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Archaeologists make all the amazing new discoveries that shed light on the Mayan civilization
In Guatemala and Mexico archaeologists made important discoveries that shed light on ancient Mayan culture, reports the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Mayans created a highly advanced civilization – it is an axiom, not requiring proof. However, each new discovery or attempts to properly understand the purpose of the mysterious structures, and other artifacts never cease to surprise and amaze scientists. So at this time.
On the territory of modern archaeological complex of Ayutla, in Ocosingo Mexico researchers from the National Institute of anthropology and history, NIAI, have unearthed the ruins of an ancient Mayan theater, built more than 1.2 thousands of years ago.
The building, designed for 120 spectators, like many religious buildings of the Maya were on a hill. According to the expert, NIAI Luis Martos, the location of the buildings speaks of it no less significance for the ancient metropolis than temples. The archeologist assumes that the theatre was created by order of the ruling elite of the city for her amusement.
And what was happening on the stage of theater, most likely, glorified rulers and gods. To such conclusion the researchers came after he discovered among the ruins of statues of the Sun God and God of corn which was the staple diet of the locals.
No less impressive the discovery was made in Guatemala . where American archaeologists under the leadership of Professor Vernon Scarborough from Universitetscenter discovered the conduit and the dam Palace. These structures the Mayans built the city of Tikal more than a thousand years ago. I must say that the built of boulders, chopped stone and earth shaft length of 80 and a height of 10 meters discovered long ago, but archaeologists considered him a regular Causeway.
New research and 3D modelling has shown that this is not a dam, and the dam – part of the municipal water supply system. Maya has created a unique system of collection and purification of water: squares and streets of the city had a small slope, through which the life giving water after rains flowed into reservoirs. But before we get into them, the water passed through the filters of quartz sand.


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Amazing Window Art
May 22nd, 2012
It's amazing just how much fun you can have with just a window, landscape, and a few pens. From such simple things, a creative mind can conjure up and offer up a batch of greatness that truly has to be witnessed.
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domain: hobby


text: The pitter patter of little feet could be heard walking down the hall, heading to the back bedroom to see her daddy. She walked in and tugged on the blankets as she tried to crawl up on the bed. She couldn’t make it, so she walked around to the other side, and touched his arm. Stirring him he awoke to look into the eyes of his little girl. Two teeth were showing as she smiled at him and said daddy. He sat up and brushed the covers back, lifting her up and laying her down beside him. Pulling the covers up over them, she flipped them back and reached up and gave him a big squeeze.Sleep was over. Time to start the day. He sat up and grabbed her and put her on his shoulders, and they walked down the hallway to find mom. Mom was sitting on the couch with newspaper in hand resting. He put her down and let her play as he went to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee. Looking out the window he knew it was going to be another beautiful day. Sun was bright, blue skies. He loved these summer days. He sat at the table drinking his coffee, listening to his little girl jabber while playing with her dolls. He decided to read the paper before thinking about what he had to do for the day. He called to his wife to bring it to him, but she didn’t respond. He walked over to get it and noticed that her lips were a light blue and her face pale. He called her name with no response. He shook her, she was lifeless. He hurried to the phone and dialed 911. Within minutes the EMS arrived. She was alive, but she needed to go to the hospital. Neighbors came out to watch and wonder what was happening. One of their closest neighbors came over allowing him to explain. She took the little girl, and waved him to go on. He got to the hospital, to find his wife having tests done. They told him it would be about a half an hour.That he should go down to the cafeteria and get himself some breakfast or coffee. He didn’t want to go. His feet were felt like cement blocks on the floor, but he knew he didn’t want to wait alone. He went to the cafeteria and bought himself a cup of coffee. When he had found a place to sit, he proceeded to call family. Before he could finish that one cup, the first family member appeared. They talked and pondered on what was happening up there. Time went by slowly, then he heard his name being called over the speakers. They got up and went back to the ER room where the doctor was waiting. The doctor said to him that he wanted to go to the office across the hall. Once inside, the doctor explained that his wife had just had an aneurism. She hadn’t felt any pain, but she was gone. Gasps could be heard, as the words came out of his mouth. Tears flowed, bodies shaking. The doctor patted him on the back, and said if there was anything he could do, just let the nurse know, and he left the room, softly shutting the door behind him.Minutes turned into hours, and before he realized it, funeral plans had been made, and he found himself standing in front of his wife’s casket. He was holding his little girl in his arms, hugging her and they were saying goodbye to mommy. He awoke the next morning with numbness completely surrounding him. He heard the cries of his little girl, letting him know she was ready to get up. He went into her room, and she raised her hands to him, showing two white teeth. He walked over to her and lifted her in his arms, hugging her close to him. Daddy and my little girl.

domain: literature


Dual Fuel Anthracite Heated Towel Rail 1200 x 600mm Flat Manual
£109.00 (Inc. VAT)
- 1x Anthracite 1200 x 600mm Heated Towel Rail
- 1x Manual Temperature Control Electric Heating Element
- Brackets For Wall Hanging
The Duel Fuel Anthracite Flat Heated Towel Rail will leave your towels with that new feeling for much longer. Nothing can really beat the feeling of when you wrap a nice warm towel around you when you've just come out of the bath or shower, and that is why we believe having a heated towel rail is an essential, as you can now have it all year round! This towel rail has been built to not only keep your towels warm and dry but designed to heat your bathroom on those harsh winter nights, this adds a little bit of luxury (and warmth!) to your home. However, if you're like many others, when it comes to the summer you still want the pleasure of having soft and warm towels but you won't want the heating on then again we believe this towel rail is for you.
Dual Fuel Heated Towel Rails connect to your central heating, just like any ordinary radiator that you may have in your bathroom. Because it is dual fuel this towel rail includes a handy heating element which allows for you to still use this in the summer when the central heating isn't even on, this adds extra flexibility and control over your heated towel rail
Features and benefits:
- Includes 17 flat anthracite rails
- To be used alongside central heating
- A quick and easy installation
- Includes a heating element, for use in warmer months
- Supplied with all fittings and brackets
- Radiator valves are needed, but are NOT supplied
- Covered by a 10 year manufacturer guarantee
- Height: 1200mm.
- Width: 600mm.
|Heat Output||1543 BTU|
|Fuel Type||Dual Fuel|
|No of rails||17|
|Tube Centre||550 mm|
£ 109.00 (Inc. VAT)
Interest Free in 4 Easy Payments
Pay interest free in monthly payments
3 monthly instalments £36.33 = £109.00
4 monthly instalments £27.25 = £109.00
This electric towel element has now been in use for over 3 months now as is doing a great job. I fitted it into a towel rail which was installed into the airing cupboard following removal of the copper cylinder as part of conversion to a combi boiler. It was a big decision to remove the cylinder as my wife relies on the heat in the airing cupboard but this has worked a treat and saved the day. As usual with Plumbworld, ordering and delivery was spot on.
This is a lovely looking radiator which finishes my bathroom off nicely. I like it particularly as there are nice spaces to hang the towels, unlike other towel radiators where the bars are so close together, you can't.
I have been asking for my towel radiator to be mended for about 2 yrs, I finally gave up asking and ordered the part myself.
Looks really stylish. The spacing between the bars is perfect. Really pleased with this item.
The item was in100% what we were expecting. Looking perfectly... and working too!!
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Not all towell rail heating elements are the same! Two previously installed by a plumber have burned out and so I decided to do this replacement myself. When I dismounted and flushed out the radiator I discovered why it had packed up. It was full of black gunge fom previous meltdowns from elements that, to me, were overpowered. The key, I am sure, is to use the lowest wattage element compatible with the size of the rad. Not only is it cheaper to run but you dont want a towell rail that scorches passing skin! I have bought this bit of kit before from Plumbworld for another radiator and it has worked flawlessly for the last 5 years so I have good hopes it will be a repeat performance. The build quality looks good for a no-frills piece of kit and the price is a third of many others on the market. Value for money? A definite yes.
Ordered part it arrived promtly went together easily and is now heating my towels well


The EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis gave an opening speech, in Brussels, at the public hearing on ways to make the Capital Markets Union (CMU) work for retail investors. He outlined the initiatives that are coming into application this year, addressed some of the ongoing actions to increase options for retail investors, and covered what will be done next.
He first outlined the ongoing and completed work in the areas of directive on undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS), packaged retail investment and insurance-based products (PRIIPs), and the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), before finally discussing the future actions of EC. EC will monitor the effectiveness of the new regulatory framework for retail investments and whether it meets the goals of investor protection. As a first step in this effort, EC recently published an external study on the distribution of retail investment products in the EU. The study shows the difficulties end-investors face when trying to buy the most suitable investment fund, life insurance or private pension. The study also showed that there is a wide variation in the fees that Europeans get charged when investing in retail financial products. The data for this report was collected in 2017, before the entry into application of MiFID II, the PRIIPS Regulation, and the insurance distribution directive. This is why it will be used as a baseline for monitoring how the new regulatory framework is working.
EC is also taking additional actions to help retail investors find the best offers available on the market. That is why EC requested ESAs to report on a recurrent basis on the cost and past performance of the main categories of retail investment, insurance, and pension products. The first report is expected by the end of the year. It should provide information to help identify issues where further action is required. The results are also expected to make retail investors more aware of the impact of diverse fees and charges on net returns. Additionally, EC wants to look at how fintech can help in achieving goals. It is worth asking whether digital technology, such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, or block chain, can help consumers find the information they need. Such tools could be based on publicly available disclosures and provide a user-friendly interface linking existing databases. To find out more, EC will soon examine the current landscape of technology-driven digital interfaces and their potential to facilitate retail investment. The EC Vice President concluded that work needs to continue to give retail investors the confidence they need to invest in capital markets. He hopes that EC to hear suggestions for further work to help EC to develop retail financial markets.
Related Link: Speech
Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, Insurance, Securities, Investor Protection, Capital Markets Union, MiFID II, PRIIPs, Fintech, EC
Previous ArticleElke König of SRB Speaks About Harmonizing Insolvency Regimes in EU
MAS and Temasek jointly released a report to mark the successful conclusion of the fifth and final phase of Project Ubin, which focused on building a blockchain-based multi-currency payments network prototype.
PRA published a public working draft, or PWD, of version 1.2.0 of the BoE Insurance XBRL taxonomy, along with the related technical artefacts.
CPMI published a report that sets out nineteen building blocks for a global roadmap to improve cross-border payments.
EBA published phase 2 of the technical package on the reporting framework 2.10, providing the technical tools and specifications for implementation of EBA reporting requirements.
APRA updated the lists of the Direct to APRA (D2A) validation rules for authorized deposit-taking institutions, insurers, and superannuation entities.
PRA updated the statement that provides guidance to regulated firms on implementation of the EBA guidelines on reporting and disclosure of exposures subject to measures applied in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
EBA updated the 2019 list of closely correlated currencies that was originally published in December 2013.
ESMA published the final report on the guidelines on securitization repository data completeness and consistency thresholds.
FASB issued a proposed Accounting Standards Update that would grant insurance companies, adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional year to implement the Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12 on targeted improvements to accounting for long-duration insurance contracts, or LDTI (Topic 944).
APRA updated the regulatory approach for loans subject to repayment deferrals amid the COVID-19 crisis.


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PREPARATION: Cook From Frozen State Conventional Oven: Preheat oven 350⁰F Bake for 11-12 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165⁰F when using a meat thermometer. Microwave: Heat on high power 60-70 seconds. Microwaves may vary; verify internal temperature is 165⁰F when using a meat thermometer.
How do you cook pre cooked chicken patties?
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread frozen patties on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Pan Fry: Heat vegetable oil (1/8″) in skillet until hot. Fry patties in the hot oil over medium heat 10-12 minutes, turning over after 5-6 minutes. …
- Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
How long do u cook chicken patties?
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place frozen chicken patties on baking sheet.
- Heat 17 to 20 minutes.
Are chicken patties fully cooked?
With 0 grams of trans fat per serving, these chicken patties are perfectly sandwich sized for a quick lunch or dinner. Fully cooked and ready-to-eat, simply prepare in an oven or microwave.
How do you fry frozen chicken patties?
How to Cook Air Fryer Chicken Patties
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. …
- Place frozen chicken patties in the air fryer in one single layer.
- Cook chicken patties for 7-8 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Place buns inside the air fryer and cook for 1-2 minutes until crisped up (if desired).
5 авг. 2020 г.
How do you add flavor to already cooked chicken?
Add Your Own Seasonings, Like Sofrito
To add some freshness and flavor back into it, cut the chicken into whatever size you like and add your own seasoning to it. I usually love to make sofrito, a Puerto Rican recipe made from cilantro, green peppers, onions.
How do you cook a precooked frozen chicken?
How To Cook
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place frozen breast fillets on baking sheet.
- Heat 18 to 20 minutes.
Are chicken patties healthy?
Frozen chicken provides some health benefits because of its mineral content. … A serving of frozen chicken patties provides 23.3 micrograms of selenium — 42 percent of the recommended daily intake — while a 3.5-ounce serving of frozen chicken tenders contains 16.7 micrograms, or 30 percent of your daily needs.
Can I put a chicken patty in the toaster?
Can you cook a chicken patty in the toaster? Yes, you can but I don’t recommend it for safety reasons. A toaster oven is a better choice. Chicken patties contain moisture and grease and maybe loose breading.
What is chicken chub used for?
Meanwhile, while not marketed to humans for their consumption, chub packaging is used for ground fresh meat products in the pet food market.
Are Tyson chicken patties good?
4.0 out of 5 starsTotally worth it. Look nothing is going to taste as good as food you make yourself, but for a quick n REALLY EASY meal, these chicken ‘patties’ are fantastic! I put on some hot sauce/buffalo sauce and dip them in blue cheese;oh wow, excellent.
Are chicken patties processed meat?
Processed meats are any meats that aren’t fresh. People typically think of processed meat as only referring to pork and beef, but this category can also include poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) and fish. … This includes sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, beef jerky, canned meat, meat sauces, lunch meats and bacon.
How much does grilled chicken cost?
Best Grilled Chicken Menu
|1. 1/4 – Chicken||$3.29 – $7.99||leg & thigh|
|3. 1/2 – Chicken||$8.99 – $7.19|
|3. 1/2 – Chicken||$1.59||all white meat|
|4. 8 Oz. Boneless Chicken||$7.99 – $8.99|
|5. 16 Oz. Boneless Chicken||$10.49 – $11.49|
Can you deep fry frozen chicken patties?
Deep Fryer: Preheat oil to 350°F. Deep fry frozen Chicken Patties for 3 minutes or until fully cooked. … Bake frozen Chicken Patties on a baking sheet (turning halfway through baking) for 10~15 minutes or until fully cooked.
Can you air Fry Tyson chicken patties?
The air fryer can cook these chicken patties from frozen to piping hot in a little under ten minutes or so. The chicken remains plenty juicy, while the exterior develops a fabulous crisp. There’s no need to add oil here, there’s plenty in the breading of the chicken patty to ensure a crunchy finish.
Do you have to preheat an air fryer?
You don’t preheat your air fryer
You can’t just throw your food in and then set the temperature — as with most other cooking methods, you need to preheat the air fryer before you use it. … You should preheat your air fryer for ten minutes before you start cooking.

domain: food


text:
Active cases of the novel coronavirus in Turkey continued to fall on Friday, with more daily recoveries than new infections, said the country’s health minister.
A total of 1,492 people beat COVID-19 over the past day, bringing the overall count to 167,198 Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter, citing Health Ministry data.
The country’s death toll from the virus rose to 5,065, as it reported 19 new fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Some 963 patients remain in intensive care, added Koca.
Health care professionals conducted 51,198 tests for the disease in the past day, raising the total count to over 3.18 million.
According to test results, the total number of COVID-19 cases nationwide reached 194,511 with 1,396 new infections.
Since first appearing in China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions. The US, Brazil, and Russia are currently the countries hardest hit in the world.
The pandemic has killed over 490,600 people worldwide, with nearly 9.6 million confirmed cases and more than 4.8 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.
Copyright 2022 Anadolu Agency. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

domain: medical


The Judicial branch of government, the Department of Health and attorneys across New Mexico are working collaboratively to prepare for the possibility that state authorities may request court orders to isolate or quarantine individuals posing a public health threat during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The state Supreme Court organized online training for judges and attorneys this week on
provisions of state law allowing the department to petition a district court for orders to isolate or quarantine people during a public health emergency.
A training session will be held today for nearly 90 attorneys who volunteered through the state Bar of New Mexico to represent individuals who become the subject of a public health isolation or quarantine order. Two judges in each judicial district have been designated by the Supreme Court to hear public health emergency cases and they received training on Wednesday.
“This is a good example of partners in our justice system coming together in this public health emergency and preparing for rarely used legal actions that state health officials could take to protect New Mexicans from exposure to people infected with COVID-19,” said Justice C. Shannon Bacon.
Justice David Thomson said, “By having a trained group of judges and lawyers on call to handle public health cases, New Mexico’s court system can respond quickly if state authorities seek a quarantine or isolation order to help control the spread of coronavirus.”
The Department of Health has worked with New Mexico courts to plan for isolation and
quarantine cases, including helping with training and to develop forms for orders and pleadings in possible isolation and quarantine cases.
“This has been a great process, and we appreciate the time and attention that the judges have given to this issue,” said Chris Woodward, assistant general counsel at DOH. “The New Mexico courts play an essential role in protecting the health and safety of the public during this public health emergency, and we at the Department of Health are thankful for the dedication that the courts have shown to this cause.”
Those conducting the training sessions were Woodward; Rob Schwartz, a University of New Mexico School of Law professor who teaches health law and is a member of the UNM Board of Regents; Sidney Barrett of Taos, retired general counsel of the Georgia Department of Public Health; Ron Bratton, an Albuquerque attorney; and Second Judicial District Court Judges Nancy Franchini and Clay Campbell.
For news updates on the Judiciary’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the New Mexico Courts website and follow our Twitter feed @nmcourts.


