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Puerto Rico Cancels Whitefish Energy’s Controversial $300 Million Contract

Reginald Edward
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Puerto Rico Cancels Whitefish Energy’s Controversial $300 Million Contract

On Sunday, Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló called for the cancellation of Whitefish Energy’s contract to rebuild the country’s power grid after Hurricane Maria. Hours later, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) followed through and canceled the agreement. This news comes after a small Montana company with only two full-time employees won the $300 million deal, which sparked criticism, debate, and questions.

Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski had argued that he had scored the deal with LinkedIn. But, news surfaced that he was closely connected to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The resulting situation led to PREPA head Richardo Ramos to make a tough decision.

“It’s an enormous distraction,” Ramos said of the controversy over the contract. “This was negatively impacting the work we’re already doing.”

The current work by Whitefish teams will not be affected by the cancellation and that work will be completed in November, Ramos said. He said the cancellation will delay work by a couple of months because the government will have to find new companies to help restore power to the island. (via ABC News).

Ultimately, this deal will come to an end, but many Puerto Ricans will continue to suffer without electricity. It is important to note Whitefish engaged in a Twitter debate with the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Perhaps it is time for Puerto Rico’s Governor to call upon Silicon Valley giants such as Google and Tesla to innovate solutions that could help the U.S. territory.

Hurricane Maria
Hurricane MARIA on the island of Dominica Hurricane force 5 hit the whole island, 95% of homes are destroyed.the water and electrical supply system are demolished. The population is terrified 09/18/2017. (JEAN-FRANCOIS Manuel / Shutterstock.com)

Two Navy Seals are Under Investigation For the Strangling Death of a Green Beret

Reginald Edward
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0
Two Navy Seals are Under Investigation For the Strangling Death of a Green Beret

The ambush in Niger that killed 4 U.S. soldiers, two of which being Green Berets, is still under investigation. But, according to a New York Times report, officials have been investigating the death of another Green Beret in Mali this June, which has been ruled a homicide.

The circumstances of Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar’s death has been under wraps for several months due to an investigation by the NCIS, but two Seals in question were quickly placed on leave after the military officials concluded Melgar died by strangulation. Their status shifted from “witnesses” to “persons of interest” with two now formally becoming suspects in the murder.

The New York Times reports Melgar had served through two Afghanistan tours before being deployed to Mali to assist with counter-tourism missions. His body was discovered within embassy housing where he lived with other Special Ops forces, and his death was immediately considered suspicious.

“The soldier’s superiors in Stuttgart, Germany, almost immediately suspected foul play, and dispatched an investigating officer to the scene within 24 hours,” military officials told the New York Times. “Agents from the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command spent months on the case before handing it off last month to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service,” the NY Times said.

There have been very few details from military officials. However, the NY Times notes that the “uncertainty” surrounding the homicide has led to many speculate. Theories have ranged from something that went “horribly wrong” to Melgar discovering “some illicit activity the SEALs were involved in,” and the suspects wanted to make sure no one ever finds out.

George Clooney’s ‘Suburbicon’ Bombs in the Box Office

Jonathan Antonio
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George Clooney’s ‘Suburbicon’ Bombs in the Box Office

Since the opening of IT, there have been several box office letdowns. Since early September, the only movie with a box office opening that defied expectations was Happy Death Day, while most of the other significant films have been disappointments including Blade Runner 2049, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Flatliners, Geostorm, and mother! Overall, it has been a weak box office stretch since July and the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

This weekend, the Saw franchise returned for the first time in nearly a decade with Jigsaw and the movie earned a disappointing $16 million, down $6 million from Saw 3D. But it is important to point out that most people are spending time outside of the movie theater going to Halloween events. But, this is a disappointing opening for an established franchise wishing to reboot itself. The reviews for the movie didn’t help either. In fact, Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 42% rating, while audiences enjoyed the film with a B Cinemascore. That said, from a business standpoint Jigsaw will end up being a profitable movie with the average Saw movie costing around $10 million to make, so even after the promotion of the film, Jigsaw should turn a profit after the movie debuts overseas.

Meanwhile, Boo 2! A Madea Halloween took second place with $9.3 million in its second weekend. It is important to point out that the Tyler Perry production has made $35 million after ten days. Geostorm took third place, falling 60% and taking home $5.4 million, which is terrible news for a movie that cost $120 million to make. In fourth place, Happy Death Day, earned $4.7 million as the film approaches $50 million.

