Dislike of de Blasio or Skelos could help decide NYS Senate race

The Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to tie GOP candidate Chris McGrath to Skelos, whose seat became vacant after he was convicted in December on federal corruption charges.

“Whoever is more successful in establishing the boogeyman might win—irrespective of the quality of the candidates,” said Baruch College Public Affairs Prof. Doug Muzzio.

McGrath in a new ad charges that if Kaminsky wins, “Bill de Blasio will be picking the pockets of each and every family in this district and on Long Island.”

Even before the ad was released, Kaminsky spokesman Evan Thies was telling the Daily News that Kaminsky’s ideology is closer to the more moderate Gov. Cuomo, who also happens to be more popular than the mayor in Nassau County.

He supported a Cuomo-backed bill to improve disability pensions for uniformed workers over a more modest version the mayor sought and wrote to the city ripping a plan to place homeless people at a Queens hotel located near the Nassau County border with zero public outreach, Thies said.

Senate Republicans, who used de Blasio as a boogeyman two years ago in races across the state, accuse Kaminsky of distancing himself from the mayor because polls show he is unpopular outside the city.

"Todd Kaminsky votes like Mayor de Blasio and the New York City liberals, and if he wins this seat it's going to mean higher property taxes for hardworking Nassau County taxpayers, free college tuition for illegal immigrants, and more school aid for New York City at Long Island's expense,” said Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif.

In responding, Senate Democratic spokesman Michael Murphy focused on corruption issues in Nassau County, calling McGrath a “Skelos clone.”

Larry Levy, executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, quesionted the strategies of both parties.

“Turning McGrath into a so-called Dean Skelos clone will be at least as hard as trying to turn de Blasio into the boogeyman of Long Island,” Levy said. “Neither seem to have any basis in fact.”

He said, ultimately, turnout for presidential primary held the same day could have the biggest impact on the race. If the Republican primary is still in play, that will benefit the GOP while the same can be said if the Dems are still battling, Levy said. Skelos' old district has more Democrats than Republicans.

 

 

‘Deadpool’ dominates box office again, rakes in $51 million over weekend to lead all movies

NEW YORK (AP) -- Marvel's R-rated antihero smash "Deadpool" continued to dominate movie theaters over the weekend, earning an estimated $55 million and trouncing a trio of newcomers.

After pulling in a massive $152.2 million in its President's Day weekend four-day debut, the comic book adaptation from 20th Century Fox starring Ryan Reynolds as a foul-mouthed mercenary again topped the North American box office. Having already grossed $235.4 million domestically, "Deadpool" - made for just $58 million - is poised to become one of the most successful R-rated movies ever.

Globally, the film -- now certain to spawn a franchise of its own -- has made $491.1 million thus far.

Among new releases, the faith-based drama "Risen" debuted with $11.8 million. The film, in which Joseph Fiennes plays a Roman soldier investigating the death and resurrection of Jesus, was made for about $20 million by Sony's Affirm label, which targets evangelical Christian moviegoers.

A24's critically acclaimed Puritan thriller "The Witch" opened with $8.7 million, marking the biggest opening of the indie label behind the Oscar-nominated drama "Room." A24 celebrated the opening of Robert Eggers' directorial debut - an austere 1600s horror film, rigorously authentic to the period - as not only the company's biggest weekend yet, but one that put "The Witch" on course to be "the most successful film of all time with a goat in a starring role."

The Jesse Owens biopic from Focus Features, "Race," struggled to find its footing with $7.3 million. Directed by Stephen Hopkins, "Race" stars Stephan James as the Olympic sprinter.

Edging out the three debuts was Fox's "Kung Fu Panda 3," which made $12.5 million in its fourth weekend. The animated sequel, which has made $117.1 million in total, will lose its near-exclusive window of family moviegoing next weekend when Disney's "Zootopia" opens. That film has already begun its overseas rollout, where it made $31.2 million from 22 territories over the weekend.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Deadpool," $55 million ($85 million international.)

2. "Kung Fu Panda 3," $12.5 million.

3. "Risen," $11.8 million.

4. "The Witch," $8.7 million.

5. "How To Be Single," $8.2 million.

6. "Race," $7.3 million.

7. "Zoolander 2," $5.5 million.

8. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," $3.8 million.

9. "The Revenant," $3.8 million.

10. "Hail, Caesar!" $2.6 million.

 

Behind the Scam: What Does It Take to Be a ‘Best-Selling Author’? $3 and 5 Minutes. Nam Đz 6:57:00 PM NEWS

I would like to tell you about the biggest lie in book publishing. It appears in the biographies and social media profiles of almost every working “author” today. It’s the word “best seller.”

This isn’t about how The New York Times list is biased (though it is). This isn’t about how authors buy their way onto various national best-seller lists by buying their own books in bulk (though they do). No, this is about the far more insidious title of “Amazon Bestseller”—and how it’s complete and utter nonsense.

