Monthly Archives: June 2017

Owner of Joe’s Crab Shack files for bankruptcy | Jacksonville News … – Florida Times-Union

Posted: June 11, 2017 at 5:40 pm

Ignite Restaurant Group Inc., the operator of the Joes Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern & Tap chains, has filed for bankruptcy with an eye toward a possible sale to an affiliate of Kelly Investment Group.

Ignite has seen sales decline as the U.S. dining sector faces drops in customer traffic. The company listed estimated total debts as of April 30 of $197.3 million in Chapter 11 papers filed Tuesday in Houston federal court. Assets totaled $153.4 million.

Ignite announced in April that Robert S. Merritt had resigned as chief executive officer and left the board. Jonathan Tibus, a managing director at turnaround firm Alvarez & Marsal, was chosen to replace him.

The debtors have continued to experience declining financial performance and declines in comparable restaurant sales and income from operations at Joes and Brick House, Tibus said in a court filing. The debtors have closed underperforming restaurants and implemented cost reduction measures to help mitigate the effect of these declines and improve their financial position and liquidity.

Ignite began looking around for a buyer last year, but as its condition deteriorated, viable offers dried up. In June, Ignite lined up Kelly affiliate KRG Acquisitions Co. as a stalking horse to open bidding in a court-supervised auction. KRGs offer consists of $50 million and assumption of liabilities.

Ignite says all Joes Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern restaurants will remain open as it goes through the bankruptcy and sales process. In an FAQ, the company says that it will continue to accept gift cards, coupons and other promotions in accordance with its policies.

Joes Crab Shack made headlines last year when the company backed away from its no-tipping policy that began in November 2015., according to Consumerist, a consumer website that is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Consumer Reports.

Under the policy, the company said it would implement a new set wage practice. Servers were to be paid at a rate starting at $14/hour based on their past performance, Consumerist reported. To generate the revenue needed for the new wages, the company executed a 12 percent to 15 percent increase to the restaurants menu.

Six months later, the company ditched the policy and brought back its standard system.

The broader U.S. restaurant industry is suffering headwinds on multiple fronts. Eateries are relying more heavily on discounts and specials to attract diners, crimping profit margins. And a historic bout of food deflation has turned grocery stores into a bigger bargain. Thats made consumers more likely to eat meals at home.

Chain restaurants also are losing market share to mom-and-pop places a shift for the industry. Sales for independent restaurants are expected to grow about 5 percent through 2020, while chains will climb just 3 percent, according to Pentallect Inc., a research firm in Chicago.

Ignite operates 112 Joes including one in Jacksonville Beach and 25 Brick House restaurants only ones in Florida are in Orlando and Tampa in 32 states, plus three franchises in the United Arab Emirates, according to court papers. It employs 8,400 people, including 5,500 part-time workers. The first Joes opened in Houston in 1991.

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TB Joshua : ‘Investigate Fani-Kayode’s claims on Synagogue building collapse’ – Analyst – Pulse Nigeria

Posted: at 5:40 pm

A public affairs analyst, Mahmood Ahmed Kankiahas advised the federal government to investigate claims by Femi Fani-Kayode on the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse which occurred on Friday, September 12, 2014.

In a piece entitled; TB Joshua's building, Fani Kayode's allegation and need for thorough investigation, Kankia noted that SCOAN Lagos has boosted Nigerias foreign exchange earnings.

He noted that Joshua has also contributed to the socio-economic development and growth of Nigeria.

He writes:

Recently the founder of theSynagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), the revered man of God, Prophet TB Joshua, a citizen of this country known worldwide and someone who has contributed immensely to the social economic development and growth of Nigeria, threatened to relocate his ministry from Nigeria.

The internationally acclaimed preacher and philanthropist who is followed by millions worldwide from within and outside Nigeria, stated that, his country has become hostile and difficult for him to reside and operate in.

According to him, "This is the most persecuted ministry in the world. Who are the people persecuting the ministry? My people, Africa. That is why I choose to live a lonely life. If you want to see me, come to this church. I dont go out. It has not been easy because I dont know who is a friend or who is an enemy.

"If you learn TB Joshua is not around, I am in a revival. I live in the church here. I dont have a house outside. What happened to me from the beginning of my ministry is enough to chase me out of this country. But I am still in your midst. Upon the persecution and hatred, I decided to follow the path of love. You show hatred; I show love."

