Ribery - „Ancelottis Tür steht immer offen“

Franck Ribery schwärmt von Trainer Carlo Ancelotti. Der sei stets mit den Spieler des FC Bayern München im Gespräch und sei immer ansprechbar, so der französische Flügelstürmer.
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Tech Talk: The latest on Azure Stack, cyberattacks, the next iPhone and ... keyboards

Get the details on Microsoft's new Azure Stack, why cyberattacks never seem to end, the fate of Apple's Touch ID and why QWERTY keyboards are now tech relics. Follow Computerworld to satisfy your tech business needs! ------------------------------­---- SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Computerworld FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/1YryaLM TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Computerworld WEBSITE: http://ift.tt/pqCrME
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Ride-Hailing Apps In NYC Now Required To Have In-App Tipping

A month ago, Uber rolled out optional in-app tipping nationwide, which made it look a little more driver-friendly while stuck in a traffic jam of terrible publicity. We’re sure that change had nothing to do with what happened in New York’s City Council today: A bill that would require ride-hailing apps to let customers tip within the app passed the transportation committee and is on its way to the mayor’s desk.

Uber’s competitor Lyft, which markets itself as a fuzzier alternative that’s kinder to its drivers, offers in-app tipping, as do New York-centric competitors Gett and Juno, which merged this year. Drivers lobbied to have tips added to Uber, and the city made them part of the regulations governing ride-hailing apps that do business in New York.

The logic goes that passengers who want to leave tips should be able to, using the same method of payment that they used for the ride itself, since not everyone necessarily carries cash anymore.

Apps will also be required to suggest tips that start at 20% of the fare, as the credit card terminals in yellow taxis do.

“Tipping is a vitally important source of income for thousands of families who are struggling to make ends meet right now,” Jim Conigliaro, Jr, founder of the Independent Drivers Guild, which isn’t a union but represents ride-hailing app drivers in New York City and negotiates with Uber. “We were proud to lead the way on tipping on behalf of drivers in New York City and across the nation.”

The mayor now has 30 days to sign, veto, or ignore the legislation. If he doesn’t sign it within 30 days, it will become law.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

Everest College Changes Name To Altierus Two Years After Turning Nonprofit

More than two years after Education Credit Management Corporation swooped in to purchase 56 Everest and WyoTech campuses previously owned by defunct for-profit college chain Corinthian Colleges, the company has finally changed the remaining schools’ names in a belated attempt to shed the stigma associated with the for-profit chains. 

Zenith Education Group – the division operating the schools — announced this week that from here on out, the former Everest career college brand will be known as Altierus.

The schools, which were transitioned from for-profit to nonprofit status as part of ECMC’s purchase agreement, will undergo a brand change over the next several weeks.

Why The Delay?

ECMC first revealed its intention to purchase the Everest and WyoTech campuses for $24 million in Nov. 2014. The deal, which was met with criticism from consumer groups, was officially finalized in Feb. 2015.

However, the lack of a name change has proven confusing to consumers who continued to see Everest commercials despite knowing that Corinthian was no longer in operation. That’s about to change.

Zenith notes in its announcement that in the two years since it acquired the Everest campuses it has focused on “righting their course to provide a quality experience that helps students get good, family-supporting jobs in high-growth industries where skilled workers are lacking.”

“As a result of these widespread changes, our nonprofit offering is altogether different than it was at the time we acquired these campuses,” Peter Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Zenith Education, said in a statement. “We have therefore made the decision to change the name of our Everest campuses to Altierus Career Colleges.

What’s It Mean?

According to Zenith, the name Altierus was inspired by the company’s mission to provide a new, alternative pathway for students.

The name, meant to reflect the chain’s vision and transformation, was created by combining the school’s goal and purpose. For instance, Alt represents the fact that the chain offered an alternative to traditional colleges; tier refers to its goal of providing the “best-in-class experience that is a tier above existing models,” while us refers to the “faculty, career specialists and financial aid experts–serve as a team to care for the whole student.”

“Simply put, we help students build strong professional and personal skills… and we surround them with a community of accountable students and faculty to ensure they stay on track,” Taylor said.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Lawmakers Who Want To Hand ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ Card To Banks Made Millions From Financial Sector Last Year

As expected, Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would overturn new rules intended to make sure that bank and credit card customers aren’t stripped of their right to file lawsuits in a court of law. Not surprisingly, many of the politicians pushing this pro-bank bill recently received significant financial support from the financial sector.

We mentioned in our original story, before the legislation was introduced, that the two main sponsors — Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX) and Sen. Mike Crapo (ID) — received a total of $6 million in campaign contributions from the financial sector in 2016, with $1.9 million going to Hensarling’s campaign and $4.1 million going to Crapo.

But among those supporting the legislation to roll back the new protections on bank and credit card customers, these two lawmakers aren’t even the largest beneficiaries of the financial industry.

Sen. Pat Toomey (PA) received a total of $7 million from this sector in 2016. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Toomey was the largest recipient of funding from commercial banks last year, with $935,000 in contributions coming from that industry alone, plus another $2.55 million coming from securities and investment firms.

Other Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee, eight of whom have already co-signed this bill, have also received millions from the financial sector.

This includes Sen. Bob Corker (TN), whose campaign took in $3.7 million from this sector, including $1.09 million from securities and investment firms and $517,000 from commercial banks. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton raised $2.7 million from financial firms in 2016, including $1.23 million from investment firms and $344,000 from commercial banks.

