The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a marvelous piece of evolutionary engineering designed to keep the inside of your skull pristinely clean by segregating the nervous and circulatory systems. The downside to this nearly impermeable membrane is that it …
This high schooler wanted so desperately for his sweetheart to go with him to prom, he jumped out of an airplane for her.
In this YouTube video, entitled “Best Promposal Ever,” watch as Eddie Staten, a student at Pomfret School in Pomfret, Connecticut skydives from 10,000 feet with the help of an instructor. He jumped out of the plane holding a sign with the words: “Talia. Prom?”
Staten told NBC Connecticut that he wanted to ask his girlfriend of two years, Talia Gulino, to be his date for the big event “in a way that was special, something that she would always remember.”
So, what was Gulino’s final answer?
“Talia loved the video and said yes!” Staten told NBC.
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Johnny Depp allegedly snuck his two dogs into Australia — and if he doesn’t send them home by Saturday, they’ll face the doggie death penalty.
“Mr. Depp has to either take his dogs back to California, or we’re going to have to euthanize them,” Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said in a video posted online by ABC Australia.
Joyce said Depp brought his Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, via a chartered plane into the country, where he’s filming the latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. He suggested that Depp use the same plane to send them home.
“It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States,” Joyce said.
Joyce said people who want to bring pets into the country need to get permits and go through the quarantine process, which exists to keep disease out of the country.
“The reason you can walk through a park in Brisbane and not have in the back of your mind ‘what happens if a rabid dog comes out and bites me or bites my kid’ is because we’ve kept that disease out,” he said in a TV interview, according to ABC Brisbane. “I’ll tell you how close it is: it’s in Bali, it’s just next door. So this is not fanciful stuff, and therefore we’re very diligent about what comes into our nation.”
Joyce said Depp’s status as a global icon doesn’t mean he can break the rules.
“If we start letting movie stars –- even though they’ve been the sexiest man alive twice — to come into our nation then why don’t we just break the laws for everybody?”
The dogs are currently in a home quarantine, and a Depp spokesperson did not return a request for comment, according to the Associated Press.
Some fans have created a petition to “save” Depp’s dogs. However, Joyce said the best way to save the dogs is to send them home — and the Courier Mail newspaper reports that Australia rarely euthanizes animals in these situations as in most cases the owners do just that.
The Australian newspaper reports that Depp’s wife, actress Amber Heard, is negotiating with the department.
(Story continues below)
Joyce said Depp’s dogs were spotted in the country when they were brought to a poodle groomer. The groomers told the Gold Coast Bulletin that the dogs needed a trim.
“They wanted the dogs groomed somewhere that’s a bit more private and we’re right near the set anyway,” Happy Dogz groomer Lianne Kent told the newspaper. “They were in a little handbag. It was an awesome-looking handbag that smelled beautifully of perfume.”
Will Boo and Pistol walk the plank? Or will Johnny Depp come to the terriers’ rescue? http://t.co/gSZDWuP9At pic.twitter.com/WUnSVkUxF3
— Life (@theauslife) May 13, 2015
The Gold Coast Bulletin also reports that Depp had donated $1,000 to sponsor a week-old premature bat named Jackie Sparrow in his honor.
“He has a special interest in bats,” Australian Bat Clinic and Wildlife Trauma Centre director Trish Wimberley told the newspaper.
But it’s the dogs that have become the big story in Australia, and on Thursday members of the media were camped out near the home where Depp has been staying:
Media camped outside Johnny Depps GC mansion waiting for his dogs to be destroyed or deported. @abcgoldcoast pic.twitter.com/h6xn93rgVJ
— Tom Forbes (@tomforbesGC) May 14, 2015
ABC Australia said a notice about the dogs was delivered to the home. However, the dogs have not been seized and have been spotted at the home, according to the network’s website.
Joyce told AP his department would be responsible for euthanizing the dogs if they remained in the country.
“After that, I don’t expect to be invited to the opening of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,'” he told the news agency.
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Amidst all the Apple Watch hype, it’s easy to forget that Samsung’s aleady worked its way through two generations of smartwatch, and is prepping to launch a third. And according to a new Samsung software development kit, the next Gear will have a circular display, and rotating bezel to control it with. Digital crown what now?