Many Nigerians are aware that, if Prophet TB Joshua relocates from Nigeria, the aftermath will be disastrous and further compound the economic woes of the already tethering social economic well-being of Nigerians.

For those conversant with the activities of the prophet, millions of foreigners troop into the country on daily basis, all year round to see the manifestation of what God is using him to do, but like the biblical saying, a prophet and rightly so is not always recognized in his own home.

It is because of this that Prophet TB Joshua has continued to be prosecuted, attacked, insulted without the government and its agencies raising any eyebrows.

Days ago, a former Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic, Femi Fani-Kayode, raised some salient issues and accusations against the security apparatus of the federal government.

ALSO READ: What Prophet TB Joshua's departure means for his Nigerian church members

For clarity of purpose, this is what Fani Kayode has to say:"One of the single greatest atrocities perpetuated by rogue elements in our intelligence agencies in modern history was the blowing up of a guest house in Prophet TB Joshuas church which resulted in the death of approximately 116 people, most of whom were foreigners. This took place on September 12th 2014.

The perpetrators of this utterly barbaric act were the same people that covertly and cleverly spun the tale that the building collapsed as a result of a weak foundation and fed that pernicious lie to a gullible and easily manipulated Nigerian media.

Femi Fani-Kayode

"They argued that the building was built without the relevant permits and conveniently overlooked the fact that, according to my sources at Alausa, Lagos state, between 60 and 70 percent of buildings in the environs and suburbs of Lagos state, either never had a building permit in the first place, procured one only after the relevant building was constructed, or have fake ones which were procured through bribes.

"The motive for the attack was to silence and discredit Joshua, who, by that time, had become a thorn in the flesh of many within the corridors of power, simply because he was exposing the deepest secrets about what was going on in the country and those who were covertly working against former President Goodluck Jonathan.

"He went as far as to prophesy and predict everything that would happen in the 2015 election which was scheduled to holdtwo years later, with great accuracy, if President Goodluck Jonathan did not remove certain people (whose names were mentioned) within his government and inner circle.

"The attack involved the use of certain members of our intelligence agencies who used a large remote-controlled drone to fly over the building and who then activated an explosive device which had been planted in the building days earlier with the drone.

"The whole thing appears to have been covered up and those in high places in the intelligence agencies at the time, having discovered that this was yet another rogue operation by a group of fifth columnists within the security apparatus who were keen on silencing the Presidents friends and who wanted to use the operation to embarrass and terrify their perceived enemies and adversaries, decided to brush the whole thing under the carpet and keep it quiet.

"And this is where things went badly wrong. In a typical Nigerian manner, instead of digging deep and patiently trying to establish the relevant facts and setting in motion a forensic-based and professional investigation, the security agencies looked for a scapegoat, turned on the man of God, made him the subject of a criminal investigation and claimed that the building collapsed because it had weak foundations and because it had not been properly built."

However, as it is typical in the Nigerian context, the government has kept mute, carrying on as if nothing is amiss and the citizens too, weird down by the the current situation in the country, are busy looking for what to eat and drink and not worried that someone like the Prophet is being set up.

A country is not built like this and there is no way we are going to make progress as a people with this lackadaisical altitude to issues of such monumental propotion and expect us to compete with other serious minded countries in the comity of nations.

Even the Federal Government that should know better and try to get to the root of the matter because it appreciates the contributions of TB Joshua is not saying anything tangible on the development.

The federal government should know better because when the Man of God threatened to relocate his ministry to Israel the federal government through the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, advised him to sheath the idea, knowing the consequences.

Minister of information, Lai Mohammed

Speaking with newsmen during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) in Lagos, Mohammed called for dialogue between the Pastor and the authorities over whatever challenges he was facing as jumping ship is not an idea to be considered.

Mohammed said; "That will be very unfortunate (TB Joshua leaving Nigeria) in the sense that if he does move out, it will affect our tourism in Nigeria.

"Pastor Joshua is an important person; he must bear with us. This is his country; if he moves out and go to South Africa, for example, the revenue will go to South Africa.

"It is better that Pastor Joshua sits down with the relevant authority and resolve whatever problem he has. If I have access to him, this is exactly what I am going to tell him. the government spokesman said.

