Uber makes JFK airport helicopter taxis available to all users

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) is taking to the air in New York City where users with a little cash to spare will soon be able to book helicopter flights to John F. Kennedy International airport through their apps.

The company announced its Uber Copter offer on Thursday, saying flights to and from Lower Manhattan will become available to all Uber users on Oct. 3. Uber made the feature available to its premium members in June.

The roughly eight-minute flight will cost between $200 and $225 per person and include ground transportation on either side of the trip. Passengers can bring along a small suitcase and have to watch a safety video before takeoff, similar to that on an airplane.

The flights are operated by HeliFlite Shares, a licensed company, and Uber’s prices roughly compare to those of competitors offering helicopter rides to JFK.

For now, Uber rides shuttling passengers to the heliport in Manhattan are only available from the southern tip of the island.

Uber says the service is intended to reduce travel times, but when Reuters tried Copter on Wednesday, a trip from its Midtown office to the airport took 70 minutes, including a subway ride downtown and two Uber rides to and from the heliport. That’s about the same time it would have taken by regular taxi in moderate traffic.

An Uber spokeswoman on Thursday said that trip was not realistic as part of the commercial rollout, however, as the Copter option is only shown to customers located in the geofenced Lower Manhattan area.

“Uber Copter won’t appear as an option in the app if you are outside of the geofence because it wouldn’t provide time savings,” the spokeswoman said.

But Uber might gradually expand the Manhattan pick-up zone, said Eric Allison, head of Elevate, Uber’s aerial ride-hailing program.

“Helicopters are certainly expensive and it will be a premium product, but we think we’re actually able to offer a fairly accessible entry point with Uber Copter,” Allison said during an interview on Wednesday.

JFK is one of the countTry’s largest airports and car trips from congested Manhattan can take anywhere from one to two hours, while public transit takes between 50 and 75 minutes.

With concerns mounting over congestion and vehicle emissions, Uber hopes its NYC Copter project will pave the way for Uber Air, a taxi service of electric “vertical take-off and landing” aircraft.

Source: https://www.reuters.com

Bill Gates has paid over $10 billion in taxes, here’s why he says he should pay more

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is worth an estimated $91.8 billion, and he pays billions in taxes to the federal government. But he says he should be paying even more.

"I need to pay higher taxes," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria during a recent interview. "I've paid more taxes, over $10 billion, than anyone else, but the government should require people in my position to pay significantly higher taxes."

Gates' comments came on the heels of a criticism of 2017's GOP tax reform.

"It was not a progressive tax bill, it was a regressive tax bill," he told Zakaria. "People who are wealthier tend to get dramatically more benefits than the middle class or those who are poorer. It runs counter to the general trend you'd like to see, where the safety net is getting stronger and those at the top are paying higher taxes."

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is worth an estimated $91.8 billion, and he pays billions in taxes to the federal government. But he says he should be paying even more.

"I need to pay higher taxes," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria during a recent interview. "I've paid more taxes, over $10 billion, than anyone else, but the government should require people in my position to pay significantly higher taxes."

Gates' comments came on the heels of a criticism of 2017's GOP tax reform.

"It was not a progressive tax bill, it was a regressive tax bill," he told Zakaria. "People who are wealthier tend to get dramatically more benefits than the middle class or those who are poorer. It runs counter to the general trend you'd like to see, where the safety net is getting stronger and those at the top are paying higher taxes."

Fellow billionaire Warren Buffett agrees. "I don't think I need a tax cut," Buffett told CNBC regarding reform efforts.

Buffett, who's worth an estimated $87.2 billion, specifically spoke out about the estate tax, which is levied on assets transferred from one person to another at the time of death. He said eliminating it would be a "terrible mistake" because the current system in America vastly favors the rich.

In theory, he could leave billions each to his children and grandchildren, who wouldn't have to pay taxes to inherit it. "If they were lucky enough to come out of the right womb and have the right name, Buffett, they could build tombs for themselves like Egyptian pharaohs never dreamed of," he said.

"I sure don't think it's good for a society where there's a ton of inequality to start with. I think that's a terrible mistake," he added.

