly involved in the wartime killings of some 60,000 Jews in Lithuania. Still, the U.S. employed him as a spy starting in 1952, before allowing him to emigrate to the U.S. four years later, where he lived peacefully until he was outed in the 1990s and prosecuted. The CIA at the time tried to prevent his prosecution, but failed.
However, that didn't stop the U.S. government from recruiting up to 1,000 ex-Nazis during the Cold War to spy on the Soviet Union and counter the red menace, according to The New York Times, citing thousands of new documents released under Freedom of Information Act requests and other sources. The main offenders appear to be the FBI and the CIA, which in the 1950s recruited ex-Nazis despite their "moral lapses," as one American official put it, in perpetuating Hitler's empire.
One recruit, for example, was allegedly involved in the wartime killings of some 60,000 Jews in Lithuania. Still, the U.S. employed him as a spy starting in 1952, before allowing him to emigrate to the U.S. four years later, where he lived peacefully until he was outed in the 1990s and prosecuted. The CIA at the time tried to prevent his prosecution, but failed.
The Hobbit trilogy will end with a 45-minute battle scene
Lord of the Rings fans have long wondered how Peter Jackson would stretch J.R.R. Tokien's The Hobbit — a 300-page children's novel — over three separate movies. With The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies on the horizon, we finally have our answer: insanely long fight scenes!
The battle at the end of the final Hobbit movie will last for 45 unbroken minutes. "There's a lot of logistics that have to be thought through," said Jackson in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "We have dwarves and men and elves and orcs, all with different cultures, with different weapons, and different shields and patterns and tactics."
Jackson also shared a rough storyboard of the battle, which also features goblins, wargs, and eagles. But if that sounds like overkill, don't worry; Jackson says he's figured out how to keep audiences from getting "battle fatigue." (Bilbo might not agree.)
The battle at the end of the final Hobbit movie will last for 45 unbroken minutes. "There's a lot of logistics that have to be thought through," said Jackson in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "We have dwarves and men and elves and orcs, all with different cultures, with different weapons, and different shields and patterns and tactics."
Jackson also shared a rough storyboard of the battle, which also features goblins, wargs, and eagles. But if that sounds like overkill, don't worry; Jackson says he's figured out how to keep audiences from getting "battle fatigue." (Bilbo might not agree.)
Consumers hunkered down during Dallas Ebola scare
As the Ebola pandemic reaches America's largest city, investors are wondering if there will be any economic impact from the scare.
If trends in Dallas are any indication, there looks like there could be. A new report from GuestMetrics, a firm that tracks transactions across consumer and hospitality industries, reveals the Ebola cases in the city had a direct impact on consumer behavior and hurt local businesses.
The entire nation watched with trepidation as Thomas Eric Duncan became the first person to test positive for Ebola in the U.S., and then within two weeks, the virus spread to two nurses who cared for him at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Duncan was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 28 and died Oct. 8.
Chrysler 200 Coupe Looks Good, But Will It Ever Be Produced?
To answer that question bluntly— no. Today’s automakers are smart, as a result, no company is looking to mass produce a car that won’t give them any sort of sales boost. This rear-wheel drive Chrysler 200 coupe concept might be the perfect example of that.
The Army Is Looking for a Few Good Couch Potatoes
It took the military a few years too many to figure out that you don’t have to be a Chuck Norris to serve your country. According to an article in the Florida Times-Union, the Army determined that being overweight would not interfere with the job of Cyber Warfare and is looking to adapt the rules to accept qualified geeks and nerds for the new Cyber Army.
Today, we need cyber warriors, so we're starting to recruit for Army Cyber. One of the things we're considering is that your [mission] as a cyber warrior is different. Maybe you're not the Ranger who can do 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups and run the 2-mile inside of 10 minutes, but you can crack a data system of an enemy. LINK
Today, we need cyber warriors, so we're starting to recruit for Army Cyber. One of the things we're considering is that your [mission] as a cyber warrior is different. Maybe you're not the Ranger who can do 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups and run the 2-mile inside of 10 minutes, but you can crack a data system of an enemy. LINK
Dell Takes One Last Shot at Selling Windows 7 Home Premium PCs
If you are one of the many stuck between a rock and a hard place in deciding whether to bite the bullet and go for Windows 8 or wait until Windows 10 debuts, Dell is out to give you a last chance at picking up a factory fresh PC running Windows 7 Home Premium.
In a banner that ran on its website over the weekend, Dell promoted Windows 7 systems with the tagline, "Windows 7 for the Win". LINK
In a banner that ran on its website over the weekend, Dell promoted Windows 7 systems with the tagline, "Windows 7 for the Win". LINK
Cash, Credit or Debit? Holiday Shoppers Running Scared
The holiday shopping season is almost upon us and everyone is gearing up for probably the busiest shopping season ever. The biggest danger this year will be shopping at stores just hoping that have not been targeted by malware. Afraid to use your credit card and opt instead to using your debit card for more safety? Think again.
Even though credit and debit cards look and swipe the same, a 3.370 by 2.125 inch piece of plastic with numbers on the front and a magnetic strip on the back, when trouble hits they're pretty different. LINK
Even though credit and debit cards look and swipe the same, a 3.370 by 2.125 inch piece of plastic with numbers on the front and a magnetic strip on the back, when trouble hits they're pretty different. LINK
Lockheed Martin: Compact Fusion Research & Development
At Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, we’re making advancements in the development of fusion energy, the ultimate form of renewable power. Our scientists and engineers are looking at the biggest natural fusion reactor for inspiration – the sun. By containing the power of the sun in a small magnetic bottle, we are on the fast track to developing compact fusion reactors to serve the world’s ever-growing energy needs. Learn more about compact fusion: http://lmt.co/1rfsakG
Keanu Reeves Is Super Bummed That Hollywood Studios Have Abandoned Him
Few actors have delivered as many box-office hits as Keanu Reeves has over the last 30 years, and few have suffered more as a result of Hollywood studios’ new era of franchise building and risk aversion.
The actor known for Bill & Ted, Point Break, Speed, and The Matrixtrilogy stars in the upcoming John Wick, which, while filled with action, is yet another independent film.
Auto Industry Forming Consortium To Fight Hackers
I hate to break it to these guys but, as long as you have computers in cars, they can be hacked.
"The goal is to make it very, very hard" for hackers to breach a vehicle’s security system, said Strickland, who is doing some consulting work for one of the participants. "Can you make it a zero risk? No, but you want to make it so hard that you can foreclose most opportunities."
GhostDash: Augmented Reality Ghost Car and HUD
If you back this Kickstarter campaign you should probably set aside a little money for all the tickets you are going to get while you are at it. 
Six in quarantine in Connecticut as U.S. steps up Ebola checks
WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Reuters) -
Connecticut placed six West Africans who recently arrived in the United States under quarantine for possible Ebola exposure, a move that comes as the United States starts new restrictions on those coming from the countries hardest hit by the deadly virus.
