Saturday, February 14, 2015

FAA seen ready to open skies to commercial drones

from pcworld

Feb 14, 2015 7:50 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration will announce on Sunday its long-awaited proposed rules for commercial operation of drones.

The announcement will be made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and comes as speculation suggests many of the current restrictions that have commercial drone flight all but grounded will be removed.

On Saturday, Forbes published what it says is an FAA economic analysis into the new rules. The document, which is dated February 2015, was apparently uploaded to an FAA site in error and has since been removed from that site. It doesn’t contain the new rules, but analysis of them—at least as they stood at the time the document was written.

It says the new rules will have an economic benefit exceeding $100 million [m] a year, thanks to savings from the use of drones in jobs that currently require humans or from new business areas not currently economically feasible, like some types of aerial photography.

It would cost a total of around $300 to become FAA-certified under the proposed rules, the document says.

“If the use of a small UAS replaces a dangerous non-UAS operation and saves one human life, that alone would result in benefits outweighing the expected costs of this proposed rule,” it reads, using the abbreviation of the official “unmanned aerial systems” to refer to drones.

The report considers cost benefits in several other areas including bridge inspection, of which it reports there are roughly 600,000 in the U.S. that are required to be checked every two years. Roughly 45,000 of those are suitable for being checked by drones, it says.

It also considers the use of drones for visible checks on cell phone towers. Between 2004 and 2012, there were 95 fatalities involving workers on cell towers and the analysis indicates that figure could have been lower if drones use had been possible.

Currently, commercial use of drones is largely prohibited. The FAA has given a handful of companies permission to fly them, but they must adhere to certain rules such as the operator being a licensed pilot, the pilot being assisted by a spotter, and the drone remaining in sight at all times.

The new rules will apparently maintain the requirement for the drone to remain in sight and won’t permit operation between dusk and dawn due to safety concerns.

Once published, the rules won’t become law immediately. The FAA will open a commentary period during which members of industry and the public can submit their views on them. After that closes, the comments will be analyzed and the rules possibly rewritten.

It will be then that the proposed rules are sent to the President for approval. The process is likely to take at least several months.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Amanda Knox announces engagement

from aol

Feb 12th 2015 8:17AM

Even though Amanda Knox's legal case is continuing in Italy, back home in Seattle, she's moving on with her life.

According to The Seattle Times, Knox is engaged to musician Colin 'Thunderstrike' Sutherland. Sutherland reportedly wrote her while she was in an Italian jail and even moved back to Seattle to be with her.

Sutherland and Knox have been seen together as far back as September 2014 when the two were spotted in Coney Island.

Knox has retained a fairly normal life since moving back to the United States following her release from Italian prison in 2011.

She graduated from the University of Washington last year with a degree in creative writing.

From there, she's retained a job at a bookstore and as a freelance art reporter for The West Seattle Herald.

But her freedom is still in question abroad.

In 2007, while studying abroad for school in Italy, Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher was stabbed to death. Knox was arrested in 2007 and indicted on murder charges in 2008.

In '09, Knox was convicted of murder, but appealed. She won the appeal and was released from prison to return to the U.S. in 2011.

Then, just two years later, that ruling was reversed and Italy's highest criminal court ordered a retrial.

The retrial found her guilty and she was again convicted of the same murder in 2014.

Now, there's another appeal as well as a legal fight over whether the U.S. should extradite Knox for her to serve her sentence. That case will be heard March 25.

The Seattle Times reports no wedding date has been set for Knox and Sutherland.

Amanda Knox over the years:

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Bill Maher Says Socialism Created America's Successful Middle Class

from youtube

The Huffington Post | By Bill Bradley

Posted: 01/31/2015 3:57 pm EST Updated: 01/31/2015 3:59 pm EST

Friday, February 6, 2015

911 Call Highlights Bobbi Kristina Brown Relatives' Brawl

from nbc

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

ISIS stoop to new barbarity beyond words as they release video of themselves TORCHING captive Jordanian pilot to death in a cage

from dailymail.co.uk

BREAKING NEWS:

Video titled 'Healing the Believers' Chests' shows brutal murder of pilot
Moaz al-Kasasbeh is filmed being burnt alive while locked in a cage
He was captured in December after his jet crashed over ISIS-held territory
Jordan has confirmed pilot was brutally murdered by ISIS on January 3
White House condemned killing, saying it 'stands in solidarity' with Jordan
In response to sickening footage, Jordan has reportedly moved five ISIS-linked prisoners to a prison in the south of the country
Kingdom released a statement saying all five would be executed tonight

By JOHN HALL FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:50 EST, 3 February 2015 | UPDATED: 14:01 EST, 3 February 2015

Militants fighting for the Islamic State terror group in Syria and Iraq have released a video they claim shows Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burnt alive while locked in a cage.