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My name is Carolyn Ashbaugh. I moved from South Carolina to St. Augustine a little over a year ago to enroll in First Coast Tech's School of Culinary Arts. I'm campaigning for student body president of our school.
Cooking has been my passion since I was a kid. One of my most cherished memories is being in the kitchen while my grandmother cooked. I can still smell all the wonderful aromas of the holiday foods. But after the holidays are over, the decorations are stored until next year; inevitably we have bits and pieces of leftovers, plus a couple of extra, unwanted pounds.
We all make New Years resolutions mostly to attempt to shed all the added weight from the holidays, plus more. Here is a good way to get rid of that leftover turkey you have stashed in the freezer and incorporate a fresh approach for lighter fare in coming weeks.
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I can't believe it -- volume 2 of Mike Wallace's history of New York City is finally coming out!
This book has been two decades in the making, and while I'm disappointed that it only goes up to 1919 (which, given Wallace's age, raises the disappointing prospect that he will never cover the whole of the 20th century), if it's even half as good as volume 1 it will be an amazing work in which I will spend many hours immersed.
What more can I say about The Great Bridge that hasn't already been said? Not all that much.
The men who engineered and built this bridge were amazing-courageous, brilliant and talented. Some might even say they were insane, as the working conditions down in the caissons were extremely dangerous. I didn't even know what a caisson was until I read this book and now that I know, my respect for these workmen and engineers has grown.
I thought this book would be dry, and some parts were, but I learned a lot. Perhaps the extensive portions about the celebrations when the bridge finally opened could have been cut a little bit, but that's my only complaint.
This was a fascinating account of a huge event in American and New York history and I recommend it.
Thanks to my local library for the audio of this book!
This is absolutely an awesome book. The whole series is actually. The kids and I have read a few of the books from the series. The kids love finding all of the monsters on each page and I love that they get a lesson about things in each of the cities. These books are fun for the kids and the parents both.
This book is about exploring New York City. All of the main sites are listed throughout the book. You get to see the Statue of Liberty, The empire State Building, Grand Central Station and more. There is a small paragraph written about each site. Also there are Monsters hidden all over the place. There is a spot on each page telling yo how many Monsters to find.
I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.
Cities are ever-changing works in progress, and for every building, thoroughfare, and public space that exists there are unrealized plans that would have resulted in very different urbanscapes. In this well-illustrated book Rebecca Read Shanor looks at some of the alternative designs for America's largest metropolis that never came to pass. She divides this examination into six chapters, detailing various proposals for different streets, public buildings, transportation systems, bridges, parks, and monuments throughout the city. For each of them she describes their genesis, how they were received, and why it was that the visions never became reality, which produces a series of stories of visionaries who aspired to change New York City and the various pitfalls which frustrated their dreams.
Read Shanor's book provides an intriguing look at the New York that might have been. While her selection of projects is a little idiosyncratic (I was disappointed that the Dewey Arch was not even mentioned, let alone described), the ones she details provide excellent case studies that demonstrate the numerous reasons why many projects are never realized -- indeed, after reading this book, it can seem to be a wonder that anything is ever built. In some cases (such as Robert Moses's infamous Lower Manhattan Expressway) the city is better for the projects that never becoming reality, yet Read Shanor details more than a few the failure of which is regrettable. While there is no way of knowing how things would have turned out in the long run, it is fascinating to speculate how different New York might be had some of these proposals been built.

domain: library


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Among the topics discussed: x-rays, frequency of dental exams, and the connection between toothpaste and morning sickness.
“Mom-preneur” Amy Bradley joined us on The Couch to show us some great gadgets to make mom’s life easier – and all the products were invented by mothers.
Lia Batkin, co-founder of In the Know Experiences, an upscale travel and lifestyle experience agency, visited The Couch with her top destinations for luxury R&R while you’re expecting – from staycations to tropical vacations.
Licensed acupuncturist Erika Weber says the symptoms can be relieved with acupuncture. She visited The Couch on Tuesday to tell us more about how the ancient Chinese practice can help.
An alarming new report Monday showed a dramatic increase in the number of New York City mothers dying during and after delivering children.
Young teenage girls may soon be able to get the so-called “morning after pill” without a doctor’s or a parent’s permission. A Brooklyn judge dealt the Obama administration a blow, saying age restrictions must go.
Celebrity stylist George Brescia visited The Couch to show us some of the hottest looks in maternity wear.
The April issue of Fit Pregnancy, on newsstands on March 18, features their annual Buyer’s Guide for 2013 – with tips on how to throw a baby shower and all the top baby must-haves. Fit Pregnancy’s Tricia Perrotti joined us on The Couch to fill us in.
It was 40 years ago today that the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Roe v. Wade, which made abortion legal in America.
Julie Desantis-Mayer was told by her doctor not to lift packages over 25 pounds because it could harm the baby.
The rapper announced at a concert Sunday night that his girlfriend is pregnant.
Middleton was admitted to a hospital in London today due to acute morning sickness.
More and more women want to work through their pregnancies and a measure introduced before the New York City Council might well help them.
“I am so thrilled and know that my beautiful wife will be the most amazing mother,” says Eric.
Romney might say he won’t restrict a woman’s right to choose, but his message is clearly coded for his rightwing base: you do not have to worry about the Supreme Court. Relax, I’m with you, but I’m running for president for Pete’s sake.

domain: news


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domain: law


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TAG Heuer was proud to celebrate 100 Years of Innovation at the Aventura Mall in Miami on August 10 with brand ambassador, Giancarlo Stanton, right fielder for the Miami Marlins. Stanton became a spokesman for TAG Heuer in September of 2015, connecting the world of baseball with the premier Swiss luxury sports watch brand.
Established in 1860, TAG Heuer has excelled as a luxury sports brand by perfecting the chronograph movement and crafting watches that guarantee unwavering precision despite extreme conditions. TAG Heuer’s commitment to excellence under pressure finds kinship with Giancarlo Stanton, who thrives in the high stakes and competitive environment of Major League Baseball. During the event, Stanton wore one of the newest pieces in the Carrera collection, the Heuer 01.
At the exhibit, TAG Heuer showcased historical timepieces celebrating 100 years of advancements in watchmaking, displaying the brand’s past alongside its future to highlight TAG Heuer’s heritage of innovation. The brand presented the 1916 Mikrograph and the 2016 re-edition, the 1963 Carrera and its evolution to the Heuer 01 and Heuer 02, and most strikingly, the first 1916 wristwatch alongside the Connected Watch.
Guests were able to virtually experience the history of the Carrera watch from the 1960’s to the present time in a two-minute video with 360-degree views. To further celebrate the Carrera, an original 1953 Studebaker souped up with a NASCAR engine, an homage to the famous Mexican Carrera Panamericana race remake of the 1953 Studebaker was displayed to pay homage to driver Hilaire Damiron and the Mexican Carrera Panamericana race which inspired the Carrera collection name. TAG Heuer has a long connection to racing, notably since 1963 when Jack Heuer designed the Carrera, a revolutionary chronograph designed specifically for racing drivers, which has since become a symbol of the brand. TAG Heuer has continued its support of the legendary competition and recently signed a two-year partnership as the official timekeeper and the official timepiece for the race. Karen Leon, daughter of Eduardo Leon, President of the Carrera Panamericana, was also in attendance at the Aventura Mall to celebrate the history of TAG Heuer and the Carrera Panamericana.