The family of six West Africans, who arrived Saturday and were planning to live in the United States, will be watched for 21 days, Connecticut state health authorities said Thursday. Officials have yet to say where the family came from.
Fears about the spread of Ebola, which has killed nearly 4,900 people largely in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, have surmounted in the United States since the first man diagnosed with the disease was hospitalized in Texas late in September. He died on Oct. 8, after 11 days of care.
Here's Why You Probably Won't Get Hired At Google
Google is notorious for being one of the most selective companies out there.
Of the 3 million applications it receives each year, Google only hires 7,000, or about 0.2%, the company's HR boss Laszlo Bock said at LinkedIn's recent Talent Conference, according to Quartz.
Although many have heard about Google's unbelievably difficult brain-teasers, the company actually has a bunch of practices that make its hiring process so selective.
BofA Apologizes For Apple Pay Double Charges
If you are a Bank of America customer, It would probably be a good idea to stay away from Apple Pay for now.
BofA was smart enough to refund me the money, because they said it was obvious to them that these were duplicate charges for the same exact amount. "We're aware of a Bank of America issue impacting a very small number of Apple Pay users," an Apple spokesman said. "They're working on a fix that will be available shortly and reversing any duplicate transactions."
Virtual Reality Is The Future Of Porn
It looks like what they say about porn being the first to adopt new technologies is still true. 
Shuster is currently integrating two new technologies, Oculus Rift and Leap Motion, to create an immersive interactive environment within the VR world. The user is then transported into a 360-degree virtual world. Leap Motion, as explained to me by Shuster, is a camera affixed to the Rift that can add elements of the outside world into the VR world like your body—particularly your hands, thereby doing away with the need for a keyboard or mouse.
Sapphire Manufacturer And Apple Parting Ways "Amicably"
Kinda makes you wonder what these two companies call "amicably." Heck, I'm surprised Apple didn't just buy the company and make its own sapphire screens.
Today, synthetic sapphire manufacturer GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) and Apple announced their agreement [PDF] to dissolve their partnership amicably after GTAT filed a surprising bankruptcy claim earlier this month. The proceedings threatened to expose information about Apple's dealings with GTAT, something Apple desperately wanted to hide, as evidenced by court filings from Apple asking that its objection to GTAT's Chapter 11 proceedings be submitted in secret.
Texas Health Presbyterian nurse: 'We never talked about Ebola'
She describes 'chaotic scene' at Dallas hospital after Liberian man's diagnosis.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital nurse Briana Aguirre says staffers never discussed Ebola before Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man infected with the deadly virus, was admitted.
“We never talked about Ebola, and we probably should have,” Aguirre said on NBC's "Today" show on Thursday. "We never had a discussion. They gave us an optional seminar to go to. Just informational, not hands-on. It wasn’t even suggested we go. ... We were never told what to look for.”
Aguirre's colleagues Nina Pham and Amber Joy Vinson — two nurses who were among 76 hospital workers who treated Duncan before his death — were diagnosed with Ebola. Vinson was transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Wednesday night; Pham was expected to be flown transported to the National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland, hospital officials said Thursday.
When Duncan was diagnosed with the virus, which has a 70 percent mortality rate, Aguirre said there was confusion about how to handle the case. “It was just a little chaotic scene," she said. "Our infectious disease department was contacted to ask, 'What is our protocol?' And [the] answer was, 'We don’t know. We’re going to have to call you back.'"
On Tuesday, National Nurses United said several nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian complained of similar confusion.
"There was no advance preparedness on what to do with the patient, there was no protocol, there was no system," the group said in a statement.
[Related: Who's who in the U.S. Ebola scare]
During a House oversight panel hearing Thursday afternoon, Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer of Texas Health Presbyterian parent Texas Health Resources, admitted that had been no hands-on Ebola training for staff before Duncan was admitted. When asked if staffers had received person-to-person training on how to combat Ebola prior to Duncan's arrival, Varga said "no."
Aguirre, who did not treat Duncan, also said she treated Pham after her diagnosis and was shocked that the protective gear provided by the hospital left her neck partly exposed.
“I’ll be honest, I threw a fit," Aguirre said. "In the second week of an Ebola crisis at my hospital, the only gear they were offering us at that time, and up until that time, is gear that is allowing our necks to be uncovered?
"Why would I be wearing three pairs of gloves, three pairs of booties, a plastic suit covering my entire body and then leave my neck hanging out this much so that something can potentially go close to my mouth or nose?” she continued.
Late Wednesday, Varga issued an apology for his facility’s “mistakes” in handling the highly contagious disease.
“Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes,” Varga said in a statement delivered to the panel. “We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry.”
Varga said the hospital followed all federal and state guidelines to protect staff and others from Duncan, who died Oct. 8 after 10 days in isolation.
“It’s clear there was an exposure somewhere, sometime,” the statement continued. “We are poring over records and observations, and doing all we can to find the answers.”
Varga added that Texas Health Presbyterian had already instituted a number of fixes, including an Ebola “refresher course” for emergency department staffers.
On Thursday, Aguirre said she would advise anyone seeking medical treatment not to go to the hospital.
"I would try anything and everything to refuse to go there to be treated," she said. "I would feel at risk by going there. If I don’t actually have Ebola, I may contract it there. That is how I actually feel, and I would do anything to refuse to go there." LINK & FULL INTERVIEW - MORE DETAILS
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital nurse Briana Aguirre says staffers never discussed Ebola before Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man infected with the deadly virus, was admitted.
“We never talked about Ebola, and we probably should have,” Aguirre said on NBC's "Today" show on Thursday. "We never had a discussion. They gave us an optional seminar to go to. Just informational, not hands-on. It wasn’t even suggested we go. ... We were never told what to look for.”
Aguirre's colleagues Nina Pham and Amber Joy Vinson — two nurses who were among 76 hospital workers who treated Duncan before his death — were diagnosed with Ebola. Vinson was transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Wednesday night; Pham was expected to be flown transported to the National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland, hospital officials said Thursday.
When Duncan was diagnosed with the virus, which has a 70 percent mortality rate, Aguirre said there was confusion about how to handle the case. “It was just a little chaotic scene," she said. "Our infectious disease department was contacted to ask, 'What is our protocol?' And [the] answer was, 'We don’t know. We’re going to have to call you back.'"
On Tuesday, National Nurses United said several nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian complained of similar confusion.
"There was no advance preparedness on what to do with the patient, there was no protocol, there was no system," the group said in a statement.
[Related: Who's who in the U.S. Ebola scare]
During a House oversight panel hearing Thursday afternoon, Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer of Texas Health Presbyterian parent Texas Health Resources, admitted that had been no hands-on Ebola training for staff before Duncan was admitted. When asked if staffers had received person-to-person training on how to combat Ebola prior to Duncan's arrival, Varga said "no."
Aguirre, who did not treat Duncan, also said she treated Pham after her diagnosis and was shocked that the protective gear provided by the hospital left her neck partly exposed.
