‘Sweden is heaven for cloud computing’: Amazon Nordic chief – The … – The Local Sweden

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Darren Mowry of Amazon Web Services. Photo: AWS

The head of Nordic operations for Amazon Web Services (AWS) has spelled out exactly why the US cloud computing giant chose to locate three state-of-the-art data centers in Sweden.

In April, it emerged that AWS planned to open a new infrastructure region for its cloud computing services in the Stockholm region in 2018.

Swedens enterprise and innovation minister Mikael Damberg hailed the deal as huge for Sweden.

They could do that wherever in the world, but chose to do it here," he added.

Now the man responsible for expanding AWSs cloud services operations in Sweden, American Darren Mowry, has disclosed the reasoning behind his companys decision to invest in Sweden.

Sweden truly does have it all, Mowry writes in a blog post published on the Data Centers by Sweden website.

But theres more to it than that.

Read his full explanation behind the AWS investment here.

This article was produced byThe Local Client Studioand sponsored by Data Centers by Sweden.

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'Sweden is heaven for cloud computing': Amazon Nordic chief - The ... - The Local Sweden

A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures – IEEE Spectrum

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Machine learning, the field of AI that allows Alexa and Siri to parse what you say and self-driving cars to safely drive down a city street, could benefit from quantum computer-derived speedups, say researchers. And if a technology incubator program in Toronto, Canada has its way, there may even bequantum machine learningstartup companies launching in a few years too.

Research in this hybrid field today concentrates on either using nascent quantum computers to speed up machine learning algorithms or, using conventional machine learning systems, to increase the power, durability, or effectiveness of quantum computer systems. An ultimate goal in the field is to do both use smaller quantum-computer-based machine learning systems to better improve, understand, or interpret large datasets of quantum information or the results of large-scale quantum computer calculations. This last goal will of course have to wait till large-scale quantum information storage and full-fledged quantum computers come online. Google has said they want to make a 49-qubit quantum computer by years end, so a machine thats the hundreds or thousands of qubits that might benefit from such secondary quantum technologies may still take years.

However, says Peter Wittek, research fellow at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Castelldefels, Spain, researchers havent waited for super-duper quantum computers to begin experimenting and theorizing about the future of the field. Quantum machine learning, even in its earliest incarnations, still holds promise.

To build universal quantum computers is a big engineering challenge, says Wittek, whos also academic director at theCreative Destruction Labstartup incubator affiliated with the University of Torontos Rotman School of Management. But it turns out for quantum machine learning you need something less. Just like quantum cryptography and quantum random number generation have matured as technologies in the absence of big quantum computers, he says, so too might quantum machine learning find niches to expand into in the near term.

Wittek, author of the 2014 bookQuantum Machine Learning: What Quantum Computing Means to Data Mining, says the field took off after a 2008 quantumalgorithmcalled HHL (after its three creators Aram Harrow, Avinathan Hassidim, and Seth Lloyd). HHL solves vast linear algebra problems involving many degrees of freedom, potentially faster than could be solved on any traditional supercomputer. And since no small part of machine learning involves just these sorts of high-degree-of-freedom (high-dimension) algebra problems, some machine learning researchers have jumped on the HHL bandwagon. HHL-based quantum machine learning algorithms have proliferated in the technical literature over the past few years.

Yet, Wittek says, for all its brilliance, HHL may not even represent the most promising set of near-term applications which he speculates could instead be found in fields like finance, transportation, or medicine.

That said, he adds, most traditional, GPU-based machine learning applications will not be knocked off their perch by a quantum system, even if Google, IBM, or another research lab can one day build a practicable quantum computer. Conventional machine learning is plenty game-changing as it is in most applications.

However, Wittek says, standard machine learning algorithms have a hard time generating purely random numbers. Monte Carlo machine learning algorithms, often used in financial applications, require purely random numbers for optimal results. But often pseudo-random numbers are the best a classical computer can generate. Quantum systems, by contrast, practically define pure randomness. So a quantum machine learning could have a foothold here.

And, says Nathan Wiebe, researcher at Microsofts Quantum Architectures and Computation Group in Redmond, Wash., quantum machine learning systems will work especially well when the input is not the 0s and 1s of classical data but rather the qubits of the quantum computer.

If you think about a quantum computer, how do you understand whats going on inside one? Wiebe says. The vectors that describe it exist in an incomprehensibly large space. Theres no way you can go through, read off every single entry of those vectors and figure out if the machine is working properly.

According to Scott Aaronson, professor of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin, HHL has led to more hype than actual near-term hope in the field. As Aaronson argues in a skeptical 2015review of quantum machine learningresearch, the words caveat emptor should be tagged to any promise of quantum machine learning-powered breakthroughs.

Almost all the quantum machine learning algorithms that have been published over the last decade are really frameworks for algorithms, Aaronson says. Theyre algorithms that dont start with the classical problem that you would like to be solved and the answer to that problem.

Still, says Wittek, despite the technical objections, the number of applicants to this years quantum machine learningbootcamp and startup acceleratorin Toronto exceeded expectations. The final round of applications will close on 24 July, and as of mid-June they had already received 38 applications for the 40 available spots. Clearly something has inspired entrepreneurs to try their hand turning bold ideas into, possibly, working quantum machine learning technology.

Incorporation must be done by November, so these will be real companies, Wittek says. And the hope is by next summer well have companies raising money.

As Einstein once objected about quantum physics, God may not play dice. But angel investors, these future companies can only hope, do.

This post was updated at 9:30 a.m. on 13 June.

IEEE Spectrums general technology blog, featuring news, analysis, and opinions about engineering, consumer electronics, and technology and society, from the editorial staff and freelance contributors.

Sign up for the Tech Alert newsletter and receive ground-breaking technology and science news from IEEE Spectrum every Thursday.

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A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures - IEEE Spectrum

Quantum Computing Technologies markets will reach $10.7 billion by 2024 – PR Newswire (press release)

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Eighteen of the world's biggest corporations (see image above) and dozens of government agencies are working on Quantum Computing or partnering with startups like D-Wave.

Near-term expectations for quantum computing range from solving optimization problems, quantum-encrypted communications, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing & logistics and smart retail, through quantum computing in the cloud and molecular structure research.

Smaller quantum computers will make other contributions to industry (energy, logistics etc.), defense and national security intelligence, as well as other markets spanning from drug design to finance.

Even simple quantum computers can tackle classes of problems that choke conventional machines, such as optimizing trading strategies or pulling promising drug candidates from scientific literature.

The fierce competition at the national industrial and academic level is leading to a race for quantum supremacy.

The competitors are all worthy of respect, especially because they are striving for supremacy not just over each other, but over a problem so big and so complex, that anybody's success is everybody's success.

2024 Market* $10.7 Billion. 2 Volume Report.

We are in the midst of a "Quantum Computing Supremacy Race" one that will result in groundbreaking computing power, enabling disruptive new quantum computing technologies that have the potential to change long-held dynamics in commerce, intelligence, military affairs and strategic balance of power. If you have been paying attention to the news on quantum computing and the evolution of industrial and national efforts towards realizing a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer, that can tackle problems, unmanageable to current supercomputing capabilities, then you know that something big is stirring throughout the quantum world.

In a way that was unheard of five years ago, quantum physicists are now partnering with corporate tech giants, to develop quantum computing capabilities and technologies as the foundation of a second information age.

Eighteen of the world's biggest corporations (see image above) and dozens of government agencies are working on Quantum Computing or partnering with startups like D-Wave. Near-term expectations for quantum computing range from solving optimization problems, quantum-encrypted communications, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing & logistics and smart retail, through quantum computing in the cloud and molecular structure research.

Smaller quantum computers will make other contributions to industry (energy, logistics etc.), defense and national security intelligence, as well as other markets spanning from drug design to finance.

Even simple quantum computers can tackle classes of problems that choke conventional machines, such as optimizing trading strategies or pulling promising drug candidates from scientific literature.

The fierce competition at the national industrial and academic level is leading to a race for quantum supremacy. The competitors are all worthy of respect, especially because they are striving for supremacy not just over each other, but over a problem so big and so complex, that anybody's success is everybody's success.

According to the report, "Quantum Computing Technologies & Global Market 2017-2024", the global Quantum Computing market* will reach $10.7 billion by 2024, out of which $8.45 billion stemming from product sales and services and $2.25 billion from Gov. RDT&E programs and funding.