In the end, the estate tax wasn't fully repealed, but it was furthered scaled back.

Left to their own devices, Gates and Buffett use their funds to give back in other ways. In 2010, the duo partnered up on The Giving Pledge, through which ultra-wealthy individuals commit to giving away at least half of their wealth to charitable causes.

Alongside his wife, Gates also works full time on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which spends more than $4 billion per year fighting disease, improving education, distributing vaccines and battling wealth inequality across the globe.

"Even before we got married, we talked about how we would eventually spend a lot of time on philanthropy," Gates wrote in the couple's 10th annual letter describing the foundation's charity work.

"We think that's a basic responsibility of anyone with a lot of money. Once you've taken care of yourself and your children, the best use of extra wealth is to give it back to society."

Source: www.cnbc.com

Why Gordon Ramsey never lets his kids fly first class

Gordon Ramsay is known the world over for his exquisite food and his fiery television personality. His hard work and dedication to his craft has increased his net worth to an estimated $54 million, according to Forbes.

But don’t let his money fool you. Ramsay and his wife, Tana, may enjoy a few of the finer things in life, but they are working hard to ensure their children know the value of hard work.

“I’ve never been really turned on about the money,” Ramsay recently told The Telegraph. “That’s not my number one objective, and that’s reflected in the way the kids are brought up.”

Gordon Ramsay and his family

Ramsay added that he and his wife are so strict when it comes to not spoiling their children that when they travel together, their four kids — Matilda, 15, Jack and Holly, 17, and Megan, 18 — must make the journey in coach, while their parents enjoy the high life in first class.

“They don’t sit with us in first class. They haven’t worked anywhere near hard enough to afford that. At that age, at that size, you’re telling me they need to sit in first class? No, they do not. We’re really strict on that,” he said. “I turn left with Tana and they turn right and I say to the chief stewardess, ‘Make sure those little f------ don’t come anywhere near us, I want to sleep on this plane.' I worked my f------ a--- off to sit that close to the pilot and you appreciate it more when you’ve grafted for it.”

Each child, Ramsay added, is given about $50 a week to pay for their own phones and their bus fare. In addition to financial responsibilities, each of the children also learned how to cook so they understand how to feed themselves.

“They all cook as a life skill as opposed to a career,” Ramsay said. “I never want to put that onus on them. I don’t want them with a badge, going into a kitchen [with people] thinking that’s Ramsay’s daughter or that’s Ramsay’s son.”

On top of sitting in coach and having to cook despite having a world-class chef for a father, the Ramsay kids will also have to forge their own fortunes. As Ramsay said, his money is "certainly not going to them."

"I’ve been super lucky, having that career for the last 15 years in the US. Seriously, it has earned a fortune and I’ve been very lucky, so I respect everything I’ve got," he said.

Source: www.businessinsider.com

Fernando Alonso fifth in Indy 500 qualifying as Scott Dixon takes pole

Fernando Alonso will start his first Indianapolis 500 from the middle of the second row of the grid after qualifying fifth for the race on 28 May.

The McLaren Formula 1 driver set an average of 231.300mph on his four-lap qualifying run, while New Zealander Scott Dixon took pole at 232.164mph.

It was an impressive performance from the two-time F1 champion - he had not driven an IndyCar until this month.

Alonso said he was "happy" but had been slightly delayed by an engine issue.

"I think the car was better than yesterday," he said. "We had an over-boost problem (with the turbocharger) in the final corner, so the engine was like hitting the brakes and I lost a bit."

The Spaniard said this cost him 0.3-0.4mph on his average, which equates to the difference between fifth and either second or third.

Alonso, whose engine needed to be changed between final practice earlier on Sunday and qualifying, added on his Instagram account: "With everything that has happened today being among the top five is a dream.

"Fifteen days ago I would never have thought about fighting for the pole. Thanks to the whole team. Now another week of learning and race next weekend."

To put Alonso's performance into context, 1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell qualified eighth on his debut in 1993, in what was the Englishman's fourth IndyCar race after switching to the US-based series.

