May 29, 2015 This week on Basic Black - a vision for a new Boston. We take a look at Mayor Walsh’s Boston 2030, the first citywide plan in 50 years — it’s targeted to coincide with Boston’s 400th birthday.

Panelists:
- Callie Crossley, Host, Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, 89.7 WGBH
- Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter
- Jerome Smith, Chief of Civic Engagement, City of Boston
- Ayanna Pressley, Boston City Councilor At-Large
- John Barros, Chief of Economic Development, City of Boston

AI-enabled global payment network Klarna has announced that it...

The state's online registration for Covered California has been up for a couple of weeks, and reaction has been mixed.

Steve Julian: Business analyst, Mark Lacter, what's your take on how well Californians are getting into the Affordable Care Act?

Mark Lacter: It's hard to get a good read, Steve, because it's hard to measure the success of what is really a new marketplace.  If you're basing it on the number of unique visitors coming to the Covered California website, well, then the program clearly has attracted lots of interest - they had almost a million visitors during the first week of eligibility.  But, maybe a better measure would be the number of people whose applications actually have been received by the insurance companies that are going to handle the claims.  If that's your measuring stick, then the numbers have been far smaller so far.  Now, it's worth pointing out that California - and particularly L.A. County - have a higher percentage of households without insurance than other parts of the nation, and so you'd expect there to be lots of interest.

Julian: So the question, then, is how many folks turn into actual policyholders paying actual premiums each month.

Lacter: The truth is nobody knows, which is why state officials want to sign up as many people as possible in the early going when the program is getting so much attention.  This is especially true for younger and healthier people who are needed to help offset the cost of caring for older and sicker people.

Julian: And, that's also why any computer glitch can be such a headache...

Lacter: That's right.  Covered California did run into problems in the early going, but everybody agrees that things are going much better than the federal website, which is the default site used by folks in states that don't have their own program to oversee the health care laws.  That federal site has been an utter disaster.  So, by comparison, California is ahead of the game.

Julian: It's a work in progress, even here.

Lacter: Very much so.  The California website still doesn't have a way for enrollees to find out which doctors and hospitals are included in each health plan.  And, that's a big deal because  insurance companies are limiting the options available as a way of keeping premiums low.  So, it's possible that the doctor you had been using for your individual insurance plan will not be on the list of doctors that can be used for one of the cheaper plans.  Of course, for someone who doesn't have any health coverage, none of that is likely to matter.

Julian: And then, there's the continued threat of a U.S. default...

Lacter: You know, Steve, this is like watching the beginning of a bad traffic accident in slow motion - and we're all pretty helpless to do anything about it.  And, so are the financial markets, which are moving back and forth not based on what's going on with the economy or with any industry, but on the latest press conference out of Washington.  One thing we do know is that if the nation does go into quote-unquote default - and we're not even sure what that might mean - but if Wall Street and somehow declares this a major crisis, it's going to be bad.

Julian: Who gets hit?

Lacter: It'll impact anyone who has a retirement account, any business wanting to borrow money, and potentially it's going to impact the budgeting of the state.  You know, one of the things we were reminded of during the Great Recession was how reliant California has been on higher-income individuals who make a lot of their money through the stock market and other investments.  So, when those folks do well - as they have been over the last year - the state coffers will do well.  And when they don't, as was the case in 2008 and 2009, the state takes a huge hit because there's not enough tax dollars coming in.  Gov. Brown and others have tried to lessen the reliance on those top tiers - so far without success.

Julian: And the state's budget situation is so much better than it was a year or two ago.

Lacter: That's the real pity.  And, even if the House and Senate reach a temporary agreement on the debt ceiling, it's just a matter of weeks or months before another deadline crops up - and more uncertainty for the financial markets.  I guess Chick Hearn would have called this nervous time.

Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The companies also named leaders for their multibillion-dollar joint venture and showcased a prototype EV. The spending may ease concerns about Rivian's cash burn and give the German carmaker access to its US partner's software technology - an area where VW has stumbled.

Zoho CEO, Sridhar Vembu, predicts a resurgence of traditional jobs as AI automates production, making goods and services more affordable. He envisions higher wages for these revived roles, citing the demand for nature-friendly farming and live concert experiences.

Barbara’s has expanded its portfolio of Non-GMO Project Verified foods with the addition of Barbara’s Better Granola, available in Oats & Honey and Dark Chocolate Cranberry.