The eight Senate sponsors of this bill received a total of $24 million — an average of $3 million each — in 2016 from the industry that would be most affected by the new rules.

Over in the House, the individual numbers aren’t as large, but they do add up, with the supporting legislators’ campaigns earning more than $22 million from financial companies in the last election cycle.

In addition to the $1.9 million received by Hensarling, other recipients of significant financial sector contributions include Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC), whose campaign took in $2.1 million from this industry in 2016, making him the #3 favorite recipient of commercial bank money.

Rep. Ed Royce (CA) is the third-highest recipient of contributions from credit unions, helping him to bring in $1.7 million in campaign money last year. Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers’ campaign took in $1.5 million; he’s a #3 favorite for the finance/credit industry in all of Congress. His fellow committee member, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MT) is the favorite of finance/credit; his campaign received a total of $1.3 million last year from the financial sector.

What Are They Fighting Against?

The new rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau severely limits the ability of many banks and credit card companies from using “forced arbitration” clauses in their customer contracts. These clauses not only prevent customers from suing the bank in a court of law; they also allow the company to prevent customers from joining their complaints together in a class action.

For an example of how anti-consumer these arbitration clauses can be, one need look no further than the recent Wells Fargo fake account fiasco, where potentially millions of customers were affected by employees who opened up bogus, unauthorized accounts in the customers’ names.

The Wells Fargo customer contract includes a forced arbitration clause, and the bank repeatedly attempted to enforce that clause to shut down class actions brought by customers over this widespread fraudulent activity. Ultimately — under pressure from the media, lawmakers, and regulators — the bank decided to settle these class actions, but it could have forced each of the millions of allegedly wronged customers into individual arbitration.

The lawmakers behind this legislation to overturn the new arbitration rule argue that arbitration is actually pro-consumer. Sen. Mike Rounds (SD), whose campaign recently made $1.3 million from the financial sector, contends that arbitration is superior to class action lawsuits because the payouts are typically higher.

The problem with Rounds’ way of thinking is that is like comparing apples to apple orchards. Yes, a successful arbitration case can result in the wronged customer receiving a few thousand dollars, while the average payout of a massive class action may only be a few dollars each. However, the CFPB’s survey of arbitration cases in the financial industry found that very few bank and credit card customers even know what arbitration is, let alone ever go through the process of filing a dispute in arbitration.

So say a bank wrongs 100,000 customers by illegally charging them for a service they didn’t ask for. Now say, generously, that 50 of those wronged customers take the initiative to enter into arbitration and get $5,000 each (which is also generous). That’s a total of $250,000 penalty to the bank, with more than 99% of customers getting nothing and the bank effectively being allowed to break the law. Additionally, many arbitration results are confidential, so the remaining 99,950 customers may never even know they were screwed out of money.

But a class action suit could represent all 100,000 wronged customers. Let’s use the $32 per person figure that arbitration supporters love to throw around: $32 times 100,000 = $3.2 million, that’s a penalty that is more than 10 times the size of what the bank would pay in the arbitration example. Even if a company settles and doesn’t have to admit wrongdoing, the increased public awareness of the dispute helps to prevent the company, and hopefully others, from future bad behavior.

Heavily Unbalanced

“Forced arbitration is heavily weighted against the consumer,” explains our colleague George Slover at Consumers Union,” adding that “it shields financial companies from accountability for widespread wrongdoing.”

Christine Hines, Legislative Director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates, said it was disappointing but not surprising that “some members of Congress would sacrifice their constituents’ legal rights to make big banks and predatory lenders happy. Wall Street lobbyists have been urging their congressional allies to seek repeal of the CFPB arbitration rule, which restores American consumers’ right to band together in court when financial institutions cheat, deceive, or defraud them.”

Even some lawmakers who received not-insignificant funding from the financial sector say the GOP move to roll back these protections goes too far.

Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, an outspoken critic of forced arbitration (whose campaign did receive $1.3 million from the financial sector in 2016), alleged today that “powerful special interests are encouraging my colleagues across the aisle to undo this critical consumer protection… as lawmakers, we should be working on behalf of all Americans, not big banks.”

The pieces of legislation introduced today seek to use the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows members of Congress to voice their disapproval of recently finalized federal regulations. CRA resolutions only require a simple majority in each chamber of Congress. Given the large GOP majority in the House, the resolution seems likely to pass that chamber, even if a few Republicans oppose it.

The GOP only has a two-vote majority in the Senate, and possibly only a single vote, depending on how long Sen. John McCain (AZ) remains out of office to deal with his recently discovered brain tumor. Republicans would effectively need a full party-line vote (or support from one or two more conservative Democrats) for the CRA to pass the Senate.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Twitter Claims Anti-Abuse Tools Are Working — But Where’s The Data?

After launching various new efforts to combat harassment and abuse, Twitter says it’s doing a bangup job of making users feel safer on the platform. But that’s according to internal data, hard numbers the company isn’t sharing — at least, not yet.

While there’s still “much work to be done,” Twitter announced today that users are experiencing “significantly less abuse on Twitter today than they were six months ago.”

Since then, Twitter launched safety updates like proactively identifying abusive accounts and a feature that allows users to hide as well as filter out abusive Tweets.

Progress

Here’s what Twitter has accomplished thus far, according to Twitter:

• Taking action against 10 times more accounts this year than it did last year — which could mean simply warning users or temporarily limiting accounts sending abusive Tweets.

