FILE: June 21, 2012: GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak in Orlando, Fla.AP
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is defended
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s handle of the so-called “bridge
scandal” and doesn’t think the controversy will hurt his presidential
chances.
“I think Chris has handling this in a very effective way,” Romney told The Washington Post.
Romney argued Christie took swift and decisive action upon learning a
member of his administration did something he found reprehensible.
“He faced the American people for two hours, took their questions,”
Romney told the paper. “He dismissed people who were responsible. He
took personal responsibility. That’s what a leader does.”
Recently released emails and text messages show Christie aides and
political associates orchestrated a massive traffic jam in Fort Lee,
N.J., near the George Washington Bridge, as an apparent act of political
retribution. That city’s Democratic mayor did not endorse Christie in
his successful re-election effort last year.
Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, also praised what he
thinks was clear transparency in government, saying Americans “are
pining for leaders who will take responsibility.”
He said he doesn’t think Christie will be hurt by the controversy and that he’ll be “seen as a stronger leader” as time passes.
Romney has said recently he doesn't think his 2012 presidential bid
was hurt by Christie embracing President Obama during Hurricane Sandy in
the final days of the campaign, despite fellow Republicans still saying
otherwise.
Romney also told the news paper that strong, potential 2016
Republican presidential candidates include Rep. Paul Ryan, Wis., former
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio, Fla., Wisconsin Gov. Scott
Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Maybe. But connected to what? And how? Here's what you need to know about the "Internet of Things" phenomenon.
There will be no 'Internet of Things'
The label "Internet of Things" is used to describe Internet-connected devices that communicate without human involvement.
For example, as you read this article, you're using the regular
Internet. You're a human being who is communicating with another human
being (Yours Truly), and this communication is facilitated by many other
human beings (editors, web designers, engineers, etc.). Like Soylent
Green, the Internet is made out of people -- and computers whose main
purpose is to help people use the Internet.
The "Internet of Things" is different mainly in that it's not made out of people.
Let's imagine a scenario 10 years into the future when the "Internet
of Things" is supposed to be established. You come home with a
hypothetical "smart toaster," which connects to the Internet. You plug
it into a kitchen outlet. The toaster boots up, finds the home Wi-Fi
network and sends out a query to all the other smart devices registered
to you. Your alarm clock, smart toothbrush, TV, smartphones, tablets,
PCs, smart glasses, smart smoke detector, home automation base station,
smart clothes, smart fridge, smart washer and dryer and smart kitty
litter box each in turn introduces itself to the toaster, telling its
unique identifiers and what they're capable of doing. The toaster
responds in kind. In the future, the toaster can send and receive
instructions from other devices.
For example, you have friends over for breakfast and make several
slices of toast. There's a lot of heat and a little smoke, and your
smart smoke detector suspects a fire. So it sends out a message to the
other devices saying, in effect, "is anyone creating heat and smoke?"
The toaster can respond the equivalent of: "Yeah, it's me. No fire here
and nothing to be alarmed about." So the smoke alarm doesn't sound.
"Things" are connecting to each other and interoperating without
human involvement. That's one consumery example of the "Internet of
Things." (There will be industrial and other applications on a massive
scale.)
The "Internet of Things" is a bad name because "things" don't have
their own Internet. They use the regular Internet. There is no separate
"Internet of Things."
"Things of the Internet" would be closer. And "things that interact
with other things without human involvement" would be even more
accurate.
Another reason why the "Internet of Things" is a bad name is that the
devices can make these connections without using the Internet. Some can
connect peer-to-peer, or over a local network, without going online.
The ability to connect to the Internet is not a necessary criterion for
inclusion in the "Internet of Things" category.
Oh, and one more (fatal) problem
There's one more problem with the label "Internet of Things" -- it
implies Internet-like compatibility and universality of communication
standards that may never happen.
The basic standards for the Internet were developed before there were
powerful companies with a vested interest in excluding competitors from
markets. By the time the big Internet companies were rich enough to
throw billions of dollars around to get their way, the standards, such
as TCP/IP and others that make the Internet universal, were already well
established.
This is not the case for the Internet of Things. The phenomenon is
arising in an industrial environment of powerful companies that each
want an unlevel playing field in their favor, or that have strong and
mutually exclusive ideas about how the industry should work.
Former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée calls it the "basket of remotes" problem.
Security firm IntelCrawler said
Friday that it has identified a Russian teenager as the author of the
malware probably used in the cyberattacks against Target and Neiman
Marcus, and that it expects more retailers to acknowledge that their
systems were breached.
In a report posted online,
the Sherman Oaks, Calif., company said the author of the malware used
in the attacks has sold more than 60 versions of the software to
cybercriminals in Eastern Europe and other countries.
Majorly, objects moving through water are smooth. But as a research, a
study carried out by a group of researchers from UCLA, bumpiness can be
better in certain cases.
Prof. John Kim from the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at UCLA said that some rough surfaces are able to reduce skin-friction drag. Before, conducting the study, they used to believe contrary to the same.
In their study, fluid movement was monitored between two surfaces
coated with small ridge. The study researchers found very astonishing
results that the rough surface was able to reduce drag in bumpy
conditions generated by the frictions of moving water.
Studies have been taken on the topic earlier as well, but not much
success has been achieved. In the current study, the study researchers
have modeled a superhydrophobic surface. The surface was coated with
ridges and was positioned in the direction of water flow.
Laminar and turbulent flows, bother were modeled. To their surprise,
the drag reduction was found to be greater in turbulent conditions. The
revelation of the same has been published in the American Institute of
Physics.
Prof. Kim said about properly-designed rough surfaces, "It could lead to significant energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions".
Warner Bros has pushed back the release date of
the as yet untitled film that will bring together superheroes Superman
and Batman, delaying it by almost a year to May 2016, the studio has
confirmed.
Ina statement, it said this was to "allow the filmmakers time to
realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the
story.”
The sequel to last year's hit Superman film Man of Steel
was revealed at the Comic-Con convention in July by director Zack
Snyder, who said the two DC Comics' caped crusaders will face off
against each other.
Replacing the Man of Steel sequel slot of 17 July, 2015 will be a still untitled production of Peter Pan, directed by Atonement's Joe Wright.
"We
are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are
perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases," said Dan Fellman,
president of domestic distribution. Many comic bookfans were dismayed by the announcement that Ben Affleck would play Batman
In August last year, Warner Bros President Greg Silverman confirmed Ben Affleck would play Batman in a decision that proved controversial among fans of the DC Comic hero.
Affleck, 41, who won multiple awards as the director of Iran hostage crisis film Argo earlier in 2013, will appear alongside British actor Henry Cavill, star of Superman reboot Man Of Steel.
Snyder said in a statement that Affleck will provide an “interesting counter-balance” to Cavill’s Superman.
“He
has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is
older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime
fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce
Wayne,” Snyder said. “I can't wait to work with him."
A suicide
bomber and two gunmen stormed a popular eatery in Afghanistan where
foreign diplomats and wealthy Afghans congregate. The U.S. Embassy
confirmed two American citizens were killed.
La Taverna du Liban, a popular Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, was
targeted by a suicide bomber and two gunmen — killing two Americans and
at least 19 others.
KABUL, Afghanistan — The death toll from a Taliban attack on a Kabul
restaurant popular with foreigners and affluent Afghans has risen to 21
people, officials said Saturday, in the deadliest violence against
foreign civilians in the country since the start of the war nearly 13
years ago.
Kabul police chief Gen. Mohammad Zahir Zahir said the victims included
13 foreigners and eight Afghans and said the majority were civilians.
The U.S. Embassy said that at least two private U.S. citizens were among
the victims but provided no other details.
The dead at the La Taverna du Liban restaurant included the head of the
International Monetary Fund in Afghanistan, three United Nations staff
and a member of the European Police Mission in Afghanistan. The UN had
initially reported four dead, but had counted the IMF representative.
Zahir and international officials said the dead included two Britons,
two Canadians, a Dane, a Russian, two Lebanese, a Somali-American and a
Pakistani. At least four people were wounded and about eight Afghans,
mostly the kitchen staff, survived.
Reuters
Afghan policemen help an injured man at the site of a restaurant attack in Kabul.
RELATED: U.S. SURVEILLANCE PLANE CRASH KILLS 3
Five women, four foreign and one Afghan, were also among the dead, Zahir said.
The three attackers, including a suicide bomber and two gunmen, were
also killed during Friday night’s assault on the Lebanese restaurant.
The dead included the head of the IMF in Afghanistan, Wabel Abdallah, a
60-year-old Lebanese national; a Danish European Policewoman and her
British bodyguard, while the U.N. in Kabul said its three staff members
included a Pakistani, a Russian and a Somali-American. The restaurant’s
Lebanese owner, Kamal Hamade, was also killed.
Rahmat Gul/AP
Afghan security forces investigate the aftermath of Friday's suicide attack and shooting in Kabul around dinnertime Friday.
The attack was condemned by the U.N. Security Council, NATO and the European Union.
“I strongly condemn this attack on random civilians and my thoughts and
deepest sympathy goes to the next of kin,” Danish Prime Minister Helle
Thorning-Schmidt said in a statement.
The Danish Foreign Ministry declined to release details about the
victim as customary but Denmark’s TV2 said she was a 34-year-old woman.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Afghan police arrive at the
scene of a suicide bomber and gun attack in Kabul on Friday. At least 16
people were killed at a Lebanese eatery frequented by foreigners and
Afghans.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms this appalling and
unjustifiable violence. The perpetrators must be brought to justice,” EU
High Representative Catherine Ashton said Saturday.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office has not yet condemned the attack. RELATED: GRUESOME PHOTOS SHOW MARINES TORCHING DEAD IRAQI INSURGENTS
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in
reprisal for an Afghan military operation earlier in the week against
insurgents in eastern Parwan province, which the insurgents claimed
killed many civilians. The Taliban frequently provide exaggerated
casualty figures.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Afghan police keep back
traffic near a restaurant popular with Afghans and foreign diplomats
that was attacked by gunmen and a suicide bomber on Friday night. At
least 16 people died.
“The target of the attack was a restaurant frequented by high ranking
foreigners,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an emailed
statement. He said the attack targeted a place “where the invaders used
to dine with booze and liquor in the plenty.”
He described the “revenge attack” as having delivered a “heavy admonitory blow to the enemy which they shall never forget.”
During the operation last Wednesday in eastern Parwan province, Afghan
officials said that Taliban fighters opened fire on an Afghan commando
unit trying to capture an insurgent leader in his home. After opening
fire on the Afghan soldiers, killing one of their American advisers, the
team called the U.S.-led coalition for air support. RELATED: PRESIDENT OBAMA LOST FAITH IN AFGHAN MISSION: GATES
The governor of Parwan, Abdul Basir Salangi, said a Taliban leader,
three of his family members and five civilians in a neighboring home,
from which insurgents were also firing on the Afghan commandos, died in
the ensuing combat. He added that seven Taliban fighters were also
killed.
Insurgents have frequently targeted foreign interests around the country and in Kabul.
The deadliest previous attack against foreign civilians was in Sept. 8,
2012, when nine civilian employees of a private aviation company were
killed in a suicide attack happened near Kabul airport. They included
eight South Africans and a Kyrgyz.
The Taliban have stepped up a campaign of violence in recent months
after foreign forces handed over control of security for the country to
the Afghan army and police ahead of their full withdrawal by the end of
2014.
(CNN) The Vatican acknowledged on Friday that
close to 400 priests left the priesthood in 2011 and 2012 because of
accusations that they had sexually abused children.
That acknowledgment followed a report by the Associated Press that
nearly 400 priests had been defrocked during those two years. The
Vatican initially disputed that report.
Bishop Charles Scicluna, formerly the Vatican's top prosecutor of
sexually abusive clergy, said 384 priests left the priesthood – either
voluntarily or not - in 2011 and 2012, the last two years of Pope
Benedict XVI's papacy.
In 2011, 125 priests were dismissed from ministry by the Vatican
because of accusations they had sexually abused children, Scicluna told
CNN on Friday, citing the "Activity of the Holy See," a kind of Vatican
yearbook. The same year, 135 priests were "dispensed," meaning they
voluntarily resigned, Scicluna said.
In 2012, 57 priests were removed from the priesthood and 67 resigned,
Scicluna said. Scicluna, who is now an auxiliary bishop in Malta, was
the Vatican's top prosecutor of sexually abusive clergy for a decade.
Scicluna said he did not know why the number of defrocked priests
spiked in 2011. "2011 was exceptionally high for dismissals," he said.
"We don't really know why."
The AP reported on Friday that nearly 400 priests had been defrocked
in 2011 and 2012, citing a document the Vatican prepared to defend its
record on sexual abuse before a United Nations committee this week in
Geneva.
The Vatican had rebutted that report, a denial previously reported by
CNN. However, later on Friday, Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi
told CNN the AP report was correct.
Majorly, objects moving through water are smooth. But as a research, a
study carried out by a group of researchers from UCLA, bumpiness can be
better in certain cases.
Many comic bookfans were dismayed by the announcement that Ben Affleck would play Batman
KABUL, Afghanistan — The death toll from a Taliban attack on a Kabul
restaurant popular with foreigners and affluent Afghans has risen to 21
people, officials said Saturday, in the deadliest violence against
foreign civilians in the country since the start of the war nearly 13
years ago.
