11 civilians reportedly killed in Afghanistan airstrike, NATO-led mission says ‘no evidence’ – RT

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At least 11 civilians have been killed in an airstrike in Afghanistans Helmand province, local media report. The NATO-led mission has confirmed to RT that it recently conducted airstrikes there, but claimed there is no evidence civilians were killed.

The alleged airstrike took place in the Sangin District of Helmand province late Thursday or early Friday, according to Afghan media.

There has been fighting in and around Sangin over the last few weeks, and US Forces have conducted strikes to support and defend our Afghan partners. As with all claims of civilian casualties, we will investigate them to determine the facts and whether civilians were hurt or killed as a result of our operations, Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for NATO-led Resolute Support, told RT in a statement.

Cleveland stressed that the US take every precaution to prevent and mitigate civilian casualties and we take every allegation seriously.

With that said, we have no evidence that civilians were killed in these strikes, rather just claims from the Taliban that civilians were killed as a result of our strikes in Sangin, he said.

In the meantime, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was looking into reports of civilian casualties from airstrikes in Sangin.

Earlier, Pajhwok Afghan News agency cited the Taliban, which claimed that over 20 civilians had been killed and scores wounded in airstrikes conducted by foreign forces in Sangin. The group also reportedly said that B52 long-range strategic bombers had been involved in the operation.

However, in a statement on the Twitter account of the Resolute Support mission, Cleveland said that B52s had not been used in the Helmand operation.Officials confirmed on Friday that at least 11 members of one family, including eight men and three women, were killed when a rocket hit their house in the Sangin district on Thursday night, according to TOLONews.

According to RT contributor Bilal Sarwary, who spoke to Helmand provinces chief and locals, two families suffered in the airstrike, and the death toll reached 25 people.

Two families were affected by this airstrike. Two homes were hit, killing at least 25 civilians and injured six others, he said, adding that the casualties include women and children.

Mohammad Karim Atal, the head of Helmands provincial council, told the channel that 11 members of one family were killed in the airstrike, though he said it was not immediately clear which forces had carried out the airstrike.

The Afghan army will also be investigating the incident, Atal said.

On Thursday, US Army General John Nicholson told the US Senate Armed Services Committee said that NATO should boost its troop presence in Afghanistan.

READ MORE: Re-escalation in Afghanistan: Top US general calls for 'a few thousand' more troops

I have adequate resources in my counterterrorism mission, Nicholson said, adding In my train, advise and assist mission, however, we have a shortfall of a few thousand. This is in the NATO train, advise, and assist mission, so it can come from America or its allies.

About 8,400 US troops and about 6,400 NATO soldiers remain in Afghanistan since NATO sharply reduced the number of its troops there in 2014. US-led forces entered Afghanistan to remove the Taliban from power more than 15 years ago following the September 11 attacks.

NATO had to investigate another airstrike in November of last year, when scores of civilians, including children, were reportedly killed during an operation in Kunduz. NATO forces in Afghanistan said the airstrikes were conducted to defend friendly forces under fire.

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11 civilians reportedly killed in Afghanistan airstrike, NATO-led mission says 'no evidence' - RT

NATO says it sees sharp rise in Russian disinformation since Crimea seizure – Reuters

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By Foo Yun Chee | BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS NATO accused Russia of escalating a disinformation campaign since the Kremlin's 2014 seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region, saying Russian websites such as Sputnik and RT had posted false stories, the alliance's spokeswoman said on Saturday.

There is increasing concern among senior NATO and European Union officials over Russia's ability to use television and the Internet to spread what they say is fake news.

The defense alliance of 28 democracies says it has recorded more than a score of Russian myths in the last two years which it has attempted to knock down with factsheets, interviews, rebuttals and videos.

"NATO has been dealing with a significant increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014," spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in an email.

She said a website set up by NATO in 2014 "catalogs 32 Russian myths about NATO systematically used by Sputnik, RT and a range of other outlets owned or controlled by the Russian government".

Lungescu said the most recent disinformation occurred earlier this month when Russian news website life.ru published a fabricated voice recording of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg with a Russian prankster pretending to be Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko.

"Such a call never took place and this was an obvious example of disinformation," she said.

The Kremlin, Russian government, RT, Sputnik and Life could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Russian authorities have in the past denied seeking to interfere in the internal affairs of other states. Russian state-funded media deny acting as the propaganda arm of the Kremlin. They say they present an alternative viewpoint that is ignored by the mainstream Western media.

Lungescu cited another example of disinformation in July last year when Sputnik, RT and other Russian websites issued reports about a fire raging at a NATO base in Izmir, claiming it was a deliberate sabotage after the failed coup in Turkey.

"We engaged with Sputnik, RT and others to correct, as there was a forest fire at some distance from the base, but with no connection to it."

(Additional reporting by Christian Lowe in Moscow; editing by Mark Heinrich)

BEIJING Combining public bluster with behind-the-scenes diplomacy, China wrested a concession from the United States as the two presidents spoke for the first time this week, but Beijing may not be able to derive much comfort from the win on U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

ATHENS/BERLIN Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras warned international lenders on Saturday not to heap new burdens on his country but said he believed the drawn-out bailout review with them would end well.

UNITED NATIONS The United States has objected to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' choice of former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the body's new representative to Libya.

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NATO says it sees sharp rise in Russian disinformation since Crimea seizure - Reuters

Is NATO Really Ready for a War? | The National Interest – The National Interest Online

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When Jrgen Bornemann was a junior army officer in West Germanys Bundeswehr, he spent many months of every year practicing getting his unit from its base to likely conflict zones near West Germanys border with East Germany. His unit was not alone. Entire divisions were moved within West Germany, Bornemann, who went on to become a lieutenant general and director general of NATOs international staff, told me. (A division consists of some fifteen thousand soldiers.)

Practicing movements involving tens of thousands of troops towards potential hot spots was, in fact, a main component of NATOs Cold War defense planning. NATO was constantly practicing, fine-tuning deploying fifty thousand troops across the Atlantic and moving them across Europe, said Ian Brzezinski, an assistant secretary of defense under George W. Bush. It was a demonstration, but it was also a way of making sure the wheels were always greased.

By comparison, todays NATO troop movements look rather modest. Exercises are less frequent and typically involve brigade-size forces, around five thousand troops each. In 2015 we had an exercise [Trident Juncture] that involved thirty-six thousand troops, but it took a long time to plan and only took place in Italy, Portugal and Spain, Brzezinski pointed out. And as Bornemann notes, with many years having passed without large regular exercises, officers lack the knowledge of how to do it. They often lack the equipment, too. During the Cold War, Germanys Deutsche Bahn kept thousands of rail cars available for Bundeswehr transportation. Thats no longer the case.

Equally worrisome is the speed at which the exercising troops advance. Referring to NATOs Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, which consists of five thousand troops, a senior NATO official told me, Sometimes we have ten nations participating. Its not just a matter of the number of troops and vehicles moving. We have to be able to go from anywhere to anywhere. Its extremely complex, whereas during the Cold War everyone knew which route they would be taking.

With battle zones so much harder to predict than during the Cold War, its difficult to know where to pre-position equipment. We dont know where well need it, whereas during the Cold War we knew exactly where wed need it, the NATO official said.

Cold War NATO commanders also knew the specifics of every bridge, railroad, road, tunnel, airport and seaport on NATO territory. They could easily access the information in the alliances Capability Catalogues, a meticulously maintained encyclopedia that detailed every piece of infrastructure that could be used by the military. But we let the Capability Catalogues go, the NATO official told me. As a result, commanders have incomplete information about the infrastructure they need to use in order to move their troops. Though bridges and railroads may seem secondary, logistics is the pillar of any military exerciseand any military engagement.