Alonso's first taste of Indianapolis was in his 'rookie' test on 4 May. He is missing next weekend's Monaco Grand Prix to race at the speedway as part of his quest to win the so-called 'triple crown' of Monaco, which he has won twice, Indy and the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race.

The 35-year-old Spaniard is directly behind two former F1 drivers on the grid.

American Alexander Rossi, who had a brief career with the back-of-the-grid Caterham and Marussia teams, was third and Japan's Takuma Sato, who raced in 90 grands prix for the Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri teams, was fourth.

American Ed Carpenter takes the middle slot on the three-car front row.

Rossi won the Indy 500 from 11th on the grid last year, an illustration of the fact that qualifying positions are not of great importance in predicting race form at the so-called 'Brickyard'.

That is because the set-up of the cars is changed significantly between qualifying and race to ensure drivers can run consistently in heavy traffic during a 500-mile race that is usually punctuated by several 'caution' periods in which drivers are restricted to reduced speeds behind a pace car.

Alonso was consistently fast through the days of practice last week, whether running in qualifying or race trim.

None of the British drivers in the field were in the 'fast nine'. Ed Jones was 11th on his debut, followed by Max Chilton in 15th, Jay Howard in 20th, Jack Harvey in 27th and Pippa Mann in 28th.

Source: http://www.bbc.com

Pipelines are simply the safest way to move energy

Robert Bradley contrasts the safety of pipelines – the safest way to move energy – with the myths perpetuated by anti-growth opponents of energy development.

Our associates from the Institute for Energy Research, who shared this guest post, recently published in Forbes, with us.

Have you heard? Transporting oil through pipelines is a threat to humanity! The many accidents highlighted in the press speak for themselves.

Except that pipeline accidents are rare enough to be big news—and many of those accounts contain exaggerations. Too often, they imply that pipelines, really the energy they carry, should be phased down and out.

Before (left) and after (right) photos of pipeline development

Welcome to the war on fossil fuels, where every mishap is portrayed as the Bad News Bears. It is as if accident-free, effortless alternatives were at the ready.

Consider the recent article from Michigan that Enbridge Line 5, piping crude oil through the Great Lake State’s upper and lower peninsulas, has spilled 1.1 million gallons of oil since 1968.

The catch is, the majority of these incidents happened decades ago, the most significant occurring in 1968, 1972, and 1990.

The real news, in other words, is that technological advances have made pipelines safer than ever. But that lead goes unmentioned. Or it is buried, which may be how the author wishes fossil fuels to remain.

Then, there’s this: an article in the Philadelphia Inquirerreports that “fearful” parents of children attending schools near the soon-to-be-built Mariner 2 pipeline are demanding evacuation routes in case of pipeline leakage.

It is barely mentioned that construction of this pipeline, which will move liquid gas from Pittsburgh to the Marcus Hook refinery in Eastern Pennsylvania, will be heavily regulated and subject to strict oversight. And, more importantly, self-regulated since accidents can ruin the reputation and finances of any company.

Have there been accidents in the 150 years since oil pipelines have been in use? Of course. And a spill or a crack, no matter the magnitude, is never good. But the happy truth is that rapidly advancing technology in pipeline construction and operation is improving safety.

Headlines aside, what is the record of pipeline safety?

In 2016 the number of oil pipeline accidents fell 10 percent from the previous year. Trend-wise, incidents that specifically affected the public and environment ticked up about five years ago, but have since levelled off. That’s because any spike in accidents spurs an immediate, industry-wide effort toward brining numbers back down.

What’s more, nearly 70 percent of pipeline accidents in 2016 only affected operator facilities like pump stations and tank farms. And 60 percent of incidents leaked only miniscule amount of liquid – five barrels or less.

So where are the good-news headlines?

Also, consider that America’s 500,000 miles of interstate pipeline are far safer than any other method of moving crude and petroleum products.

This is evident when comparing the number of pipeline accidents to oil transportation by road and rail. The former, with 19.95 accidents per billion ton-miles, is the least safe method, followed by the latter, with 2.08 miles per billion ton miles. Oil pipelines, by comparison, have .058 mishaps per billion ton-miles.

