Patch McLean, VA -- Some top posts in McLean. Plus, how you can share your local news, events and pics.
Reported by Patch 6 hours ago.
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10 Places to Visit in McLean in 2016; 10 McLean Area Restaurants with New Year's Eve Menus + Free Taxi, Metro: Good News
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Twin suicide bombs strike northeast Syria
Twin suicide bombings hit two restaurants in a Kurdish-controlled city in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, killing or wounding dozens of people, a Kurdish official and a group monitoring the war said.
Reported by France 24 5 hours ago.
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The Minimum Wage Hike Hangover Arrives: Dining Out To Cost 10% More Starting January 1
One year ago, when the brainwashed economist Ph.D intelligentsia was stampeding over each other to come up with the most hyperbolic terms to dub the recovery that would be unleashed on the economy as a result of plunging oil, and gas, prices - with "unambiguously good" being our personal favorite - we would write post after post explaining just how wrong this is, and how in a hyperfinancialized economy, a 2-year record collapse in oil prices is about as "unambiguously bad" as it gets, and not just only for the hundreds of thousands of highly paid energy sector workers who had been the only source of in the early years after the financial crisis.Back then US GDP had risen 2.9% over the prior year; it has since tumbled to 2.1% and is sliding, while the rest of the world, especially the oil-producing nations, is gripped in a severe recession which has already spread to the US manufacturing sector and will soon drag down US services into a recession as well, aborting the Fed's rate hike cycle.
And then there was the idiocy with raising minimum wages which was supposed boost overall compensation: in another instance showcasing the real intellectual capacity of career and academic economists and those clueless enough to listen to them, we warned repeatedly that even the smallest of mandatory wage hikes would ripple through the economy and unleash extensive price increases across the board, not to mention countless job cuts as small and medium business, already struggling with keeping profits from plunging, had to find ways to eliminate overhead or raise prices.
As a result of this latest forced governmental intervention into the economy, everyone would be far worse off.
But while we had seen isolated cases of mostly food sector companies push prices higher, so far there has not been a coordinated industry-wide effort that will see a sizable impact on food inflation. This will change for New Yorkers starting on January 1, when the cost of a night out in the Big Apple is about to get even pricier.
As the Post reports, NYC diners can expect their restaurant and bar tabs to rise as much as 10 percent, plus tips, as restaurants seek to protect their profit margins from mandatory wage hikes; some eateries will eliminating tipping entirely - that primary source of incremental wages for thousands of food industry workers - and are hiking base prices by as much as 30%, with the money going toward higher payroll.
As a result even less money will end up going in any one individual worker's pocket; worse those who are ambitious and seek to stand out from the crowd will see their efforts diluted as their outsized contribution is repaid at the same rate as everyone else: easily the worst aspect of socialism.
The reason for the across the board increases: "squeezed restaurateurs face a mandatory increase in wages that is changing the economics of the restaurant business and may result in a seismic shift in how workers are paid and the number of hours they work. New York’s minimum wage will rise to $9 an hour from $8.75, *while the wage restaurants pay servers — not counting the tips customers pay — is going up by 50 percent, to $7.50 an hour*."
This will have a profound impact on the bottom line, if not on the likes of massive corporations like McDonalds, then certainly on your favorite around the block restaurant.
“Higher wages will cost us $600 a week,” said Jon Goldstein, a partner in Bistro 61, an Upper East Side eatery, which is experimenting with scheduling tweaks before it considers menu increases.
*“We’ll stagger our servers’ shifts so they don’t all come in at the same time or for a full shift, and we’ll make sure we don’t pay overtime,” *Goldstein said.
Which means less money *for everyone*.
Some of the most famous names will be impacted too: *P.J. Clarke’s, which operates three eateries in the city, estimates that the wage hikes will cost it $200,000 per restaurant and that its prices will go up nearly 4 percent next year*. At one of its locations, the pub will eliminate table-busing positions.
“We’ll make smaller sections for the servers so that, instead of 16 seats, they’ll have 12 seats,” said co-owner Philip Scotti “We’ll try it at one restaurant and see how it works.”
*At American Whiskey, a cavernous bar and restaurant at West 30th Street, diners can expect to see their tabs increase between 5 percent and 10 percent, said owner Casey Pratt.*
*
*
It's not just the food: draft and bottled beers will go up by $1 and $2, to $8 and $9, while some main dishes will tick up by $2.
“I don’t think it’ll be enough to keep people away,” said Pratt.
Pratt will find out soon enough just what the price elasticity of New Yorkers for alcohol truly is.
For some hiking prices is not an option so they have to do the only other thing they can: cut costs: smaller and lesser known restaurants don’t feel they have the power to raise their prices enough to eliminate tipping altogether like celebrity restaurateurs Danny Meyer and Tom Colicchio, who are rolling out such changes in their restaurant empires.
“Everyone sells pizza,” said Jason Brunetti, who owns Pizzetteria Brunetti in the West Village. “What’s going to justify me selling pizza for $3 more when you can get a margherita pie at a thousand different places?”
Instead, Brunetti is trying to eliminate overtime pay by hiring a part-time employee to make up the difference.
By ending tipping, restaurants can sidestep the tipped minimum-wage pay hike. That makes the move even desirable for restaurants that would rather pocket the higher revenue while retaining the flexibility to raise prices as well as wages for workers.
