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Monday, 16 September 2013

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees, Saints weather Buccaneers’ push

TAMPA — Drew Brees was sacked four times, knocked around a bunch more, and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Still, the New Orleans quarterback found a way to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers again.
Garrett Hartley kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a weather-delayed 16-14 victory and their fourth consecutive win over their NFC South rivals on Sunday.
the lead early in the fourth quarter to complete three straight passes for 54 yards to lead the Saints (2-0) into position to win.
He finished 26 of 46 for 322 yards, although interceptions by linebackers Dekoda Watson and Mason Foster led to all of Tampa Bay’s points.
The game was interrupted by a 69-minute suspension of play because of lightning that sent fans at Raymond James Stadium scurrying for cover early in the first quarter.
The Bucs (0-2) lost on a field goal in the closing seconds for the second straight week. Foster scored on an 85-yard interception return for a 14-13 lead.
However, Rian Lindell missed a 46-yard field goal attempt just over a minute later, giving Brees one more chance to bring the Saints back.
Brees led his team into scoring position with completions of 15 yards to Jimmy Graham, 8 yards to Darren Sproles, and 31 yards to Marques Colston.
It was the 22d time during the regular season Brees has led a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The Bucs played resilient defense to stay in the game, but in the end weren’t able to generate enough offense.
Josh Freeman completed just 9 of 22 passes for 125 yards for Tampa Bay. Doug Martin rushed for 144 yards on 29 carries.
The Bucs visit Gillette Stadium next Sunday for their first meeting with the Patriots since the 2009 season. The game at London’s Wembley Stadium was won by the Patriots, 35-7.

Navy Yard shooting

Gunman and 12 Victims Killed in Shooting at D.C. Navy Yard

WASHINGTON — At least 13 people, including one gunman, were killed, and the police were looking for other potential suspects, in a shooting Monday morning at a naval office building not far from Capitol Hill and the White House, police officials said.
One police officer was in surgery after being shot in an exchange of fire with a gunman, said Chief Cathy L. Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department. The shootings took place at the Washington Navy Yard, in the southeast part of the city.
Senior law enforcement officials identified the gunman as Aaron Alexis, 34. He was identified through his fingerprints.
According to the Navy, Mr. Alexis enlisted as a full-time reservist in May 2007 and left the service in January 2011. He served as an aviation electrician, and the highest rank he achieved was mate third class. From February 2008 to January 2011, he was assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 46, in Fort Worth.
The Navy said Mr. Alexis had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Shortly after 4 p.m., the F.B.I. released a “Seeking Information” bulletin asking for the public’s help in learning more about Mr. Alexis. The bulletin, which had two photographs of Mr. Alexis, said he was 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighed 190 pounds and was born in Queens.
Valerie Parlave, the assistant director of the Washington field office of the F.B.I., urged members of the public to look at pictures of Mr. Alexis on the F.B.I. Web site and to call with any information they might have about him.
“No piece of information is too small,” she said. “We are looking to learn everything we can about his recent movements, his contacts and his associates. We ask the public to look at the photos of the deceased shooter.”
Three weapons were found on the gunman: an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol, an official said.
“It’s hard to carry that many guns, so there is some thinking that he may have taken some of them from security or whoever else he shot,” the official said.
One federal law enforcement official said the suspected gunman had family in New York, a mother and a sister or sisters, but had not lived there.
The official indicated that the gunman was captured on video as he entered the building before the shooting and said that it was possible that other portions of the episode were also recorded by cameras inside the building.
“We’re continuing to see if there are in fact additional shooters, but we have nothing to indicate that yet,” the official said.
As the day wore on, officials released conflicting information about the search for two possible gunmen.
Officials said one of the two gunmen they were looking for was a white man wearing a khaki Navy uniform and carrying a handgun. The other was a black man, about 50 years old, who was believed to be carrying a “long gun,” police officials said.
But officials in Washington did not move to lock down the city in light of that threat. The Metro, the city’s subway system, continued to operate normally. Out of an “abundance of caution,” Terrance W. Gainer, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, put the Senate complex into lockdown just after 3 p.m. The Senate had recessed in the early afternoon.
Meanwhile, the city’s deputy mayor for public safety wrote on Twitter just moments after Chief Lanier’s afternoon briefing that one of the men being sought had been cleared. “The white male being sought in connection to the #NavyYardShooting has been identified and is NOT a suspect,” said the post from the account of Paul A. Quander Jr., the deputy mayor.
One law enforcement official involved in the investigation said that the authorities had received few reports from witnesses of seeing gunmen who fit the descriptions that the city officials had provided. “There would have been a whole lot more damage if there had been three gunmen,” the official said.