Similarly, pipelines keep operators and the general public out of harm’s way. Between 2005 and 2009, for example, the average fatality rate for natural gas pipelines was one per year. During the same time span, rail averaged nearly three, and road transport more than 10.

The statistics are so convincing that even those who oppose pipelines can’t credibly deny their safety.

“Many studies say that using a pipeline as a conduit is safer than rail travel and truck travel,” noted New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo — who has repeatedly blocked pipeline projects in his state. “Realistically you have to move fuel, so a pipeline is the safest way if it’s done right.”

The most interesting part of Cuomo’s statement is the qualifier “if it’s done right.” The governor likely knows, though his fellow skeptics are loath to admit, that there are a multitude of measures in place to ensure that oil travels securely through pipelines.

Pipeline operators are constantly evaluating safety procedures and launching new initiatives, including several that help prepare the public to spot and report any possible defects.

Back in 2014, the industry launched the Pipeline Safety Initiative — tasked with revamping everything from inspection technology to emergency response resources.

And 100 percent of pipelines are regularly monitored, both on the ground and aerially.

No wonder then that 99.999 percent of crude oil shipped via pipeline reaches its destination safely.

Another category of the untold (versus the bad news) is the benefits of pipelines for America’s economy.

Consider the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, both long-delayed but now green-lit by President Donald Trump. The Keystone will support 42,100 jobs and generate $2 billion in earnings, while the Dakota Access has already created 12,000 and $3.5 billion worth of investment.

Currently, workers are getting Dakota ready for action by June 1. And despite headlines to the contrary, Dakota is completely safe. The steel that walls the pipe is 50 percent thicker than legally mandated, and the pipeline will be monitored aerially on a weekly basis.

These projects are consumer-driven and pay taxes, not politically-driven tax takers. And that oil feeds refineries that fuel 253 million cars and trucks, 7,000 airplanes, and trains on 600 freight railroads traversing the United States.

Americans should read any news of petroleum pipeline mishaps with caution. While any spill or other accident is one too many, as anyone in the industry will tell you, the trends are positive.

Pipelines are not only the safest way to move oil, but they are now, thanks to technology and rigorous industry standards, safer than ever. All across the country, construction is underway on pipelines that will provide energy and jobs to millions of Americans.

Now that’s something worth reporting.

Source: http://naturalgasnow.org

NASA auditors criticize spacesuit development

Despite spending nearly $200 million on spacesuit development over the last eight years, NASA runs the risk of not having a next-generation spacesuit ready for testing on the International Space Station before the station is retired, the agency’s auditors warned.

In an April 26 report, NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) also warned that NASA’s declining current inventory of spacesuits, developed in the 1970s, pose a risk to continued operations of the ISS, particularly if its life is extended to the late 2020s.

Those current spacesuits, formally known as Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), are used for spacewalks outside the ISS. A key element of the suit is its Primary Life Support System (PLSS), the backpack-like structure that houses equipment to regulate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the suit and control its temperature.

NASA built 18 PLSS units, but only 11 remain available for use today. Of those 11, four are considered flight-ready today and are on the ISS, with the other seven in various stages of disassembly or testing on the ground.

The OIG report warned that further losses of PLSS units, either from launch failures or because of irreparable damage, could jeopardize NASA’s ability to perform spacewalks outside the station, which in turn could affect station maintenance. The agency said that the current supply of spacesuits should be sufficient to support station operations, but auditors were not convinced.

“NASA will be challenged to continue to support the EVA needs of the ISS with the current fleet of EMUs through 2024 — a challenge that will escalate significantly if Station operations are extended to 2028,” the report concluded.

NASA has ruled out building additional PLSS units, citing a cost as high as $250 million per unit given their old technology. Instead, NASA has worked on new spacesuit designs, including those that could support future missions beyond Earth orbit. Those efforts, though, have suffered a series of problems, according to the OIG report.