“I’ll be honest, I threw a fit," Aguirre said. "In the second week of an Ebola crisis at my hospital, the only gear they were offering us at that time, and up until that time, is gear that is allowing our necks to be uncovered?
"Why would I be wearing three pairs of gloves, three pairs of booties, a plastic suit covering my entire body and then leave my neck hanging out this much so that something can potentially go close to my mouth or nose?” she continued.
Late Wednesday, Varga issued an apology for his facility’s “mistakes” in handling the highly contagious disease.
“Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes,” Varga said in a statement delivered to the panel. “We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry.”
Varga said the hospital followed all federal and state guidelines to protect staff and others from Duncan, who died Oct. 8 after 10 days in isolation.
“It’s clear there was an exposure somewhere, sometime,” the statement continued. “We are poring over records and observations, and doing all we can to find the answers.”
Varga added that Texas Health Presbyterian had already instituted a number of fixes, including an Ebola “refresher course” for emergency department staffers.
On Thursday, Aguirre said she would advise anyone seeking medical treatment not to go to the hospital.
"I would try anything and everything to refuse to go there to be treated," she said. "I would feel at risk by going there. If I don’t actually have Ebola, I may contract it there. That is how I actually feel, and I would do anything to refuse to go there." LINK & FULL INTERVIEW - MORE DETAILS
The curse of cheap gasoline
It’s as predictable as birds soiling your windshield: When gas prices fall, Americans buy bigger cars.
Falling gas prices are generally good news for consumers, since less money going into the tank means more money for other stuff. If gas prices fall by 50 cents per gallon and stay there for a year, the typical consumer’s disposable income rises by 1%, according to forecasting firm IHS. For somebody earning $50,000, that’s an extra $500. Spending rises by nearly as much, which helps the overall economy.
Ebola-infected nurse Nina Pham to be moved from Texas to Maryland
Nina Pham, one of the two nurses who contracted Ebola at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, will be moved to a National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland, hospital officials said Thursday.
Pham, a 26-year-old critical-care nurse, was diagnosed with Ebola on Sunday after treating Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man who last month became the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States.
Pham and Amber Joy Vinson, the other nurse who contracted Ebola, were among 76 hospital workers who treated Duncan before his death.
Vinson, 29, was transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Wednesday.
ASRock X99 WS Workstation Motherboard
The crew at PureOverclock has published a review of ASRock's X99 WS Workstation motherboard this morning.
Workstation boards offer some unique features and additional GPU support that can be used for gaming or GPGPU functions. With X99 there are even more additions to what is usually an already stacked product line. Not to mention the ability to use the absolute best processors available in a desktop form factor. LINK
Workstation boards offer some unique features and additional GPU support that can be used for gaming or GPGPU functions. With X99 there are even more additions to what is usually an already stacked product line. Not to mention the ability to use the absolute best processors available in a desktop form factor. LINK
Whisper App Tracks ‘Anonymous’ Users
It's pretty sad that an app that promises to keep you anonymous tracks you better than the NSA.
The company behind Whisper, the social media app that promises users anonymity and claims to be the "the safest place on the internet", is tracking the location of its users, including some who have specifically asked not to be followed. LINK
The company behind Whisper, the social media app that promises users anonymity and claims to be the "the safest place on the internet", is tracking the location of its users, including some who have specifically asked not to be followed. LINK
Yale student at Connecticut hospital being tested for Ebola
NEW HAVEN Conn. (Reuters) - A Connecticut hospital is testing a Yale University student with Ebola-like symptoms who traveled to Liberia last month and a preliminary diagnosis could come in as little as two hours, Governor Dannel Malloy said on Thursday.
The patient is one of two Yale University graduate epidemiology students who traveled to Liberia last month to advise the health ministry on using computers to track Ebola, according to Laurence Grotheer, a spokesman for New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.
Mayor Harp told a press conference that it was doubtful the patient has Ebola, noting that flu season has started.
Yale University said the students had not traveled into areas in Liberia where Ebola was present. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are the West African countries hardest hit by the worst Ebola outbreak on record that has killed nearly 4,500 people. Ebola is transmitted by bodily fluids and is not airborne.
The patient is one of two Yale University graduate epidemiology students who traveled to Liberia last month to advise the health ministry on using computers to track Ebola, according to Laurence Grotheer, a spokesman for New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.
Mayor Harp told a press conference that it was doubtful the patient has Ebola, noting that flu season has started.
Yale University said the students had not traveled into areas in Liberia where Ebola was present. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are the West African countries hardest hit by the worst Ebola outbreak on record that has killed nearly 4,500 people. Ebola is transmitted by bodily fluids and is not airborne.
Scientists Are Bashing Lockheed Martin's Nuclear Fusion 'Breakthrough'
Researchers at Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Skunk Works, announced on Wednesday their ongoing work on a new technology that could bring about functional nuclear reactors powered by fusion in the next 10 years.
But most scientists and science communicators we talked to are skeptical of the claim.
"The nuclear engineering clearly fails to be cost effective," Tom Jarboe told Business Insider in an email. Jarboe is a professor of aeronautics and astronautics, an adjunct professor in physics, and a researcher with the University of Washington's nuclear fusion experiment.
ISIS Delivers ‘Shock and Awe’ with Arms from U.S., China, and Russia
Early this year, Islamic State forces showed a powerful new side to their murderous military operation by knocking out five of the Iraq Army’s M1A1 Abrams tanks with anti-tank guided missiles and shooting down six of the army’s helicopters with a light anti-aircraft gun and rocket launchers while damaging 60 others.
The New York Times quoted a U.S. official in June as saying that, in all, 28 Iraqi Army Abrams tanks had been damaged in fighting with the militants, including the five that suffered “ full armor penetration” when struck by the anti-tank missiles. As for the helicopters either destroyed or heavily damaged between January and May, they constituted “a significant proportion of the Iraqi Army Aviation Command’s assets.”
The New York Times quoted a U.S. official in June as saying that, in all, 28 Iraqi Army Abrams tanks had been damaged in fighting with the militants, including the five that suffered “ full armor penetration” when struck by the anti-tank missiles. As for the helicopters either destroyed or heavily damaged between January and May, they constituted “a significant proportion of the Iraqi Army Aviation Command’s assets.”
Cyberbullying - Caused 12 year old girl Rebecca to Suicide.
On Sept. 9, 2013, 12-year-old Rebecca "Becca" Sedwick did not go to school. Although the incessant physical bullying she had experienced had subsided since she transferred schools, the cyber bullying had intensified. Through social media sites such as Facebook and texting apps such as Ask.fm and Kik, cruel messages tormented Becca, including "You're ugly" and "Why don't you drink bleach and die." When the incidents were reported to the school, the response had been “She needs to get a thicker skin and ignore it,” Rebecca’s mother, Tricia Norman, tells Yahoo News and Finance Anchor, Bianna Golodryga in an emotional interview. On that particular September morning, however, Rebecca could not take it anymore, and climbed a 60-foot tower at an old cement factory, and allegedly leapt to her death.