And then comes the spin: restaurateur Gabriel Stulman, who owns six restaurants in the West Village, announced last week he’s eliminating tipping on Jan. 4 at Fedora and will consider doing so at his other eateries. *“While the prices for individual menu items may seem high at first, the overall cost of the meal will be only slightly greater under the new system,” *according to the restaurateur’s site.
Sure, just call it the hedonically-adjusted ObamaWage tax: "it may seem high at first, but once the zombification settles in, it will all fall into place." Reported by Zero Hedge 4 hours ago.
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Here Are The Complete And Creepy Accusations Against Bill Cosby
A criminal complaint filed against Bill Cosby on Tuesday includes a detailed and explicit account of his history with Andrea Constand, the woman accusing him of sexual assault.
The disturbing allegations are contained in an 18-page affidavit filed by police in suburban Philadelphia. Constand described taking pills Cosby gave her at his home in 2004, and told police that she soon she slipped into a drug-induced delirium during which Cosby fondled her and forcibly placed her hand on his penis.
The encounter ended with an awkward exchange after she awoke at 4 a.m., she said.
"Cosby gave her a muffin, walked to the front door, opened it and said 'Alright,'" according to the affidavit. "The victim told investigators she left without saying anything."
*(Read the full complaint below.)*
A Cheltenham Township sergeant and two Montgomery County detectives filed the affidavit to get an arrest warrant for the 78-year-old comedian. A judge approved the warrant and Cosby turned himself in on Wednesday to be arraigned on a single charge of second-degree aggravated indecent assault.
More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of indecent behavior ranging from unwanted kissing to rape and other forms of sexual abuse. Constand was one of the first to complain to law enforcement. She also sued Cosby, and in 2006 they finalized a settlement out of court.
This document provides a fuller picture of her accusations, including two occasions prior to the alleged assault when Cosby aggressively tried to initiate a sexual relationship with her. It also covers his denial to authorities, the decision by a previous Montgomery County district attorney not to file charges and the recent discovery of new evidence that reopened the case.
This is what Constand told police about Cosby, though it's only a small portion of the entire affidavit. Constand met Cosby while she was the director of operations for the women's basketball team at Temple University, a college that Cosby vocally supported. After they met, Cosby contacted her "to discuss business-related matters," according to the affidavit.
They "developed what [Constand] believed to be a sincere friendship," the affidavit said. They socialized, with Cosby inviting her to his home, to restaurants and to other events. Constand, who is 37 years younger than Cosby, thought of him as a mentor who dispensed "guidance and career advice."
*FIRST INCIDENT*
She told authorities that "she had no interest whatsoever in a romantic relationship with Cosby," but there were two occasions before the alleged assault when he tried shifting their platonic relationship into something sexual.
A few months after they first met, Constand said, Cosby invited her to his home for a dinner cooked by his personal chef. After dinner, they were sitting on a sofa "where without warning, Cosby reached over and touched her pants, her waist and her inner thigh." Constand resisted and got up to leave, she said, and on her way out, Cosby gave her a bottle of perfume.
"She never thought he would hit on her, especially since Cosby is so much older than her father," the affidavit said. *SECOND INCIDENT*
That rejection didn't stop Cosby from making a second pass, the affidavit said. Constand was at Cosby's Cheltenham Township mansion and had drank "a couple glasses of wine…when 'out of the blue' Cosby unbuttoned her pants and began touching her." Constand thwarted him this time as well, and departed soon afterward. As with the first incident, they didn't discuss Cosby's overtures.
Despite these encounters, Constand told authorities that she still trusted Cosby and that they continued to socialize at parties and professional functions.
*THIRD INCIDENT — THE ALLEGED ASSAULT*
Cosby once again invited Constand to dinner at his home sometime between mid-January and mid-February of 2004, she told police. He told her that they would talk about her career, and "Cosby added that no one else would be present and that she should dress in comfortable clothing."
Constand found Cosby "dressed in a sweat suit" when she arrived at 8:45 p.m., she told police. They sat near the entrance of his home and talked about her career, she said, and she told him that "felt drained and emotionally occupied."
After Cosby told her that he "wanted her to relax," he briefly stepped away and returned with three blue pills.
"These will make you feel good," he said, according to the affidavit. "These blue things will take the edge of." Constand asked if they were herbal and he claimed that they were.
"Down them. Put 'em down. Put them in your mouth," he allegedly said.
She allegedly told Cosby that she trusted him, so she swallowed the pills with a swig of water. He then urged her to have some wine, and though she initially protested, saying she hadn't eaten anything, she took a few sips from the glass, she told police.
Within 20 to 30 minutes, she said, "she began experiencing blurred vision and difficulty speaking." Cosby helped her get to a couch, where he told her to lie down and relax. But by this point, the mystery pills and the wine had apparently incapacitated her, according to her statement. Her legs were "rubbery" and "like jelly," she felt nauseated and things looked blurry. "She could not keep her eyes open, was not aware of any sounds, had no sense of time, and was 'in and out,'" the report said.
Cosby allegedly assaulted Constand while she was in this impaired state.
"Despite her physical and mental condition, the victim was aware that Cosby was fondling her breasts, put his hand into her pants and penetrated her vagina with his fingers," the report said. "Cosby also took the victim's hand and placed it onto his erect penis."
Constand told authorities that she didn't consent, but "was unable to move or speak during the assault." She said later that she was "frozen" and "paralyzed."
Hours later, she woke up inside Cosby's home, according to the statement. "She discovered that her sweater was bunched up and that her bra was undone and been moved above her breasts," the affidavit said.
