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Police Hunt For Bandits Who Played Porn on Detroit Freeway Electronic Billboard

Police in Detroit are on the hunt for two bandits who played porn on an electronic billboard above a freeway on Saturday night.

Drivers traveling through Auburn Hills had to do a second and probably third and fourth take when they passed the sign on the Interstate 75, which in place of the usual advertisements displayed a very NSFW video instead.

Calls began flooding in around 11pm as motorists reported the steamy show; miraculously there were no crashes reported.

Officers immediately called the sign's owners Triple Communications, who managed to shut down the display? which is double sided, so on view from both directions ? after about 20 minutes.

Twitter users posted the shocking footage from their cars as they drove past, with some even pulling into the hard shoulder and getting out for a better look.

"I kinda almost got in an accident," one driver told NBC 15. "I came across the billboard, and there was something unusual. I saw two girls, you know... lesbian porn."

"I could kinda see people had started to brake a lot behind me; I think they we're doing the same thing, like a double take," he added. "You don't see that every day."

On Monday, Auburn police released a video of two suspects breaking into the building beneath the sign which houses the computer equipment that operates the sign.

The pair, two white males wearing hoodies and glasses, spent just 15 minutes in the building allegedly committing the dastardly deed.

Promoting pornography and/or promoting pornography for minors by disseminating any pornographic material, images, videos, etc carries a possible penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine, police said.

"These suspects now face potential burglary charges for forcing entry into the building to gain access to the computer system, which is a felony offense," officers added, appealing for the public's help in tracking them down.

https://toofab.com/2019/10/01/polic...v77f1-VkxmeV17EJ273ezVtBJjndIzBkg0ZYuq27oaKDw
 
Gregzs said:
Police Hunt For Bandits Who Played Porn on Detroit Freeway Electronic Billboard

Police in Detroit are on the hunt for two bandits who played porn on an electronic billboard above a freeway on Saturday night.

Drivers traveling through Auburn Hills had to do a second and probably third and fourth take when they passed the sign on the Interstate 75, which in place of the usual advertisements displayed a very NSFW video instead.

Calls began flooding in around 11pm as motorists reported the steamy show; miraculously there were no crashes reported.

Officers immediately called the sign's owners Triple Communications, who managed to shut down the display? which is double sided, so on view from both directions ? after about 20 minutes.

Twitter users posted the shocking footage from their cars as they drove past, with some even pulling into the hard shoulder and getting out for a better look.

"I kinda almost got in an accident," one driver told NBC 15. "I came across the billboard, and there was something unusual. I saw two girls, you know... lesbian porn."

"I could kinda see people had started to brake a lot behind me; I think they we're doing the same thing, like a double take," he added. "You don't see that every day."

On Monday, Auburn police released a video of two suspects breaking into the building beneath the sign which houses the computer equipment that operates the sign.

The pair, two white males wearing hoodies and glasses, spent just 15 minutes in the building allegedly committing the dastardly deed.

Promoting pornography and/or promoting pornography for minors by disseminating any pornographic material, images, videos, etc carries a possible penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine, police said.

"These suspects now face potential burglary charges for forcing entry into the building to gain access to the computer system, which is a felony offense," officers added, appealing for the public's help in tracking them down.

https://toofab.com/2019/10/01/polic...v77f1-VkxmeV17EJ273ezVtBJjndIzBkg0ZYuq27oaKDw
Click to expand...
I seen that
Too funny
 
Guinea pig ice cream proves popular for a Bolivian entrepreneur

Quito, Ecuador ? It's a real ice cream flavor: guinea pig. Anyone who thinks of guinea pigs as pets; cute, squishy, squeaking bundles of fur, might find that idea hard to digest.

The rodents are a traditional hot dish in some Latin American countries, including Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. In Ecuador, people typically cook guinea pigs with salt and serve them with potatoes and peanut sauce. But one vendor is taking things to another gastronomic level, serving guinea pigs as a cold dessert.