At a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing today on the future of rail transportation and safety, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the committee, pushed officials from Amtrak and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to make safety a top priority.
“We need to stop the next DuPont from happening,” Cantwell said at the hearing.
To improve rail safety throughout the country, Cantwell emphasized the importance of implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) – a safety technology that according to the NTSB could have prevented the fatal Amtrak 501 derailment near DuPont, WA – and addressing freight rail congestion through infrastructure investment.
“Safety must remain a top priority,” Cantwell said. “We need to continue to make sure that we are having situational awareness of the challenges that come with participating in a busy transportation corridor. Obviously Positive Train Control… is a key component of that, and as we consider the number of freight trains coming through and the impacts on the daily lives, we need to make sure that we’ve learned the lessons from the DuPont accident and everything that comes with it.”
In her remarks, Cantwell highlighted the Pines Road crossing in Spokane Valley – which recently received federal funding to improve the intersection, a grant application Cantwell supported – as one example of the impacts of increasing rail congestion.
“56 freight and 2 passenger trains pass through [the Pines Road intersection], creating 3 hours of rail-related closures daily,” Cantwell said. “That means that the challenge of moving people and moving freight in our region… is becoming more and more challenging. Three hours every day when traffic is interrupted, three hours every day when accidents between cars and trains are more likely, and three hours a day when emergency vehicles are blocked from getting where they need to go.”
The number of freight trains traveling on Washington state rails is only expected to grow as businesses around the country continue to reach international markets through Washington state ports. In 2014, 121 million tons of freight were shipped by rail throughout the state. By 2035, that number is expected to more than double, to 260 million tons of freight. That increase will also impact crossings like Pines Road, which is expected to see as many as 114 trains pass through every day by 2035.
In her role on the Commerce Committee, Cantwell has been a consistent advocate for increasing accountability and investment in rail safety in the United States. In July of 2015, as the Senate considered the DRIVE Act, Senator Cantwell expressed concern that the bill would delay PTC implementation and roll back safety protections. In December of 2017, Cantwell joined her Senate colleagues from the Pacific Northwest to demand railroads be held accountable for PTC implementation. In January 2018, Cantwell led members of the Washington Congressional delegation in calling for a comprehensive update from the Federal Railroad Administration on the nationwide implementation of PTC. And in March 2018, after calling for a hearing in the wake of the DuPont derailment, Cantwell pressed Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson on rail safety and PTC implementation.
Samuel B. Boxerman is a Partner with Sidley Austin LLP in the firm’s Washington, DC office and is the WLF Legal Pulse’s Featured Expert Contributor on Environmental Law and Policy.
On June 10, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Christian to consider whether the federal Superfund law bars common-law claims to restore property to a cleanup level beyond what EPA has decided is sufficient to protect the public—or whether state common law provides an avenue to seek a more protective cleanup outside the process established under CERCLA. The Court will hear arguments in the case during its October Term 2019.
The case concerns the former Anaconda Co. Smelter, a 300+ acre copper ore smelting and processing operation that started up back in 1884. Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) purchased the facility in 1977 and then closed the site in 1980. EPA placed the property on its National Priorities List in 1983 and substantial cleanup from the historic operations has been completed, with the remaining remedial work in process. As part of the cleanup, EPA directed the company to remediate residential yards and drinking water wells within the Site to a defined cleanup level for arsenic that EPA determined would be protective of human health and the environment. ARCO has reportedly spent more than $400 million in cleanup costs to date.
The plaintiffs are property owners who claim the Smelter has damaged their property, and they brought various state-law claims against ARCO including (1) injury to and loss of use and enjoyment of real and personal property; (2) loss of the value of real property; (3) incidental and consequential damages, including relocation expenses and loss of rental income and/or value; (4) annoyance, inconvenience, and discomfort over the loss and prospective loss of property value; and (5) expenses for and cost of investigation and restoration of real property.
ARCO did not contest that the plaintiffs could seek money damages – thus only the last claim for “restoration damages” is at issue before the Supreme Court. Those would be the costs to restore the properties beyond what EPA has required. The plaintiffs had hired an expert to determine what actions would be required to “restore” their properties to pre-contamination levels, and sought to recover the expected cost of those efforts—the “restoration damages”—which would be placed in a trust account and distributed to pay for restoration work.
ARCO contended that CERCLA bars the plaintiffs’ claim for restoration damages—that as EPA has selected the remedy for the Site, a plaintiff cannot go to state court to ask a judge to impose an additional cleanup remedy beyond what EPA had established. The Montana Supreme Court disagreed and ordered the case to proceed.
In response, ARCO sought certiorari arguing that (1) the claim is effectively a challenge to EPA’s selected remedy which CERCLA does not allow at this time, (2) the plaintiffs are themselves potentially responsible parties under CERCLA and thus cannot take a cleanup action that has not been approved by EPA, and (3) the claim otherwise conflicts with CERCLA and thus is barred by conflict preemption. During briefing, the Court asked the federal government to weigh in—and the Solicitor General filed a brief that agreed with ARCO that the state court decision was incorrect, but still urged the Court to deny review as premature and to allow a trial court to first decide if damages were warranted.
Having taken the case notwithstanding the SG’s recommendation, it would seem more likely than not that the Court has done so in order to reverse the state court’s ruling. If it does not, the decision could set a very unhelpful precedent under CERCLA. CERCLA provides a stepwise, process for stakeholders to participate at each step in EPA’s remedy selection decision. EPA considers public input and then chooses a remedy based on an administrative record, applying the criteria set forth in CERCLA and governing regulations. That remedy is then final and is not subject to judicial review, unless and until EPA brings an action itself to enforce the remedy or recover its cleanup costs. That certainty is crucial to private parties’ willingness to step up and agree to conduct cleanups, because if private parties implement what EPA directs, that will ensure them some measure of peace. But, if any unhappy landowner could upset EPA’s choice in a de novo trial in state court, a private party likely will be far less willing to settle with EPA. That would likely mean more litigation and less cleanup.
I continue to be a strong supporter of our rail industry—both freight and passenger. Rail service is safe and efficient. It also reduces congestion on our highways and spurs economic growth.
In Mississippi, for example, we have 26 freight railroads, 2,400 miles of track, five of the seven Class Ones, two long-distance Amtrak Routes, 10 stations, and more than 100,000 annual riders. Rail is vital to Mississippi.
I have been a tireless advocate for the restoration of the Gulf Coast Passenger Service, which was suspended in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.
With funding support from DOT, Amtrak, and the states, I am pleased to report that Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama are likely once again to have this Amtrak route and that will give Mississippi a third Amtrak route.
Restoration of this service would support growing population centers, connect tourist destinations, bring new jobs, and improve the region’s quality of life. This will make a positive difference for the communities and people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
This hearing provides an opportunity to examine the state of passenger rail and consider how to support existing routes like the Southwest Chief and restore Gulf Coast service.
In 2015, I introduced -- along with Senator Booker -- the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, which reauthorized Amtrak. When the bill’s provisions were included in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, it authorized funding levels for Amtrak, created new rail grant programs, made improvements to existing rail financing programs, and changed Amtrak oversight and planning activities. The FAST Act and those rail provisions expire at the end of FY 2020. It is important for us to examine what aspects of this important legislation have worked and what should be improved.
This hearing is an opportunity for witnesses to discuss the impact of Amtrak reauthorization in the FAST Act and how Congress can support rail service in the next reauthorization bill.
In the FAST Act, I also led the creation of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program, known as CRISI. This program provides grants to improve the rail network. CRISI strengthens intercity passenger rail, supports capital projects, and boosts rail safety initiatives.
Among the most important safety initiatives for rail is the deployment of Positive Train Control (PTC), which is designed to prevent tragic accidents such as the Amtrak derailment in the state of Washington. Timely implementation of PTC is also important that the committee will be holding a full committee hearing on this in the near future. In addition, earlier this week the NTSB issued its report on that particular accident.
I hope our witnesses will discuss ways to support further capacity, enhance safety, and other improvements for passenger and freight rail service in the next Amtrak reauthorization.
One area that still needs improvement is on-time performance of passenger rail. For Amtrak to be successful, its trains must be able to run on time. With only 43.8 percent of long-distance trains arriving at stations on schedule, Amtrak’s on-time performance lags behind comparable transit networks.
I hope our witnesses will provide suggestions to improve Amtrak’s on-time performance while maintaining the overall fluidity of the nation’s rail network.
I look forward to a robust discussion of passenger and freight rail service and again thank our witnesses for testifying this morning.
I will now recognize my friend and the Ranking Member, Senator Cantwell.
The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “Crushed by Confessions of Judgement: The Small Business Story.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Time and again, small businesses report one of the biggest challenges they face in starting, operating, or expanding a business is access to capital. Unfortunately, some small firms fall victim to merchant cash advance companies who require borrowers to sign a document called a confession of judgment (COJ) as part of an application. By signing, small business borrowers agree in advance to automatically lose in the event of a legal dispute. That lender can then accuse a borrower of not paying, without presenting proof, and have a court judgment signed by a clerk the same day. At that point the lender can present the COJ to the borrower’s bank demanding funds, leaving small business owners penniless overnight and forced to close their business. This hearing will enable the Committee to examine this practice as Members seek to address this issue. Members will hear from a variety of witnesses detailing the legalities of the practice, its use, and impact on small business borrowers.To view a livestream of the hearing, please click here.
Mr. Hosea Harvey
Law Professor and Consumer Finance Law Expert
Mr. Jerry Bush
JB Plumbing & Heating of Virginia, Inc.
Mr. Shane Heskin
White and Williams, LLP.
The post SCOTUS Vets Review Biz Docket (Quotes from WLF 6/19/2019 Briefing) appeared first on Washington Legal Foundation.
Evan Tager is a Partner with Mayer Brown LLP in the firm’s Washington, DC office and is the WLF Legal Pulse‘s Featured Expert Contributor on Judicial Gatekeeping of Expert Evidence. Mr. Tager is joined on this post by Matthew Waring, an Associate with the firm.
When we reported in November 2018 on the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in DeLisle v. Crane Co., we predicted that the court’s decision to reject the “Daubert standard” for expert testimony might be “short-lived,” given that three of the Justices who had joined the majority—all of whom were generally perceived as “liberal” jurists—were about to retire and be replaced by a Republican governor. Last month, in In re Amendments to the Florida Evidence Code, the new roster of Justices proved us right and adopted Daubert. We aren’t surprised by the outcome, though we didn’t expect it to come quite so soon.