The 2-volume 520-page landmark report is the only comprehensive review of the global quantum computing market available today. This report is a valuable resource for executives with interests in the market. It has been explicitly customized for ICT industry, investors and government decision-makers to enable them to identify business opportunities, emerging applications, market trends and risks, as well as to benchmark business plans.

The report provides an updated extensive data of the leading 52 Quantum Computing vendors: - 1Qbit - Agilent Technologies - Aifotec AG - Airbus Group - Alcatel-Lucent - Alibaba Group Holding Limited - Anyon Systems, Inc - Artiste-qb.net - Avago Technologies - Booz Allen Hamilton - British Telecommunications (BT) - Cambridge Quantum Computing - Ciena Corporation - Cyoptics - D-Wave Systems Inc - Eagle Power Technologies, Inc - Nano-Meta Technologies - Emcore Corporation - Enablence Technologies - Fathom Computing - Finisar Corporation - Fuijitsu Limited - Google Quantum AI Lab - H-Bar Quantum Consultants - Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company - IBM - ID Quantique Infinera Corporation - Intel Corporation - IonQ - JDS Uniphase Corporation - Kaiam Corporation - Lockheed Martin Corp. - MagiQ Technologies, Inc. - Microsoft Quantum Architectures and - Computation Group (QuArC) - Mitsubishi Electric Corp. - NEC - Nokia Bell Labs - NTT Basic Research Laboratories and - NTT Secure Platform Laboratories - Optalysys Ltd. - Post-Quantum - QbitLogic - QC Ware Corp. - Quantum Hardware Inc - Qubitekk - QxBranch - Quintessence Labs - Raytheon BBN - Rigetti Computing - SK Telecom - Sparrow Quantum - Toshiba

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04838492/Quantum-Computing-Technologies-Global-Market-.html

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-computing-technologies-markets-will-reach-107-billion-by-2024-300474271.html

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Quantum Computing Technologies markets will reach $10.7 billion by 2024 - PR Newswire (press release)

The US and China "Quantum Computing Arms Race" Will Change Long-Held Dynamics in Commerce, Intelligence … – PR Newswire (press release)

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According to the 2-volume, 529-page, 242 figures & tables landmark report, this race is projected to propel the Quantum Computing Market size to $10.7 billion by 2024, out of which $8.45 billion stemming from product sales and services and $2.25 billion from government-funded Quantum Computers, Quantum Computation, Quantum Information, Quantum Processor, Quantum Software and Quantum Cryptography R&D programs.

If you have been paying attention to the news on the quantum computing industry and the evolution of national efforts towards realizing a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer that can tackle problems unmanageable to current supercomputing capabilities, then you know that something big is stirring throughout the world.

In a way that was unheard of five years ago, quantum physicists are now partnering with corporate tech giants, to develop quantum computing as the foundation of a second information age. Eighteen of the world's largest corporations (e.g., Lockheed Martin, IBM, Google, NEC, HP, Toshiba, Intel, Mitsubishi, Alibaba, Microsoft, SK telecom, BAH, KPN, Airbus, Raytheon, NTT, Fujitsu, and BT) and dozens of government agencies are working on quantum computing or partnering with startups such as D-Wave.

Near-term expectations for quantum computing range from solving optimization problems, big data analytics and artificial intelligence through quantum computing services in the cloud.

Explore more HSRC reports at: http://www.homelandsecurityresearch.com.

About Homeland Security Research Corp. (HSRC)HSRC is an international market and technology research firm. HSRC provides premium off-the-shelf and customized market reports on present and emerging technologies and industry expertise, enabling global clients to gain time-critical insight into business opportunities. HSRC's clients include over 750 Forbes Global 2000 private sector clients (72% repeat customers), the U.S. Congress, DOD and NATO, among others. HSRC earned the reputation as the Gold Standard for present and emerging technologies market reports.

Washington D.C. 20004, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 900,Tel: 202-455-0966, info@hsrc.biz, http://www.homelandsecurityresearch.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-us-and-china-quantum-computing-arms-race-will-change-long-held-dynamics-in-commerce-intelligence-military-affairs-and-strategic-balance-of-power-300473881.html

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The US and China "Quantum Computing Arms Race" Will Change Long-Held Dynamics in Commerce, Intelligence ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to … – HIT Consultant

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Thought you might find this interesting

Accenture and Biogenhave developeda first-of-a-kind quantum-enabled molecular comparison app designed to speed up drug discovery for complex neurological conditions such as MS, Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Lou Gehrigs disease. Researchers atAccenture Labscollaborated with 1QBit to create the new application which enhances Biogens existing molecule comparison method with quantum capabilities.

Molecular comparison is a crucial part of early-phase drug design and discovery, and involves intensive computational methods to review molecule matches and predict the positive effects of a therapy or drug while reducing negative side effects. Quantum computing is a computing paradigm that has the potential to find the answer to complex business problems millions of times faster than classical computing by leveraging the properties of quantum physics

By leveraging quantum computing technology from quantum software provider1QBit,the Accenture and Biogens appprovides new insight into the molecular comparison process, as well as much deeper contextual information about how, where and why molecules match. This is expected to enable scientists and researchers to analyze large collections of molecules more quickly and cost effectively.

The Alzheimers Association estimates that there are more than 5 million Americans living with the condition; by 2050, the number could rise to 16 million. Alzheimers is just one example of a condition that has staggering financial implications for the US healthcare system and families.This apphas the potential toenable scientists and researchers to analyze large collections of molecules more quickly and cost effectively, which can have a positive impact on finding treatments and cures.

In just over two months, Accenture Labs, Biogen and 1QBit progressed from an exploratory conversation about quantum business experimentation to an enterprise-ready, quantum-enabled application that generates molecular comparison results with deeper insights about shared traits. As quantum computers become more readily available, it will become easier for pharmaceutical companies to identify and develop new medicines for a wide range of diseases and conditions, saidJeff Elton, Ph.D., managing director, Accenture Strategy, Life Sciences.

Accenture Labs is focused on helping clients across multiple industries prepare for the arrival of mainstream quantum computing, which offers great potential to solve challenges in entirely new ways through quantum-enabled optimization, sampling, and machine learning algorithms, said Marc Carrel-Billiard, senior managing director, Accenture Labs. Through our collaboration with Biogen, 1QBit and our colleagues in the AccentureLife Sciences industry group, we have achieved a breakthrough that confirms the speed and accuracy of the quantum-enabled method for molecular comparison and takes another significant step toward improving the pharmaceutical industrys drug discovery and design process to help deliver better patient and economic outcomes more efficiently.

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Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to ... - HIT Consultant

Quantum Physics News – Phys.org – News and Articles on …

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Quantum Physics News - Phys.org - News and Articles on ...

Quantum Computing Might Be Here Sooner Than You Think … – Bloomberg

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Its a sunny Tuesdaymorning in late March at IBMs Thomas J. Watson Research Center. The corridor from the reception area follows the long, curving glass curtain-wall that looks out over the visitors parking lot to leafless trees covering a distant hill in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., an hour north of Manhattan. Walk past the podium from the Jeopardy! episodes at which IBMs Watson smote the human champion of the TV quiz show, turn right into a hallway, and youll enter a windowless lab where a quantum computer is chirping away.

Actually, chirp isnt quite the right word. Its a somewhat metallic sound, chush chush chush, thats made by the equipment that lowers the temperature inside a so-called dilution refrigerator to within hailing distance of absolute zero. Encapsulated in a white canister suspended from a frame, the dilution refrigerator cools a superconducting chip studded with a handful of quantum bits, or qubits.

When it's running, this dilution refrigerator at IBMs Thomas J. Watson Research Center is one of the coldest places in the universe. To cool superconducting bits on a quantum computer processor, it gets down to 15 millikelvin (-459F)colder than outer space.

Photographer: Christopher Payne for Bloomberg Markets

Quantum computing has been around, in theory if not in practice, for several decades. But these new types of machines, designed to harness quantum mechanics and potentially process unimaginable amounts of data, are certifiably a big deal. I would argue that a working quantum computer is perhaps the most sophisticated technology that humans have ever built, says Chad Rigetti, founder and chief executive officer of Rigetti Computing, a startup in Berkeley, Calif. Quantum computers, he says, harness nature at a level we became aware of only about 100 years agoone that isnt apparent to us in everyday life.

Whats more, the potential of quantum computing is enormous. Tapping into the weird way nature works could potentially speed up computing so some problems that are now intractable to classical computers could finally yield solutions. And maybe not just for chemistry and materials science. With practical breakthroughs in speed on the horizon, Wall Streets antennae are twitching.