Miss America

Miss New York wins Miss America pageant

California's Crystal Lee is first runner-up. Much viewer attention goes to the contestant in Army boots.

 
Miss New York Nina Davuluri, right, reacts with Miss California Crystal Lee after Davuluri was named Miss America. (Julio Cortez, Associated Press / September 15, 2013)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.  — Nina Davuluri became the first contestant of Indian heritage and the second consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant Sunday night.

Davuluri, 24, won the title as the nationally televised pageant returned home to Atlantic City.

She succeeds another Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, whose tenure was cut short when the pageant moved back to Atlantic City after a six-year stint in Las Vegas, where winners were chosen in January.

Davuluri performed a classical Bollywood fusion dance for her talent competition.

After the traditional frolic in the Atlantic City surf Monday morning, she will head to the scene of a devastating boardwalk fire in the New Jersey communities of Seaside park and Seaside Heights on Monday afternoon.
Miss California, Crystal Lee, was first runner-up.
The pageant had pitted 53 contestants — one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.

“This is where we belong,” Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America Organization, told The Associated Press. “This is the home of Miss America, and this is where we're going to stay.”

Much attention had been given to Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, who is believed to be the first Miss America contestant to openly display tattoos. She has the Serenity Prayer on her rib cage and a military insignia on the back of a shoulder. While other contestants wore glamorous costumes and elaborately decorated footwear during Saturday night's “show-us-your-shoes” parade on the Boardwalk, Vail wore camouflage gear and Army boots.

In a Twitter message Sunday, Vail wrote: “Win or not tonight, I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have empowered women. I have opened eyes.”

Vail made it to the Top 10 and won a nationwide voters' choice award propelling her into the semi-finals.

Another noteworthy contestant was Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones, who made it into the top 5 while wearing a bejeweled knee brace. She tore ligaments in her knee while rehearsing her baton twirling routine on Thursday. Sunday night, she performed the routine flawlessly.

The pageant started in Atlantic City as a way to extend the summer tourism season for an extra weekend. 

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning tops Eli as Broncos thump Giants, 41-23

Eli Manning throws a pass during the first
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke | Eli Manning throws a pass during the first half of a game against the Denver Broncos. (Sept. 15, 2013)

The Broncos put a beating on the Giants like only a big brother can.
Peyton Manning beat his little sibling Eli for the third time in his career, this time teasing him by keeping it close before blowing the game open midway through the second half in a 41-23 win at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Peyton Manning finished the game completing 30 of 43 attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Eli Manning was 28 of 49 for 362 yards and a touchdown but also threw four interceptions.
The Giants fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2007 -- a season in which they won the Super Bowl. The Broncos, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 and looked very much like a team that has not played its last game at MetLife Stadium, the home of Super Bowl XLVIII, this season.
As the fans filed for the exits after Eli Manning's third interception of the game, a fourth-and-10 heave into the end zone with about eight minutes remaining, it was hard to believe that only 10 minutes of play earlier the Giants were within a point of the lead.
Two changes of possession at roughly the same part of the field allowed the Broncos to pull away in the second half. Peyton Manning hit Julius Thomas for a quick pass and Prince Amukamara poked the ball out for a fumble. The ball was bouncing towards Ryan Mundy, who had recovered an earlier fumble, but linebacker Mark Herzlich tried to cut it off. He wound up juggling it and fumbling it back to the Broncos. Knowshon Moreno recovered it for Denver, and seven plays later ran around an unprotected left flank of the Giants' defense for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 24-16. He had scored on the same play in the first half from 20 yards out.
The Giants were still within a score. But an Eli Manning pass to Rueben Randle over the middle was broken up by Tony Carter. The ball clipped Carter's heel and bounced in the air, where Chris Harris was able to catch it for an interception, the second against Eli Manning on the day. That gave the Broncos the ball at the Giants' 36, and on third-and-8 from the 11 Peyton Manning hit tight end Julius Thomas for a touchdown pass and a 31-16 lead with 12:19 left in the game.
After a three-and-out by the Giants' offense, Trindon Holliday returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown that broke the game open, 38-16, with 10:13 remaining.
Da'Rel Scott caught a short pass from Eli Manning and went in for a 23-yard touchdown with 3:59 remaining in the game to make it 38-23, but an offsides call on the ensuing onside kick gave Denver the ball back, leading to Matt Prater's 47-yard field goal to make it 41-23.
Several missed opportunities prevented the Giants from taking a lead through the first three quarters. Brandon Myers simply fell down on his way toward the end zone in the second quarter for what would have been a touchdown, and later on the drive, on third down, the ball went through Myers' hands for an incompletion. The Giants were driving late in the second quarter when a pass interference penalty put them in easy field-goal position, but Eli Manning was picked off by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on an attempt at the end zone with nine seconds remaining. Instead of a fourth first-half field goal for a 12-10 lead, the Giants went into the half trailing 10-9.
Peyton Manning opened the second half with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker to make it 17-9, but the Giants countered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs to close within a point at 17-16 with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