• To that end, Twitter says it’s limit account functionality or suspending “thousands more abusive accounts each day.”

• Its new systems have removed twice the number of accounts from repeat offenders — who create new accounts after being suspended — in the last four months alone.

• Accounts that are put on temporary hold generate 25 percent fewer abuse reports, and approximately 65 percent of these accounts are in this state just once.

• A 40 percent drop in blocks received from accounts that had received mentions from an account that doesn’t follow them, which may imply that Twitter’s plan to keep mute replies from non-followers is working.

The Hard Numbers

Thus far, Twitter hasn’t revealed the raw data it based this news on.

However, it could do that at some point down the road. A spokesperson told The Verge that one concern Twitter has about releasing the information is that it could subject the company to new requests from governments and law enforcement agencies.

We’ve reached out Twitter for more information on this front and will update this post if we hear back.

Going forward, “We are committed to making Twitter a safe place for free expression,” said Ed Ho, Twitter’s general manager of consumer product and engineering.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

As Sears And Kmart Shrink, Amazon Grows

Earlier today, we shared the announcement that Amazon and Sears would be teaming up to sell Kenmore brand appliances, beginning with air conditioners. The retailers have more in common than you might think, though.

Eight years ago, Sears and Kmart had thousands of stores, while Amazon had only a handful of warehouses. Now those proportions are reversing, with Sears Holdings spinning off or closing most of its stores, while Amazon builds more distribution centers, in-person bookstores, and local delivery hubs.

The Wall Street Journal lays this out in graphic form today, showing how Amazon today has as many employees as Sears Holdings did in 2009, and how Kmart has closed as many stores as Amazon has opened new distribution facilities, stores, and other outlets.

Amazon generates more revenue in two months than Sears/Kmart does in an entire year. https://t.co/HZEccYDS09

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 20, 2017

Sears Roebuck was the original Everything Store, especially in the first half of the 20th century when its catalog sold houses and everything to put in them, as well as cars and farm equipment.

The retailer gradually shifted its focus to stores in cities, then in malls, and closed its massive catalog distribution centers scattered across the country in the late ’80s and early ’90s, just a few years before Amazon was born.

If Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods goes through, Amazon will take over from Sears in a very literal way. The real state investment trust that Sears Holdings has sold many of its stores to, Seritage, has carved out parts of some Sears stores and leased them to Whole Foods.

That would make Seritage, of which the Chairman and CEO of Sears Holdings is a major stockholder, Amazon’s landlord.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

SOUNDS by Altec Lansing ft Matt Relevo

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How we connect to computers: The future of the keyboard | Tech Talk Ep 1

QWERTY keyboards are so 1860 -- but that hasn't stopped most people from relying on them when using desktops and laptops. Multi-touch, VR and AR could soon change that. Computerworld's Ken Mingis, Network World's Brandon Butler, CSO's Fahmida Rashid and Macworld's Mike Simon weigh in on where things are going. Follow Computerworld to satisfy your tech business needs! ------------------------------­---- SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Computerworld FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/1YryaLM TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Computerworld WEBSITE: http://ift.tt/pqCrME
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MUSK'S UNDERGROUND HYPERLOOP

Elon Musk just revealed that he’s gotten “verbal government approval” to begin building an underground Hyperloop. The proposed project would link major East Coast U.S. cities, including NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Musk says the network will connect city centres, with more entry and exit points along the way, too. It would reduce the trip from NY to DC to just 29 minutes – that’s a 3.5 hour train ride today. The project is still very early – it’s not clear who Musk was speaking to exactly, but he acknowledged formal approval will take some time.
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Three major Disney movies are being blocked from release | Engadget Today

An injunction by the VFX company that worked on them would halt distribution. http://ift.tt/2ue8Kc1 You probably haven't heard of a special effects company called MOVA, but you've seen its Contour facial-capture technology in films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Beauty and the Beast. It could also have a big impact your entertainment choices. The company behind the tech, Rearden LLC, has filed an injunction against Walt Disney Co. to block those two films, along with Avengers: Age of Ultron, from sales or distribution. Subscribe to Engadget on YouTube: http://engt.co/subscribe Get More Engadget: • Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZT • Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engadget • Follow us on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZV • Add us on Snapchat: http://ift.tt/1UqS18a • Read more: http://www.engadget.com Engadget is the definitive guide to this connected life.
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Who's responsible for cloud security? | Tech Talk Ep 1

IDG editors talk about the common misperceptions about public cloud storage, including who's ultimately responsible for data security. Follow Computerworld to satisfy your tech business needs! ------------------------------­---- SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Computerworld FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/1YryaLM TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Computerworld WEBSITE: http://ift.tt/pqCrME
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What is Microsoft Azure Stack? | Tech Talk Ep 1

Learn the ins and outs of Microsoft's upcoming private cloud offering, Azure Stack, as editors discuss its expected benefits and drawbacks. Follow Computerworld to satisfy your tech business needs! ------------------------------­---- SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Computerworld FACEBOOK: http://ift.tt/1YryaLM TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Computerworld WEBSITE: http://ift.tt/pqCrME
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Farmers To Pay $390K For Charging Renters More Than Homeowners On Car Insurance

Last year, a Consumer Federation of America report found that home renters pay up to 47% more for car insurance than their peers who own their homes. Now, one state is doing something about this: Minnesota has fined insurance giant Farmers $390,000 for charging higher rates to renters. 

