Meghan Markle Has A Pretty Great Approach To New Year's Resolutions

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

Forget Bitcoin, verified social media accounts, or a numberless user name — the most enviable thing on the internet is access to Meghan Markle’s now-defunct blog.

Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan wrote about her life as a working actress in Toronto on a lifestyle blog called The Tig that she tragically had to delete due to The Monarchy. But the people and news organizations who had the foresight to archive the blog before it was deleted in 2017 made a great move, because there truly is a blog post for every occasion.

One such outlet, People magazine, made note of an entry from January 2016 where Meghan takes a healthy and sensible attitude towards New Year’s resolutions.

She decided to change her approach after several years where she kept setting the same resolutions and failing, the future Duchess wrote at the time.

“Run a marathon. Stop biting my nails. Stop swearing. Re-learn French. These make my New Year’s resolution list nearly (AKA actually every) single year,” she wrote, according to both People and The Mirror.

“The marathon hasn’t happened. The swearing comes in lulls triggered by being overworked or feeling mighty cheeky after a couple drinks,” she continues. “Then there’s the French — a language I studied through high school and then lost as I immersed myself in speaking Spanish with the Argentinians during my stint in Buenos Aires. I have put my little Rosetta Stone headset in my eager ears every year, resolving to do interviews en français, but much to my chagrin, it hasn’t stuck.

“And when it comes to the biting of the nails — well, it still happens with a turbulent flight or a stressful day. It’s unladylike. But then again, so is the swearing. Dammit.” (No wonder The Monarchy made her delete this blog!)

And so she finally decided to change her approach, she said.

“This year, I resolve not to have a resolution,” she wrote. “For this new year, the only thing I aim to do is to approach life playfully. To laugh and enjoy, to keep my standards high but my level of self-acceptance higher.

“My New Year’s resolution is to leave room for magic. To make my plans, and be okay if they sometimes break. To set my goals, but to be open to change.”

That feels like a refreshingly realistic approach to something that can often feel like an undue amount of pressure. Setting goals but not breaking down if you don’t achieve them makes a lot more sense than trying to do something nearly impossible.

And we don’t want to suggest that that non-resolution resolution got her where she is, but you can draw your own conclusions about how 2016 is the year Meghan met Prince Harry.

By Tncse

Florida Named NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Florida head coach Tim Walton, assistant coaches Jennifer Rocha and Kenny Gajewski, and volunteer assistant coach Stacie Pestrak of the back-to-back Division I National Champion Gators were named the 2015 NFCA DI National Coaching Staff of the Year, announced on Wednesday.

It was another season to remember for Florida as Walton and his staff led the Gators to their second straight Division I national championship after topping Michigan in a competitive and thrilling three-game WCWS finals. Recording a 60-7 mark, UF posted its second 60-win season in program history. They also took home the third national championship in four year for the Southeastern Conference.

Florida finished the season strong posting a 28-3 record after April 1^st. The Gators claimed the SEC regular season title and defeated 19 ranked teams during their run to the championship. Florida only dropped one game (0-1 to Michigan in WCWS finals) during the entirety of NCAA post-season play, sweeping through regionals, super regionals and the bracket portion of the WCWS.

Walton, who tallied his 500^th career win at Florida at the beginning of the season, is now 552-121 through his ten years as Florida’s skipper and 675-185 all time as a head coach.

NFCA Division I Region Coaching Staffs of the Year

Central – University of Oklahoma

Final Rank: No. 9 – Overall: 49-9 – Big 12: 14-12

Head Coach: Patty Gasso

Associate Head Coach: Melyssa Lombardi

Assistant Coaches: Tripp MacKay

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Nicole Bishop

The Sooners came out of the gates on fire, winning nine straight games and took this momentum into conference play, dropping just two conference games all year to earn the Big 12 Conference title. As the 11^th overall national seed, Oklahoma would sweep through the Norman regional topping Central Arkansas and Texas A&M (twice), before dropping a tough three-game Super Regional at No. 6 Alabama. It is the program’s second straight NFCA Region CSOY award.