Newer NATO member states capabilities never added Capability Catalogues, and were also left with Communist-era infrastructure. Some of them have rebuilt their infrastructure in a lot of places where some of the older Allies havent, but some of the bridges in some of the former [Warsaw Pact] nations will probably need upgrading at some stage, the NATO official said. Were talking sometimes seventy or eighty tons of armor, so you put that on top of a flatbed and then youve got the issues of going across a bridge. Since the 2014 Wales Summit, NATO has again been collecting capability entries from its member states, and the official says the alliance is making progress towards a complete set of catalogues.

And troops need to regularly use the infrastructure. We used to move armor up from Greece into Kosovo and the Balkans, for example, the NATO official pointed out. Its not new for NATO to be able to do that, we just need to get to where we were before in terms of being up to speed and having that situational awareness.

In recent months, the alliance has made crucial progress in another area: border crossings. Until last year, many NATO member states didnt issue automatic clearance to alliance troops entering their territory. Now that issue has been resolved.

Still, NATO is decidedly less swift than Russia, which can deploy tens of thousands of soldiers on several days noticeand has the advantage of large military bases not far from three NATO member states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. By contrast, NATOs best and largest armed forces units are based in western Europe, where the United States still maintains a respectable military presence.

Thats where NATOs decisionmaking speed plays a crucial role. After the Cold War, decisionmaking power for NATOs exercises shifted from commanders to the civilian North Atlantic Council, which operates at distinctly unmilitary speed. Military commanders have been aware of the problem caused by slow decisionmaking for a long time, but political decisionmakers have had their heads in the sand. Brzezinski said, Its changing now, but is it changing fast enough?

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No worries, I have a NATO sticker – Morganton News Herald

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I save things. One of these days, I really must pare all the stuff I have accumulated, but I have a penchant for connecting memories with things, or I convince myself that somebody other than me thinks all these items are important or collectible.

I have a fairly large window sticker, oval, that states: NATO Your Best Bet For Peace. I have no idea where I got it, but it may have been at the Knoxville Worlds Fair.

NATO was formed in 1949 as the counterpoint to the Soviet Unions Iron Curtain. The basic premise is that an attack by an enemy on any member nation is considered an attack on all and the members must support each other. However, that doesnt mean everybody goes to war.

NATO members may judge for themselves what kind of aid to give and how to deliver it.

Fine-tuning the NATO military command structure was overseen by the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces from World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. That was in 1951. Ike got the job done just in time to become our president in 1952.

There is another article of the NATO charter that mandates consultation if a member nation feels threatened. Turkey has invoked that article four times, Poland once the only instances of official come-help-us military consultation in NATO history.

NATO was the right thing to do when the Iron Curtain appeared impenetrable. The Iron Curtain is gone, but plenty more curtains some without catchy nicknames persist. I have my window sticker, just for reassurance.

I must say Ronald Reagans Trust but verify sounds better every day.

Then theres the USS North Carolina. Its an awesome battlewagon. Ive visited the ship and I have collected several trinkets over the years. But rummaging through some stuff looking for other stuff, I came across a fact sheet that jogged my memory about just how important the North Carolina was in WWII.

It was the only American battleship to engage in all of the 12 major naval offensives in the Pacific. It was the first U.S. battleship to fire into Japanese territory. The ship traveled more than 300,000 miles during the war and consumed approximately 2 million gallons of fuel.

Thats slightly more than 6.5 gallons per statute mile. Well, the ship displaces 35,000 tons and carried an active-duty crew of 2,000.

If you havent been to Wilmington to see the battleship memorial, you should. After all, its not that far north from the Grand Strand, and lots of us go there when we can.

And in the good riddance department, an item that was saved from an 1888 copy of the Newton Enterprise newspaper that I am now saving. I redact last names, you know, just in case.

On Sunday, the thirteenth day of May 1988, William, aged eighteen years and my wife, Sarah, aged forty years, ran away from my home in Lincoln County. William is about five feet and six inches high, has dark hair, fair complexion, and black eyes, short black beard on his face and weighs about 165 pounds.

Sarah is a small spare-made woman with light red hair, fair complexion with warts on the back of the left hands, weighs about 112 pounds, and uses eyeglasses in reading or sewing. I think they have gone to South Carolina. Probably to some cotton factory.

I publish this not to bring them back to this county again, but to let the good people know who they are, wherever they may be. The announcement was signed by husband Joseph.

Ol Joe didnt leave much to the imagination, making sure people knew without a doubt Williams beard was on his face. I do wonder how many left hands, warts and all, Sarah had.

The irony is I found this forgotten item not long after hearing Rod Stewart sing on the radio about a woman named Maggie. It appears William was not as indecisive as Rod.

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No worries, I have a NATO sticker - Morganton News Herald

Former NSA contractor indicted in stolen data case …

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Harold Thomas Martin III, 52, faces 20 counts of willful retention of national defense information.

The indictment alleges Martin removed classified documents from 1996 to 2016. He is accused of keeping documents in his home or car.

The documents include highly classified materials from the National Security Agency, the US Cyber Command, the CIA and the National Reconnaissance Office. Among the documents are ones that reveal US military gaps, capabilities and operations, as well as ones that contained foreign intelligence collection methods, targeting information and technical user materials.

Martin's attorney had no comment when contacted by CNN.

FBI investigators haven't concluded what Martin's motivation was for stealing the documents. At a hearing in late October a public defender representing Martin said his client was a hoarder who was "completely out of control."

Before his arrest in August, Martin worked as a contractor to the National Security Agency through consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, which fired him after he was charged. He has a long history working with sensitive government intelligence, and served in the US Navy and Naval Reserves for more than 10 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

The information he had digitally in his car, the feds said, was equivalent to approximately 50,000 gigabytes, enough to store 500 million documents containing images and text.

The government said Martin had a document "regarding specific operational plans against a known enemy of the United States and its allies." That document was not only classified but marked need-to-know only, and Martin should not have been privy to that information, prosecutors said in court filings.

Also found were files containing personal information of government employees, and an email chain with "highly sensitive information" on the back of which were handwritten notes "describing the NSA's classified computer infrastructure and detailed descriptions of classified technical operations."

Among the documents the FBI believes Martin stole were some detailing a hacking tool that the NSA developed to break into computer systems in other countries, law enforcement sources said when he was arrested. Documents detailing the tools were posted on the Internet in recent months, though no connection to Martin has been offered.

Martin's attorneys have argued previously in court that he is not a flight risk because he does not have his passport and has a wife and home in Maryland. They noted his military service.

Martin will make his next appearance in court on February 14.

CNN's Steve Almasy contributed to this report.

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Sixth Circuit slams the courthouse doors to takings case – Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) (press release) (blog)

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The Sixth Circuit todaydismissed Wayside Church v. Van Buren County, a case challenging Michigans unconstitutional tax foreclosure scheme. Judge Kethledge who dissented from the panels decision, summed up the case this way:

In this case the defendant Van Buren County took property worth $206,000 to satisfy a $16,750 debt, and then refused to refund any of the difference. In some legal precincts that sort of behavior is called theft. But under the Michigan General Property Tax Act, apparently, that behavior is called tax collection.