Some people like ice cream made from "cuy," as the animal is locally known.

"I was suspicious, but it was tasty," said Marlene Franco, a 78-year-old retiree who tried a scoop at a stall next to a highway linking the Ecuadorian capital of Quito to the city of Sangolqui.

The stall owner is Mar?*a del Carmen Pilapa?a, whose offbeat offering inspires disbelief and laughter among first-time customers.

Pilapa?a's operation is small. It consists of two tables in an open area lined with dentists' clinics and other businesses. Even so, demand is growing. Every week, the entrepreneur prepares 150 servings ($1 for a cone) of guinea pig ice cream.

She also makes 40 servings of ice cream flavored with beetles, also traditionally eaten as a salty snack, and a smaller amount of mushroom ice cream.

"My family and my husband thought I was crazy. They didn't think anyone would like these ice creams, but now they're our main product," said Pilapa?a, who acknowledges that she had her own doubts about whether her investment would pay off.

It was a close call. Out of work, with three children in tow, Pilapa?a began attending free training courses for entrepreneurs. She was challenged to do something innovative and, after six months of testing, she starting selling her range of ice creams at the beginning of September.

Pilapa?a manages to concentrate guinea pig flavor after cooking and preparing a pate from the animal's flesh, adds milk or cream and refrigerates the concoction until it has the rough consistency of ice cream. The taste is similar to chicken.

The beetle and mushroom ice creams include fruits such as pineapple and passion fruit. Beetle ice cream has a slight aroma of wet earth.

Ants, cicadas and worms are used to make some desserts, often chocolate-infused ones, in parts of Latin America. But incorporating such ingredients _ guinea pigs included _ into ice cream is unusual.

Carolina P?ez, director of the anthropology school of the Catholic University in Quito, isn't surprised.

"The guinea pig is a very important ancient food in Andean indigenous societies, especially for its high protein content," she said. Other cultures eat various types of animals, P?ez said, "so there is no reason to be amazed that Ecuadorians eat guinea pigs, even in ice cream."

For Pilapa?a, guinea pig ice cream is just the beginning. She has new flavors in mind: crab, chicken and pork.

"Seeing how my business is picking up, I'm sure I'll do well," she said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guinea...neur-and-beetle-flavors-not-doing-bad-either/
 
General Electric, once one of the mightiest, most well-respected American corporations, announced that it's freezing pensions, for about 20,000 U.S. employees and offering pension buyouts to 100,000 former employees, according to the Pension Rights Center.

This signals a sad ending to the once commonly held practice of companies offering pension plans to their employees to afford them a comfortable and secure retirement.

GE?s was the epitome of a success story in corporate America. In its 127-year history, the company was responsible for creating revolutionary technologies, earning amazing profits. However, now mired in problems, the company has been accused by Bernie Madoff whistleblower, Harry Markopolos, of alleged fraud.

GE was an original member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Its scientists invented and perfected products such as light bulbs, X-rays, refrigerators, televisions, commercial jet engines and nuclear power plants. The company also became a leader in financial services and attracted the best and brightest scholars and bankers.

The company rose to its zenith under the stewardship of legendary CEO Jack Welch.

Welch became a household name?one of the first celebrity CEOs. For two decades, he was heralded as the pinnacle of success. Under his reign, GE was one of America?s most prominent companies with a $600 billion valuation in 2000. Over 300,000 employees worked at GE in 150 U.S. factories and at 176 manufacturing plants in over 30 other countries. GE?s pension plan made it possible for 485,000 employees to retire. Evolving from products into services, GE Capital, its financial division, led the company?s growth.

After Welch retired, a succession of new CEOs and business challenges, GE's fortunes had faded and the company became a shadow of its former glory. With less revenue and profits, GE still has substantial pension liabilities for its 600,000 retirees, workers and beneficiaries. The pension is underfunded by $27 billion. A Barclay?s research analyst, Julian Mitchell wrote, "The impact on employee engagement/morale of some of these pension measures is unlikely to be positive, but in a situation of 'corporate battlefield surgery,' this tends to be a typical, if unfortunate casualty."