Great Lakes Region – University of Michigan

Final Rank: No. 2 – Overall Record: 60-8 – Big 10: 21-2

Head Coach: Carol Hutchins

Associate Head Coach: Bonnie Tholl

Assistant Coach: Jenifer Brundage

Volunteer Coach: Nikki Nemitz

National Runner-up Michigan reached 60 wins for the second time in school history. The Wolverines won their eighth straight Big Ten Conference Championship and also took home the conference tournament title. Michigan swept through the NCAA Regional and Super Regional defeating Oakland, California, Pittsburgh, and Georgia (Supers) on the way to its 11th WCWS appearance in school history. The Wolverines had their 28-game winning streak snapped in game of the WCWS finals … They would bounce back with a game-two victory (1-0) before falling to Florida (4-1) in the winner-take-all final. Second straight NFCA Region CSOY award.

Mid-Atlantic Region – University of Pittsburgh

Overall Record: 37-22 – ACC: 11-13

Head Coach: Holly Aprile

Assistant Coaches: Gina Fuchs and Lauren Cognigni

Selected to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the ACC, Pitt came into conference play sporting a 20-4 record and ended up finishing sixth in the ACC regular season. The Panthers reached the conference tournament championship before falling to the No. 9 overall seed Florida State. Pitt made its first-ever postseason appearance as it travelled to Ann Arbor, Michigan. After falling to Cal in its regional opener, Pitt defeated Oakland and the Bears to reach to the regional final, falling to National Runner-up and host Michigan.

Co-Mideast Region – University of Central Florida

Final Rank: No. 16 – Overall Record: 50-9 – AAC: 16-2

Head Coach: Renee Luers-Gillispie

Assistant Coaches: Tiffany Patteson and Hillary Barrow

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jeff Conrad

The Knights set a program record with 50 wins. They won the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships, while boasting a school record 16-2 conference mark. As a team, they held the lowest ERA in the country and had eight players selected all-conference. The Knights earned the No. 2 seed in the Tallahassee Regional, and would end up falling to the top-seeded Florida State in the regional final.

Co-Mideast Region – Western Kentucky University

Overall Record: 36-14 – Conference USA: 16-5

Head Coach: Amy Tudor

Assistant Coaches: K.C. Boldt and Aja Paculba

Western Kentucky met adversity throughout the season having 16 games cancelled, but was able to rally and win the Conference USA regular-season and conference tournament in its first year in the league. Recorded the highest winning percentage in school history (.720). Earned second NCAA post season bid in three years. In the Athens Regional, the Hilltoppers won their first two games, including a thrilling walk-off 14-inning triumph over host and 14^th overall seed Georgia. However their season came to an end after dropping a pair of games to the Bulldogs in the regional final.

Midwest Region- North Dakota State University

Final Rank: No. 25 – Overall Record: 45-11 – Summit League: 16-2

Head Coaches: Darren Mueller, Jamie Trachsel

Assistant Coach: Brynne Dordel

Graduate Assistant Manager: Kendall Grimm

The Bison finished their season off strong winning 26 out of 29 regular season games. They tallied the most wins in program history since 2002. Summit League regular season and tournament champions… Earned their sixth NCAA tournament appearance and the reached the regional final for the second time in program history. They picked up victories over Fresno State (4-0) and Brigham Young (7-0), but dropped both contests to host and No. 2 overall seed Oregon (3-4 / 1-6).

Northeast Region- Hofstra University

Overall Record: 38-14-1 – CAA: 17-3

Head Coach: Larissa Anderson

Assistant Coaches: Julie Meyer, Caitlin Dent, and Brittany Garvey

Secretary: Harriet Teitle

Hofstra won the CAA title for the third time in the last four years and the 19^th time in school history. After losing three of their first four games of the season, the Pride turned their season around and won nine straight to end the regular season. Finished second in the CAA regular season and made its 16^th NCAA tournament appearance in school history at the Gainesville Regional.

