Spectre
In SPECTRE, a cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
{Vimeo}123847217{/Vimeo}
Secret in Their Eyes
A tight-knit team of rising FBI investigators—Ray (Ejiofor) and Jess (Roberts), along with their District Attorney supervisor Claire (Kidman)—is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess’s teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered. Now, thirteen years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he’s certain can permanently resolve the case, nail the vicious murderer, and bring long-desired closure to his team. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking, unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul. Interweaving past and present, this deeply layered mystery explores the murky boundaries between justice and revenge, and asks the question: how far would you go to right an unfathomable wrong?
The Perfect Guy
After a painful breakup, successful lobbyist Leah Vaughn (Sanaa Lathan) jumps into a passionate relationship with a charming stranger (Michael Ealy). When her ex-boyfriend (Morris Chestnut) resurfaces in her life, she has to figure out who she should trust and who she should fear.
Will Windows 10 prove a winner for Microsoft?
The world's most used operating system has made it into double figures.
Windows 10 is destined to change the way millions of us interact with our computers and gives Microsoft's chief executive, Satya Nadella, the opportunity to steer the company in a new direction.
He describes the OS as "Windows as a Service", which means he plans to release improvements as they become available, via the internet, rather than working towards another "big bang" upgrade in a few years.
Versions of the software will also be released for smartphones - making the Windows Phone OS defunct - as well as the Xbox One games console, "internet of things" kit and, potentially, smartwatches at a later stage.
Windows 10
Windows 10 will power a range of computers, big and small
There has even been talk of this being the "last version of Windows" assuming all goes well - so no pressure then.
Wait... what about Windows 9?
The best explanation Microsoft has given for jumping a number has been in the form of a very nerdy joke: "Windows 10 because seven, eight, [ate] nine."
The suspicion is the company's marketers just think it sounds cooler.
And, of course, there is the added benefit that it further distances the product from the ill-fated Windows 8 while catching up in numeric terms with Apple's rival Mac OS X
.
Windows 8
The touch-focused nature of Windows 8 was unpopular with some.
So, what's new?
At first look, at least on a desktop PC, the user interface looks pretty similar to the popular Windows 7.
Microsoft is pitching the product as being "familiar and easy to use", as part of a shift away from the unpopular touch-centric focus of Windows 8.
Perhaps the headline feature is the return of the Start Menu, providing users with quick pop-up access to their favourite apps, documents and settings.
It does, however, carry over some of W8's design language.
Start Menu
The Start Menu reintroduces Windows 7's tool, although it now includes Windows 8-style live tiles
To the right of the list of sober-looking shortcuts, the Start Menu now also offers a selection of customisable "live tiles".
These can also launch favoured apps, but people may prefer to use them to get at-a-glance updates about how many unread emails they have, what the weather is doing, forthcoming diary alerts and other notifications.
Those pining for Windows 8's full-display Start Screen can still turn it back on via settings, and it appears by default on tablets when no keyboard is attached.
The other big addition is Cortana - the virtual assistant first featured in Windows Phone 8.1.
This makes sense of natural-language requests spoken or typed into a computer to help users manage their diaries, search the internet for information tailored to their interests, play music they might like, and control third-party apps, among other activities.
Cortana
The voice-activated personal assistant Cortana graduates from smartphones to the PC
The more Cortana studies its owner's habits, the better, in theory, the suggestions it makes. Those who find this a bit freaky can restrict the data it has access to.
Other new features include:
- Windows Hello - a biometric authentication facility that lets people unlock their computers and specific applications by providing a fingerprint or facial recognition scan
- Edge - a successor to Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser that loads sites faster, lets users scribble over and share webpages, and brings up contextual information about selected words at the click of a button, saving the need to type queries into a search engine
- A notifications sidebar - clicking on the Action Centre taskbar button now lets users review recent notifications. This addresses a common complaint that once notifications had slid off the screen in earlier versions of the OS, they were gone for good
Edge web browser
The new Edge web browser allows users to annotate pages before sharing them
Can everyone download it on launch day?
No.