The second investment that CME Group Inc.s venture arm ever made was in 1QB Information Technologies Inc., a quantum-computing software company in Vancouver. From the start at CME Ventures, weve been looking further ahead at transformational innovations and technologies that we think could have an impact on the financial-services industry in the future, says Rumi Morales, head of CME Ventures LLC.

That 1QBit financing round, in 2015, was led by Royal Bank of Scotland. Kevin Hanley, RBSs director of innovation, says quantum computing is likely to have the biggest impact on industries that are data-rich and time-sensitive. We think financial services is kind of in the cross hairs of that profile, he says.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is an investor in D-Wave Systems Inc., another quantum player, as is In-Q-Tel, the CIA-backed venture capital company, says Vern Brownell, CEO of D-Wave. The Burnaby, B.C.-based company makes machines that do something called quantum annealing. Quantum annealing is basically using the quantum computer to solve optimization problems at the lowest level, Brownell says. Weve taken a slightly different approach where were actually trying to engage with customers, make our computers more and more powerful, and provide this advantage to them in the form of a programmable, usable computer.

Marcos Lpez de Prado, a senior managing director at Guggenheim Partners LLC whos also a scientific adviser at 1QBit and a research fellow at the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, says its all about context. The reason quantum computing is so exciting is its perfect marriage with machine learning, he says. I would go as far as to say that currently this is the main application for quantum computing.

Photographer: Christopher Payne for Bloomberg Markets

Part of that simply derives from the idea of a quantum computer: harnessing a physical device to find an answer, Lpez de Prado says. He sometimes explains it by pointing to the video game Angry Birds. When you play it on your iPad, the central processing units use some mathematical equations that have been programmed into a library to simulate the effects of gravity and the interaction of objects bouncing and colliding. This is how digital computers work, he says.

By contrast, quantum computers turn that approach on its head, Lpez de Prado says. The paradigm for quantum computers is this: Lets throw some birds and see what happens. Encode into the quantum microchip this problem: These are your birds and where you throw them from, so whats the optimal trajectory? Then you let the computer check all possible solutions essentiallyor a very large combination of themand come back with an answer, he says. In a quantum computer, theres no mathematician cracking the problem, he says. The laws of physics crack the problem for you.

The fundamental building blocksof our world are quantum mechanical. If you look at a molecule, says Dario Gil, vice president for science and solutions at IBM Research, the reason molecules form and are stable is because of the interactions of these electron orbitals. Each calculation in thereeach orbitalis a quantum mechanical calculation. The number of those calculations, in turn, increases exponentially with the number of electrons youre trying to model. By the time you have 50 electrons, you have 2 to the 50th power calculations, Gil says. Thats a phenomenally large number, so we cant compute it today, he says. (For the record, its 1.125 quadrillion. So if you fired up your laptop and started cranking through several calculations a second, it would take a few million years to run through them all.) Connecting information theory to physics could provide a path to solving such problems, Gil says. A 50-qubit quantum computer might begin to be able to do it.

Landon Downs, president and co-founder of 1QBit, says its now becoming possible to unlock the computational power of the quantum world. This has huge implications for producing new materials or creating new drugs, because we can actually move from a paradigm of discovery to a new era of quantum design, he says in an email. Rigetti, whose company is building hybrid quantum-classical machines, says one moonshot use of quantum computing could be to model catalysts that remove carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphereand thereby help fix global warming. (Bloomberg Beta LP, a venture capital unit of Bloomberg LP, is an investor in Rigetti Computing.)

The quantum-computing community hums with activity and excitement these days. Teams around the worldat startups, corporations, universities, and government labsare racing to build machines using a welter of different approaches to process quantum information. Superconducting qubit chips too elementary for you? How about trapped ions, which have brought together researchers from the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology? Or maybe the topological approach that Microsoft Corp. is developing through an international effort called Station Q? The aim is to harness a particle called a non-abelian anyonwhich has not yet been definitively proven to exist.

These are early days, to be sure. As of late May, the number of quantum computers in the world that clearly, unequivocally do something faster or better than a classical computer remains zero, according to Scott Aaronson, a professor of computer science and director of the Quantum Information Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Such a signal event would establish quantum supremacy. In Aaronsons words: That we dont have yet.

Yet someone may accomplish the feat as soon as this year. Most insiders say one clear favorite is a group at Google Inc. led by John Martinis, a physics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. According to Martinis, the groups goal is to achieve supremacy with a 49-qubit chip. As of late May, he says, the team was testing a 22-qubit processor as an intermediate step toward a showdown with a classical supercomputer. We are optimistic about this, since prior chips have worked well, he said in an email.

The idea of usingquantum mechanics to process information dates back decades. One key event happened in 1981, when International Business Machines Corp. and MIT co-sponsored a conference on the physics of computation at the universitys Endicott House in Dedham, Mass. At the conference, Richard Feynman, the famed physicist, proposed building a quantum computer. Nature isnt classical, dammit, and if you want to make a simulation of nature, youd better make it quantum mechanical, he said in his talk. And by golly, its a wonderful problem, because it doesnt look so easy.

He got that part right. The basic idea is to take advantage of a couple of the weird properties of the atomic realm: superposition and entanglement. Superposition is the mind-bending observation that a particle can be in two states at the same time. Bring out your ruler to get a measurement, however, and the particle will collapse into one state or the other. And you wont know which until you try, except in terms of probabilities. This effect is what underlies Schrdingers cat, the thought-experiment animal thats both alive and dead in a box until you sneak a peek.

Sure, bending your brain around that one doesnt come especially easy; nothing in everyday life works that way, of course. Yet about 1 million experiments since the early 20th century show that superposition is a thing. And if superposition happens to be your thing, the next step is figuring out how to strap such a crazy concept into a harness.

An IBM quantum-computing processor mounted on a circuit board. The silicon chip in the center contains several quantum bits, or qubits.

Photographer: Christopher Payne for Bloomberg Markets

Enter qubits. Classical bits can be a 0 or a 1; run a string of them together through logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, etc.), and youll multiply numbers, draw an image, and whatnot. A qubit, by contrast, can be a 0, a 1, or both at the same time, says IBMs Gil.

Ready for entanglement? (Youre in good company if you balk; Albert Einstein famously rebelled against the idea, calling it spooky action at a distance.) Well, lets say two qubits were to get entangled; Gil says that would make them perfectly correlated. A quantum computer could then utilize a menagerie of distinctive logic gates. The so-called Hadamard gate, for example, puts a qubit into a state of perfect superposition. (There may be something called a square root of NOT gate, but lets take a pass on that one.) If you tap the superposition and entanglement in clever arrangements of the weird quantum gates, you start to get at the potential power of quantum computing.

If you have two qubits, you can explore four states: 00, 01, 10, and 11. (Note that thats 4: 2 raised to the power 2.) When I perform a logical operation on my quantum computer, I can operate on all of this at once, Gil says. And the number of states you can look at is 2 raised to the power of the number of qubits. So if you could make a 50-qubit universal quantum computer, you could in theory explore all of those 1.125 quadrillion statesat the same time.

What gives quantum computing its special advantage, says Aaronson, of the University of Texas, is that quantum mechanics is based on things called amplitudes. Amplitudes are sort of like probabilities, but they can also be negativein fact, they can also be complex numbers, he says. So if you want to know the probability that something will happen, you add up the amplitudes for all the different ways that it can happen, he says.

The idea with a quantum computation is that you try to choreograph a pattern of interference so that for each wrong answer to your problem, some paths leading there have positive amplitudes and some have negative amplitudes, so they cancel each other out, Aaronson says. Whereas the paths leading to the right answer all have amplitudes that are in phase with each other. The tricky part is that you have to arrange everything not knowing in advance which answer is the right one. So I would say its the exponentiality of quantum states combined with this potential for interference between positive and negative amplitudesthats really the source of the power of quantum computing, he says.

Cover artwork: Zachary Walsh

Did we mentionthat there are problems that a classical computer cant solve? You probably harness one such difficulty every day when you use encryption on the internet. The problem is that its not easy to find the prime factors of a large number. To review: The prime factors of 15 are 5 and 3. Thats easy. If the number youre trying to factor has, say, 200 digits, its very hard. Even with your laptop running an excellent algorithm, you might have to wait years to find the prime factors.