The most recent body blow was from whistleblower Harry Markopolos, who alleged that GE was engaged in fraudulent business practices. In an extensive report, he accused GE of making fraudulent financial filings to cover up its huge obligations. Markopolos is collaborating with an unnamed hedge fund, which is using his information to sell short GE?s stock price. They hope to benefit as the share price declines. GE?s share price has plummeted from a high of $50 in January 2000 to under $9 today.

Unfortunately, most American workers do not have corporate pension plans to rely upon. However, many do offer 401(k)s. With the withering away of pensions, it is another challenge for people to accumulate sufficient funds to retire with dignity and general comfort.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackke...ng-pensions-for-20000-employees/#3a5e43c51658
 
Class Bias: Interviewers Will Hire And Pay More For A Job Applicant From A Higher Social Class Compared To A Lower-Status Candidate

In America, we?d like to believe that there is no such thing as class distinctions. Compared to many other countries, we pride ourselves on treating everyone equally under the law and in social and business settings. It doesn?t matter if you?re the offspring of a billionaire CEO in Manhattan or janitor in rural Mississippi, since social class shouldn?t matter. They both have the same rights, privileges and chances to succeed in America.

A new Yale University study brings to light a level of discrimination that dispels this belief. Unfortunately, we are too familiar with all sorts of discrimination in the workplace, such as ageism, sexism, racism and a host of other prejudices. The Yale study reveals that people who interview for jobs are judged based upon their social status seconds after they start to speak.

Based solely on a brief listening to an interviewee?s speech, the study shows that the interviewer can immediately spot someone?s socioeconomic level. This includes a person?s income, education and career status. Moreover, snap decisions are made about the person, which then influences hiring decisions. According to the study, interviewers pick job applicants from higher social classes compared to other candidates.

Michael Kraus, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management, claims, "Our study shows that even during the briefest interactions, a person's speech patterns shape the way people perceive them, including assessing their competence and fitness for a job." ?While most hiring managers would deny that a job candidate's social class matters, in reality, the socioeconomic position of an applicant or their parents is being assessed within the first seconds they speak?a circumstance that limits economic mobility and perpetuates inequality,'' Kraus added.

As an example of this prejudice and preference for high-status people, listen to the voices used in tech products, like Amazon?s Alexa or Google Assistant. It's the same reason why, when you call a certain high-end company in New York City, you?ll hear a recording or live person with an upscale, British accent.

Growing up in pre-hipster Brooklyn, I was well aware of the negative stereotypes attached to the borough?s local accent. People with a thick Brooklyn accent were portrayed in the media as thugs, gangsters, low class, unsophisticated and lacking in intelligence. They were often the butt of jokes, especially to the Manhattan elites. As a teen, I became keenly aware of this bias and worked hard at losing the accent, so I wouldn?t be lumped into this group?being mocked and overlooked.

We can say similar things about people in the southern part of the U.S., which people will associate with the lower working class.

A person?s speech, per the study, reflects their social status more than what they actually say. Candidates were asked to briefly describe themselves and record it. More than 200 hiring professionals listened to the audio. The hiring managers were then tasked with assessing the applicants? professional qualities, including salary and signing bonus. The hiring managers chose candidates from the perceived higher social classes. They marked them as more likely to be competent for the job and a better fit compared to those believed to be from the lower social classes. Moreover, they assigned the applicants from higher social classes larger salaries and signing bonuses than the candidates with lower social status.

The findings confirm that hiring managers forsake a class of candidates due to their inherent biases. While we tend to focus on certain types of prejudices and discrimination, we hardly talk about social class. Kraus concludes, "If we want to move to a more equitable society, then we must contend with these ingrained psychological processes that drive our early impressions of others. Despite what these hiring tendencies may suggest, talent is not found solely among those born to rich or well-educated families. Policies that actively recruit candidates from all levels of status in society are best positioned to match opportunities to the people best suited for them."

It's clear that as much ground as we?ve gained within the corporate world and in society, we still have a lot more work to do to ensure that people are treated fairly without any preconceived prejudices. Social-class bias unfairly holds large groups of people back and, simultaneously, pushes others forward without merit.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackke...red-to-a-lower-status-candidate/#1d356a5471c4
 
Rajasthan Man Burns to Death as Onlookers Film the Incident Instead of Helping Him


Premchand Jain from the city of Kota in Rajasthan was driving on the Kota-Udaipur highway at around 10 AM on Wednesday, October 30, when his car suddenly broke down. Passersby in the area at the time reported seeing fumes of smoke emerge from the car as the man desperately tried to escape, failing to do so due to his car?s central locking system. Eventually, the car burst into flames and the man was burnt to death right in the middle of the road in broad daylight. But what makes this death even more horrifying is that it was probably preventable by those around. Except, instead of trying to help the man escape, onlookers whipped out their phones and began filming the incident.

According to Assistant Fire Officer at the Kota Municipal Corporation, Devendra Gautam, the fire department was informed about the incident around 10.25 AM, after which two fire engines were rushed to the spot. However, by then it was too late and the man had already burnt to death by the time the flames were doused. He also said that had any of the passersby tried to shatter the windowpane of the car before it caught fire instead of simply standing by and filming the whole thing, they might have even been able to save him. The cops were late able to identify the man only on the basis of the number plate of his car.

Not only does this feel exactly like the narrative of the Black Mirror episode White Bear, in which the main character is forced to live in a park where she is tortured as onlookers film everything instead of helping her, but it?s important to note that there?s no such thing as an innocent onlooker, especially in a situation like this that actually seems avoidable and could?ve saved a man?s life. Police have now registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedures related to suspicious deaths and are investigating the matter. But this isn?t the first time something like this has happened.

In May 2019, a similar incident occurred in which passersby did nothing but film the horror when a 55-year-old man caught fire because of a short circuit at his workstation in Pune. In an equally appalling instance in Mumbai that same month, a bike burst into flames on the highway, but onlookers simply stood by and filmed the whole thing instead of trying to rescue the biker. In fact, a 2013 survey conducted by SAVELife foundation found that 74 percent of Indians said they were unlikely to help an accident victim, even if there were several bystanders around. This is probably because they?re afraid of being falsely implicated and say the police will assume they are involved or guilty if they do try to help. It?s also to avoid taking on the responsibility of being a witness if a court case were to happen because of how tedious and long legal proceedings can be in India. They were also worried that taking the victim to a hospital would put pressure on them to pay the medical bills, and thus prefer to look on instead of involving themselves in the incident.

https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/...WKWjLm6auYFvyoaA6gqOIIHSYDfYr1tpzLHPDqZBTy8W4
 
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World War II veteran asked for 100 cards for his 100th birthday ? he received more than 100,000

WATAUGA, Texas ? It has been three weeks of celebration for World War II veteran James South.

On Monday, he celebrated his 100th birthday, and this year he had a special request ? he wanted 100 birthday cards. He had no idea how many cards he would receive.

His story started three weeks ago when his assisted living community Brookdale Watauga posted a photo of James South's wish on Facebook.

Soon South's story was shared all over the world and cards started pouring in.

So far, his family says, the veteran has received more than 100,000 cards.

?To go to a store in town and pick out a card and send it to me, that?s almost more than I can handle I?ll tell ya,? South said. ?It touches my heart.?

?We?re just crying everyday because we?re just reading all these beautiful cards,? daughter-in-law Debbie South said.

His son Jim says the cards have come from as far as Australia, Great Britain, and even China.

Schools sent cards, offering them a moment to teach students about World War II. He heard from the the governor of Texas, United States senators, even the president of the United States.

?Our nation owes your generation, the greatest generation, a tremendous debt of gratitude,? the letter from President Donald Trump read.

?The people that have gone to the store for cards, and the people who have taken the time to pen out their thoughts and their feelings, it?s just been an overwhelming and an amazing response,? son Jim said.

Now, as the cards continue to arrive, the family looks back on a Facebook post that started it all.

?Holding that sign up and grinning at the camera is exactly what started this expression and this outpouring,? son Jim South said.

The 100-year-old veteran is so grateful.

?I?m just thanking God for watching over me and keeping me healthy. There?s no telling where I?ll go from here,? James said.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/h...0000/287-9f706a92-bfe6-4a4f-a099-d7059ea33c08
 
MUSCLE MAKER GRILL FILES FOR AN IPO


If at first you don?t succeed, try again.

Muscle Maker Grill, the healthy fast-food franchise, has filed registration documents with federal regulators to raise at least $7 million in an initial public offering.

The Burleson, Texas-based company, which has struggled with operating losses for years, plans to use the funds ?for general corporate purposes.?

The potential IPO comes just two years after Muscle Maker failed to generate any interest in its Regulation A+ mini IPO. The company at the time hoped to raise $20 million with its offering, but instead raised less than $150,000.

Mini IPOs are less restrictive than traditional IPOs. They?re traditionally reserved for companies that don?t have access to traditional IPO markets that depend on larger, institutional investors.

That makes Muscle Maker?s IPO step unusual, to say the least.

The financial challenges that likely doomed Muscle Maker?s initial effort are still there. The company is struggling with weak sales and increasing costs. It has been closing locations and can?t make money on its existing operations. Now it is banking on delivery, and the high fees that come with it, to generate more sales.

Muscle Maker operates 39 locations in 14 states, plus two in Kuwait. Franchisees operate all but eight of them. But it operated 53 locations two years ago and has faced lawsuits over closed locations.

The company focuses on ?healthy-inspired, high-quality, made-to-order, lean, protein-based meals,? including chicken, seafood, pasta, burgers, wraps and flatbreads, along with salads, protein shakes and smoothies.

Muscle Maker is planning aggressive franchise growth, particularly in nontraditional locations such as military bases.

It has big plans for delivery. Some franchise locations in urban areas get as much as 80% of their sales that way. But the costs are steep: up to 25%. ?Our cost structure will need to be adjusted to reflect a different pricing model, portion sizes, menu offerings, and other considerations to potentially offset these rising costs of delivery,? the company said in its IPO filing.

Muscle Maker?s financial losses have led to questions about its ability to continue operating. Auditors have given it a ?going concern? warning, suggesting ?substantial doubt? about its viability.

Revenues are down 20%, to just $3.7 million, in the first nine months of 2019. It reported a net loss of $5.4 million, though that was an improvement over the $6.7 million loss in the same period a year ago.

The company has less than $2 million in cash and has a working capital deficit of $5.5 million. Its accumulated deficit is nearly $30 million.

Muscle Maker has made some improvements more recently. In the third quarter ended Sept. 30, the company generated $1.1 million in revenues, up more than 6% over the same period a year ago. Yet it still finished with a wider, $1.4 million operating loss in the period and a net loss of $2.3 million, more than double its net loss in the same period a year ago.

Same-store sales were not available, but they are down so far in 2019 and were down in 2018. Muscle Maker is hoping that marketing, new menu initiatives and improved speed of service will improve that number.

They?ll need to improve, too. Food and beverage costs at company locations were 41.3% of sales in the third quarter, up 430 basis points from the same period a year ago. Labor costs were 42.3%, up 530 basis point. Rent was 11.8% of sales. ?Other restaurant operating expenses? were 13.8%, up 500 basis points.

Much of the increase in costs was associated with the company?s acquisition of a pair of franchisee-owned locations. Still, add all these costs up and the restaurants are at a deficit of 9.2%.

All of these losses are putting considerable pressure on the company to raise sales. But even if it can quickly increase revenues, it needs to raise cash. Thus, the IPO.

