iNews Briefs
Cayman dump on fire once more
On Sunday morning (17) fire crews were fighting a major fire at the Cayman Islands George Town Dump once more.
The fire was reported around 11:15am with approx. 5,000 sq.ft. of the landfill site ablaze.
Fire crews were on the scene and were able to bring it under control with help from a Department of Environmental Health excavator in about an hour and a half.
Officials confirmed that fire crews would stay at the landfill until the fire is completely extinguished.
Cayman Islands Public Holidays for 2015
The Deputy Governor’s office has confirmed the official list of public holidays for 2015, with the exception of the Queen’s Birthday holiday, which will be confirmed later.
In December, since Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the corresponding public holiday will be observed on Monday, 28 December 2015.
The official public holidays for 2015 are:
Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday, 26 January – National Heroes Day
Wednesday, 18 February – Ash Wednesday
Friday, 3 April – Good Friday
Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday
Monday, 18 May – Discovery Day
Monday, 15 June – Queen’s Birthday (to be confirmed)
Monday, 6 July – Constitution Day
Monday, 9 November – Remembrance Day
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December – Boxing Day (observed)
Celine Dion puts career on hold to assist husband in cancer battle
By Waleed Khalidi, From The Celebrity Cafe
Celine Dion has canceled her Asia tour and postponed her Las Vegas residency in order to be alongside her cancer-battling husband.
Dion’s husband Rene Angelil had a tumor removed from his throat last December. Dion tells People that it has been “a very difficult and stressful time.”
“I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband’s healing, and to do so, it’s important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children,” Dion told the magazine. “I also want to apologize to all my fans everywhere, for inconveniencing them, and I thank them so much for their love and support.”
Dion canceled her entire tour of Asia that was scheduled for later this year.
The singer herself has also battled some health issues. Due to inflammation in her throat, Dion has not performed her show at the Caesars Palace since July 29. She has had a residency at Caesars since 2003 and is under contract until 2019, according to TV Guide.
Celine, 46, and Rene, 72, have three children together. Eldest Rene-Charles, 13, and twins Eddy and Nelson, 3.
Microsoft is on a roll, unveils second killer smartphone camera innovation in less than a week
By Brad Reed From BGR
Although its Windows Phone platform may stuck in the mud, that hasn’t stopped Microsoft from developing some killer smartphone camera technologies over the last week. Just a few days ago we wrote about the amazing new technology that Microsoft has developed to help you make incredibly steady time-lapse videos while you’re walking around with your smartphone camera or GoPro. And now Technology Review brings us word that Microsoft engineers have figured out a way to modify ordinary smartphone cameras and give them the ability to take 3D images.
How did Microsoft’s team accomplish this impressive feat? Apparently they started by removing a smartphone camera’s infrared filter and replaced it with a filter that only allowed infrared light to get through — in other words, it replaced a part that was designed to one thing with a part that was designed to do precisely the opposite.
Technology Review says that Microsoft did this because it wanted “to use the reflective intensity of infrared light as something like a cross between a sonar signal and a torch in a dark room” so that “the light would bounce off the nearby object and return to the sensor with a corresponding intensity” and thus make it possible to determine exactly how close or far the object was from the lens at the time of the photo.
This is an incredibly cool breakthrough and you should check out Technology Review’s much more detailed explanation by clicking the source link at: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/529986/turning-a-regular-smartphone-camera-into-a-3-d-one/
For more on this story go to: http://bgr.com/2014/08/14/microsoft-3d-camera-technology/
Cayman lionfish cull to raise money to support in need family
Cayman United Lionfish League’s (CULL) Cull #12, the Summer Showdown, was culling this weekend. The event joined forces with Cayman Acts of Random Kindness (ARK), to raise money for a six-year-old girl who, along with her mother, has been removed from an abusive situation. The mother is also battling breast cancer.
The goal is to raise $6,500 dollars to support the family and help the girl remain at Hope Academy for another school year.
The tournament took place on Saturday and Sunday (16 & 17 August), with weigh-at Rackam’s on the waterfront.
The winning teams split $4,800 dollars in prize money.
Even though the cull is now over you can still contribute. More information can be found at Cayman’s ARK, CULL, and the Department of Environment‘s Facebook pages.
Japan to send mission to 3 Caribbean states over post-ODA program
From Global Post
Japan plans to send a mission to three Caribbean states possibly later this month over a program to continue assistance to countries even after economic growth has made them ineligible for receiving Japan’s official development assistance, government sources said Friday.