That brings us to another milestone in quantum computing: Shors algorithm. Published in 1994 by Peter Shor, now a math professor at MIT, the algorithm demonstrated an approach that you could use to find the factors of a big numberif you had a quantum computer, which didnt exist at the time. Essentially, Shors algorithm would perform some operations that would point to the regions of numbers in which the answer was most likely to be found.

The following year, Shor also discovered a way to perform quantum error correction. Then people really got the idea that, wow, this is a different way of computing things and is more powerful in certain test cases, says Robert Schoelkopf, director of the Yale Quantum Institute and Sterling professor of applied physics and physics. Then there was a big upswelling of interest from the physics community to figure out how you could make quantum bits and logic gates between quantum bits and all of those things.

Two decades later, those things are here.

Asmundsson is editor of Bloomberg Markets.

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Quantum Computing Might Be Here Sooner Than You Think ... - Bloomberg

Trump faces first big domestic moment – Politico

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President Donald Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Room of the White House about the shooting in Alexandria, Va., where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and others were shot during a congressional baseball practice. | AP Photo

All sides are closely watching his temperament in a time of crisis.

By Darren Samuelsohn

06/14/2017 11:28 AM EDT

Updated 06/14/2017 05:34 PM EDT

President Donald Trump's first domestic mega-moment has arrived, and his measured reaction to the unexpected tragedy is being praised by all sides as they gauge his temperament in a time of crisis.

Trump touched on all the key notes in the immediate hours after Wednesday's shooting at a congressional GOP baseball practice that sent five people to the hospital, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

Story Continued Below

His first remarks: A statement saying he and Vice President Mike Pence were deeply saddened by the shooting and a tweet calling Scalise a true friend and patriot.

Then, just before noon, the president embraced the role of sympathizer-in-chief, delivering a four-plus minute speech in the White House Diplomatic Room revealing Scalise and two Capitol Police officers were in stable condition and confirming the alleged gunman had died following the incident.

In other large-scale moments since arriving on the international stage, Trump sparked controversy by referring to hot-button policy points, attacking his critics and getting ahead of confirmed law enforcement reports. All that was gone in his nationally-televised remarks.

We may have our differences, but we do well, in times like these, to remember that everyone who serves in our nations capital is here because, above all, they love our country, Trump said near the end of his remarks.

We can all agree that we are blessed to be Americans, that our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace, and that we are strongest when we are unified and when we work together for the common good, the president added.

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Earlier this month, Trump sparked an international uproar when he touted his controversial travel ban following a terrorist attack in London and also mischaracterized the city mayors position reassuring the public in its aftermath. During the heat of the 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton criticized Trump after the Republican declared a bomb had detonated in New York before the local authorities had made that announcement.

Trump also drew criticism last June when he issued a seven-paragraph statement in response to the mass shooting at a night club in Orlando, criticizing President Barack Obama for not saying the words radical Islam during the shooting and urging him to step down from office because of the omission.

A White House official said while prepping for Wednesday's speech, Trump was cognizant of the importance of his demeanor. "He wanted to hit the right tone. Moments like this give the president an opportunity to rise above politics and strike a certain chord that captures the sentiment of the nation, that's unifying and that's what he wanted to do."

Trump's softer and more tactful approach earned him praise from an unlikely source: Democrats.

It's looks like Trump and his team took this shooting seriously and acted accordingly. His statement was measured and respectful and hit all the right notes when he issued a call for unity, said Jim Manley, a longtime Democratic spokesman who worked for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Added a former senior Obama White House aide: I think he sufficiently played the part.

Republicans also applauded Trump for his immediate response.

I think he set the right tone and message, said former George W. Bush White House spokesman Scott McClellan. This is a time to set aside politics and for all of us to come together in support of those who were injured in this tragic shooting. The president has an important role at times like this to be the comforter-in-chief for the nation.

"Temperate, compassionate, and thoughtful the president's remarks met the test of the moment," said Michael Steel, who served as a spokesman for former House Speaker John Boehner.

One longtime Trump adviser said the president is more astute at "striking the right tone when he needs to do so." Over the years, this person said, Trump would make gossipy or controversial remarks to a TV network or on Twitter, minutes before striking a grim, "tough-man" pose and doing business.

This person referenced Trump's speech earlier this year to Congress and the "somber" remarks he gave after he ordered 59 missiles into a Syrian air field. "He can play the role of the sturdy commander-in-chief," this person said.

"It's not like he acts like his Twitter feed all the time."

Beyond the initial White House statement and tweet, Trump stayed out of the spotlight Wednesday morning as local and federal law enforcement pieced together the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia. Law enforcement sources named the suspected shooter about four hours after the incident as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois. Those reports identified him as a supporter of Bernie Sanders, and his apparent social media accounts included anti-Trump posts. Sanders, in a statement, said he was sickened by this despicable act and condemned the shooting by someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign.

The White House canceled Trumps speech at the Labor Department that was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

According to the White House, Trump has spoken to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Scalises wife and chief of staff and the Capitol Police chief. Pence has also spoken to Ryan, as well as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Texas GOP Rep. Joe Barton, Arizona GOP Sen. Jeff Flake and a staff member who coaches the Republican baseball team.

While the president's televised response Wednesday drew praise, amid the initial presidential silence several Trump surrogates made charged public statements and even ascribed a motive to the shooting.

The presidents oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., issued a one-word post on Twitter This in sharing a tweet by conservative commentator Harlan Hill, who wrote: Events like today are EXACTLY why we took issue with NY elites glorifying the assassination of our President. The tweet was an apparent reference to a current Central Park production of Julius Caesar who in the play is made to look like the president.

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway shared a post by a local South Carolina television reporter quoting South Carolina GOP Rep. Jeff Duncan, who said the shooter asked, Is this a team of Republicans or Democrats practicing?

#breakingnews. Conway wrote.

New York GOP Rep. Chris Collins also placed blame on Democrats, saying in an interview with WBEN radio they need to tone down their rhetoric.

I can only hope that Democrats tone down the rhetoric, Collins said. The finger-pointing, the angst, the anger directed at Donald Trump and his supporters some people react to those things.

Collins referenced a die-in protest that happened at his office several weeks ago regarding Obamacare.

Lets hope we can disagree on a more polite, conversational basis and not do things like they did at my office a couple weeks ago. Its gone too far, Collins said.

Several former Democratic White House aides in the hours after the shooting said they hoped Trump would avoid politics in his first major domestic shooting incident.

The tone and the words coming out of the White House matter the most, said the same former senior Obama White House official who later praised the presidents in-person remarks. There may be a lot of breathless speculation in the press and an instinct to react strongly, but the sweet spot is typically one of respect, vigilance, and considered thoughtfulness."

In these moments the public looks to the president to bring some rationality to what we all have difficulty rationalizing, added a former Clinton White House aide. It's a time to be the healer-in-chief, not the tweeter-in-chief.

Tara Palmeri and Josh Dawsey contributed to this report.

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Trump faces first big domestic moment - Politico

Congress Shooter Is Dead – TMZ.com

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President Donald Trump says the man who opened fire on a congressional baseball practice has died from injuries in the shootout with capitol police.

The shooter has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson -- a 66-year-old man from Illinois who has publicly called for the destruction of Trump and his supporters.

POTUS addressed the media moments ago and said Hodgkinson "has now died."

As we previously reported, Hodgkinson walked up to a baseball practice in Virginia early Wednesday morning and opened fire -- striking Rep. Steve Scalise and others.

Capitol police officers on the scene exchanged gunfire with Hodgkinson -- striking him. The officers were also shot. They survived and are being treated for their injuries.

Trump called the incident a "very, very brutal assault."

He described Scalise as a "good friend, he's a patriot and a fighter."

Trump also praised the capitol police officers as heroes.

See the article here:

Congress Shooter Is Dead - TMZ.com

Donald Trump’s Biggest Mistake Might Have Been Getting Elected – Vanity Fair

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FAR FROM HEAVEN Trumpworld, reimagined as one of Hieronymus Boschs Hell paintings.

Artwork by Glenn Palmer-Smith.

On May 19, 1962, at an event at Madison Square Garden celebrating John F. Kennedy, about to turn 45, Marilyn Monroe stepped onstage to sing. Wearing a dress that matched exactly the color of her skin, a sort of glowing, gleaming pale, and every bit as tighta dress, in other words, that took off her clothesshe made Happy Birthday sound like the lewdest of suggestions, an invitation to sin no mortal man could resist. In that moment, it became clear that, even if the cake hadnt yet been served, our president had already let our movie star blow out his candle. Pop culture had officially unofficially seduced politics.