You read that right. When Wayside Church fell behind on its taxes on a piece of land it used for youth camp, Van Buren County took the property and sold it for $206,000 to satisfy $16,750 in tax debt, interest, penalties, and fees. The County kept all of the profit$189,250.

When the church couldnt get its equity back from the government, it filed a Fifth Amendment Takings Claim, along with two other individuals who similarly lost their property over relatively small tax debts. The Fifth Amendment prohibits government from taking private property without paying just compensation. As PLF explained in an amicus brieffiled last year in support of the church and other property owners, government can take property for taxes, costs, and penalties due, but it violates the Constitution when it takes and keeps more than that. Indeed, most states recognize that dispossessed property owners should be compensated the surplus proceeds from the sale of tax-foreclosed property.

Unfortunately, today the Sixth Circuit did not even decide whether the Fifth Amendments Takings Clause protects property owners. Instead, it dismissed the case, holding that it was not ripe under Williamson County Regional Planning Commn v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City. The court held that Michigan courts offer reasonable, certain, and adequate remedy for Wayside Churchs constitutional claim. The court is wrong. As thedissenting opinion explains, Michigan law is unclear about whether state courts allow a takings challenge to the state tax law. And so far, Michigan courts have dismissed cases just like this one, claiming that the Constitution does not protect people from this kind of confiscation.

As the Liberty Blog has noted many times before, Williamson County hurts Americans ability to enforce their federally protected Constitutional rights. Usually when the local government violates constitutionally protected rights, citizens can seek protection from federal courts. But Williamson County creates a unique obstacle for Fifth Amendment takings claims. Justice Thomas recently urged the Supreme Court tofix the quagmire created byWilliamson County. For the sake of churches and landowners in Michigan, lets hope the rest of the Justices take that advicesoon.

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Sixth Circuit slams the courthouse doors to takings case - Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) (press release) (blog)

Second Amendment Group Threatens Lawsuit, Ramsey Tables Gun … – Hackensack Daily Voice

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RAMSEY, N.J. Amidst threat of a lawsuit from the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, the Ramsey Borough Council Wednesday held off on adopting an ordinance that would prohibit firearms from being discharged at shooting ranges within the borough.

The council voted to table the ordinance until the next council meeting on Feb. 22.

We are in the process of obtaining a national law firm to represent the borough pro-bono in the event of litigation since the New Jersey Second Amendment Society has threatened the borough with costly and protracted litigation if we move forward with the amendment, Ramsey Mayor Deirdre Dillon told a packed meeting room.

The borough attorney advised the mayor and council to table to the ordinance until that law firm is retained, Dillon said.

The ordinance at issue, introduced last month, revises one currently on the books that prohibits the firing of any pistol, shotgun, rifle or other type of firearms anywhere in the borough, but exempts indoor and outdoor firing ranges.

The revisions to ban the use of firearms at shooting ranges as well were introduced after the borough received an application to create a 60,000-square-foot indoor firing range at the former Liberty Travel building on Spring Street. An application for the facility dubbed the Screaming Eagle Club is pending with the Ramsey Planning Board.

RELATED: With Firing Range Pending, Ramsey To Consider Tightening Gun Law

New Jersey Second Amendment Society President Alexander Roubian sent a letter to the mayor and council on Feb. 1, stating: Our legal team is currently preparing the necessary Complaint to file with the N.J. District Court in the event the Ordinance is passed; however we ask that the proposed ordinance be pulled from the agenda so we can work together on an amicable solution without the need for costly litigation.

Roubian, a graduate of Ramsey High School, addressed the mayor and council in person Wednesday. We are very confident that we have a very, very good case here, he said, warning prevailing parties will be recovering their legal fees.

It is a chance we are willing to take, Dillon responded.

A string of additional speakers took to the mic to voice their concerns about both safety and Second Amendment issues.

RELATED: Ramsey Residents Say 'No' To Proposed Indoor Shooting Range

We like the town the way it is, a bucolic beautiful town that is safe for our children, said Ramsey resident Ellen OKeefe.

Andrew Stravitz, of Allendale, pointed out that the Waldwick Pistol & Rifle Club has been a few miles away from Ramsey for about 50 years. In 50 years, zero injuries in the shooting range over there, he said.

Barbara Puccia, of Ramsey, said It only takes one, and one person only, that has bad intentions that can cause a tragedy in this town.

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Second Amendment Group Threatens Lawsuit, Ramsey Tables Gun ... - Hackensack Daily Voice

Norwich University Hosts Program on First Amendment, National … – vtdigger.org

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News Release Norwich University Feb. 10, 2017

Contact: Daphne Larkin 802-485-2886 dlarkin@norwich.edu Follow us on Twitter @NorwichNews

NORTHFIELD, Vt. Norwich Universitys Sullivan Museum and History Center will host a lunch and learn program on the First Amendment in conjunction with a national, pop-up exhibit commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, at noon, The Sullivan Museum and History Center presents, A Living Document: The First Amendment, Past, Present and Future, a talk by Austin Gray, attorney and longtime professor of civil liberties and Constitutional law. The event includes a light lunch and is free and open to the public.

Gray, of law firm Gray Law PLLC in Barre, Vt., has been teaching at the university level for 20 years and is one of the founding faculty of the Master of Law program at Champlain College. He also teaches Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law at Norwich University. A graduate of Temple University School of Law, Gray is a member of the Vermont, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations.

This presentation is held in conjunction with a new pop-up exhibition from the National Archives, The Bill of Rights and You, commemorating the 225th anniversary of the ratification of this landmark document. This exhibit spotlights one of the most remarkable periods in American history, explores the origins of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution (collectively known as the Bill of Rights), illustrates how each amendment protects U.S. citizens, and looks at how Americans exercise the rights outlined in the amendments. The Bill of Rights and You invites visitors to connect directly with the people, places, and events that mark this historic documents evolution. The exhibit will be on display in the Museums Rotunda through March 15, 2017.

The Bill of Rights and You co-curator Jennifer Johnson states: The Bill of Rights represents the Founders vision that it would be the people, through votes, that could change the Constitution with enough consensus. And when the people desired a Bill of Rights, our first 10 amendments were added to our governing charter.

Visitors are also encouraged to engage in a dialogue by answering the question: What Does Freedom Mean to You? A message board in the Museum Rotunda is available to post your own personal answer.

The Bill of Rights and You is organized by the National Archives and Records Administration, and traveled by the National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service (NATES). This exhibition was developed in collaboration with the National Archives National Outreach Initiative to commemorate the 225th Anniversary of the Bill of Rights. The exhibition is presented in part by AT&T, Seedlings Foundation, and the National Archives Foundation.

This exhibit is brought to you in collaboration with the Vermont Humanities Council and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. A statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1974, the Vermont Humanities Council strives to make Vermont a state in which every individual reads, participates in public affairs, and continues to learn throughout life.

Norwich Universitys Sullivan Museum and History Center is the only museum in Vermont to be named a Smithsonian Affiliate. Currently, there are two exhibitions focusing on the year leading up the 100th Anniversary of World War One and the 75th Anniversary of World War Two. These exhibits are on display through May 2017 and include various items from the university collection as well as borrowed materials. Some of the artifacts on exhibit include: trench art, World War One and Two posters, patriotic jewelry, artwork, uniforms, medals, objects from the field, weapons and other items from our collection.

The museum is open to the public from 8 until 4 Monday through Friday, but is closed on holidays. Admission is free. For more information about the programs or exhibit, please call 802-485-2183 or visit http://academics.norwich.edu/museum.

