The White House Wants Kids" Science & Technology Ideas, & Here"s How To Get Involved

President Obama COMPLETE REMARKS at 2016 White House Correspondents" Dinner (C-SPAN)

Budding scientists are about to have their ideas heard in the Oval Office. The White House wants kids" science and technology ideas, and children from all over the country are invited to get involved. Students can thank Maryland third-grader Jacob Leggett for inspiring the opportunity, according to CBS Baltimore: while taking part in the sixth White House Science Fair, he asked President Obama whether he"d ever had a "kid science advisor." Though Leggett attended the fair in order to share his 3-D printer creations, his pitch would end up having a national impact.

On Thursday, Obama awarded both National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology and Innovation, USA Today reported. While speaking in the East Room, he also announced his call for ideas from kid scientists. Though adults populate the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Obama wants to hear specifically from children.

Kids can submit science ideas to the White House through an online form. Obama is interested in students" strategies for tackling major problems, from climate change to cancer. He"s also hoping for kids" input on STEM education: how it"s working in schools across the country and how it can be improved. Children can share questions and let the president know what they"re working on in their communities.

Obama is a big believer in the importance of kids" contributions to scientific innovation. The White House shared his thoughts from the 2016 Science Fair:

One of the things I find so inspiring about these young thinkers is that they look at all these seemingly intractable problems as something that we can solve. There is a confidence when you are pursuing science. They don"t consider age a barrier. They don"t think, well, that"s just the way things are. They"re not afraid to try things and ask tough questions.

Since taking office, Obama established a reputation for being a strong supporter of the sciences. He committed to restoring "science to its rightful place" during his first inaugural address, according to MSNBC, and many of his policy decisions reflect that goal. The president reopened pathways to stem cell innovation that the Bush administration closed, advocated for integrity in the realm of research, and worked toward clean energy solutions for the country. During this year"s State of the Union, he announced the National Cancer Moonshot to support and accelerate oncology research, placing Vice President Biden at the helm. But just as Obama is dedicated to creating pathways for professionals to do their work more efficiently and effectively, he also appreciates the importance of raising a strong generation of young innovators to solve the problems of the future. Obama"s commitment to supporting kids in the sciences emerged when he founded the White House Science Fair, MSNBC reported; Obama said:

If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if youre a young person and youve produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House were going to lead by example. Were going to show young people how cool science can be.

Obama isn"t just mobilizing children to pursue careers in science; he"s taking their input now. The White House form invites kids to share what they love most about STEM fields while also asking them to pitch ideas to make the "country work better using science and technology." All submissions are due by Friday, June 17, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The White House reported that there will be more opportunities to contribute going forward, so young scientists can count on their voices being heard.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFOfOuWFOUDBacyaDbP2yz-_et2HQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779111669091&ei=Kt4_V_jvIcjO3QGW4JbIDw&url=https://www.romper.com/p/the-white-house-wants-kids-science-technology-ideas-heres-how-to-get-involved-10977

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Secret Service Shoots Man With Gun Near White House Checkpoint

Larry Wilmore COMPLETE REMARKS at 2016 White House Correspondents" Dinner (C-SPAN)

A man was shot by a Secret Service agent outside the White House grounds after approaching a checkpoint with a gun and refusing commands to drop it, officials said.

Jesse Olivieri, from Ashland Pennsylvania, approached a checkpoint on near 17th and E streets with a gun at around 3:06 p.m. and was shot in the chest, the Secret Service said. No one else was injured.

The shooting prompted a lockdown at the White House and sent heavily-armed officers fanning out across the complex and a sniper scanning the area from the top of the building.

"He was carrying a gun it was a silver gun in clear sight, walked through the fence line," said Larry Samples, who was on E and witnessed the shooting. "They immediately tried to stop him and came up to him," Samples said. "[Authorities] yelled multiple times "stop, stop, stop." He kept ignoring them."

Several law enforcement officials said they believe it may have been an attempt at suicide by cop, and that Olivieri said he wanted to die. "There is no known nexus to terrorism," police and the Secret Service said in a statement.

A Secret Service agent orders people into buildings near the entrance to the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Friday, May 20, 2016, after the White House was placed on security alert after shooting on street outside. Andrew Harnik / AP

D.C. Fire and EMS said Olivieri was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Rohail Khan, who said he was around 5 feet from the shooting, said he heard a single shot and then Secret Service yelled for everyone to get down.

Olivieri was allegedly brandishing the gun and was shot after refusing several commands to drop it, authorities said. Samples described him as around 5 feet, 10 inches tall with shaggy blonde hair. A weapon was recovered, officials said.

"I saw the Secret Service and officers coming around him," Samples said. "They surrounded him. They gave him multiple chances to stop his advance and he refused. He just kept walking. He had a gun in plain sight."

President Barack Obama was not at the White House. He was out for an afternoon of golfing, officials said.

Government sources said two Secret Service officers had eyes on Olivieri before he even pulled out the gun and had "shadowed" him. He was never inside the White House complex.

Taylor Cates was outside of the White House with her boyfriend when she spotted a man with the gun.

"He had a a gun out, just in plain sight. I mean, it wasn"t even hidden," Cates said. "He looked at me, then kept walking," she said.

Cates and her boyfriend and three other people nearby stopped, unsure what to do and afraid of getting any closer. She said the man weaved through a few crowds and approached the security gate.

"He had no facial expression at all," Cates said. "It was honestly terrifying," she said.

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan police will investigate the shooting, and the FBI will look into Olivieri"s background, according to law enforcement officials. Olivieri will likely be charged with assaulting a federal officer, officials said.

Park Police and Secret Service officers searched the Olivieri"s car, parked a few blocks away. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital. The White House lockdown was lifted by 4 p.m.

The Secret Service announced last year that it would be adding "temporary security enhancements" to the White House, including an anti-climb feature with sharp metal spikes on top of the fence surrounding the grounds, after a series of high-profile incidents.

In September of 2014, a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way into the East Room before he was tackled and arrested. Omar Gonzalez, 43, pleaded guilty to charges related to the breach and was sentenced to nearly 1 1/2 years in prison. Prosecutors said he has a history with law enforcement where he described having "paranoid delusions."

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/white-house-lockdown-after-nearby-shooting-n577701

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What today"s civil-rights activists owe to Malcolm X

Malcolm X - The House Negro and the Field Negro

Library of Congress

Malcolm X before a 1964 press conference.

Thandisiwe Jackson-Nisan thinks Malcolm Xs political legacy doesnt get enough recognition. Shes hoping to change that. We hear about Martin Luther King a lot but we dont hear as much about Malcolm, she said. Ive met children whove never heard who Malcolm X was.

This Saturday, Jackson-Nisan along with a handful of other Twin Cities civil rights activists and community members are hosting the third annual Minnesota Malcolm X Conference to celebrate the civil rights leaders life and discuss his ideas and philosophies.

This years conference, being held at Minneapolis North Community High School Booster Club in north Minneapolis, will focus on the Organization of Afro-American Unity an African American civil rights organization established by Malcolm X shortly before his assassination in 1965. The event will feature a discussion with a panel of Twin Cities black leaders and activists, followed by a series of workshops and performance art.

Im super excited about it, Jackson-Nisan said. This is to honor and reflect on the political legacy of Malcolm X.

People tend to get caught up in Malcolm X not endorsing non-violence like MLK, Jackson-Nisan said, which is why she believes people tend not to celebrate him as much. But as a civil rights leader, and a contributor to African American heritage, she said, his beliefs are still very much at the forefront of todays civil rights activism.

Modern-day relevance

Nekima Levy-Pounds, a St. Thomas Law Professor and president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, said Malcolm X was unapologetic when he spoke about giving power back to the black community, both with his actions and words.

She believes his teachings and mantra of By any means necessary, have influenced many civil rights activists work today, including her own. Levy-Pounds has participated in several high-profile demonstrations over the last few years, including disrupting freeway traffic, shutting down the Mall of America and occupying the land outside Minneapolis Fourth Precinct Police Station for three weeks after the shooting of an unarmed black man by police.

Just last week, Levy-Pounds interrupted a private Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board retreat because she felt the group wasnt addressing her concerns over what she calls unfair hiring and disciplinary practices against people of color within the department.

She thinks Malcolm X would have done the same if he were alive today. Its important to disrupt the status quo, to speak truth to power, and to disrupt business as usual, Levy-Pounds said. Sometimes that means showing up in sacred white spaces.

Michael McDowell, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, said the act of taking power back, whether received positively or not, was at the heart of Malcolm Xs teaching and is something their movement has also prioritized. He was unapologetic about talking about black power and building black power, McDowell said, and thats something that were pretty explicit with in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mel Reeves, a longtime Twin Cities civil rights activist and a speaker at this years conference, said Malcolm X also argued for economic equality and likely would support activists fighting for a $15 an hour minimum wage in Minneapolis. He was against capitalism, Reeves said. The idea of profits over people.

Reeves said he sees the conference as a chance to spread the word about Malcolm Xs less talked about views and how they might fit into our political discourses today such as universal healthcare.

For McDowell, hes glad to see the Twin Cities community making an effort to talk more about a figure who has contributed so much to the African American community and civil rights movement. This conference is something thats a blessing for Minneapolis because we havent had something thats reoccurring thats uplifting Malcolm X and his legacy, he said. Its really important that hes someone thats talked about.

The conference takes place on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Minneapolis North Community High School Booster Club on James Avenue North. Admission is free and lunch will be provided.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFGg-BYjC7Wrv1TZJjjlNWNloIidw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=ttQ_V7jzC9yQ3wHex6zADw&url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2016/05/what-today-s-civil-rights-activists-owe-malcolm-x

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Morley Safer Died From Pneumonia

Morley Safer Dead at 84 | 60 Minutes Reporter Passes Away

CBS News has reported the death of broadcaster Morley Safer at 84 years old. He had officially retired just last week after 46 years in the business. According to the network, Safers health had been in decline when it announced his retirement. His wife, Jane Safer, told The New York Times he died of pneumonia.

Morley was a fixture, one of our pillars, and an inspiration in many ways. He was a master storyteller, a gentleman, and a wonderful friend. We will miss him very much, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager said in a statement. Morley was one of the most important journalists in any medium, ever, added CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves.

CBS News celebrated his long career this past Sunday evening with a post-60 Minutes special, titled Morley Safer: A Reporters Life,featuring interviews with historians, colleagues, past interview subjects, and Safer himself. Perhaps showing his sense of humor, Safer told CBS upon his retirement: What would I do if I wasnt doing this? I have not a clue. Maybe running a whorehouse or something like that. Im not equipped to do much else.

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/05/19/morley-safer-dead-at-84.html

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Fire destroys old Ruby"s Diner and damages Seal Beach Pier

Seal Beach pier California / FREESTYLEFISHING

Flames erupted Friday morning at Seal Beach Pier, destroying the old Ruby"s Diner andsending a column of smoke over the area.

The fire began just after 7:30 a.m. at the end of the pierin the 900 block of Ocean Avenue in Seal Beach.

Flames were spotted under the pier, with fire extending to the abandonedrestaurant, said Capt. Larry Kurtz of the Orange County Fire Authority.

At least 70 firefighters and eight fire boatstackledthe flames as they swept through the 1950s-themeddiner. By 9 a.m., most of the flames had been extinguished.

"There is some involvement to the pier but not too much," he said ."Pier inspectors will look at the integrity of the wood and determine what repairs need to be made in order for it to be safe to the public again."

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The Orange County Sheriff"s Department sent a harbor patrol boatto help fight the blaze, spokesman Lt. Mark Stichter said and the Long Beach and Los Angeles County fire departments also assisted.

The Seal Beach Pier has been damaged and destroyed several times over the decades by storms and fire. In 1983, the pier was damagedwhen huge storm waves cresting beneath it lifted 1,140 feet of the 1,835-foot deckoff its pilings. The pier, an iconic part of the city"s identity,was rebuilt with the help of private donations. The new pier was built of wood to preserve its historic look. Fire damaged the pier in 1992 and 1994, but each time it was restored.

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The restaurant closed in 2013 after operating at the pier for25 years.

At the time, Seal Beach officials saidthe restaurant chain had decided not extend its agreement with the city.

Seal Beach later declared the restaurant a public nuisance due to "multiple deficiencies and unsafe conditions," the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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For breaking news in California, followVeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

UPDATES:

9:29 a.m.: This story was updated with more information about Ruby"s Diner and the Seal Beach Pier.

This story was originally posted at 8:22 a.m.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fire-seal-beach-pier-20160520-snap-story.html

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Cher"s Most Outrageous Outfits: 70 Of The Singer"s Most Fabulous Fashion Choices (PICS)

Cher Live: The Farewell Tour Full Concert

Lets face it, pop divas these days are ten a penny, but there will only ever be one Cher - the diva so fabulous she doesnt even need a last name.

Over the course her illustrious career, Cher has seen the likes of Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus come and go, but shes still around, doing her thing after decades in the entertainment industry.

Cher in some of her most memorable outfits

Shes topped the charts all over the world with her signature hits Believe, If I Could Turn Back Time and The Shoop Shoop Song to name but three (we could go on if you really want us to) while her movie career has seen her star opposite acting giants including Jack Nicholson, Bob Hoskins and Winona Ryder.

Cher even managed to bag herself an Oscar for her performance in Moonstruck where she delivered the iconic line, Snap out of it as only she really could, though for some reason she failed to make the Academy Awards double after starring in 2010s Burlesque. A cruel oversight if ever there was one.

What we really love about Cher, though, is her unusual and, at times, wild approach to fashion. Whether shes sampling an array of colourful wigs, straddling a cannon in fishnets and a leather jacket or appearing onstage semi-n**e well into her sixties, theres never a dull moment when it comes to the divas outfit choices.

And at 70 years young, she"s showing no signs of wearing beige and sensible shoes anytime soon - as these pics prove!

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/05/20/cher-fashion-outfits-crazy-pics_n_5356981.html

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Sometimes Tom Hiddleston Apologizes For Almost Punching People On Set

Daniel Craig Out, Tom Hiddleston In As James Bond?

Tom Hiddleston is used to flashy fight sequences. In the three Marvel movies he"s made (and the fourth one that will shoot this summer), these elaborately choreographed scenes are staged in front of green screens. We may panic watching Loki dangle from the side of the rainbow bridge in Asgard, but obviously no children, small animals or hunky Internet boyfriends were harmed in the making of the "Thor" films.

Hiddleston"s latest movie, "High-Rise," is far less action-driven,and perhaps that"s why the movie"s fight scene was far more dangerous. Or at least he was worried it would be.

HIddleston plays Dr. Robert Laing, a 1970s pathologist who moves into a chic, full-service London apartment tower seized by a dystopian class structure.In the 40-story building, the privileged reside in the top half, while the underclass is relegated to the bottom floors. The besuited Laing moves to the 25th story following the death of his wife, and he is quickly invited to opulent parties thrown in the owner"s penthouse. After a power outage, resources dwindle and a surreal tribe warfare breaks out. From there, the movie -- based on J.G. Ballard"s novel and directed by Ben Wheatley -- gets pretty bonkers.

None of it is as adrenaline-inducing as Hiddleston"s superhero work, but that"s precisely why the 35-year-old Brit had to apologize in advance to a stuntman in case he inadvertently clocked him. The scene in question is a raid at the high-rise"s in-house supermarket, where supplies have grown scarce. A brawl erupts.

"The raid ... was very, very chaotic," Hiddleston said. "I shook hands with a stuntman who I knew was going to play somebody involved in a fight with me. Ben had said, "I dont want this to look like a superhero fight," and he said that as a huge fan of superhero films. He said, "I dont want this to look choreographed so that it has kinetic action. ... Do what you need to do, warm up, plan whatever you need to plan.""

Wheatley shot the scene with handheld cameras so as not to need unnecessary cuts in the editing room, meaning the action was captured continuously. He offered for Hiddleston to wear pads for protection, but the actor"s "transparent" white dress shirt didn"t allow it.

"But the stuntman was padded up," Hiddleston said. "We just shook hands and we were on a parquet floor, and we just rolled around. We warmed up a bit and we looked at each other and I said, "I apologize in advance if I accidentally clip you on the ear.""

Both men made it out unscathed, and Hiddleston called the experience of staging a fight sequence on the fly "refreshing." Now he"s off to the end days of Ragnark, where the character stakes are high but the actors" physical risks, if all goes well, are relatively low. (No offense to Robert Downey Jr., of course.)

"High-Rise" is now in limited released and available on-demand. It also stars Elisabeth Moss, Sienna Miller,Jeremy Irons, Luke Evans and James Purefoy.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-hiddleston-high-rise_us_573e1bd6e4b00e09e89e76bf

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