Which is why Donald J. Trump is not Americas first pop-culture president. There was Kennedy, of course, but also Reagan, Clinton, Obama. In fact, as far as the past 50-plus years go, Trumps almost as much the rule as the exception, the same ol, same ol, more or less. Its the pop culture thats changed.

When a movie version of his life story was proposed, Kennedy had one actor in mind to play him: Cary Grant. Grant, the man-about-town of his time and ours, the savoir fairest of them all, was the creation of Archibald Leach, from the slums of Bristol, England. Its never been matched. Acknowledging the potency of the fantasy hed conjured, his blessing but also his curse, he said, Even I want to be Cary Grant. Meaning he wasnt. Meaning nobody could be.

Yet thats precisely who Barack Obama is. Its the style: an ultra-stylish style that doesnt involve primping or fuss. Its the manner, too: civilized, self-aware, masculine, though with a faint hint of ambiguity. Critic Pauline Kael called Grant the most publicly seduced male the world has known. Like Grant, Obama is a love object. Not passivereticent, withheld. He doesnt chase the girl, but he gets her all right. And he gets her by getting her to go after him. Why, we (yes, were the girls in this scenario) practically threw our votes his way.

Trumps erotic stratagem was different but no less effective, and embodied in his campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. The first time I heard it my reaction was somewhere between hostility and dismissal. What is this again shit?, I wondered. Were great now, the richest, freest, most powerful country on the planet. Its just more of his dark, divisive noise, I concluded. And it is. But its something else too, as I realized during a conversation with Republican strategist Steve Schmidt, a pro and very smart and no fan of Trumps. He referred to the slogan as brilliant. I thought about it some more, and my thoughts about it began to change. Brilliant I wont grant. But it does have a low cunning that might be better than brilliant.

THE 2016 ELECTION WASNT HILLARY VS. TRUMP. IT WAS MOVIE STAR VS. REALITY.

Heres what Make America Great Again is the equivalent of: a guy, a little long in the tooth, a little broad in the beam (Trump, lets say), spots a sensational-looking girl, a girl whos so far out of his league its a joke (America, lets say). Instead of complimenting her on her loveliness, he informs her that she needs a nose job, a tit job, braces, and to lose 10 pounds. The girl is about to tell him off, really let him have it, except something stops her. Its a thought, a devastating one, that maybe hes right, that maybe its everybody else whos shining her on and hes actually leveling with her. And just like that, in a single moment, shes his. At least until she wises up, and that could take a while.

So were clear, I did not vote for Trump. I regard him as a calamity and a disgrace, the worst thing to happen to this country in my lifetime. And yet, and yet, I respond to him. When he, a draft deferrer, venereal disease his quote personal Vietnam unquote, said of John McCain, who had exhibited such ferocious courage in that Hanoi prison it nearly defies comprehension, Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, I laughed. The laugh was involuntary, just popping out of my mouth. What it was also was shameful, appalling, horrific. It meant that if I hadnt entertained such a thought myself I was capable of it. Another way of saying, I was shocked because I wasnt. The laugh, therefore, was not so much a signifier of amusement as recognition.

Though also of amusement because, for someone whos essentially humorless, Trump is fun-nee. The sheer recklessness of the things he says takes the breath away. How dare he? But again and again he dares. Hell attack, assault, degrade anyone. At his rallies there was the sense that even he didnt know who he was going to go after next. So, built right in was the frisson of suspense, which is one of the reasons they were the hottest ticket in whatever town they happened to be playing. Translation: he turned everybody on. Hillary, by contrast, at her rallies was calm, earnest, respectful. Translation: she bored asses off in all directions. Every move she made felt stage-managed, canned. Not so with Trump. He didnt need a teleprompter or even a prepared speech, would just saunter up to that podium and start to blow, to shpritz, to wing it, basically, and successfully, because he understood how to capture a crowds attention. Hijack it, really.

Its a talent hes been cultivating for years. Dont forget, Trumps spent much of his career clinging to the bottom rungs of the entertainment industry: Miss Universe pageants, WrestleMania IV, V, XX, and 23, and, of course, The Apprentice. No prestige pictures with blue-chip directors for him, no HBO limited series, he wasnt knocking them dead on Broadway or standing-room-only at Carnegie Hall. Guys played one toilet after another. And in so doing hes honed not just his performers instinctat events like WrestleMania, where he once body-slammed Vince McMahon before shaving the W.W.E. chairmans head, his contact with the audience is direct, nothing between him and it, skin on skin, bareback, babybut his common touch, as well. (Have you ever watched Miss Universe or WrestleMania? The Apprentice? Me neither. A lot of people have, though, and, dollars to doughnuts, theyre the ones walking around in those little red caps.) A related aside: the irony that a billionaire who started out life a millionaire has become the Working-Class Hero is forever being remarked upon by the media. Like, how much of a nitwit is Average Joe for imagining that Trump is his man. But its Average Joe whos got it right. Trump is Average Joe except filthy stinking rich, i.e., a winner. Hes managed to acquire money without acquiring sophistication. He still talks like a kid from Queens, has a taste for flashy cars and women, and lives in houses that make one long for the understated elegance of Graceland. By the way, I bet he watches Miss Universe, WrestleMania, and The Apprentice, and not just because hes keeping an eye on his investments.

And gutter showbiz has, Id contend, shaped his worldview. As president, hes turned a Supreme Court nomination into a Bachelor finale, less selected his Cabinet than cast it (If Im doing a movie, Id pick you . . . General Mattis), and cannot shut up about ratings (he opened the National Prayer Breakfast by remarking on the tanking popularity of The Celebrity Apprentice, asking the room full of lawmakers and dignitaries to just pray for Arnold [Schwarzenegger, the new host]).

Before I get to what Trump is, what Trump isnt: a businessman. Rather, hes a showbusinessman, part con manhow many bankruptcies has he declared? little guys has he stiffed?part ham actor impersonating a businessman. Even more so he isnt a president. The first few months of his administration have been somewhere between Dr. Strangelove played straight and Dr. Strangelove played camp. What he is is a reality star. In fact, you could argue that he invented the concept. I was born in 1978, not in New York, and yet hes been on my radar since I can remember, his life, his loves, his scandals constantly in the tabloids, and what are Page Six and the National Enquirer but the Ur-E! and Bravo?

The 2016 election wasnt Hillary vs. Trump. It was Movie Star vs. Reality. Not only because Obama was Hillarys most dynamic surrogate but because practically every star in Hollywoodmovie, though TV and music, toocampaigned on her behalf. And yet Reality won, proof that movies dont hold sway over the public imagination as they once did, in itself proof that the public wants a different type of relationship with its stars. Stars used to be exactly that: radiant entities to be marveled at from a distance. Thanks to social media, however, the 24-hour news cycle, distance is no longer possible. Perfectly O.K., since an up-close view is what we truly crave, each pore, each wrinkle, each pimple in high definition. And whos interested in seeing a posed photo these days? Better the ones without makeup or undies or even knowledge. (When a stars lover or ex-lover sneaks an intimate shot and then leaks itooo-wee, pay dirt.) And beat it with your puff pieces already. We dont care about Johnny Depps charity work. What were hot to know is, did he really smack Amber around and openhanded or closed and was he loaded at the time? We continue to be moved by beauty. Were also moved, though, and more powerfully, by ugliness: physical, social, moral. Our stars are still stars, only the term now is ironic since we dont look up at them but down.

Trump never feigned virtue during his campaign. And thats what made him, for many voters, the authentic candidate. He was a brute and a son of a bitch, except he, in the immortal words of Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel, owned it. And owning it, in the reality-TV world, which, lets face it, is the world we are currently living in, absolves all sins. Its why everything that was sure to bring him downcalling Mexican immigrants rapists, ridiculing the disabled, speculating on the menstrual cycle of a news anchor, etc.didnt, if anything increased his strength. He became a mash-up of Simon Cowell, Spencer Pratt, and Teresa Giudice, a super-villain, as impossible to kill as he was to stop watching.

Interesting to note: traditional stars are bowed but not broken when it comes to Trump, indeed reality stars in general. They responded to his inauguration party the same way Jay Z and Beyonc responded to Kim and Kanyes nuptialsby staying away in droves. Well, rejecting the pretensions of the peacocking parvenu is one of the sweetest pleasures left to the fallen aristocrat. Also interesting: its Obama, the younger man, and seemingly the more modern in every conceivable respect, whos the throwback.