The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced this week that an investigation into Farmers Insurance Exchange’s pricing practices found the company illegally used customers’ residential status to influence their monthly rates.

Under Minnesota law, companies are prohibited from setting auto insurance rates or benefits, or denying coverage, based on a driver’s status as a residential tenant.

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Farmers Insurance Exchange, which is a part of Farmers Insurance Group, charged some customers higher auto insurance rates solely because they were renters rather than homeowners.

The investigation also found that Farmers provided discounts to customers who have both homeowners and auto coverage policies with the company.

In all, the Department identified 1,620 Minnesota policyholders who were affected by the discriminatory pricing practices.

Paying Up

Under the consent order [PDF], Farmers agreed to refund the 1,620 customers  a total of $315,000 and pay a $75,000 penalty.

Additionally, the company must stop charging higher rates to renters, end discriminatory discounts that favored policyholders who have both homeowners and auto coverage over policyholders who have both renters and auto coverage.

“You should not be forced to buy a house in order to get a fair price on your auto insurance,” Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said in a statement. “It is not only unfair, but in Minnesota it is also illegal for an insurance company to charge more or discriminate against drivers simply because they happen to rent their homes.”

CFA, which released the report on insurance surcharges last year, applauded the Minnesota action, but notes that other Commissioners should follow suit, noting that most states have similar laws against insurance discrimination.

“It is very encouraging to see Insurance Commissioners standing up for consumers by standing against unfair pricing in the insurance industry,” J. Robert Hunter, CFA’s Director of Insurance and former Texas Insurance Commissioner, said in a statement. “For the sake of hard-working Americans who are required to purchase auto insurance by laws in almost every state, we want to see more of this around the country.”

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Smart Scarf.mp4

After winning a Cisco sponsored innovation challenge, a young French entrepreneur created a smart scarf to help protect people from air pollution. Learn more at newsroom.cisco.com
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TomTom Maps & Cisco Partnership

By integrating TomToms’s traffic management technology with Cisco’s converged network infrastructure, this partnership will build the next wave of traffic optimization and programmable driving.
by Cisco via Endless Supplies .De - Brands

Elon Musk says NY-DC hyperloop is coming

In a tweet, Musk says he has the verbal go-ahead to build a tunnel that would get people from New York to Washington DC in under 30 minutes. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm Add us on Snapchat: http://cnet.co/2h4uoK3
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Target Ending Pilot Program That Rewarded Customers For Using Cartwheel App

Last year, Target began testing a pilot rewards program that allowed some users of its Cartwheel app to earn points redeemable for merchandise based on how much they spend at the register when using the app. Now, that test is coming to an end. 

Target recently began notifying customers participating in the pilot program that the retailer will begin phasing out Cartwheel Perks next month.

Noooooooo @Target! I loved #cartwheelperks http://pic.twitter.com/Y5OTNkVRnO

— Kelly Strona (@kellystrona) July 19, 2017

Under the loyalty program, which was being tested in Denver, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis, and Raleigh, customers could earn reward points for every dollar spent at the store, excluding pharmacy and gift card purchases. Once a shopper accumulates a certain number of points, they can select from pre-determined rewards, including free sunglasses, laundry detergent, and athletic apparel.

Target announced the program’s discontinuation in an email to users, noting that customers can continue to earn points with the program through Aug. 27, but must redeem those points by Sept. 27.

In responses to customers on Twitter, Target notes that it decided to wind down the program after analyzing its impact.

@Winter1983 We have analyzed the impact of our perks program and decided to wind down Cartwheel perks. We're sorry for your disappointment.

— AskTarget (@AskTarget) July 20, 2017

Consumerist has reached out to Target for more information about the program’s demise. We’ll update this post when we hear back.

Don’t End It!

News of the discontinuation wasn’t exactly received well by customers using the program.

Half the reason I go to @Target and use Cartwheel so often is the Perks, so I'm a little upset that they're ending it.

— Michelle (@Michelle_523) July 20, 2017

@Target why is cartwheel ending!!! I like it its the only reason I got out if my way to shop at target!

— Jen (@Winter1983) July 20, 2017

I am so not happy that @Target is getting rid of Cartwheel Perks! It was one of my favorite things! #nothappyface

— Just Can't Couldn't (@tallbubba) July 20, 2017

@Target Cartwheel is getting rid of perks?! What is life?! #targetmom

— ItsWhitneyBish (@itswawawhitney) July 19, 2017

So not okay with the cartwheel perks ending @Target! This mama loved this!☹️

— Erin Leal (@erin_leal) July 19, 2017

@Target eliminating #Perks on #Cartwheel is another unwelcome change (like getting rid of badges) to what used to be a worthwhile app.

— Michael Morrison (@ME_Morrison) July 19, 2017

 

 

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Half Of The 18.3 Trillion Pounds Of Plastic Produced Was Created In Last 13 Years

The next time you go to throw out a piece of plastic packaging, imagine it resting atop a pile containing the 10.8 trillion pounds of plastic trash we’ve produced in the last six decades.

According to a study in the journal Science Advances titled “Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made,” widespread use of plastic products only dates back to about 1950 — but in that time, we’ve produced about 8300 million metric tons (Mt) (around 9.1 billion tons or 18.3 trillion pounds) of plastic.

Half of that was produced in just the last 13 years, researchers say.

Where Is It All Going?

As of 2015, approximately 6300 Mt of plastic waste — about 13.9 trillion pounds — had been generated: About 9 percent of that was recycled and 12 percent incinerated.