Sadly, the Atlanta-filmed movie Thank You For Your Service landed in sixth place with only $4 million. The film, which focuses on combat PTSD, ends up being a movie that viewers did not want to see. Even with good reviews, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, people were not that interested in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

This weekend’s biggest box office disappointment is George Clooney’s Suburbicon. The movie was directed by the Ocean Eleven star, based on a Coen Brother script, and starred Matt Damon and Julianne Moore. Sadly, it bombed at the box office, earning $3 million in its opening weekend. Reviews did not help. Critics only gave it a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes with audiences rating the movie a D- Cinemascore. Suburbicon will ultimately become George Clooney’s worst movie.

Next weekend Thor: Ragnarok and A Bad Moms Christmas hit theaters.

Instagram Superzoom: Here’s How It Works

Jonathan Antonio
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0
Instagram Superzoom: Here’s How It Works

Instagram is a popular social media. The social network has a massive number of active users totaling to 88 million users, networked together, as of September 2017. In the upcoming years, arguably, it can give serious competition to the likes of Facebook and Google.

One of the reasons people love Instagram is due to vibrant filters and exotic photo effects. A new feature is known as “Superzoom” has been added to the inventory of Instagram

Functionality of Superzoom

Not too long ago, a viral video surfaced the YouTube, depicting a dramatic chipmunk. Over time, it quickly became a notable figure in the meme world. Although in actual, it was a prairie dog and not a chipmunk, the mainstream media depicted the creature as a lively chipmunk.

via GIPHY

The Superzoom feature allows you to transform your face just like that ‘dramatic chipmunk.’ This feature is now available on both IOS and Android. With a tap of a button, you get to transform your face into a zooming state of a chipmunk; This is much easier, compared to what video editors or Photoshop enthusiasts used to spend hours, fixing additional effects to zoom-in on a picture and then add the required “chipmunk” vibe.

To activate the Superzoom, one should access the camera of Instagram Stories. Next to the “Boomerang feature”, lies the function of Superzoom. Based on the user preference of front or rear camera of opting for a shot, a user can tap the button to capture moments. Upon the tap, a three-second Superzoom would be recorded.

However, if a user decides to keep holding the button, a user can extend the video up to fifteen seconds.

NOTE: Users need to update the Instagram mobile app, to see the “Superzoom” feature. If it is still not available, try logging out and then back in, to have unlimited fun with Superzoom.

Google Advertising Continues to Grow

Reginald Edward
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0
Google Advertising Continues to Grow

The parent company of Google (GOOGL), Alphabet has claimed to generate a sales revenue of $27.77 billion, in a brief period of the third quarter of a year. Google saw a gain of 24%.

Thanks to advertisements on YouTube and mobile platform, the company’s earnings earned a new milestone. The section which manages “Nest” observed a sharp jump from an almost $200 million to $302 million, inside a quarter of a year. The loss of these bets have been significantly narrowed, but still, they remain as high as $812 million for the quarter.

There is no question about the ever-growing potential and earning statistics of advertisement power of Google. However, this has created a little problem for Google. All the three tech giants of the Silicon Valley (Google, Facebook, and Twitter) have been asked to testify before Congress.This is due to the claims that just before the 2016 presidential elections, Russian bought ads became a source of misinformation and thus, created a lot of divisions in America.

Google Alphabet
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY, 2016 – Alphabet Inc site under a magnifying glass. Alphabet Inc. is a multinational conglomerate created in 2015 as the parent company of Google. (Dennisn / Shutterstock, Inc.)

According to Ruth Porat, the chief financier of the enterprise, the majority of advertisers never felt the need to quit doing business with Google. However, those who went away, a majority of them came back.

Porat doesn’t feel the heat generated from the incident. She thinks that if there is any damaging impact to the impeccable reputation of Google, it has yet to show up.

Controversy or not, one thing is clear. The advertisement earnings of the business are enough to bring the company into the headlines again. The stock of the company, popped 3% in after-hours, trading on Thursday, which put the shares of the company back to a remarkable price of more than $1000 per share.