Pacific Region – University of Oregon

Final Rank: No. 7 – Overall Record: 51-8 – PAC-12: 21-3

Head Coach: Mike White

Assistant Coaches: James Kolaitis and Chelsea Spencer

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Damian Williams

Oregon started the season very strong winning 14 games before suffering its first lost. The Ducks claimed their third straight PAC-12 title and won their third Super Regional in four years. They swept through regional and super regionals, defeating BYU, North Dakota State (twice), and North Carolina State (twice). They entered the Women’s College World Series as one of the top teams, but would fall to UCLA and Alabama. Second straight NFCA Region CSOY award.

South Region – Louisiana State University

Final Rank: No. 4 – Overall Record: 52-14 – SEC: 15-9

Head Coach: Beth Torina

Assistant Coaches: Howard Dobson and Lindsay Leftwich

Student Coach: Tammy Wray

Volunteer Assistant: Kara Dill

WCWS semifinalist LSU was strong throughout the season, only suffering losses to nationally-ranked programs. After falling to Arizona State, LSU, in three straight elimination games, topped Nebraska and the Sun Devils (twice) to win the regional. They followed that with a sweep of No. 16 Arizona in the Super Regionals to advance the Women’s College World Series. The Tigers went 2-2 at the WCWS defeating Auburn and Alabama with their two defeats coming at the hands of national champion Florida and runner-up Michigan.

Southeast Region- Auburn University

Final Rank: No. 3 – Overall Record: 56-11 – SEC: 18-6

Head Coach: Clint Myers

Assistant Coaches: Scott Woodard and Corey Myers

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Casey Myers

Reached WCWS semifinals in first-ever appearance. The Tigers accomplished many firsts in program history, which included a school-record 56 wins. Picked seventh in the SEC preseason poll, the Tigers finished second in the regular season, a half game behind Florida. Claimed first SEC Tournament title in first finals appearance. Auburn swept through the NCAA Regional and Super Regionals defeating Tennessee Tech, No. 22 South Alabama (twice) and No. 11 Louisiana-Lafayette (twice). After dropping its WCWS opener, Auburn won two straight elimination games over Tennessee and UCLA before falling to eventual national champion Florida in nine innings.

West Region- University of California, Los Angeles

Final Rank: No. 5 – Overall Record: 51-12 – PAC 12: 19-5 –

Head Coach: Kelly Inouye-Perez

Assistant Coaches: Lisa Fernandez and Kirk Walker

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Hayden Maurice

Collected 50-plus wins for the second straight season and came into the NCAA tournament as the No. 7 overall seed. The Bruins finished second the PAC-12 regular season and swept through their NCAA Regional and Super Regional, picking up victories over Cal State Northridge, Texas, San Diego State and No. 10 Missouri (twice). UCLA won its WCWS opener over No. 2 seed Oregon (7-1), before falling to national runner-up Michigan (4-10) and Auburn (10-11 in 10 inn.).

By Tncse

Iron Man Writers to Script He-Man and Masters of the Universe Movie

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, writers on 2008’s Iron Man, are in finals talks to write a new draft for the upcoming He-Man and Masters of the Universe movie.

As reported by Deadline, Marcum and Holloway are set to join director Adam Aaron Nee on the film that is based on the famous He-Man toyline that began in the 1980s.

The toys were only the beginning, as he He-Man made his television debut in a series of the same name as the upcoming film from 1983-1985, and then again from 2002-2004.

He-Man also appeared in theaters in 1987 in Masters of the Universe and Dolph Lundgren played the role as The Most Powerful Man in the Universe.

The new Masters of the Universe film currently has a release date of December 20, 2019, but considering the constant changing of crew, like the Dark Knight’s David Goyer moving from director to executive producer, the film may be pushed back until 2020 at the earliest.