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The Channels : Keep protests peaceful; don’t weaponize First … – The Channels

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The Channels Opinion Pages | STAFF COLUMN

Madeline Nathaus, Channels Staff February 10, 2017 127 views Filed under Columns, National, Opinion, Politics, Protest

The First Amendment was included in the Constitution by the founding fathers to guarantee citizens of the United States freedom of the press, religion, assembly and petition. It is this amendment that separates America from more than 40 percent of the worlds population.

Along with this right to freedom of speech comes the right to peacefully protest, march, and to publicly state ones beliefs in hopes of bringing attention to an issue or cause.

Protests and marches have been a vital part of forming modern day America and upholding democracy. Without citizens rising up against the government African Americans would not have civil rights, women would not be able to vote, and gay couples would not be able to get married.

Though most protests and marches remain relatively peaceful, there are times when they take a violent turn and end up disproving the point they are trying to make. For example, in the days following Trumps election, protests broke out among major cities and college campuses across the country. Unfortunately, protests in Los Angeles, Denver and especially Portland became violent in some form.

It is because of the First Amendment and the rights it provides that the Ku Klux Klan can legally march through the streets spreading a message of hate towards non-white citizens. It is why the Westboro Baptist Church can stand on corners chanting God hates fags all in the name of freedom of speech.

However, contrary to these organizations messages of discrimination and unacceptance, the Black Lives Matter movement spreads a message of lawful fairness towards African Americans.

The Womens March, which took place a couple weeks ago, brought attention to the constant sexism that women still face in the 21st century.

There is a reason why Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for peaceful protests. Imagine a mother yelling at her daughter for neglecting to wash the dishes, the daughter is less inclined to listen to her mothers reasoning if she is being aggressive.

Violent protesters ruin the movement for peaceful and lawful protesters. Peaceful and disruptive protests are the most effective forms of defiance. Vandalism, destruction of property, physically attacking other civilians, setting fires and other violent acts are illegal and indecent.

As long as protesters dont break any laws, police officers are more than happy to defend the rights of citizens. They are not the bad guys. After all, it is their job to prevent unlawful activities.

I respect everyones constitutional rights, as long as [the protests] are peaceful. Thats all that we can ask for, said Paul Espinosa, an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Love sends a stronger message than hate. People will be more open to listening to a message that contradicts their own ideology if their personal beliefs are tolerated and their rights and properties are respected.

Protests and marches are the most effective form of displaying civilians disagreement with certain government choices, but they must be used as a tool, not a weapon. Do not abuse your rights.

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The Channels : Keep protests peaceful; don't weaponize First ... - The Channels

Google Has First Amendment Right To Remove Sites From Search … – MediaPost Communications

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Siding with Google, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by search engine optimization company e-ventures Worldwide, which claimed its sites were wrongly removed from search results.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson in the Middle District of Florida said in a ruling issued this week that Google has a free speech right to decide which search results to display.

"Googles actions in formulating rankings for its search engine and in determining whether certain websites are contrary to Googles guidelines and thereby subject to removal are the same as decisions by a newspaper editor regarding which content to publish, which article belongs on the front page, and which article is unworthy of publication," U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson in the Middle District of Florida said in a ruling issued this week. "The First Amendment protects these decisions, whether they are fair or unfair, or motivated by profit or altruism."

The decision grew out of a lawsuit filed by e-ventures in late 2014. The company alleged in its original complaint that Google removed 231 sites associated with e-ventures' Webmaster tools. Google allegedly notified e-ventures that the sites would be de-listed because they were "pure spam."

"Identifying what Google believes is 'pure spam," and remedying the problem to remove the "pure spam" designation, without any specificity from Google, is a potentially insurmountable task," e-ventures wrote in the complaint, which accused Google of engaging in unfair and deceptive practices and interfering with business relations and defamation. e-ventures later dropped the defamation claim and added an allegation that Google violated a law regarding unfair competition.

Magnuson noted in his ruling that e-ventures' consultant told the company its sites were spam.

"In its attempts to secure re-listing of its sites on Google, e-ventures admitted that its sites were littered with doorway domains and scraped content -- e-ventures told Google that its single topseos.com site contained 18,000 scraped articles, 46,000 scraped press releases, and more than 28,000 scraped job listings,"Magnuson added.

He said that Google restored 50 e-ventures sites in November 2014, and that e-Ventures "abandoned" 100 others by consolidating them into a single domain.

Magnuson's ruling comes nine months after he rejected Google's request to dismiss the case at a preliminary stage.

Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman, who called attention to Magnuson's decision, suggests e-ventures' lawsuit should have been thrown out earlier.

"Of course Google can de-index sites it thinks are spam," Goldman writes on his blog. "Its hard to believe were still litigating that issue in 2017."

He notes that Google prevailed in prior lawsuits accusing it of wrongly demoting companies in the search results. In 2003, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit about that issue brought by SearchKing; in 2006, a different judge threw out a similar lawsuit by KinderStart.

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Google Has First Amendment Right To Remove Sites From Search ... - MediaPost Communications

Genesis Mining – Cloud Bitcoin Mining Contracts

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After Bitcoin Dropped 10%, How Likely Is An ETF Now? – Forbes – Forbes

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Forbes
After Bitcoin Dropped 10%, How Likely Is An ETF Now? - Forbes
Forbes
It's never a dull day in bitcoin. Here's how events in the past week affect the odds of SEC approval of a bitcoin ETF.
Analysts: Be Ready For Trading Frenzy If SEC Approves A Bitcoin ...CryptoCoinsNews
Needham's Insights Into Factors Affecting SEC's Decision on Bitcoin ...Nigeria Today

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Top 4 Best Beginner Bitcoin Wallets for Your Desktop – The Merkle

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Novice cryptocurrency users are often worried about how they can best store their bitcoin balance moving forward. Keeping money on an exchange wallet needs to be avoided at all costs. Using a desktop bitcoin wallet makes a lot more sense, as the user is in full control of their funds at all times. Below are some of the most convenient desktop bitcoin wallets for novice users, all of which are well worth checking out.

One of the oldest desktop bitcoin wallet solutions available today goes by the name of Armory. On paper, the desktop wallet is rather easy to set up, as most of the world is done through the installation procedure. Do keep in mind Armory requires the users to download the entire blockchain on their computer. This process will take a few hours or longer, as the blockchain is roughly 100GB in size right now.

What makes Armory so appealing are some of its more extensive features, even though they may not necessarily appeal to novice cryptocurrency users right away. Taking security seriously is of the utmost importance when it comes to bitcoin. Armory offers multi-signature and cold storage support, which will provide for more security to both novice and experienced users. Armory is available for Windows, Linux, and MacOS, and is certainly worth checking out. It also provides a bit more privacy, as the wallet does not reveal the IP address linked to your bitcoin wallet.

It may seem surprising to see the Bitcoin-QT wallet ranked number 3 on this list, but there is a good reason for that. Not only does the QT client require users to download the entire blockchain, it is also one of the more bland wallets for novice users.At the same time, Bitcoin-QT works quite well and receives regular updates, which make it worth checking out. Users will need to encrypt their wallet themselves, though, which may be considered a daunting task for novice users. In the end, Bitcoin-QT is a bit of a hit-and-miss among novice cryptocurrency users, thus your mileage may vary.

Multibit has always advertised itself as the go-to wallet for desktop bitcoin users. It takes mere seconds to set up a bitcoin wallet, as everything is done through a Setup Wizard. Moreover, the wallet is available in several dozen languages, which makes it more appealing to non-English speakers as well. The only downside is how Multibit is only available on Windows right now, which leaves Linux and MacOS users out in the cold. Then again, most novice cryptocurrency users seem to be using a Windows computer, which makes Multibit a more than solid pick.