Destiny players are probably quite hyped for the next DLC to land in their hands. After all, Bungie helped fuel that hype in the days leading to the launch. However, the developer might just poured cold water over gamers’ passions by revealing a technical problem that could very well delay the arrival of House of Wolves next week. If this … Continue reading
The Internet is running out of addresses, and adding new domain names and suffixes isn’t going to help. The resource we are on the verge of eclipsing is Internet protocol, or IP addresses. When the internet was first put to use in the 1980’s, engineers created IPv4, which has an upper limit of 4.3 billion different IP addresses. We’ve almost … Continue reading
As good a cause as it is, Internet.org recently came under pressure for allegedly violating India’s net neutrality laws — something Facebook was quick to address. Still, that’s not stopping the social network from spreading its initiative, which bri…
If your knowledge of Philadelphia begins and ends with the “Rocky” montage, get ready to learn that there’s way more to the city than an inspiring 2:28-minute movie clip.
To enrich your understanding of Pennsylvania’s largest city and home to the Liberty Bell, we’ve partnered with Visit Philadelphia to find out how seven locals would spend a free day in the economic and cultural center of Delaware Valley.
“No city in the country can offer what Philly has in terms of college basketball tradition. The Big Five and the Palestra define the spirit of collegiate sports. The opportunity to watch college basketball in an arena affectionately known as ‘The Cathedral of College Basketball’ is a must-do for anyone visiting Philadelphia.
“If you’re coming over to University City for the Penn Relays or any other sporting event, the restaurants on Sansom Street are a great place to meet before or after the game. New Deck Tavern is a popular spot — you have to try the Awesome Fries and the Baked Potato Soup!
“Further west on campus, there’s plenty of opportunities if you’re looking to get the experience a Penn student would have. Smokey Joe’s and Blarney Stone are traditional student hotspots. They are Penn institutions!
Kristine Kennedy, Executive Director of Philly Beer Week
“I love the Reading Terminal Market in the mornings before it gets crowded. It can get crazy after 10am, especially if there is a convention in the nearby convention center.
“After that, I’d visit an oft-forgotten gem: the Penn Museum. It’s surprisingly big and the only place in town to view antiquities.
“As for the evening, I live in Fishtown so I’m partial to bars I can walk to. For a night downtown, I try to support the many bars that participate in Philly Beer Week. It is such a great town for beer drinking. Any visitor would be remiss to not spend a night focused on just that. If I’m in the mood for wine, Panorama is the spot.
“For dinner, my favorite meals in Philly are pho at one of the many great joints down on Washington Ave. or a long and sumptuous dinner at Zahav. You can’t go wrong with either.”
Tyler Milkovitz, Freelance Photographer
“Rittenhouse Square Park would be my next stop to hang out and enjoy the nice weather. After Rittenhouse, I would make my way to Chinatown as it is one of my favorite sections in Philadelphia. A bowl of pho at any of the local spots is a good way to enjoy lunch or dinner. After having a bowl of noodles, I would head to Race St. Pier to relax and enjoy the sunset.”
Andrew Stewart, Director of Marketing & Communications of Brandywine Conservancy
“Since I live in West Chester, my day would begin here with breakfast at the Classic Diner on Gay Street in Downtown West Chester. I love the Eggs Benedict or stuffed French Toast. After that, I would make my way to see the new exhibition at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, “Horace Pippin: The Way I See It,” and take a stroll along the river after the visit.
“After or before the Barnes I’d head to Buena Onda, very close to the Barnes on Callowhill Street for some fish tacos. From there, I’d wander toward the center of the city, eventually heading for one of the many featured beer’s at Tria, and then on to dinner at either Lolita or Barbuzzo on 13th street.”
Mat Falco, Publisher and Editor of Philly Beer Scene Magazine
“Since I publish a regional craft beer magazine, I think I’ll have to stay beer-focused. While in Old City visiting the many historic aspects of Philadelphia, I’d recommend a quick stop by Philadelphia’s newest brewpub, 2nd Story Brewing, and one of the leading breweries of the local scene, Yards Brewing Company, which just celebrated 20 years! If you’re in town on a Saturday, Philadelphia Brewing Company in Kensington is also a great stop.