He-Man, which is a Mattel property, isn’t the only film based on the toy maker’s creations, as Barbie is set to also hit the big screen with Margot Robbie playing the iconic role.

Goyer had previously written a draft for Masters of the Universe and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, as well as DeVon Franklin are assigned to the film as producers.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN could definitely take on He-Man in a fight. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

By Tncse

US court says Sandy Hook gun maker Remington can be sued

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

Connecticut’s supreme court has ruled that US gunmaker Remington can be sued over the massacre at the Sandy Hook elementary school in which one of its weapons was used.

The attack, which took place just before Christmas 2012, left 20 school children and six members of staff dead.

The 4-3 ruling by the state court raised hopes among the victims’ families of punishing the marketers of the powerful Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle used by the shooter, Adam Lanza.

It also sets a precedent that could lead to more lawsuits against manufacturers whose guns are used in mass shootings.

The ruling on Thursday overturned a lower court’s judgment rejecting the lawsuit, which charged that Remington Outdoor Co., arms distributor Camfour, and the Connecticut store which sold the gun used in the massacre could be held liable.

Lanza was a 20-year-old with known developmental disabilities who lived at home with his mother when he carried out the attack.

His mother, a gun enthusiast, had bought him the AR-15-style Bushmaster XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle more than two years before the shooting. Lanza murdered his mother before assaulting the school, and killed himself afterward.

The lawsuit alleged that Remington and the other two defendants are culpable because they knowingly marketed a military grade weapon that is "grossly unsuited" for civilian use yet had become the gun most used in mass shootings.

A Washington Post database says there have been 162 mass shootings in the United States since 1966, but many of the deadliest incidents have occurred in the past few years.

The plaintiffs alleged that the gun was marketed immorally and unscrupulously, sold on its war-fighting capabilities to civilians who would never experience combat.

That included, they alleged, popularizing the AR-15 in combat and mass shooting-type situations through the type of violent video games that Lanza was known to play.

They specifically cited Remington’s marketing of high-capacity magazines, which have only combat utility, for use with the gun.

They noted that video games feature shooters using multiple high capacity magazines, and that Lanza attacked the school with ten 30-round magazines.

In quotes | Donald Trump on guns

The court ruled that, even though the US Congress passed a law in 2005 that explicitly immunised gunmakers when their products are used in crimes, Remington could still be sued on the grounds that its marketing violated Connecticut’s unfair trade practice laws.

Congress did not seek to fully protect gunmakers and dealers from practices that promote criminal conduct, the judges said in their ruling.

Hence, they said, "it falls to a jury to decide whether the promotional schemes alleged in the present case rise to the level of illegal trade practices and whether fault for the tragedy can be laid at their feet."

David Wheeler, whose son Ben was one of the Sandy Hook victims, said "there’s a reason why this particular consumer product is the one that is used by people who want to inflict the most damage."

There have been examples, "time and time again," he said.

Joshua Koskoff, a lawyer who represented families at an earlier hearing, said the ruling shows that nobody is above the law – "even a gun company that is powerful… that’s politically connected."

The group Connecticut Against Gun Violence said the state supreme court decision "will force the companies to reveal internal communications that they have fought to keep out of the public eye."

By Tncse

‘Tell us what you want’: European officials scold UK, say London has to get its act together

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

European officials expressed irritation and skepticism on Wednesday over the Brexit standoff in the British parliament, which rejected for a second time a deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May with the EU.

“We are at the very limits of what’s bearable,” Germany’s Europe Minister Michael Roth told Deutschlandfunk radio regarding the Brexit debacle. “We have already changed the exit agreement once to suit Britain… We are open and prepared to talk but we aren’t getting any clear views from Britain on what they want, only what they don’t want.”

His fellow cabinet member, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, said that by rejecting an orderly exit from the EU British politicians were playing “with the welfare of their citizens and the economy in a reckless way.”