This is when Cosby, then dressed in a robe, offered her a muffin and escorted her to the front door, according to the affidavit.
*THE ACCUSATION*
Soon after the attack, in March 2004, Constand moved away from Philadelphia and returned to live with her parents in Canada.
Without knowing what had happened, her mother Gianna Constand noticed changes in Constand's personality. She isolated herself from her friends, her mother later told authorities, and her sleep was marred by nightmares and even screaming.
Nearly a year passed before Constand confided in her mother in January 2005 about the alleged sexual assault. Gianna Constnad said she tried confronting Cosby through a phone call, but was unable to reach him. Soon after that, the Constands contacted the Durham Regional Police Service in Ontario, Canada.
In a phone call with Constand's mother, Cosby allegedly fully admitted to the assault, her mother told police. Constand's mother also recalled that Cosby apologized and offered to pay for therapy, according to the affidavit. On another call, which Glenna Constand said she recorded, Cosby offered to financially help her daughter pay for her education. She said Cosby deflected questions about what drug he gave to Constand during this conversation.
But when local law enforcement launched an investigation into Constand's claims, Cosby countered by saying he'd had a consensual, nonintercourse encounter with her. Authorities chose not pursue a criminal case, so Constand sued. Her civil case files indicated there were 13 other women offering descriptions of similar encounters with Cosby.
But she and Cosby settled out of court and her charges were largely forgotten by the public. That changed in October 2014 when a viral video showing comedian Hannibal Buress ridiculing Cosby during a stand-up appearance in Philadelphia breathed new life into the allegations and encouraged dozens of other women to reveal that they, too, were allegedly victims of one of America's comedy icons.
Cosby's attorney and publicist have not responded to inquiries from the Huffington Post.
Constand's lawyer, Dolores Troiani, released the following statement on Wednesday after Cosby was charged:
On behalf of our client, Andrea Constand we wish to express our appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the County Detectives and the Cheltenham Police Department for the consideration and courtesy they have shown Andrea during this difficult time. We have the utmost confidence in Mr. Steele, Ms. Feden and their team, who have impressed us with their professionalism. In that this matter is now being pursued in the criminal justice system, we will not comment further.
Criminal Complaint - William Cosby
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
The disturbing allegations are contained in an 18-page affidavit filed by police in suburban Philadelphia. Constand described taking pills Cosby gave her at his home in 2004, and told police that she soon she slipped into a drug-induced delirium during which Cosby fondled her and forcibly placed her hand on his penis.
The encounter ended with an awkward exchange after she awoke at 4 a.m., she said.
"Cosby gave her a muffin, walked to the front door, opened it and said 'Alright,'" according to the affidavit. "The victim told investigators she left without saying anything."
*(Read the full complaint below.)*
A Cheltenham Township sergeant and two Montgomery County detectives filed the affidavit to get an arrest warrant for the 78-year-old comedian. A judge approved the warrant and Cosby turned himself in on Wednesday to be arraigned on a single charge of second-degree aggravated indecent assault.
More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of indecent behavior ranging from unwanted kissing to rape and other forms of sexual abuse. Constand was one of the first to complain to law enforcement. She also sued Cosby, and in 2006 they finalized a settlement out of court.
This document provides a fuller picture of her accusations, including two occasions prior to the alleged assault when Cosby aggressively tried to initiate a sexual relationship with her. It also covers his denial to authorities, the decision by a previous Montgomery County district attorney not to file charges and the recent discovery of new evidence that reopened the case.
This is what Constand told police about Cosby, though it's only a small portion of the entire affidavit. Constand met Cosby while she was the director of operations for the women's basketball team at Temple University, a college that Cosby vocally supported. After they met, Cosby contacted her "to discuss business-related matters," according to the affidavit.
They "developed what [Constand] believed to be a sincere friendship," the affidavit said. They socialized, with Cosby inviting her to his home, to restaurants and to other events. Constand, who is 37 years younger than Cosby, thought of him as a mentor who dispensed "guidance and career advice."
*FIRST INCIDENT*
She told authorities that "she had no interest whatsoever in a romantic relationship with Cosby," but there were two occasions before the alleged assault when he tried shifting their platonic relationship into something sexual.
A few months after they first met, Constand said, Cosby invited her to his home for a dinner cooked by his personal chef. After dinner, they were sitting on a sofa "where without warning, Cosby reached over and touched her pants, her waist and her inner thigh." Constand resisted and got up to leave, she said, and on her way out, Cosby gave her a bottle of perfume.
"She never thought he would hit on her, especially since Cosby is so much older than her father," the affidavit said. *SECOND INCIDENT*
That rejection didn't stop Cosby from making a second pass, the affidavit said. Constand was at Cosby's Cheltenham Township mansion and had drank "a couple glasses of wine…when 'out of the blue' Cosby unbuttoned her pants and began touching her." Constand thwarted him this time as well, and departed soon afterward. As with the first incident, they didn't discuss Cosby's overtures.
Despite these encounters, Constand told authorities that she still trusted Cosby and that they continued to socialize at parties and professional functions.
*THIRD INCIDENT — THE ALLEGED ASSAULT*
Cosby once again invited Constand to dinner at his home sometime between mid-January and mid-February of 2004, she told police. He told her that they would talk about her career, and "Cosby added that no one else would be present and that she should dress in comfortable clothing."
Constand found Cosby "dressed in a sweat suit" when she arrived at 8:45 p.m., she told police. They sat near the entrance of his home and talked about her career, she said, and she told him that "felt drained and emotionally occupied."