“… Want to skip drinking? Some of my favorite places to eat are Pizzeria Beddia (best pizza I’ve ever had, and well worth any wait, especially when you can kill time at the neighboring Johnny Brenda’s!), Zahav, Le Virtu/Brigantessa and bevy of places in Chinatown, amongst many others.
“Historically, the Mütter Museum and Eastern State Penitentiary are two museums that I find the most interesting. It’s not often you get to see presidential tumors preserved in jars as you do at the Mütter Museum.”
Matt Stanley, Philadelphia Photographer
“Early in the morning, I’d head to Society Hill. With cobblestone streets, brick sidewalks and colonial homes, churches and cemeteries, this is the best place to go for a walk on a Sunday morning with a good cup of coffee. I like to walk through its side streets and alleys early in the morning, before there’s any traffic noise, when you can really feel a connection to the city’s history.
“For lunch or dinner, there are so many great things happening with the restaurant scene along East Passyunk, but Cousin’s Grubhouse, located a few blocks away on West Passyunk, is my favorite place to eat in the city. The menu is creative and indulgent without getting too fancy. If you get there early in the morning, it’s an amazing place to sit at the counter and have breakfast while chatting with the friendly staff and people from the neighborhood who have been coming there for decades. The venue has been there under different names and ownership since the 1950s!”
Emily Tharp, HerPhilly.com Blogger
“My ideal Philly day includes a morning spin class at Flywheel, followed by a large iced coffee from one of my many neighborhood coffee shops. On my way home, I’ll try to find a flea market or sidewalk sale and pick up a few gems.
“Then it’s time for breakfast at my favorite diner, Little Pete’s, or if I’m feeling special, brunch at Honey’s on South Street. I love spending the afternoon in Rittenhouse Square, shopping around Walnut and Chestnut Streets and walking home with some groceries and fresh flowers from the Rittenhouse Square Farmers’ Market. If I get lunch, I love Honeygrow for a quick salad.
“In the evening, I’d try a new restaurant (Kanella and Standard Tap are currently at the top of my list), but I’ll always be happy with anything from Jose Garces. For going out with my friends, my first choice is always a pop up beer garden, but I also love me some L’Etage.”
Do you believe in the power of travel? Visit Philadelphia believes travel shapes a person and expands horizons. Philadelphia delivers on its promise of an urban, main street, foodie, historic, cultural, cool, eye-opening, independent experience.
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The mark of a great waterproof mascara is simple: it has to be waterproof. That means no running, no smudging and definitely no clumping.
The beauty product is essential during the hot-weather months. Whether you work up a sweat by walking from point A to point B, or you happen to get caught in an unexpected summer downpour, you’ll want a product that will keep your lashes looking full throughout the day.
Try one of the eight waterproof mascaras below and worry less about runny eye makeup. Just make sure you have a great makeup remover on hand to take it all off! And remember — you don’t need to swipe on layer after layer to get the desired effect. Celebrity makeup artist Tia Dantzler believes two coats of waterproof mascara is all you’ll need for “staying power.”
Top Row: Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara, Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara, Le Volume De Chanel Waterproof Mascara, Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara
Bottom Row: Maybelline Lash Discovery Mascara, Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara, Dior Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara, Lancôme Hypnôse Waterproof Mascara
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday launched a broad review of the often murky business of student loan servicing, questioning whether the roughly 40 million Americans with student debt are being treated fairly under a patchwork of rules and market forces that could leave them vulnerable to abuse.
The review, known formally as a “request for information,” is the clearest sign that the federal consumer agency intends to establish stronger rules governing the roughly $1.2 trillion student debt market. Nearly 90 percent of student debt is overseen by the oft-criticized U.S. Department of Education, and borrowers say dodgy practices are common, bad information rampant, and basic necessities like full payment histories or accurate pay-off amounts often hard to obtain.
