| Cory Booker launches his presidential campaign with a call for America to 'rise' Posted: 01 Feb 2019 03:59 AM PST  The New Jersey senator launched his White House bid on Friday morning with an email to supporters.
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| Elizabeth Warren Tries to Quell DNA Controversy With Apology Posted: 01 Feb 2019 12:18 PM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren attempted to put an early political stumble behind her by apologizing to the Cherokee Nation for using a DNA test to prove she's part Native American.
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| Judge warns Roger Stone: Russia probe charges not a 'book tour' and considers issuing gag order Posted: 01 Feb 2019 02:10 PM PST  U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Friday she was considering imposing a gag order on President Donald Trump's longtime political adviser.
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| The Latest: At least 3 deaths in New York blamed on storm Posted: 31 Jan 2019 05:47 PM PST  CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on a major snowstorm and frigid weather in the Midwest (all times local):
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| Venezuelan general deserts Nicolas Maduro in highest ranking military defection to hit regime Posted: 02 Feb 2019 05:20 AM PST  A general from the Venezuelan air force has announced he no longer recognises Nicolas Maduro as the country's president, in what appears to be the highest ranking military defection to hit the regime. In a video circulating on social media on Saturday ahead of mass protests planned in Caracas, General Francisco Esteban Yanez Rodriguez says he has disavowed the "dictatorial" authority of Mr Maduro and now recognises Juan Guaido, the self-declared interim president, as Venezuela's leader. Wearing military uniform, Gen. Yanez identifies himself as director of strategic planning in the high command of the Venezuelan air force. His role and identity corresponds with that listed on the force's website. The general claims that 90 per cent of the country's armed forces "are not with the dictator, they are with the people of Venezuela". "The transition to democracy is imminent," he says, urging Venezuelans to come out peacefully into the streets in support of Mr Guaido. Gen. Yanez also calls on members of the armed forces not to protect Mr Maduro, saying that if they are afraid of backing Mr Guaido openly due to internal threats, they should "stay at home". "The people have already suffered enough", he says, describing repression and deaths from hunger and lack of medicines. "Do not repress (them) any more." Mr Maduro has two planes on standby to flee the country, the general claims, adding "he should go". "The time for democracy is now," he concludes. It is not clear when or where the two minute video was filmed, nor where Gen. Yanez is now. The Associated Press said they had reached him on a Colombian mobile phone number. General de División del Alto Mando de la Aviación Militar, Francisco Esteban Yánez Rodríguez, reconoce a Juan Guaidó como presidente encargado. "Me manifiesto por una Venezuela democrática, por la patria de nuestros hijos y la tragedia que vive nuestro pueblo". #2Febreropic.twitter.com/3YfgnTsFlY— Venezuela al Dia (@venezuelaaldia) February 2, 2019 The defection is hugely significant as until now, the high command has remained outwardly steadfast in its loyalty to Mr Maduro. On January 21, a small group of soldiers in the Cotiza neighbourhood of Caracas announced that they were rising up against Mr Maduro's government, calling on the people to take to the streets. However the rebellion was swiftly put down. After Mr Guaido, head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, swore himself in as president in front of a Caracas rally on January 23, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, the country's defence minister, and other members of the top brass, took to the airwaves to pledge their allegiance to Mr Maduro. The Venezuelan defence attache in Washington released a video last week saying he now supported Mr Guaido. But Gen. Yanez is the first active general to defect. The United States, Canada and a host of Latin American countries have recognised Mr Guaido as interim president, saying that presidential elections last May were not free and fair. Several European countries, including the UK, have given Mr Maduro a deadline of midnight on Sunday to call fresh elections, saying they will also recognise Mr Guaido as leader if he does not do so. Mr Guaido has called for supporters to protest in Caracas on Saturday, while a rival rally celebrating the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduro's predecessor, is also to be held.