With the program, Japan aims to seek support from such countries “graduating from ODA” for Tokyo’s bid for a nonpermanent seat in the U.N. Security Council election next year, the sources said.
Japan plans to send the mission to Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and Barbados to study the respective countries’ economic situation and types of assistance they need, they said.
The mission would consist mainly of officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled the post-ODA aid program for the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community, including the three countries, in the first summit between Japan and the community called CARICOM on July 28 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Based on international standards, Japan extends ODA to countries whose per-capita gross national income totals $12,275 or lower.
Under such criteria, the three counties are no longer eligible for receiving Japanese ODA. But Japan has determined it has reasons to continue assisting them with a kind of aid other than ODA given the fragility of their economy amid fluctuations in GNI in the wake of hurricane and other natural disasters.
Japan will continue extending ODA to 11 other CARICOM member states — Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
Another Cayman TV provider reacts to proposed WestStar sale
Following LIME’s concerns over the proposed sale of the Cayman Islands oldest and largest television provider to Logic (see iNews Cayman story published August 14 2014 “LIME responds to WestStar, Logic deal” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/lime-responds-to-weststar-logic-deal/)
Cayman Islands other provider C3 has also raised a number of its own concerns, including the prospect of a fully foreign owned entity.
“The ICTA should strongly consider granting the approval of the sale of an ICTA licensee to a foreign company,” C3’s letter to the ICTA dated 7th August said.
C3 also raised a number of other concerns including arrangements governing the use of utility poles by telecommunications providers.
New Michael Jackson video released
From Belfast Telegraph
Michael Jackson’s new music video has been unveiled.
The video for the late singer’s new single, A Place With No Name, premiered on Twitter and on a giant screen in New York’s Times Square simultaneously.
The short film – directed by Samuel Bayer, who made the videos for Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, Robbie Williams’ Angels and Justin Timberlake’s What Goes Around… Comes Around – features out-takes and behind-the-scenes footage from the video for Michael’s 1992 single In The Closet.
The song, inspired by America’s 1972 hit A Horse With No Name, was originally recorded in 1998. The new video was released by Epic Records.
The track features on the post-humous Xscape, an album of “contemporised” unfinished material with added production from the likes of Timbaland and Stargate, which topped the UK charts when it was released in May.
Michael died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50, from a cardiac arrest.
ACS hosts regional workshop on public policies to support SMEs
From eTN Global Travel News
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – With the overall aim of improving the potential for growth, innovation and competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development and the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), will host a Regional Workshop on Public Policies to support SMEs at the ACS Secretariat, Port of Spain, from August 18-19, 2014.
Opening remarks will be delivered by the Minister of Labor and Small and Micro Enterprise Development of Trinidad and Tobago, The Honorable Errol Mc Leod; Secretary General of the ACS, Alfonso Múnera and the Program Coordinator for SELA, Mr. Antonio Leone.
This approach to public policies seeks to promote the development of an environment favoring inter-entrepreneurial cooperation which encourages innovation processes. As a result, the technical capabilities of enterprises will be strengthened and its management capacity improved.
For more: http://www.eturbonews.com/49117/acs-hosts-regional-workshop-public-policies-support-smes
Japan to assist with disaster risk reduction training in Latin America and the Caribbean
From Continuity Central
On July 31st 2014, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Training Program for Latin America and the Caribbean’ with the Chilean International Cooperation Agency (AGCI).
The Memorandum of Cooperation will enable JICA to assist with disaster risk reduction training in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through the combination of Japan and Chile’s disaster management resources, the program is designed to efficiently and effectively develop human resources with a high level of specialization, as well as to improve the capacity of government officials to respond to actual disasters. The program also aims to build a regional network for sharing experiences and knowledge from other Latin America and the Caribbean countries.
An outline of the Japan-Chile Partnership Programme can be read here (in Japanese).
See also: https://dgtl.link/biz_continuity
Pilot’s artificial arm detaches while landing
From St Louis Post-Dispatch
LONDON (AP) — A British air accident report has recounted how a pilot briefly lost control of a passenger plane after his artificial arm became detached from the control yoke during landing.
The report, published Thursday, said the incident took place as the Flybe flight from Birmingham, carrying 47 passengers, was approaching Belfast City Airport in gusty conditions in February.