Savannah Brinson

Report: LeBron James marries longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LeBron James has another ring.
The Miami Heat star married Savannah Brinson in San Diego on Saturday, according to two people familiar with the details of the ceremony.
About 200 guests were present for the ceremony, said one of the people, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because the hotel wedding was private and the couple had yet to release any details. The ceremony was the highlight of a three-day celebration that will conclude with a brunch on Sunday.
James and Brinson, 27, have been together since high school and have two sons. James, 28, proposed just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2012 in Miami Beach, flanked then by many of his teammates — just as he was again Saturday for his wedding.
Intense security measures surrounded the wedding, and even some of the invited guests were unclear on some specific details in the days leading up to the long-awaited event that came less than three months after James and the Heat won their second straight NBA title.
Guests were ushered into the wedding areas under the cover of tents, and television footage taken by news helicopters showed that even umbrellas were used to protect the identity of those arriving. Heat owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra and many of James' teammates including Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were on the guest list.
And while some with ties to James, such as Wade and his actress girlfriend Gabrielle Union, tweeted that they were in the San Diego area for a wedding, none released any details — since one of the many rules of the wedding was believed to be that no phones would be allowed.
Brinson spoke briefly with AP about the wedding last spring, saying she was both excited and nervous. James has only discussed the wedding in general terms, once describing his role as only to ensure "that Savannah gets whatever she wants on her day, the wedding day she always dreamed of."

Phillip Lim Target

At Target, shoppers scramble for 3.1 Phillip Lim bags

It was an unexpectedly tame and well-behaved affair — until the bags were rolled out.
At a Target store in West Hollywood, about 10 minutes after the 8 a.m. launch of the retailer's much-anticipated 3.1 Phillip Lim collection, many of the roughly 150 shoppers who had waited in line in the wee hours were still milling about the already stripped racks.
They been let into the store in groups of five. Although some had half-jogged to the display of womenswear, menswear and accessories, the shoppers were largely polite to each other, friendly even, as they heaped armfuls of dresses and tops into shopping carts.
As expected, the purses — including a selection of bags modeled after Lim’s popular Pashli line and already sold out online — were quickly snatched up. But then Target workers rolled out a pallet piled high with more bags to replenish the racks.
Shoppers quickly swooped in to a tight circle around the pile, hovering, agitated, as workers loaded the purses on the display and barked at those who got too close.
As soon as the OK was given, fashionistas by the fistful swarmed toward the bags, creating a 30-second scramble of shouting and flailing arms before the crowd picked the rack clean.
Shopper Crystal Martin, who has made it to Target for all of the retailer's designer launches, managed to add a taupe Pashli doppelganger to her haul of shirts.
“It was out of control,” she said of the throng. “This was painful. It was crazy.”
The store had brought in extra workers to handle the event — giving the scene a Black Friday feel.
By 7:45 a.m., more than 100 shoppers were in line. “I’ve Got the Power” was pumping through the sound system.
Two women in the line fawned over another woman's bag - a blue Pashli from Lim's main line. 
"OMG, is it real?" cooed one woman, reverentially caressing the bag.
"She's probably going to lick it," her friend joked. 
But at 5 a.m., it was just 26-year-old law student Daniella, who sat at the front of the line.
The West Hollywood resident, who declined to give her last name, said she had checked Target's website at midnight and then again at 1 a.m. looking for the products, to no avail. 
At 4 a.m., when she woke up to go, all of the purses she was hoping to buy were sold out online.
"I'm a Phillip Lim fan, but I could never actually afford a $900 purse," she said, whiling away the time with some reading for school. "But $35 for one that looks the same? I'm OK with that."