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| This heart-shaped meteorite will be auctioned off just in time for Valentine’s Day Posted: 31 Jan 2019 08:07 PM PST  As far as space relics go, meteorites are highly prized by collectors and scientists alike. The charred, twisted remnants of space rock can teach us a lot about the kind of natural material that is still drifting through Earth's neighborhood, and they happen to look pretty cool, too. That being said, rocks from space aren't necessarily romantic in any way. Unless, of course, you're talking about "The Heart Of Space," which just happens to be a meteorite shaped like a heart. The iconic space rock will go up for auction soon, ending just in time for Valentine's Day. The rock, which was found in Siberia, weighs just over 22 pounds and measures nine inches along its longest side. It's a highly sought after example of an iron meteorite, and its expected sale price of between $300,000 and $500,000 makes that pretty clear. The heart is thought to be part of a meteor that arrived here on earth in February of 1947. When its parent rock hit Earth's atmosphere it fragmented and produced a sonic boom that was felt for well over 150 miles. It's shape, which is the result of mere happenstance, is one of the reasons it's such a prized artifact. > Upon slamming into the atmosphere, it began to break apart and created a fireball brighter than the Sun as it sailed over the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in Siberia. The shockwaves from the low altitude explosion of the main mass collapsed chimneys, shattered windows and uprooted trees. The online auction, which is being held by Christie's, is scheduled to go live on the morning of February 6th, 2019, and will wrap up on February 14th. It would be one heck of a Valentine's Day gift for that special someone, but you're going to need some seriously deep pockets to make that a reality.
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| Boko Haram killed 'at least 60' in NE Nigeria: Amnesty Posted: 01 Feb 2019 09:31 AM PST  Boko Haram killed at least 60 civilians in an attack on the remote town of Rann in northeast Nigeria earlier this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. The human rights group's Nigeria director Osai Ojigho said "at least 60 people" were killed while satellite imagery showed "mass burning" of structures used by displaced people. "This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime, and those responsible must be brought to justice," said Ojigho.
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| A Man 'Slipped and Fell' on Ice But Video Told a Different Story, Prosecutors Say Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:41 AM PST  A New Jersey man was arrested after he allegedly faked a slip and fall so he could file an insurance claim.
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| Starbucks faces tricky time as ex-CEO mulls presidential run Posted: 01 Feb 2019 10:40 AM PST  DETROIT (AP) — For Starbucks, former CEO Howard Schultz is a hero — and a headache.
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| Go away, polar vortex: Record-shattering cold set to give way to 'spring-like temperatures' Posted: 01 Feb 2019 04:25 AM PST  After days of stunningly bitter winter weather, the worst of this polar vortex invasion is over.
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| State Bank of India fixes glitch that may have exposed customer data Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:29 AM PST ![State Bank of India fixes glitch that may have exposed customer data]( "State Bank of India fixes glitch that may have exposed customer data") A report by the U.S.-based TechCrunch news website on Wednesday had said SBI had secured an unprotected server that could have allowed anyone to access information on millions of its customers, including bank balances and recent transactions. The server, hosted in a Mumbai-based datacenter, stored data from SBI Quick, a text message and call-based system used to request basic information about their bank accounts by SBI customers, the report had said.
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| Venezuelans March as Guaido and Maduro Vie for Legitimacy Posted: 02 Feb 2019 03:28 PM PST  The authoritarian president Nicolas Maduro attracted a larger crowd than expected, a show of force apparently aimed at suggesting he retains wide support. "I have absolute certainty that change is very near in Venezuela," a hoarse Juan Guaido, the 35-year-old legislator whom the National Assembly named interim president on Jan. 23, told thousands of supporters on the streets of Caracas. Only three miles away, Maduro, elected president in 2013 and who rigged his re-election last year, told a crowd of thousands of red-clad supporters and soldiers: "Venezuela doesn't surrender.
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| Top US cardinal let priest accused of sexual abuse lead Mass Posted: 01 Feb 2019 03:18 PM PST  HOUSTON (AP) — The cardinal who leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops allowed a priest to celebrate Mass the same day his name was among those released on a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse.
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| Economy Adds 300,000 Jobs in January Despite Shutdown, Defying Expectations Posted: 01 Feb 2019 06:00 AM PST  The U.S. economy added 304,000 jobs in January, defying the expectations of economists who believed the 35-day government shutdown that concluded Friday would likely hurt economic growth. The numbers released Friday by the Department of Labor represent the largest monthly jobs increase in nearly a year and continue a long running trend of 100 consecutive months of growth. Unemployment rose slightly from 3.9 to 4 percent due to the effects of the shutdown as some 175,000 federal workers were temporarily unemployed.
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| Subaru teases 2020 Legacy one week before Chicago debut Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:26 AM PST  Accompanying an extremely brief announcement by Subaru stating that it would be revealing the 2020 Legacy at the Chicago Auto Show next week, the company shared two five- and six-second teaser clips on Twitter of the upcoming model: one of the high-tech cabin and another of the shadowed, gray exterior. Subaru has given us not one but two 2020 Legacy teasers just six days before its official reveal in Chicago next week. The first clip that was posted to Twitter is a six-second video of a dim spotlight making its way across the shadowed body of the new Legacy.
