Shared posts
Senate votes to acquit Donald Trump in impeachment trial
Wells Fargo to pay $3B to settle fake accounts probes
Argentina desconoce a la representante de Guaidó tras la reprimenda de Diosdado Cabello
AndresInteresting
Muere Doris Day, el icono luminoso de Hollywood
AndresOur old friend
Sánchez ignora el 'no' a los PGE y aprobará un subsidio para parados mayores de 52
Nigel Farage rips into 'EU FANATICS' during FURIOUS response to Lord Adonis' Brexit attack
'Sorry for getting our country back!' Farage MOCKS caller complaining about Brexit turmoil
Britain to build 13-foot high wall to stop migrants
AndresMmm they heard Trump!
On Being A Trailblazer
My daughter likes to tuck her pants into her socks. It may have started lackadaisically — not caring enough to fix her socks after putting them on after her pants — but has grown into a style.
She was recently going around with her pants proudly tucked into her socks when another little girl approached her.
“I also like wearing my socks over my pants,” she said, “but my mom won’t let me.”
“My daddy says that too,” Petra responded, “but I don’t have to listen because he also tells me that I should be a trailblazer, and this is what being a trailblazer is like.”
That is what a trailblazer is like — almost by definition.
Last year whenever I was in Xiamen I would walk Petra to school in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. There were no other distractions and this gave us the opportunity to talk. She would ask me to teach her things, so I’d tell her all about the ways of axles and plants and how buildings are made. It also gave her the opportunity to talk about the challenges that she’s facing.
One day, she told me how all the Chinese kids would hang out all together and how she would sometimes feel a little left out. She told me about ho the other kids didn’t want to do what she wanted to do and how she felt as if she had to do what they were doing to be included. It was then that I told her about being a trailblazer.
“If you go out and do what you want to do without caring if the other kids like it there is a good chance that they will follow you.”
She thought about this for a moment but didn’t quite grasp the concept. She brought it up again repeatedly over the following months, citing various examples and asking if that was being a trailblazer or not. They usually weren’t. But the result was that that word “trailblazer” took on perhaps undue prominence, as she seemed to take it as one of the core virtues to shoot for.
But as time went on and her understanding of language became more complex, the concept of being a trailblazer seemed to wear itself into her little psyche.
Petra does what Petra wants to do, she likes what she likes. She plays by herself in the sandbox in the rain because that’s just what she likes to do.
The result:
“You shouldn’t have told me to be a trailblazer, dada,” she said to me yesterday in Warsaw with a laugh, “because it’s led to a lot more not-listenings.”
Or:
“Momma, I’m going to wear what I think is nice because I’m a trailblazer and you can’t stop me from doing that.”
I guess she got it.
Albert Rivera: España no puede mirar a otro lado en crisis venezolana
AndresYa era hora,,,
Messaging service WhatsApp launches desktop app for Mac
AndresInteresting...
Flash Player Patch Fixes 0-Day, 18 Other Flaws
Adobe has shipped a new version of its Flash Player browser plugin to close at least 19 security holes in the program, including one that is already being exploited in active attacks.
The new Flash version, v. 20.0.0.267 for most Mac and Windows users, includes a fix for a vulnerability (CVE-2015-8651) that Adobe says is being used in “limited, targeted attacks.” If you have Flash installed, please update it.
Better yet, get rid of Flash altogether, or at least disable it until and unless you need it. Doing without Flash just makes good security sense, and it isn’t as difficult as you might think: See my post, A Month Without Adobe Flash Player, for tips on how to minimize the risks of having Flash installed.
The most recent versions of Flash should be available from the Flash home page. Windows users who browse the Web with anything other than Internet Explorer may need to apply this patch twice, once with IE and again using the alternative browser (Firefox, Opera, e.g.). This link should tell you whether your system has Flash and if so which version of Flash is installed in your browser.
Fuerte rechazo a que gobierne el PP o el PSOE
Andres¿Porque sera?