That leaves about 79 percent of that waste — 10.8 trillion pounds or so — left to accumulate in landfills or the natural environment, the study says, noting that “none of the commonly used plastics are biodegradable.”

All told, 60 percent of all plastics ever produced have been dumped somewhere on this planet:

Plastic debris has been found in all major ocean basins, researchers note, with an estimated four to 12 million metric tons of plastic waste generated on land entering the marine environment in 2010 alone.

“Most plastics don’t biodegrade in any meaningful sense, so the plastic waste humans have generated could be with us for hundreds or even thousands of years,” said study co-author Jenna Jambeck, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Georgia.

What Are We Making With All That Plastic?

The largest market for plastics is packaging, an application whose growth is only accelerating due to a global shift from reusable to single-use containers, the study points out.

As a result, the share of plastics in municipal solid waste went up from less than 1 percent in 1960 to more than 10 percent in 2005 in middle- and high-income countries.

Looking To The Future

If current production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12 billion metric tons (about 21.7 trillion pounds) of plastic waste will be in landfills or in the natural environment by 2050, researchers concluded. That’s about 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.

“We cannot continue with business as usual unless we want a planet that is literally covered in plastic,” said lead author Geyer, an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. “This paper delivers hard data not only for how much plastic we’ve made over the years but also its composition and the amount and kind of additives that plastic contains. I hope this information will be used by policymakers to improve end-of-life management strategies for plastics.”

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Elon Musk erhält Genehmigung für Super-Zug

Von New York nach Washington in 29 Minuten: Der Hyperloop von Elon Musk würde die Fahrzeit zwischen den beiden Städten drastisch verkürzen. Nun darf er mit dem Bau der Trasse offenbar beginnen.
by Stefan Beutelsbacher, New York via Endless Supplies .De - News

Marc Dutroux will vorzeitig entlassen werden

Der Belgier Marc Dutroux gilt als einer der grausamsten Verbrecher Europas: Er entführte und vergewaltigte insgesamt elf Mädchen und ermordete vier von ihnen. Jetzt will er raus aus dem Gefängnis.
by Sarah Maria Brech via Endless Supplies .De - News

Berliner „Party-Polizist“ wird degradiert

Urinieren am Zaun, Sex im Freien – die Berliner Polizei hatte im Vorfeld zum G-20-Gipfel für Gelächter gesorgt. Für einen leitenden Beamten wurde daraus nun bitterer Ernst: Er wurde von seinem Amt entbunden.
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Der historische Abstecher begann nicht ungetrübt

Am zweiten Tag ihres Deutschland-Besuchs zeigen sich Prinz William und Herzogin Kate in Heidelberg vor einer Traumkulisse. Es gibt ein straffes Programm – und einen Wermutstropfen für alle Royal-Fans.
by Hannelore Crolly via Endless Supplies .De - News

US-Sonderermittler will die Deutsche Bank vorladen

Donald Trump ist ein so prominenter wie unbequemer Kunde der Deutschen Bank. Jetzt will ein Sonderermittler Vertreter der Bank zu den Russland-Kontakten des Präsidenten befragen – eine unangenehme Nachricht zur falschen Zeit.
by Karsten Seibel via Endless Supplies .De - News

Warum Migranten weniger arbeiten als Einheimische

Im EU-Durchschnitt sind Zugewanderte seltener erwerbstätig als Einheimische. In Deutschland ist diese Kluft besonders groß – in Griechenland verhält es sich ganz anders. Dort ist das Frustpotenzial größer.
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Die Schlinge zieht sich immer weiter zu

In wütenden Worten hat Donald Trump in einem Interview mit seinem Justizminister abgerechnet. Das Gespräch ist auch für das FBI interessant. Die schlechten Nachrichten reißen für den Präsidenten nicht ab.
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„Von Vertuschung kann keine Rede sein“

Nach anfänglichen Falschmeldungen über einen randalierenden Mob von 1000 Personen in Schorndorf erklärt Polizeichef Eisele, wie es dazu gekommen sei. Er beklagt mangelnden Respekt gegenüber Polizisten.
by Tobias Heimbach via Endless Supplies .De - News

Elfmeterkrimi! - PSG bezwingt AS Rom

Den Auftakt beim International Champions Cup auf dem amerikanischen Kontinent machten der AS Rom und Paris Saint-Germain. Nach dem 1:1-Unentschieden gewann PSG das Elfmeterschießen.
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Mourinho - „Chelsea interessiert mich nicht“

Jose Mourinho ist Trainer von Manchester United. Viele verbinden den Portugiesen aber immer noch mit dem FC Chelsea. Die Blues spielen für "The Special One" aber keine Rolle mehr.
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Bolt - "Habe alles erreicht, was ich konnte"

Usain Bolt wird nach der WM 2017 seine Karriere beenden. Der Sprint-Superstar hat nun auf einer Pressekonferenz verraten, wofür er die Zeit nach seiner Karriere nutzen will.
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Wenger - "Tut gut gegen Bayern zu siegen"

Beim International Champions Cup in China unterliegt der FC Bayern München knapp dem FC Arsenal. Gunners-Coach Arsene Wenger trennt diesen Sieg aber strikt von vergangenen Pleiten.
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„Kombi“ würde Porsche diesen Panamera nie nennen