After Cosby told her that he "wanted her to relax," he briefly stepped away and returned with three blue pills.
"These will make you feel good," he said, according to the affidavit. "These blue things will take the edge of." Constand asked if they were herbal and he claimed that they were.
"Down them. Put 'em down. Put them in your mouth," he allegedly said.
She allegedly told Cosby that she trusted him, so she swallowed the pills with a swig of water. He then urged her to have some wine, and though she initially protested, saying she hadn't eaten anything, she took a few sips from the glass, she told police.
Within 20 to 30 minutes, she said, "she began experiencing blurred vision and difficulty speaking." Cosby helped her get to a couch, where he told her to lie down and relax. But by this point, the mystery pills and the wine had apparently incapacitated her, according to her statement. Her legs were "rubbery" and "like jelly," she felt nauseated and things looked blurry. "She could not keep her eyes open, was not aware of any sounds, had no sense of time, and was 'in and out,'" the report said.
Cosby allegedly assaulted Constand while she was in this impaired state.
"Despite her physical and mental condition, the victim was aware that Cosby was fondling her breasts, put his hand into her pants and penetrated her vagina with his fingers," the report said. "Cosby also took the victim's hand and placed it onto his erect penis."
Constand told authorities that she didn't consent, but "was unable to move or speak during the assault." She said later that she was "frozen" and "paralyzed."
Hours later, she woke up inside Cosby's home, according to the statement. "She discovered that her sweater was bunched up and that her bra was undone and been moved above her breasts," the affidavit said.
This is when Cosby, then dressed in a robe, offered her a muffin and escorted her to the front door, according to the affidavit.
*THE ACCUSATION*
Soon after the attack, in March 2004, Constand moved away from Philadelphia and returned to live with her parents in Canada.
Without knowing what had happened, her mother Gianna Constand noticed changes in Constand's personality. She isolated herself from her friends, her mother later told authorities, and her sleep was marred by nightmares and even screaming.
Nearly a year passed before Constand confided in her mother in January 2005 about the alleged sexual assault. Gianna Constnad said she tried confronting Cosby through a phone call, but was unable to reach him. Soon after that, the Constands contacted the Durham Regional Police Service in Ontario, Canada.
In a phone call with Constand's mother, Cosby allegedly fully admitted to the assault, her mother told police. Constand's mother also recalled that Cosby apologized and offered to pay for therapy, according to the affidavit. On another call, which Glenna Constand said she recorded, Cosby offered to financially help her daughter pay for her education. She said Cosby deflected questions about what drug he gave to Constand during this conversation.
But when local law enforcement launched an investigation into Constand's claims, Cosby countered by saying he'd had a consensual, nonintercourse encounter with her. Authorities chose not pursue a criminal case, so Constand sued. Her civil case files indicated there were 13 other women offering descriptions of similar encounters with Cosby.
But she and Cosby settled out of court and her charges were largely forgotten by the public. That changed in October 2014 when a viral video showing comedian Hannibal Buress ridiculing Cosby during a stand-up appearance in Philadelphia breathed new life into the allegations and encouraged dozens of other women to reveal that they, too, were allegedly victims of one of America's comedy icons.
Cosby's attorney and publicist have not responded to inquiries from the Huffington Post.
Constand's lawyer, Dolores Troiani, released the following statement on Wednesday after Cosby was charged:
On behalf of our client, Andrea Constand we wish to express our appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the County Detectives and the Cheltenham Police Department for the consideration and courtesy they have shown Andrea during this difficult time. We have the utmost confidence in Mr. Steele, Ms. Feden and their team, who have impressed us with their professionalism. In that this matter is now being pursued in the criminal justice system, we will not comment further.
Criminal Complaint - William Cosby
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
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Delhiites sceptical about carpooling with strangers
*New Delhi:* While Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may be encouraging carpooling as the odd-even restriction on car movement is set to start from January 1, but Delhiites are reluctant to go for it, saying that strangers cannot be trusted.Kejriwal had suggested that people should opt for carpooling to avoid inconvenience. However, many people are considering public transport as an option but not carpooling.
"I do not prefer to sit in a car in which strangers are sitting. Crime has been reported in such cases where people carpool," said Samiksha, a research scholar at JNU.
*Docspeaks*
Doctors say carpooling is not viable for them because of professional demands.
Sanjiv Bhoi, additional medical superintendent, AIIMS Trauma Centre, questioned why doctors were not exempted from the scheme, adding that carpooling will not work for him.
"It will be extremely difficult for doctors to abide by the odd-even rule. Even if it is just 15 days, we doctors cannot
be totally dependent on carpooling or public transport," Bhoi said.
He added, "Those who are working in government offices can carpool since they have similar office timings but such is not our case.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/Saikat-Majumdar-s.jpg*Saikat Majumdar and Amit Chaudhuri*
But with news publications moving to the occasional fiction special issue –here too, we know that the reason is mostly to allow the newsroom to leave early – new niggles are surfacing as well.
Mint Lounge, the weekend magazine of the business paper Mint, came out with a fiction special last week with five short stories. Turns out there were six – Stanford assistant professor Saikat Majumdar’s story was in the plan, but did not feature in the paper.
Majumdar says he was told the story was dropped from its year-end edition after “the legal team advised them so,” due to the “violence of words” contained in it.