To refresh your memory about the issues here, in federal courts (and most state courts), the admissibility of expert testimony is determined under the reliability standard announced by the U.S. Supreme Court in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. But a few states still apply the “Frye standard,” which looks only to whether the scientific technique used by a proposed expert witness is “sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs” and does not consider the reliability of that technique in the context of the case.
Before 2013, Florida was a Frye state. But in 2013, the Florida Legislature enacted legislation amending the Florida Rules of Evidence to incorporate the Daubert standard. Since then, the legislation has been the topic of much litigation concerning whether and to what it extent it was valid.
Under the separation-of-powers principles of the Florida Constitution as construed by the Florida Supreme Court, the state legislature has the authority to adopt rules of “substantive law,” but only the court itself has the ability to determine rules of procedure. The court declined, in 2017, to adopt the Daubert legislation under the court’s authority to make procedural rules, citing “constitutional concerns”—in particular, fears that Daubert would “undermin[e] the right to a jury trial and deny access to the courts.” The upshot of this ruling was that the Legislature’s action could stand only if the adoption of Daubert was a “substantive” change that the Legislature was entitled to make without the Florida Supreme Court’s concurrence.
In DeLisle, the Florida Supreme Court held by a 6-3 vote that the Legislature’s attempt to adopt the Daubert standard was procedural rather than substantive, and hence unconstitutional. The DeLisle decision thus kept the Frye standard in place for litigation in Florida state courts.
Shortly after DeLisle was decided in November 2018, however, three members of the majority in the case—Justices Pariente, Lewis, and Quince—reached Florida’s judicial mandatory-retirement age and retired. We predicted that after new Republican Governor Ron DeSantis appointed replacements for these Justices, the court might either overrule DeLisle’s holding that the Legislature’s adoption of Daubert was a “procedural” change, “or, more likely, simply adopt Daubert under its own rulemaking authority.”
The court’s decision last month took the latter approach, adopting Daubert under the court’s own rulemaking authority. The decision—announced in a per curiam opinion without additional briefing or argument—explained that the “constitutional concerns” that had prompted the court to refuse to adopt Daubert in 2017 “appear unfounded.” The court noted that Daubert is the prevailing standard for expert testimony in federal courts and 36 states and that there is no sign that it has “denied parties’ rights to a jury trial and access to courts” in those court systems.
The court also held that the Daubert standard “remed[ies] deficiencies of the Frye standard”: whereas Frye excludes only novel, unaccepted scientific techniques, Daubert requires that all expert testimony be relevant and reliable, imposing more effective controls on the introduction of inappropriate testimony. And, the court noted, adopting Daubert would “create consistency between the state and federal courts” in Florida, thereby helping to “lessen forum shopping.”
The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling is welcome news for businesses that are sued in Florida state court. As the court noted, Daubert empowers trial courts to play a much more active gatekeeping role than the Frye standard, and it applies to all forms of expert testimony. The result of the decision, therefore, will be that unreliable, result-oriented expert testimony may now be excluded in Florida state courts to the same extent as in federal court—and that plaintiffs therefore will have less of an incentive to choose to litigate in state court.
One note of caution is warranted, however. The court’s opinion noted that certain other “constitutional” and “substantive concerns . . . have been raised about the amendments” adopting Daubert, but declined to address these concerns, stating that they must be “left for a proper case or controversy.” The full scope of Florida’s embrace of Daubert thus remains to be seen. But for the time being, defense counsel litigating in Florida state courts have a valuable new tool for opposing improper expert testimony.
Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Ginsburg have repeatedly decried what they view as their colleagues’ inadequate respect for precedent during the Supreme Court’s October Term 2018. Justice Breyer last month wisely cautioned the Court about the dangers of reversing legal course “only because five Members of a later Court” decide that an earlier ruling was incorrect. But Justice Kagan’s vitriolic dissent last Friday in Knick v. Township of Scott was far wide of the mark when it lambasted the Court’s decision to overrule the oft-criticized Williamson County Planning v. Hamilton Bank decision. None of the factors cited as reasons to respect precedent apply to Williamson County. Justice Kagan’s harsh language may have been designed to induce cautious justices to be more reluctant to consider overruling other precedents, but it had little relevance to the case before the Court.
How Much Should Precedent Matter?
The Supreme Court has long accepted the doctrine of stare decisis, which counsels courts in most instances to adhere to a prior decision, despite its errors. The doctrine reflects a judgment that in most matters it is more important that the applicable rule of law be settled than that it be settled right.
The Court traditionally examines several factors in deciding whether to overrule a precedent that it concludes was wrongly decided. Among the factors: (1) did the precedent interpret a statute or the Constitution (the court is less likely to overturn a statutory precedent, because if the interpretation was incorrect, Congress can amend the statute); (2) the quality of the precedent’s reasoning; (3) the workability of the rule it established; (4) its consistency with other related decisions; and (5) reliance on the decision.
Writing for the Court in Knick, Chief Justice Roberts carefully considered each of those factors, and concluded, “All of these factors counsel in favor of overruling Williamson County.” Critics, of course, are entitled to take issue with Roberts’s analysis, but they cannot contend that the Court acted without considering all countervailing arguments for adhering to precedent.
The Williamson County Rule
The Fifth Amendment prohibits the government from “taking” private property without providing “just compensation.” At issue in 1985’s Williamson County was whether a property owner may sue in federal court if he believes that a local government’s regulation of his property amounts to an uncompensated taking. The Court noted that no Fifth Amendment violation can occur until the government has denied compensation, and it held that no denial has occurred even if government officials refuse compensation, so long as the property owner can seek compensation in state court.
In other words, no “taking” occurs until, after many years of litigation, the state court finally rules against the property owner. So the Court held that property owners may not sue in federal court until after they have sued and lost in state court—virtually the only class of claimants asserting violation of a federal constitutional right that is denied a federal forum.
Williamson County was heavily criticized throughout its 34-year history. Among other things, its assumption that property owners would eventually be able to bring their claims to federal court turned out to be mistaken. As the Court later determined in a 2005 decision, issue-preclusion rules bar property owners who have litigated and lost a state-law inverse-condemnation claim in state court from asserting a Takings Clause claim in federal court. Concurring with that 2005 judgment on behalf of himself and three other justices, Chief Justice Rehnquist conceded that his Williamson County opinion had not stood the test of time and recommended that the Court reconsider it.
Knick Overrules Williamson County
Friday’s Knick decision explained why Williamson County was wrongly decided. Indeed, Chief Justice Robert said that “its reasoning was exceptionally ill founded and conflicted with much of our taking jurisprudence.” But he also detailed at length why the doctrine of stare decisis did not counsel adherence to Williamson County. Chief among his reasons: as noted above, it unintentionally barred Taking Clause claimants from ever bringing their claims against local governments to federal court.
Justice Kagan’s dissent disputed the majority’s analysis, labeling the Court’s opinion a “subversion of stare decisis” and complaining that “if that is the way the majority means to proceed … we may as well not have principles about precedents at all.” But she had no real response to the undisputed evidence that Williamson County had been premised on a mistaken belief that its rule would merely delay entry into federal court, not totally bar it. The best she could come up with was that Congress could re-open the federal courthouse door by legislatively overruling normally applicable issue-preclusion rules. That’s certainly a novel principle: the Court should ignore that its erroneous interpretation of the Fifth Amendment is causing an unanticipated but acknowledged injustice for an entire class of litigants because Congress has the power to correct the injustice created by the Court. Not surprisingly, Justice Kagan cites no precedents of her own for that proposition.
Moreover, as Justice Kagan concedes, overruling Williamson County does not upset any reliance interests. Governments will not be exposed to new, unanticipated liability; they will simply face claims in a new forum. Back-tracking from her endorsement of reliance (in prior decisions for the Court) as an important factor in determining whether to adhere to precedent, she stated, “The absence of reliance is not itself a reason for overruling a decision.” But, of course, absence of reliance is only one of many reasons cited by Chief Justice Roberts for not adhering to a precedent determined by the majority to be “exceptionally ill founded.”
Are Property Rights Second-Class Constitutional Rights?
Underlying Justice Kagan’s dissent, as well as dissents in other recent Takings Clause cases, is an apparent policy judgment that property rights are not entitled to the same level of protection afforded to other rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights. That policy judgment is most evident in what she describes as a “damaging consequence” of overruling Williamson County: “it will inevitably turn even well-meaning government officials into lawbreakers.”
In the past, government officials could go about their business of imposing restrictions on private property uses, secure in the knowledge that their actions would virtually never be deemed a constitutional violation. Inverse-condemnation claims would be shunted to state court, and the worst that could happen was that the property owner would be awarded “just compensation” under state law (after years of litigation). But now, Justice Kagan laments, governments that impose property restrictions in a good-faith (but mistaken) belief that no compensation to property owners is required will be called out for having violated the Constitution.
But that lament fails to explain why Takings Clause claims should be treated any differently from claims arising under other provisions of the Constitution. Federal courts routinely determine that local governments have violated First Amendment rights when they, for example, adopt good-faith policies designed to limit permissible locations for public gatherings. They routinely hold local governments responsible for Fourth Amendment violations committed by government officials acting in good faith. There is no reason to hold governments to less exacting standards for taking private property without just compensation—unless one believes that Fifth Amendment property rights are less worthy of protection by the federal courts.
The Fifth Amendment bars the taking of private property “without just compensation.” The most natural reading of that provision is that just compensation has been denied unless it is paid roughly contemporaneously with the taking. It certainly does not contemplate that the government can delay compensation for years on end while forcing property owners to endure lengthy state-court litigation, yet still claim to have complied with the Constitution. Williamson County’s rejection of a straightforward reading of the constitutional text ignored the Court’s takings jurisprudence, proved unworkable in practice, and created no reliance interests. The decision to overrule Williamson County is no proper cause for concern among proponents of stare decisis.
Also published by Forbes.com on WLF’s contributor page.
The post No Justice Kagan, the Majority Displayed Proper Respect for Precedent in <em>Knick</em> appeared first on Washington Legal Foundation.
Good morning. I want to thank everyone for being here today to examine the use of persuasive technologies on internet platforms.
Each of our witnesses today has a great deal of expertise with respect to the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms more broadly, as well as in the more narrow context of engagement and persuasion, and brings unique perspectives to these matters.
