Rocco The Cheeky Parrot Keeps Using Amazon's Alexa To Order Snacks
A mischievous parrot who was booted from an animal sanctuary for his foul mouth has found a friend in Amazon’s Alexa device. Rocco, an African grey, was caught using the virtual assistant to play his favorite music, tell jokes and even order snacks, The Times of London reports. Thankfully the device’s parental lock system prevented the clever boy from actually purchasing any items ― which included strawberries, ice cream and even a kettle.
Source:Huffington Post
December 16, 2018 01:30 UTC
Sam Darnold’s Strong Game Can’t Hold Off Deshaun Watson and the Texans
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Sam Darnold nearly pulled off another one. “To go out there against a good Texans team, it would’ve been awesome to be able to get that win,” Darnold said. “But we just came up short.”Things looked promising after Darnold and the Jets (4-10) took their first lead of the game on Elijah McGuire’s 2-yard touchdown run with just five minutes left. Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, made plays with his arm and legs during the impressive 15-play, 73-yard go-ahead drive as he converted three third-down plays and a fourth-down opportunity.
Source:New York Times
December 16, 2018 01:20 UTC
Supersonic Flights Return And Other Notes From Ctrip Day
Valmorbida, a Brazil native, spoke on “The Future of Travel” at “Ctrip Day” in Shanghai on Tuesday. Ctrip, one of the world’s largest online travel businesses, attracted more than 1,000 people from around the world to the “Ctrip Day” gathering intended to show its innovations. Chairman James Liang and other executives rang the bell at the Nasdaq opening from a five-star hotel located in downtown Shanghai. Amadeus, one of Ctrip’s partners, also predicted future growth in travel because of spending increases in Asia, particularly China. China’s outbound travel market was $200 billion last year, but has attracted less than 10% of China’s population, according to Ctrip figures.
Source:Forbes
December 16, 2018 01:18 UTC
Barry Jenkins Is Speechless Over Video Blending 'Beale Street' Score With 1898 Film
Barry Jenkins said he was at a loss for words after someone combined the score from his new film “If Beale Street Could Talk” with a newly uncovered silent 1898 film that celebrated black intimacy on-screen. “Something Good – Negro Kiss” was selected to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress earlier this week. The film was produced by Selig Polyscope Company, according to the Library. On Thursday, Twitter user and attorney Kyle A.B., shared a video combining the score from “Beale Street” with the 1898 film. The creation touched the hearts of many on social media, including the likes of Jenkins, Viola Davis and Nicholas Britell, who produced the score for “Beale Street.”“A friend texted this to me,” the “Beale Street” director wrote on Twitter.
Source:Huffington Post
December 16, 2018 01:18 UTC
Mexican President Proposes Moderate Spending Increase for 2019
MEXICO CITY—Mexico’s new President Andrés Manuel López Obrador unveiled Saturday a budget proposal for 2019 that calls for a moderate increase in spending without raising taxes or the country’s debt. The budget plan submitted to Congress aims for a primary surplus equal to 1% of gross domestic product, meaning that the government would spend less than it collects next year, before the payment of debt. Government...
Source:Wall Street Journal
December 16, 2018 01:07 UTC
Alarming CNN Graphic Shows Just How Many Ongoing Investigations Relate To Trump
Most people know President Donald Trump is linked in one way or another to various investigations, whether it’s the special counsel’s Russia probe or the ongoing case against his charitable foundation. But to see it all in one place is another thing entirely. On CNN’s “New Day” Saturday, hosts Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul put up a graphic showing every Trump-related entity known to be under investigation. It was disconcerting, to say the least.
Source:Huffington Post
December 16, 2018 01:07 UTC
Wizards’ trade for Trevor Ariza is a short-term fix. Long-term issues remain.
ColumnistFinally, after almost two months of bad basketball, the Washington Wizards made a significant trade to do something about their lusterless state. Rather than blow up the roster, the Wizards want to salvage the season, which is something that I warned against in a previous column. We can focus on how much money Wall, Beal and Porter make, but you’re still talking about two all-stars and a high-grade role player in Porter. But how many more times will the Wizards be allowed to make last-minute revisions and trade young talent such as Oubre to rent Ariza? [Steinberg: Root for the hometown Wizards, Redskins (if you dare)]Now that Oubre is gone, consider this: In 2013, the Wizards selected Porter No.
Source:Washington Post
December 16, 2018 01:07 UTC
Mormons now a minority in Utah's biggest county, new figures show
"The place is just becoming much more diverse," said Pam Perlich, director of demographic research at the University of Utah's Gardner Policy Institute. "It is not just that data set that is indicating it. There are many data sets showing that."