"But the question begging for answers, however, is why government is foot dragging on launching a comprehensive and independent investigation into what actually transpired that led to the building collapse?"

Fani Kayode might be an ardent critic of this administration, but a serious allegation and issue that border on National Security and National development has been raised as the Minister of information himself has testified to.

Or is it because, it is coming from an opposition figure? This government should employ all avenue necessaryto bring this matter to an open and transparent conclusion, that is the only way it can engender patriotism and give those contributing their quota to the development of the country a sense of belonging.

In my humble opinion, government needs to revisit this issue and get to the root of the matter. Those allegedly involved and covering up the situation should be brought to book as a way to showing the man of God that his country values him, loves him and appreciate his contributions to the country.

Many Nigerians and expatriates alike, who have benefited from the philanthropic gesture of Prophet T.B Joshua, spanning gifts and cash to the less privileged in the society and foreigners who troop here on a daily basis to boost our foreign exchange, as testified to by Lai Muhammed, will believe more in Nigeria as a country and this administration as one that is capable of bringing about the change, on which platform it rode to power.

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TB Joshua : 'Investigate Fani-Kayode's claims on Synagogue building collapse' - Analyst - Pulse Nigeria

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Shoemaker: Seeing a tragedy or a mere statistic? – MetroWest Daily News

Posted: at 5:40 pm

By John Shoemaker/Local Columnist

Around the world, the body count continues to climb.

In the first five months of 2017, Islamic terrorists made over 500 attacks and killed more than 3,500 civilians.

Mass murder of hundreds, thousands and even hundreds of thousands continues.

How can anyone justify or ignore it?

Back in the '60s, during the Vietnam War, a song by Buffalo Springfield had these lyrics: I think its time we stop, children, whats that sound, everybody look whats going down

Over 460,000 - mostly civilians - have died so far in Syria, with many having horrific deaths. Nothing seems to stop the insanity and it gets worse. Sarin gas is only the latest episode. Deliberate bombing of men, women and children not in anyones army are dying hourly.

The atrocities of ISIS are well known and include barbaric practices that go back hundreds of years. Crucifixions, beheadings, mass graves with victims shot, knifed, blown up, burned or buried alive. Lucky ones are raped and sold as slaves. Another tactic: suicide bombers.

Renegade terrorists running rampant around the world include Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Hamas, Hezbollah, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban, Muslim Brotherhood, Ansar al-Islam, Al-Nusra Front and a dozen others.

Combined, their death toll exceeds well over one million people in the past decade.

A lyric from another song, by Credence Clearwater Survival, said, Dont walk slow, the Devil is on the loose.

The black ISIS flag has a white circle emblazoned with black writing reading Mohammed is the messenger of God.

Incredibly disconcerting is that these religious armies are the ones that have unleashed the Devil as if he was the messenger of God.

After all, religions have a basic belief in love, respect and value for one another under the Lord, God or Supreme Being. Yet, religious extremists show no mercy to gain global control.

Muslim terrorists kill infidels or non-believers. Whether they hijack the religion or not, the result is the same. Death rains down upon those who cannot defend themselves.

In Syria, we have seen over 14 million people flee for their lives. They are slaughtered as they try to escape. The refugee onslaught has caused huge problems across Europe and hundreds are dying trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

In a recent conversation with a Hindu who grew up in Kashmir on the India/Pakistan border, which has a long history of strife, he stated what others say, that violence-oriented Muslims have as many problems getting along with other Muslims as with non-Muslims.

Most know that people killed in the last few years by Muslim terrorists are mostly other Muslims. Even a recent atrocity in Syria involved a Muslim, Abdul-Hamid Alyousef, who suffered his twin babies being gassed along with 26 members of his family.

Pope Francis calls it an endless horror.

Fortunately, the sordid history of Christianity was also the cause of millions of deaths but at least these religious organizations moved to civility and ended that practice centuries ago.

Today, the killing goes on in all the Middle East, much of Africa and the subcontinent. Religion is still embedded in the conflicts that include Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other sects.

Such carnage recalls the one man who is responsible for killing more people in history than anyone, including Hitler and Chinas Mao-Tse-tung. Historians generally agree Stalin takes the honor with more than 60 million deaths; other estimates go as high as 100 million.

Incredibly, Stalin killed more than a million of his own soldiers returning from German POW camps after WW II. He considered them treasonous.

It was Stalin who said, The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.