Microsoft is making it available to members of its Insider programme - people who tested preview versions of the system - from the start.
But it is staggering delivery to others.
As part of the process it is carrying out compatibility checks, so that PCs most likely to experience serious problems running the software do not get the upgrade until the relevant bugs have been dealt with.
If users have not already pre-registered for the download, they can do so by clicking a Windows icon in their taskbar. If it isn't there, they will need to carry out a complicated workaround to make it appear.
That means some people will have to wait days and perhaps weeks to get Windows 10 for free.
Some computer makers have already, however, rushed out machines pre-installed with the software to shop shelves.
Boxes containing the software on USB flash drives are also due to go on sale "between mid-August and September" for those that don't have broadband internet. Retailers - including Currys in the UK - are also offering in-store installs for a fee.
Ninja cat
Microsoft has used a viral campaign featuring "ninja cat" to promote Windows 10's launch
Microsoft has a lot riding on this, doesn't it?
The money paid by computer makers to preinstall Windows on their PCs is one of Microsoft's biggest sources of revenue.
It also helps Microsoft direct business' budgets towards its lucrative add-on cloud services - including its Office 365 productivity suite, Azure cloud computing platform, and Dynamics supply chain management tools - as well as the IT support and training it sells.
There are also subscription fees to be made from consumers, whether it is charging for OneDrive cloud storage, calls made via Skype, or access to Microsoft's Groove music library.
Every customer lost to devices running a Google, Apple or Linux operating system is one more likely to spend their money elsewhere.
In addition, every company that decides to stick with Windows 7, Vista or even XP is one that will not be able to support all of Microsoft's latest technologies.
Smartphone running Windows 10
A smartphone running Windows 10 can act as a PC replacement if connected to a monitor
Windows Phone has also been a bit of a flop, at least in most countries.
Now, there is a new pitch: if you link a Windows 10 Mobile handset to a screen, keyboard and mouse, it can double as a PC.
This feature - called Continuum - might appeal to the billions of consumers in emerging economies for whom buying both a smartphone and a laptop would be unaffordable.
What's Microsoft doing to give Windows 10 a better chance?
Consumers and small businesses are being offered a free upgrade of existing computers running Windows 7 or 8 at any point over the first year of Windows 10's release.
In addition, Microsoft's move to a "universal app platform" should make the OS more attractive to developers.
Universal app store
PC, smartphone and Xbox apps will all be made available from the same online marketplace
Microsoft will run a single app store, and every product should be compatible with a plethora of devices - including PCs, Xboxes, smartphones and the forthcoming HoloLens headset - as long as the computer involved is powerful enough and the coder has made the user interface responsive.
Microsoft is also making it easier for developers to port Android and iOS apps to the platform.
But I've heard it's a bit flaky
Until about a month ago, this was a common complaint about the preview builds.
But critics acknowledge many of their biggest gripes have now been addressed , even if there are some outstanding issues - such as Edge's lack of support for extensions.
Windows 10
Microsoft will offer users the chance to opt out of feature updates
Big businesses are still unlikely to adopt the OS on day one. Tech consultancy Gartner has advised its clients to wait until at least the second half of 2016.
However, one issue that may have deterred consumers has been addressed.
Microsoft caused controversy when it suggested people using the Home version of its system would have to add new features as they became available.
Matters were not helped when it explicitly said businesses would be able to wait until "quality and application compatibility has been assessed in the consumer market".
That led some bloggers to accuse Microsoft of treating the public like "guinea pigs".
But on the eve of Windows 10's release, Microsoft told the BBC it had added an option to defer all Home Edition updates, security fixes aside.
There remains, however, an incentive to buy the Pro or Enterprise versions, as their owners will be able to control which specific features are added.
One final thought: just in case you try Windows 10 and do not like it, it is worth knowing there is a "rollback" option that works for the first 30 days.
[iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gu6vmNz-PhE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen ]
Autonomous trucks: Daimler seeks licence for road tests
Car manufacturer Daimler is hoping to test self-driving trucks on German motorways this year, according to a company executive.
Speaking to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Wolfgang Bernhard said he was "positive" the firm would get certification within weeks.
Daimler has been road-testing its autonomous trucks in Nevada since May.
Although a computer controls the vehicles, a human driver is present at all times.
Daimler is currently seeking certification for a self-driving truck so it can be tested on public roads in Germany.
A spokesman confirmed the firm is seeking approval to operate the vehicles near the city of Stuttgart.
"We're testing in Germany on our own proving grounds. The next step is getting real-life experience on German highways as well," the spokesman told the BBC. "We're looking to do that in the second half of the year."
'Autopilot for trucks'
He added that the system could be thought of as comparable to autopilot technology already in use on aircraft.
"We believe it's safer and more efficient if, on these long highway [journeys], the truck drives by itself," he said.
Daimler's autonomous trucks use a combination of radar, lasers and camera systems to identify obstacles and the boundaries of the road.
A computer system, when driving, can control acceleration, braking and steering. It is also able to perform an emergency stop.
Daimler says that a human driver is always present and able to retake control of the truck immediately if required.
Sharing the road
Alan Stevens, a transport expert at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), said developing the technology is the "right direction" to be going in as there is a strong business case for fully autonomous trucks.
However, he added that there was a long way to go before such vehicles would be roadworthy without an on-board supervisor.
"It's probably got to be 10 or 100 times better than a human driver before it's socially acceptable," he said.
Android phones can be hacked with a simple text
Android phones can get infected by merely receiving a picture via text message, according to research published Monday.
This is likely the biggest smartphone flaw ever discovered. It affects an estimated 950 million phones worldwide -- about 95% of the Androids in use today.
The problem stems from the way Android phones analyze incoming text messages. Even before you open a message, the phone automatically processes incoming media files -- including pictures, audio or video. That means a malware-laden file can start infecting the phone as soon as it's received, according Zimperium, a cybersecurity company that specializes in mobile devices.
If this sounds familiar, that's because this Android flaw is somewhat like the recent Apple text hack.
But in that case, a text message with just the right characters could freeze an iPhone or force it to restart. This Android flaw is worse, because a hacker could gain complete control of the phone: wiping the device, accessing apps or secretly turning on the camera.
In a statement to CNNMoney, Google (GOOGL, Tech30) acknowledged the flaw. It assured that Android has ways of limiting a hacker's access to separate apps and phone functions. Yet hackers have been able to overcome these limitations in the past.
The bug affects any phone using Android software made in the last five years, according to Zimperium. That includes devices running Android's Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat and Lollipop iterations (Google names its Android versions alphabetically after desserts).
android text
Zimperium said it warned Google about the flaw on April 9 and even provided a fix. The company claims Google responded the very next day, assuring a patch would be shared with customers in the future.
Typically, in these situations, companies are given a 90-day grace period to issue a fix. It's a rule even Google abides by when it finds flaws in others' software.
But it's been 109 days, and a fix still isn't largely available. That's why Zimperium is now going public with the news.
The issue now is how quickly Google will manage to fix this for everybody. While Apple can push out updates to all iPhones, Google can't
.
Google is notorious for having a fractured distribution system. Several entities stand in between Google and its users, and they routinely slow down the release of new software. There's phone carriers -- like AT&T (T, Tech30) and Verizon (VZ, Tech30) -- and makers of physical devices -- like Samsung (SSNLF) -- all of which need to work together to issue software updates.
Google told CNNMoney it already sent a fix to its "partners." However, it's unclear if any of them have started pushing that out to users themselves.
For that very reason, Google recently put its own Nexus phones first in line to receive updates.
This could be a test case that shows why it's so important to receive updates quickly.
Chris Wysopal is a longtime hacker and now an executive at cybersecurity firm Veracode. He called this Android's version of Heartbleed, the devastating bug that put millions of computer networks at serious risk last year.
"I'm interested to see if Google comes up with a way to update devices remotely," he said. "Unless they can do that, we have a big disaster on our hands."
New North Caicos District Commissioner Appointed
A new District Commissioner (DC) has been appointed for the island of North Caicos by the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, it was announced today, Thursday, 23 July 2015.
Cynclair Musgrove will take up her new role in leading the effective delivery of Government services on North Caicos on Tuesday, 4 August 2015.
She will join a team of DCs with responsibility for islands across the TCI archipelago, including South Caicos, Salt Cay and Middle Caicos. The recruitment process for the latter two islands continues.
“Cynclair has a tremendous track record of community involvement and action on her home island of North Caicos,” said Deputy Governor Anya Williams, head of the TCI civil service.
“A former teacher, she has worked closely with schools events such as career days, talent shows and hosting the National Spelling Bee. Cynclair has also supported civic organisations and community groups, including hosting and producing island festivals, pageants and other cultural affairs such as the national AIDS debate and Miss TCI pageant.”
The duties of a DC, all of whom report to the Director of the Premier’s Office, include:
- Overseeing the various Government Departments on each island, including the ‘One Stop Shops’, working as an ex-officio member of their local District Board to receive ideas and suggestions, and help to resolve matters of local importance
- Performing duties as the local Justice of the Peace
- Coordinating each islands' Disaster Management Programme, including hurricane preparedness and response, as well as tsunamis, earthquakes and other emergencies
- Managing the maintenance and minor repairs programme for government buildings and properties as identified in collaboration with the District Board
- Working closely with the Police to ensure that effective protection is afforded against lawlessness and disorder
- Analyzing labour and immigration trends on their island, and collaborating with the appropriate Ministries and Departments to find solutions to any issues identified.
The Roman Catholics Wins the 2015 Church Co-ed League
The curtains came down on the Churches Softball league at the National Stadium last night, the new champion of the Church softball league is The Roman Catholic Church!
With two playoff wins, the Roman Catholic fought for their championship win against the defending champions Jericho Baptist.
Although Roman Catholic had two home runs by Jose and Gustavo, they still ended with a tie in at the bottom of the 7th inning going into over time, but in the end they took the lead finally winning the championship title with a score of 12-11.
{loadtweets}url=620783599374086144&align=center&maxwidth=600{/loadtweets}
During last night's celebration in Provo, President Godfrey Been told our sports reporter that..' the 2015 Champs, the Roman Catholic Church, played very hard through out the season and playoff, although they beat Jericho Baptist three straight it was not a easy win, in the third win they had to do it in overtime.
I want to thanks all the players, Fans, Pastors from the various Churches and umpires for there support to the league, I also want to thanks the media for the strong support," A smiling Been reminded us that fans can still enjoy the fast pitch games on going at the Down Town ball park on Saturday and Sunday starting at 3pm.
Once again Congratulations to Roman Catholics
Shadow Minister for Environment's 2012 – 2014 Midterm Report (December 2014)
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, here is my Midterm Report for the past two years. It is of great importance that you know what I have accomplished as the Shadow Minister for Environment.
Since being elected, my party and I have decided to pull the country out of the present dangerous situation it is in. Unlike a PNP Opposition, we wanted to set the bar higher. So we set out to find solutions for the many problems facing the country. These solutions came from Turks and Caicos Islanders and business persons within the community. It was their ideas and opinions that matters to us. So you can say that the PDM engine was running off the opinions and ideas of the people..
National Agenda.
The very first thing I did was to propose a motion for a National Agenda for the country; one that would cover all the problematic areas and national issues, through a national symposium. Where you, the everyday citizen, professional and NGO, could share in the discussions and find a unified way forward, by providing a forum that encouraged optimum participation in discussing and building consensus on a recommended prioritized agenda for a period of 25 to 30 years. This would have included many think tank sessions and presentations, in the areas of strategic planning, immigration, public health, economic diversification, crime fighting measures, crown land policy, utilities and national resources, large infrastructure development, population policy and constitutional review. This is very important to the planning of sustainable future growth of the country, setting ethical standards and lifting the quality of living for all our people here in these BLUE-TIFUL isles of ours. This was meant to break the circle of the political merry go round, setting the pace, blazing new trails and championing new challenges .But because the National Agenda was never adopted or implemented , even though it passed through the House of Assembly with 99% of the votes, it was still pushed aside, and so I pressed on.
Reserved Category of Business Licenses
This motion was brought to the House to change the word BELONGER, to stay in line with the constitutional order of 2011 and to add additional category of reserved businesses to the schedule. This motion also sought to provide protection for Turks and Caicos Islanders who are in joint venture businesses with a foreign partner, that the Turks and Caicos Islander will always maintain the majority share. If their shares are sold or change hand, it could only be done with another Turks and Caicos Islander. Some of the proposed new additions to the schedule were renewable green energies, water sports and fishing tours, horseback riding, etc. This motion also passed by the House of Assembly but died a terrible death with the acceptance of the EU 15 million dollars grant, which ask for the relaxation of our immigration and business license ordinances. The new immigration bill came out of this agreement and next year the business license ordinance will suffer the same faith.
LOBSTER AND CONCH REPRODUCTION PROGRAMS (FIP- fisheries improvement programs)
This motion was also out of concern by local fishermen and international agencies. Like its predecessors, it also successfully passed in the House of Assembly, but failed to make the priority list of this PNP government.
The problems within this industry is (a)Over fishing (b) destruction of habitats and (c) the illegal poaching
of Dominican fishermen. These activities are threatening the sustainability of our fishing industry.
This industry needs our attention to protect, replenish and preserve through proper management for the future generations.
SUSPENSION OF PELAGIC FISHING STUDY THROUGH LONG LINE
METHOD
Turks and Caicos on the 6th Feb. 2014, a motion was put to the House of Assembly to suspend the pelagic fishing through long line method. Where as these islands' main industry is tourism, pelagic fish specie is one of the economic pillows of the tourism industry in the form of sport fishing. This operation had a negative impact on the country, government and the people.
1-This so called study was being done by a commercial fishing company for profits.
2-The export duty on marine products was repealed to accommodate this so called study.
3-Relevant data was already on record for all pelagic fish species from 10 years ago.
4-The operation was raising concerns with neighboring countries.
In this situation, the government did HALT the fishing activity through long line method, but green stick and buoy method are still allowed, only to be threatened by Day Boat Seafood Ltd. And Caicos Pride Seafood, in
legal battle.
BIOMETRICS AND SURVEILLANCE LAWS
Turks and Caicos, in this day and age I can’t think of any government that doesn't want to have a better rate of detection and arrest of criminals. But it looks like this government does not care about the rising crime statistics; they are not serious about fighting crime - in fact they seem to embrace it. Their party and crime go hand and hand. I did not say that, the facts show that. But Turks and Caicos, this motion too passed in the Honorable House of Assembly. What is the government doing about it, especially in these times when the crime rate is up? Absolutely not one iota.
Ladies and gentlemen, using biometric on a national scale in conjunction with surveillance will be a very effective tool in fighting crime. Biometric is the science and technology of measuring and statistically analyzing biological data to verify personal identity. Finger printing, iris scanning, DNA screening, voice scanning, facial recognition, and blood type will be a great addition to the police ANPR and PACE that the police already have.
During these past two years, there were many many questions asked to all the government ministers - from low cost homes and land to NHIP, Border control to the use of the Mouchoir Bank, NIB contributions to
agriculture, renewable energy to British expenditure on border control, etc.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
After a long fight with the government over Snake Hill Road repairs, the Hill was finally repaired. But the rest of the subdivision road is still in bad shape. This is the proposed area for the alternate road out of Blue
Hills into the Airport and Kewtown Road. There were a number of clean up campaigns in the Blue Hills area with many more planned for the future. But there must be a better waste management program implemented and the enforcement of the law on littering. There was also temporary repairs to the jetty or Blue Hills dock.
Looking back at the last two years , I take pride in the moments when I helped some unemployed persons to get a job.
I take pride in repealing VAT.
I take pride in pushing back the payroll tax.
I take pride in the immigration bill that and is at a stand still.
Turks and Caicos, your loyal Opposition is on the job and constantly on guard.