From a convenience point of view, Electrum is the best desktop Bitcoin wallet client hands down. It is very lightweight, easy to set up, and does not require the whole bitcoin blockchain to be downloaded. Electrum has been around since 2011 and still receives regular updates to improve stability and add a few new features as time progresses. Users can also choose between various user interfaces, tweaking the Electrum wallet look and feel to their liking.

Similarly to most other wallet services, Electrum requires specific servers and nodes to maintain its connection to the bitcoin network. However, the Electrum servers and decentralized and redundant, which means users will always be able to access their bitcoin wallet without interruption. Last but not least, the wallet supports various add-ons and plugins, allowing for even more customization.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

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Top 4 Best Beginner Bitcoin Wallets for Your Desktop - The Merkle

Kalamazoo Christian Lady Comets Cruise to win over Constantine – MLive.com

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After a slow start, the Lady Comets cruised to a 51-31 win at Constantine to improve to 9-7 overall. They had many chances early to score, but couldnt capitalize and led after the first quarter 6-4.

Midway through the second quarter, the Comets went on a 7-0 run to grab the lead at 15-8; a lead they didnt give up the rest of the way. Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half with the Comets going into the locker room ahead 23-14.

The Falcons scored off some offensive rebounds in the third quarter and narrowed the lead to 4. The Comets ended the quarter on a 5-0 run with quick layups from Aliyah Lemmer and Carmen Katje and a free throw from Haley Balkema.

The Lady Comets stretched the lead to 16 with two quick baskets- one by Abigail Dykema off a beautiful pass from Jaxsen Meldrum and the second by Balkema. They continued to stretch the lead, eventually winning by 20.

The Lady Comets were led by Haley Balkema with 15 points and Carmen Katje with 14. Madelyn Batts added 4 and Abigail Dykema, Jaxsen Meldrum, and Sidney Duong each added 4 of their own. They return to action Tuesday night at home against Martin

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Kalamazoo Christian Lady Comets Cruise to win over Constantine - MLive.com

WVC BASKETBALL: Cougars edge Comets in thriller – Sports … – Standard Speaker

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MATT SEAMON/FOR THE STANDARD-SPEAKER Hazleton Areas Joey Grula (22) tries to get in front of Crestwoods Kyle Gegaris during their WVC Division I boys basketball showdown at Hazleton Area on Friday night. The Cougars pulled out a 43-41 to clinch a tie for the division championship.

MATT SEAMON/FOR THE STANDARD-SPEAKER Crestwoods Lance Blass (4) looks to pass as Hazleton Areas Joey Grula defends during their WVC Division I boys basketball game Friday at HAHS. The Cougars prevailed, 43-41.

Included in the Hazleton Area boys basketball programs previous 499 wins over the past 25 seasons were several thrillers over Crestwood.

No. 500 also came at the Comets expense in just the latest exciting chapter between the Wyoming Valley Conferences most intense rivals on Friday night at Hughie McGeehan Gymnasium.

Michael Cusatis put in the game-winning basket with 52 seconds left and the Hazleton Areas defense stepped up late to preserve the Cougars 43-41 come-from-behind win, giving them no worse than a tie for their second straight Division I championship.

We battled, but we stuck together, Cusatis said. As long as we keep our heads, we can get through a lot of stuff, even if things are looking bad for us.

Indeed, for huge stretches of their showdown, it looked like the Comets would avenge a 32-point home loss to Hazleton Area last month and the Cougars would have to keep scarlet their pre-ordered T-shirts emblazoned with the silver numbers 5-0-0 across their chests inside a box for another day.

Hats off to them, Hazleton Area head coach Mike Joseph said. They came in here really ready to play... We let them off the hook in the second quarter, but they hit some threes and battled back and had us chasing them around.

Trailing in the fourth quarter for just the fifth time in 19 games forced to go deep into their bench, the Cougars overcame a four-point deficit, tied the game on Jeff Planutis highlight reel-worthy dunk and went ahead to stay

on Cusatis floater in the lane with just under a minute left.

Crestwood then held the ball, playing for the tie or win at the buzzer. But Josh Samec blocked Noah Jacksons three-point attempt and the ball bounced into Cusatis hands, keeping the Cougars unbeaten in WVC play and extending their winning streak to 16 games overall.

You cant create an oil painting every game, said Joseph, paraphrasing a quote from Joe Maddon, the Chicago Cubs manager and Hazleton native. Sometimes you ugly.

Ugly in regard to Fridays game would be based on ones interpretation. Hazleton Area wanted to apply its pressure defense, force turnovers and score points in bunches like the Cougars did in their 62-30 victory over the Comets last month.

Crestwood, meanwhile, was content to run its motion offense until an open shot arose or a Comet player found a cutting teammate who had a layup or drew a foul. The ploy was meant to frustrate the Cougars, slow them down, get them off their game, maybe take some of their better players out of the game.

And it worked for the most as both Cusatis and Joey Grula finished the game with four fouls apiece and Planutis played with three.

Im proud of my guys, Crestwood head coach Mark Atherton said. I thought we did what we had to do to try to win the game. We had a chance at the end. It just came down to one possession.

The strategy helped the Comets (14-6, 11-3) overcome a 19-10 deficit in the second quarter, which the Cougars built largely on the shooting of Samec, Grula and Planutis. But Kyle Gegaris knocked down two triples from the top of the key and Kevin Klusewitz and Kyle Richards each buried their own threes to put Crestwood on top 23-22 with3:05 left before halftime.

Gegaris later added a jumper and a free throw to add to his teams lead, before Grulas two foul shots pulled the Cougars within 26-24 at halftime.

Senior Lance Blass almost single-handedly continued the Comets momentum in the third quarter as he muscled in a layup that he converted into a three-point play and later rattled in a triple from the corner to give the Comets their biggest lead of the night (32-26) at the 5:25 mark.

Hazleton Area picked itself off the deck with a 7-0 run that gave the Cougars back the lead and re-energized the crowd. Samec swished a step-back three, before Planutis scored in transition and then on a reverse layup on a feed from reserve Isaac Perez.

The Cougars maintained their 33-32 edge until Klusewitz beat the buzzer with a triple that had the Crestwood fans buzzing and Comets feeling confident.

We went out there and gave it every thing we got, Blass said. We got it right where we wanted it to be.

The Comets were feeling even better after Blass again worked the baseline for a deuce and Jackson cashed a Klusewitz feed into a deuce that made it 39-36 with six minutes showing on the scoreboard clock.

Planutis got one point back with a free throw, then probably made the play of the night, when he stole an inbound pass and put down one-handed jam that tied the game at 39 brought Hazleton Area fans to their feet with 5:20 left.

I just got the steal and I said, Im going up with it, Planutis said. Just hoping for the best.

Crestwood, however, kept its calm and stayed with its game plan until missing a shot. Samec was fouled on the other and dropped in two free throws to give the Cougars back the lead (41-39) as the clock ticked under four minutes.

In no hurry to rush things, the Comets took their time on their next possession until spotting Blass free. His spinning layup re-tied it at 41 with 1:19 left.

Then it was the Cougars turn to play offense. They got the ball to Cusatis, whose shot from in the lane was the eventual game-winner.

The Comets then spread the floor, hoping to force overtime or complete their upset.

Samec and the Cougars had other idea in what they call their monster defense, an extended 1-3-1 zone.