First Demonstration Of Artificial Intelligence On A Chinese Quantum Computer
How do you demonstrate machine learning on a quantum computer? Teach it to recognize a 69 or course.
To keep the experiment simple, the team trained their machine to recognize the difference between a handwritten 6 and a handwritten 9. The vectors representing 6s and 9s can then be compared in this feature space to work out how best to distinguish between them. In effect, the computer finds a hyperplane in the feature space that separates the vectors representing 6s from those representing 9s. LINK
To keep the experiment simple, the team trained their machine to recognize the difference between a handwritten 6 and a handwritten 9. The vectors representing 6s and 9s can then be compared in this feature space to work out how best to distinguish between them. In effect, the computer finds a hyperplane in the feature space that separates the vectors representing 6s from those representing 9s. LINK
The Revorix Corvette Looks Mean, Headed for SEMA
The new Corvette Stingray looks mean. But strap on some aero bits and edgier wheels, and you have an even meaner Corvette than you started with. That’s exactly what Revorix is doing for this year’s SEMA show.
Texas hospital official: 'We are deeply sorry' about Ebola mistakes
(CNN) -- A Texas doctor has apologized for what he calls mistakes in how his hospital handled Ebola, as schools close out of fear that they're vulnerable to the virus. Also on Thursday, officials are considering barring 76 hospital workers who treated an Ebola patient from boarding airplanes.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a second Dallas nurse who tested positive for Ebola, who flew a day before it was known that she might be suffering from the virus, should not have been cleared to fly. She reported to the agency that she had a fever, she said, but was told she could go ahead and continue her travel. Now, 132 passengers on her flight are wondering if they were exposed.
As missteps grow, here's the latest on Ebola in the United States:
Hospital official: 'We are deeply sorry'
Nurse's Ohio family 'self monitoring'
Texas hospital apologizes, is it enough?
CDC: 'Intensively' assessing 4 workers
Second Texas health worker has Ebola
The Texas hospital where an Ebola patient died and two nurses became infected is apologizing for mistakes made when first confronted with the deadly virus.
Dr. Daniel Varga said Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas mishandled the case of Thomas Eric Duncan. Duncan was initially sent home from the facility despite having a fever and telling a worker he was from Liberia.
"Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes," Varga, the chief clinical officer for Texas Health Services, said in written testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry."
Days after Duncan returned to the hospital, he died from the virus.
But Varga did outline a timeline of the hospital's preparation, saying hospital staffers were given guidance on looking for Ebola symptoms several times over the summer.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a second Dallas nurse who tested positive for Ebola, who flew a day before it was known that she might be suffering from the virus, should not have been cleared to fly. She reported to the agency that she had a fever, she said, but was told she could go ahead and continue her travel. Now, 132 passengers on her flight are wondering if they were exposed.
As missteps grow, here's the latest on Ebola in the United States:
Hospital official: 'We are deeply sorry'
Nurse's Ohio family 'self monitoring'
Texas hospital apologizes, is it enough?
CDC: 'Intensively' assessing 4 workers
Second Texas health worker has Ebola
The Texas hospital where an Ebola patient died and two nurses became infected is apologizing for mistakes made when first confronted with the deadly virus.
Dr. Daniel Varga said Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas mishandled the case of Thomas Eric Duncan. Duncan was initially sent home from the facility despite having a fever and telling a worker he was from Liberia.
"Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes," Varga, the chief clinical officer for Texas Health Services, said in written testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry."
Days after Duncan returned to the hospital, he died from the virus.
But Varga did outline a timeline of the hospital's preparation, saying hospital staffers were given guidance on looking for Ebola symptoms several times over the summer.
Why CDC chief must go!
(CNN) -- This week Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stepped up to the microphone and took responsibility for the worst mistake in Dallas' Ebola-stricken hospital: its utter lack of preparedness.
After insisting for months that any U.S. hospital could handle an Ebola case by following CDC guidelines, Frieden now wishes he had provided Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital with the robust CDC clinical support team it desperately needed to care for Thomas Eric Duncan -- the first of three people to be diagnosed with Ebola on American soil.
What now? The federal government's last major health care scandal -- at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- offers a road map out of this mess, and it begins with finding new leadership for the CDC. The times call for a person with unique talents and vision that Frieden lacks.
Ford Vox
Americans were shocked this spring to learn about falsified treatment numbers and hidden, lengthy wait lists at Veterans Affairs hospitals. After a grueling, monthlong drumbeat of bad news, culminating with revelations that veterans died while on those secret wait lists, Secretary Eric Shinseki finally resigned. His resignation came only after President Barack Obama was essentially forced to fire him.
After insisting for months that any U.S. hospital could handle an Ebola case by following CDC guidelines, Frieden now wishes he had provided Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital with the robust CDC clinical support team it desperately needed to care for Thomas Eric Duncan -- the first of three people to be diagnosed with Ebola on American soil.
What now? The federal government's last major health care scandal -- at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- offers a road map out of this mess, and it begins with finding new leadership for the CDC. The times call for a person with unique talents and vision that Frieden lacks.
Ford Vox
Americans were shocked this spring to learn about falsified treatment numbers and hidden, lengthy wait lists at Veterans Affairs hospitals. After a grueling, monthlong drumbeat of bad news, culminating with revelations that veterans died while on those secret wait lists, Secretary Eric Shinseki finally resigned. His resignation came only after President Barack Obama was essentially forced to fire him.
No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype
Spy photos from our sister site Autoblog have revealed a concept car from Mercedes that looks like it was beamed back from 20 years in the future. The silver-colored vehicle sports a wedge shape, cycle fenders, an extreme cab-forward design and narrow tires -- calling to mind Volkswagen's 260MPG XL1 hyrid. Our guess? The tires and aerodynamics suggest an extreme-mileage vehicle, likely a full-on EV, hybrid or other green-tech vehicle, perhaps with a self-driving option. As for when we might see it, we'd place a bet on January at Las Vegas. That's when Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsch will deliver his CES 2015 keynote speech, and yes, unveil an all-new concept car. For a full gallery, check the source. LINK
Mystery man in Ebola transfer raises eyebrows (G-Man?)
Dallas nurse Amber Vinson was transferred to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital Wednesday for ongoing treatment after being diagnosed with Ebola. She was helped from an ambulance onto a waiting plane by four medical workers in the now-familiar white hazmat suits, but there was one other person on the tarmac.According to CBS 11 News in Dallas, questions about who the man wearing plain clothes and carrying a clipboard might be poured in.
"On social media, and on the CBS 11 News phone lines, the biggest question became -- who was the guy not wearing protective hazmat gear?" said CBS Dallas.
Watch DFW's report on the mystery man:
Warren Buffett Has Begun Dumping Stock In The World's 2nd-Largest Retailer
AP Photo/Nati Harnik Warren Buffett says goodbye to Tesco. Warren Buffett is pulling out of Tesco after acknowledging that investing in Britain's biggest supermarket chain, and the world's second-biggest retailer, was a huge mistake, the FT reported.