The 46-year-old pilot had shortly before checked that his prosthetic lower left arm was securely attached to the yoke clamp, but as he performed a maneuver just before touchdown the limb became detached.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the pilot considered getting the co-pilot to take control, but concluded that the best thing to do was to move his right hand to the yoke to regain control.
“He did this, but with power still applied and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily,” the report said.
No one was hurt. According to the report, the pilot said he would be more cautious about checking the attachment on his prosthesis in the future, and that he would brief his co-pilots about the possibility of a similar event.
Flybe said the pilot remained one of the airline’s most experienced and trusted pilots. Captain Ian Baston, director of flight operations and safety, said the company employs staff with “reduced physical abilities,” including pilots. He said the airline ensures it adheres to Civil Aviation Authority requirements and never compromises on safety.
UW Art Museum hosts exhibition with Caribbean architectural themes
In his artwork, Emilio Sanchez examines the effects of light and color with Caribbean architectural themes. The artist, a Cuban native who moved to Miami as a boy, worked with architectural subjects in the 1960 when clients in Cuba asked him to paint their plantation houses. That led to other architectural portraits.
Sanchez’s reinterpreted his buildings and houses rather than painting exact reproductions. His elaborations highlighted his concerns with the influence of light and shadow.
“Luz y Colores: Emilio Sanchez’s Caribbean” is now on display at the University of Wyoming Art Museum.
Al Gore sues Al Jazeera over $500M current TV deal
From Newsmax
Former Vice President Al Gore is suing Al Jazeera for not paying the full $500 million price for his cable news network, Current TV.
Gore, who filed the lawsuit in Chancery Court in Wilmington, Del., Friday with Current TV co-founder Joel Hyatt, is being represented by lawyer David Boies, who was also his attorney in his bid to have a Florida recount in the 2000 presidential race he lost to George H.W. Bush, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Al Jazeera wants to give itself a discount on the purchase price that was agreed to nearly two years ago,” said Boies. “We are asking the court to order Al Jazeera America to stop wrongfully withholding escrow funds that belong to Current’s former shareholders.”
Boies and Al Jazeera have agreed to have the case sealed, even though Gore’s lawyer says he’s hoping it will eventually become public.
Current TV was sold in January last year to Al Jazeera, a Doha-based Arab news network owned by the Qatar royal family. It was believed that Al Jazeera wanted to take advantage of Current’s reasonable distribution deals with cable and satellite providers, the Reporter said.
But since it bought the news channel, Al Jazeera America has been sued by AT&T and DirecTV. The network was also cut off by Time Warner Cable for a time, but has since been reinstated.
Al Jazeera has struggled in the ratings since taking over the network, and the ratings at times have even dipped below Current TV levels.
Gore came under fire from several critics, including Comedy Central host Jon Stewart, for selling out to an oil-rich Middle East nation, one that appears to have has been supportive of Hamas in Israel’s war with the Palestinian terror group.
But Gore, an environmental activist, said at the time, “I’m proud of the transaction. It’s really going to be a positive addition to the U.S. media landscape.”
For more: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/gore-current-tv-al-jazeera/2014/08/15/id/589046/#ixzz3AUVXjsuO
The man responsible for pop-up ads reveals why he cursed us
By Chris Velazco From engadget
The sad truth of the internet is that lots of the snarky blogs and lovely longform content you can dig into are there because they’re commodities companies can sell ads against. The most odious of the bunch? Pop-ups, naturally — an entire cottage industry sprang up to quash them with extreme prejudice. In a lengthy (but totally worthy) essay dissecting the birth of the ad-supported internet over at The Atlantic, one of the creators of the pop-up ad apologized for what he and his team unleashed upon the world. But how did they come about in the first place?
To hear Ethan Zuckerman — an early Tripod employee and current head of MIT’s Center of Civic Media — tell it, Tripod’s bread and butter became analyzing the sites people created and targeting ads for them. The traditional banner ad could be a tricky proposition for a brand, though, since they could imply some sort of corporate endorsement of whatever’s on a given site (Zuckerman mentions a car company mortified to see one of its banners on a site discussing anal sex). That’s where the pop-up came in: they allowed ads to appear on a site without actually being on the site. Turns out, Zuckerman was instrumental in making these terrible things, well, a thing. To quote his statement to Wired:
Not only did I deploy what was probably the first popup, I wrote the javascript and the server-side Perl to launch it.