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| Isis 'could reclaim territory in months' after US military withdraws, Pentagon warns Posted: 01 Feb 2019 02:23 PM PST  Isis could regain its lost territory in a matter of months after troops withdraw from Syria, according to a draft Pentagon report. Donald Trump announced last month that the US would withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria on the grounds the militant group no longer pose a threat. It claims Isis is determined to rebuild a physical caliphate, NBC News reported.
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| Mudslides, floods, rain, howling winds, 10 feet of snow: California braces for powerful, dangerous storm Posted: 01 Feb 2019 10:49 AM PST  With the polar vortex in full retreat, the USA's wildest weather shifts to the West.
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| Honda Covers the Civic Type R and NSX in Gold for Australian Anniversary Posted: 01 Feb 2019 12:52 PM PST  For Honda's 50th anniversary in Oz, even the company's premium lawnmower gets the Midas touch.
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| These Are the 10 Basic Types of Vehicles Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:46 AM PST |
| As Venezuelans protest, struggling Maduro seeks early parliament vote Posted: 02 Feb 2019 04:34 PM PST ![As Venezuelans protest, struggling Maduro seeks early parliament vote]( "As Venezuelans protest, struggling Maduro seeks early parliament vote") As domestic and international pressure on Maduro to step down mounts, a senior air force general disavowed him in a video that circulated earlier on Saturday, expressing his allegiance to parliament head and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido. The military's support is crucial for Maduro, who is deeply unpopular, largely due to an unprecedented economic crisis that has prompted an exodus of millions. Maduro claims he is victim of a coup directed by the United States.
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| Group defends article on Henry Ford's anti-Semitic views Posted: 02 Feb 2019 11:18 AM PST ![Group defends article on Henry Ford's anti-Semitic views]( "Group defends article on Henry Ford's anti-Semitic views") DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit-area historical group is protesting a mayor's decision to stop it from sending out the latest issue of its publication, which delves into Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford's anti-Semitism.
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| Cory Booker: city councilman, mayor, senator now seeking White House Posted: 01 Feb 2019 09:08 AM PST  As mayor of Newark, Cory Booker would get out during snowstorms to shovel the driveways and sidewalks of residents of the New Jersey city. Now a Democratic senator from the northeastern US state, Booker is planning to bring that personal touch to the 2020 race for the White House. "We are better when we help each other," Booker said in the video he released on Friday announcing he was a candidate for his party's presidential nomination.
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| Groundhog Day prediction is for an early spring but Twitter's not buying it this year Posted: 02 Feb 2019 07:25 AM PST  Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog we let decide our seasons for us, is officially predicting an early spring. On Saturday morning, the famous groundhog awoke at sunrise to celebrate Groundhog Day and did not see his shadow. This, his male handlers in top hats dramatically said, signals an early start to spring and an end to winter. But don't get too excited. > JUST IN: Punxsutawney Phil sees no shadow, predicts early spring. pic.twitter.com/BsMser58Rt > > -- NBC News (@NBCNews) February 2, 2019 Would an early spring be nice? Sure! Especially considering temperatures have recently reached record-breaking lows in states across the country. But with the ever-present threat of climate change on the brain, reactions to Phil's verdict this year were pretty mixed. SEE ALSO: Bored Midwesterners are throwing boiling water into the frigid wind during the polar vortex Considering several states in America just experienced a brutally cold polar vortex, some gleefully embraced and early spring without question. > The groundhog didn't see his shadow, Spring is right around the corner #GroundhogDay pic.twitter.com/SzrEKWcoZK > > -- Tom Eschen (@TomEschenJr) February 2, 2019 > #PunxsutawneyPhil did NOT see his shadow this Groundhog Day, which means early spring! pic.twitter.com/RzhRnMoiZr > > -- Adrienne Green (@adrienne_wx) February 2, 2019 > The groundhog didn't see his shadow I 100% trust his opinion on the weather pic.twitter.com/O3MpDLSGCH > > -- Charnay Pickett (@CharnayPickett) February 2, 2019 But other Twitter users who've simply been burned too many times were especially reluctant to believe Punxsutawney Phil's hopeful weather reports this year. With climate change dominating more and more headlines, many people began openly questioning this unconventional tradition, with some simply refusing to buy the rodent's hopeful weather forecast in 2019. > Groundhog says early Spring. > > I don't know if I can trust him. pic.twitter.com/PMGj3tTIXR > > -- Casey Wheeless (@WVLTCasey) February 2, 2019 > You all don't trust the nations best scientists on climate but you trust a groundhog's mood to determine forthcoming weather this season? > > -- Audrey. (@BettercallA) February 2, 2019 > Love to live in the United States, where people will trust a