We are numbed by such statistics.

Still, many believe the U.S. should stay out of the fight. Let them kill themselves, they say. Others have this self-righteous notion that we should just show love, respect and pray for change.

Fat chance that will do anything to solve the problem.

Look at what a few men can do if left unchecked.

While we cannot be the worlds policeman, we can and must drive the world to enforce international law and to stop use of inhumane weapons like sarin gas or other deadly gases, biological or germ warfare and such.

Worse, there are threatening countries like North Korea and soon, Iran, with nuclear weapons.

It is unfortunate that few countries are willing and able to stand up for justice and for the lives of others.

We cannot allow all of humanity to become a statistic.

John Shoemaker lives in Natick.

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All for one in war on drugs – The National

Posted: at 5:39 pm


The National
All for one in war on drugs
The National
Given our relatively crime-free society, it would be easy to imagine that drugs pose no threat to us. But as The National reported yesterday, international drug smuggling networks are increasingly using our country and region as a gateway to ...

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NFL fighting youth charity over gambling policy – USA TODAY

Posted: at 5:39 pm

USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones looks at how offseason changes in the NFC West will affect the division's 2017 NFL season. USA TODAY Sports

A nonprofit whose charity event was forced to relocate by the NFL has asked a judge to demand league commissioner Roger Goodell explain the league's gambling policy.(Photo: Paul Beaty, AP)

In 2015, a nonprofit organization called Strikes for Kids invited more than 100 boys and girls to a charity event at a bowling alley near Las Vegas.

The star attraction was NFL players. More than 25 were scheduled to bowl with the kids and families all to help support youth development and education.

But there was one big problem with it:The bowling alley was part of a casino.

So the NFL forced the event to relocate, saying the leagues gambling policy forbids players from making promotional appearances at casinos.

And now the charity is fighting back.

After filing suit against the league last year, on Thursday the charity asked a federal judge to force NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to testify about how he interprets his gambling policy.

Mr. Goodell alone is charged with interpretation and enforcement of the gambling policy that served as the basis for relocating the charity event, said the request filed Thursday in federal court in Dallas.

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NFLs gambling policy appears consistently inconsistent

The request marks the latest strange legal entanglement the league finds itself in over its gambling policy. Even after the league recently approved the relocation of the Oakland Raiders to the casino capital of Las Vegas, this case also shows NFL is still heavily invested in the notion that casinos are bad places for players and children alike.

In this case, the NFLs position against casinos also stands out because the charity bowling event moved from a large bowling alley at the Sunset Station casino to the smaller Brooklyn Bowl, which is part of the LINQ casino promenade but not inside the casino itself.

One casino relationship was OK, according to the league. One was not.

So whats the difference, according to the leagues gambling policy?

The Brooklyn Bowl on the Las Vegas strip is not inside a casino, but it shares a promenade with one. Apparently that nuance is important to the NFL.(Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)

It depends. Strikes for Kids is seeking damages and has accused the league of fraud, saying an NFL lawyer misled the group and caused the charity to lose revenue. The event moved from a 72-lane bowling alley to one with only 16 lanes available by the Las Vegas Strip.

The NFL lawyer stated that the charity event needed to be moved, or no NFL player would be permitted to participate, the charity said in court filing June 6. Not only were these statements not true but were made with reckless disregard for the truth because the NFL approved a nearly identical venue for the charity event.

The NFL disagrees and is fighting this case and a similar case brought by two Dallas law firms: Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst LLP and the Pettit Law Firm. The two firms also are pursuing a separate suit against the NFL on behalf of a company affiliated with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

In that case, they say the NFL forced the cancellation of a fantasy football event in Las Vegas in 2015 because the event violated the same policy involving promotional appearances at casinos. However, the Romo event was not to take place inside a casino but rather in a convention property that was next to the Venetian casino and owned by the Las Vegas Sands casino company.

The league argued it had authority under its collective bargaining agreement with players to enforce its gambling policy in the Romo case. A judge agreed last year and threw the case out, but the plaintiffs appealed in Texas court. That case is still pending.

In the bowling alley imbroglio, the NFL noted that the Palazzo casino also was sponsoring the event, which was against league policy.