We didnt want them to shoot the three, Samec said. We packed it in and denied their whole right side. They ended up getting the ball to the person we wanted to have shoot it... and I just happened to be there.

This just shows that we have resilience, he added. It should help us in the long run.

The Comets should benefiit too come District 2 playoff time.

I thought our kids kept their composure throughout the game, Atherton said. We fought back and fought back... We were a couple plays away from winning this game... But by the same token, our kids upset they came close to beating a very good team.

Game Summary

CRESTWOOD (41) K. Gegaris 4 1-2 11, Blass 5 1-2 12, Klusewitz 2 1-2 7, Richards 3 0-1 7, Boris 0 0-0 0, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Knapp 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 3-7 41.

HAZLETON AREA (43) Samec 3 2-2 10, Cusatis 4 0-0 8, Kellmer 0 0-0 0, Grula 2 2-2 7, Genasevich 0 0-0 0, Shamany 0 0-0 0, Perez 0 0-0 0, Planutis 5 5-9 16, Faison 1 0-2 2. Totals 15 9-15 43.

Cre (14-6, 11-3) 10 16 9 6 41 HA (17-2, 13-0) 14 10 9 10 43

3-point FGs: Gegaris 2, Blass, Klusewitz 2, Richards, Samec 2, Grula, Planutis

JV score: Crestwood 51-46

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WVC BASKETBALL: Cougars edge Comets in thriller - Sports ... - Standard Speaker

Comets take command at MWL district – Mail Tribune – Mail Tribune

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EAGLE POINT Crater built a commanding lead at the Midwestern League district championships after advancing 22 wrestlers into todays semifinals with an impressive first-day showing at Eagle Point High on Friday.

The Comets amassed 225.5 points to take a sizable lead into todays final rounds over second-place Thurston (157). Eagle Point stands third with 84 points with Ashland fourth at 74.

Action resumes with semifinals at 10 a.m. this morning. The championship finals are projected to begin at 2 p.m. in Eagle Point.

Overall it was a smooth first day and what was predicted, said Eagle Point head coach Kacey McNulty. There werent any big upsets that I saw. If youre a Crater fan then things are rolling along pretty good with them already over 200 points after Day 1 with a full lineup.

The Eagles advanced eight wrestlers into todays semifinals, while Ashland has four within one victory of the championship finals.

The top four finishers advance to the Class 5A state tournament set Feb. 24-25 at Portlands Memorial Coliseum.

MWL District Championships

TEAM SCORES: Crater 225.5, Thurston 157, Eagle Point 84, Ashland 74, Churchill 67, North Eugene 62, Springfield 55.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS

106 Zeth Brower, Cra, pinned Dylan Averill, Thu, 1:42; Trigger Weyers, EP, pinned Juan Ramirez, Spr, 1:01; Gavin Sherrill, Thu, bye; Angel Diaz, Cra, pinned Freddy Barajas, EP, 5:22.

113 Hunter Grant, Cra, pinned Ainsley Afelin, Chu, :21; Jeremy Smith, Spr, dec. Ishmael Blas, NE, 9-2; Thomas Zomerdyk, EP, dec. Zane Stewart, Thu, 10-4; Tanner Ulrey, Cra, pinned Alexus Misick-Besio, Chu, 4:32.

120 Hunter Hiatt, Cra, pinned Danny Patterson, EP, :22; Joshua Sitowski, Chu, pinned Niccolo Cellini, Ash, 3:10; Bruce Cwiklinski, Cra, pinned Joseph Wolf, Chu, :28; Chance McMullen, EP, bye.

126 Scotty Morgan, Thu, pinned Isaac McCallister, Spr, 3:30; Alec Nolan, NE, pinned Mason Johnson, Chu, 5:39; Jerrod Reichert, Ash, won by forfeit; Isaiah Griffith, Cra, pinned Calvin Royce, Thu, 2:58.

132 Dallas Howard, Cra, pinned Rosemary Weston, Ash, 1:00; Shane Teigen, Thu, pinned Kolby Bearden, NE, 3:30; Josh Sitzer, EP, pinned Brooks Jake, Chu, 1:00; Seth Morales, Thu, pinned Jeremiah Berry, Cra, 1:16.

138 Bryce Cwiklinski, Cra, pinned Cody Schultz, Ash, :44; Evan Powell, Chu, pinned Breckon Lott, Thu, 1:08; Nathan Santoni, Cra, pinned Ben King, Spr, 1:41; Brian De La Cruz, EP, pinned Ron Brown, Chu, 2:10.

145 Logan Meek, Cra, pinned Desmond Duane, Spr, 1:07; Anthony Tena, Chu, dec. Noah Sitzer, EP, 8-4; Kevin Poston, NE, major dec. Ayden Beck, Cra, 16-7; Austin Watson, Thu, pinned Tyler Larson, Ash, 1:56.

152 Jace Godley, Cra, pinned Cameron Shaw, Thu, :14; Alan Leon, Chu, major dec. Nicholas Karr, Spr, 17-8; Brady Bigbee, Thu, pinned Nick Wells, Chu, 1:45; Jeremiah Sherrynewby, Ash, pinned Trever Davis, Cra, 3:23.

160 Kaleb Roach, Thu, dec. Kyle Hendrix, NE, 6-2; Cameron Savage, Cra, pinned Akaynen Dalton, Spr, 1:33; Tanner Lee, Cra, won by forfeit; Joseph Michelson, Spr, pinned Coby Wedmore, Thu, 3:36.

170 Cedar Barnes, Ash, pinned Jacob Richardson, Spr, 1:30; Logan Lowder, Cra, pinned Jack Johnson, Thu, 1:07; Lane Lambert, EP, pinned Isaac Barrager, Spr, :38; Markus Bennett, Cra, bye.

182 Zach Adler, Ash, injury default over Logan Dempsey, Thu; Leonardo Gutierrez, Cra, pinned Alexander Birkby, Spr, 3:25; Jett Vandersommer, Thu, pinned Caleb Ostmo, Ash, 1:58; Tony Flores, Cra, pinned Dyllan Kirsch, Spr, :44.

195 Avery Jaramillo, Thu, pinned Jade Boucher, Ash, :54; Jacob Hukill, EP, dec. Caleb Lawrence, Cra, 6-2; Brayden Rogers, Spr, pinned Isaiah Sefo, NE, 4:28; Wally Pendleton, Cra, tech. fall Jacob Mason, Thu, 19-2 (4:00).

220 Beau Crawford, Cra, pinned Hayden Fausett, Chu, 1:23; Logan Gambill, NE, bye; Jackson Casteel, Thu, pinned Daniel Flores, Cra, 1:37; Taylor Lawler, EP, bye.

285 Javon Gill, Cra, pinned Trevor Culp, Thu, :43; Tyler Kinney, NE, pinned Cole Woodke, Chu, 5:28; Cameron Sweet, Cra, pinned Logan Marks, Thu, :57; Cade Wolford, Spr, pinned Raymond Wood, Chu, 1:04.

2A/1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 3 PRE-DISTRICT: At Culver, Billie Tucker placed first at 285 pounds to lead the charge for Butte Falls/Prospect, which finished sixth overall at the 10-school event at Culver High.

Tucker received byes into the championship finals before scoring a pin on Central Linns Justin Malone at 2 minutes, 18 seconds.

Ryan Cicero placed fourth at 152 after suffering pins in the semifinals and third-place finals, while Jonathan Gagnon (145) won his fifth-place final with a pin in 1:52 over Keith Swan of North Lake and Tyler Haskell advanced to the semifinals at 170 but suffered two falls before having to forfeit the fifth-place final to place sixth.