groundhog to predict the weather but won't trust 97 percent of climate scientists > > -- Delak (@Delak_Iloth) February 2, 2019 > Why do we put so much trust in a rodent & weather patterns? Perhaps this groundhog isn't as trustworthy as we think he is..... > > -- Camille (@camille_yoho) February 2, 2019 > America: The country where we deny Climate Change but trust our forthcoming weather with a groundhog #GroundhogDay > > -- Sidharth Rao (@Sid12Rao) February 2, 2019 > why do we all trust this group of men in top hats to tell us if a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow or not and why does this decide if we get spring this year > > -- Liv Durbin (@liv_durbin) February 2, 2019 Phil's been wrong before, and his 2019 prediction is also in dispute after Shubenacadie Sam -- the famous groundhog in Nova Scotia -- just saw his shadow and predicted we're not rid of winter quite yet. Perhaps groundhogs aren't the most reliable weather forecasters after all... so it seems we'll just have to keep our hats and gloves handy and see what the weather brings. And maybe put some more trust in the research-supported wisdom dispensed by meteorologists and climate scientists. ## WATCH: Tesla drivers are getting screwed by the polar vortex
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| Trump Sets World on Uncertain Nuclear Path Posted: 01 Feb 2019 03:16 AM PST  Donald Trump appears set to end more than three decades of efforts with Russia to cut nuclear arsenals. The president intends to suspend U.S. obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty before withdrawing fully in six months, Nick Wadhams and Margaret Talev report. The U.S. accuses Russia of violating the 1987 treaty's ban on land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (300-3,500 miles).
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| 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett's family speaks out: 'This was a racial and homophobic hate crime' Posted: 31 Jan 2019 07:19 PM PST  The family of "Empire" star Jussie Smollett, who reported being attacked in the early hours of Tuesday morning, is speaking out about the incident.
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| Brazen Beef Thief Caught on Camera Stealing Steak from Restaurant Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:39 AM PST  A man was caught on surveillance footage sitting in front of a porterhouse steak, a lobster tail and a 20-ounce beer in an Oakdale restaurant before pocketing the hunk of meat.
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| Major California storm to unleash flooding rain, feet of mountain snow and strong winds this weekend Posted: 01 Feb 2019 09:00 AM PST  One of the most potent storms of the winter will trigger flooding rain, mudslides, heavy mountain snow, strong winds and difficult to dangerous travel in California and much of the West this weekend.
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| Human toll of cold: more than 2 dozen dead, hundreds hurt Posted: 01 Feb 2019 05:16 PM PST  CHICAGO (AP) — The dangerous cold and heavy snow that hobbled the northern U.S. this week has retreated, but not before exacting a human toll: more than two dozen weather-related deaths in eight states and hundreds of injuries, including frostbite, broken bones, heart attacks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
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| 32 Palestinians wounded in border clashes: Gaza ministry Posted: 01 Feb 2019 08:17 AM PST  Thirty-two Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli troops in renewed clashes along the Gaza border Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said. The Israeli army said approximately "10,000 rioters and demonstrators" gathered in different locations along the fence separating the Gaza Strip from Israel. "The rioters are rolling tyres and hurling rocks at (Israeli) troops," a spokeswoman said, adding a number of explosive devices were thrown towards the Jewish state's forces.
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| USW union, Shell agree to raise refinery worker pay by 11 percent: sources Posted: 31 Jan 2019 06:30 PM PST  The United Steelworkers union (USW) and Shell Oil Co reached a tentative agreement on Thursday that sources familiar with the deal said would boost pay by 11 percent over three years for 30,000 U.S. refinery, chemical plant and pipeline workers. Workers represented by the USW will receive a 3.5 percent pay raise in each of the first two years of the deal and a 4 percent raise in the final year, the sources said. The agreement between the union and Shell came about nine hours before the current contract was to expire at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
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| Trump to Call on Democrats to ‘Heal,’ and Bashes Pelosi Over Wall Posted: 01 Feb 2019 05:31 PM PST  "I think she's very bad for our country," Trump said in an interview with CBS, referring to the recent standoff over his demand for a border wall that resulted in a 35-day partial government shutdown. According to an excerpt of his planned remarks, Trump will implore Congress to compromise on issues including immigration and infrastructure.
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| Toyota, Nissan sales fall, but Fiat Chrysler, Honda post gains despite polar vortex Posted: 01 Feb 2019 11:01 AM PST  American car shoppers appeared largely unfazed by wintry weather and the government shutdown in January, as they kept buying vehicles at a good clip.