Your participation in this important hearing is appreciated, particularly as this Committee continues its work on crafting data privacy legislation.
I’ve convened this hearing in part to inform legislation I’m developing that would require internet platforms to give consumers the option to engage with the platform without having the experience shaped by algorithms driven by user-specific data.
Internet platforms have transformed the way we communicate and interact, and they have made incredibly positive impacts on society in ways too numerous to count.
The vast majority of content on these platforms is innocuous, and at its best, it is entertaining, educational, and beneficial to the public.
However, the powerful mechanisms behind these platforms meant to enhance engagement also have the ability – or at least the potential – to influence the thoughts and behaviors of literally billions of people.
That is one reason why there is widespread unease about the power of these platforms, and why it is important for the public to better understand how these platforms use artificial intelligence and opaque algorithms to make inferences from the reams of data about us that affect behavior and influence outcomes.
Without safeguards, such as real transparency, there is a risk that some internet platforms will seek to optimize engagement to benefit their own interests, and not necessarily to benefit the consumer’s interest.
In 2013, former Google Executive Chairman, Eric Schmidt, wrote that modern technology platforms “are even more powerful than most people realize, and our future will be profoundly altered by their adoption and successfulness in societies everywhere.”
Since that time, algorithms and artificial intelligence have rapidly become an important part of our lives, largely without us even realizing it.
As online content continues to grow, large technology companies rely increasingly on AI-powered automation to select and display content that will optimize engagement.
Unfortunately, the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms to optimize engagement can have an unintended – and possibly even dangerous – downside. In April, Bloomberg reported that YouTube has spent years chasing engagement while ignoring internal calls to address toxic videos, such as vaccination conspiracies and disturbing content aimed at children.
Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that YouTube’s automated recommendation system was found to be automatically playing a video of children playing in their backyard pool to other users who had watched sexually themed content.
That is truly troubling, and it indicates the real risks in a system that relies on algorithms and artificial intelligence to optimize for engagement.
And these are not isolated examples.
For instance, some have suggested that the so-called “filter bubble” created by social media platforms like Facebook may contribute to our political polarization by encapsulating users within their own comfort zones or echo chambers.
Congress has a role to play in ensuring companies have the freedom to innovate, but in a way that keeps consumers’ interests and wellbeing at the forefront of their progress.
While there must be a healthy dose of personal responsibility when users participate in seemingly free online services, companies should also provide greater transparency about how exactly the content we see is being filtered.
Consumers should have the option to engage with a platform without being manipulated by algorithms powered by their own personal data – especially if those algorithms are opaque to the average user.
We are convening this hearing in part to examine whether algorithmic explanation and transparency are policy options Congress should be considering.
Ultimately, my hope is that at this hearing today, we are able to better understand how internet platforms use algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to influence outcomes.
We have a very distinguished panel before us.
Today, we are joined by Tristan Harris, the co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, Ms. Maggie Stanphill, the director of Google’s User Experience, Dr. Stephen Wolfram, founder of Wolfram Research, and Ms. Rashida Richardson, the director of policy research at the AI Now Institute.
Thank you again for your participation on this important topic.
I now recognize Ranking Member Schatz for any opening remarks he may have.
The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure will meet for a hearing titled, “Broadband Mapping: Small Carrier Perspectives on a Path Forward.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Access to reliable high speed broadband is a critical issue for small businesses, especially in rural communities that are still unserved. However, more accurate broadband maps are needed to direct federal funds to small rural carriers who seek to serve the most remote parts of America. Improved granularity and an opportunity for communities to challenge the accuracy of broadband maps are needed to build broadband networks out to the 19 million Americans on the dark side of the digital divide. At the hearing, Members will hear from a diverse group of small rural carriers about the current challenges of broadband mapping and explore ways that the federal government and private sector can work together to collect more accurate broadband coverage data.To view a livestream of the hearing, please click here.
Mr. Tim Donovan
Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs
Competitive Carriers Association
Mr. Dan Stelpflug
Director, Operations, Engineering & Technology
Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative
*Testifying on behalf of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Ms. Beth Osler
Director, Customer and Industry Relations
*Testifying on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
Mr. Jason Hendricks
Chief Regulatory Officer
*Testifying on behalf of the Western Telecommunications Alliance —Advocates for Rural Broadband
I am pleased to convene the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety for our hearing today titled “Examining Technological Innovations in Transportation.”
Everyone here today knows that technology is increasingly changing how we work, stay in contact with friends and family, and go about our daily lives. The transportation sector is no exception.
Technology is already changing how we move people and goods across this country. And there is potential for new technology to improve safety, efficiency, and mobility across our surface transportation system. But with great potential comes challenges. The process of adopting new technologies, especially across a complex system like the U.S. transportation network, can come in fits and starts.
Today the subcommittee has an opportunity to learn about the potential new technologies that can be offered, and the challenges and changes that could come from their adoption. As members of this subcommittee, and Congress more broadly, are debating and considering legislation to reauthorize the FAST Act, it is important to understand innovations within the transportation system already happening on the ground.
This is by no means the first time Congress has debated new technologies in transportation. The FAST Act added intelligent transportation systems technology as eligible activities under several federal-aid funding programs. It also established new programs, such as the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program, which provides grants to states to deploy large scale transportation technologies.
I was pleased to see the Nebraska Department of Transportation (DOT), working with the Wyoming and Utah departments of transportation, receive a $2.8 million Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies grant this April. Nebraska’s innovative project will incorporate sensors along I-80 to support Nebraska DOT’s understanding and ability to respond to traffic and weather conditions. Additionally, recognizing that traffic and weather don’t correspond to state boundaries, this project will support and enable the sharing of road condition information between Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah. I look forward to hearing more about this and similar projects.
Just as federal, state, and local governments could improve infrastructure, traffic flow, and safety by adopting new technologies, the private sector also is looking to technology for improvements. Innovations like digital freight matching and visibility could improve the management of available resources, resulting in more efficient uses of our current infrastructure. Blockchain also has the capacity to heighten efficiencies and optimize costs for transportation and logistics. Blockchain-powered smart contracts offer the potential to better enforce conditions and validate data through the entire supply chain – improving vehicle fleet and freight tracking, capacity monitoring, platooning, on-time delivery, payment management, and regulatory compliance.
However, the benefits from new technologies are not a foregone conclusion. Technology that is adopted today may look very different 10 years from now. Today’s hearing gives us a chance to understand what technologies are available today, their potential for tomorrow, and the obstacles that need to be overcome along the way. It also provides us an opportunity to consider what role Congress should have in technology development and deployment as we consider a reauthorization of the FAST Act.
We have several witnesses before the committee today that can speak directly about the current and future deployment of transportation technologies. I am grateful to all of the witnesses for their willingness to travel to participate in this hearing. I am particularly pleased to have Steve Ingracia from the Nebraska DOT here to talk about the exciting work happening in our state.
I look forward to testimony from our witnesses.
I would now like to invite my colleague, Senator Duckworth, to offer her opening remarks.
“The Due Process Clause imposes strict limits on the authority of a state court to exercise personal jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants. Pennsylvania courts have repeatedly displayed their unwillingness to enforce those limits. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ought to tell lower courts within the Commonwealth that they are no longer permitted to ignore constitutional limits on their authority.”
—Richard Samp, WLF Chief Counsel
Click here for WLF’s brief.
WASHINGTON, DC—Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) on June 21 urged the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to restrict the personal jurisdiction of state courts over nonresident defendants to cases in which the plaintiff’s claims are directly related to Pennsylvania. In an amicus curiae brief filed in Hammons v. Ethicon, Inc., WLF argues that lower courts in Pennsylvania are inappropriately asserting nationwide jurisdiction over claims against nonresident businesses where the claims bear no relation to Pennsylvania.
The case involves an Indiana woman who claims to have suffered an injury when her Indiana doctor, acting in Indiana, implanted a medical device to treat a prolapsed bladder. She sued the device manufacturer (a New Jersey-based company), claiming that the device was defectively designed and that the manufacturer provided inadequate health warnings to her and her doctor.
In several landmark decisions issued in the past five years, the U.S. Supreme Court has broadly construed the constitutional rights of defendants not to be haled into courts in States where they do not reside. The High Court limited such suits to instances in which the plaintiff’s claim arises out of the defendant’s activities in the forum state. But the lower Pennsylvania courts have interpreted “arises out of” very broadly. Citing the defendant’s activities in the State, they held in this case that the Indiana plaintiff’s claims are sufficiently related to Pennsylvania, even though those activities are unconnected to the plaintiff’s claims.
A part of the defendant’s manufacturing process occurs in Pennsylvania. But as WLF points out in its brief, the plaintiff does not argue that her injury arose from some defect in the manufacturing process. Rather, she faults only the product design (which was undertaken in New Jersey) and the adequacy of warnings (which were provided in Indiana). WLF argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has explicitly rejected basing personal jurisdiction on in-state activity unconnected to the plaintiff’s claims.
Celebrating its 42nd year, WLF is America’s premier public-interest law firm and policy center advocating for free-market principles, limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law.
Before today, only one category of individuals claiming a violation of their constitutional rights was required to assert their claims in state rather than federal court: those asserting a takings claim for just compensation under the Fifth Amendment against the government. Such claimants rarely win in state court. In its decision today, the Supreme Court correctly ended this discriminatory practice.”
—Richard Samp, WLF Chief Counsel
WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Supreme Court today overruled a 1985 precedent that prevented individuals claiming a violation of their Fifth Amendment property rights from bringing their claims in federal court. The decision was a victory for the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF), which filed an amicus curiae brief in Knick v. Township of Scott urging that the 1985 precedent conflicted with historical understandings of the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause. The Court agreed with WLF that the federal courts have traditionally been open to anyone asserting a violation of their constitutional rights and that there is no reason to deny that same privilege to property-rights claimants. WLF’s brief was joined by the Allied Educational Foundation.