After speaking with the NFL lawyer, plaintiff dropped the casino sponsor and voluntarily moved its event to another venue called the Brooklyn Bowl, which plaintiff represented did not have any affiliation with a casino, attorneys for the NFL stated in court documents last month. The event then proceeded in the new venue with the participation of several NFL players and without any objection from the NFL.

This smaller bowling alley in Las Vegas wasn't the charity's first choice, but in the NFL's eyes, it was acceptable. It is located in a casino promenade.(Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)

The NFL attorneys noted that the NFL Foundation donated $5,000 to the charity to help support the event and was thanked for it by the charitys executive director.

The charitys attorneys described this as hush money. And now they want to take Goodells testimony about the gambling policy in a deposition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver denied this request last month on the basis that it was not relevant or proportional to the needs of the case. But the charity filed objections to her ruling last week and is trying again with a different judge.

When you look at the two (bowling alleys), there does not seem to be a difference, plaintiff attorney Julie Pettit told Toliver in a hearing May 25. And there's only one person (Goodell) that can tell us what's the difference between the non-approved venue and the approved venue. And he's this Oz behind the curtain, this person that the NFL will not allow us to talk to. And everyone points their finger at him, saying he's the only one that can make that determination.

In March, Goodell told reporters that the league doesnt envision changing its policies just because the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas by 2020. He also said the league retains the right to make changes if it thinks they are necessary.

Under the same gambling policy, NFL teams are allowed to accept limited advertising from casinos. In Las Vegas, the Raiders new NFL stadium will be owned by a landlord whose governing board includes executives from the MGM and Caesars casino companies.

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Delco reps split on expanded gambling in Pa. – Delco News Network

Posted: at 5:39 pm

A vote in favor of a massive gambling expansion in Pennsylvania passed the state House of Representatives late Wednesday night by a vote of 102-89.

First addressing the need to fix the local share tax issue in which the local revenue from Harrahs casino has been crucial to the city of Chester the bill intends to open up and legalize online gambling and daily fantasy sports, and authorizes tablet gambling at Pennsylvania airports. It will allow video gaming terminals in drinking establishments.

Split mostly down party lines, local representatives were deeply divided over the need for revenue and the difficulty in regulating the video gaming terminals.

Democratic Reps. Brian Kirkland, D-159 of Chester, Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, and Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, voted nay, while Reps. Nick Miccarelli, R-162 of Ridley Park, Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, and Steve Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester, voted in the affirmative.

This is a revenue generator, Santora said, who serves on the Gaming Oversight Committee. Were finally addressing the fantasy sports, which at some point will have a ruling from the federal government, but if youre not regulating youre not taking part in it.

Under HB 271, daily fantasy sports like FanDuel and DraftKings would have to pay $50,000 license fee and pay a 19 percent tax based on in-state participation. Applicants would also have to verifying they are at least 18 years of age.

Additionally, it solidifies the local shares from casinos locking in Harrahs at 2 percent a year of gross slot-machine gambling to Delaware County and $10 million a year to the city of Chester. Municipalities across the state will receive similar revenue shares, save for the city-county of Philadelphia, where SugarHouse Casino will pay 2 percent a year to both the host county and the host municipality.

Chester is in big trouble. Theyre one of the poorest municipalities in the state. They cant afford to lose the $10 million a year, Santora said. Blocking this is risking that.

The county hasnt raised taxes in three years, and Im sure the casino revenue is a big reason why, he continued.

However, the expansion of video gaming terminals, or VGTs, into bars, hotels, restaurants, truck stops, clubs or nursing homes, has brought great concern over the capacity of those owners to oversee and regulate addictive gambling among their patrons.

The casinos are highly regulated. They have mechanisms in place to identify and support folks with gambling addiction issues. The state police offer safety, said Krueger-Braneky. None of that will be true in this case. This is nothing more than a massive gambling expansion in an attempt to find new revenue from a Republican body that refuses to pass a severance tax (on Marcellus shale extractors).

Gov. Tom Wolf and fellow Democrats have been trying to pass a natural gas severance tax for years.

The bill is expected to go through drastic changes once the state Senate is back in session on Monday.

Barrar said he expects the gambling expansion bill to go to conference committee, which will include members from both the House and Senate from both majority and minority parties to hash out the differences between the two houses.

I voted in favor of the VGTs for the tavern owners. Theyre struggling, and a big chunk will come back to the communities, Barrar said. Right now Harrahs gives back to the county, but I dont know that it benefits my constituents.