Buffett owned 3.97% of Tesco at the beginning of October, but the FT understands he is reducing his stake below 3%.
Buffett owned 3.97% of Tesco at the beginning of October, but the FT understands he is reducing his stake below 3%.
UN rights chief: Ebola, extremists 'twin plagues'
GENEVA (AP) — U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein drew comparisons between the Ebola outbreak and the Islamic State group Thursday, labeling them "twin plagues" upon the world that were allowed to gain strength because of widespread neglect and misunderstanding.
At his first news conference since becoming the U.N.'s top human rights official last month, Zeid focused on the "two monumental crises" that he said would inevitably cost nations many billions to overcome.
Banned From U.S. Banks, Russian Oil Giant Turns To Even Bigger Banks In China
Russian state owned oil company Gazprom is turning to China for foreign sources of capital now that the U.S. and European financial markets are closed to them.
Gazprom said in a press release posted on its website today that it was in talks with the behemoth Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for funding. The statement did not say whether funding would be provided, however.
This has been quite the week for China-Russia relations. Li Keqiang was in Russia earlier this week to discuss deeper economic integration. Energy remains front and center. But integration is occurring beyond oil and gas deals. For instance, the Bank of Russia announced a deal with the Moscow Exchange to trade currencies and create forex derivatives contracts between the two markets. Russia is aching to settle business in Chinese yuan, partly in a snub to the Western powers, and partly out of necessity because of Western sanctions.
Last week, BNP Paribas said it was no longer offering letters of credit to sanctioned Russian banks dealing with commodities traders. BNP Paribas has run afoul of European Union sanction law in the past, and was fined heavily for it.
Gazprom said in a press release posted on its website today that it was in talks with the behemoth Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for funding. The statement did not say whether funding would be provided, however.
This has been quite the week for China-Russia relations. Li Keqiang was in Russia earlier this week to discuss deeper economic integration. Energy remains front and center. But integration is occurring beyond oil and gas deals. For instance, the Bank of Russia announced a deal with the Moscow Exchange to trade currencies and create forex derivatives contracts between the two markets. Russia is aching to settle business in Chinese yuan, partly in a snub to the Western powers, and partly out of necessity because of Western sanctions.
Last week, BNP Paribas said it was no longer offering letters of credit to sanctioned Russian banks dealing with commodities traders. BNP Paribas has run afoul of European Union sanction law in the past, and was fined heavily for it.
The Intel Experience Opens Exclusively in 50 Best Buy Stores
Intel launches "The Intel Experience" exclusively in 50 Best Buy retail stores nationwide. The hands-on experience zone gives everyone – from tech enthusiasts to technophobes – the opportunity to try, explore and play with the latest, cutting-edge technologies like 3-D printing, gaming meets augmented reality, and digital disc jockey (DJ) remixing. Seventy-nine percent of Americans are excited about the chance to learn and try out new technologies, but half of Americans are frustrated by the lack of access to these new technologies, beyond what they read about and see on television, according to a new Intel study conducted by Toluna.
Amazon to Hire 80,000 Workers for Holidays
Amazon announced today that it will be hiring 80,000 people to handle the holiday rush this year.
Amazon.com Inc. said it plans to hire 80,000 seasonal workers for its warehouse network in the U.S., representing a 14% increase from last year as the company brings its massive distribution facilities closer to urban centers.
Amazon.com Inc. said it plans to hire 80,000 seasonal workers for its warehouse network in the U.S., representing a 14% increase from last year as the company brings its massive distribution facilities closer to urban centers.
Novitec Makes the Lamborghini Aventador Crazy Sexy
The Lamborghini Aventador is probably one of the sexiest cars on the planet. But in walks German tuners Novitec, and they’re convinced that they can somehow make the Aventador even sexier than it already is. And holy cow were they right.
Audi RS7 self-driving race car: First Look
This weekend, Audi will take to the Hochenheim track in Germany with a production Audi RS7 sedan modified to drive itself at top speed around the track. Audi expects the self-racing RS7 to hit 149 mph and perform about as well as a human driver, demonstrating how advanced autonomous technology has become. VIDEO
GM Sued for $10 Billion Over Losses on 27 Million Cars
General Motors Co. (GM) was hit with its biggest lawsuit so far over serial recalls, brought on behalf of drivers of 27 million vehicles seeking more than $10 billion in compensation for fallen car prices.
The would-be class action against GM seeks to represent owners who bought or leased a recalled car from July 2009 to July 2014 and still have it, or sold it after mid-February when the recalls started, or had an accident that destroyed it after that date. More than 20 million customers could join the suit, Steve Berman, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said in an e-mail today.
Detroit-based GM spurred the price drops by hiding at least 60 serious defects in around 27 million vehicles sold in the U.S., according to the complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Manhattan against “New GM,” as the carmaker became known after its 2009 bankruptcy and government bailout.
The would-be class action against GM seeks to represent owners who bought or leased a recalled car from July 2009 to July 2014 and still have it, or sold it after mid-February when the recalls started, or had an accident that destroyed it after that date. More than 20 million customers could join the suit, Steve Berman, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said in an e-mail today.
Detroit-based GM spurred the price drops by hiding at least 60 serious defects in around 27 million vehicles sold in the U.S., according to the complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Manhattan against “New GM,” as the carmaker became known after its 2009 bankruptcy and government bailout.
Why the Chinese military is only a paper dragon
Corruption, bad neighbors, inflation, and a demographic time bomb — these are just a few of Beijing's woes.
In appearance it is very powerful, but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of — it is a paper tiger. — Mao Zedong on the United States, 1956
China's rise over the past 30 years has been nothing short of spectacular.
After decades of double-digit growth, today China is the world's second largest economy — and possesses an increasingly sophisticated military that's among the planet's most powerful. Despite China bordering a number of unstable countries, its borders are secure.
In appearance it is very powerful, but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of — it is a paper tiger. — Mao Zedong on the United States, 1956
China's rise over the past 30 years has been nothing short of spectacular.
After decades of double-digit growth, today China is the world's second largest economy — and possesses an increasingly sophisticated military that's among the planet's most powerful. Despite China bordering a number of unstable countries, its borders are secure.
Ford Fiesta ST Grips like a Slot Car, Goes like a Muscle Car
Most of us are regular, ordinary people, which sadly means that neither a Jaguar F-Type nor Lamborghini Huracán exactly fit our price range or lifestyle (though we can dream). Thankfully, that doesn’t mean we’re doomed to a life of beige and mundane motoring. No siree, we have hot hatchbacks for that.
The Ford Fiesta ST in particular. Ford’s pint-sized Fiesta has won over numerous fans since its debut in 2011 and the new-for-2014 Fiesta ST makes a strong vie for the crown jewel of the subcompact segment.