Der Sportwagenbauer Porsche bringt eine Variante seines Luxuswagens mit höherem Heck und großer Klappe. Stauraum bietet der Sport Turismo kaum mehr. Aber trotzdem ist er um einiges praktischer.
by Thomas Geiger via Endless Supplies .De - News

Darum zicken sich die Bayern in Asien an

Der FC Bayern plant mit Kimmich als neuem Lahm. Konkurrent Rafinha will das aber nicht akzeptieren. Auch Ribery fordert mehr Einsatzminuten. Und Trainer Ancelotti ist von einem Ex-Angestellten des Klubs genervt.
by Julien Wolff via Endless Supplies .De - News

Wenn die Mitschülerin nicht aus den Sommerferien zurückkommt

Ein Berliner Arbeitskreis warnt Schulen vor Kinderhochzeiten in den Ferien: Lehrer sollen bei einem Verdacht frühzeitig und gemeinsam mit dem Schüler Beratungsstellen oder das Jugendamt kontaktieren.
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Drei Tote, ein Schwerverletzter bei Crash gegen Baum

Eine junge Autofahrerin ist von einer Landstraße im Allgäu abgekommen. Sie und der Beifahrer schweben in Lebensgefahr, drei Mitfahrer starben sofort. Einen weiteren Insassen traf der Unfall völlig unvermittelt – er war im Kofferraum.
by via Endless Supplies .De - News

Die Schlagersängerin Andrea Jürgens ist tot

Schlagersängerin Andrea Jürgens ist mit 50 Jahren an akutem Nierenversagen gestorben. Berühmt wurde sie als Kind - durch einem Auftritt in der ZDF-Hitparade mit dem Song "Und dabei liebe ich euch beide".
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Wenn das Sextoy „wie ein Liebhaber flüstert“

Guter Sex, aber keine dummen Sätze danach. Das anstrengende Menschliche scheint im Bett durch das Posthumane ersetzt zu werden. In „pleasure products“ verbinden sich aufs Beiläufigste technologischer und gesellschaftlicher Fortschritt.
by Peter Praschl via Endless Supplies .De - News

Hier gibt es eine Insel zu kaufen - zu einem günstigen Preis

Little Ross Island, nur wenige Kilometer von der schottischen Südküste entfernt, steht zum Verkauf. Die einsame Insel soll ein perfekter Erholungsort sein. Aber sie birgt ein dunkles Geheimnis.
by Gunda Windmüller via Endless Supplies .De - News

Teams votierten gegen Todts „Heiligenschein“

Im Alleingang hat Fia-Präsident Todt den Formel-1-Fahrern eine einschneidende Änderung an ihren Autos durchgedrückt. Aus Sicherheitsgründen bekommen sie einen Cockpitschutz. Die Rennställe hätten wohl anders entschieden.
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Reminder: Studies Posted On ClinicalTrials.gov Are Not Government-Approved Or Screened

When facing an illness, you might turn to a clinical trial for treatment that isn’t available eleswhere. The best place for patients to find trials is the site ClinicalTrials.gov, which is a site administered by the National Institutes of Health and is exactly what it sounds like. The site has trials where researchers are testing experimental drugs or procedures that may help them. The problem is that not all “clinical trials” are exactly what they seem.

Specifically looking at trials for treatments involving stem cells, a new article by Leigh Turner of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics in the journal Regenerative Medicine explores how for-profit clinics looking for paying customers can exploit the site and its listings, leading patients to think that a listing for a “patient-funded” clinical trial is a government-endorsed clinical trial.

Why would I look for clinical trials?

A clinical trial is when researchers try new medical treatments on real humans in a clinical setting: A doctor’s office or a hospital. Depending on the clinical trial’s structure, you also might receive the new treatment, the current standard treatment, a placebo, or no intervention at all. (Yes, even placebos for surgeries exist. They’re controversial.)

For most clinical trials, patients do not have to pay for treatments or medical visits. That’s part of the appeal of taking part in a trial: You may receive a cutting-edge medication at the expense of the drug company. Or you might not be in the group that receives the cutting-edge treatment.

The database

ClinicalTrials.gov now carries a disclaimer, warning that “Information on ClinicalTrials.gov is provided by study sponsors and investigators, and they are responsible for ensuring that the studies follow all applicable laws and regulations.”

Some of those laws and regulations include charging patients for drugs and devices that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and which have not yet been approved. Hospitals and clinics are not supposed to profit off their patients in a clinical trial, but they can charge something for “cost recovery” with the permission of the FDA.

The ClinicalTrials database asks the trial sponsors whether a clinical trial has been approved by the institution’s institutional review board, if necessary, for experiments performed on humans.

Where do the stem cells come in?

Stem cell clinics say that they are simply filtering out patients’ own cells and putting them back in the body, and this is considered a medical procedure and not a drug. The FDA has not been aggressive on pushing this point, but should the ClinicalTrials.gov database? 1

The most notorious example, which made news around the world and led to the site adding its disclaimer, was the case of three women two paid thousands of dollars to take part in a stem cell clinic’s “clinical trial” to treat age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease.

At least one of the women found the “study” through ClinicalTrials.gov, and thought that it was a legitimate government-approved trial. Instead, all three patients received injections of stem cells processed from their own fat. Both eyes were injected on the same day, and all three patients lost their sight from the treatment.

“The development of robust screening tools that review whether submitted studies are compliant with regulatory standards concerning oversight of human subjects research and the administration of stem cells is necessary to prevent ClinicalTrials.gov from being used as a marketing platform by companies using clinical studies to sell access to their putative ‘stem cell treatments’,” Dr. Turner writes.