Select segments of salty snacks like extruded snacks, chips and pretzels have aligned with prevailing shopper desires, and their sales numbers show it.

J. Martinez & Company offers an explanation of the differences between Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and High Mountain.

Bricks are better black. ◾️ (at Toronto, Ontario)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Randall Laboratory
Organized By: Interdisciplinary QC/CM Seminars

In this talk, I will explore the emergent physics resulting from the complex interaction between real-space and momentum-space topology in strongly correlated quantum materials, with a particular focus on skyrmions. Using quantum Hall and quantum spin Hall insulators as key examples, I will explain the mechanisms behind skyrmion formation through electron doping in these correlated and gapped topological systems. We provide a detailed analysis of the phase diagrams and the formation of skyrmion lattices within the Kane-Mele-Hubbard model, supported by calculations from both the unrestricted real-space Hartree-Fock and density matrix renormalization group methods. In these systems, the doped electron and skyrmion form a composite object whose density is governed by the doped electron density. This electron-skyrmion bound state is stabilized by the coupling between the orbital magnetization of the Chern band and the emergent magnetic flux generated by the skyrmion. Moreover, we find that doping induces quantum anomalous Hall crystals, which exhibit quantized Hall conductance and broken translational symmetry. Our theory offers an intrinsic mechanism for the experimentally observed robust quantum anomalous Hall insulator over an extended doping range near a filling factor of ν = 1 in twisted transition metal moiré superlattices.

Reference: Miguel Gonçalves and Shi-Zeng Lin, arXiv:2407.12198

Short-bio:
Shizeng Lin completed his Ph.D. at the National Institute for Materials Science and the University of Tsukuba in Japan. After earning his Ph.D., he joined Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in 2011, initially as a postdoctoral researcher in the Theoretical Division. In 2014, he was appointed as a scientist at LANL. He is also currently affiliated with the Center for Integrated Nanotechnology at LANL, one of the five Nanoscale Science Research Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Lin’s research primarily focuses on theoretical studies of novel quantum materials, with a particular emphasis on systems characterized by correlation and topology. He received the LANL Laboratory-Directed Research and Development Program Early Career Award in 2017 and the LANL Fellows Prize for Outstanding Research in 2024.

(Thu, Nov 14 2024 2:05 AM to TBD) Blue Line service running w/delays due to a track condition near Cicero; board all trains on the Forest Park-bound side at Pulaski, Cicero and Austin.

Application of modern forensic standards in the judiciary with a particular focus on treatment of evidence, forensic analytics and quality control, as well as DNA analysis and crime scene investigation were the focus of an OSCE-supported seminar on 3 June 2016 in Danilovgrad, Montenegro.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized the event together with the Judicial Training Centre (JTC) and the Forensic Centre (FC) of the Interior Ministry’s Police Directorate. 

Three eminent national forensic experts held lectures for 20 representatives of prosecutor’s offices and the judiciary on how to increase the efficiency of prosecutor-led investigations through the well-prepared execution of warrants for evidence. Particular emphasis was placed on the enhancement of direct communication between the forensic services of the police and prosecutors at the very beginning of an investigation.

The Director of the FC, Zoran Tomčić, underlined the necessity of improving the system of search warrants prepared by prosecutors: “The number of warrants for forensic evidence has to be reduced and prepared more effectively. In May of this year alone, the FC received 200 warrants for DNA analysis, requesting results within a disproportionate time. In some cases, warrants are not sufficiently detailed, so that the results provided by forensic expertise do not stand up as evidence at the court.”

Maša Adžić, Head of the Training Unit in the JTC, said: “Good co-operation in a criminal investigation, communication between police, prosecutors and judges and their timely and professional performance are of crucial importance for a positive outcome.”

Participants emphasized the need for continued training in the field of forensic evidence as well as an expansion of the content of lectures on DNA expertise to cover such topics as sampling, types of biological evidence, writing orders for expert DNA analysis and interpretation of results. They also requested the organization of a seminar on forensic expertise regarding explosions and fire.

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The OSCE Presence in Albania on 24 March 2016 launched a series of workshops for the Albanian border and migration police with the aim of raising their capacity to respond to the challenges of irregular migration, particularly in light of the increased migrant flows through the Western Balkans.

The first of the workshops, which are being organized in close partnership with the Directorate of the Albanian State Police and the General Directorate of Border and Migration, took place in Korça, where 20 border and migration police were trained on measures to be taken to cope with the situation.

The subjects were based on trends as identified by Frontex and EUROPOL, and included migrant routes, the pre-screening of migrants, profiling of possible terrorist fighters, and the detection of criminal offences. The workshop was conducted by experts from the Albanian Europol National Unit and the Albanian Border and Migration Police.

The OSCE Presence, together with its Albanian partners, will organize similar workshops in the coming days with the border and migration police in Gjirokastra and in Shkodra. 

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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Croatia from 9 to 10 May 2016. During her visit, Thors focused on promoting the effective implementation of the Constitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities, in particular the provisions regarding languages and scripts; on education matters; and, on issues pertaining to national minorities and good neighbourly relations.

Concerned that marginalizing or stigmatizing national minorities poses a threat to the cohesion of society and to bilateral relations, Thors urged the systematic condemnation of discriminatory rhetoric or conduct.

“Divisive rhetoric has proven a dangerous path. The more diversity, the richer a society is, as different cultures are the shared wealth of all,” Thors said. “It is crucial to foster a sense of belonging for all members of society in order to effectively promote the integration process,” she added. Thors called for ensuring the protection of the rights of national minorities whilst avoiding polarization of the society along ethnic lines, consistent with The Ljubljana Guidelines on the Integration of Diverse Societies, published by HCNM in 2012.

The High Commissioner also emphasized the need for a renewed dialogue between all political and social actors to overcome difficulties, including those related to the protection of minority rights, in a consultative manner. In this context, Thors welcomed the thorough process of the curricular reform and reiterated her support to teaching of a common curriculum, regardless of the instruction language, as an effective way to integrate diverse societies and provide for common points of understanding.

Thors was encouraged by the prospect of further co-operation with Croatian institutions. She also welcomed the attention given to the existing joint bilateral inter-governmental commissions. “Co-ordination of efforts with neighbouring countries in this field and the active role played by all ministries under the auspices of the State Office of Croats Abroad could consolidate the shared European aspirations in the neighbourhood,” Thors noted.

The High Commissioner met a variety of key interlocutors in Zagreb. These included Zdravka Bušić, Deputy Foreign Minister; Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović, Minister of Public Administration; Predrag Šustar, Minister of Science, Education and Sports; Furio Radin, Milorad Pupovac, Ivan Radić, and Marko Sladojev, Chairperson and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Human and National Minority Rights, respectively; Aleksandar Tolnauer, President of the Council for National Minorities; Lora Vidović, Ombudsman; Branko Sočana, Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of the National Minorities; and Zvonko Milas, Head of the State Office for Croats Abroad.

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Fifty-two representatives of Local Crime Prevention Centres (LCPCs) in Kyrgyztsan, including members of the courts of Aksakals (local elders), women and youth councils completed a two-day workshop supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek  on 7July 2016 in Osh, with the aim of enhancing interactions between the police, civil organizations and the public.

Participants improved their practical skills on analyzing security situations and applying problem-solving methods, and in strengthening effective communication with the police and other stakeholders. LCPC members learned about the development and implementation of crime prevention projects and programmes. Participants also revised the normative-legal documents that regulate LCPCs and crime prevention activities.

“Preserving public order and preventing crime is the shared responsibility of the police, local self-government bodies, and local communities,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of Police Affairs at the OSCE Centre. “This training course seeks to strengthen this collective, consultative approach and the LCPCs’ capacity to foster community engagement in crime prevention and to strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership with police in addressing community security concerns.”

The workshop was conducted at the Community Policing Training Centre by a local expert and trainers from the Main Directorate for Public Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and of the Ministry’s Academy.

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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Croatia from 9 to 10 May 2016. During her visit, Thors focused on promoting the effective implementation of the Constitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities, in particular the provisions regarding languages and scripts; on education matters; and, on issues pertaining to national minorities and good neighbourly relations.

Concerned that marginalizing or stigmatizing national minorities poses a threat to the cohesion of society and to bilateral relations, Thors urged the systematic condemnation of discriminatory rhetoric or conduct.

“Divisive rhetoric has proven a dangerous path. The more diversity, the richer a society is, as different cultures are the shared wealth of all,” Thors said. “It is crucial to foster a sense of belonging for all members of society in order to effectively promote the integration process,” she added. Thors called for ensuring the protection of the rights of national minorities whilst avoiding polarization of the society along ethnic lines, consistent with The Ljubljana Guidelines on the Integration of Diverse Societies, published by HCNM in 2012.

The High Commissioner also emphasized the need for a renewed dialogue between all political and social actors to overcome difficulties, including those related to the protection of minority rights, in a consultative manner. In this context, Thors welcomed the thorough process of the curricular reform and reiterated her support to teaching of a common curriculum, regardless of the instruction language, as an effective way to integrate diverse societies and provide for common points of understanding.

Thors was encouraged by the prospect of further co-operation with Croatian institutions. She also welcomed the attention given to the existing joint bilateral inter-governmental commissions. “Co-ordination of efforts with neighbouring countries in this field and the active role played by all ministries under the auspices of the State Office of Croats Abroad could consolidate the shared European aspirations in the neighbourhood,” Thors noted.

The High Commissioner met a variety of key interlocutors in Zagreb. These included Zdravka Bušić, Deputy Foreign Minister; Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović, Minister of Public Administration; Predrag Šustar, Minister of Science, Education and Sports; Furio Radin, Milorad Pupovac, Ivan Radić, and Marko Sladojev, Chairperson and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Human and National Minority Rights, respectively; Aleksandar Tolnauer, President of the Council for National Minorities; Lora Vidović, Ombudsman; Branko Sočana, Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of the National Minorities; and Zvonko Milas, Head of the State Office for Croats Abroad.

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• Language rights, participation, security and access to justice fundamental to welfare of communities in Kosovo, says High Commissioner Thors
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• High Commissioner Thors, in her OSCE Permanent Council address, discusses country engagement and highlights the increase in hate speech targeting national minorities

As part of a one-year project to support the engagement of national minority youth and civil society in public discussions and public service, a roundtable discussion was held at the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 24 June 2016.

The event brought together 23 representatives of the Moldovan Parliament, the authorities of Gagauz-Yeri, civil society and the international community to discuss institutional dialogue between central and Gagauz authorities.

Independent researchers from the Comrat-based NGO Piligrim-Demo presented a recent report detailing the joint commissions formed over the years to initiate dialogue on the implementation of Gagauzia’s status as an Autonomous Territorial Unit. They outlined their recommendations for improving the functioning of the current working group established between the Parliament of Moldova and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. 

“Such discussions on the process of dialogue between civil society, the expert community and members of the Parliament and People's Assembly are important as they provide critical input to the process and build common understanding of issues,” said Jale Sultanli, Country Manager Moldova of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). Participants from Comrat and Chisinau welcomed the opportunity to study past and present practices to strengthen co-operation between the central and regional authorities in Moldova.

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• OSCE Mission to Moldova supports youth engagement in second debate tournament of 2015

Electronics, apparel and other products are priced at under $20.

New Health Care Technology: Is It Better to Build or Buy?  Leonard Davis Institute

[ENA] Addis Ababa -- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reviewed today the second phase of the Addis Ababa Corridor development underway on eight corridor pathways across the city.

Thousands of protesters march in Paris ahead of tense football match between France-Israel 

A study suggests that wrapping a surfboard in very bright lights — like aquatic Christmas trees — could make the surfer less interesting to great white sharks.

Sea snails stun their prey with toxins that mimic glucose-regulating hormones.

Zomato chief executive officer Deepinder Goyal took to social media to congratulate rival food delivery platform Swiggy on its stock market debut on Wednesday. The Sriharsha Majety-led company listed on the bourses with an 8% premium over its IPO price.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the company said the new Amazon Haul storefront will mostly feature products that cost less than $10 and offer free delivery on orders over $25.

Florida-based tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert leads a superlative quartet on It Gets Better, a graceful and charming album recorded September 2021 at the renowned Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey. While comparisons to other musicians are as a rule less than viable, the striking similarities between Rupert and the late jazz giant Stan Getz cannot simply be overlooked or ignored... [ read more ]

President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden met for nearly two hours at the White House on Wednesday.

The post White House Meeting Between Trump, Biden Ran Nearly 2 Hours appeared first on Breitbart.

U.S. 550 reopened after it was closed in both directions Wednesday morning because a boulder crashed onto the highway near Ouray overnight.

Join gambling expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica and former NFL Offensive Lineman Geoff Schwartz on the latest episode of “The Bear Bets Podcast” as the guys discuss Colorado vs. Utah in CFB week 12 sponsored by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his best bet for NFL Week 11. Read why he's backing the Eagles to win and cover against the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.