Chrissy Teigen

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's Wedding: Inside their Ceremony

John Legend Marries Chrissy Teigen: See Wedding Gown Photo
There was no shortage of special moments – or wardrobe changes – at John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's romantic Italian wedding

The couple – who wrote their own vows – tied the knot in Lake Como on Saturday in front of 125 guests, including close family and friends like Kanye West, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Brooklyn Decker, a source tells PEOPLE. 

Teigen, 27, who wore a strapless ivory Vera Wang gown for the wedding ceremony, changed into a second gown created by the designer for the reception, which featured delicious Italian cheese, prosciutto and cured meat appetizers, as well as truffle risotto, pasta and a beef dish for dinner. 

Following dinner, Legend took to the piano and for an emotional rendition of 'All of Me.' "Everyone was in tears. It was so beautiful," the source says. 
Earlier this year, Teigen told PEOPLE that her husband-to-be, 34, had written the song for her.

"He writes a lot of love songs, but this one is specifically about me, so it makes it more special," she admitted. 

And that wasn't the only emotional song of the night. 

"I know I love beyonce but I didn't realize how much I loved beyonce until the dj played 'love on top' and I cry danced," the model Tweeted on Sunday post-nuptials of Knowles's Grammy-winning hit. 

The source says another highlight of the night came when West walked Wonder to the piano, and the singer performed "Ribbon in the Sky." 

After the reception, Teigen slipped into her third Wang gown of the night – this time a crimson strapless mermaid gown with embroidered crystal detailing – for the after party. 

"It was a sweet, wonderfully beautiful wedding," the source tells PEOPLE. "They are so in love, and the whole wedding was so gorgeous!" 

Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA -- That high-octane, ball-control offense belonged to the San Diego Chargers.
Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes to Eddie Royal, and Nick Novak kicked a 46-yard field goal with 7 seconds left to lead the Chargers past the Philadelphia Eagles 33-30 on Sunday, spoiling Chip Kelly's home debut.
On Philly's turf, the Chargers (1-1) looked more like the Eagles' ideal offense.
They racked up 539 yards, held the ball for 40:17 and sped things up.
"We kind of no-huddled the no-huddlers," Rivers said. "We had our own rhythm of no-huddle going. It was a heck of a team win."
Michael Vick threw for a career-best 428 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score. But a porous Eagles defense couldn't stop Rivers all day.
He finished 36 of 47 for 419 yards, and the Chargers punted only once. They fumbled twice inside Philadelphia's 10 in the first half.
The teams combined for 1,150 total yards.
The Chargers got good news after the game when they learned receiver Malcom Floyd was fine after leaving on a stretcher with a neck injury on a hard hit by DeMeco Ryans and Nate Allen on the first play from scrimmage after halftime.
"All the tests right now look good, so it's great for the organization to go out and get a win for Malcom," coach Mike McCoy said.
Following a dynamic 33-27 victory over Washington last Monday, the Eagles (1-1) needed more time to get their up-tempo offense going against San Diego. They crammed 53 plays into the first half against the Redskins, took a 26-point lead in the third quarter and held on to beat the defending NFC East champs.
But it was the Chargers who moved the ball seemingly at will in the first half. Those two turnovers were costly, however, and the Eagles had a chance to win at the end.
"It was big for our offense to just convert on third down, trying to keep their fast-paced offense off the field, knowing how explosive they were," Royal said.
The Eagles had a first down at the Chargers 10 before Vick was shaken up on an incomplete pass. Nick Foles came in and threw another incompletion before Vick returned and misfired on a throw. Alex Henery kicked a tying 32-yard field goal that left Rivers plenty of time to answer.
"It doesn't matter how we score as long as we score," Kelly said. "But I still think we left too many opportunities offensively out there."
Rivers quickly led the Chargers down the field with less than two minutes left, and Novak nailed his fourth field goal to win it.
"Last week, we didn't finish the game," McCoy said about blowing a 21-point lead in a 31-28 loss to Houston. "We made too many mistakes. Today, we finished."
The Eagles took a 27-23 lead when Vick ran in from the 2, but the defense couldn't hold it.
Henery allowed the ball to slip through his hands when Fozzy Whittaker fumbled on the kick return and the Chargers started at the Eagles 39. A few plays later, Rivers tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Royal for a 30-27 lead.
DeSean Jackson had 193 yards receiving, including a 61-yard TD, for the Eagles. LeSean McCoy had a career-high 114 yards receiving.
"We made our share of plays today and I think we're going to get better," Vick said.
Antonio Gates led the Chargers with 124 yards receiving, Floyd had 102 and Royal added 90.
Rivers found Royal wide open on a third-and-10 for a 24-yard TD pass for a 20-10 lead, but the Eagles got a field goal then tied it when Vick hit Jackson in stride on a deep ball.
Vick tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Riley Cooper to cut San Diego's lead to 13-10 in the second quarter.
Then the Chargers wasted two excellent opportunities on consecutive drives.
Brandon Boykin forced Gates to fumble after a catch, and Casey Matthews recovered at the Eagles 2.
The Chargers were at the Eagles 8 on their next possession before Trent Cole forced Ryan Mathews to fumble and Mychal Kendricks recovered. Vick quickly moved the Eagles into field-goal range, but Henery missed a 46-yarder wide right at the end of the half.

Five Little Known Facts About The Pentagon




The Pentagon to most people is simply the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. This megalithic structure and its 5,100,00 feet of reinforced concrete, with 17 miles of hallway corridors remains as one of the world’s largest office buildings on the planet. However, there are some facts the public are completely unaware of about the Pentagon.
1. The Pentagon was Constructed on Hell’s Bottom
During the Civil War, a settlement known as Freedman’s Village sprung up on Robert E. Lee’s former estate, as escaped slaves made their way to the non-Union held territory. After the war these settlements became communities in an area known as Hell’s Bottom. When planners decided where they wanted to construct the Pentagon, it was first decided to be built East of Arlington Cemetery. However, they were told specifically they must build it on Hell’s Bottom, which later became known as East Arlington. Brigadier General Brehon Somervell, was told directly By Franklin Delano Roosevelt to have it constructed on that very spot. The Government evicted the community of 150 families, and appropriated the land.
2. The Pentagon is a Pentagram
In an aerial view of Washington D.C. those with keen eyes are able to see certain geometric shapes and designs (which I won’t get into here). Washington, D.C. is a very carefully planned city. In 1791, President Washington commissioned Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant, a French-born architect and city planner, to design the new capital. Some may call it a “conspiracy theory”, and some may call it a coincidence, but Pierre (along with George Washington) was a high-ranking Freemason. This is reflected in the architecture of Washington D.C.
The Washington monument itself, is actually an obelisk, and was consecrated in a Masonic Ritual. The reason this is important is because President Roosevelt, was also a high-ranking Freemason, who chose the location of where the Pentagon would be built. The point of the star that forms the Pentagram, points directly at the White House. As a side note, I chose 5 interesting facts although there are more.
The Pentagon is interesting because it has 5 sides, 5 floors, and a courtyard known as Ground Zero, that is 5 acres. And considering these facts seemingly relate to the occult, the number 5 represent the number of death, to those in the occult world. This is interesting considering the Pentagon is the center for our nation’s military, which carries out war and death all over the world. – I do not usually get into “conspiracy theories” but this is interesting!
3. The Pentagon’s Courtyard is Known as “Ground Zero”
Although it may seem insignificant, I think it is very interesting that the Pentagon’s courtyard is known as Ground Zero. After the 9/11 “terrorist” attacks, President Bush first used the word Ground Zero to describe the epicenter of the attacks at the Twin Towers. This is interesting, because Ground Zero is a term used to describe the point closest to the earth where a detonation takes place. Didn’t planes take down the Twin Towers and Building 7? Why was it called Ground Zero? Why is the Pentagon courtyard called Ground Zero? – Most say it got the name Ground Zero during the cold war, because it would have been the most likely target the Reds would have used for a nuclear attack. You decide.
4. 9/11 Was the 60-Year Anniversary of Pentagon Construction
On September 11, 2001 America was attacked. The Twin Towers, and the Pentagon were hit by airplanes. American Airlines Flight 77, smashed into the East Side of the Pentagon. Interestingly, this side of the Pentagon was the last side that was nearing completion of renovation. 60 years prior to the attacks, on September 11, 1941; construction began on the Pentagon. As a side note, the number 77 conspiratorially comes up a lot with 9/11 and the Pentagon.
The E4B, is the worlds most advanced and secret military aircraft, that is basically the Pentagon in an airplane. The call sign for the E4B, is Venus 77 (the AA Flight that crashed into the Pentagon was Flight 77 – coincidence?). Venus, in astrology represents a Pentagram! Isn’t a Pentagram used by Satanists?
5. The Pentagon and The Manhattan Project
The man who was officially in charge of the project at the Pentagon was Brigadier General Somervell. However, his subordinate Leslie Groves was commissioned to oversee day-to-day construction and operations. He was the key factor in making sure the Pentagon was constructed in the record time that it was built in. However, Leslie Groves was no ordinary man. He was also the Man in Charge of the Manhattan Project. He held all the Top-Secret Security Clearances involved in the Project, that coincidentally or not, was admittedly thought up at the Bohemian Grove meeting in 1942.