Im not sure theres an appetite for VGTs in the Senate, but I do think well see an expansion of gaming, Miccarelli said.

Miccarelli too said the lack of oversight was of concern, but it didnt outweigh the benefits of revenue to local municipalities.

Itll ensure the additional revenue to municipalities is done in a responsible way, Miccarelli said. At the end of the day, you have problems at casinos with the strictest oversight I have concerns about gambling, but that versus raising taxes, Id rather not raise taxes on working families.

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Euthanasia Abandons Despairing People to Worst Fears – National Review

Posted: at 5:37 pm

A UK actress has announced she is seriously pondering euthanasia due to fears of being a burden when she can no longer care of herself. From the Manchester Evening News story:

Actress Claire King had revealed that she is considering euthanasia after being diagnosed with a degenerative disease. Claire, who plays Erica Holroyd in Corrie, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease where the bodys own immune system attacks the joints.

The 54-year-old actress developed rheumatoid arthritis in the early 90s and she has had joints removed and plates put in her fingers as a result of the condition. Former Emmerdale star Claire, who is divorced and has no children, worries about becoming a burden when she gets older and understands why people consider assisted dying.

Speaking with the Sunday Mirror she said: I can understand why people choose assisted dying and its getting to the point where I would consider it myself. Im not going to be hurting any offspring as I havent got any. Most of my family will be gone. Its not a selfish thing. Its a decision at a certain age, when youre becoming a burden to others.

We can all empathize with those fears. But note: Kingsdesire to die has to do withexistential anguish, not unbearable pain, which is euthanasias selling point.

Studies from Oregon and Canada show that the request to die is overwhelmingly caused by such anguish. But heres the thing: Such despaircan often be alleviatedwith appropriate mental health and sociological interventions.

But in our rush to honor lethal choice, we often deny people the very help that could restore their desire to live.

Worse, when we say, Of course you want to die, here are your poison pills or lethal jabwe confirm the despairing persons worst fears about themselves. In essence, we are telling them: Yes, you are a burden. Yes, your life isnt worth living. Yes, we are better off if you are dead.

Euthanasia is many things, but true compassionwhich means to suffer withisnt one of them.

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Euthanasia Abandons Despairing People to Worst Fears - National Review

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Pet euthanasia: Finding peace putting animals down – CBC.ca

Posted: at 5:37 pm

As much as their owners would like them to, pets don't live forever at some point, many people are forced tohavea difficult conversation with their veterinarian about euthanasia.

Dr. Ted Morris spoke with Daybreak Alberta this week about when it's time to consider putting your pet down.

Here is an edited version of their conversation.

Q. How often do you see pet owners struggle with this?

A.All the time. It's a really difficult decision for people to make and it's a really personal one.

Some people don't want to watch their pets go downhill at all. They want their memories of their pet to be when they were happy and healthy.

There's the flip side of that, some people won't let go until they know they've exhausted every possible avenue of treatment.

Veterinary students examine a cat at the CUPS pet health clinic. Dr. Ted Morris says quality of life is the most important thing to consider when it may be time to put your pet down. (CBC)

Q. How symbolic is putting a dog down?

A.It's a feeling of giving up. There's so much emotion wrapped up in it.Even with my own dog, I probably waited a week too long before bringing her in.

Q. What are some warning signs to watch for?

A.Look for symptoms like around the clock pain,daily vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite not eating for 2 days or more andnot being able to still do things that make them happy.

Q. When do you performeuthanasia with the pet owner present?

A.It's a mix. Many do stay. I would allow for owners to make decisions about the process. Whether it's bringing in a group of friends, lighting candles, saying prayers or playing music.

I'm notorious for turning euthanasias into wakes, if I can. We will do whatever you need.

Q. What do you say to those who refuse the process of euthanasia?

A.Whether a moral or religious issue, the focus then becomes palliative and longevity care. I'd recommend using a lot of painkillers.

If you have the time or dedication to do it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with hospice care.The only thing that's unacceptable is to do nothing.

We owe it to [animals], as compassionate pet owners, to do something to ease their end of life.

Q. When have you declined putting a pet down?

A.First, I'll find out what's going on, and see if there's an issue to be worked on.

The time I really won't do it is if it's for what vets call a "convenience-euthanasia," which is basically someone saying,"I don't want this perfectly healthy animal anymore. There's nothing wrong with them, but I just don't want them."