TEAM SCORES: Culver 337.5, Central Linn 114, Oakridge 80, Santiam 77, Glendale 54, Butte Falls/Prospect 43, Bonanza 40, Gilchrist 38.5, North Lake 33, Chiloquin 9.

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Types of Psoriasis: Medical Pictures and Treatments

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What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where rapid skin cell reproduction results in raised, red and scaly patches of skin. It is not contagious. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body.

Anyone can have psoriasis. About 7.5 million people in the U.S. are affected, and it occurs equally in men and women. Psoriasis can occur at any age but is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 25. It is more frequent in Caucasians.

Psoriasis is a non-curable, chronic skin condition and there will be periods where the condition will improve, and other times it will worsen. The symptoms can range from mild, small, faint dry skin patches where a person may not suspect they have a skin condition to severe psoriasis where a person's entire body may be nearly covered with thick, red, scaly skin plaques.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown but a number of risk factors are suspected. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to inheriting the illness, as psoriasis is often found in family members. Environmental factors may play a part in conjunction with the immune system. The triggers for psoriasis what causes certain people to develop it remain unknown.

Psoriasis usually appears as red or pink plaques of raised, thick, scaly skin. However it can also appear as small flat bumps, or large thick plaques, ,. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body. The following slides will review some of the different types of psoriasis.

The most common form of psoriasis that affects about 80% of all sufferers is psoriasis vulgaris ("vulgaris" means common). It is also referred to as plaque psoriasis because of the well-defined areas of raised red skin that characterize this form. These raised red plaques have a flaky, silver-white buildup on top called scale, made up of dead skin cells. The scale loosens and sheds frequently.

Psoriasis that has small, salmon-pink colored drops on the skin is guttate psoriasis, affecting about 10% of people with psoriasis. There is usually a fine silver-white buildup (scale) on the drop-like lesion that is finer than the scale in plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis if commonly triggered by a streptococcal (bacterial) infection. About two to three weeks following a bout of strep throat, a person's lesions may erupt. This outbreak can go away and may never recur.

Inverse psoriasis (also called intertriginous psoriasis) appears as very red lesions in body skin folds, most commonly under the breasts, in the armpits, near the genitals, under the buttocks, or in abdominal folds. Sweat and skin rubbing together irritate these inflamed areas.

Pustular psoriasis consists of well-defined, white pustules on the skin. These are filled with pus that is non-infectious. The skin around the bumps is reddish and large portions of the skin may redden as well. It can follow a cycle of redness of the skin, followed by pustules and scaling.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis that is extremely inflammatory and can affect most of the body's surface causing the skin to become bright red. It appears as a red, peeling rash that often itches or burns.

Psoriasis commonly occurs on the scalp, which may cause fine, scaly skin or heavily crusted plaque areas. This plaque may flake or peel off in clumps. Scalp psoriasis may resemble seborrheic dermatitis, but in that condition the scales are greasy.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) accompanied by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis). Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body's defenses attack the joints of the body causing inflammation and pain. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops about 5 to 12 years after psoriasis begins and about 5-10% of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

In some cases, psoriasis may involve only the fingernails and toenails, though more commonly nail symptoms will accompany psoriasis and arthritis symptoms. The appearance of the nails may be altered and affected nails may have small pinpoint pits or large yellow-colored separations on the nail plate called "oil spots." Nail psoriasis can be hard to treat but may respond to medications taken for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Treatments include topical steroids applied to the cuticle, steroid injections at the cuticle, or oral medications.

Right now there is no cure for psoriasis. The disease can go into remission where there are no symptoms or signs present. Current research is underway for better treatments and a possible cure.

Psoriasis is not contagious even with skin-to-skin contact. You cannot catch it from touching someone who has it, nor can you pass it on to anyone else if you have it.

Psoriasis can be passed on from parents to children, as there is a genetic component to the disease. Psoriasis tends to run in families and often this family history is helpful in making a diagnosis.

There are several types of doctors who may treat psoriasis. Dermatologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of joint disorders, including psoriatic arthritis. Family physicians, internal medicine physicians, rheumatologists, dermatologists, and other medical doctors may all be involved in the care and treatment of patients with psoriasis.

There are some home remedies that may help minimize outbreaks or reduce symptoms of psoriasis:

The first line of treatment for psoriasis includes topical medications applied to the skin. The main topical treatments are corticosteroids (cortisone creams, gels, liquids, sprays, or ointments), vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, or retinoids. These drugs may lose potency over time so often they are rotated or combined. Ask you doctor before combining medications, as some drugs should not be combined.

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun slows the production of skin cells and reduces inflammation and can help reduce psoriasis symptoms in some people and artificial light therapy may be used for other people. Sunlamps and tanning booths are not proper substitutes for medical light sources. There are two main forms of light therapy:

If topical treatment and phototherapy have been tried and have failed, medical treatment for psoriasis includes systemic drugs taken either orally or by injection. Drugs including methotrexate, adalimumab (Humira), ustekinumab (Stelara), secukinumab (Cosentyx), ixekizumab (Taltz), and infliximab (Remicade) block inflammation to help slow skin cell growth. Systemic drugs may be recommended for people with psoriasis that is disabling in any physical, psychological, social, or economic way.

The prognosis for patients with psoriasis is good. Though the condition is chronic and is not curable, it can be controlled effectively in many cases. Studies for future treatments look promising and research to find ways to battle psoriasis is ongoing.

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Types of Psoriasis: Medical Pictures and Treatments

Donald Trump considers issuing new travel ban – BBC News

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Donald Trump considers issuing new travel ban
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The appeals court ruling means that visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either. But the ...
Federal appeals court rules 3 to 0 against Trump on travel banWashington Post
Travel ban opponents try to score more victories in courtNews Sentinel
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America is a home for the world’s most talented. A travel ban risks losing them – The Guardian

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Shahrzad Changalvaee and her husband Iman Raad left Iran to study in America after the election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Photograph: Sean Bolan

Of all the interventions the United States has attempted in the last decade to contain Iran, one of the most successful is perhaps the least known of them all.

It came in 2012, when Barack Obamas state department began easing restrictions on student visas for Iranians. By 2015, half of all visas issued to citizens of the seven countries affected by Trumps travel ban went to Iranian nationals, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tuition fees for US academic centers. Irans top academic and artistic talents flocked to America, in numbers unprecedented since 1979.

It is this quiet victory that Donald Trumps executive order threatens to undo.

One of the thousands of students who came here is the Iranian artist Shahrzad Changalvaee, who began in the masters of fine arts program at Yale University in 2013. Three years later, she found herself captivated by the presidential campaign and joined demonstrations in support of Hilary Clinton. On 20 January this year, Changalvaee, returning to the US from a trip abroad, found a different America than the one she knew.

Had her plane landed a few days later, she, like hundreds of other Iranian students, would have been turned away at the airport thanks to the presidents travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries.

That this US election did not go as she had hoped was a greater blow to her than most others on campus. It brought back memories of another lost campaign.

Shahrzad and her husband, Iman Raad, a formidable figure on Irans graphic art scene, had invested much in the reformist presidential candidate, Mohammad Moussavi who challenged the hardliner incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in the disputed 2009 election. Moussavis defeat prompted massive street protests, but the brutal crackdown that followed snuffed out the opposition green movement and its hopes for peaceful change.