Majumdar, who will be in India in January for lit fests in Kolkata and Jaipur, said he will speak about “this issue” during the events. Novelist and critic Amit Chaudhuri has supported Majumdar, saying it is inevitable that literature would have some violence in language. “Violence in language is not a queer sort of category. There are certain features of writing, which are necessarily open-ended, and literature will have to stop if it can’t be shocking or surprising anymore. Violence in language cannot really be a legal ground to withdraw this story. It is deeply worrying.”
Mint’s editor Sukumar Ranganathan said it was a simple editorial call and not much should be read into it. “We commissioned a piece, didn’t like it and didn’t run it,” he told your diarist from his birding holiday in Gujarat. While nobody is using the ‘T’ word yet – and we are all for editors having the right to drop a piece even if commissioned – something tells us this is not the last we will hear about this.
*Meet Mumbai’s real Santa’s*
Christmas may come once a year, but the Christmas spirit lingers for a while. The Robin Hood Army, known to distribute meals from restaurants to the city’s needy, recently tied up with Shadowfax, a logistics company, to meet their delivery requirements.*The Robin Hood Army will be playing Santa this season*
This weekend, the do-gooders’ army is conducting a clothes donation drive. It’s collection week now, and if you have blankets or warm clothes to donate, check out www.facebook.com/robinhoodarmy*Faraz Ansari*
Santa indeed takes on many avatars. Faraz Ansari, associate director on some of Karan Johar’s and Amol Gupte’s films, has decided to play Secret Santa for homeless children in the city. The goal: 2,000 meals raised through donors who need to sponsor one meal each worth a hundred bucks.
“I was disgusted by the whole Secret Santa thing on Facebook; a bunch of haves giving to the haves,” says Ansari, who is scripting a film for Tanuja Chandra. One status on Facebook, and some 50 shares later, he has raised 520 meals so far.
Ansari plans to drive around town on January weekends (except the first one) and distribute meals to the homeless, specially the children at traffic signals. NGOs have signed up as well, which will cater to children at the Dongri remand home and ragpickers. “If all goes well,” he says, “this drive could become every month, every.
*The cigar baron is back!*
Flamboyant cigar company owner Rocky Patel will be in town on January 10 to launch a new cigar label, which this diarist learnt, has been created specially to suit the Indian smoking Joe.*Rocky Patel at Sofitel Mumbai BKC’s Jyran Tandoor and Dining*
More details are under wraps. The label will be out at a soiree over select malts and of course, cigars at a five star in BKC.
*This Aussie’s got the rhythm*
*
Pic/Bipin Kokate*
Travelling Australian musician Somerset Barnard was seen strumming a few tunes outside the soon-to-be-shut Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda, which has announced 70 per cent discount until stocks last.
*Care of the high and happy*
New Year’s Eve is a few hours away, and while it calls for a celebration, too much of the bubbly can turn it into a nightmare for your health. Spreading the message to drink responsibly, and to offer emergency care to inebriated Mumbaikars, Care24, a healthcare start-up, will be setting-up care vans (ambulance-cum-vans).
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/31infosys-campus-s.jpg
*Also read: Pune Infosys rape survivor: Instead of saving me, he filmed my rape*
Swapna returned to Pune yesterday after hearing the news of her husband being arrested. Speaking to mid-day, she said, “My husband respects women a lot. Regarding Sunday’s incident, he told me that he saw the duo in the toilet in an objectionable position and captured images as proof, just to show his senior about the wrongful practices being carried out. But before he could tell them on Monday, he was arrested in a fabricated case.”*Prakash Mahadik filmed the act while canteen cleaner Paritosh Bagh (below) raped her in the women's washroom*
She added, “I know my husband is innocent because he would never indulge in such activities. Last week, he had a scuffle with some youths in our area, who were teasing a woman. If my husband had a part to play in the case, he should be penalised.”
*‘Gentleman by nature’*
Mahadik’s brother Mahendra said, “My brother is not even addicted to liquor and is a gentleman by nature. I also worked in the same premises for two years, and I know the area well. My brother has been working in the premises for the last six years and he was awarded by his agency for his good work several times.”
He adds, “The canteen is situated at the B3 building, while the incident took place at B12 building. The canteen also has a toilet facility, then why did the victim take the risk of going to an isolated area.”
“It’s sad the way my brother is being portrayed in the media. I know he has clicked images and it is wrong, but his intention was not wrong.
He has no role in the rape or in blackmailing,” said Mahendra.
Prabhakar Shetty, who runs the Infosys canteen said, “Bagh has been working in the same canteen for the last six months and we have done his police verification as well. But the nature of the incident is horrible. Henceforth, we will be taking stringent steps to avoid such undue incidents.”
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/Kipling-bungalow-s.jpg*The ‘Kipling Bungalow’ saw unusual activity on the author’s 150th birth anniversary tribute. Pics/Shadab Khan*
This is the place that played host to his 150th birth anniversary celebrations last evening, with a reading of his work, which brought together Kipling enthusiasts and poets.*Jerry Pinto, Mustansir Dalvi, Ranjeet Hoskote and Kaiwan Mehta paid tribute to the English author and poet on his 150th birth anniversary at JJ School of Art campus*
Dressed as if invited to a formal dinner, Nitant Zaveri, a literature student from St. Xavier’s College, Fort said, “I am supposed to be at a friend’s wedding, but when it comes to Kipling, I couldn’t miss it for the world,” even as organizers ushered the guests into the JJ College’s seminar hall for the event.
Reading out their favourite excerpts from Kipling’s work, authors Jerry Pinto, Ranjeet Hoskote and Kaiwan Mehta, along with Professor Mustansir Dalvi, event organizer and professor brought the room to life.