Theres something Trump is every bit as fundamentally as a reality star, and thats a stand-up comic. Lenny Bruce, specifically. (Hey, if Bill Clinton was, according to Toni Morrison, our first black president, why cant Trump be our first Jewish?) Hes an eighth-rate version of Bruce, to be sure, and an unwitting one. Has none of Bruces hipness or perspicacity. He does, however, have Bruces shamelessness, and Bruces free-associative, buggy style, and he goes as far as Bruce. His mocking of McCain was, in fact, like an updating of Bruces Jackie Kennedy Hauling Ass to Save Her Ass routine, and equally as blasphemous.

Timing is, of course, everything. It was in the 50s that Bruce, the lounge-lizard dark prince, started to slay at the clubs in the more happening cities. Now these days, the present day, is the polar opposite of that tight-assed decadegay couples can marry! movie about queer black youth takes big prize at Oscars! transgender woman on the cover of this very magazine!except think again. The 2010s, with its safe spaces and trigger warnings, its dont-say-thises and dont-think-thats, where feeling like a victim is the hot pastime and male burden is the new male privilege, are, in certain ways, even tighter-assed, a neo-Victorian era masquerading as the waning days of the Roman Empire. Political correctness is just another form of fascism. (That fascism now comes from the left doesnt make it any less stifling.) People are almost comically alienated from their instincts. The super-ego reigns supreme.

TRUMP SPENT HIS CAREER CLINGING TO THE BOTTOM RUNGS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

Enter Trump, pure id. No cruelty-free-tofu-nibbling, prissy-European-taste-having, sorry-excuse-for-a-man man he. Unh-uh. Hes a big butch American hot dog. Hes not tortured by the idea of using torture. And a nuclear-arms race? Bring it on, sayeth he, those loser countries will be eating our atomic dust: We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all. Hes a swinging dick and an alpha male, a maker of deals and a builder of buildingswhy, the Manhattan skyline is simply crammed with his erections! And since were on the topic of erections, he isnt one of those pencil-necked sissies who need a woman to sign a permission slip before hell try to hold her hand. Hell no, he grabs pussy first, asks questions later. Is a masher of the type thats supposed to have died out generations ago.

This isnt to say hes devoid of romantic feeling. Who could forget that series of impassioned tweets from 2012 in which he urged Robert Pattinson not to take back the cheating Kristen Stewart. (Had Pattinson been his fella, he wouldnt have treated him so shabbily seems to be the message hes trying to convey.) There is, too, the wistful, teenage-girl note that creeps into his voice whenever he talks about Vladimir Putin. Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscowif so, will he become my new best friend? Does Trump secretly long for the brutal quasi-dictator to take him in his arms, crush him to his chest, make him dream again?

And then theres Trumps temperament, which is, and not to be a traitor to my sex, on the womanish side. He clutches to his dignity as tenaciously as a dowager to her pearls. Never does he let an insult roll off his back. Make a dig about his hand size, for example, and he will (in fairness, rightly) perceive it as a dig about his manhood. Could the Donalds Donald be merely a Don? Not to hear him tell it: My fingers are long and beautiful, as . . . are various other parts of my body. Touchy, touchy.

It was in 1961 that Bruce said the 10-letter word onstage, got arrested for obscenity. His life was ruined, but it was the making of him. Hed always been more than a guy in a rented tux telling jokes to drunks. Suddenly, though, he was a rebel with a causeAmendment Numero Uno. He refused to be silenced, endured bust after bust, so that we might speak. And, five years later, his martyrdom would be complete when he died in a bathroom, fat, naked, a needle sticking out of his arm. The Christ who said cocksucker.

If Trump were really smart, hed have done the same. Not the dying-next-to-a-toilet thing, the losing-in-order-to-win-big thing. Trump feeds off the ardor of his fans, and his best chance of retaining that ardor lay in defeat in a squeaker. Then hed be able to claim that he was the man who could be, nay, should be, king, and spend the remainder of his days shaking a Byronic fist at the rigged system, the ideal situation for someone who is, by nature, an outsider and a rager. Instead, he pulled off the upset. Now hes on the inside of the inside, in a job that requires, above all else, calm reflection and sober judgment. No longer can he say whatever kooky little whacked-out thought that pops into his skull. Not without bringing down a world of shit, anyway (see: Obama wiretapping tweets). And, oh yeah, hes going to actually have to deliver on his campaign promises or risk hurtful comparisons to Crooked Hillary. And from there its only a short jump to the most painful scenario of all: the crowds love turning into hate, the cheers turning into jeers.

Hes president of the United States. Its his nightmare. Our worst nightmare.

Losing to wind next to his helicopter in Scotland.

Losing to wind at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Losing to wind as he heads to Indiana.

Losing to wind while hes in Scotland to discuss bankrolling an anti-wind-farm campaign in order to fight an off-shore development near his luxury golf resort.

Losing to wind in the presence of Tom Brady.

Losing to wind while waving.

Putting up a good fight but ultimately losing to wind in Scotland.

PreviousNext

Losing to wind next to his helicopter in Scotland.

By Michael McGurk/Alamy.

Losing to wind at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

By Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind as he heads to Indiana.

By Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind while hes in Scotland to discuss bankrolling an anti-wind-farm campaign in order to fight an off-shore development near his luxury golf resort.

By Danny Lawson/PA/A.P.

Losing to wind while he talks to Patriots owner Robert Kraft before a game.

From Splash News.

Losing to wind at the house on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, where his mother was born before she immigrated to the United States in 1929.

From PA/Alamy.

Losing to wind while boarding the Marine One helicopter at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

By Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.

Losing to wind while leaving One World Trade in New York.

By Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind in the presence of Tom Brady.

From Boston Herald/Splash News.

Losing to wind while waving.

By Rob Carr/Getty Images.

Putting up a good fight but ultimately losing to wind in Scotland.

By Michael McGurk/Rex/Shutterstock.

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Donald Trump's Biggest Mistake Might Have Been Getting Elected - Vanity Fair

Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump Jr. rush to blame Kathy Griffin and the left for baseball shooting – Salon

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It didnt take long for the tragic shootingat a Republican Congressional baseball practice on Wednesday morning to turn into a partisan blame game. Before the details of the incident were fully clear notable Republicans were quick to jump to conclusions that satisfied their partisan views.

Nearly an hour before local police provided their first official statement, White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway retweeted an unverified account citing claims that the shooter had asked if those playing baseball were Republicans or Democrats.

President Donald Trumps son, Don Trump Jr., took his outrage to Twitter as well and blamed so-called New York elites who have glorified the assassination of the president.

Right-wing Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King did not attend Wednesdays practice but traveled to the baseball fieldafter the shooting to tell the gatheredmedia that the violence is appearing in the streets, and its coming from the left.

On Fox News Rep. Rodney Davis R-Ill., said political terrorism in 24-hour news cycle and on Twitter was partially to blame for the tragic incident.

Later on Fox News, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the shooting was part of a pattern of what he called an increasing intensity of hostility on the left.

Some used the tragic event to blame Kathy Griffin for her picture with a decapitated fake Trump head. Others also blamed the Julius Caesar play that has caused a lot of outrage over its depiction of political violence.

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/874966631491002369

The New York Conservative Party blamed the shooting on hate fueled by the media, according to the Observer. The party also posted a Fox News article to their Facebook page in which Rep. Ronald DeSantis, R-Fla., said an unknown man had asked him if the Congressman practicing were Republicans or Democrats.

The man who tried to kill congressmen practicing for a charity baseball game had asked whether the players were Repubs or Dems. When told they were Repubs, the shooter returned a few moments later and opened fire with a rifle, the post on Facebook says. This is what media bully fueled hate looks like, not wedding cakes and 100-year-old statues.

Of course, this is a common tactic that often comes from right-wingers in the immediate aftermath of a shocking event.

Less than two weeks ago Trump used the London terror attack to bash those who support sensible gun control measures.

The president also quickly blamed a shooting in the Philippines as a terrorist attack, even though it wasnt. No matter what the full details of the tragedy turn out to be, in the wake of a shocking event, it doesnt take long for hyperpartisan rhetoric to emerge with the intent of fulfilling a self-serving agenda.

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Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump Jr. rush to blame Kathy Griffin and the left for baseball shooting - Salon

Trump son tweet connects shooting to NYC ‘Julius Caesar’ play – CNN

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Trump's son retweeted political commentator Harlan Z. Hill, who opined, "Events like today are EXACTLY why we took issue with NY elites glorifying the assassination of our President."

Trump Jr. supported the comment, adding: "This."

Fox News and other conservative media blasted the play, leading Donald Trump, Jr. to tweet, "Serious question, when does 'art' become political speech & does that change things?"

The subsequent pressure led to Bank of America and Delta to pull their support from the play this week.

Donald Trump, Jr. also favorited a tweet on Wednesday that accused "the liberal media" of "radicalizing people against anyone who supports the President by baselessly accusing us of collusion with Russia."

The tweet, which came from the account @YoungDems4Trump, was in response to President Donald Trump's message of well wishes to Scalise, who was shot in the hip.

"Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him," Trump tweeted.

First lady Melania Trump echoed the President when she tweeted, "Thank you to the first responders who rushed in to help protect those who were hurt in Alexandria, VA. My thoughts & prayers to everyone!"

Donald Trump Jr. was not the only Trump son to go after the media after the shooting: Eric Trump critiqued recent coverage of strong stock market growth.

"DOW, S&P 500, NYSE & Russell 2000 ALL at their all-time highs! Zero chance @CNN @MSNBC or the MSM will cover! #401Ks," Eric Trump tweeted.

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Trump son tweet connects shooting to NYC 'Julius Caesar' play - CNN

Donald Trump to mayor of island sinking due to climate change: Don’t worry about it! – Salon

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After President Donald Trump watcheda story aired on CNN a network he says he never watches which detailed the devastating impact climate change has had on a small island in the Chesapeake Bay, hecalledthe mayor of the island to inform him that everything would be just fine.

Virginias Tangier Island is shrinking at a rate of15 feet each year, the Washington Post noted, and the Army Corps of Engineers has said the cause is from coastal erosion and rising sea levels. But that wasnt enough to convince the president, or even the islands Mayor James Eskridge.

Donald Trump, if you see this, whatever you can do, we welcome any help you can give us, Eskridge toldCNN. I love Trump as much as any family member I got.

Eskridge got his wish, and the president gave him a call.

He said we shouldnt worry about rising sea levels,Eskridge told the Post. He said that your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.

Trump and the islands mayor both agreed that sea level rise is not a concern of theirs. Like the president, Im not concerned about sea level rise, Eskridge told the Post. Im on the water daily, and I just dont see it.

The main concern for Eskridge as well as many other residents on the island are worried about the erosion caused by the Chesapeakes waterpounding on the islands shores. He said he believes this is why his home is disappearing at an alarming rate, the Post reported. Trump seemed to agree with him and suggested that he may stop by so the two could discuss it.

Scientists have said the islands 450 residents, who overwhelmingly supported Trump in the November election, may need to completely abandon the island in the next few decades. Many of the residents are descendants of its first settlers back in the 17th century, according to the Post.

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Donald Trump to mayor of island sinking due to climate change: Don't worry about it! - Salon

Soupman of ‘Seinfeld’ Soup Nazi fame files for bankruptcy protection – USA TODAY

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File photo taken in 2010 shows people standing in line for the reopening of the Original SoupMan gourmet takeout shop that inspired the Soup Nazi character on "Seinfeld."(Photo: BEBETO MATTHEWS, AP)

Soupman, the New York City food company made famousby the popularSeinfeld TV sitcom, has sought bankruptcy court protection, weeks after its chief financial officer was indicted on federal tax evasion charges.

Based on Staten Island, the company licenses the name and recipes of Al Yeganeh, the model for the gruff "Soup Nazi" character in the popular 1989-1998 series that starred comedian Jerry Seinfeld.The characterfocused fanatically on his culinary creationsand refused to serve some would-be customers, barking what became a much-repeatedcatchphrase:"No soup for you!"

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition filed Tuesday in Delawarestated that Soupmanhad estimated assets between just over $1 million and $10 million, and estimated debts ranging from just over $10 million to $50 million.

The company said in a news release that it has secured a new $2 million debtor-in-possession credit facility from an independent private investment firm to fund working capital needs "and allow businessoperations to continue as usual."

However, the business was jolted in late May when federal prosecutors in Brooklyn announced an indictment that accusedSoupman CFO Robert Bertrand of failure to payMedicare, Social Security, and federal income taxes.

Hisjob included collecting, accounting for and paying the taxes for Soupman's employees. However, the indictment alleged that between 2010 and 2014Bertrand instead paid Soupmanemployees with unreported cash, and compensated certain workers with unreported stock awards.

As a result, the federal government lost $593,971 in total tax paymentsthat should have been paid by the company, prosecutors charged.

Bertrand, who has pleaded not guilty, was released on $50,000 bond, pending a scheduled July 18 legal hearing, court records show.

"The combinationof legacy liabilities and recent company developments have made it necessary to seek bankruptcy protection," Soupman CEO Jamie Karson said in a statement announcing the court filing. "This will ensure that our delicious soups remain on grocery shelves throughout the country, which is in the best interests of all our stakeholders and customers."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a scene from Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode.(Photo: Castle Rock Entertainment)

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kevin McCoy on Twitter: @kmccoynyc

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Bankruptcy cases show we’ve become a nation of selective justice – New York Daily News

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DAILY NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 12:00 PM

Bankruptcy proceedings are supposed to be standard and nearly identical for everyone involved, with a magistrate who presides over the proceedings, and a trustee who receives a commission by going after money on behalf of creditors.

The problem is that trustees usually only go after the low-hanging fruit, the easiest money to collect, and so people often just cruise through their bankruptcy process without complications.

However, when the person going through bankruptcy is a celebrity, such as "Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller, or a person of public interest like Bernie Madoff, the trustees suddenly become more diligent. They look under every rock for assets to satisfy creditors and possibly to get their names in the newspaper or on TV.

Regular people who file for bankruptcy are usually not subjected to this level of scrutiny, and I think this is a big mistake. We often hear there are two levels of justice: a lenient one for the rich and famous, and a much harsher one for everyone else.

But when it comes to bankruptcy, I've often found the reverse to be true: non-celebrities skate by without a close look, when maybe someone should look a little closer and try a little harder.

For example, I became involved in a recent divorce case at the New York County Supreme Court. The husband had millions of dollars in assets and companies he used to pay his bills, only to file personal bankruptcy a year later. He even divested himself of publicly traded stocks and then had those stocks reassigned back to him after his debts were discharged by the court.

The court saw the fraud, the wife and her attorney saw the fraud, and others involved in the case saw the fraud. But no one referred the matter to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution, or to get the fraudulent bankruptcy set aside by the court so the creditors could get paid.

The only reason the husband could get away with this level of fraud is because he's not a celebrity or person of public interest. We are now a country of selective justice where some people are deemed "deserving" of justice, usually out of a sense of schadenfreude, while others don't always get it.

It's a sad reality, but we need to talk about the elephant in the room so justice will be applied equally to all, as the framers of the Constitution expected, and not only when the media are watching.

Yoni Levoritz founded his own firm, the Law Office of Yonatan S. Levoritz, which later evolved and expanded into The Levoritz Law Group, soon after being admitted to the New York Bar in 2005. In 2008, Levoritz was named Professional of the Year in Matrimonial Law by Strathmore's Who's Who. At the time, he was the youngest attorney to be awarded this honor.

For more DAILY VIEWS, The News' contributor network, click here.

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Bankruptcy cases show we've become a nation of selective justice - New York Daily News

Retail bloodbath: Bankruptcy filings pile up – CNNMoney

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More than 300 retailers have filed for bankruptcy so far this year, according to data from BankruptcyData.com. That's up 31% from the same time last year. Most of those filings were for small companies -- the proverbial Mom & Pop store with a single location. But there are also plenty of household names on the list.

Most of these stores are suffering from the same thing: A shift away from traditional storefronts to online shopping.

Not all of these chains will eventually go out of business. Most of them fled for Chapter 11, which allows a company to keep operating while it restructures its debt. But the sector is already on course for a record number of store closings this year.

Here's a list of some of the more prominent retail bankruptcies to date.

Gymboree: The children's clothing retailer filed for bankruptcy on June 11, saying it may close 375 of its 1,300 stores under the Gymboree, Crazy 8 and Janie and Jack brands.

rue21: The teen clothing retailer filed for bankruptcy on May 15, and said it has plans to close about one third of its 1,200 stores.

Payless ShoeSource: The discount shoe retailer filed on April 4. It said it would move to close nearly 400 U.S. stores out of the 4,400 locations it has worldwide.

Gordmans Stores: A century-old regional department store chain, Gordmans had 106 stores in 22 states in the Midwest and western U.S. It filed for bankruptcy on March 13 and is shuttering all of its stores.

Gander Mountain: The hunting and outdoors retailer, which operated under the Gander Mountain and Overton names, filed for bankruptcy.

The RV retailer Camping World bought some of the company's assets at auction in April and will keep some stores open. Its remaining inventory will be sold through liquidation sales.

RadioShack: The iconic electronics retailer first filed for bankruptcy in 2015, and tried to stay in business through a deal with Sprint in which the wireless provider operated stores within the RadioShack stores. But in March the company that now owns RadioShack filed for bankruptcy once again, putting it on the path to close its remaining stores.

hhgregg: The appliance, electronics and furniture retailer filed for bankruptcy in March and has closed all of its 132 stores.

Wet Seal: The troubled teen clothing retailer, which made a previous trip through bankruptcy in 2015, filed for bankruptcy again in February. This time it went out of business, closing 171 stores and putting 1,750 employees out of work.

The Limited: The once popular women's clothing chain filed for bankruptcy in January and closed all of its remaining stores.

CNNMoney (New York) First published June 13, 2017: 12:05 AM ET

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Retail bloodbath: Bankruptcy filings pile up - CNNMoney

RBI, Banks And NPAs – First, Reform India’s Bankruptcy Code, Then Force Defaulters Into It – Forbes

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Nasdaq
RBI, Banks And NPAs - First, Reform India's Bankruptcy Code, Then Force Defaulters Into It
Forbes
It has to be said that Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi are doing many of the right things in their management of the Indian economy. No, this is not to make a party political point and it's most certainly not to say that they're doing everything right ...
India says banks must start bankruptcy proceedings against 12 major defaultersNasdaq
India's bankruptcy code process for creditors, defaultersEconomic Times
RBI identifies 12 accounts with 25% of bank bad loans for bankruptcy proceedingsHindustan Times
Huffington Post India
all 38 news articles »

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RBI, Banks And NPAs - First, Reform India's Bankruptcy Code, Then Force Defaulters Into It - Forbes

Tampa’s Square 1 Burgers files for bankruptcy protection – Tampabay.com

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TAMPA Square 1 Burgers & Bar, a restaurant chain based in Tampa, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The restaurant chain, known for its wide ranging menu of burger creations, will close some of its locations in Florida, but stores in the thee locations in the Tampa Bay area will not be affected. However restaurants will close in the Orlando and Sarasota markets, according to the filing.

Square 1 Burgers could be feeling the pinch from too many competitors in the burger market. Drama Burger, a Lithuanian burger restaurant that opened on Kennedy Boulevard last year, shuttered recently. Other newcomer chains similar in concept, from Smashburger to Burgerfi, continue to expand in Tampa Bay as well as throughout the state.

The parent company of Joe's Crab Shack, which has one restaurant in the Clearwater area, also recently filed for bankruptcy.

Tampa's Square 1 Burgers files for bankruptcy protection 06/14/17 [Last modified: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 11:41am] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Tampa's Square 1 Burgers files for bankruptcy protection - Tampabay.com

Sears, J. Crew, Claire’s Are Bankruptcy Risks (SHLD) | Investopedia – Investopedia

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The list of brick-and-mortar retailers in financial distress continues to grow. On Monday, Fitch Ratings Inc. warned that a new batch has significant risk of default on their debt obligations over the next 12 months, CNBC reports, including: Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD), J.Crew Group Inc., Claire's Stores Inc., Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE), Nine West Holdings Inc., 99 Cents Only Stores, True Religion Apparel Inc., Charlotte Russe Holding Inc., Charming Charlie LLC and NYDJ Apparel LLC. Meanwhile, Gymboree Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, joining the likes of Payless ShoeSource Inc. and rue21 Inc.

"A number of these names have been at the forefront of past restructurings," observed Joshua Friedman, a legal analyst for fixed income research firm Debtwire, in an interview with CNBC. Gymboree, the most recent to declare bankruptcy, plans to close 375 of its 1,300 stores, per CNBC.

In addition to discount retailers and online merchants, Fitch's research note also cites "fast-fashion" apparel and "shifts in consumer spending toward services and experiences" as contributing to the woes of retailers such as those listed above, as quoted by CNBC. For elaboration, Investopedia spoke to Rose Klimovich, who teaches fashion marketing and entrepreneurship at Manhattan College in New York City.

Regarding fast fashion, Klimovich explains that fashion-conscious consumers increasingly gravitate towards retailers that get the latest styles to market the quickest, adding to the woes of the laggards. Meanwhile, a growing segment of the young adult market is spending less on hard goods, and more on experiences and services, such as travel, entertainment and social activities. Meanwhile, the accelerating closure of retail storefronts is creating a downward spiral for malls and their remaining tenants, as consumers have less and less reason to visit increasingly empty shopping centers. (For more, see also: These Mall REITS May Turn Into a Nightmare.)

Privately-held J.Crew Group Inc. is straining under the weight of over $2 billion in debt, a burden increasingly difficult to service given the clothing retailer's 11 consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, according to the Wall Street Journal. Particularly worrisome is a $567 million slug of debt scheduled to come due in May 2019. The company is scrambling to get the maturity date pushed back to September 2021, while also trying to convince creditors to accept more debt in lieu of interest payments, the Journal says.

Fundamentally, the clothing retailer has a multitude of marketing problems, according to Bloomberg. These include, for example: high prices relative to product quality, a J.Crew Factory website that offers deep discounts on the same merchandise offered on its full-price website, and shipping that takes six to eight business days and costs $5 for orders of under $150.

Meanwhile, J.Crew's maneuver to shift intellectual property into a separate subsidiary, to get it out of the reach of creditors, has sparked lawsuits, and the company is crafting incentives for creditors to drop this litigation, the Journal says. Claire's Stores has made a similar move, and other struggling clothing retailers may be candidates for trying the same, per another Bloomberg report. Much, if not most, of the value of these companies' intellectual property involves their brand names, so this may be a ploy to keep creditors at bay, lest they be stuck with "nameless stores selling anonymous" merchandise, as Bloomberg puts it. On the other hand, as Rose Klimovich of Manhattan College notes, the value of these brand names is rapidly diminishing, and may plummet further in bankruptcy.

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Sears, J. Crew, Claire's Are Bankruptcy Risks (SHLD) | Investopedia - Investopedia

Remembering Loved Ones Lost to Mesothelioma, Looking Forward to Progress in Treatment – MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)

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Each spring a Memorial Service is held for families that have lost loved ones to mesothelioma. It never gets any easier to see the personal toll that this deadly cancer has taken. Remembering patients and families that have dealt with the death of a loved one from mesothelioma is sobering. Every year a member of the mesothelioma medical team talks about the progress that continues to be made toward a cure. Although not fast enough for these families and loved ones, the update always helps everyone in attendance, by offering hope. Hope that no other patients and families will have to go through what they have been through and suffer the losses that they have.

The service is a testimony to the generosity of the human spirit. Although their loved ones are gone, the families and loved ones are their representatives on earth. By putting a face to the patient, and showing the whole picture of the victims of this disease, researchers can take this snapshot of their relatives back to the lab with them for inspiration in the coming year. Each year there is progress to report and each year there is appreciation for the continuous support of these brave families, and continued support of the work needed for a cure.

There is a lot of ambivalence about attending a memorial service like this. From our experiences over the years, when the service is over families feel better. By acknowledgment that their loved ones fight is over, and that they have potentially helped other patients in the future, does provide some comfort for the families. For some it is difficult to come back to a place that holds painful memories.

One family member acknowledging that she almost did not come, spoke of coming back to a place that had offered her and her family hope when they could not find it anywhere else. Although her family member had died, she was grateful for the quality time they did have together.

The reasons for attending are as varied as the patients. Stories and memories are shared, and a grateful community leans on each other to continue on to a day when there will be no need for an annual Memorial Service for mesothelioma patients.

Lisa Hyde-Barrett has helped ease the stress of patients and their families by offering a comforting hand. Lisa has 25 years of experience as a thoracic surgery nurse at Brigham and Womens Hospital a top 5 nationally ranked cancer hospital. Lisa works with leading nationally-recognized surgeons who specialize in mesothelioma. Through her extensive experience caring for mesothelioma patients, she is a facilitator for the patient to help them maintain control and dignity over their treatment of their disease and to assist with the patients wishes. She is passionate about helping the mesothelioma community.

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Remembering Loved Ones Lost to Mesothelioma, Looking Forward to Progress in Treatment - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)