Little did Zuckerman and company know that they inadvertently released a scourge upon the rest of the internet — as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/14/the-creator-of-the-pop-up-ad-says-sorry/?ncid=rss_truncated
Samsung’s ‘Smart Home’ dreams get bigger with $200 million SmartThings buy
By Richard Lawler From Engadget
Count Samsung in — it’s officially purchasing home automation startup SmartThings, a move that should help it keep up with the Joneses, aka Apple and Google. TechCrunch has sources confirming a $200 million pricetag, matching the amount it heard last month when rumors of the deal leaked out. In a blog post, SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson said the team would continue to be run independently, but that it’s moving home base to Palo Alto, where Samsung has one of its Innovation Centers. He says Samsung is ready to get behind its vision of an open smart home platform that works for third party devs as well as different hardware manufacturers, and already has support from some 8,000 apps. SmartThings has gone from Kickstarter to playing with the big boys, now we’ll see if its Hub device and wide-open strategy can get your doorknob, stove, drapes and lightbulb all on the same page.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/14/samsung-smartthings/?ncid=rss_truncated
Facebook’s $400M-$500M acquisition of video ad tech startup LiveRail is now official
From techcrunch
Facebook’s acquisition of LiveRail closed today, a source told me, and Facebook confirms to me the deal is now official. Facebook announced the buy without disclosing a price back on July 6th, but multiple sources told TechCrunch the price was between $400 million and $500 million. Regulators apparently had no issue with Facebook buying LiveRail, which help brands that want to buy online video ads to target their spots and place them with publishers that have videos they want to monetize. The 170-person startup will start working with Facebook on Monday, a source said.
LiveRail could help Facebook better target the video ads it runs in the News Feed, and pipe in more advertisers. Meanwhile, Facebook could aid LiveRail with its own targeting of video ads across the web and mobile apps, plus connect it to Facebook’s vast array of ad clients. The close of the deal comes just days after Twitter launched its own video ad product, signaling there will be big competition between the social networks for ad dollars as they transfer from TV to digital.
For more on this story go to: http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/14/facebooks-400m-500m-acquisition-of-video-ad-tech-startup-liverail-is-now-official/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
A magical Caribbean musical lands at the Aurora Fox {Los Angeles)
By Deb Flomberg – From AXS
Fairy tales exist in just about every culture, spanning generations and continents, uniting the human experience with the need for stories that help to answer all the great mysteries of the world. The musical “Once on this Island” is a Caribbean fairy tale that is loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid” with a bit of “Romeo and Juliet” thrown in as well. Written by Lynn Ahrens (“Ragtime,” “Suessical” and “Rocky the Musical”) with music by Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime” and “Seusssical”) the musical is a beautiful adaptation filled with stunning music and a classic storyline. You can catch this fantastic show at the Aurora Fox Theatre September 12 through October 5, and this is one wonderful show that you’ll want to share with your whole family.
“Once on this Island” starts with the story of Ti Moune, a young peasant girl who is adopted following a disastrous flood on her island. As the girl grows up, she falls in love with Daniel Beauxhomme, a rich man from the other side of the island, when he crashes his car during a storm. Ti Moune nurses Daniel back to health until he is well enough to return to his palace home. It isn’t long before the courageous girl sets out to find her love to seek her happily ever after. Along the way, the Gods of the island’s culture step in and cause all of the different events and experiences that happen to the people that live there. The Gods are just as much a part of the story as the citizens of the island, with each God representing Earth, Water, Love and Death.
The musical numbers are filled with fast-paced Caribbean rhythms and huge dance numbers. Some of the highlights include “Rain” sung by Agwe, the God of Water and “Mama Will Provide” sung by Asaka, the God of the Earth. “Once on this Island” is a truly beautiful show, with a simple story told effectively and with classic music.
For more: http://www.axs.com/a-magical-caribbean-musical-lands-at-the-aurora-fox-16866
As your kid grows, this bike will transform to fit them
By Billy Steele From engadget
Like clothes, children tend to outgrow bikes pretty quickly. But what if there was a way to buy one and have it convert to fit a growing kid? Well, that’s just what designer Andreas Bhend has done with the Miilo bike. What starts has a simple scoot along option with no pedals can adapt to fit an older child by flipping the frame and adding pedals. The handlebars and seat are also meant to adjust so that the bicycle can remain an option riders between the ages of 2.5 and 7 — unless your kid hits a crazy growth spurt, of course. The project was inspired by another training bike that Bhend made by hacking up a pair IKEA stools, and from there, the idea to have a model that transforms began.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/14/miilo-kids-bike/