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| Roger Stone: FBI raid was intended to prejudice jury Posted: 01 Feb 2019 06:52 PM PST  Former Trump aide Roger Stone talks about the FBI raid on his home and other details about his arrest on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.'
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| 21 People Died in Weather-Related Incidents During the Polar Vortex Posted: 01 Feb 2019 11:53 AM PST  At least 21 people have died in weather-related incidents brought on by the extreme cold snap that hit much of the United States this week
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| 12 Shopping Apps and Sites to Score the Best Price Posted: 01 Feb 2019 11:46 AM PST ![12 Shopping Apps and Sites to Score the Best Price]( "12 Shopping Apps and Sites to Score the Best Price") If you want to forgo driving from store to store to find the best grocery deals, use the free Basket app to save on your next shopping trip. You can even help other grocery shoppers pinpoint the best bargains by listing the products and the corresponding store discounts you find through the app. You may associate Walmart with deeply discounted prices, but neglecting to take the extra step of comparison shopping is a mistake.
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| Venezuela's Guaido urges military defections amid protests Posted: 02 Feb 2019 05:09 PM PST  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's opposition leader called on more members of the military to abandon the country's socialist government following Saturday's defection of a high-ranking general, while President Nicolas Maduro proposed holding early National Assembly elections that could potentially oust his challenger.
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| China greets Lunar New Year with celebrations, travel rush Posted: 01 Feb 2019 02:52 AM PST  BEIJING (AP) — China is greeting next week's Lunar New Year with celebrations and a travel rush that will see an estimated 3 billion trips by people around the country.
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| Goldman Sachs may yank top execs' bonuses over 1MDB scandal Posted: 01 Feb 2019 02:45 PM PST  Investment bank Goldman Sachs said Friday it could withhold multi-million-dollar bonuses for former CEO Lloyd Blankfein and other executives as a result of the 1MDB corruption scandal. In a statement filed Friday with securities regulators, the company said stock awards for senior executives could be cut depending on how pending investigations into 1MDB turn out. The Justice Department in November charged two former Goldman bankers for their alleged roles in misappropriating 1MDB funds, one of the largest financial frauds ever.
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| Congresswoman Gabbard to officially declare 2020 candidacy Posted: 02 Feb 2019 03:04 AM PST  Gabbard, 37, will officially launch her candidacy in Hawaii, where she has served as a congresswoman since 2013. A Samoan-American, she was the first Hindu elected to Congress. Gabbard then endorsed Sanders for president, becoming one of the few members of Congress to do so.
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| Women to surround Trump and make 'feminist statement' during State of the Union address Posted: 01 Feb 2019 04:49 AM PST  When Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address next week, he will find himself surrounded by powerful women. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will sit just over his shoulder on the dais, while two female immigrants who have spoken out about Mr Trump's hiring practices will be among the guests sitting in the gallery above his head. Stacey Abrams will become the first black woman to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to his speech afterward.
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| This video shows the hilarity of teaching parents how to use technology Posted: 02 Feb 2019 05:00 AM PST  This is One Good Thing, a weekly column where we tell you about one of the few nice things that happened this week. * * * While there are plenty of differences between Millennials and Gen Z, as digital natives we can all relate to one thing -- being the in-house IT department for our parents. We've all been there: When your mom wants to change her Facebook profile pic, you're the expert. But one wrong click and suddenly -- you've broken her entire phone, all her photos are gone, and it's somehow your fault. SEE ALSO: Facebook to teens: Plz laugh at these old memes YouTuber Gus Johnson captures this hilarious juxtaposition of youth frustration versus parental struggle in his video titled "helping mom use the ipad." Watching the video threw me straight back into circular conversations I've gone through with my own mom, who's a big fan of calling all Apple products "iPods," and referring to everything from the remote, to her phone, as "el tiki-tiki." In the sketch, the son, named Sven, attempts to show his mother how to navigate apps like Facebook and YouTube. Hilariously accusatory, the mother cries out, "Where did all my stuff go?" and "Get me back to Facebook!". Sven, like most of us teaching our parents technology, barely has any time to explain before the mom accidentally touches something and goes into a tizzy. When the mother frantically yells "don't tell me, just show me!" and then a second later, "don't show me, just tell me!"-- I felt it in my soul. Gus Johnson's other sketch videos on his channel are worth the watch, as many of them also focus on the cringe-inducing realness of everyday life. Highlights include not wanting to wear a jack in winter, cracking your joints, and how every cat acts at 3 AM. ## WATCH: 6 tech myths that live on in 2019
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