Auditors were particularly critical of the Constellation Space Suit System program, which started with a 2009 contract to Oceaneering International to develop a spacesuit as part of the Constellation exploration program. NASA kept that contract active until January 2016 despite the cancellation of the overall Constellation program in 2010, spending a total of $135.6 million on it, including $80.8 million after NASA cancelled Constellation.

The report criticized NASA for extending the program, with a new focus on developing spacesuit technologies, in part because it duplicated work on another NASA effort, the Advanced Space Suit Project. Technologies being developed by that project were often more advanced than those being developed simultaneously by the Constellation suit program, auditors found, even though NASA spent nearly three times as much on the Constellation contract.

The Advanced Space Suit Project, though, has had issues of its own, including a lack of defined destinations for NASA exploration missions that affect spacesuit design as well as “competing funding priorities” that meant that the project was funded for only half of the 2016 fiscal year.

That project is now working on a spacesuit design known as an Exploration EMU, or xEMU, that will start with a prototype called xEMU Lite to be tested on the ISS. Current schedules call for that suit to be delivered to the station in 2023 for testing. “This schedule leaves only one year for testing before the Station’s planned 2024 retirement,” the report stated, but added that “extending ISS operations beyond 2024 would alleviate this schedule pressure.”

A third program, the Orion Crew Survival Suit, is a pressure suit designed for use in the Orion spacecraft and is based on the Advanced Crew Escape System suits used during the shuttle program. That program, too, is facing schedule pressures, with a delivery of the suits currently planned just five months before the current launch date for the first crewed Orion mission in August 2021. That date, though, may be delayed, based on a recent separate OIG review of NASA’s exploration programs.

NASA has spent nearly $200 million on those three next-generation spacesuit programs. “Despite this investment, the Agency remains years away from having a flight-ready spacesuit capable of replacing the EMU or suitable for EVA use on future exploration missions,” the report concluded.

Auditors made several recommendations to NASA, including creating a formal plan for developing a next-generation spacesuit, performing a trade study comparing maintaining the current EMU spacesuits versus developing a new one, and apply lessons learned from existing spacesuit efforts to new designs. NASA accepted all three recommendations, and plans to have a spacesuit development plan completed by the end of September.

Source: http://spacenews.com

Kim Kardashian’s doctor says her bum is ‘too big’ and compares to a ‘deflated balloon’

Cosmetic surgeon Aaron Rollins is believed to have worked on 36-year-old Kim’s derrière – although she firmly denies any surgery, but says her bum is “too big”, and that people now come to him asking for her younger sister Kylie Jenner’s bottom instead.

Following the release of Kim’s un-airbrushed bikini pictures, he told The Mail Online: “Let her serve as a lesson to anyone who wants to make a body part bigger.

“If they have cellulite there before the procedure, then it will be there afterwards, too. People need to think about that or it will look bad like Kim’s.

“It’s very big, maybe too big.”

He went on to explain that how the alleged transferring of fat from Kim’s waist to her bum won’t make for cellulite free skin.

“Fat was taken from her waist and put into her bottom. But it’s transferring problem fat to another area,” said the doctor.

“Problem fat is problem fat wherever it is. It grows in the same way as it would in the place it was taken from.

“Kim has had two children, she has put on weight and then lost it, then gained it again and lost it again. It’s like blowing up a balloon and then letting the air out – there are ripples. No wonder it looks like that.”

Offering little hope to the reality queen, he added: “She has everything going against her and there is nothing she can do about it – apart from get the airbrush out.”

The mother-of-two has lost more than 100,000 Instagram followers since un-airbrushed photos from her holiday in Mexico emerged this week, sparking a media storm.

She was attacked online as trolls said the snaps of her imperfect behind – displaying some cellulite – were clearly different from airbrushed photos she often posts on social media.

Fans were quick to turn on Kim, who “broke the internet” two years ago with a picture of her balancing a glass of champagne on her bottom, for constantly flaunting her “fake body parts”.

Kim, who still has 98.8million followers on Instagram, ranted at the global furore.

She said: “I’ve seen perspective is a b****. I’ll work on taking videos with better lighting & angles. F*** you.” She deleted the post one minute later.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Happy Birthday! Jack Nicholson Turns 79 Today

Today is actor Jack Nicholson’s birthday.