World's first solar electric bus



City officials in Adelaide, Australia unveiled the first solar electric bus:
The Adelaide City Council has raised the standard in international sustainability with the introduction of the world’s first solar-powered electric bus that is recharged using 100% solar energy. The bus named Tindo, the Kaurna Aboriginal word for ‘sun’ is the newest addition to the Adelaide City Council’s Adelaide Connector Bus service, a free service for the people of Adelaide. For the current Connector Bus timetable and route, click here.Manufactured by New Zealand company Designline International, the bus doesn’t have a combustion engine which makes it a very quiet, zero emissions vehicle. Other features of the vehicle include a regenerative braking system, saving up to 30% energy consumption.
It features high quality, state-of-the-art components sourced from some of the world’s leading transport and technology companies including MAN and Siemens. This system is the largest grid connected solar photovoltaic system in the State, and means the bus is also carbon neutral.
Tindo is air-conditioned and can carry up to 40 passengers, with 25 standard seats, 2 seats especially designed for disabled passengers and room for 13 standing passengers. The bus has covered over 55,000 kilometers since February and saved the Council over 14,000 litres of diesel and saved the environment over 70,000kg of CO2-e in its first year. Tindo is able to travel about 200 kilometres between recharges under typical urban conditions. It also has wireless internet capability making it possible for passengers to easily access the internet for free during travel time.

Meanwhile, Scotland sets a bold goal:
The Scottish government has said it wants the country’s towns and cities to be free of emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles by 2050.It has published a “roadmap” setting out its plans to help businesses and motorists switch to electric vehicles.
The government is to spend more than £14m over the next two years replacing its fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles with electric alternatives.
It will also install charging points at all of its main buildings.

In Norway, Telsa has conquered the competition:
Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and its Model S not only outsold every electric vehicle in Norway, but every other car, period. The VW Golf has been the best seller in Norway for months, but Bilnorge.no reported that in roughly the first week of this month, the market shares of the nation’s top three cars were the Model S (6.1%), the Golf (4.9%), and the Mazda CX-5 (4.2%).