Google Android
Mountain View, Ca USA May 7, 2017: Googleplex – Headquarters office buildings with sculpture of Android on the foreground (Uladzik Kryhin / Shutterstock.com)

Amazon, The CVS-Aetna Merger and The Future of Healthcare

Reginald Edward
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0
Amazon, The CVS-Aetna Merger and The Future of Healthcare

Amazon has just established its position in the world of global business by possibly overturning another industry without even launching a product. According to sources, CVS Health (CVS) is in talks to purchase Aetna (AET) for $66 billion in a hit merger that could restructure the health insurance industry. One of the factors rumored to be the driving force behind the deal is Amazon.

Wall Street Journal claims that the merger was designed to protect these respective companies if Amazon is to set foot in the pharmaceutical business. No official statement has been released from either company, neither CVS nor Aetna addressing the speculations.

Rumors about Amazon’s intentions to make prescription drugs easily accessible via home delivery are a perfect depiction of the company’s motivation and ambition. They aim to offer premium service while giving access to every consumer product merely a few clicks away.

Amazon Shipping
PARIS, FRANCE – JAN 27, 2016: Customer hand taking the parcel as the UPS United Parcel Service young female postal delivery courier in front of door scans package from Amazon Prime (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

Amazon initially started off as an online bookseller. With the progression of time, Amazon has conquered almost every field of business offering 1-hour deliveries in selected areas. Such efficiency and organization immediately cement Amazon’s position to deliver drugs both online and offline.

It may sound like a stretch for a company that started as an online bookseller. But Amazon now owns the Whole Foods grocery chain and is testing its corner stores. It also offers one-hour delivery in specific markets. That potentially puts it in a strong position to deliver prescription drugs online and offline.

Despite the concerns of many, Amazon has managed to achieve pharmaceutical licensing in over 12 states. Regardless of what they choose to do in the future, this would not be the first time Amazon destroyed another market with so much of a rumor.

Amazon Boxes
Cat inspecting multiple Amazon Prime boxes delivered by courier and left by the door by Hermes delivery courier (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

Amazon Looking To Branch Into The Pharmaceutical Business

Reginald Edward
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0
Amazon Looking To Branch Into The Pharmaceutical Business

Amazon is all set to expand into different markets. According to reports, Amazon has gained pharmacy licenses in several states signaling its intentions to set foot into the world of drugstore and healthcare business.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a dozen states have issued licenses to Amazon. These 12 states include Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, and Tennessee. Some states require the permits to sell “professional use only” medical devices to medical and dental practices such as procedure trays, sutures, and syringes.

Amazon’s bold move to venture into the world of pharmaceuticals has urged CVS to make a $66 billion offer for health insurer Aetna (AET). CNBC reports that Amazon will finalize their decision about selling prescription drugs online sometime around the end of November around Thanksgiving. Shoppers will now have the convenience of receiving their medication at their doorstep without having to go out.

Amazon box
Amazon Prime logotype printed on cardboard box side seen from above on a wooden parquet floor. Amazon is an American electronic e-commerce company distribution worldwide (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

Many people are skeptical of the concept behind the initiative suggesting that Amazon is not expected to expand as much without setting up a pharmaceutical establishment as it is not a typical consumer industry. In addition to that, Amazon’s plan to venture into pharmaceuticals will bring them face to face with insurance companies.

Amazon has not released an official statement as of yet addressed any of the speculations and rumors. The massive global online retailer reported a blowout quarter earlier this week. Its shares surged more than 13 percent. The company’s market capitalization rose $62 billion on Friday. Earlier this week, CEO Tim Wentworth told Wall Street analysts that he was “very confident we’ll stand well against an entry in the [pharmacy benefits manager] space, be it Amazon or anybody.”

Barack Obama Has Jury Duty in Chicago

Reginald Edward
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0
Barack Obama Has Jury Duty in Chicago

After leaving the White House in January, Barack Obama has been making his slow transition into public life. He has voiced his opinion about the Trump administration’s attempts at repealing and replacing Obamacare and started campaigning for Democrat candidates across the country. Now he may have to slow down and go to jury duty.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Cook County summoned the former president for jury duty in Cook County, which includes Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Chief Judge Tim Evans, the county’s highest judicial figure said he fully expects Obama to serve jury duty. Evans says that the county will even accommodate Obama and the level of security a former president requires.

President Obama Russia Hacks
Stock Photo:
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA – JULY 5, 2016: President Barack Obama gestures on stage as he listens to a speech by Hillary Clinton at the Charlotte Convention Center. (Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com)

“Although it’s not a place where the public can earn a lot of money, it is highly appreciated,” Judge Evans said. “It’s crucial that our society get the benefit of that kind of commitment.”