Source:Los Angeles Times
December 16, 2018 01:07 UTC
NFL roundup: Deshaun Watson, Texans rally to beat Jets 29-22; Baker Mayfield, Browns beat Broncos 17-16
A holding call on cornerback Morris Claiborne on third down prolonged the drive, and Watson completed passes of 20 and 3 yards to Demaryius Thomas and 7 yards to Hopkins to get to New York's 14. Watson then found Hopkins streaking down the left sideline and launched a pass that the receiver somehow came down with despite being tightly covered by Claiborne.
Source:Los Angeles Times
December 16, 2018 01:06 UTC
Vietnamese Americans rally in Little Saigon against Trump administration's push to deport thousands of war refugees
Tracy La of VietRise, a grass-roots organization, said she and team members organized the rally in just two days because “we knew a lot of people of all ages are outraged at what’s happening. Knowing that a huge number of our community members are in deportation limbo compels us to act and to share our demands. No one will listen unless you speak up.”
Source:Los Angeles Times
December 16, 2018 00:56 UTC
The most Broadway-Produced Female Playwright Of Our Time Offers Her Wisdom
Her latest play Downstairs, starring real life siblings Tim Daly and Tyne Daly, debuted just last month at Primary Stages. When the play begins, Teddy (Daly) is living in his sister Irene’s basement which doesn’t bode well for Irene’s vile husband Gerry (John Procaccino). And of course, there’s the allure and complexity of seeing actual siblings play siblings on stage. And a real honor—I had to take it seriously,” shares Rebeck of the play directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt. Rebeck: I'm writing a film that is spy thriller about five international female spies, 355, for Jessica Chastain’s production company.
Source:Forbes
December 16, 2018 00:56 UTC
Iowa Poll: First poll of likely caucusgoers finds Biden, Sanders, O'Rourke atop the field
The new Iowa Poll finds 32% of likely caucusgoers saying they back Biden as their first choice, 19% Sanders, 11% O'Rourke, 8% Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 5% California Sen. Kamala Harris, with the rest of the 20-person field testing below 5% support. The top three candidates in Iowa, including O'Rourke's third-place ranking, match the top three in a national CNN poll released Friday . Those who prioritize a winning candidate are more apt to back Biden and O'Rourke than the overall pool of likely caucusgoers (36% in that group say they favor Biden, 14% Sanders, 14% O'Rourke) while Sanders outperforms his overall number among those looking for a candidate who shares their issue positions (30% Biden, 26% Sanders, 8% O'Rourke). Nearly half (46%) of likely caucusgoers said there wasn't a single candidate in the field they would never support. Of the better-known candidates in the field, four merited favorable views from a majority of likely caucusgoers -- Biden (82% favorable), Sanders (74%), Warren (64%) and O'Rourke (53%).
Source:CNN
December 16, 2018 00:56 UTC
5 takeaways from the new CNN/Des Moines Register poll
(CNN) We have the first look at the state of play in Iowa in advance of the caucuses -- which will kick off the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in roughly a year's time. The obvious lesson is that -- at this early stage -- being well-known is the key. But aside from the topline, what should we take away from the poll? More than one in three Iowa caucusgoers don't know enough about O'Rourke to offer an opinion about him. That's good for O'Rourke because it suggests he's nowhere close to maxing out his support.
Source:CNN
December 16, 2018 00:56 UTC
Troops kill 7 civilians as protest turns bloody in Kashmir
Kashmiri villagers comfort the grieving father of Murtaza, a 14-year-old civilian, during his funeral procession in Pulwama, south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Separatists who challenge India’s sovereignty over Kashmir said the killings were part of India’s state policy and called for three days of mourning and a general shutdown in Kashmir. Three rebels and a soldier were killed and another soldier wounded in the exchange of gunfire, he said. Residents said troops fired indiscriminately at the protesters. However, residents said at least two civilians, including a teenage boy, were killed away from the gunbattle.
Source:Washington Post
December 16, 2018 00:56 UTC
North Texas Star Quarterback Is Hurt in Loss to Utah State
North Texas’ star quarterback, Mason Fine, was injured in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, allowing his Utah State counterpart, Jordan Love, to steal the show. Love threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns, and Jalen Greene had six catches for 151 yards and a score, leading the Aggies (11-2) to a 52-13 victory in Albuquerque. Fine, who is set to begin next season as the leading active passer in the Football Bowl Subdivision, left the game for good early in the second quarter after a bad snap that North Texas (9-4) recovered at its 1 for a loss of 24 yards. He came up limping after a 9-yard run in the first quarter and sat out the next series but returned near the end of the quarter.
Source:New York Times
December 16, 2018 00:54 UTC