British MPs are expected to again express ‘what they don’t want’ from Brexit on Wednesday by rejecting a no-deal withdrawal from the European Union. They may later vote on whether to ask the EU for an extension of the current Brexit deadline, which is currently set for March 29.

Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian MEP who serves as the legislature’s representative for Brexit, said such an extension should only be granted if British lawmakers offer a concrete plan for what they could achieve after getting one. He warned Britain against trying to hijack the agenda in the upcoming pan-European election with Brexit problems in late May.

He also went on Twitter to crack a joke at the expense of Britons, saying that those who voted to leave with the goal of taking back control of their country now see it spiraling out of control.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier distanced himself and the entire union from the situation, saying that “now this impasse can only be solved in the UK,” and that no more concessions would come from Brussels.

“We are at a critical point. The risk of ‘no deal’ has never been higher,” he warned.

By Tncse

Spider-Man: Far From Home Stealth Suit Revealed at Brazil Comic Con

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

Spider-Man: Far From Home has a presence at Brazil Comic Con, which is now underway in Sao Paulo, where Spidey’s “Stealth Suit” is on display. at the Sony Pictures booth.

The suit, which can be seen in the image below (via IGN Brazil), is clearly reminiscent of the Spider-Man Noir costume from the Marvel Comics (and the character voiced by Nicolas Cage in the upcoming Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse animated movie).

Since we know that Nick Fury is in Spider-Man: Far From Home then perhaps the “Stealth Suit” is something that the secret agent got for him? Stealth tactical gear is something not unfamiliar to the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home is expected to drop Saturday, December 8th, at Brazil Comic Con.

For more Spidey coverage, check out what Jake Gyllenhaal posted to social media, enjoy our review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and learn about the two Marvel-Sony movies coming in 2020.

429 Mashing buttons will get you nowhere!

Error 429 Mashing buttons will get you nowhere!

Mashing buttons will get you nowhere!

Guru Meditation:

XID: 267300620

Varnish cache server

By Tncse

High School Sports Participation Increases for 26th Consecutive Year, Tops 7.8 Million for First Time

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The number of participants in high school sports increased for the 26th consecutive year in 2014-15 – topping the 7.8 million mark for the first time – according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Based on figures from the 51 NFHS member state high school associations, which includes the District of Columbia, the number of participants in high school sports reached an all-time high of 7,807,047 – an increase of 11,389 from the previous year.

While boys participation dipped 8,682 from the previous year, girls participation increased for the 26th consecutive year with an additional 20,071 participants and set an all-time high of 3,287,735. The boys participation total of 4,519,312 is No. 2 all-time behind the 2013-14 total of 4,527,994.

Six of the top 10 girls sports registered increases in participation this past year, led by competitive spirit squads (5,170 additional participants) and cross country (3,495). While track and field remained the No. 1 sport for girls with 478,726 participants, volleyball (432,176) moved ahead of basketball (429,504) to secure the No. 2 spot. Ten years ago, basketball was No. 1 for girls, followed by track and field, and volleyball.

Among the top 10 boys sports, soccer registered the largest gain with an additional 15,150 participants, while wrestling (11,306) and 11-player football (9,617) had the largest declines in participation. Besides soccer, other top 10 boys sports that had increases in the number of participants were baseball (3,938) and basketball (425).

“Overall, we are pleased with this year’s participation report indicating an increase for the 26th consecutive year,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “And while football participation dropped this past year, the decrease is not that significant when you consider more than 1.1 million boys and girls are involved in the sport at the high school level.

“Despite other out-of-school opportunities that exist in some sports, this year’s survey is yet another confirmation that our model of education-based sports within the high school setting is the No. 1 choice for boys and girls nationwide. We applaud the more than 19,000 high schools across the country for continuing to provide these important programs despite the funding challenges that exist in some areas.”