China developing subsonic stealth bomber
According to early reports, China is developing a new stealth bomber to counter American influence in the Far East and firm up its own leadership and force-projection ability.
We’ve previously discussed America’s plans to replace the illustrious SR-71 Blackbird with an unmanned, hypersonic successor capable of launching ordinance from space. The aptly-named SR-72 — with a cruise of Mach 6 — would perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and, while bereft of stealth features, Mach 6 leaves absolutely zero reaction time.
Lockheed says makes breakthrough on fusion energy project
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp said on Wednesday it had made a technological breakthrough in developing a power source based on nuclear fusion, and the first reactors, small enough to fit on the back of a truck, could be ready for use in a decade.
Tom McGuire, who heads the project, said he and a small team had been working on fusion energy at Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works for about four years, but were now going public to find potential partners in industry and government for their work.
Initial work demonstrated the feasibility of building a 100-megawatt reactor measuring seven feet by 10 feet, which could fit on the back of a large truck, and is about 10 times smaller than current reactors, McGuire told reporters.
Tom McGuire, who heads the project, said he and a small team had been working on fusion energy at Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works for about four years, but were now going public to find potential partners in industry and government for their work.
Initial work demonstrated the feasibility of building a 100-megawatt reactor measuring seven feet by 10 feet, which could fit on the back of a large truck, and is about 10 times smaller than current reactors, McGuire told reporters.
Robert Downey Jr. Is Down for 'Iron Man 4' — But Only If Mel Gibson Directs
EXCLUSIVE: When I pull up to the home that Robert Downey Jr. and his wife and producing partner Susan share in Malibu, there are the trappings you would expect from the house owned by Hollywood’s best paid actor. The small fleet of cars, all tarped; the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, viewable from most anywhere on the grounds; a small staff that runs the house. But there are also the mischievous aspects you expect from Downey. There is that wooden blocking dummy in the barn that has raised bruises aplenty as Downey spent the last decade closing in on his black belt in the Chinese martial art Wing Chun. There’s the bright yellow front door that is as cheery and inviting as the spacious interior. The rooms are adorned by an undoubtedly pricey artwork collection, but there is nothing show-offy. The bathroom, for instance, features a medley of framed photos, each artfully depicting moviedom’s more memorable action scenes that involve a chainsaw.
Where the heck is my spare tire?
It wasn’t until Bob Kronberg of Carolina Shores, N.C., drove his new Kia Optima home from the dealership that he got an unpleasant surprise. Instead of finding a spare tire in the trunk, he saw a tire-inflator kit, with a small air compressor and a can of sealant to use in case of a flat.
When he called Kia USA, a representative told him that the spare had been eliminated to save weight and, therefore, gas. The rep added that he could purchase a temporary spare-tire kit from his dealer’s parts department for about $200 to $250.
Final Fantasy designer Tetsuya Nomura takes Catwoman to the extreme
Final Fantasy character designer Tetsuya Nomura revealed his dramatic take on DC Comics' Batman earlier this year. He re-imagined the Dark Knight as a heavily armored terror, all spikes, sharp edges and clawed batwings. Now it's time for Nomura's interpretation of Catwoman for Square Enix's Variant Play Arts Kai line of toys.
Rights group asks for probe into shooting range that refuses to cater to Muslims
A Muslim civil rights group is asking the Department of Justice to investigate an Arkansas shooting range whose owner recently declared it a "Muslim-free zone."
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jenifer Wicks, a lawyer for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), writes that the declaration is "a violation of federal laws prohibiting racial and religious discrimination" and "will inevitably result in a hostile environment for ordinary Muslims in Arkansas."
Dell Pushes Alienware 18's CPU to a Face-Meltingly Fast 4.4GHz
On Thursday, Dell announced its fastest-ever laptop, the Alienware 18, sporting an overclocked i7 running at 4.4GHz. A little on the go performance gaming, perhaps?
Alienware engineers really got creative and developed a new thermal solution to ensure reliable and cool operation in such a small system. LINK
Alienware engineers really got creative and developed a new thermal solution to ensure reliable and cool operation in such a small system. LINK
BMW poaches Ferrari technical director Roberto Fedeli
BMW has confirmed the appointment of Roberto Fedeli, the former R&D chief of Ferrari who had a sparkling 26-year technical career at Maranello.
It’s a further sign of change at the top of Ferrari, in the wake of president Luca di Montezemolo’s departure. He quit this week, squeezed out by Fiat overlord Sergio Marchionne in a shake-up of the corridors of power of Italy's biggest car making conglomerate.
What will Roberto Fedeli do at BMW?
2nd Dallas nurse with Ebola was on Frontier Airlines Flight 1143
CDC asking all 132 passengers to call and be interviewed.
DALLAS – A second nurse who treated Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has been diagnosed with the deadly disease a day after flying from Ohio to Texas, officials said.
The nurse, identifed by her family as Amber Joy Vinson, 29, reported a fever on Tuesday and was immediately isolated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, officials said. Federal health officials said she is ill and will soon be transferred to a biocontainment unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Vinson was not experiencing symptoms at the time of her flight, butCDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said during a news conference that she“should not have travelled” on her return flight to Texas after learning in Ohio that she was a potential infection risk.
The CDC is now asking all 132 passengers on Frontier Airlines Flight 1143 from Cleveland to Dallas-Fort Worth which landed at 8:16 p.m. Monday to call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
“Public health professionals will begin interviewing passengers about the flight, answering their questions, and arranging follow up,” the CDC said in a statement. “Individuals who are determined to be at any potential risk will be actively monitored.”
2nd Ebola-infected nurse ID'd on Wednesday as Ms. Amber Vinson, 29 (Oct. 14, 2014)
(FoxNews) - The second nurse infected with Ebola at a Texas hospital was identified Wednesday as 29-year-old Amber Vinson, while authorities expressed concern that she took a domestic flight just one day before coming down with symptoms of the deadly disease.
"The second health care worker should not have been allowed to travel by virtue of being in an exposed group," he added. "Although she had no symptoms or fever [that met the threshold] of 100.4, she did report that she took her temperature and found it to be 99.5."
Vinson, who like Nina Pham is a nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, was identified to Reuters and the Dallas Morning News by a relative. Vinson went to the hospital displaying symptoms of the disease on Tuesday morning, after taking a Frontier Airlines flight from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on Monday night. Federal health officials are now tracking down all of Vinson's fellow passengers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday.
Texas doc gets testy on live TV
Dr. Robert Haley tells CNN's Jake Tapper that his former hospital did everything right in treating Thomas Eric Duncan.
VIDEO
VIDEO
Exhibition of Syria torture photos shows 'depravity' of Assad regime
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum official, citing lessons of Nazi era, says world has a duty to act.
A U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum director says graphic photos showing the corpses of Syrian torture victims reveal a "systematic killing machine" that is reminiscent of the images from Nazi concentration camps.