Here’s what happened in the book industry over the last few years: As Amazon has become the big dog in the book world, the “Amazon Bestseller” status has come to be synonymous with being an actual bestseller. This is not true, and I can prove it.

*****

Last week, I put up a fake book on Amazon. I took a photo of my foot, uploaded to Amazon, and in a matter of hours, had achieved  “No. 1 Best Seller” status, complete with the orange banner and everything.

How many copies did I need to sell be able to call up my mother and celebrate my newfound authorial achievements? Three. Yes, a total of three copies to become a best-selling author. And I bought two of those copies myself!

The reason people aspire to call themselves “bestselling author” is because it dramatically increases your credibility and “personal brand.” It can establish you as a thought leader. You’re able to show that you not only wrote a book, but that the market has judged it to be better than other books out there. It’s a status symbol, one of that cashes in on the prestige of one of man’s oldest past-times. At last, I had acquired this coveted title for myself.

I’m a partner at a marketing company called Brass Check. Over the years, we’ve helped launch 30 legitimate New York Times best sellers (including several at the sought-after No. 1 spot). My company has helped sell over 5 million books and advised or managed book launches with every major publishing house, including Amazon.  

We have important rules at my company about the projects we take on. We don’t work with authors whose books we wouldn’t read ourselves, and we don’t guarantee best-seller status. We say no to more work than we say yes to, but these principles help us avoid the gimmicky, one-hit-wonders who aren’t looking to write great books but instead are looking to trick people into thinking they have.

But it’s begun to feel a bit like a losing battle. Because those authors are everywherethese days. The title of my fake book was “Putting My Foot Down” for a reason: I’ve become utterly exhausted with phony “authors” and the scam artists and charlatans who conspire with these folks–the cottage industry that has built up around them, selling courses, instructions and hacks. A quick Google search returns dozens of “bestselling books,” courses, packages, schools, secrets, summits, and webinarsteaching you how to become a “bestselling author”. Hell, this guy even promises to show you how to be a bestselling author “Even if You Have No Book Ideas, Writing Skills, or Any Clue Where To Start” in a “5 Phase Formula.”

 

Google DeepMind works with NHS doctors on life-saving app

The app, Streams, has already been piloted in the Royal Free Hospital in North London where it was used to detect patients at greatest risk of acute kidney injury, and will also be trialled at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

The condition is a sudden loss of kidney function, often a consequence of dehydration, and normally associated with death. “We can detect from blood test results which patients are at risk,” said the co-founder of DeepMind Mustafa Suleyman. “25 per cent of deaths are preventable, so there’s a really big prize for us.”

This is the company's first indication of how it plans to apply machine learning algorithms to solve massive real world problems. 

"A very simple [technological] tool can be more impactful than a dose of antibiotics.”

Lord Ara Darzi

While refining its real-time diagnosis of dangerous illnesses including acute kidney injury and sepsis, DeepMind is also working with top surgeon and head of Imperial Health Partners, Professor Lord Ara Darzi and Dr Dominic King on integrating their healthcare task-prioritising app Hark into the DeepMind Health platform.

Hark addresses the second part of the problem in clinical healthcare – how best to intervene and prioritise doctors’ and nurses’ time when someone is critically ill. “The first part is detecting which patients are at risk, and then how we manage all the various clinical interventions is what Hark does,” Suleyman said.

101 Beauty Tips Every Girl Should Know

In the world of beauty, there are endless beauty tips and rules to keep you looking fabulous. From secrets about how to style your hair without heat to brilliant ways to fix a broken compact case, the more beauty tips you know, the better you’ll be prepared to handle every situation thrown at you — and look good while doing so. In the list of beauty advice below Beauty High breaks down all those tricks to make the industry less scary for women from makeup artists, hairstylists, skincare gurus and of course, our beauty staff. Remember, beauty should always be fun!

101. “Always keep your summer makeup minimal. Minimal and sheer makeup is the way to go when it’s hot and muggy outside.” – Mary Greenwell, celebrity makeup artist

100. “The best thing to do when you go to a makeup counter is be armed with what it is you want to do.”- Raychel Wade, founder of Cheek to Chic and La Prairie’s colour ambassador

99. Use excess eye cream on cuticles. The more you hydrate your cuticles, the stronger your nails will be.

98. For smudge-proof eye makeup, take blotting tissue to remove any oil or any excess makeup from the eye area. Then, apply a small dab of cream concealer to hold things in place.

97. “A good perfume should consist of balanced blend of notes arranged in a way that creates harmonious accord.”- Alexis Bergman, P&G’s Global Flavor and Fragrance Trends

96. To prevent hair color from fading in the summer months, use a conditioning treatment weekly or bi-monthly.

95. Breakout before a big event? “Take oral cortisone a few days before the event to clear your skin”- Ava Shamban, dermatologist and author of Heal Your Skin.

