Disneylanders, who’ve at all times dreamed of staying from the primary follow -up within the incredible family mansion within the incredibles family mansion, will soon have the possibility to spend the night in a Hotel Suite developed by Edna Modus with spy devices and secret entrances.

The Grand California Hotel in Disney to refresh everyone over 1,000 rooms

The Incredibles Suite will contain a design from the center of the century that recognizes the Parr family Mansion in Pixar's animated film “Incredibles 2”.

In the film, the Cliffside men's house of the Parrs contained striking windows, inner rock formations and an infinity pool in addition to complex surveillance systems, hidden inputs and handheld remote control features.

Winston Deavor, CEO von Devtech, who awarded the Parrs within the film his Spy-Fi-Herrenhaus, will design the brand new Pixar Place Hotel Suite as an ideal short vacation for the superhero family.

See Inside Disneylands $ 6,000 per night two -story DVC Grand Villa Suite

In the 2 bedroom suite of the hotel, a essential sleeping room for the Parr parents is supplied. Incredible and Elastigirl. The second room is designed by the Super Suit designer Edna mode.

The spy fi-outcut Hotel Suite features a secret door, a hand scanning input, a spy phone, hidden news, computer graphics and other superhero-inspired details.

The Incredibles Film Franchise recognizes superhero comics and espionage TV shows equivalent to “Mission: Impossible”, “The Man From Uncle” and “Smart”, which were often full of Spy Fi devices.

Is the brand new Pixar Place Hotel price 500 US dollars per night in Disneyland?

Concept Art of the Incredibles Suite shows a television news program with Mr. Incredible's Incredibile Super Car with a jet turbine, a danger finder and dodging.

A scale model from Elastigirls Elasticycle motorcycle sits on a shelf above the tv. A red Incredibles hotline telephone rests on a close-by shelf.

The Pixar Place Hotel can even add a Coco Premium Suite this summer inspired by the Rivera Family Hacienda of the animated film. The Coco Suite will contain architecture within the Oaxacan style, handmade wood furniture, hand-painted art and rivera family photos.

Disneyland has not yet announced prices for the 2 latest premium suites within the Pixar Place Hotel.

The room prices for the incredible and Coco suites are prone to correspond to the prevailing signature suites of the hotel with as much as $ 4,000 per night, so Mouse planet.

Originally published: February 14, 2025 at 4:47 a.m. PST

Even as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are reportedly checking out the small print of their divorce, the previous supercouple seems determined to take care of an amicable relationship and met last weekend to exchange Christmas presents for themselves and their children.

And Affleck has been fascinated with his gift for Lopez, Page Six reported. The gift was nothing extravagant or intimate—not one other multimillion-dollar piece of bijou. Instead, it was something that might be meaningful to the megastar entertainer and even revealed a private obsession for her, based on Page Six.

The 52-year-old actor and director arrived on the members-only Soho House club in West Hollywood on Sunday carrying a black bag containing the gift – “a signed Marlon Brando book.” That's what sources who spoke to Page Six say, including the owner of Mystery Pier books, the famous bookstore in West Hollywood, where Affleck did some Christmas shopping.

“Ben gave Jennifer the book (Marlon Brando) because she is a fan, and her Super Bowl body was inspired by Marlon Brando,” a source told Page Six.

The source didn't name the “Marlon Brando book,” however the legendary star of “The Godfather” and “The Last Tango in Paris” published an autobiography called “Songs My Mother” in 1994, ten years before his death Taught Me.” in 2004 on the age of 80.

Like any writer, Brando signed copies of his book, at the least one in all which could have ended up at Mystery Pier Books. The internationally renowned Sunset Boulevard store is understood for its celebrity clientele and for exclusively selling “first edition and first condition” copies of collectible literature, including books signed by authors.

Meanwhile, Lopez's “Super Bowl body” likely refers back to the sexy, studded black leather bodysuit she wore to her performance on the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020. It feels like the bodysuit was inspired by Brando's iconic outlaw biker look within the 1953 film The Wild One.

Starting in 1951, Brando became Hollywood's hottest and best-known young actor, starring in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On the Waterfront” and “The Wild One.” Subsequent generations of stars, from Al Pacino to Johnny Depp, have cited Brando as inspiration for his or her approach to acting in film.

It now appears that Brando was also an inspiration for Lopez, and Affleck thought Lopez would really like a book in regards to the two-time Oscar winner.

Signed copies of Brando's autobiography can sell for $600 or more on eBay. Of course, several hundred dollars wouldn't be considered extravagant within the Affleck-Lopez playbook.

Affleck reportedly spent greater than $7 million on two diamond engagement rings that he gave Lopez over the course of their two-decade love story.

They first made headlines as a pair in 2001 and got engaged before a significant, high-profile split in 2004. After the 2 rekindled their romance 17 years later, their love story reached its climax with their marriage in 2022. They first married by eloping in Las Vegas in July 2022, then married again in August 2022 in a lavish ceremony on the grounds of Affleck's Georgia estate.

But things went downhill from there, based on several reports. The couple separated in April 2024 and Lopez filed for divorce on the second anniversary of their reception in Georgia. Still, they’ve reportedly vowed to stay friendly, if just for the sake of their five children together.

Lopez shares 16-year-old twins Max and Emme together with her third ex-husband Marc Anthony. Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner are the parents of Violet (19), Seraphina (15) and Samuel (12). As Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance, their children grew closer.

Page Six reported last week that the separated spouses need to remain “connected” during their divorce, though they seem to have celebrated the vacations individually. On Christmas Day, Lopez posted photos as she enjoys the vacations in Aspen with Emme and her sister Lynda Lopez.

“They have every intention of continuing to be involved in each other’s lives even if they don’t have a romantic relationship,” a source told Page Six. “Ben and Jennifer are still connected and they communicate when it comes to their children.”

The ex-partners even have “a mutual respect” for one another that “doesn’t go away overnight,” the source continued.

The California ground squirrel appears to be innocent. A well-known sight for hikers: the stocky rodent can often be seen happily chewing grass, seeds and berries.

But in keeping with a brand new study published Wednesday within the Journal of EthologyWildlife biologists have documented one ferocious trait of the creature: It is a dedicated carnivore, hunting and feeding on unlucky little voles.

Like a rodent version of the notoriously violent 1969 film “The Wild Bunch,” extensive video footage shot near Contra Costa County Briones Regional Park provides repeated evidence of the ferocity of squirrels.

Squirrels chase the voles, then catch them and beat them until they grow to be a bloody pulp. Like cats, the squirrels sometimes allow the mortally wounded animal to limp away. Then they pounce again. As the vole writhes and clings to life, it bites.

Ground squirrels are known to exist in California is not going to hand over an easy meat meal. Previous investigations found evidence of eaten voles in addition to quail eggs, insects and shellfish.

But the brand new study, conducted by scientists on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UC Davis, is the primary to record widespread predatory behavior.

“That was shocking,” said the lead writer Jennifer E Smithan associate professor of biology at UW-Eau Claire who co Sonja Wild from UC Davis leads the Long-term project on the behavioral ecology of the California ground squirrel.

“Here is this behavior unprecedented in science that sheds light on the fact that there is so much more to learn about the natural history of the world around us,” she said.

With its rolling, grassy hills and secluded, shady ravines, Briones is a paradise for ground squirrels.

According to Smith, squirrels are quite a few and diverse, and are fascinating because they’ve a bigger and way more complex social structure than other squirrel species.

The behavior of two distinct gopher populations is the main target of research by faculty and students at UC Davis, Wisconsin and other institutions.

Under the name “Team Squirrel,” the researchers track specific animals 12 months after 12 months and collect extensive data concerning the social and biological history of many individual creatures over the course of their lives.

They analyze recordings of alarm calls. They study squirrel feces to learn more about gut health. You will witness exciting clashes between rattlesnakes and squirrels.

In 2024 something unusual happened. There has been an unusual explosion in vole abundance in parts of California.

Voles are defenseless bundles of fur, small and chubby, with short round ears, a round head, and restless energy. They are engineers and dig burrows that transform soil and transport seeds. They are lively day and night and are driven by an infinite appetite and a continuing must feed their offspring. Voles can produce as much as six or seven broods per 12 months.

The researchers learned that scurrying across a meadow in broad daylight was dangerous for voles.

Through videos, photos and direct observations within the regional park, they documented ground squirrels hunting, eating and competing for vole prey between June 10 and July 30. Squirrels' carnivorous summer behavior peaked in the primary two weeks of July, coinciding with an explosion in vole numbers within the park reported by citizen scientists on iNaturalist, a free app that users have used to record hundreds of thousands of observations of untamed animals and plants.

The squirrels seemed bored with hunting other small mammals.