Los datos de rechazo a que en España gobierne el PP o el PSOE, como ocurre desde 1982, son abrumadores, lo que resulta compatible con una intención de voto que coloca a uno de los dos, ahora también a Ciudadanos, en la tesitura de coger de nuevo las riendas del Gobierno. Un 69% de los consultados por Metroscopia prefiere que no gobiernen populares o socialistas. Tan abultada cifra nace de la opinión que, en esa línea, manifiestan los votantes de Podemos y de Ciudadanos.
Henry Kissinger: "Putin no es Stalin"
Andresinteresante
Un whisky japonés de pura malta es elegido como el mejor del mundo por primera vez
AndresMmm hay que probarlo!
EFE
- La distinción ha sido otorgada por la guía británica 'La biblia del Whisky', editada por el experto Jim Murray.
- 'Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013' ha obtenido una puntuación de 97,5 puntos sobre 100.
- Se ha impuesto a las destilerías escocesas, con una larga tradición en la fabricación de whisky.
Un whisky japonés de pura malta ha sido elegido por primera vez como el mejor del mundo por la guía británica 'La biblia del Whisky', editada por el experto Jim Murray.
El 'Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013' ha obtenido una puntuación de 97,5 puntos sobre 100 y se ha impuesto a las destilerías escocesas, con una larga tradición en la fabricación de whisky, que este año han quedado fuera de los cinco primeros puestos.
Murray, que ha catado cerca de 4.500 variedades de whisky para elaborar la guía, describe la bebida japonesa como un brebaje "espeso, seco, tan redondo como una bola de billar".
Se trata de una bebida de "exquisita brillantez en nariz", con un regusto final "ligero, algo especiado", continúa el experto.
La fabricación de whisky en Japón comenzó hace cerca de un siglo, cuando un japonés que estudiaba química en Glasgow volvió a su país tras casarse con una escocesa y fundó la destilería Yamazazi cerca de Tokio.
El responsable de la guía subraya que en este momento ningún whisky de pura malta escocés "puede acercarse lo más mínimo" a la calidad y el sabor del japonés, y alerta a las destilerías del norte de la Gran Bretaña de que deben aplicarse "una pequeña dosis de humildad" para "darse cuenta de que algo está fallando".
En cuanto al mejor whisky europeo, Murray ha otorgado esa distinción a una bebida fabricada por la English Whisky Company, el 'English tipple Chapter 14 Not Peated'.
Australian prime minister lambasts Russia over its denial of responsibility for downed plane
Lilian Tintori expone el caso de Leopoldo López ante autoridades españolas
AndresBuena suerte Lilian, y a romper el mito del buen Chavismo. Q liberen a tu marido!
Exclusive: The Cameron crony, the private jet company, and a crash landing that cost taxpayers £100m
AndresWhat a group of rascals...
Take a look at pictures of David Cameron on one of his many globetrotting trips to boost British trade, and there's a good chance you'll see Robin Southwell at his side. The chief executive of the arms giant Eads UK, Mr Southwell is one of the country's most respected and influential businessmen. He was appointed a government ambassador for British industry in 2011, and has accompanied the Prime Minister on trips to India and the Middle East.
Photo editing 101: Master the layer mask
Remember the last time you gave your walls a fresh coat of paint? You probably used a roll of blue or beige masking tape to cover the baseboards and windows so you wouldn’t get paint on them. Masking tape’s digital equivalent—called a layer mask—is a timesaving feature in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements (version 9+), and the affordable yet powerful Pixelmator. Here’s a quick primer on how to use this great tool in your digital image editing program of choice.
Masking basics
Layer masks make for a far more flexible editing experience because you’re hiding pixels instead of erasing them. For example, say you’re treating yourself to some head-swapping (fantastic for breakups, pranks, etc). If you use the Eraser tool and accidentally remove an ear, there’s no getting it back without some heavy undo action. However, if you use a layer mask to hide pixels instead, you can easily fix an accidental ear cover-up.
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Most Outrageous Lie in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's New York Times Op-Ed
AndresApenas habla español y ahora escribe en ingles perfecto!!
Denuncian acoso de chavistas a periodista venezolana
AndresOtra periodista siendo acosada...