The audience laughed at every humourous description of the city Kipling’s autobiography ‘Something of Myself’ offered.
“It has been years since the halls of this institution have heard such beautiful prose,” said Dalvi, as Pinto recited Kipling’s poem, ‘Recessional.’
“No doubt, there are misplaced sentiments in his works, and a warped, distorted picture of the British Raj in India emerges. Kipling was planting seeds of the Empire through his writings, but there is a moral tone behind everything he writes. Kipling has been, in the truest sense of the word-inspirational,” said Pinto; referring to the heavy criticism his work has drawn for being pro-imperialistic.
As the reading continued, many in the audience mouthed the verses of Kipling’s most famous poem, ‘If’.
Carrying three large books, which turned out be collection of Kipling’s work, Shantanu Rai, an architect and Kipling enthusiast got misty eyed, as Dalvi ended the tribute with ‘If’, leaving him and many others wanting more.*Life’s lessons with the author*
Rati Wadia, English Literature teacher for 50 years says, “I love Rudyard Kipling's poem ‘If’. In fact, I have put it on a placard and given it to my son because those are the principles of life I want my children/students to imbibe.*Rati Wadia*
I have been teaching Kipling for so many years, and still find something new in his works every time. I like the stoicism, when he talks about treating the good and the bad with equanimity, in these lines from the poem ‘If’.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster. And treat those two impostors just the same...” I find parallels in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus was a stoic too.”
*Kipling’s house of cards*
A crumbling, old house right in the middle of the JJ School of Arts campus in Fort, stands as a sad tribute to Rudyard Kipling, whose father, Lockwood Kipling was the first dean of the arts college.
The bungalow is built a few yards from the spot where the English writer was born. While it is of great importance to the literary community and heritage lovers, it was home to the college dean till 2002, after which it was neglected. The dilapidated house has seen many revival and restoration plans, but the ivy-covered walls and rotting wooden parapets still remain frozen in time, alumni say.
“There used to be time when some of us would work on the balcony of the charming house. Now, with no attention being paid to the building, it began to grow increasingly unsafe for entry, and finally the college locked it up,” Mohsin Patel, an ex-student says.
“The house is in a bad shape and nothing much has been done to revive this structure, despite it being a very large part of our legacy,” said Professor Mustansir Dalvi. “The house may have gone into disrepair, but Kipling’s words remain as fresh and rich as ever,” said Rajiv Misra, principal, JJ College of Architecture.
While the state government, on many occasions had promised to convert the bungalow into museum for literature and art, Kipling’s apparently pro-imperialist views fueled many a debate among the literary community.
*About Rudyard Kipling*
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born on December 30, 1865 in then Bombay presidency. His most popular works include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including “The Man Who Would Be King.” Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English language writer to receive the prize. Kipling spent nearly a decade, from 1883-89 in India and Pakistan, working for local newspapers such as the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore and The Pioneer in Allahabad. Reported by Mid-Day 2 hours ago.
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16 killed in Syria twin bombing
*Damascus:* At least 16 people were killed and 35 others wounded on Wednesday when twin bombings targeted a predominantly-Kurdish city in northern Syria, pro-government Sama TV reported.
Twin bombings ripped through two restaurants in the predominantly-Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli in the al-Hasakah province, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog group, said the blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers with the Islamic State (IS) militant groups.
It added that the two IS bombers detonated themselves in the two restaurants near the al-Syahi Street and the al-Wasati neighbourhood in Qamishli.
The blast was the second to target Kurdish areas in al-Hasakah. Earlier this month, at least 20 people were killed when bombings claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group targeted a town in al-Hasakah.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/Kim-yong-s.jpg
Kim Yang-gon, 73, was part of a high-level delegation from North Korea that helped ease a stand-off with the South in August, after an exchange of artillery fire.*Kim Yang-gon. File pic/AFP*
He was a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party and in charge of ties with South Korea, the report said citing North Korean state news agency KCNA. The agency called him Kim Jong-un's "closest comrade and a solid revolutionary partner".
"Comrade Kim Yang-gon, a Workers' Party secretary and member of the party Central Committee Politbureau... died in a traffic accident at 6.15 a.m., Tuesday, at age 73," it said, without giving details. Reported by Mid-Day 2 hours ago.
Twin bombings ripped through two restaurants in the predominantly-Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli in the al-Hasakah province, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog group, said the blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers with the Islamic State (IS) militant groups.
It added that the two IS bombers detonated themselves in the two restaurants near the al-Syahi Street and the al-Wasati neighbourhood in Qamishli.
The blast was the second to target Kurdish areas in al-Hasakah. Earlier this month, at least 20 people were killed when bombings claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group targeted a town in al-Hasakah.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/Kim-yong-s.jpg
Kim Yang-gon, 73, was part of a high-level delegation from North Korea that helped ease a stand-off with the South in August, after an exchange of artillery fire.*Kim Yang-gon. File pic/AFP*
He was a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party and in charge of ties with South Korea, the report said citing North Korean state news agency KCNA. The agency called him Kim Jong-un's "closest comrade and a solid revolutionary partner".
"Comrade Kim Yang-gon, a Workers' Party secretary and member of the party Central Committee Politbureau... died in a traffic accident at 6.15 a.m., Tuesday, at age 73," it said, without giving details. Reported by Mid-Day 2 hours ago.