When I watched the video, “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Wild said. “From then on we saw this behavior almost every day. Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere.”

The study changes our understanding of ground squirrels – suggesting that what was considered a grain-eating species is definitely an opportunistic omnivore, researchers say.

Many other species, including raccoons, coyotes and humans, are known to be flexible of their weight loss plan and behavior.

The recent study shows that the California ground squirrel can even reply to a rise in prey availability, in keeping with the study.

“The fact that California ground squirrels are behaviorally flexible and can respond to changes in food availability could help them survive in environments that are rapidly changing due to the presence of humans,” Wild said.

Other questions remain unanswered. For example, it just isn’t known whether hunting behavior is widespread, whether it’s passed from parent to pup, and the way it affects the general ecology of the natural landscape.

Researchers plan to return to Briones next summer to see what impact, if any, this 12 months's vole weight loss plan had on squirrel numbers.

By then, nonetheless, the squirrels could have grow to be another person's dinner. Hungry snakes, weasels, hawks and eagles rely on them for food.

Ground squirrels are predators. But like voles, also they are prey animals.

Looking for some fun and comfortable entertainment this long holiday weekend? Here are some fun options to look at at home.

Here is our summary.

“Senna”: The addictive six-part Netflix series in regards to the late Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna is coming along, driven by a star turn from lead actor Gabriel Leone. Not only is he an actual eye-catcher for the three-time Formula 1 sensation, but he also conveys the total charisma of a principled competitive athlete and revered hero. It's a heartbreaking performance. Showrunner Vicente Amorim describes what made Senna – who tragically died in an accident in Italy on the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 on the age of 34 – an icon who inspired children and teenagers alike. He also highlights the racism and snobbery Senna faced as he grew from a rowdy go-kart racer to a celebrated Formula One star. The racing scenes are frightening and nerve-wracking, as are the sooner go-kart sequences. The same goes for his deep connection along with his supportive parents (Marco Rica and Susana Ribeiro) in addition to his rivalry with racing driver Alain Prost (Matt Mella). However, “Senna” does less well when it chronicles his amorous affairs, including with the Brazilian television presenter Xuxa (Pâmela Tomé), which seems superficial and never very revealing. Another milestone along the way in which is the fictional creation of a journalist (Kayla Scodelario), which appears many times and serves as a narrative shorthand for Senna's sports profession and the way in which the media has portrayed him. Fortunately, Leone's magnetic performance makes up for a lot of these concerns and brings the series satisfactorily over the finish line. Details: 3 out of 4 stars; can be released on Netflix on November twenty ninth.

“Our little secret”: After a botched try and boost the vacations with the tame stripper-themed “The Merry Gentlemen,” Netflix returns the favor with “Our Little Secret,” a lovers-to-friends-to-lovers Christmas wizard starring Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding and the all the time welcome Kristin Chenoweth.

Director Stephen Herek's cheeky story sticks to the seasonal entertainment formula, but additionally sprinkles in a touch of humor and elicits exuberant performances from the entire forged. In it, embittered former lovebirds meet at a family Christmas gathering and – because of extenuating circumstances – resolve to act like strangers. Of course, a series of mishaps ensue, including an accidental ingestion of THC gummies, which results in a stoned recitation of a Kool and the Gang song at the kids's mass, which results in a romantic resolution. I never saw that coming, did I? The screenplay by Hailey DeDominics and brisk direction by Herek (“Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure”) make “Our Little Secret” one among the higher holiday treats to drop from the chimney this yr.

Details: 3 stars; now available on Netflix.

“Banned”: If packing up the children to look at Moana just isn't working this weekend, director Vicky Jenson's animated fantasy is a welcome alternative and is certain to entertain everyone within the family. The “Shrek” director's latest film draws heavily on an ancient fantasy tale – the dreaded curse – and leaves a 15-year-old princess (voiced by Rachel Zegler) to banish a spell that has transformed her parents (Javier). Bardem and Nicole Kidman) in Monster. And she must finish the job quickly before she is crowned ruler of Lumbria. However, what looks like a memorized story takes an enormous dramatic, emotional turn that’s refreshing and unique. West Side Story's Zegler utilizes her amazing vocal range in a playbook of quality songs from Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. The characters she explores are colourful and silly, including two hilarious oracles (Tituss Burgess and Nathan Lane), and the animation is a feast for the eyes. Great for watching after a Thanksgiving feast. Details: Details: 3 stars; Now available on Netflix.

“Nutcracker”: A self-centered city workaholic (Ben Stiller) who owns a flashy yellow sports automotive inherits unexpected chaos when his estranged sister and her husband are killed and their 4 boys are orphaned. With an urgent deadline looming in Chicago, Mike (Stiller) desires to unload all of his uncle's duties as quickly as possible, but he realizes it won't occur overnight when he visits their chaotic home, a working farm in Iowa where there may be a… There are snakes in the bathroom and pigs running around. A social employee (Linda Cardellini, given far too little to do) tries to assist uptight Mike find foster care options, but the method never works. David Gordon Green's amusing time-waster never warms the guts as much because it should, nevertheless it's still an undemanding film that advantages from the presence of Stiller and Cardellini. Details: 2½ stars; arrives November twenty ninth on Hulu.

“Pimpinero: Blood and Oil”: Andrés Baiz's suspenseful drama is stuffed with surprises, including a hairpin turn within the narrative towards the center of the film. Set on a turbulent stretch of the Colombia-Venezuela border in 2010, the charming eye-opener revolves around gas smugglers and all the time feels real and raw. It also creates a convincing love story about two individuals who find themselves in desperate times: Juan (Alejandro Speitzer), the youngest brother of a gas smuggling clan, and Diana (Laura Osma). It also gives us a villain to hate in the shape of the power-mad Don Carmelo (David Noreña), who resorts to heinous acts to line his pockets. Pimpinero: Blood and Oil had me captivated throughout, and that's partly because of Mateo Londono's stirring cinematography. Details: 3 stars; Now available on Amazon Prime.

“Rita”: Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante's adult fairy tale shows the outrage at how girls and teenagers in Guatemala are exploited by men who’re rarely delivered to justice. It's a difficult subject, but Bustamante tells it fantastically with a narrative paying homage to the early works of Guillermo del Toro. The supernatural-infused drama is ready in a rotten orphanage where 13-year-old Rita (Giuliana Santa Cruz, handling sophisticated material with the insight of a much older person) has just arrived after being admitted to the hospital. Once inside, she is beaten up by other girls, but later becomes a part of the “Angels” group, girls who adorn themselves with wings and search for a technique to escape the dark place. It's twisted and offended and deserves to be Guatemala's selection for next yr's Oscars. “Rita” serves as each a damning indictment of a corrupt system and a showcase for a fearless filmmaker who continues to open the world’s eyes to the injustices being perpetrated. Details: 3½ stars; Available now on Shudder.

Originally published: November 27, 2024 at 11:00 am PST

As you scroll through your social media feed or let your favorite music app put together the proper playlist, you could feel like artificial intelligence is improving your life – learning your preferences and meeting your needs. But behind this practical façade lurks a growing concern: algorithmic harm.

These damages will not be obvious or immediate. They are insidious and construct over time as AI systems silently make decisions about your life without you even realizing it. The hidden power of those systems is becoming ever greater a major threat on privacy, equality, autonomy and security.

AI systems are embedded in almost every aspect of contemporary life. They suggest which shows and movies you need to watchHelp employers resolve who they wish to hireand even influence judges resolve who’s eligible for punishment. But what happens when these systems, often viewed as neutral, start making decisions that drawback certain groups or, worse, cause harm in the actual world?

The often ignored consequences of AI applications require regulatory frameworks that may keep pace with this rapidly evolving technology. I Study the intersection between law and technologyand I sketched it a legal framework to do exactly that.

Slow burns

One of essentially the most striking facets of algorithmic harm is that its cumulative effects often fly under the radar. These systems typically do in a roundabout way attack your privacy or autonomy in ways which can be easily apparent to you. They collect massive amounts of information about people – often without their knowledge – and use that data to make decisions that impact people's lives.

Sometimes this causes minor inconveniences, resembling advertisements following you across web sites. However, because AI doesn’t reply to this recurring harm, it will probably escalate and cause significant cumulative harm to different groups of individuals.

Consider the instance of social media algorithms. They are supposedly designed to advertise useful social interactions. However, behind their seemingly helpful facade, they silently track users' clicks and clicks Create profiles of their political opinions, skilled affiliations, and private lives. The data collected is Used in systems that make consequential decisions – whether you will likely be identified as a screaming pedestrian, considered for a job, or considered liable to committing suicide.

Worse, their addictive design traps teenagers in cycles of overuse, resulting in increasing mental health crises resembling anxiety, depression and self-harm. By the time you realize the total extent, it's too late – your privacy has been violated, your opportunities have been compromised by biased algorithms, and the security of essentially the most vulnerable has been undermined – all without your knowledge.