This was the moment the couple decided to leave Iran. And America, now that student visas were being issued more readily, was the ideal destination.

By opening the doors to disillusioned Iranians, America became home to some of Irans greatest talents.

Shahrzad was not drawn to Yale for its prestige: she knew that the university would subsidize her education both with grants and institutional loans. Even with a full scholarship, which she did receive, she still needed more in loans $35,000 by the end of her two years to cover various costs.

When the matter of their budget in America had been squared away, the two still had to come up with another hefty sum to get them there. By then, the sanctions had gone into effect and the value of the Iranian rial had plummeted to historic lows.

And before getting to America, they first had to get to an American embassy, which Iran did not have since the hostage crisis of 1979. The couple sold everything they could and scraped all their cash together to cover an avalanche of expenses: plane tickets to a third country to visit an embassy, security and visa application processing fees, tickets to America, and attorney fees.

In 2016, Iranian students in US colleges and universities contributed an estimated $386m to the economy. Among international students currently studying in the US, Iran ranks as the 11th leading source of global scholars. This body of more than 12,000 researchers, medical residents, future lawyers, artists or engineers has only been growing. Those Iranians that become permanent residents or ultimately attain US citizenship (over half a million today) are among the most statistically successful immigrant populations. In America, Iranians lead every other immigrant group in having advance academic degrees and more than half of Iranian-Americans aged 25 and older have, at the very minimum, a BA, almost double the national average, according to the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian-Americans.

For Shahrzad and Iman, the initial encounter with America had come with the anticipated shock and awe. A routine trip to Home Depot before the start of the school year had been astonishing. I saw things in sizes I had never seen before, and it made me think of so many new possibilities.

In America, Shahrzad felt different. Not because of her Iranian or Muslim identity the bitter experience of theocracy had removed any religious affinity but because of the experiences of the first 10 years of her life: I was a child of the Iran-Iraq war. The memory of sirens, the fear of bombs were part of who I was in a deeper way than I ever thought possible.

Another two years in America Shahrzad required an additional visa. An Iranian-American immigration attorney, Reza Mazaheri, an avid art collector and admirer of the couples work, filed a request for a change of status for her to an O visa a special category reserved for individuals of exceptional talent. Mazaheri, who offers his legal expertise in exchange for art work, has represented dozens of Iranians. He believes that Obama, by opening up student visas, ushered a new wave of immigration which has already made a major contribution to the American art scene.

The O and EB1 visas are what many consider Americas secret weapon. It is how the US has been stealing the best of the best from other nations for years, Mazaheri believes.

Last December, Mazaheri managed to successfully deploy that secret weapon on Shahrzads behalf and secure an O visa for her. But with the ban and the ongoing legal battle it triggered her freedom to travel to and from America to show her work will be restricted. Her husbands student visa will expire in June and unless the ban is lifted, he is unlikely to be able to extend his stay to work here as he had hoped.

The loss to America will be twofold. On one hand is the talent. On the other is the loans, a sum of $70,000 for both, which neither will be able to repay if they are ordered out of the country.

Since the ban has gone into effect, France has already announced a commitment to doubling its admissions of Iranian refugees in 2017. Canada, Australia and northern European nations are also potential destinations for all those whom the US will turn away. It will be difficult for America to retain its status as the first in innovation, if it is no longer the destination for the best and the brightest.

Roya Hakakian is the author of two books of poetry in Persian. Her most recent book in English is Assassins of the Turquoise Palace. She came to America as a political asylum seeker. Follow her @Royathewriter

This story was produced with support from the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, a nonprofit devoted to reporting about economic inequality

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America is a home for the world's most talented. A travel ban risks losing them - The Guardian

It’s Already Too Late to Stop the Singularity – Big Think

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Ben Goertzel: Some people are gravely worried about the uncertainty and the negative potential associated with transhuman, superhuman AGI. And indeed we are stepping into a great unknown realm.

Its almost like a Rorschach type of thing really. I mean we fundamentally dont know what a superhuman AI is going to do and thats the truth of it, right. And then if you tend to be an optimist you will focus on the good possibilities. If you tend to be a worried person whos pessimistic youll focus on the bad possibilities. If you tend to be a Hollywood movie maker you focus on scary possibilities maybe with a happy ending because thats what sells movies. We dont know whats going to happen.

I do think however this is the situation humanity has been in for a very long time. When the cavemen stepped out of their caves and began agriculture we really had no idea that was going to lead to cities and space flight and so forth. And when the first early humans created language to carry out simple communication about the moose they had just killed over there they did not envision Facebook, differential calculus and MC Hammer and all the rest, right. I mean theres so much that has come about out of early inventions which humans couldnt have ever foreseen. And I think were just in the same situation. I mean the invention of language or civilization could have led to everyones death, right. And in a way it still could. And the creation of superhuman AI it could kill everyone and I dont want it to. Almost none of us do.

Of course the way we got to this point as a species and a culture has been to keep doing amazing new things that we didnt fully understand. And thats what were going to keep on doing. Nick Bostroms book was influential but I felt that in some ways it was a bit deceptive the way he phrased things. If you read his precise philosophical arguments which are very logically drawn what Bostrom says in his book, Superintelligence, is that we cannot rule out the possibility that a superintelligence will do some very bad things. And thats true. On the other hand some of the associated rhetoric makes it sound like its very likely a superintelligence will do these bad things. And if you follow his philosophical arguments closely he doesnt show that. What he just shows is that you cant rule it out and we dont know whats going on.

I dont think Nick Bostrom or anyone else is going to stop the human race from developing advanced AI because its a source of tremendous intellectual curiosity but also of tremendous economic advantage. So if lets say President Trump decided to ban artificial intelligence research I dont think hes going to but suppose he did. China will keep doing artificial intelligence research. If U.S. and China ban it, you know, Africa will do it. Everywhere around the world has AI textbooks and computers. And everyone now knows you can make peoples lives better and make money from developing more advanced AI. So theres no possibility in practice to halt AI development. What we can do is try to direct it in the most beneficial direction according to our best judgment. And thats part of what leads me to pursue AGI via an open source project such as OpenCog. I respect very much what Google, Baidu, Facebook, Microsoft and these other big companies are doing in AI. Theres many good people there doing good research and with good hearted motivations. But I guess Im enough of an old leftist raised by socialists and I sort of Im skeptical that a company whose main motive is to maximize shareholder value is really going to do the best thing for the human race if they create a human level AI.

I mean they might. On the other hand theres a lot of other motivations there and a public company in the end has a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders. All in all I think the odds are better if AI is developed in a way that is owned by the whole human race and can be developed by all of humanity for its own good. And open source software is sort of the closest approximation that we have to that now. So our aspiration is to grow OpenCog into sort of the Linux of AGI and have people all around the world developing it to serve their own local needs and putting their own values and understanding into it as it becomes more and more intelligent.

Certainly this doesnt give us any guarantee. We can observe things like Linux has fewer bugs than Windows or OSX and its open source. So more eyeballs on something sometimes can make it more reliable. But theres no solid guarantee that making an AGI open source will make the singularity come out well. But my gut feel is that theres enough hard problems with creating a superhuman AI and having it respect human values and have a relationship of empathy with people as it grows. Theres enough problems there without the young AGI getting wrapped up in competition of country versus country and company versus company and internal politics within companies or militaries. I feel like we dont want to add these problems of sort of human slash primate social status competition dynamics. We dont want to add those problems into the challenges that are faced in AGI development.

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It's Already Too Late to Stop the Singularity - Big Think