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Blasts in three restaurants in Syria kill 16, attacks claimed by Islamic State
By hidden At least 16 people were killed and 30 wounded by explosions in three restaurants in the northeast of Syria, a monitoring group said, in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. The post Blasts in three restaurants in Syria kill 16, attacks claimed by Islamic State appeared first on Firstpost. …read more Source:: FirstPost…
Reported by Filmy Friday 1 hour ago.
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Best Pizza in Gwinnett County: Do You Agree?
Patch Dacula, GA -- Here's a look at the top 10 pizza restaurants in Gwinnett County, according to Yelp reviews.
Reported by Patch 14 hours ago.
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Record number of eateries to participate in Queen’s Feast
Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week will offer diners even more options when it returns next month. A record 133 restaurants have signed on to participate in the winter edition of that event, which runs Jan. 22 through Jan. 31. That event offers prix fixe menus of three courses of more for $30 or $35 per person — not including tax and gratuity. Queen’s Feast, which started in 2008, includes restaurants in eight counties. The winter edition features 15 first-time restaurant participants,…
Reported by bizjournals 14 hours ago.
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Restaurant bombings claimed by IS kill 16 people, mostly Christians. in northern Syrian city
*By The Canadian Press*
BEIRUT — The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous night, an attack that killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 30.
Syria's state news agency SANA said the "terrorist explosions" hit a Christian neighbourhood in the city of Qamishli. A poster hung up at a local church said 13 of the victims were Christians, and that their funerals would take place later Thursday.
The... // Read Full Article Reported by CJME 13 hours ago.
BEIRUT — The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous night, an attack that killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 30.
Syria's state news agency SANA said the "terrorist explosions" hit a Christian neighbourhood in the city of Qamishli. A poster hung up at a local church said 13 of the victims were Christians, and that their funerals would take place later Thursday.
The... // Read Full Article Reported by CJME 13 hours ago.
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City welcomes 2016 amid revelry
*An illuminated MG Road and Brigade Road came alive on the eve of the New Year as scores of youth flocked the heart of the City awaiting the arrival of 2016.*
Loud cheers, dance and music marked the celebrations with the stroke of midnight at Brigade Road. Revellers poured on to the streets wishing each other a prosperous new year. While a few wore bright party wear, some picked colourful masks.
Traffic restrictions and long queue at pubs and restaurants failed to kill their spirit.
The revelry was seen across the City but the jubilation hit the crescendo at Brigade Road, MG Road, Church Street and St Marks Road that wore a bridal look due to extraordinary illumination and loud music. People were also seen taking selfies to secure their moments of joy.
*
Taxi ride*
Exorbitantly priced taxi rides also did not deter people from hitting the City centre. Several cab aggregators had hiked their prices by nearly five times.
Traffic restrictions were in place in and around MG Road.
Food delivery services were also unavailable for these locations on Thursday.Many found it convenient to party at home. City-based techie Archana Rao, who wished to have
a peaceful New Year, said partying at home was better.
"Not only will the prices be exorbitant but also reaching places such as Koramangala, Indiranagar and MG Road would be tough. Hence, we have planned a small family get together," she added. The police had made elaborate security arrangements in the Central Business District and especially on MG Road and Brigade Road.
Watchtowers were erected and armed policemen with night-vision binoculars monitored the revellers. Close to 100 CCTV cameras of City police and private establishments had been installed. There were two metal detectors right at the entrance of Brigade Road and everybody was thoroughly screened. City Police Commissioner N SMegharik, Additional Commissioner (West) Prathap Reddy and DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil personally monitored the security situation at MG Road and Brigade Road. Reported by Deccan Herald 8 hours ago.
Loud cheers, dance and music marked the celebrations with the stroke of midnight at Brigade Road. Revellers poured on to the streets wishing each other a prosperous new year. While a few wore bright party wear, some picked colourful masks.
Traffic restrictions and long queue at pubs and restaurants failed to kill their spirit.
The revelry was seen across the City but the jubilation hit the crescendo at Brigade Road, MG Road, Church Street and St Marks Road that wore a bridal look due to extraordinary illumination and loud music. People were also seen taking selfies to secure their moments of joy.
*
Taxi ride*
Exorbitantly priced taxi rides also did not deter people from hitting the City centre. Several cab aggregators had hiked their prices by nearly five times.
Traffic restrictions were in place in and around MG Road.
Food delivery services were also unavailable for these locations on Thursday.Many found it convenient to party at home. City-based techie Archana Rao, who wished to have
a peaceful New Year, said partying at home was better.
"Not only will the prices be exorbitant but also reaching places such as Koramangala, Indiranagar and MG Road would be tough. Hence, we have planned a small family get together," she added. The police had made elaborate security arrangements in the Central Business District and especially on MG Road and Brigade Road.
Watchtowers were erected and armed policemen with night-vision binoculars monitored the revellers. Close to 100 CCTV cameras of City police and private establishments had been installed. There were two metal detectors right at the entrance of Brigade Road and everybody was thoroughly screened. City Police Commissioner N SMegharik, Additional Commissioner (West) Prathap Reddy and DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil personally monitored the security situation at MG Road and Brigade Road. Reported by Deccan Herald 8 hours ago.
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IS restaurant bombings kill 16 in northern Syrian city
The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous night, an attack that killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 30.
Reported by MyNorthwest.com 12 hours ago.
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Double patty burgers, ramen topped 2015's Twin Cities dining trends
This has been a banner year in eating in the Twin Cities. So many restaurants opened it was difficult for even the Eat team to keep track of everything. As I ate my way through all the newcomers, there were plenty of recurring themes to note. Here are my Top 10 food trends of the year.