In a chilling and potentially controversial exhibit that opens on Wednesday, the museum will put on public display for the first time photographs — smuggled out of Syria by a regime defector — that show the emaciated and burned bodies of suspected dissidents believed to have been killed in government detention centers.
The photos demonstrate the "human indifference and depravity of the Assad regime," said Cameron Hudson, a former White House national security official under President George W. Bush who now serves as director of the Holocaust Memorial Museum's Center for the Prevention of Genocide.
Nurses at Texas hospital: 'There were no protocols' about Ebola
(CNN) -- A union made troubling allegations Tuesday about the Texas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola, claiming "guidelines were constantly changing" and "there were no protocols" about how to deal with the deadly virus."
"The protocols that should have been in place in Dallas were not in place, and that those protocols are not in place anywhere in the United States as far as we can tell," National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro said. "We're deeply alarmed."
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said the claims, if true, are "startling." Some of them, he said, could be "important when it comes to possible other infections."
Officials from National Nurses United declined to specify how many nurses they had spoken with at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. They said they would not identify the nurses or elaborate on how the nurses learned of the details in their allegations in order to protect them from possible retaliation. The nurses at the hospital are not members of a union, officials said.
Here's a look at some of the allegations the nurses made, according to the union:
Thomas Eric Duncan wasn't immediately isolated.
On the day that Thomas Eric Duncan was admitted to the hospital with possible Ebola symptoms, he was "left for several hours, not in isolation, in an area where other patients were present," union co-president Deborah Burger said.
Up to seven other patients were present in that area, the nurses said, according to the union.
A nursing supervisor faced resistance from hospital authorities when the supervisor demanded that Duncan be moved to an isolation unit, the nurses said, according to the union.
At first, protective gear nurses were wearing while treating Duncan left their necks exposed.
After expressing concerns that their necks were exposed even as they wore protective gear, the nurses were told to wrap their necks with medical tape, the union says.
"They were told to use medical tape and had to use four to five pieces of medical tape wound around their neck. The nurses have expressed a lot of concern about how difficult it is to remove the tape from their neck," Burger said.
"The protocols that should have been in place in Dallas were not in place, and that those protocols are not in place anywhere in the United States as far as we can tell," National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro said. "We're deeply alarmed."
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said the claims, if true, are "startling." Some of them, he said, could be "important when it comes to possible other infections."
Officials from National Nurses United declined to specify how many nurses they had spoken with at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. They said they would not identify the nurses or elaborate on how the nurses learned of the details in their allegations in order to protect them from possible retaliation. The nurses at the hospital are not members of a union, officials said.
Here's a look at some of the allegations the nurses made, according to the union:
Thomas Eric Duncan wasn't immediately isolated.
On the day that Thomas Eric Duncan was admitted to the hospital with possible Ebola symptoms, he was "left for several hours, not in isolation, in an area where other patients were present," union co-president Deborah Burger said.
Up to seven other patients were present in that area, the nurses said, according to the union.
A nursing supervisor faced resistance from hospital authorities when the supervisor demanded that Duncan be moved to an isolation unit, the nurses said, according to the union.
At first, protective gear nurses were wearing while treating Duncan left their necks exposed.
After expressing concerns that their necks were exposed even as they wore protective gear, the nurses were told to wrap their necks with medical tape, the union says.
"They were told to use medical tape and had to use four to five pieces of medical tape wound around their neck. The nurses have expressed a lot of concern about how difficult it is to remove the tape from their neck," Burger said.
Nina Pham, 26 - identified as Dallas 1st Nurse diagnosed with Ebola (Oct. 10, 2014)
CDC 'doubling down' on training at Texas hospital and others
DALLAS — The Texas nurse who contracted Ebola while caring for the first person to die of the virus in the U.S. has been identified as 26-year-old Nina Pham.
Health officials have not released the nurse’s name, but Yahoo News identified Pham through public records and a state nursing database.
Then on Monday, Pham’s family confirmed her identity to Dallas ABC News affiliate WFAA.
3D Printing Mud Huts In Impoverished Countries
We are all for 3D printing around here but haven't these countries been making mud huts for centurieswithout 3D printers?
Bikers Rejoice! The World's Smartest Motorcycle Helmet's Coming Soon!
The Skully AR-1 may be the coolest helmet ever (Photo: Skully)
It’s the kind of helmet “Robocop” would wear. And it could put a nice high-tech spin on your next motorcycle road trip.
Couple Welcomes Terminal 'Bucket List' Baby, Then Says Goodbye
The Pennsylvania couple that
carried out a heartbreaking bucket list for an unborn baby with a
terminal condition announced the birth of the boy today, and his death a
few hours later.
"Today at 6:15 a.m., after
meeting his entire family and being baptized into the Catholic faith,
baby Shane died peacefully in his Mother's arms," Jenna and Dan Haley of
Philadelphia wrote in a Facebook message. "We are so grateful for the
time that we were blessed to hold and hug our son."
China Just Overtook The US As The World's Largest Economy
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Sorry, America. China just overtook the US to become the world's largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Chris Giles at the Financial Times flagged up the change. He also alerted us in April that it was all about to happen.
Basically, the method used by the IMF adjusts for purchasing power parity, explained here.
The simple logic is that prices
aren't the same in each country: A shirt will cost you less in Shanghai
than in San Francisco, so it's not entirely reasonable to compare
countries without taking this into account. Though a typical person in
China earns a lot less than the typical person in the US, simply
converting a Chinese salary into dollars underestimates how much
purchasing power that individual, and therefore that country, might
have. The Economist's Big Mac Index is a great example of these disparities.
Dallas deputy being tested for Ebola in Frisco,TX - Oct. 8, 2014
FRISCO, Texas -
A
patient showing symptoms of Ebola who claims to have had contact with
Thomas Eric Duncan, the Ebola patient who died in Dallas Wednesday, was
taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Wednesday afternoon.
The patient taken to the hospital Wednesday is Sgt. Michael Monnig of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Frisco officials say Monnig was transported after CareNow Frisco, an urgent care facility, reported a patient "exhibiting signs and symptoms" of Ebola claimed to have had contact with Duncan.
Test results are expected to be returned in two days.
Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland says the deputy entered the apartment where Duncan had been staying and had contact with some members of the family that lived there. Federal and state health officials say there's no indication the deputy had any direct contact with Duncan, though.
The patient taken to the hospital Wednesday is Sgt. Michael Monnig of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Frisco officials say Monnig was transported after CareNow Frisco, an urgent care facility, reported a patient "exhibiting signs and symptoms" of Ebola claimed to have had contact with Duncan.
Test results are expected to be returned in two days.
Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland says the deputy entered the apartment where Duncan had been staying and had contact with some members of the family that lived there. Federal and state health officials say there's no indication the deputy had any direct contact with Duncan, though.
Galaxy Note 4, other Samsung Android devices facing potential sales ban in U.S.
NVIDIA on Monday announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to investigate whether certain Samsung devices, targeted in a recent NVIDIA suit against the South Korean giant and Qualcomm, should be banned from sales in the U.S. or not.