94. “In order to keep eyeliner from running and smearing, opt for liner formulas that offer stayproof wearability.”- Robin Schoen, Urban Decay Makeup Artist

93. Always allow about two fingers from your nose to where blush starts.

92. “Make sure you hydrate the skin and put on a primer”- Jessie Powers, makeup artist and national educator for Make Up For Ever

91. “Balance out your shimmer. If you’re doing a shimmery eye, opt for a matte lipstick.”- Raychel Wade, founder of Cheek to Chic and La Prairie’s colour ambassador

90. Brush out your curls with your fingers to give your hair a more tousled look.

89. To make your manicure last, apply a thin layer of clear every two days. Pay particular attention to the free edge at the top of your nails, where chips usually happen, and apply extra clear polish there.

88. Wear white eyeliner in your water line to make eyes appear less red.

87. “Take a shimmery gloss to the center of your lips, top and bottom – this will attract light to your lips, making them look pouty.”-Katrina Barrion, makeup artist for Giella Custom Blend Cosmetics

86. For slicked back hair, use a hair serum.

85. For the perfect cat-eye, “select a thin liner brush that is tapered to the point.”- Pamela Taylor, makeup artist. Use a gel eyeliner for extra staying power.

84. To make your cheek bones appear higher, use bronzer under the cheekbone and highlighter on the actual cheekbone, and remember to blend. Contouring at its finest!

83. Before you blow dry, start with a volumizing spray or light gel to give the roots some lift. Pull the brush up towards the ceiling to really boost volume.

82. For fuller lips, extend the lip line using a flesh tone lip liner. Be careful not to go overboard, though!

81. The #1 reason for flaky mascara is that the formula is too dry or old. Make sure to close mascara after use to help keep its moisture. To extend the life a bit, add 2-3 drops of saline solution into the tube and swirl the brush around.

 

Johnson & Johnson To Pay $72M For Ovarian Cancer Death Linked To Talcum Powder

“Just a sprinkle a day helps keep odor away.”

That was the slogan used by Johnson & Johnson to market their product “Shower to shower” back in the 80s

And while this may come to a surprise to many, before the product even became widely available there was already decade-old published research linking talc to an increased risk for ovarian cancer including one study where a majority of ovarian tumors had particles of talc embedded in them. (source)

Yes, you read that right. The company knowingly knew about the dangerous side effects of talcum powder and still proceeded with spending millions on marketing the product!

According to Reuters, Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a Missouri state jury to pay $72 million of damages to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was linked to her use of the company’s talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades.

Jere Beasley, a lawyer for Fox’s family, said Johnson & Johnson “knew as far back as the 1980s of the risk,” and yet resorted to “lying to the public, lying to the regulatory agencies.” He spoke on a conference call with journalists.

In addition, The Guardian reported that the verdict “doesn’t bode well for Johnson & Johnson” as it faces at least 1,200 still-pending lawsuits and possibly thousands more.”

How To Stop Bad Vagina Odor Naturally?

• Mix two cups of apple cider vinegar in warm bath water. Soak in it for about 20 minutes. Follow this remedy several times a week to get quick results.
• Eat two cups of unsweetened, plain yogurt daily.

Lynch confirms career Justice Department attorneys involved in Clinton email

Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed to Congress Wednesday that career Justice Department attorneys are working with FBI agents on the criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email practices and the handling of classified material.

Legal experts say the assignment of career Justice Department attorneys to the case shows the FBI probe has progressed beyond the initial referral, or "matured," giving agents access to the U.S. government’s full investigative tool box, including subpoena power for individuals, business or phone records, as well as witnesses.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that career lawyers were involved, but Lynch's comments are the most expansive to Congress.

"If the FBI makes the case that Hillary Clinton mishandled classified information and put America's security at risk, will you prosecute the case?” Republican Congressman John Carter asked Lynch during a budget hearing.

"Do you know of any efforts underway to undermine the FBI's investigation? And please look the American people in the eye and tell us what your position is as you are the chief prosecutor of the United States," Carter pressed.

Lynch replied, "...that matter is being handled by career independent law enforcement agents, FBI agents as well as the career independent attorneys in the Department of Justice. They follow the evidence, they look at the law and they'll make a recommendation to me when the time is appropriate," 

She confirmed that the FBI criminal investigation is ongoing, and no recommendation or referral on possible charges had been made to her.

"I am not able to comment about the specific investigation at this time. But what I will say is again that this will be conducted as every other case. And we will review all the facts and all the evidence and come to an independent conclusion as to how to best handle it. And I'm also aware of no efforts to undermine our review or investigation into this matter at all."