Considered one of the best actors of several generations, Nicholson’s award-winning career is highlighted by several iconic performances. No performance may be more iconic, however, than Nicholson’s role as The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman. In a celebrated turn as the Clown Prince of Crime, many fans cite Nicholson’s Joker as one of their favorites.

But just as he’s synonymous with the Joker, Nicholson is equally known as Jack (or Johnny) from Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel The Shining. As the axe-wielding psychopath, Nicholson and his performance have been referenced by several different films and actors. Heck, he turned a line of dialogue into a catch-phrase. Nicholson has also held memorable roles in The Departed, Mars Attacks, Chinatown, and As Good As It Gets.

Born in New York City, Nicholson turns 79 today. Happy Birthday, Jack Nicholson.

Source: http://comicbook.com

Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay (California)

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, situated snugly between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is pretty—pretty breathtaking, that is. The Shingle-style hotel's weathered, wind-battered appearance evokes a nineteenth-century seaside lodge, and red- and gold-accented interiors showcase equally classic taste, with oil paintings, watercolors, and sepia-toned etchings lining each suite.

The northern Californian fare at Navio, set atop a stunning ocean bluff, is seafood at its best—subtle, savory, and fresh—offering standouts like the Skuna Bay salmon, paired with pumpernickel, sorrel, and smoked onion, and the olive oil poached Halibut, hailing from nearby Oceanside, which would please any lucky locavore.

The Conservatory, although a little less lavish, serves equally fresh farm-to-table fare, as befits coastal Californian cuisine.

As for leisurely activities, the Half Moon Bay has them in spades: Swing on over to either of two on-site championship golf courses, or take a jog on the hotel’s coastal paths and have the Pacific lapping at your feet. But if you’re looking to rest on your laurels—no judgment here—proceed to the 16,000-square-foot spa, with its Roman mineral baths and lavender facial treatments.

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay was the RCA Winner 2015and ranks #5 in Top Resorts in Northern California.

Source: http://www.cntraveler.com

Glass bottomed swimming pool sits 152m above the ground below

If you’re in any way scared of heights then you should avoid this see through swimming pool at all costs.

Located in a new apartment development — Market Square Tower — in Houston, Texas, the pool sits 152m above the road below and offers guests the chance to take a dip from the 40th floor of the building.

In a video posted to the building’s official Facebook page, a swimmer gives viewers a hair raising bird’s eye view of the ground below as they walk out onto the see through glass platform.

Despite seeming like you might be standing on nothing at all, there’s an eight inch thick plexiglas panel that comes between your feet and the empty space to the ground below.

Additional amenities at the luxury tower include a poker suite, indoor basketball court and movie theatre, with a unit setting you back between $2400 and a hefty $25,000 per month.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

Eni Hits Oil In Mexico’s Campeche Bay

Eni said its Amoca-2 well, the first drilled by an international oil major in Mexico since the 2013 energy reform, hit oil in Campeche Bay’s shallow waters.

The well, which is located in Contractual Area 1, hit 110 m (361 ft) of net oil pay from multiple good quality Pliocene reservoir sandstones, the company said in a news release.

Drilled to a total depth of about 3,500 m (11,483 ft), the well “confirmed the presence of 18 degree API oil in the shallower formations, while the newly discovered deeper sandstones contain high quality light oil,” Eni said. “Reserves are still being assessed, but the well indicates a meaningful upside to the original estimates.”

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said the discovery builds on the company’s strong exploration record. The company holds a 100% stake in the Area 1 and is evaluating fast-track phased development options.

“Focusing on conventional exploration with high initial stakes and operatorship, we manage to fast-track exploration activities, monetize exploration successes early and receive competitive development opportunities, therefore maximizing value generation for our shareholders,” Descalzi said.

Eni said it plans to continue drilling a new well, Amoca-3, in the same area before drilling two delineation wells— Miztón-2 and Tecoalli-2—to appraise existing discoveries and target new undrilled pools.