NVIDIA alleges that Samsung’s
own Exynos processors, and various Qualcomm CPUs including the
Snapdragon S4, 400, 600, 800, 801 and 805, are in violation of certain
GPU patents.
Feds issue rules for burying Ebola patients in the U.S.
Liberian
native Thomas Eric Duncan dies from Ebola virus in Dallas; health
officials face new challenge in handling body that could stay contagious
for days.
DALLAS – The first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died from the disease Wednesday
and now Dallas health officials are facing a situation they have not
before experienced: how to handle a body that could remain highly
contagious for several days.
Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, had been
in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian since Sept. 28. His death
comes four days after his condition was downgraded from serious to
critical.
Take a Look at Mark Wahlberg's Humble Abode
Clearly, Mark Wahlberg is a man who needs his space.
The Academy Award-nominated
actor's new home, a 30,000-square-foot behemoth, was recently completed
and is ready for its close-up. No word on whether the Wahlberg clan has
moved in yet.
Aerial photos of the mansion give gawkers an idea of the home's size.
It's kind of like Versailles or the Taj Majal, only, you know, not as
subtle. There's a basketball court, a rock-lined swimming pool (with
waterfall, natch), a gym, a wine cellar, and a putting green according
to the Daily Mail.
Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan dies at Dallas hospital - Wednesday Oct. 8,2014
State commissioner: “The past week has been an enormous test of our health system”
DALLAS — The first person to be
diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died early Wednesday,
officials with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital announced.
“It
is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must
inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 a.m.,” the hospital said in a written statement. “Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola.”
The Liberian citizen, who recently traveled from West Africa to
Dallas to reunite with a long-lost son and the teen's mother, had been
in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian for 10 days.“This hurts deeply,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings during a city council meeting. “We were hoping this was not going to happen.”
It was not immediately known what would happen to Duncan's body, which could remain contagious for several days. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
call for the remains to be immediately shrouded in plastic and
double-bagged in leak-proof bags at the hospital, then promptly cremated
or buried in an airtight casket.
Even an Ozarks coroner gets surplus military guns - Local Police turning into Paramilitary Potential??
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Doug
Wortham used a Defense Department giveaway program for law enforcement
to stock his office with an assault rifle, a handgun and a Humvee — even
though the people in his custody are in no condition to put up a fight.
Wortham is the Sharp County, Arkansas, coroner. He says the Humvee helps him navigate the rugged terrain of the Ozarks foothills, but he struggled to explain why he needs the surplus military weapons he acquired more than two years ago.
"I just wanted to protect myself," he said.
His office isn't the only government agency with limited policing powers and a questionable need for high-powered weaponry to take advantage of the program. While most of the surplus weapons go to municipal police departments and county sheriffs, an Associated Press review shows that a diverse array of other state and local agencies also have been scooping up guns and other tactical equipment no longer needed by the military.
Typhoon Vongfong Becomes 2014's Most Powerful Storm
An enormous storm in the Western Pacific rapidly strengthened overnight into the year's most powerful super typhoon.
Super Typhoon
Vongfong reached sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) this morning
(Oct. 7), with gusts of up to 190 mph (306 km/h), according to the U.S
Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.Satellite estimates from the Japan Meteorological Agency suggest the massive storm's central pressure dropped to 905 millibars, making it the most intense storm of any kind this year, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog. (The average sea level pressure is 1,013 millibars. Typically, storms with a big pressure gradient, or difference in pressure, have stronger winds.) [Super Storms: 8 Terrible Typhoons]
Islamic State group downs another Iraqi helicopter
BAGHDAD (AP) — Militants with
Islamic State group on Wednesday shot down an Iraqi military attack
helicopter, killing the two pilots on board in the second such incident
in a week and raising concerns about the extremists' ability to attack
aircraft amid ongoing U.S.-led airstrikes.
According
to two Iraqi officials, the extremists used a shoulder-fired missile to
take down the Bell 407 helicopter, which crashed just north of the
refinery town of Beiji, located about 200 kilometers (130 miles) north
of Baghdad.
The mom behind Target's gun ban
Your gun is not welcome at Target or Chipotle.
And that's not by accident. It all started with one woman's quest to prevent the next Newtown.
"I just couldn't believe what I was seeing on the news: 26 Americans being slaughtered in the sanctity of an elementary school. As a mother of five, this really affected me," said Shannon Watts, who started the Facebook group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Attack Code For 'Unpatchable' USB Flaw Released
And a move like this benefits who? Thanks to Monkey34 for the link.
Computer security researchers wrote the code following the discovery of the USB flaw earlier this year. The pair made the code public in an attempt to force electronics firms to improve defences against attack by USB. One of the experts who found the flaw said the release was a "stark reminder" of its seriousness.
Global And US Internet Speeds Increasing
Although it may not seem like it, the latest report from Akamai says internet speeds are increasing almost everywhere in the US.
Major ISPs, such as AT&T and Verizon, are pleading with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to boost its definition of broadband to 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) from its current benchmark of 4Mbps. Ironically, Akamai's latest report on The State of the Internet for the 2nd quarter of 2014, says "a total of 39 states saw 4K readiness rate more than double over the past year." That is to say, these states saw a major increase in the availability of the 15Mpbs speed needed for 4K video.
Texas A&M Transportation Institute Crash truck Video
I have no idea why the Texas A&M Transportation Institute crashed this truck but it sure is neat to watch. The slow motion playback is awesome.
2015 new cars, trucks and crossovers to avoid
Despite the recent spate of recalls in the auto industry, it’s difficult to find catastrophic fault with today’s new cars. It’s been ages since the industry produced vehicles that were so mechanically misbegotten they’d, say, drop a transmission to the pavement within days after being picked up at the dealership.
We don’t even have a particularly gruesome-looking model like the oft-vilified Pontiac Aztek crossover SUV to kick around these days or even an unfortunately executed flop like the Chevrolet SSR sport truck to deride. Heck, what was until recently the poster child for ungainly contemporary cars – the Chrysler 200 – managed to morph into what is now a capable and downright amenable midsize sedan with its model-year 2015 redesign.
Ebola patient told hospital he was from Liberia - Thomas Eric Duncan
DALLAS (AP) — The first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States told a nurse on his initial hospital visit that he had recently been in an area affected by the deadly disease, but that information was not widely shared, a hospital official said Wednesday.
Cadillac's new boss writes a manifesto via Facebook: "Pure unadulterated CLASS" ?
No one can say Johan de Nysschen has chosen the slow lane in his new job as head ofCadillac — between the reveal of a new flagship, a new naming system that begins withCT6 for said flagship and a decision to move Cadillac's 50-odd marketing and business staff to New York City. All of those changes have come with ample sides of doubt and criticism — especially around Detroit, where the idea of separating Cadillac from the city of its birth has not gone over well (and brought back memories of Ford's unsuccessful attempt to revitalize Lincoln in the 1990s by moving its business to California.)
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