That said, one of the last celebrities picked for jury duty was dismissed. Last August, Taylor Swift was scheduled for jury duty as a potential juror for a case in Nashville that involved charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and domestic assault. Swift was dismissed by a Nashville judge who decided she was unable to be an impartial juror due to her own then-pending civil assault case. 

“She asked to be left off out of concern for an upcoming trial in Denver where she was — she used the term ‘groped’ — by a fan at a meet-and-greet,” Davidson County District Attorney General’s Office spokesman Ken Whitehouse said. Whitehouse added she was willing to serve “on any other type of case.” Either way, the judge dismissed her from the potential juror pool for that case.

Mark Halperin Issues a Public Apology To The Women He ‘Mistreated’

Reginald Edward
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0
Mark Halperin Issues a Public Apology To The Women He ‘Mistreated’

On Friday, political journalist Mark Halperin issued a statement of apology to his accusers via Twitter. The NBC News political analyst, who frequently appears on MSNBC’s Morning Joe program, is accused of sexually harassing several women while working at ABC News. His initial accusers were five, but CNN report suggests at least a dozen women allege Halperin said or did sexually inappropriate things.

“I am profoundly sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by my past actions. I apologize sincerely to the women I mistreated,” Halperin said. Halperin added, “Toward the end of my time at ABC News, I recognized that I had a problem. I acknowledge that, and I deeply regret it. As I said earlier this week, my behavior was wrong. It caused fear and anxiety for women who were only seeking to do their jobs.”

“No one had sued me, no one had filed a human resources complaint against me, no colleague had confronted me,” Halperin continued. That said, Halperin admitted he “didn’t need a call from HR to know that I was a selfish, immature person, who was behaving in a manner that had to stop.”

This news comes after a CNN report that alleged Mark Halperin propositioned employees for sex, kisses and “grabbing one’s breasts against her will.” Three women spoke to CNN and described Halperin “without consent, pressing an erection against their bodies while he was clothed.”

In fact, one of the women said when she “went up to have a soda and talk and… he just kissed me and grabbed my boobs,” adding: “I just froze. I didn’t know what to do.” That being said, Halperin’s accusers never reported him to executives at ABC News. They also told CNN that he never promised to give them anything for sex, or suggested he would retaliate against anyone should they report his behavior.

Halperin admitted to CNN he “[pursued] relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me” in a statement. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.” 

Following the report, NBC said, “We find the story and the allegations very troubling. Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past are fully understood.”

Robert Mueller Files First Charges in the Trump/Russia Investigation

Reginald Edward
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0
Robert Mueller Files First Charges in the Trump/Russia Investigation

A federal grand jury has approved the first set of charges filed by special investigator Robert Mueller and his team, and those charged could be in custody as soon as this Monday. CNN reports that the charges are still sealed, and it is currently unknown what the charges are and who is getting charged.

This news comes just hours after Fox News reported that conservatives are pressuring to have Mueller resign or be removed following a conflict of interest due to his relationship with former FBI director James Comey.

“The federal code could not be clearer – Mueller is compromised by his apparent conflict of interest in being close with James Comey,” Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who first called for Mueller to step down over the summer, said in a statement to Fox News on Friday. “The appearance of a conflict is enough to put Mueller in violation of the code. … All of the revelations in recent weeks make the case stronger.”

Even New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, and Trump colleague suggested on Friday that Mueller step down. “If the facts that you just laid out are true, then somebody with Bob Mueller’s integrity will step aside and should — if in fact those facts, as you laid them out, are true,” Christie said on “Fox & Friends,” Christie said to Fox News.

Who is Robert Mueller?

Robert Mueller was hired to lead the investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election and collusion between the Russian government and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Many people following the investigation are wondering who the charges have been filed against.

After President Donald Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey, Mueller was appointed as special counsel. Mueller took over the federal investigation that Comes first started in July 2016. Mueller is hired to investigate “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation,” according to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Russia Investigation

CNN reports Mueller’s team has examined foreign lobbying orchestrated by former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and other people associated with the Trump campaign. Mueller has also issued subpoenas for documents and testimony, including a Trump Tower meeting between Russians and campaign officials. In fact, the New York Times broke a story on Friday that the Kremlin was made aware of the scheduled meeting between Donald Trump’s son and the Russian government connected attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya.

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