The footage, which is titled 'Healing the Believers' Chests' appears to show the captured airman wearing an orange jumpsuit as a trail of petrol leading up to the cage is seen being set alight.

Flames are seen quickly spreading to the cage where they completely engulf the helpless pilot in images that are far too distressing to publish.

The release of the video has prompted Jordan to announce it will execute all prisoners convicted of association with ISIS 'within hours'. This includes Sajida al-Rishawi - the female failed suicide bomber whom ISIS had originally demanded Jordan release in exchange for Kasasbeh.

Within an hour of the video's publication, Jordan reportedly moved five ISIS-linked prisoners to a jail in the south of the country which is usually used for state executions.

Kasasbeh was captured by ISIS after his F-16 fighter jet crashed in territory controlled by the militants in northern Syria in December.

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Brutal: The footage, which is titled 'Healing the Believers Chests' appears to show the captured airman wearing an orange jumpsuit as a trail of petrol leading up to the cage is seen being set alight

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Horror: The video, which is ISIS' most sickening yet, begins by showing Kasasbeh being paraded in front of heavily armed men wearing combat fatigues and yellow masks

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Walking to his death: The professionally shot and edited footage shows Moaz al-Kasasbeh walking towards the cage in which he would be burnt alive

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Militants fighting for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq have released a video they claim shows Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive while locked in a cage

Relatives of executed Jordanian pilot receive news of his death

US President Barack Obama says that if the video turns out to be authentic, it would be more evidence of the group's 'viciousness and barbarity.'

He added that the U.S. would 'redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of our global coalition to make sure they are degraded and ultimately defeated,' adding that the footage serves to indicate that 'whatever ideology they are operating out of is bankrupt.'

The footage showing Kasasbeh's gruesome murder appears to be professionally shot and edited in the style of the horrific beheading videos featuring the terror group's executioner in chief, Jihadi John.

The video, which is ISIS' most sickening yet, begins with a lengthy montage showing Jordan's King Abdullah II declaring his support for the anti-ISIS coalition in the style of a TV news report.

It then cuts to beaten and bruised-looking Kasasbeh sitting in a darkened room wearing an orange jump suit and giving details of his training as a pilot, the anti-ISIS airstrikes he took part in, and details of crash in which his F-16 jet came down in jihadi-held territory.

Before cutting to the sickening murder, the video - released by ISIS' Al-Furqan media centre - continues with TV-style news reports showing the dead and dying child victims of coalition airstikes.

The video then cuts to Kasasbeh standing in the centre of a rubble-strewn courtyard surrounded by heavily-armed militants wearing yellow face masks and fatigues.

There is no sound other than that of crows cawing for more than a minute as the HD camera films close-up high definition shots of the soon-to-be victim and his killers.

Kasasbeh is then seen standing in a cage as a militant - identified at the end of the video by the name Emir Ahmed - uses a large stick to light the trail of petrol leading up to his feet.

The flames quickly engulf the pilot, who is seen battling them for more than than a minute before bowing down and putting up no further resistance. He remains alive for at least another 30 seconds before falling backwards.

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Captured: Muath al-Kasasbeh (centre in white) was captured by the Islamic State after after crashing near its HQ in the Syrian city of Raqqa in December. ISIS is now believed to brutally murdered him

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ISIS threatened to kill Kasasbeh (centre) if a deadline was not met for the release of would be Rishawi

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Exchange: The Jordanian government had said they will only release failed female suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi (right), who is on death row in Jordan, if it gets proof Mr Kasasbeh (left) is alive

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Relatives of Moaz al-Kasasbeh held pictures of him at a rally calling for his release earlier today

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Grief: Anwar al-Tarawneh, the wife of Kasasbeh, appeared at a protest in Amman, Jordan earlier today calling for his release

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Anger: Jordan had vowed to do 'everything' could to save the life of ISIS-held pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh. Here Kasasbeh's relatives hold posters of the captive during a rally in the city of Karak over the weekend

The video comes just days after ISIS' British executioner in chief, Jihadi John, savagely murdered Japanese journalist Kenji Goto in a shocking filmed beheading after days of intensive negotiations through intermediaries to save him.

Yesterday Jordanian government spokesman Momeni said: 'All state organisations have been mobilised to secure the proof of life that we require so that he can be freed and returned to his home.'

'We are still ready to hand over the convict Sajida al-Rishawi in return for the return of our son and our hero,' Mohammad al-Momani added.

He condemned the jihadists' murder of Japanese journalist 47-yer-old Goto after days of intensive efforts through intermediaries to save him, adding: 'We spared no effort, in coordination with the Japanese government, to save his life.'

The release of the horrific footage appears to confirm rumours heard by anti-ISIS activists in the terror group's stronghold Raqqa in early January that the pilot had already been killed by burning.