Eleven-player football remains the runaway leader in boys participants with 1,083,617, followed by outdoor track and field (578,632), basketball (541,479), baseball (486,567) and soccer (432,569). The remainder of the top 10 is wrestling (258,208), cross country (250,981), tennis (157,240), golf (148,823) and swimming/diving (137,087).

After outdoor track and field, volleyball and basketball, the remainder of the top 10 girls sports are soccer (375,681), fast-pitch softball (364,103), cross country (221,616), tennis (182,876), swimming/diving (166,838), competitive spirit squads (125,763) and lacrosse (84,785).

Among some of the non-traditional high school sports on this year’s survey, archery and riflery registered significant increases in participation. An additional 2,877 participants (boys and girls) in archery brings the overall total to 7,744 with schools in eight states sponsoring the sport. Riflery was up 1,010 participants for a total of 4,238 with competition in 10 states. Also, while boys wrestling was down by more than 11,000 this past year, the number of girls participating in the sport increased by 1,592 for a total of 11,496.

The top 10 states by participants remained in the same order as last year, with Texas and California topping the list with 804,598 and 797,101, respectively. The remainder of the top 10 was New York (389,475), Illinois (340,972), Ohio (319,929), Pennsylvania (319,562), Michigan (295,660), New Jersey (279,377), Florida (267,954) and Minnesota (235,243).

The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations. The complete 2014-15 High School Athletics Participation Survey is attached in PDF format and will be posted soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

— Courtesy of Brian Howard (National Federation of State High School Associations)

By Tncse

Nxivm ‘cult’ case: New child pornography charges unsealed as ‘Prefect’ pleads guilty to racketeering

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

A case featuring sensational claims that followers of a New York self-help organisation were forced to become sex slaves took a new turn on Wednesday with one key defendant pleading guilty and another being hit with child pornography charges.

Nancy Salzman, who once ran the group NXIVM, told a judge in federal court in Brooklyn that she teamed up with self-styled spiritual leader Keith Raniere, because she wanted to help people improve their lives.

But she admitted that she later lost her way when she joined efforts to spy on perceived enemies seeking to expose the Albany-based group as a cross between a pyramid scheme and a cult.

"It has taken some time and soul searching to come to this place," said Salzman, choking back tears. "I accept that some of what I did was not just wrong, but criminal… If I could go back and do it all over again, I would. But I can’t."

About two hours after the guilty plea, prosecutors unsealed an indictment against Raniere accusing him of twice inducing a minor to "engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing one or more visual depictions of such conduct" in 2005.

In a statement on Wednesday, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo denied the new allegations and questioned the timing with his client nearing trial on other charges.

The new charges "serve only to taint the jury pool," Agnifilo said. "If the charges were legitimate, they would have brought them a year ago."

Salzman, a registered nurse who was known as "Prefect" within NXIVM, was involved in stealing identities of the group’s critics and hacking into their email accounts from 2003 to 2008, prosecutors said.

They also alleged that she conspired to doctor videotapes showing her teaching NXIVM’s lessons before the tapes were turned over to plaintiffs in a New Jersey lawsuit against the group.

The plea comes about six weeks before Raniere’s trial, expected to detail allegations that a master-slave society within NXIVM brainwashed women into having unwanted sex with him and had them branded with his initials in initiation ceremonies.

Among those also charged along with Raniere are Salzman’s daughter as well as Seagram liquor fortune heiress Clare Bronfman and actress Allison Mack, best known for playing a teenage friend of Superman on the "Smallville" TV series.

They have all denied the charges.

Salzman apparently won’t testify for the government: There was no agreement to cooperate as part of the guilty plea to a conspiracy charge that carries an estimated maximum term of 41 months in prison under sentencing guidelines. Raniere, 58, was arrested in Mexico in 2018 and is being held without bail in Brooklyn on sex-trafficking charges.

At the time of his capture, Mack was living with him at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta, according to court papers.

An NXIVM bio of Salzman posted on the internet says she was a consultant to New York state and major corporations "until she met Keith Raniere and discovered an approach to personal growth that yielded powerful and permanent results."