Venezuela an online battleground for Canadians backing protests
For Canadians with friends and family in Venezuela the extent of the violence sweeping that country is hard to watch, but many are also working to overcome government crackdowns on local news to ensure the world knows exactly what's happening.
MásMóvil: “El 4G en España es inexistente”
Meinrad Spenger, CEO de MásMóvil, valora la fusión de su operadora con Ibercom y reconoce que en el futuro llegarán nuevos productos y servicios. “Los clientes de MásMóvil están de enhorabuena”, señala.
El todavía CEO de MásMóvil y futuro consejero delegado de MásMóvil Ibercom, la nueva operadora de telefonía móvil que surgirá de la fusión anunciada hoy entre MásMóvil y la compañía de telecomunicaciones vasca Ibercom, comenta con Kelisto los detalles de la operación y cómo afectará a los más de 100.000 clientes que tiene ya su compañía.
- ¿Qué cambios supone la fusión de su compañía con Ibercom para los clientes de MásMóvil?
- De momento la fusión no trae ningún cambio. A medio o largo plazo sí que nos permitirá ofrecer servicios beneficiosos y diferenciales a los clientes de MásMóvil, que están de enhorabuena. Incorporamos a un equipo de ingenieros muy especializado en telecomunicaciones, en el funcionamiento de los sistemas… y eso sólo puede traer ventajas.
- ¿Cómo cambian las tarifas y los planes de quienes son usuarios de MásMóvil?
- Ahora mismo no cambia nada. Se mantiene todo como estaba, sólo que en el futuro tendremos la capacidad de ofrecer otros servicios.
- ¿Cuáles serán esos servicios? ¿Hablamos de telefonía fija propia?
- Ibercom ya ofrece, a nivel residencial, servicios de telefonía móvil, fija, voz IP y hosting, así como otros servicios de valor añadido, pero sólo a empresas. En un futuro los clientes de MásMóvil se beneficiarán sin duda de todo ello.
- Pero a nivel residencial, MásMóvil ofrece ahora packs con telefonía fija y ADSL gracias a un acuerdo con Jazztel…
- El acuerdo continúa vigente y nosotros seguiremos ofertando estos paquetes junto a Jazztel. Nuestro acuerdo sigue adelante sin que le afecte para nada la fusión.
- ¿La fusión cambia también la relación con la operadora que alquila sus redes a MásMóvil, Orange, y a la posibilidad de que los usuarios de su compañía puedan tener acceso a servicios 4G?
- Cuando exista 4G en España nuestros clientes lo tendrán de primera mano, pero ahora mismo el 4G en nuestro país es inexistente, es sólo una campaña de marketing. No tiene sentido ofrecer 4G cuando el 4G no existe en España. Cuando tenga sentido, seremos los primeros en ofrecerlo, de la mano de Orange, que es la compañía cuya red utilizamos.
- ¿Y eso cuándo ocurrirá?
- La red en España no está preparada. La frecuencia de los 1.800 MHz, que es la que se está utilizando, no está preparada. Los usuarios han tenido que cambiar sus tarjetas SIM porque no eran las adecuadas… y la mayor parte de los terminales no son compatibles con lo que debería ser de verdad el 4G.
La tecnología 4G proporciona servicios basados en IP (Internet Protocol), pero en la actualidad en España sólo se ofrece conexión de datos a través de la red, no de voz. Cuando ocurra todo eso, tendremos capacidad de desarrollar nuestros servicios. Hasta entonces no.
China professor says sacked for criticizing president and not recanting
AndresTalking about academic freedom of thought...
China's Unprecedented Crackdown on The New York Times
AndresInteresante!
ChinaFile contacted a New York Times reporter for an update on the situation in the Times’ Beijing and Shanghai bureaus. The following is from an email exchange with the reporter, who asked not to be named to avoid further complicating the visa delays faced by members of the Times’ China staff. —The Editors
After Vice President Joe Biden took a forceful stand on the new threats against foreign journalists by China, some people have asked what exactly is different now. After all, foreign journalists in China have to apply at the end of every year for a renewal of their J-1 visa, which allows them to legally reside in the country, and there is sometimes uncertainty in the process. I recall a few instances in recent years where other correspondents, friends of mine, have had to wait until the last minute, as their visas inched toward expiration, before the authorities decided to process their renewal applications. In each case, the journalist had been given a stern, off-the-record lecture by officials at some point before the renewal process about their recent “negative” coverage or actions. And in each case, the journalist did think that expulsion was a possibility. They said the goal of the authorities was to coerce them into practicing self-censorship.