Euthanasiatakes a bit of an emotional toll.

Q. Does it take a toll on you?

A.It's sad every time. I've known a lot of animalsfor their whole lives.I reserve it for pets who need it.

With files from Daybreak Alberta

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The Panel: Liam Hehir and Tim Batt on euthanasia – Newstalk ZB

Posted: at 5:37 pm

Parliament will debate legalising voluntary euthanasia after Act Party leader David Seymour's private member's bill was drawn from the ballot on Thursday.

The controversial bill represents the best chance for voluntary euthanasia to be legalised in New Zealand, although the issue is deeply polarising. Many MPs, including Prime Minister Bill English, are firmly opposed.

The End of Life Choice Bill would allow mentally competent New Zealand adults who have a terminal illness likely to end their life within six months, or have a grievous and irremediable medical condition, the choice to ask a doctor to help end their life at the time of their choosing.

Columnist fortheManawatu Standardand comedian Tim Batt discuss their views on the billand the timing of the debate.

LISTEN ABOVE: Liam Hehir and Tim Batt speak to Andrew Dickens

READ MORE:David Seymour's euthanasia bill drawn from ballot

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Accused hacker will remain in custody after appeal of bail decision … – CP24 Toronto’s Breaking News

Posted: at 5:37 pm

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press Published Friday, June 9, 2017 1:57PM EDT Last Updated Friday, June 9, 2017 5:15PM EDT

TORONTO -- A Canadian accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails will have to stay in custody as he prepares to fight extradition to the United States.

Ontario's appeal court has dismissed Karim Baratov's effort to fight a judge's decision to deny him bail, saying that while the judge made some mistakes, they were not serious enough to affect the outcome.

"At the end of the day, Mr. Baratov remains a significant flight risk, and is alleged to have committed a serious offence," Justice Bradley Miller said in upholding the judge's ruling.

In a decision released Friday, Miller acknowledged the judge erred in finding that Baratov had breached the secure computers at Yahoo, Google and other companies, when in fact he is accused of "spear-phishing," a type of scam used to dupe users into giving away confidential information.

But Miller rejected the defence's allegations that the judge was wrong to describe Baratov as a highly skilled hacker or to find that the 22-year-old made a substantial income from his alleged activities.

"The fact is, Mr. Baratov gave evidence and was not able to persuade the application judge that he had any sources of legitimate income that could account for him acquiring, by age 22, a house, a string of luxury automobiles, and $31,000 in cash," Miller said.

"What is relevant, for the purposes of the application judge's analysis, is that there is evidence that Mr. Baratov is capable of generating significant earnings, not tied to any geographic location, and that this fuels his flight risk. These findings were open to the application judge on the record before him."

Baratov was arrested in March under the Extradition Act after U.S. authorities indicted him and three others -- two of them allegedly officers of Russia's Federal Security Service -- for computer hacking, economic espionage and other crimes.

The judge who denied Baratov bail in April found the young man was too much of a flight risk to be released under the plan proposed by his legal team.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Alan Whitten also said Baratov's parents -- who offered close to $1 million in cash and assets as collateral -- would not make suitable supervisors because they had not questioned his growing wealth or his business activities while he was living with them.

Whitten further said he believed Baratov would be motivated to flee, given that he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted in the U.S.

Baratov's lawyers had argued that Whitten made several errors, including amplifying the Hamilton man's alleged connection to the Yahoo hack and the Russian intelligence agent who allegedly hired him.

His legal team said in court that there's no evidence to suggest Baratov was involved in the large-scale breach of Yahoo security systems.

Miller took issue Friday with the defence's position that Baratov is accused of a "comparatively minor and victimless crime."

"Whether the applicant was paid nothing or was paid millions; whether the skill and energy expended were advanced or basic; whether he thought he was dealing with (Russian intelligence agents) or with a high school principal, the alleged conduct remains a destabilizing attack on the integrity of systems that are vital to all of our well-being," he said.

"Even unsuccessful attacks imperil public confidence and require the commitment of substantial resources for defence. The public cost, monetary and psychological, is broad and deep."

Baratov's lawyer,Amedeo DiCarlo, said they will now focus their efforts on challenging the extradition order.

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Accused hacker will remain in custody after appeal of bail decision ... - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

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