Sentencing for Salzman was set for July 10.

By Tncse

French ophthalmologists demand Macron ban rubber bullets as eye injuries spread like ‘EPIDEMIC’

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

France is experiencing an “epidemic” of eye injuries as police repeatedly deploy golf-ball-sized rubber bullets, France’s top ophthalmologists say, urging President Macron to halt use of the projectiles.

As the Yellow Vest protests enter their 17th consecutive week, the debate around the government’s alleged use of excessive force continues to gain momentum. On Saturday, the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche published a letter to President Macron written by the country’s 35 leading ophthalmologists, in which they asserted that the police’s use of rubber bullets has led to an “epidemic of serious eye injuries.”

Many people risk losing their vision, doctors say, hinting that the current dismal developments are no coincidence as rubber balls fly with great force and are often directed inaccurately. The letter, which demands “a moratorium” on using rubber bullets, was actually written in early February but only made public a month later to make sure the recipient gets the message, according the newspaper.

French riot police have become notorious for using hand-held guns, locally known as defence-ball launchers or Flash-Balls, during the protests that been ongoing since November.

The currently deployed model – named LBD 40 – fires 40mm foam projectiles, roughly the size of a golf ball. Rubber bullets have apparently become the police’s primary means of combating unruly crowds, and have been deployed more than 13,000 times, according to local officials.

The controversial weapon has landed the French government in hot water as reports of people losing their eyes in skirmishes with police began to surface. More than 20 protesters have lost eyes, five hands have been partially or entirely torn off, and one person lost their hearing as a result of a TNT-stuffed GLI F4 stun grenade.

The legal status of rubber-ball guns has been repeatedly questioned by human rights associations and politicians in France and abroad. In early February, France’s top administrative court, however, refused to ban the police from using the hand-held launchers.

Meanwhile, the country’s interior security code allows police to use force to dispel violent crowds but only when no other means suffice.

On Wednesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for a “full investigation” of France’s excessive use of force towards the Yellow Vests who, according to her words, demand a “respectful dialogue.”

Government figures show that over 2,000 protesters and over 1,000 police officers have been injured since protests broke out in November.

Subscribe to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media won’t tell you.

By Tncse

343 Industries and Limbitless Solutions Partner for Halo-Themed ‘Bionic Arm’ Prosthetic

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

Halo developer 343 Industries and Limbitless Solutions have announced a collaboration to provide a new Halo-themed, 3D-printed prosthetic arm for “young heroes who – like the Master Chief himself – also routinely and triumphantly beat the odds.”

As detailed by 343, two special Halo-themed options will be added to Limbitless’ lineup of designs beginning in 2019.

The first Bionic Arm is a recreation of Master Chief’s own Mk. VI armor, while the second is a “multiplayer” variant of the “Mjolnir-inspired and personalized prosthetic” that will come in many colors to “create a Spartan style as unique and heroic as the recipients themselves.”

Limbitless Solutions is a non-profit organization that uses 3D printing to create prosthetic arms that are capable of gripping objects and performing various gestures, all at a fraction of the cost compared to others on the market.

The Limbitless team began work in 2014 as a group of University of Central Florida students who wanted to help a family and young boy who was born without the majority of his right arm.

Limbitless is now a full-time operation at UCF and they donate their “innovative prosthetic arms completely free of charge to recipients and their families.”

Back in 2015, Robert Downey, Jr. and Limbitless teamed up to give a young boy an Iron Man-themed prosthetic limb, presented to the boy, Alex Pring, by Tony Stark himself.

Additionally, with Halo: Infinite being announced at E3 2018, this could only be the beginning of the partnership between 343 Industries and Limbitless.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who loves nothing more than seeing developers give back in these awesome ways. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

By Tncse

Recent News

Month: April 2019

Error 429 Mashing buttons will get you nowhere!

Guru Meditation: