firehose

bunnyfood:

(via thecatsmustbecrazy)

Henri Lamiraux, Apple’s top Vice President of Engineering for the iOS iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating system has left the company, according to a source and corroborated by his LinkedIn profile.

ANIMATED: The Bucs did this AND IT WORKED

Mexico’s new soft drink tax could push the nation’s Coca-Cola makers away from the cane sugar that’s made “Mexicoke” a cult hit in the US.

Executives from the second-largest bottler of Coca-Cola in Latin America suggested that a shift away from cane sugar might be in the cards as a result of the steep sales tax on soda Mexico’s congress approved on Thursday (Oct. 31). American Coke enthusiasts claim the Mexican version tastes better than what they get in the US, which some say is because Mexican Coca-Cola is made with cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup.

On an earnings call with analysts last week, the head of Arca Continental SAB said that the Mexico-based Coca-Cola bottler could “move to more fructose,” which is cheaper than cane sugar. Arca Continental’s Francisco Garza added “that’s a very important part of the savings that we are foreseeing now.” The independent bottlers who distribute Coke in local markets use the same recipe but have some latitude from Coca-Cola to tinker with the sweetening ingredients. (Arca Continental hasn’t yet responded to a request for further comment.)

Mexico’s new soda levy will tack on an extra peso ($.08) per liter to all soft drink sales in the country. The move is part of a growing campaign to address what has become an obesity epidemic—over 70% of Mexico’s population is now overweight. And the hope is that it will help curb the country’s unmatched affinity for soda. On a per capita basis, Mexicans drink more Coca-Cola products than residents of any other country in the world.

Any decision by Arca Continental—or Coca-Cola’s other large Latin American bottlers—to turn more heavily toward high-fructose corn syrup would surely dismay fans of Mexicoke around the world. Over the last decade, “hecho en Mexico” Coca-Cola has acquired cult status.

After steadily cutting the amount of real cane sugar in Coca-Cola in the early 1980s, most US Coca-Cola bottlers had switched over to high-fructose corn syrup by the middle of that decade. When Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola Classic in 1985—after the disastrous attempt to launch New Coke—it was sweetened with corn syrup rather than cane sugar, which drew the ire of the US sugar lobby.

Latin American bottlers have some leeway when it comes to how they mix up their pop. The largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America, Coca-Cola FEMSA, explains this in its annual report: “Under our agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, we may use raw or refined sugar or [high-fructose corn syrup] as sweeteners in our products.” Coca-Cola FEMSA opts for different sweeteners in different markets. For instance in Colombia, it uses sugar as a sweetener. In Argentina, it’s high-fructose corn syrup.

For the record, while Mexican bottlers might shift their mix of sweeteners toward high-fructose corn syrup, it’s unclear what, if any, implications that would have for consumers outside Mexico who’ve grown accustomed to cane sugar Coke. And it should also be noted that Mexicoke fans might already be getting more corn syrup than they think. Researchers from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine tested Mexican Coca-Cola purchased in east Los Angeles back in 2010. Their findings:

The Mexican Coca-Cola lists “sugar” on the ingredient list, but the laboratory did not detect any sucrose, but rather near equal amounts of fructose and glucose, results which suggest the use of [high fructose corn syrup]. According to the FDA guidelines, the word “sugar” can only be used in reference to sucrose.

"Agenda:  We don’t have enough black and Latino people in our organizations.  What can we do to improve their attendance?"

Me:  “Well you have to recruit in places where those people are.  You’ve advertised on the bike forums, on the email lists, but what you need to do is get out there into the actual neighborhoods and talk to the people that live there.  You’re advertising for group A on the website of group B, and vice versa.  You’re preaching to the choir.  You need to expand your scope.”

"What about a webring?  That’s it, we’ll put all of our websites on the same webring!  Next item!"

Bars are gouging you terribly. How terribly? Read on, dear drinker.

Life is short

Vampires are often portrayed wearing black leather and hissing their sexy hisses while grinding up against one another. Sketch comedy show Key & Peele wonders: doesn't that get kind of exhausting?

Read more...

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Voice of America

Snowden Clemency Appeal Rejected Voice of America Edward Snowden's plea for clemency in the United States appears headed to rejection. A White House adviser, Dan Pfeiffer, during an appearance on the news program “This Week,” said no clemency offers were being discussed and that the NSA leaker ... Take HealthCare.gov offline until it is fixed, Feinstein and Rogers sayCBS News White House Rejects Clemency for SnowdenTIME White House, lawmakers dismiss Snowden's plea for clemencyGloucester Daily Times ABC News -Fox News all 109 news articles »

Wall Street Journal

White House seeks quick fix to health policy cancellations Los Angeles Times NEW ORLEANS — Administration officials scrambled Friday to find a quick fix to a problem President Obama said would never come about — millions of insurance policies canceled for people who have health plans they want to keep. But as the controversy ... ObamaCare price hikes hit 'red states' hardestFox News GOP on Obamacare rollout: "This is what betrayal looks like"CBS News Carl Schramm: How ObamaCare Rips Off the 'Young Healthies'Wall Street Journal New York Times -Washington Times -NBCNews.com all 2,206 news articles »

cursethecosmos:

One of the more important tshirts that I own. Actually, it’s the most important.

Damn, dude. Looks good on you. 

mag-lera:

Me;)

Photo from the Kievan Rus Park.

Skydivers jump to safety in miraculous escape from midair collision Courier Mail TWO planes carrying skydivers collided in midair in far northwest Wisconsin, but all the parachutists were able to jump free with no major injuries reported. Mike Robinson, an instructor and safety adviser for Skydive Superior, said one plane crashed into the ... and more »

Word continues to spread that all is not well with the Miami Dolphins. Offensive tackle Jonathan Martin left the team indefinitely after reports of bullying and harassment from the veterans, but it seems he wasn't the only one. Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald is reporting that veterans are using younger players as "ATMs", charging them exorbitant amounts for dinners despite rookies making the smallest salaries in the league.

One young defensive player, whose privacy I'm protecting, has literally gone broke because he's been pressured to pay for older players.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013

They've gotten sucked into the Miami lifestyle, and the veterans are using the younger players as an ATM, I'm told.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013

Recently, a younger player was handed the tab for a $30,000 team dinner. The rookie minimum this year is around $400.000.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013

When I talked about anger, dysfunction last week, this is what I was referring to. This issue extends far beyond the Martin situation.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 3, 2013

Veteran players buying outlandish dinners and sticking rookies with the tab is nothing new in the NFL, but the Martin situation started to shine a brighter light on the culture of hazing in football. Martin left the Dolphins last week after having an emotional breakdown in the team cafeteria. Richie Incognito has been linked to the reports of bullying, but has denied any involvement in Martin's situation.

The Dolphins placed Martin on the non-football injury list and he is reportedly seeking treatment.

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New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles went to the locker room in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Jets. Sproles will not return due to an ankle sprain., according to reports. The Saints announced he is undergoing testing for concussion symptoms and his return is questionable.

Sproles was hit hard by New York Jets safety Antonio Allen and went to to the ground awkwardly. After a brief moment on the sidelines, he was escorted to the locker room by the training staff.

So far, the Saints have been using Pierre Thomas more and have run some slip screens to get him the ball in the open field. Brees has also been looking at Lance Moore on intermediate routes.

Fantasy impact: The Saints have counted on Sproles as one of Drew Brees' favorite targets and the loss of him for an extended period of time would be devastating. This injury is bad news for Sproles owners. He's not too strong in the stature department, so the big hit he took may have keep him out of the lineup for next week and beyond. Pierre Thomas becomes an absolute must-start guy in PPR leagues while Lance Moore is also a nice pickup for now.

More fantasy football news from SB Nation:

• Get live advice daily in the Fantasy War Room

• Today's fantasy football player updates

• Week 9 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST

• Week 9 fantasy football waiver wire: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST

In April of 2009, I was 22, debt-free, and a month away from graduating from an expensive, private liberal arts school. Flash-forward four years: I am now nearly $40,000 in debt.

1. Alabama

Do not let a bye week diminish your respect for Alabama. They remain the undefeated intercontinental champions, and will be as long as the greedy promoters prevent them from playing teams No. 2 through No. 6 in succession in a no-holds-barred, one-versus-five survivors match in the Rose Bowl.

They probably spent the bye week working a casual 90-hour review of everything they've ever done in their lives, not just in football, but beyond, which is how Nick Saban knows that defensive coordinator Kirby Smart once stole from a convenience store in Dawsonville, Georgia as a reckless teenager (we have no evidence of this at all). This is why Kirby will not leave, and why blackmail's just another word for loyalty.

They also play LSU this Saturday, just in time to grab the spotlight from football neophytes like Florida State and Oregon. Just in time to remind everyone that when the dry ice smoke rolls out of the entrance ramp and "Ain't No Grave" starts playing, this cage match is over before it starts.

Oh, Oregon's been playing football since 1893, you say? Well ain't you sweet, sugar? To be honest we hardly noticed, but we can be oh so forgetful.

[/sips sweet tea bourbon from crystal football]

2. Florida State

Hiring Jimbo Fisher was a great decision, but bringing on co-coach Jameis Winston to play quarterback and take over the reins of offensive coordinator was a risky but ultimately brilliant call. Winston greets players coming out of the tunnel.

He interrupts Jimbo Fisher when the fiery co-coach gets a bit too testy. He greets the youth, and when he is beheld brings them joy. He sometimes throws interceptions that do not matter. He refuses to wear contact lenses, because if his vision were corrected on the football field, his mind would be overwhelmed by his ability to see the energy fields surrounding everyone's bodies. He beats Miami 41-14 while squinting to see playcalls.

Winston also has a malicious offensive line capable of keeping him clean for entire games, skill players who make man coverage look like an open invitation for embarrassment, and a defense that bottled up the best running back in the country until his horrendous ankle injury. Are we saying Winston is not the only good thing about this team? Yes. Are we also saying that this must have been what it was like to watch Joan of Arc take over an army as a teenager, if Joan of Arc could throw a deadly post pattern? Yes. This is exactly what it would have been like, except with a dude who really, really loves cheese balls.

If he would give up a national championship for a lifetime supply of cheeseballs: "I would not, BUT I'm gonna get some cheeseballs anyway"

— Perry Kostidakis (@perrykos) August 11, 2013

3. Oregon

Played its second string in a blowout against the bye week.

That thing Alabama's about to enjoy, with all the crucial weighted tests of football dominance laid out neatly in the span of a single month? Life is not entirely unfair, because Oregon gets that, too, and just in time to go tit-for-tat with Alabama in taking back some of the shine the Seminoles hoarded in the month of October. (Even FSU's game with Florida is diminished now, thanks to Will Muschamp's successful devolution of the Gators into 1984's grittiest 6-4 football team. Dreams DO come true, Will!)  Alabama gets Auburn at the end, and Oregon in turn gets their rivalry against Oregon State. It's not a backloaded Pac-12 schedule, but it's a pair of big games of national import when both programs need them.

Oregon happens to be getting Stanford at an opportune time: the Cardinal are injury-riddled, misfiring on offense, and looking anything but capable of keeping pace with the Ducks, who in the first week of November are still averaging an unholy 55.6 points a game. They will also likely have a healthy De'Anthony Thomas, a fully functional Marcus Mariota, and will have the assistance of the Stanford offense in making the Ducks defense look better than it might really be. They'll have to endure the roar of HUNDREDS of Stanford fans, but remember that the unsettling silence of Stanford has been cited by some as being legitimately upsetting. (Go all the way, Stanford: make the insanity-causing Quiet Room of college football.)

4. Baylor

After this week's bye, the next month for Baylor is the abominable pun we'd like to avoid but have to run headlong into: a bearish run through Oklahoma this Thursday night, and then Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas in succession.

If the stupid simulations you run in your head are anything close to accurate, the crux there is the November 23rd game in Stillwater against the Cowboys, who this year have suddenly morphed into this year's Big 12 team with a run game and defense.

Baylor's playing so far outside of anything anyone in the program has experienced that to say they can't run the table is foolish. When you're averaging 63 points a game and playing the longest sustained streak of amazing football the program has ever seen, you by definition have no idea what you are doing. And when you have no idea what you're doing, the only answer is to stay clueless, and keep doing it.

5. Ohio State

Take every article from 2006 written about Boise State's run as a BCS buster. Now, substitute "Ohio State," and you'll see where the Big Ten stands in the national consciousness, since the greatest opponent for Ohio State now is the slumping decay of the conference it happens to play in, and the diminishing returns on weekly blowouts of cannon fodder's cannon fodder like Purdue, whom the Buckeyes beat 56-0 this weekend.

Some positives still to enjoy, though:

1. You got a four-way O-H-I-O cheer going at an opponent's stadium.
2. You're going to paint the forest with Michigan.
3. You have a line on facing a well-respected Michigan State team in the title game.
4. You will likely slaughter whatever poor team happens to face your grudge-laden selves in a bowl game.
5. Minnesota has seven wins! You don't have to be happy about that, I just want someone to verify that that whole thing is real and isn't just happening in my mind.

Raj Mehta, USA Today

6. Michigan State

The funnel-web spider of college football, just waiting for you to fall into the trap so it can immobilize you and wait for the inevitable. Michigan had a record-low yards rushing against the Spartans in a 29-6 act of futility, something that (again) may mean Michigan State is as dominant as imagined or that Michigan's offensive coordinator Al Borges has gone utterly and completely insane at last.

7. Missouri

Still immune to the SEC East virus and technically in line for a possible SEC Championship after beating Tennessee 31-3, because Gary Pinkel washes his hands at least three times a day, something no one else in the SEC East must do. (Well, we know Will Muschamp doesn't for sure, since germs are a lie and winners prevent sickness with a positive attitude alone, and that's why he's eating this raw meat straight from the styrofoam and shrink-wrapped pack.)

Just missed

Auburn, still sitting there with only one loss to LSU, because Gus Malzahn is a brilliant madman playing a former DB at quarterback on a team that looked like complete garbage one year ago; Stanford, we suppose, since a win in the Oregon game could change damn near everything; Oklahoma, the backup chute pick for anyone in need of a one-loss team in most any year; Oklahoma State, because... um... because we're just picking one-loss teams at this point, and don't want to short anyone the possibility of something weird happening.

More from SB Nation college football:

Follow @SBNationCFBFollow @SBNRecruiting

• At the scene of the SEC’s newest bitter rivalry

• New bowl projections: Alabama-Oregon and all 34 others

• New BCS rankings projections: Can Noles reclaim No. 2 from Oregon?

• Every FBS score: FSU, Michigan State, Georgia win the day

• Opening lines: Bama, Oregon, Baylor favored in next week’s huge games

• Long read: Inside Chip Kelly’s New Hampshire laboratory

Valve normally runs cute little Halloween events for some of its games. Team Fortress 2 gets Scream Fortress, for example, while DOTA 2 had Diretide. Oh, except for this year. And boy are people upset.

CardMaker:

tgcnews:

A Windows utility to turn a spreadsheet into simple graphical cards. Could be very useful in prototyping.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White is not expected to play on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, reports the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

White was listed as questionable for the game against Carolina with hamstring and ankle injuries, and was on the field with the team on Friday after missing practice both Wednesday and Thursday. The veteran receiver told reporters he expected to be a game-time decision, yet this latest report states that unless there's significant improvement in his health White won't be able to play.

The ninth-year receiver injured his ankle in the preseason and attempted to "play through it" the first five weeks of the season before injuring his hamstring in Week 5 against the New York Jets. White has be noticeably limited when on the field, catching just 14 passes for 129 yards and no touchdowns this season.

The Falcons and Panthers kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.

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• Dez Bryant vs. Vikings: How will he bounce back?

• Breaking Madden: Let's put Brett Favre on the Rams | More

• How each team can make the playoffs: NFC | AFC