Source: www.epmag.com

Suprisingly Beautiful Flintstones Romantic Retreat House in Malibu

Have you imagined living inside a cavernous home like the ones during the Stone Age? People in that era would dwell either in a rock home or in a cave. This is what you will see in the famous cartoon sitcom, The Flintstones. The sitcom is a humorous story of Fred and his family living in a Stone Age way of life. It also shows different adventures with his best friend Barney Rubbles. Well, you wouldn’t barter living in a rock house that with the comfort in your current home. But you might change your mind after seeing this Malibu Romantic Flintstones Retreat House owned by American television and radio legend, Dick Clark. This house sits on a 23 acres lot in Malibu giving one a 360 degree view of mountains, seas and cityscapes.

This home would make you say “Yabaa-Dabba-Doo” like the famous expression of Fred Flintstone. One would have the feeling of being a modern day Fred with the aura and design of this house. One look at it would make you think that it is a massive structure but it is actually built using light materials combined with concrete. The inner walls are made of wood while the ceilings used steel beams covered with concrete to get that rock-like appearance. It has one bedroom and two bathrooms that both made use of modern appliances despite retaining a pre-historic look. The interior design of the house used irregular shapes and stone colors. While the exterior really looked like real rock especially that real stones where integrated to the concrete and scrubbed to expose it.

The house came from the idea of Architect Phillip Jon Brown who suggested to create a house that looked like a rock formation since it is situated next to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area. The idea was then made real with this home. Aside from its impressive design, this home also offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, Boney Mountains and Los Angeles. One will love the place for it is like a secluded retreat right in the center of nature’s gift of beauty, peace and serenity. For sure, you are eager to take a tour of the Flintstone House of Dick Clark. Scroll down and take a look at the different views of the house.

Source: http://homedesignlover.com

California gun sales highest ever after new gun control limits

State officials told KQED’s Julie Small that as of Dec. 26, 1.3 million guns were sold in California — more than in any previous year.

With six new gun control bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in July, sales of semi-automatic rifles have more than doubled in California over the last year. More than 700,000 guns sold in all of 2015.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that the California Department of Justice shows 364,643 semi-automatic rifles had been sold by Dec. 9, whereas 153,931 rifles were sold last year.

Rifles with bullet buttons for the quick swap of ammunition magazines and other soon-to-be banned features have also skyrocketed. Statewide sales were up 40 percent by early December.

The new gun controls reclassified semi-automatic rifles that have certain features as assault weapons. The features added to the prohibited list include a protruding or forward pistol grip, a thumbhole stock, a folding stock or a flash suppressor. Assault weapons have been banned in California since 1989.

“Gun manufacturers are in a profit-making business,” state Sen. Steve Glazer told Small. “They want to do everything to ratchet up sales — and they use this change as marketing to try to compel people to go out and buy one of these guns.”

Glazer co-authored the law to ban a narrow classification of guns used in warfare — that don’t belong in neighborhoods.

Steven Serna came into Pacific Outfitters sporting goods store in Ukiah last week to buy a semi-automatic rifle before new gun control legislation limits the gun’s features in California.

He wanted to purchase an AK-47 rifle but there were none to be found at the store. The deer hunter lamented that he should have purchased one earlier this year.

Todd Lyly also visited the store last week to talk with his friends behind the gun sales counter about the new laws.

Lyly said he will convert his weapons so they are compliant with the new regulations, most likely by installing a fixed stock. But he said it’s a superficial change that he expects will mostly impact law-abiding people and not violent criminals already disinclined to follow the law.

“It’s frustrating,” Lyly said.

California lawmakers pushed for the new gun controls after a mass shooting in San Bernardino last year. A married couple who were armed with AR-15 rifles and 9mm pistols shot and killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a county health department holiday party. Authorities said they were inspired by foreign terrorist groups.

Source: https://ww2.kqed.org

Super Bowl 2017, New England Patriots 34 Atlanta Falcons 28: MVP Tom Brady leads comeback from 25 points down to stunning overtime win - and his fifth Ring

Tom Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, lifting New England from a 25-point hole to the Patriots' fifth NFL championship in the first Super Bowl overtime.