Jordan later confirmed that Kasasbeh was murdered one month ago, on January 3.

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The shocking video comes just days after ISIS' British executioner in chief, Jihadi John, savagely murdered Japanese journalist Kenji Goto in a shocking filmed beheading after days of intensive negotiations

Mr Goto joined a list of other victims of Jihadi John, including fellow Japanese national Haruna Yukawa (left). British aid workers David Haines (centre), and Alan Henning (right) have also been murdered

US journalist James Foley (left) was the first to appear alongside Jihadi John in one of the sickening videos, followed by Steven Sotloff (centre). American aid worker Peter Kassig (right) was also murdered by ISIS

The White House this afternoon said the U.S. intelligence community was working to authenticate the video, adding that it condemned the militant group.

'The United States strongly condemns ISIL's actions and we call for the immediate release of all those held captive by ISIL,' White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, using an alternative acronym for ISIS.

'We stand in solidarity with the Government of Jordan and the Jordanian people,' she said.

Last week Jordan vowed to fast-track the execution of Sajida al-Rishawi if ISIS kills Kasasbeh.

It apparently warned ISIS that she and other jailed ISIS commanders would be 'quickly judged and sentenced' in revenge for the execution of the pilot.

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Greed Game - Parts 1- 6 June 17, 2008

from youtube

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Sunday, February 1, 2015

More Abusive Comcast Customer Mail Continues To Surface

from hothardware.com

by Brandon Hill — Sunday, February 01, 2015

Just when you thought Comcast employees couldn’t get any scummier, they have to go and top themselves with even more rude and childish behavior. On Thursday, we brought you the story of Lisa Brown, who simply called into Comcast to downgrade her service, as her family was undergoing financial hardships. Instead of promptly complying with Mrs. Brown’s wishes, a retention specialist attempted to persuade her to sign a new two-year contract and continue paying for service that she couldn’t afford. And to make matters worse, a Comcast employee changed her husband’s name on the account from Ricardo Brown to Asshole Brown. Talk about “courteous” customer service.

Even though Comcast has been notorious for shoddy customer service over the years, we could seemingly chalk up an instance like this as being a fluke — perhaps it was a rogue employee that was simply trying to blow off some steam or simply have some fun at a customer’s expense. However, Christopher Elliot, the consumer advocate that first blew the lid off Mrs. Brown’s story, has received more stories from Comcast customers over the past few days that suggest harassing customers is simply a part of Comcast culture.

In once instance, a woman’s name was changed to “whore” out of the blue by a Comcast employee. According to Comcast customer Julie Swano, her name was changed to the offensive term on December 6, 2014. This was odd to Swano, as her most recent contact with the Comcast was on December 16, leading her to remark to Elliot, “So whoever chose to re-name me picked my account out of a hat.”

Another target of Comcast employees was Carolina Heredia, whose first name was change to “dummy.” How would you like it if you were to login to your online Comcast account and see the greeting “Hello, dummy” instead of your proper name? After numerous attempts to have the “glitch” fixed, Comcast eventually reverted the account name, but offered no sort of apology.

Is this the best way to treat a loyal customer? (Source: Boarding Area)

Stories like these are really unnerving to say the least. Here you have innocent customers that are being treated poorly by their cable company. Sure, many of these customers were attempting to downgrade their service, but they were still staying onboard as Comcast customers in some capacity. Why would employees stoop so low to mock customers in such a brazen and highly visible way?

For its part, Comcast says that it is investing the earlier case involving Mrs. Brown. Charlie Herrin, Comcast’s Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, took to the company’s corporate blog to address the matter, stating, “We have apologized to our customer for this unacceptable situation and addressed it directly with the employee who will no longer be working on behalf of Comcast.”

As for preventing idiotic incidents like this from happening again, Herrin says, “We're also looking at a number of technical solutions that would prevent it from happening moving forward.”

In addition, Herrin said that Comcast is basically giving its employees a crash course on how to treat customers. It boggles the mind that employees need to be retold to respect customers first and foremost, but these latest incidents meant that a refresh course was definitely needed. “We took this opportunity to reinforce with each employee just how important respect is to our culture,” Herrin adds. “In every interaction we have with a customer, we need to show them respect, patience, and enthusiasm to provide them with an excellent experience.

“We're working hard to transform the customer experience and all of our employees play an important role in making that happen. We'll take every opportunity to learn from our mistakes and fix issues to make their experience better.”

Let’s hope that the “Comcast culture” changes for the better following this latest bout of bad publicity. After all, Comcast is trying its darnedest to make sure that its acquisition of Time Warner Cablepasses muster with federal regulators, which means that a whole lost more people could be subject to the “joys” of being a loyal Comcast customer.