When just anyone can list a “clinical trial” on the site, even researchers who aren’t qualified to test their products yet or who deliberately blur the definition of “drug,” that makes the site a less useful tool for patients, keeping patients who might benefit from clinical trials out of them.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

If You Use Services Like Venmo For The Wrong Purpose, You Could Lose Money

There are a plethora of peer-to-peer payment options on the market, think Venmo, Facebook Payments, or Square Cash. Each offer users an easy, convenient way to transfer money between people, but many have very specific intended uses; some are for paying your friends, others are for buying goods or paying for services. Some can be used for both, but may require different accounts. It’s important to know the difference, lest you become the latest victim of a scam or simply become shut out from your account. 

The specific way in which customers use a peer-to-peer service — whether to pay friend or pay for goods and services — can influence a user’s rights. For this reason, it’s imperative that you read the terms and conditions for services like Venmo or Facebook Payments to ensure you’re using the system for it was designed to do.

The Name Says It All

A peer-to-peer payment is an electronic payment between two people using a smartphone application or website.

As the name suggests, a peer-to-peer payment system is meant for just that: the transfer of money from one peer to another. It’s not referred to as a customer-to-merchant service for a reason; they aren’t intended for that use.

For instance, if you’re using an app for commercial purposes, like cutting grass, you want to make sure you’re using a system designed for businesses.

“Even if you don’t think of yourself as a business, you could be,” Christina Tetreault, our colleague and staff attorney for Consumers Union, tells Consumerist, noting that even doing something as minor as yard work or snow shoveling could constitute a business in the system’s terms.

For example, Venmo offers separate business and personal accounts for users. Personal accounts are to be used only for person-to-person transfers with friends and family, and others you may know. These accounts may not be used to receive business, commercial, or merchant transactions.

Improper Use Could Make You Vulnerable To Scams

If you’re using a personal peer-to-peer app for business purposes, you might not be covered legally if something were to happen, like a payment bounced or you become the unwitting victim of a scam.

Such was the case recently for a California man selling an expensive camera. The Verge reports that the man, who had listed his $4,300 camera for sale on Facebook’s marketplace, was contacted by a potential buyer who wished to complete the transaction through Venmo.

The man agreed, and the purchaser began sending him a series of payment all under $100. Believing the money was in his account, the man handed off the camera to its new owner. The next day, however, he found his Venmo account had been frozen and the transaction blocked.

When the man contacted Venmo, he was told that the transaction was in violation of the company’s user policy.

What’s In The Terms?

Venmo specifically notes that using a personal account for business purposes, or a business account for personal, family, or household purposes would constitute as a breach of contract, which could result in holds or transaction reversals.

“Personal accounts are for use in person-to-person transfers with friends and family, and other people whom you know,” the company’s terms state.

However, personal accounts may be used to make “Authorized Merchant Payments,” but only via certain mobile websites or applications offered by merchants that have been approved to offer Venmo as a payment option.

Still, this wouldn’t have applied to the Venmo customer, as he was the one selling a product.

According to Venmo’s terms, “personal accounts may not be used to receive business, commercial, or merchant transactions.”

While the man contends that he wasn’t a merchant, because he’s not in the camera selling business, the transaction was still classified as a merchant transaction because goods were changing hands.

What About Everyone Else?

Each P2P payment system has their own terms of service agreements that describe the ways in which the service can be used.

As for Facebook, the company notes in its payment terms that the P2P service “is not intended to be used for business, commercial, or merchant transactions and such use may be discontinued without notice by us at any time.”

Additionally, the company may place a hold on transactions or place a reserve on funds if evidence of business, commercial, or merchant use is discovered.

Further, Facebook makes it clear that the using the P2P service is done at a user’s discretion.

“P2P use is at your sole risk and we assume no responsibility for the underlying transaction of funds, or the actions or identity of any transfer recipient or sender,” the terms states.

Square Cash, on the other hand, does not prohibit the services use for commercial or business purposes, so for someone looking to make both business and private transactions, this service may be a better fit.

The service’s terms note that users agree not to send or accept payments in connection with a litany of specific businesses or business activities, inkling illegal activity or goods; direct marketing or subscription offers or services; infomercial sales; rebate based businesses; manual or automated cash disbursements; prepaid cards; and other products.

Still, the company says that it “may block or reverse payments” at its sole discretion, so keep in mind that using P2P services are different than simply using a bank or a credit card.

You will be dependent on the service to help when something goes wrong, and depending on their terms and conditions, the outcome may or may not be in your favor.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

MFCL8900CDW and MFC-L9570CDW - connect to a mobile device

Learn how to connect your Brother MFC-L8900CDW or MFC-L9570CDW color laser printer to a cellular phone, tablet, or other mobile device using Wi-Fi Direct in this tutorial. Models covered: MFCL8610CDW MFCL9570CDW This video covers both Android and iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, and Samsung Galaxy. For more videos, tutorials, and FAQs visit our support site at: http://ift.tt/KVp7Rt Quick Links / Table of Contents: Models Covered 00:09 Download iPrint& Scan 00:27 Activate Wi-Fi Direct on printer 00:39 Select connection on mobile device 01:03 Enter password 1:12 Transcript: Welcome. Today we are going to learn how to connect your MFC-L89000CDW color laser printer to a mobile device using Wi-Fi direct. This video will cover multiple models. Even though your machine may not match the model referred to on the screen the overall process will be the same. (Covers MFC-L9570CDW set up too.) Wi-Fi Direct is a secure wireless interface that allows you to connect your Brother machine to a mobile device without using a router. After the connection process is finished, you will need to go to either the App Store or Play Store and download the Brother iPrint&Scan application in order to print from your mobile device. To begin press the “All Settings” icon on the touch screen. Then press “Network.” Now press Wi-Fi Direct. And select the “Manual” option. The network name and password for the direct connection will display for two minutes. On your mobile device, check for available connections. Select the network displayed on your Brother machine. When prompted, enter the network password displayed on your Brother machine into your phone. You are now connected with Wireless Direct Customers also searched: Brother MFC L8900CDW connect mobile Brother MFC L9570CDW connect mobile
by Brother Office via Endless Supplies .De - Brands

Radeonâ„¢ Software: How-To Clean Install

In this video you will learn how to Clean Install your Radeon™ Software. *** Subscribe: http://bit.ly/Subscribe_to_AMD Like us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Facebook Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/AMD_On_Twitter Follow us on Twitch: http://Twitch.tv/AMD Follow us on G+: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_GooglePlus Follow us on Linkedin: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Linkedin Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Instagram ©2017 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD Arrow Logo, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
by AMD via Endless Supplies .De - Brands

Update Your iOS Device Right Now

The newest version of iOS patches critical flaws that could allow an attacker to take over your iPhone or iPad. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm Add us on Snapchat: http://cnet.co/2h4uoK3
by CNET via Endless Supplies .De - Brands

DOJ Shuts Down Online ‘Dark Market’ Peddling Opioids, Guns, & Hacking Tools

The world of criminal marketplaces selling deadly drugs, counterfeit products, malware, and weapons just got a bit smaller: The Department of Justice says it’s shut down AlphaBay, what it calls the largest online “dark market.”

According to feds, AlphaBay had been running for more than two years on the dark web, with one staff member claiming that it serviced more than 200,000 users and 40,000 vendors. Transactions were made with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Monero, and Ethereum to avoid detection.

A Dangerous Business

At takedown time, AlphaBay was selling a panoply of illegal items ranging from heroin and fentanyl to fake IDs: It had more than 250,000 listings for illegal drugs and toxic chemicals and over 100,000 listings for stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit goods, malware and other computer hacking tools, firearms, and fraudulent services.

Officials say that the investigation into AlphaBay found that multiple overdose deaths across the country were attributed to purchases of dangerous opioids on the site.

In February, prosecutors in South Carolina filed a complaint against two people accused of selling a synthetic opioid they’d alleged purchased on AlphaBay — called U-47700 — that was linked to an overdose death in that state.

Another complaint filed in Florida that month claimed that a fentanyl overdose death in Orange County was linked to a drug purchased on AlphaBay.

Largest Dark Web Takedown Ever?

AlphaBay’s takedown was led by the U.S. and involved cooperation by law enforcement around the world : Thailand, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France all pitched in, as well as the European law enforcement agency Europol.

On July 5, a Canadian citizen residing in Thailand was arrested by Thai authorities on behalf of the U.S. for his role as the alleged creator and administrator of AlphaBay. One week later, he reportedly took his own life while in custody. Shortly after, federal officials filed a civil forfeiture complaint against him and his wife’s assets scattered around the world, including luxury vehicles, residences, and a hotel in Thailand, as well as millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.

The DOJ says that although AlphaBay was only around for a few years, it was the largest online dark marketplace yet. For example, the previous title holder — Silk Road marketplace — had reportedly about 14,000 listings for illicit goods and services at the time it was shut down by law enforcement in Nov. 2013.

“This is likely one of the most important criminal investigations of the year – taking down the largest dark net marketplace in history,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Make no mistake, the forces of law and justice face a new challenge from the criminals and transnational criminal organizations who think they can commit their crimes with impunity using the dark net.”

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Chipotle Customer Tested Positive For Norovirus

The day after a Virginia Chipotle reopened following a temporarily closure for sanitization after more than a dozen patrons reported becoming ill after eating at the restaurant, one customer has tested positive for norovirus.

Reuters reports that health officials in Virginia confirmed Thursday that at least one of the people who reported becoming ill after dining at the Sterling restaurant has norovirus.

A Loudoun County Public Health Department officials say that stool sample tests from the customer — who dined at the restaurant late last week — returned positive for norovirus, confirming Chipotle’s previous assertion that the virus was responsible for the illnesses.

Norovirus differs from contaminations like E.coli and salmonella, as it doesn’t originate in food.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, 70% of outbreaks originate when a sick person serves food. The virus can also spread to people who happen to be in a room where someone with the virus vomits.

Temporary Closure

The Sterling restaurant reopened Wednesday, nearly two days after it closed amid reports that diners had become ill.

Eight reports on the site iwaspoisoned.com indicated 13 customers fell sick after eating at the restaurant between July 14 and July 15.

In all, customers reported “vomiting violently” and “violent stomach cramps” for several days after eating at the restaurant. At least one person made two trips to the hospital.

Chipotle executives said that cleaning crews thoroughly sanitized all surfaces in the restaurant prior to the reopening.

“The safety and well-being of our customers is always our top priority,” Steve Ells, Chipotle CEO, said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that anyone became ill after visiting our restaurant, and when we learned of this issue, we took aggressive action to correct the problem and protect our customers.”

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist