Dallas Cowboys Ranks as Most Valuable Team in NFL
What's the most valuable team in the NFL? The Dallas Cowboys.
Forbes recently released its annual valuation of NFL teams and the Dallas Cowboys, owned by Jerry Jones, came in at a worth of $4 billion, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.
ESPN's Darren Rovell reports that Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989 for $140 million dollars and the value of the team has since risen 1,382 percent.
Other NFL teams ranked in the top five are the New England Patriots at $3.2 billion, the Washington Redskins at $2.85 billion, the New York Giants at $2.8 billion and the San Francisco 49ers at $2.7 billion.
Source-ABC
Justin Timberlake to Star in Animated Movie, Trolls
Justin Timberlake has appeared in a number of movies, but he's about to take on his first lead role in an animated film.
JT will star opposite Anna Kendrick in Trolls, a musical comedy from DreamWorks Animation inspired by those popular Scandinavian troll dolls with the brightly-colored hair that sticks straight up. Justin will play Branch, a troll who's a "hardcore survivalist." Kendrick will play Princess Poppy, and the two will team up for what's described as a "hair-raising adventure" -- get it? The movie hits theaters November 4 of next year.
Troll dolls became a craze in the sixties after being created by a Danish fisherman and woodcutter who couldn't afford to buy a Christmas present for his daughter.
Justin's movie credits include The Social Network, Runner Runner and Inside Llewyn Davi
POLICE WARN AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) is again appealing to members of the Turks & Caicos Islands to be more responsible while online.
Public Relation’s Officer, Audley Astwood, noted that Social Media is a great way to keep the TCI public informed of incidents in our country and thus is a powerful tool, not to be abused.
Astwood reminds the public that posting of erroneous and incorrect reports on social media sites have impacted victims in a very negative way. Posting libelous information can also lead to persons being sued for defamation of character.
Astwood said the Police are not identifying any particular case, but said that social media sites such as Facebook and the popular “What’s App” messenger platform were bombarded recently with various stories which were unfounded. Police are also reminding the public that inaccurate and unsubstantiated information increases the pain and suffering of victims.
“Police are pleading for more responsible behavior and noted that members of the public should always seek information from trusted news agencies only, to avoid causing unnecessary stress to those affected or who may be affected by a crime. Please post online responsibly,” said Astwood.
Rolls-Royce mulls electric car as new regulations dawn
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars may develop an electric vehicle as tighter regulation on auto emissions pushes even the most elite auto manufacturers to look into battery- powered cars.
"Suppose we find a battery technology that can offer ranges that are acceptable to our customers," Torsten Muller-Otvos, head of the BMW AG unit, said in an interview at the Frankfurt International Auto Show. In that case, "I can definitely imagine a fully electric Rolls-Royce."
After previously doubting the viability of electric technology for its cars, Rolls-Royce's new stance reflects increasing pressure on automakers to offer emission-free driving, as cities move to rein in pollution.
So far consumers' response to EVs has been tepid because of limited driving ranges and patchy availability of recharging stations.
Porsche is also moving in that direction. The Volkswagen AG unit unveiled a four-seat sports car at the Frankfurt car show that accelerates faster than its 911 model and charges in just 15 minutes.
With the car, which may go on sale in five years, Porsche is joining sister unit Audi in showcasing a shift into battery-powered vehicles by traditional horsepower-driven brands.
Rolls-Royce hasn't made a final decision on producing an electric car or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and there's no firm time frame for the move, Muller-Otvos said.
Source-Auto news
Political, religious groups condemn racist attacks against Rowley, PNM
Political and religious leaders yesterday condemned what they termed racial comments posted on the social media after the People’s National Movement (PNM) came to power following the September 7 general election.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has already told reporters that he had not seen the comments, but added that he had more important things to discuss, including the delivery of a national budget before monthend.
Former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the comments posted on the Facebook page of the United National Congress (UNC) were not authorised, would never be authorised nor condoned by her party.
“I haven’t seen these posts but I can say that they would never be authorised by the party,” Persad Bissessar said. The comments range from congratulations to the PNM to threats to harm Rowley whom they described as a monkey.
Leader of the Congress of the People (COP) and former legal affairs minister Prakash Ramadhar noted that some people on both sides of the political divide have been issuing messages which were not in the best interest of the country.
“This is not acceptable in a truly democratic and united society that is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. We cannot allow any space, whether by individuals or groups, for such divisive and hateful messages to be spread in our national conversation and thinking, whether it is fuelled by sentiments based on winning or losing in our elections,” he said.
“While we should seek to understand why things turned out as they have, we cannot let it stand in the way of our common future,” Ramadhar said, adding that regardless of who is in power, the country must not allow the bitterness that is evident among a few to infect the youth and future generations.
“Let us all work together to put an end to this,” he said. Imam Mirza Ali-Mohammed of the Islamic Da’wah Movement, speaking on television, said it was “frightening” that after so many years of education and awareness, racism seems to have got worse.
“It is frightening, especially for our young people. The examples being set by these adults who are involved in these things, it really is scary,” he added.
Seventh-Day Adventist Pastor Clive Dottin said he agreed with chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Norbert Masson, who described the campaigning as the most vile and vitriolic he has ever seen.
“We are as polarised as we have ever been. We are mis-mentoring the young people. We are misguiding them and setting a horrible example,” he said, urging religious leaders to set “the right example and who are also fuelling a certain kind of hatred in the society”.
Source-CMC
DIGICEL & NBA COACHES GETS KIDS TRAINED IN PROVO
The National Basketball Association the NBA have joined in partnership with Digicel to launch the Jumpstart Basketball Clinics in the Caribbean.
The Turks & Caicos are one of six countries selected to host the clinic, which started on Sunday Sept. 13th and will conclude on the 15th at the Graceway Sports Centre in Providenciales.
The Digicel NBA Clinics is offering 42 aspiring young basketball players an opportunity to train under the tutelage of official NBA coaches as well as developing coaching for 15 local coaches.
Head of the (PABA league) and head of the Rising Stars Basketball Club, Sydwell Glasgow and Mervin Forbes said that they applauded Digicel and the NBA for such a “much needed” initiative where local coaches and players can benefit from NBA style training.
Digicel expressed that “this is a tremendous opportunity for young TCIslanders to jumpstart their NBA dreams and one day careers.
Mayweather calls himself best ever
It was in the 11th round that it happened: Floyd Mayweather so brilliantly bamboozled Andre Berto that it was possible to buy into his claim of being "TBE" -- The Best Ever.
Certainly dozens in the crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday thought so, chanting "TBE! TBE!" as Mayweather earned a unanimous decision over the limited Berto.
The widely expected victory gave the American, 38, a perfect 49-0 record to equal the feat of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano.
Mayweather said before the bout that he had achieved all he could from the fight game, and Berto was to be his final victim -- and he repeated that assertion afterwards.
"I've been in the sport 19 years and I don't know anybody who's been in the sport and made upwards of $800 million," he said, handing more ammunition to critics who say Mayweather has been the best ever only in terms of knowing how to make more money from boxing than anyone else in history.
Colorful boxing promoter Don King has seen many of boxing's legends up close, having arranged some of the biggest bouts in the sport's history, including the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Ali and George Foreman.
Mayweather will be remembered as "one of the greatest fighters that ever lived", the famously wild-haired King told reporters on the eve of the Berto showdown.
Source-AFP
Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer in final
World number one Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in four dramatic sets to win his second US Open and 10th Grand Slam title.
The Serb won 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in New York and will end the year with three of the four tennis majors.
Djokovic, 28, kept his nerve in front of a heavily pro-Federer crowd at Flushing Meadows.
The 34-year-old Swiss had been hoping to win his 18th major title and his first for three years.
"It's been an incredible season, next to 2011 the best of my life," said Djokovic, who also won three Grand Slam titles four years ago.
"I'm enjoying this year more than I did any previous one because I'm a husband and a father, and that makes it sweeter."
Five-time champion Federer was playing his first US Open final since 2009, and drew one of the loudest cheers of the night when he told the crowd: "I'll see you guys next year."
The Swiss said it was "always tough" facing Djokovic, adding: "I think we both walk away from it knowing more about our games and more about each other.
Source-BBC
Google Car to be rev up by Auto veteran
Google announced Monday it hired auto industry veteran John Krafcik to head up its self-driving car project, as it eyes expanded road tests for autonomous vehicles.
Krafcik, most recently a top executive at consumer auto shopping service TrueCar, said the project "is a great opportunity to help Google develop the enormous potential of self-driving cars."
"This technology can save thousands of lives, give millions of people greater mobility and free us from a lot of the things we find frustrating about driving today," he said.
Krafcik previously spent 10 years at Hyundai Motor America, including five as president and chief executive of the US arm of the South Korean auto giant.
He also worked at Ford Motor Company and was an engineer at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., the former joint-venture plant operated by Toyota and General Motors.
Google said Krafcik would join the company as CEO of the self-driving car project later this month and that his experience "will be particularly valuable as we collaborate with many different partners to achieve our goal of transforming mobility for millions of people."
"Over the last few years, we've made more progress with our self-driving car technology than we ever thought possible," Google said in a statement.
"We still have a lot to learn about how people perceive our vehicles and how they'll want to fit this technology into their lives and their communities -- and that's why our vehicles are currently self-driving (some) 10,000 miles a week in Mountain View and Austin, and why we'd like to run pilot programs with our prototypes at some point."
The self-driving car project is part of the Google X-Lab working on future technologies, but the Google statement said "it's certainly a good candidate" to become an independent entity under Alphabet, the holding company that is being created as Google carves out separate units for its Internet search giant and its various other technology efforts.
Source-AFP
Campaign Leader Call for a ban on Robots designed as Sex toys
A campaign has been launched calling for a ban on the development of robots that can be used for sex.
Such a use of the technology is unnecessary and undesirable, said campaign leader Dr Kathleen Richardson.
Sex dolls already on the market are becoming more sophisticated and some are now hoping to build artificial intelligence into their products.
Those working in the field say that there is a need for such robots.
Dr Richardson, a robot ethicist at De Montfort University in Leicester, wants to raise awareness of the issue and persuade those developing sex robots to rethink how their technology is used.
"Sex robots seem to be a growing focus in the robotics industry and the models that they draw on - how they will look, what roles they would play - are very disturbing indeed," she told the BBC.
She believes that they reinforce traditional stereotypes of women and the view that a relationship need be nothing more than physical.
"We think that the creation of such robots will contribute to detrimental relationships between men and women, adults and children, men and men and women and women," she said.
Abyss Creations, which sells male and female sex toys, is now starting to introduce electronics into its creations.
Meanwhile True Companion boasts that it is developing "the world's first sex robot" and promises to launch its first doll, Roxxxy, later this year.
Chief executive Douglas Hines believes there is a real need for products such as Roxxxy.
"We are not supplanting the wife or trying to replace a girlfriend. This is a solution for people who are between relationships or someone who has lost a spouse.
"People can find happiness and fulfilment other than via human interaction," he added.
He told the BBC that he hopes Roxxxy will eventually become a self-learning engine that is able to talk to her owner and learn his likes or dislikes.
"The physical act of sex will only be a small part of the time you spend with a sex robot - the majority of time will be spent socialising and interacting," he said.
Some experts are sceptical about the claims made for Roxxxy, given the huge complexity of creating intelligent machines but the first version - which will sell for $7,000 (£4,530) - has had thousands of pre-orders, according to Mr Hines.
Dr Kevin Curran, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, believes such products are about to become mass market.
"We would be naive to ignore market forces for 'intimate robots'. Building human-like robots is quite easy once the mechanics are taken care of," he told the BBC.
"Turning these robots into attractive companions is simply adding a 'skin'. Not difficult at all and not done much to date as most robots are built in research-led institutions - not businesses. That time is coming to an end," he said.
However, he thinks a public backlash is inevitable.
"There have been campaign groups actively voicing opposition to killer robots but I foresee the time soon when humans are lobbying against robot companions or at least shouting 'not in my backyard'," he said.
As such robots become more sophisticated and are able to simulate human behaviour, so the relationship with humans will become more complex, he thinks.
Dr Curran worries that society as a whole is ill-prepared for an age where sophisticated robotic companions are the norm.
Source-BBC