The actions being taken in recent weeks against The New York Times and Bloomberg News bring those tactics to a new level. For journalists at the Times, issuance of press cards—a government accreditation that must be renewed annually as the first step in the visa application process—stopped around November 13. That was the day that The Times published an investigative story on the business transactions between JPMorgan Chase and Wen Ruchun, the daughter of Wen Jiabao, the former prime minister. As Jill Abramson, our executive editor, has said in interviews this week, Chinese officials have in the last year admonished the paper’s correspondents and editors for reporting on the personal lives and family wealth of China’s leaders. Bloomberg News has received the same scoldings, for a series of stories it published last year. And both organizations have suffered what are in effect forms of economic sanctions, by having their websites blocked in China or, in the case of Bloomberg, terminal sales halted.
The process of getting a J-1 visa renewal can be confusing to an outsider. It goes in two stages at the end of every year—first, you get the new press card from the Foreign Ministry, then you apply for the visa itself. A few Times reporters applied for new press cards in the first week of November, when the process began, and received them within a week. In recent years, this has been the standard length of time it has taken foreign correspondents to renew press cards. The next step is to drop off a passport, copy of the new press card and other supporting documents at the Public Security Bureau’s entry-exit office, east of the Lama Temple. Officials there had said it would take 15 working days this year to complete the processing of J-1 visas. In late November, the Times reporters who had submitted their paperwork were called back into the office and told to take back those documents—with no new visas inside their passports. Officials at the bureau told the reporters there was a problem, and that it was impossible to proceed.
This act of returning passports without visas during the renewal process had not happened before to any journalist I know. Along with the freeze on the issuance of press cards for Times reporters who had not gotten theirs earlier, this was a clear sign that the Times was in trouble. One Times journalist who showed up at the Foreign Ministry at the end of November to pick up his press card was told he could not get it, even though a ministry employee had called the bureau weeks earlier, before the publication of the Wen Ruchun story, to say the card was ready. The day he showed up, an employee at the front desk holding a card called out his name in Chinese, looked down at the card when he reached out for it, then scurried into an office and did not return. A second employee told him the card belonged to “another foreign journalist with the same name”—an unlikely scenario, to say the least.
Bloomberg is the other news organization dealing with the same problems right now. Between the two bureaus, two dozen journalists and their families are affected by the visa delay. In its scale, this campaign has no precedent. And officials no doubt intend for it to resonate with all journalists covering China.
Do we fear expulsion? It’s impossible to discount the possibility, given what has happened in recent years to Melissa Chan, Andrew Higgins, Chris Buckley and Paul Mooney. Chris has been reporting for us from Hong Kong because China has yet to grant him a new J-1 visa. Our editors hired him from Reuters more than a year ago, and he was forced to leave China by Dec. 31 of last year when his visa for The Times did not materialize. In the cases of those journalists, there was little public outcry over their predicaments in the weeks before Chinese officials made decisions that forced them to leave the country or remain outside it. That is different now, since Vice President Biden and others have taken a vocal stand and have hinted at deeper repercussions. The United States government has firmly put this issue on the agenda.
We are all still reporting and writing stories. But as Chris did last year, we’re also looking around our homes and wondering what we might have to pack in our bags in the coming weeks, what farewells we might have to say. All of us believe that engagement with China is part of our mission, both personal and professional, and that we are one of many bridges between China and the rest of the world. Our work only reflects the proper nuances, texture and voices—in other words, the true nature of China—if we’re on the ground. Living inside China, we listen to the people here. I’m hopeful there are Chinese officials who see the value in that, and who will make the right decision.
A version of this post first appeared at ChinaFile, an Atlantic partner site.