The Patriots scored 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of 2-point conversions, then marched relentlessly to James White's 2-yard touchdown run in overtime to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 on Sunday night.

Tom Brady inspired one of sport's most remarkable comebacks

Brady, the first quarterback with five Super Bowl rings, guided the Patriots (17-2) through a tiring Atlanta defence for fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 6-yard pass to Danny Amendola and a 1-yard run by White, which came with 57 seconds remaining in regulation. White ran for the first 2-pointer and Amendola did the deed with a reception on the second.

Brady, winning Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth-time, finished 43 for 62, the most attempts in Super Bowl history, for 466 yards, also a record, and two touchdowns.

"You know, we all brought each other back," Brady said. "We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle. They have a great team. I give them a lot of credit. We just made a few more plays than them."

Before the stunning rally - New England already held the biggest comeback in the final period when it turned around a 10-point deficit to beat Seattle two years ago - the Falcons (13-6) appeared poised to take their first NFL championship in 51 seasons. Having never been in such a pressurised environment, their previously staunch pass rush disappeared, and Brady tore them apart.

"Deflategate" far behind them, Brady and coach Bill Belichick won their 25th postseason game, by far a record. It's hard to imagine a tenser victory. Belichick became the first coach with five Super Bowl crowns.

The Patriots won the coin toss for overtime and it was no contest. Brady completed six passes. A pass interference call took the ball to the 2, and White scooted to his right and barely over the goal line.

His teammates streamed off the sideline to engulf White as confetti streamed down from the NRG Stadium rafters.

It was almost an impossible dream for the Patriots a bit earlier. But helped by Matt Ryan's fumble on a sack, a spectacular catch by Julian Edelman , and Brady's passing, they never stopped coming.

White had 14 receptions for 110 yards as the key weapon, but Brady hit seven different receivers.

Until the Patriots took charge with their late surge, league MVP Ryan was outplaying Brady. It didn't last.

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn admitted the loss was hard to take. "No doubt that was a tough one for us," said Quinn. "That's a hard one in the locker room."

Quinn felt the Falcons were worn out by the end by the pressure the Patriots applied. "I think for sure we ran out of gas some," Quinn said.

Back in Boston,  hundreds of fans gathered late on Sunday night and early Monday morning in a downtown public park to celebrate. They were dancing, cheering and chanting "Brady."

The mayor of Boston ordered the city to "fire up the duck boats" for the New England Patriots victory parade.

Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh took to Twitter late Sunday night to offer his congratulations "to the greatest team, the greatest coach and the greatest quarterback of all time."

Mr Walsh said a parade celebrating their championship would be held on Tuesday, adding the Pats "have made Boston and New England proud."

Donald Trump was also quick to offer his congratulations. The president, who has often boasted of his friendship with Brady, tweeted: "What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!"

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Meryl Steep Imitates Donald Trump in Orange Face Alongside Her 'Mamma Mia!'

Meryl Streep proved on Monday night that there's not a role she won't tackle.

The three-time Oscar winner put on a fat suit and lathered on the orange makeup as she channeled presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, during the annual Shakespeare in the Park Public Theater Gala at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Streep imitated Trump alongside her Mamma Mia! co-star, Christine Baranski, who was impersonating former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who's also running for president.

The performance was a twist on the song "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Cole Porter’s Broadway musical, Kiss Me, Kate, which is based off of The Taming of The Shrew. During the duet, Streep, as Trump, recited, "You’ll let me know why it is all the women say no."

Baranski, as Clinton, crooned back, "Brush up your Shakespeare and the women you will wow. ...Just declaim a few lines from Othello, and they'll think you're a hell of a fella."

Trump's road to landing the republican presidential nomination has been met with some contention from those in both political parties. ET spoke with Fox News' Megyn Kelly after her headline-grabbing feud with the aspiring politician. "Donald Trump is a lot of things," she said. "Even in the midst of coming after me, he can be charming. It's very confusing. One minute you're thinking, 'What?' and then you're laughing."

Source: www.etonline.com