Gambling expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica and former NFL Offensive Lineman Geoff Schwartz reveal their best bets of CFB Week 12, choosing Washington vs. UCLA and Penn State vs. Purdue.

Gambling expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica and former NFL Offensive Lineman Geoff Schwartz are joined by friends and analysts Will Hill and Sam Panayotovich in The Gambling Group Chat to discuss the best bets and current wagers for Tennessee vs. Georgia in week 12 of college football.

Sharp rise in cases over 30 years compounded by millions of people lacking access to medication, Lancet study finds

Rally in dollar debt is unlikely ‘Trump trade’ and comes just months after huge restructuring

Computer chip equipment maker ASML said on Thursday it expects its sales to grow to between 44 billion euros and 60 billion ($46.4 billion-$63.3 billion) by 2030, suggesting an average annual increase of 8%-14%, driven by strong demand for its most advanced tools.

The FBI raided Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan's Manhattan apartment, seizing his phone and electronic devices. A source close to the matter told The New York Post it was politically motivated due to Polymarket's successful prediction of Trump's election win. It's "grand political theater at its worst," the source said. "They could have asked his lawyer for any of these things. Instead, they staged a so-called raid so they can leak it to the media and use it for obvious political reasons." Although no charges were filed, the raid has sparked controversy, with speculation of political retribution and concerns over potential market manipulation, as Polymarket faces scrutiny both in the U.S. and from French regulators. The New York Post reports: Coplan was not arrested and has not been charged, a Polymarket spokesperson told The Post on Wednesday evening. "Polymarket is a fully transparent prediction market that helps everyday people better understand the events that matter most to them, including elections," the rep said. "We charge no fees, take no trading positions, and allow observers from around the world to analyze all market data as a public good." Coplan posted on X after his run-in with the feds: "New phone, who dis?" Polymarket does not allow trading in the US, though bettors can bypass the ban by accessing the site through VPN. The FBI's investigation comes a week after Coplan said Polymarket is planning to return to the US. [...] In 2022, the online gambling platform was forced to pause its trading in the US and pay a $1.4 million penalty to settle charges with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that it had failed to register with the agency. [In France, regulators are investigating Polymarket's compliance with national gambling laws, with concerns about unauthorized gambling activities within the country.] A Fortune report published a week before the election found widespread evidence of wash-trading on Polymarket. "Polymarket's Terms of Use expressly prohibit market manipulation," a Polymarket spokesperson told Fortune in a statement.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

1. With more young obese patients, focus now on diabetes reversal  The Times of India
2. Does Diabetes Impact Mental Well-being? 5 Key Insights You Need to Know, According To Doctor  HerZindagi English
3. 86% diabetics in India facing anxiety, depression; women more affected: Report  Gujarat Samachar
4. Diabetes affects mental well-being of more than 4 in 5 Indians living with conditions, IDF survey reveals  The Financial Express
5. Diabetes-related Depression: How to work your way around the two Ds  Mint

1. Quarter of diabetics globally are Indians, says Lancet study  India TV News
2. India has the highest number of diabetic people in the world, even more than China: Report  The Economic Times
3. Why Lancet study on diabetes is a red flag: A quarter of diabetics globally are Indians  The Indian Express
4. 800 million diabetics worldwide and most aren't getting treatment, finds study  The Times of India
5. 800 mn people living with diabetes, rates double in 30 years: Study in Lancet  Firstpost

The standard 2022 iPad remains the top tablet for most users, while the 2024 iPad Air offers a boost in power for those with more demanding workloads.

What would an election cycle be without Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren making a fool of herself? After President-elect Donald Trump made headlines Tuesday for picking veteran and Fox News host […]

The post Elizabeth Warren Insults All Service Members with Attack on Secretary of Defense Pick Pete Hegseth appeared first on The Western Journal.

More than 800 million adults around the world now have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a global analysis has estimated—more than four times the number in 1990.Almost six in 10 adults aged over 30 with diabetes, equal to around 445 million people, did not receive treatment in 2022, three and a half times as many as in 1990, research in the Lancet found.1 The study found that while treatment rates had improved in many high income and industrialised nations and some emerging economies, treatment had stagnated at low levels in many low income countries where diabetes has drastically increased.Majid Ezzati, senior author and a professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London, said that the results highlighted “widening global inequalities” in diabetes treatment. “This is especially concerning as people with diabetes tend to be younger in low income countries and, in the absence of effective treatment, are at...