The plaintiff, Rose Mary Knick, owns 90 acres of land in Scott Township, Pennsylvania, where she and members of her family have lived since 1970. The land has never been designated as a cemetery. However, Scott Township officials recently determined that several stones on the property are the remains of 18th-century gravesites, and it has ordered Knick to provide an easement across her property to permit daily public access to the stones. Knick responded by filing suit in federal court, asserting that the easement demand violated the Fifth Amendment prohibition against the taking of private property without providing just compensation. But the lower federal courts dismissed her claim, citing Williamson County, the 1985 Supreme Court decision that requires property owners to assert such just-compensation demands in a state court.
The Supreme Court ruled that Williamson County was based on a misinterpretation of the Fifth Amendment. Williamson County concluded that the Fifth Amendment does not require state and local governments to provide “just compensation” at the same time that they take private property, and thus that no Fifth Amendment violation occurs so long as the state government allows the property owner to respond to the taking by filing a lawsuit for just compensation in state court. In today’s decision, the Court agreed with WLF that the Fifth Amendment does, in fact, require that just compensation be paid contemporaneously with the taking, and thus that the uncompensated taking of private property immediately gives rise to a constitutional violation that can be asserted in federal court. The Court noted that requiring property owners to file their claims initially in state courts has made it extremely difficult for them ever to be heard in federal court, a result that the Court had not contemplated when it issued Williamson County in 1985.
Celebrating its 42nd year, WLF is America’s premier public-interest law firm and policy center advocating for free-market principles, limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law.
Cantwell, Colleagues Press Uber, Lyft for Information over Continued Use of Vehicles with Open Safety Recalls
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, led a letter with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to press the CEOs of Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) and Lyft, Inc. (Lyft) for information over the continued use of vehicles with open safety recalls.
“We write to express concern regarding the use of vehicles registered to Uber and Lyft drivers with open safety recalls,” the senators wrote. “To offer clarity to the millions of Americans who use your ride-sharing technology applications, we ask that you provide information on your companies’ vehicle safety and inspection requirements, as well as what steps you will take to inform passengers of vehicle recalls and improve your safety procedures.”
Approximately 36% of Americans have used a ride-sharing application. According to a recent Consumer Reports review of vehicle safety records in New York City and the Seattle area, 1 out of every 6 vehicles registered to Uber and Lyft drivers have an unfixed safety recall, including defective airbags, and some vehicles have a significant number of open safety recalls, including vehicles with at least five unfixed recalls.
“Given that Congress has sought to improve the vehicle safety recall process, including by prohibiting companies from renting unrepaired recalled vehicles to consumers, we believe consumers should be similarly protected in the ride-sharing context and deserve to know when they are riding in a vehicle that has an unfixed safety recall,” the senators continued.
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Mr. Khosrowshahi and Mr. Green:
We write to express concern regarding the use of vehicles registered to Uber and Lyft drivers with open safety recalls. To offer clarity to the millions of Americans who use your ride-sharing technology applications, we ask that you provide information on your companies’ vehicle safety and inspection requirements, as well as what steps you will take to inform passengers of vehicle recalls and improve your safety procedures.
Approximately 36% of Americans, including 51% of those between the ages of 18-29, have used a ride-sharing application. Together, Uber and Lyft make up about 98% of the ride-share marketplace. According to a recent review of vehicle safety records in New York City and the Seattle area conducted by Consumer Reports, 1 out of 6 vehicles registered to Uber and Lyft drivers have an unfixed safety recall, including defective airbags, and some vehicles have a significant number of open safety recalls, including vehicles with at least five unfixed recalls.
Given that Congress has sought to improve the vehicle safety recall process, including by prohibiting companies from renting unrepaired recalled vehicles to consumers, we believe consumers should be similarly protected in the ride-sharing context and deserve to know when they are riding in a vehicle that has an unfixed safety recall. While we understand that both Uber and Lyft have taken steps to identify recalled vehicles and may waitlist certain vehicles that have been labeled as ‘Do Not Drive’ from the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the onus primarily remains on drivers to ensure that open recalls are addressed. In order to identify the steps that Uber and Lyft will take to address this issue and ensure consumers’ safety, we respectfully request that you respond to the following questions:
(1) Does your company have an estimate of the number of unrepaired vehicles affected by a federal recall in each state that may be used by your drivers? Please provide a list of all such vehicles, their state of registration, and the recall that may be unaddressed.
(2) Does your company have a periodic safety verification process that reviews whether vehicles are affected by a safety recall? If so, please provide the details of such process.
(3) What is your company’s process for helping drivers address open safety recalls? Please describe such process in detail.
(4) Please describe how the company determines whether a car subject to a recall may remain on the ride-share application.
(5) Does your company notify consumers if they are riding in a vehicle with open safety recalls? If so, please describe the information presented to consumers, when such information is provided, and the format of the disclosure.
(6) What additional actions will your company take to improve your vehicle safety and inspection requirements regarding recalls?
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We request a response to these questions by July 17, 2019. Please contact April_Jones@klobuchar.senate.gov with any questions regarding this request.
Ranking Member Cantwell to Consumer Product Safety Commission: Protect Our Families from Dangerous Products
Today, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection hosted all five commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for an oversight hearing.
“The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a small federal agency with a huge mission: It is to be the cop on the beat when protecting consumers from potentially dangerous products,” said Senator Cantwell, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “Time and time again, though, I’ve seen a pattern with this commission where it has deferred to the industry on critical product safety matters instead of being more aggressive.”
In April, Ranking Member Cantwell wrote to Acting Chairman Buerkle demanding documents about the Commission’s actions related to the BOB stroller after the Washington Post reported that Acting Chairman Buerkle may be using her position to restrict Commission staff and her fellow commissioners from doing their jobs to protect the public from dangerous products. Earlier this week, Acting Chairman Buerkle announced her intention to withdraw her nomination to lead the CPSC.
“So going forward I hope that the White House will put forth names of people to be on the commission that are going to use the authority, and put American consumers and our children first,” Ranking Member Cantwell said.
Good morning, and welcome to today’s oversight hearing of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Thank you to all the Commissioners for being here today as the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade and Consumer Protection conducts its oversight of the CPSC. According to the Commission, deaths, injuries and property damage from incidents stemming from consumer products cost the nation more than $1 trillion per year.
The Commission has a broad mandate to protect consumers from unreasonable risks of injuries associated with more than 15,000 consumer products, including household products, toys, sporting goods and more.
The Commission was established by the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972 as the jurisdictional independent agency charged with enforcing various federal statutes geared for protecting consumers.
Responsibilities of the Commission include: the development of manufacturing standards with the input of consumer advocates, academia and industry stakeholders; issuance of mandatory standards and bans on specific products, if necessary; administration of recalls on products that pose unnecessary risks to consumers and require repair when appropriate; extensive research into potential product hazards; and education of consumers to promote awareness in the consumer product space.
While the Commission does not have jurisdiction over certain consumer products, including tobacco, motor vehicles, pesticides, firearms, ammunition, aircraft, marine vessels, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and food, their broad mandate requires calculated yet timely decision-making in order to provide necessary protections to Americans without unnecessarily harming businesses.
Central to the Commission’s function is its use of voluntary consumer product standards instead of the promulgation of mandatory requirements when appropriate. This approach allows the agency to have a collaborative working relationship with consumer advocacy groups, manufacturers, importers, retailers and other stakeholders, which increases the flow of information for timely, accurate and data-driven decisions related to risks posed towards consumers.
While the Commission is a relatively small agency, its influence is felt across the economy, and I look forward to hearing from the Commission about their critical initiatives and rulemaking agenda.
In 2017, this Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the effectiveness of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which was enacted to enhance the safety of public and private pools and spas, reduce drownings and entrapment incidents, and educate the public on the importance of constant supervision of children in and around water.
While this law has certainly had a positive impact on improving pool safety at the national level, the Commission published a report this May indicating that the total number of drownings in 2016 was higher than the total number of drownings in 2015 – including instances involving young children. I hope the Commission will provide recommendation on what else needs to be done to prevent these tragic deaths.
The data-driven mission of the Commission and its efforts to keep pace with the increasingly technological economy will continue to be a critical aspect of the agency’s effectiveness. As unauthorized disclosures of confidential information continue to plague actors in both the private and public sectors, including the CPSC, heightened attention to ensuring that resources and staffing are effectively dedicated to protecting such information is necessary.
For these purposes, Ranking Member Blumenthal and I introduced the CPSC Chief Information Officer Parity Act, which will ensure that the agency’s top IT expert has a significant role in the Commission’s decision-making processes for budgetary and personnel purposes. Additionally, it would authorize the Commission to bring on a Chief Data Officer and Chief Technologist to support such efforts and protect the agency’s systems from vulnerabilities.
As the Fourth of July approaches, I would also like an update from the Commission on an issue we have discussed in this setting previously pertaining to fireworks devices.
Product safety is not a Republican or Democrat issue – it is something we all care about. I look forward to a productive discussion on how the Commission and this Subcommittee can further promote the welfare of consumers through thoughtful policymaking and partnerships.
Thank you to Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle and Commissioners Robert Adler, Dana Baiocco, Peter Feldman and Elliot Kaye for speaking to the Subcommittee today on issues that directly impact our nation’s consumers.
Following Tuesday’s news of withdrawing her pending nominations, I would like to thank Acting Chairman Buerkle in particular for her dedicated public service on the Commission for the past six years. As the Acting Chairman for the past two and a half years, her leadership and engagement with this Subcommittee and all stakeholders has been commendable and led to many significant advancements in consumer product safety.
With that, I will turn to the Ranking Member so that he can make his opening statement.