Reported by TwinCities.com 13 hours ago.
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6 Restaurants to Book a Last-Minute New Year's Eve Reservation
Patch McLean, VA -- If you are looking for a McLean restaurant to book a last-minute reservation for New Year's Eve dinner then check out this list.
Reported by Patch 12 hours ago.
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5 apps to help you get through that New Year's Day hangover
Ah, New Year's Day in Australia. A time to huddle, miserably hungover, in front of three industrial-sized fans on a blisteringly hot summer's day.
Some of you may have only had one or two perfectly reasonable glasses of champagne the night before, and emerged fresh and full of vigour on Jan. 1. For the rest of you miserable sods, let these apps help you through.
See also: How to see your most-liked Instagram photos of 2015 in one epic collage
*1. Deliveroo*
Face it: You're not leaving the nest of sheets and regret you've created for yourself. Sustenance is going to have to come to you.
The UK-based startup, which launched in Australia in November, partners with local restaurants to bring something gourmet right to your door. Sydneysiders: They're working with Mary's Burgers. Is there a better way to bring in the new year than by throwing all your diet plans out the window? Of course not. Read more...
More about App, Australia, New Years Eve, Tech, and Apps Software Reported by Mashable 11 hours ago.
Some of you may have only had one or two perfectly reasonable glasses of champagne the night before, and emerged fresh and full of vigour on Jan. 1. For the rest of you miserable sods, let these apps help you through.
See also: How to see your most-liked Instagram photos of 2015 in one epic collage
*1. Deliveroo*
Face it: You're not leaving the nest of sheets and regret you've created for yourself. Sustenance is going to have to come to you.
The UK-based startup, which launched in Australia in November, partners with local restaurants to bring something gourmet right to your door. Sydneysiders: They're working with Mary's Burgers. Is there a better way to bring in the new year than by throwing all your diet plans out the window? Of course not. Read more...
More about App, Australia, New Years Eve, Tech, and Apps Software Reported by Mashable 11 hours ago.
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8 Restaurants to Book a Last-Minute New Year's Eve Reservation
Patch Herndon, VA -- If you are looking for a Herndon restaurant to book a last-minute reservation for New Year's Eve dinner then check out this list.
Reported by Patch 11 hours ago.
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12 Restaurants to Book a Last-Minute New Year's Eve Reservation
Patch Ashburn, VA -- Looking for an Ashburn, Leesburg or Sterling restaurant to book a last-minute reservation for New Year's Eve dinner? Check out this list.
Reported by Patch 11 hours ago.
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11 Fairfax Restaurants to Book a Last-Minute New Year's Eve Reservation
Patch Fairfax City, VA -- If you are looking for a Fairfax restaurant to book a last-minute reservation for New Year's Eve dinner then check out this list.
Reported by Patch 11 hours ago.
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Container Concepts™ Gets "Thumbs up" from HUD
HUD waives certification requirement for Container Concepts™ container cafes and retail concepts.
Santa Barbara (PRWEB) December 31, 2015
Container Concepts™ designs, builds, and sells turnkey and customized restaurants, bars and retail spaces utilizing modified recycled shipping containers. conceptinabox.com
Last month Robb Ferer Co- Founder of Container Concepts™ submitted designs for approval to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). Several of the company's turnkey cafe and retail concepts were submitted to see if they were required to meet the Commercial Modular or Special Purpose Commercial Modular codes.
"Commercial coach (modular)" means a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, which is required to be moved under permit, and shall include a trailer coach as defined in Section 635 of the Vehicle Code.
“Special Purpose Commercial Modular” means a vehicle with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, which is not required to be moved under permit, and shall include a trailer coach.
The review came back stating that Container Concepts™ is exempt from the requirement because the "units do not appear to be vehicles, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles" therefore do not fall under the requirement. This means that the "concepts" do not require special permitting to be transported and do not have to be reviewed by HUD during the building process. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
Santa Barbara (PRWEB) December 31, 2015
Container Concepts™ designs, builds, and sells turnkey and customized restaurants, bars and retail spaces utilizing modified recycled shipping containers. conceptinabox.com
Last month Robb Ferer Co- Founder of Container Concepts™ submitted designs for approval to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). Several of the company's turnkey cafe and retail concepts were submitted to see if they were required to meet the Commercial Modular or Special Purpose Commercial Modular codes.
"Commercial coach (modular)" means a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, which is required to be moved under permit, and shall include a trailer coach as defined in Section 635 of the Vehicle Code.
“Special Purpose Commercial Modular” means a vehicle with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, which is not required to be moved under permit, and shall include a trailer coach.
The review came back stating that Container Concepts™ is exempt from the requirement because the "units do not appear to be vehicles, licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles" therefore do not fall under the requirement. This means that the "concepts" do not require special permitting to be transported and do not have to be reviewed by HUD during the building process. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
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Publix in 2015: The downfall of Whole Foods, NFL-themed subs and the battle with Kroger
Publix Super Markets Inc. had another stellar year — even if 2015 wasn't quite as kind to many of its competitors in the grocery industry. But even with record-breaking revenues throughout the year, the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer isn't getting complacent. New competitive threats are always emerging, from new restaurants to meal-delivery kits to specialty grocers, so we keep a close eye on Publix's innovative moves. Here's a look back at our Publix coverage from throughout the year: Record revenue:…
Reported by bizjournals 10 hours ago.
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