That's what I call “intangible, cumulative damage“: AI systems operate within the background, but their effects could be devastating and invisible.

Why regulation is lagging behind

Despite these growing threats, legal frameworks worldwide are struggling to maintain pace. In the United States, a regulatory approach with an emphasis on innovation has made it difficult to ascertain strict standards for the usage of these systems in numerous contexts.

Courts and supervisory authorities are used to coping with concrete damageresembling physical injuries or economic losses, but algorithmic harms are sometimes more subtle, cumulative and difficult to detect. Regulations often don’t take into consideration the broader impacts that AI systems can have over time.

For example, social media algorithms can regularly affect users' mental health. However, because these damages construct up slowly, it’s difficult to combat them inside the applicable legal standards.

Four forms of algorithmic harm

Based on existing AI and data governance research, I divided algorithmic harms into categories 4 areas of law: privacy, autonomy, equality and security. Each of those areas is vulnerable to the subtle but often uncontrolled power of AI systems.

The first form of harm is erosion of privacy. AI systems collect, process and transmit massive amounts of information, undermining people's privacy in ways in which is probably not immediately obvious but have long-term implications. For example, Facial recognition systems can track people in private and non-private spaces, effectively making mass surveillance the norm.

The second form of harm is the undermining of autonomy. AI systems often subtly undermine your ability to make autonomous decisions by manipulating the knowledge displayed. Social media platforms use algorithms to indicate users content that maximizes the interests of third parties. subtle shaping of opinions, decisions and behavior over tens of millions of users.

The third form of harm is degradation of equality. AI systems are sometimes designed to be neutral inherit the biases present of their data and algorithms. The increases social inequalities over time. One infamous case involved a facial recognition system utilized by retail stores to detect shoplifters Women and folks of color are disproportionately misidentified.

The fourth form of damage is impairment of safety. AI systems make decisions that affect people's safety and well-being. When these systems fail, the results could be catastrophic. But even in the event that they work as designed, they’ll still cause harm, like social media algorithms. cumulative impact on teen mental health.

Because this cumulative damage is commonly attributable to AI applications protected by trade secret lawsVictims don’t have any way of identifying or tracing the damage. This creates an accountability gap. How does the victim know that a biased hiring decision or wrongful arrest is being made based on an algorithm? Without transparency, it is almost inconceivable to carry firms accountable.

Closing the accountability gap

By categorizing the forms of algorithmic harms, the legal boundaries of AI regulation are delineated and possible legal reforms are presented to shut this accountability gap. Changes that I consider would help include mandatory algorithmic impact assessments, which require firms to document and address the immediate and cumulative harms of an AI application to privacy, autonomy, equality and security – before and after its implementation. For example, firms using facial recognition systems would want to evaluate the impact of those systems throughout their lifecycle.

Another helpful change could be stronger individual rights around the usage of AI systems, which might allow people to opt out of harmful practices and require certain AI applications to opt-in. For example, requiring an opt-in regime for data processing by firms that use facial recognition systems and the power for users to opt out at any time.

Finally, I suggest requiring firms to reveal the usage of AI technology and the expected harm. To illustrate, this will include notifying customers in regards to the use of facial recognition systems and the expected harm within the areas described within the typology.

As AI systems turn into more widely utilized in critical societal functions – from healthcare to education to employment – ​​the necessity to control the harm they cause becomes increasingly urgent. Without intervention, these invisible harms are prone to proceed to build up, affecting almost anyone and everybody The most vulnerable are disproportionately affected.

Because generative AI multiplies and exacerbates the harms of AI, I consider it is necessary that policymakers, courts, technology developers, and civil society recognize the legal harms of AI. This requires not only higher laws, but in addition a more thoughtful approach to cutting-edge AI technology – one which sets priorities Civil rights and justice in view of the rapid technical progress.

The way forward for AI is incredibly promising, but without the best legal framework, it could also exacerbate inequality and undermine the very civil liberties it’s designed to strengthen in lots of cases.

Barron Trump has finally announced his college alternative – New York University – by showing up for his first day of classes on campus in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old son of Donald and Melania Trump wore a white polo shirt, Adidas sneakers and a black Swiss Gear backpack slung casually over his shoulder as he entered the dean's office constructing, followed by Secret Service agents. the New York Post reportedSecret Service agents are there to guard him while his father, the previous president, returns to the White House.

The sighting of Trump's 6-foot-tall son ends months of speculation about his college alternative. in line with Daily Beastwhich first reported that NYU was his top alternative. Barron is enrolled in NYU's Stern Undergraduate College.

NYU is ranked thirty fifth within the U.S. News & World Report's rating of best universities and is ranked fifth for its business programs. By selecting NYU, Barron breaks with the Trump family tradition. His father has boasted about his Ivy League education on the University of Pennsylvania, which is ranked sixth within the U.S. News and World Report. His older half-siblings Don Jr., Ivanka and Tiffany also graduated from Penn, while Eric Trump graduated from Georgetown University.

But NYU has the advantage of being Barron's home university. NYU is down the road – Fifth Avenue – from the town where Barron spent his childhood, raised by his mother in his father's gilded penthouse in Trump Tower. However, it was not clear Wednesday whether Barron will survive campus or together with his mother in Trump Tower.

The undeniable fact that Melania Trump was spotted arriving at Trump Tower last week fueled speculation that Barron can be studying in New York City. Trump World sources have explained her absence from her husband's campaign partly by saying that she sees herself as a “hands-on” mother whose top priority is her son, as Page Six previously reported. Some people have taken the “hands-on” description to mean that she can be living near the school where he’s studying.

Donald Trump recently told the Daily Mail that although the family considered other colleges, Barron ultimately liked NYU the very best.

“It's a very high-quality place. He liked it. He liked the school,” Trump told the Daily Mail. “I went to Wharton, and that was definitely a school we considered. We didn't do that… We chose Stern.”

“He's a very gifted child, but he's not a child anymore. He's just moved on from being a child to something.”

It is all the time a pleasure to go to the town center San Jose Fire Museumbut being at retired fire Chief Sam Seibert's party was truly special.

Seibert turned 105 on Monday and was the guest of honor at a celebration on the Market Street firehouse-turned-museum on Tuesday. He sat on a throne, was serenaded by retired firefighter Jim True and blew out the three candles on his chocolate birthday cake. (Had it been 105, that might need set off some alarms.)

Seibert acknowledged that few people have reached his age and lived nearly as good a life as he has, particularly his work as a firefighter and his involvement within the founding of the San Jose Fire Museum, which incorporates a lot of his donated items and even has a gallery dedicated to him in the doorway hall.

“This fire department is very special to everyone who is in this building,” he said. “Most people have come here because they want to see me die, but I'm not leaving for another week or two,” he joked. “It's a joy to be in this organization.”

John McMillan, one other retired firefighter who’s president of the museum, said, “We are so lucky to have Sam in our lives. He told me and some other friends that his goal was 105. But I expect we can start planning for 110 now.”

Seibert may already be the oldest living firefighter within the United States, as New Jersey native Victor Dransfield died in June on the age of 110.

McMillan said Seibert looks higher than he has in years and attributed that partly to the individuals who deal with him. But a few of Seibert's secrets to longevity were revealed on the party: He recommends not sitting around an excessive amount of and says drinking an excessive amount of water causes pipes to rust. “He drinks beer and soda,” McMillan said, laughing.

I don't think my doctor would agree. But Seibert managed to live greater than twice so long as I did, so you possibly can't really argue with the outcomes.

CHEERS: Philanthropist Al Castellano also had a milestone birthday last weekend: He celebrated his ninetieth birthday and partied with family and friends – including his recent great-granddaughter – on the Saratoga Country Club on Saturday evening.

Castellano is best known for winning the then-record $141 million California Lottery jackpot in 2001, which he and his late wife, Carmen Castellano, become a family foundation that provided tens of millions of dollars in grants to Latino causes within the Bay Area and elsewhere over twenty years.

Looking dapper in a black tuxedo, Castellano talked about his childhood in Hollister, where he met Carmen and raised his three children – Armando Castellano, Maria West and Carmela Castellano-Garcia – within the Cambrian Park neighborhood of San Jose. Mariachi Azteca performed for the gang, but “Happy Birthday” was played by Armando Castellano on French horn and his son – and Al Castellano's grandson – Wim Castellano on guitar.

STAGE PRESENCE: The reading tour of US Representative Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco – undoubtedly probably the most powerful politician in US history – and her autobiography “The Art of Power” brought people to San Jose on Monday and to a full house on the California Theater.

Pelosi spoke for over an hour onstage with Bay Area philanthropist and education advocate Laurene Powell Jobs, discussing her life in politics and her hopes for the longer term. The appearance, sponsored by the Kepler's Literary Foundation, was accompanied by two standing ovations, many outbursts of applause and loud protests in support of Gaza from the balcony, prompting Pelosi to lift her volume to what she called her “mother-of-five” voice.

Attendees also got a glimpse into her personal life, including her passion for chocolate. The former Speaker of the House fueled herself for the event with a dark chocolate milkshake from My Milkshake shop just just a few blocks away.

CURSES: Apparently there weren't enough wards across the Guggenheim family, which operates 3Below cinemas in downtown San Jose, to maintain COVID at bay. Unfortunately, attributable to illness, 3Below needed to cancel all of its “Back to Hogwarts” plans for this weekend, including a Harry Potter party and a 22-hour, eight-movie marathon.

They plan to try again next 12 months, but within the meantime, movies are still playing within the theater – luckily the Guggenheims don't need to be there for movies like they do for events. You can find the schedule at www.3belowtheaters.com.

FUN WEEKEND: This weekend, Tech Interactive is getting really prehistoric with a “T.REX Takeover,” inspired by its latest IMAX educational film, “T.REX,” about three kids who discover a young T. rex. Tyler Lyson, the paleontologist featured within the film, will probably be available for a Q&A on Saturday following the 11 a.m. screening.

Later Saturday, Lyson will probably be joined by fellow paleontologist Nathan Smith for “Dino Fight Night,” a fun talk hosted by writer/illustrator Ted Rechlin on a subject dino fans will love: which dinosaurs would win in a fight? There may even be activities throughout the weekend resembling fossil hunting and making a dino egg bath bomb, together with visits from Azul and Rex, the Tech's dinosaur mascots.

Stomp over to thetech.org/trextakeover for further details and ticket information.

Originally published: August 27, 2024 at 3:28 pm

By Evan Perez, Lauren Fox, Tierney Sneed and Whitney Wild | CNN

According to sources, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned amid security breaches surrounding the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

The move got here as lawmakers and an internal government oversight agency push ahead with investigations into the agency's handling of Trump's protections and the way a gunman nearly killed the 2024 Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania this month.

In Congress, there have been bipartisan calls for her resignation, and Republican lawmakers pushed for her impeachment. The lawmakers were particularly outraged after her performance for public testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, where she was unwilling to reply lots of the committee's questions.

In a Interview with CNN Last week, Cheatle said the agency was “solely responsible” for planning and implementing security measures on the rally site in Pennsylvania, where the now-deceased gunman shot Trump from an unsecured rooftop just a number of hundred yards from the rally stage.

The bullets narrowly missed Trump's head. One participant within the demonstration died and others were injured within the incident.

As more became known in regards to the circumstances of the attempted attack, the Secret Service was questioned about its strategy for shielding Trump that day, including how the Secret Service failed to manage access to the roof of the attack site and the way it handled information provided by local police before the shooting that identified the would-be assassin as someone who was acting suspiciously on the rally site.

The Secret Service and Pennsylvania State Police, who assisted with security efforts through the rally, have differed somewhat of their accounts of what happened and who was liable for the failures.

During her appearance before the House Oversight Committee, Cheatle acknowledged that there have been “significant” and “enormous” security problems on the rally, but rejected calls for her resignation.

“I believe I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time,” Cheatle said.

Cheatle had pledged that her agency would fully cooperate with congressional and internal agency investigations into the Secret Service's actions that day.

Cheatle had left her position as head of worldwide security at PepsiCo to take the position of USSS director and had served within the Secret Service for 27 years before entering the private sector.

This story is brand latest and shall be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
& © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery company. All rights reserved.

Originally published: July 23, 2024 at 7:36 am

The federal judge who’s hearing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump dismissed the case on July 15, 2024.

Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith, who’s leading the prosecution, was improperly appointed to office and didn’t have the authority to bring the case to trial.

Here's how the federal government has used special prosecutors in high-profile investigations over time and the way Cannon's ruling, which Smith said, he’s appealingwould affect ongoing and future cases.

A transient history of independent legal advisers

Ensuring impartiality within the U.S. Department of Justice may be difficult since the attorney general is appointed by and accountable to a partisan president, giving presidents the facility to influence the attorney general to pursue a political agenda.

president Richard Nixon did so through the investigation of the Watergate break-inwhich threatened him with involvement in criminal activities and the top of his presidency.

On the evening of October 20, 1973Nixon ordered the Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fireplace Archibald Coxwhom Richardson had appointed to steer the Watergate investigation. Richardson refused and resigned.

Nixon then ordered the Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus Cox. Ruckelshaus also refused and resigned. Finally, Nixon ordered the Solicitor General Robert Borkthe subsequent highest official within the Justice Department, demanded that Cox be fired. Bork complied.

This dramatic series of events, sometimes called Saturday Night Massacredemonstrated how presidents can exert political influence on federal criminal investigations.

After the Watergate scandal taken under consideration Bill to rework the Justice Department into an independent agency to higher protect it from presidential influence.

This would have been consistent with the unique intentions of lots of the Founding Fathers. But Congress opted for a more modest reform and passed the Ethics in Government Act of 1978which was enacted by President Jimmy Carter and created the Office of Independent Counsel.

This enabled investigations into misconduct, beyond the control of the President The Attorney General could appoint a special panel of three judges to appoint an independent lawyer to conduct the investigation.

The Government Ethics Act In addition, Justice Department employees, including the Attorney General, were barred from participating in any investigation or prosecution that might lead to “a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest, or the appearance of such” for the investigator.

The US Supreme Court has already supported legal counsel

Just a few years later, the Reagan administration argued that independent consultants were unconstitutional. Their reasoning was that the law violated the Appointment clause of Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which states that “Officers of the United States” shall be “appointed by the President,” and “subject to the Advice and Consent of the Senate.”

In 1988The Supreme Court ruled that independent legal advisors are constitutionalsince the Appointments Clause also states that “Congress may delegate the appointment of inferior officers to the President, the Courts, or the heads of departments alone.”

Essentially, the Supreme Court ruled that appointees could possibly be considered either “principals,” who should be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, or “inferior” appointees, who could possibly be appointed by a department head, akin to the Attorney General, or by judges.

The Supreme Court ruled that a “independent legal counsel should be considered as subordinate and not as primary responsible.”

Creation of special advisors

In 1999, the Ethics in Government Act – the one Sunset clause – needed to be renewed.

At that time, each parties and their presidents had been humiliated by previous investigations by independent lawyers. The Republicans were shocked by the Iran-Contra scandalwhile the Democrats were ashamed of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

It was also unclear which party would win the White House within the upcoming 2000 elections, and neither party wanted the opposite to have a bonus in the long run. During this stalemate, each parties decided to easily let the Government Ethics Act expirewhich might end the potential for appointing future independent advisers.

Later that yr, then-Attorney General Janet Reno said authorized the appointment of so-called special investigators who could investigate certain sensitive matters, much like the way in which independent investigators work.

Robert Mueller was a special counsel appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. 2017 to analyze possible Russian interference within the 2016 election and possible links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

John Durham was appointed by Attorney General Bill Barr in 2020 to analyze the origins of the investigation that led to Mueller's appointment.

In 2022 Michael Smith was appointed special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee investigations into former President Donald Trump's role within the January 6 riot and Trump's handling of classified government documents after he left office in 2021.

In 2023, Garland appointed Robert Hur as special counsel to analyze President Joe Biden's handling of classified information after he left office as vice chairman in 2017.

Also in 2023, Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel to analyze Hunter Biden's illegal gun purchases and tax-related issues.

Impact beyond Trump

In early July 2024, the Supreme Court governed that past, current and future presidents enjoy partial immunity from prosecution.

Although the legality of special counsel was not at issue on this case, Judge Clarence Thomas used his consensus to challenge the legality of Smith's appointment. Thomas argued that Congress had not passed a law giving the Attorney General the authority to appoint a special counsel.

Thomas noted that the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 had “expired” and that Congress had not reauthorized the appointment of an independent counsel since then. Thomas subsequently questioned the authority of attorneys general to appoint special counsels.

In its 93-page decision Judge Cannon dismissed the case against Trump, repeating Thomas' argument.

Cannon asked whether there may be “a statute in the United States Criminal Code that would allow the appointment of Special Counsel Smith to conduct this prosecution?”

Then she answered her own query.

“After carefully examining this fundamental question, the answer is no,” she wrote.

Cannon's decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court, and if that happens, the end result could affect greater than just Trump's classified documents case.

According to Cannon’s ruling, all special prosecutors, including those investigating Joe and Hunter Bidenmay be deemed unconstitutional.

Editor's note: This story comprises material from a previous story published on December 14, 2022.