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domain: entertainment


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Vitamin C sometimes known as ascorbic acid is a nutrient that plays an important part in maintaining a healthy body.
It is a water soluble vitamin that is easily absorbed and utilised by the body.
Vitamin C can be found in both foods and nutritional supplements. It cannot be produced by the human body and it needs to be sourced from food.
Depends on the age of the person age and state of health, click here for vitamin c dosage guidelines.
In general do not exceed 2000 milligrams per day. If you have taken more than the required amount of vitamin c, the body will get rid of the excess amount through your urine.
Taking more than you need can cause vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea and various other side effects. If you require vitamin c, get it from food sources.


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via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/2hojf7t
via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/2hkKiot
I have made it a rule to have proper attribution for every photo I publish on this blog. For all the photos that come from 500px or Flickr, that’s easy. I just have IFTTT configured to add my 500px favourites and my Flickr favourites automatically to this Tumblr, and always include the original title/description, the account that published the photo (almost always the original photographer) and a link to the original page.
But for Pinterest and Tumblr that’s not so easy. These are services where people often add photos they downloaded somewhere else, and they don’t include (or know) any information about the photographer and /or model. This means that before I can (re-)publish these pictures, I have to find that information myself.
Let’s take this recent photo from the blog as an example.
When I found this picture, it had 100.000+ Tumblr likes and reblogs, but no source or attribution. So where do I start? There are 2 main tools: Tineye Reverse Image Search and Google Search By Image. They both allow you to give the (Tumblr) URL of an image and they find you copies of that image on other sites. The copies can be bigger, smaller, with different colors, or a different cropping/framing. Their algorithms can cope with these differences.
In the case of this picture, Tineye finds 11 copies, and when I take the biggest one (1200x800px), I see it comes from the c-heads.com site, which is the original source. The post title “Koreen Odiney by Michael Benatar for C-Heads“ tells me all I need to know.
Let’s take a second example, now from Pinterest.
This picture only has 3 hits in Tineye and they are all unattributed ‘inspiration’ sites. This is a common issue with Tineye. Their database of pics is not that big. Google Image will typically give you 2 to 50 times more copies. In the case of this portrait: 118 hits on Google Images. Most of them are useless Tumblr/Pinterest/WeHeartIt links. But if we check only the bigger photos, we find the biggest version comes from wilhelminamodels, the site of an NYC model agency. And again we find both model and photographer in the title: “TYRIE BY MATTHEW PRIESTLY“. Some more research gives us the full name of the model: “Tyrie Rudolph”.
We live in an age where most consumers consider all photos to be free-as-in-free-beer and anonymous. Services like Pinterest, Tumblr and WeHeartIt have made it super easy to share photos without bothering who the model was or the photographer. Good photography doesn’t just materialize by the grace of the internet fairies. It implies skill, creativity, preparation and sometimes a bit of luck. That’s why I will only publish photos that I can attribute to their creators.
It also helps me discover lots and lots of great photographers.


by Karen Zarsadiaz-Ige
On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby joined Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Los Angeles City Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas during a news conference in front of the LA Memorial Coliseum. They announced the upcoming arrival of the 2017 World Police and Fire Games in Los Angeles, scheduled to take place between August 7-16.
“I’m proud to be standing here today,” said Chief Osby. “No one does public safety better than Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City. And, I look forward to the friendly competition and hosting the games.”
The Olympic-style games are an opportunity for active or retired peace officers or firefighters to compete in a variety of sports. More than 10,000 competitors from all over the world, representing 70 countries, are expected to participate in any of the 65 different sports and skills featured in the games. This year’s event will feature activities unique to the region, including surfing, motocross and CrossFit.
“These athletes are coming from all over the world… Asia and Europe,” said Chuck Foote, director of the California Police Athletic Federation. “What makes us different is the ages of the athletes. These athletes range in age from brand-new employees to those with 40 years of experience.”
The World Police and Fire Games will be held at various venues throughout Southern California. The opening ceremony to kick-off the 10-day event will be held at the LA Memorial Coliseum on August 7.


text: CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna: A suspected drug pusher was killed Wednesday after he alleged grabbed the service firearm of a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director while being investigated at this camp. Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz, PDEA 4A regional director, said suspect Roberto Sulit, with two other suspects – Joel Aquilan and Choiset Brual –were arrested after an hour-long gun fight and stand-off in Bauan, Batangas. Following his arrest Ruiz approached Sulit for questioning, but the suspect pleaded to loosen his handcuffs being too tight. While in the process of loosening the handcuffs, Sulit allegedly grabbed the service pistol of Ruiz. A scuffle for the firearm ensued wounding Ruiz and Sulit suffered a gunshot wound. He did not reach the hospital alive.