Muscle Maker needs to raise $350,000 by the end of December to ?satisfy the company?s monthly expenses and continue in operation.?

To fund its plan for 2020, the company needs to raise ?a minimum? of $5.75 million.

?Our inability to raise capital could require us to significantly curtail or terminate our operations,? Muscle Maker said in its filing.

https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/muscle-maker-grill-files-ipo
 
A New Jersey bill would require schoolchildren to be taught cursive handwriting

Should children be required to learn cursive?

A New Jersey legislator says so. Assemblywoman Angela McKnight has introduced a bill that would require elementary schools to teach kids how to read and write in the graceful, flowing loops taught to previous generations as a matter of course.
You remember cursive handwriting. It's what we use to sign our names on, say, a check or other legal document. It's fallen out of favor in the digital age, even getting dropped from Common Core standards in 2010.
Since then, many schools have stopped teaching it, New Jersey Assembly Democrats say.

"In some cases, children are entering middle school without knowing how to sign their own name in cursive," McKnight (D-Hudson) said in a statement. "We are doing our children a disservice by not teaching them a vital skill they will need for the rest of their lives."

California, Texas, North Carolina and other states have moved to encourage cursive in recent years.

"Our world has indeed become increasingly dependent on technology, but how will our students ever know how to read a scripted font on a word document, or even sign the back of a check, if they never learn to read and write in cursive?" McKnight said.

Even in the days of texting, some research shows cursive still can improve cognitive development, spelling and writing speed.

"When writing cursive, the word becomes a unit, rather than a series of separate strokes, and correct spelling is more likely to be retained," says the International Dyslexia Association. "The Declaration of Independence and many other important archival documents are written in cursive. A cursive signature is more difficult to forge than a printed one."

Research also shows that we learn more when taking notes in longhand compared to taking notes on, say, a laptop.

"Knowing how to write in cursive isn't only for writing 'thank you' cards to Grandma ? research suggests it can boost kids' reading and writing skills, too," says publishing company Scholastic.
The bill was introduced in the state legislature last month and is heading to the education committee for review.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/08/us/n...ail&utm_term=0_6da287d761-bb28838633-95217593
 
After The Mandalorian, Natalia Tena Is First to Appear in Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter

One could (very easily) argue that the three biggest franchises in the world at any given moment are Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter. Now, one familiar face has shown up in all three, as Natalia Tena made her Star Wars debut in the sixth episode of The Mandalorian, after previously appearing as Osha in Thrones and Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter series.

In The Mandalorian, Tena plays Xi'an, a mercenary who appears to be of the Twi'Lek species?you may recall Oola, Jabba the Hutt's Twi-Lek slave who he fed to the Rancor in Return of the Jedi. Xi'an has a romantic history with Mando, clearly, which, we can get into another time. But it's an interesting appearance for Tena, who becomes the first performer to appear in the modern iterations of Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter.

Tena's Osha in Game of Thrones was a staple of the early seasons, a wildling who at first appears adversarial, but eventually becomes a trusted friend of Bran and the Starks. Her Harry Potter character was similarly memorable, a half-blood witch, and a member of the Order of the Phoenix who was related to Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lestrange, and married to Professor Lupin. Tena appeared as the character in the last four films of the series.

Other performers?including, of course, Pedro Pascal? have appeared in two of the three; Gwendoline Christie, who, of course, played Brienne of Tarth on Thrones, also appeared in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi as Captain Phasma. Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the villainous General Hux in the new Star Wars movies, also played Bill Weasley in both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows installments. A few others, like Ciaran Hinds (Mance Rayder in Thrones and Dumbledore's brother in Potter) have made appearances in two of the three, but Tena is the first to check off all three boxes.


https://www.menshealth.com/entertai...KPiq89JGAq51gmlebT-0nUKE5Y4RQvoyp2RtHdKA1Ghsk
 
Will Smith: I took Tom Holland to an ESCAPE ROOM

 
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