Finally, Elon Musk and Tesla Motors are set to make a strong push in Germany:
Tesla will have six stores in Germany after adding locations in the coming months in Berlin and Stuttgart, home to Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG. The start-up already has sales centers in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Munich, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s hometown.Tesla is hitting the autobahn just as the German Goliaths start selling their own electrics from dealer networks with hundreds of stores. Musk will also need to win over buyers who traditionally have been loyal to homegrown brands.
“The European home turf belongs to the likes of Daimler, BMW and Audi,” said Bryan Batista, Tesla’s European sales director. “We’re confident that we have a product that stacks up very well.”

Frog-like Baby

A frog-like baby was born in Charikot, Nepal but died half an hour after his birth. The baby was neck-less with its head sunk in the upper part of the body and its big eyeballs popped out in his eye socket which totally made the baby to look like a frog.
An unknown disorder that’s rarely ever talked about and kind of invisible to the public eye, is very common in some states. Any ordinary person would approach this sittuation thinking that this was a gene mixature of a human and a frog, when actually it’s just a babies head not formed all the way, leaving the brain on display. Which was caused by a chemical reation during the baby’s first through third trimester. A very, very rare, sad, and almost disturbing disease.










The Butler

Forest Whitaker in The Butler
Forest Whitaker in The Butler. Photograph: Anne Marie Fox/AP
Lee Daniel's new film The Butler is a box office success, already generating Oscar buzz, but I am not interested in seeing it. I'm also skipping British filmmaker Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, another movie about black people dealing with slavery.
  1. The Butler
  2. Production year: 2013
  3. Country: USA
  4. Directors: Lee Daniels
  5. Cast: David Oyelowo, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey
  6. More on this film
I'm convinced these black race films are created for a white, liberal film audience to engender white guilt and make them feel bad about themselves. Regardless of your race, these films are unlikely to teach you anything you don't already know. Frankly, why can't black people get over slavery? Or, at least, why doesn't anyone want to see more contemporary portrayals of black lives?
The narrow range of films about the black life experience being produced by Hollywood is actually dangerous because it limits the imagination, it doesn't allow real progress to take place. Yet, sadly, these roles are some of the only ones open to black talent. People want us to cheer that black actors from The Butler and 12 Years a Slave are likely to be up for best actor and actress awards, yet it feels like a throwback, almost to the Gone with the Wind era.
I am not against revisiting the past, but there are already numerous black films that have covered the civil rights era and slavery. The quandary with black movies is they are overly fixated on the past, only depicting black suffering in relation to race, which is bizarre and peculiar.
Can a black film be created about black people not focusing on race? Is race the only central conflict the lives of people of colour?
I don't know about other black people, but I don't sit around all day thinking only about the fact I am black. I think about the problems in my life: the struggles, the joys, the happiness, most of which don't involve the issue of race. As a black person, I can honestly say I am exhausted and bored with these kinds of "dramatic race" films.
I might have to turn in my black card, because I don't care much about slavery. I've already watched the television series Roots, which I feel covered the subject matter extremely well. Of course, I understand slavery is an important part of any black person's history, but dwelling on slavery is pathetic. It ended in North America over 100 years ago, yet since Django Unchained made over $400m last year, more slavery movies emerge.
These movies present a false narrative that life is so much better for black people now. It is true that progress has indeed taken place. Black people don't have to sit at the back of the bus and are no longer slaves. However, there are so many stories that need to be told about the black life experience beyond two specific eras in black history.
Another film I won't be seeing in the fall is the biopic about Nelson Mandela starring Idris Elba. How many biopics can be made about Nelson Mandela and the Apartheid era in South Africa? Honestly, I have lost count. I'm not saying there aren't reasons to celebrate Mandela, but surely having just about every black actor of note play him isn't the way to do it.
Another problem with these race movies is they also focus exclusively on the lives of black heterosexuals. The vast majority of Hollywood movies released are about straight black folks, not black LGBT people. Why aren't there more movies about the struggle of black gays and lesbians in the western world or in the Caribbean or Africa?
Rodney Evans, a gay African-American filmmaker, does have an indie film out called The Happy Sad about a young black, gay couple. How many people have heard about this film?
I'll celebrate when Hollywood starts telling the stories about people of colour that have yet to be told. Now that would be Oscar worthy.