“As a growing share of student loan borrowers reach out to their servicers for help, the problems they encounter bear an uncanny resemblance to the situation where struggling homeowners reached out to their mortgage servicers before, during, and after the financial crisis,” Richard Cordray, CFPB director, plans to say later today in Milwaukee. “Having seen the improper and unnecessary foreclosures experienced by many homeowners, the consumer bureau is concerned that inadequate servicing is also contributing to America’s growing student loan default problem.” He adds that it’s “simply unacceptable” to leave borrowers “without robust consumer protections and a well-functioning servicer market.”
The consumer bureau is targeting the Education Department’s contracts with its loan servicers as a potential source of consumer pain. The department last summer revamped its contracts in response to concerns that its pay scheme for servicers encouraged the lowest-quality service.
With student loans now the second-largest source of household debt after home mortgages — unpaid debts have roughly doubled since 2008 — concerns in Washington are mounting that student loans pose a risk to economic growth. Heavy loan payments force families to cut spending and delay home-buying, deter entrepreneurs from starting small businesses, and prevent Americans of all ages from adequately saving for retirement.
Federal regulators and policymakers fear inadequate student loan servicing may be exacerbating the problem if borrowers are forced to pay more than they should, or are needlessly pushed into default. President Barack Obama in March reinforced the point when he declared that “every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans.”
Nearly 8 million Americans, or 1 in 5 with a student loan, are in default, according to the CFPB. Millions more are delinquent or otherwise delaying payments due to temporary hardships, allowing their burdens to grow as the accumulating interest is tacked onto loan balances. In more than 20 states a student loan default could cost the borrower their job.
The CFPB oversees most of the student loan servicing industry — the business of collecting borrowers’ monthly payments, informing them of their options and counseling them on repayment — and directly supervises the largest companies, including Navient Corp. But the agency hasn’t yet developed its own rules to police companies’ behavior, and existing rules — many developed by the Education Department — aren’t comprehensive or strong enough to ensure that borrowers are treated consistently and fairly.
The CFPB is in effect muscling in on what the Education Department has historically considered its turf. Student loan companies already have told the bureau that the Education Department’s rules and oversight are good enough, though some privately agree that the department’s lax oversight and questionable rules are at least partly responsible for what is viewed as industry misbehavior.
The Education Department owns or guarantees more than $1.1 trillion in federal student loans. It writes the rules for its loan servicers, structures their federal contracts and tries to make sure they follow relevant laws. The CFPB’s move is almost certain to spark a fight in Washington.
But to consumer bureau officials, the problem is urgent. Over the last 18 months at least 800,000 borrowers have defaulted on their federal student loans. The number is only a minimum because the Education Department doesn’t disclose how many borrowers who have exited default by rehabilitating their debts, a figure that is large enough to affect policymakers’ understanding of the default problem.
The new defaults come even though virtually all borrowers with federal student loans are eligible for repayment plans that cap their monthly payments relative to their earnings. Such plans don’t exist in credit cards, auto loans or home mortgages — the other common sources of consumer debt.
In other words, even jobless borrowers can enroll in plans that allow them to make no payments, yet still remain in good standing on their federal student loans. In recent years, the Obama administration has made income-linked repayment plans even more generous, though mostly for newer borrowers.
Last year, Deputy Treasury Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin publicly questioned why so many Americans were defaulting on their federal student loans given the availability of these plans. Treasury Department officials share the CFPB’s concerns.
According to the consumer bureau, there are many “pain points” afflicting the student loan market. Modifications on private loans are hard to come by, and in some federal loans companies may not have the incentive to work with borrowers and avoid default. It’s too difficult for borrowers to get billing errors fixed. Monthly payments often are applied in ways that maximize fees or lengthen the time of repayment, and thus the total amount of interest paid.
Borrowers also aren’t properly informed when their loans are transferred to a new company — a common practice in federal student loans.
The CFPB said it is “deeply interested” to learn whether recent reforms in the mortgage and credit card industries, where newer laws and CFPB rules have strengthened borrower protections, could be applied to student loans.
For example, in home mortgages, servicers have to consider loan modifications before seizing a delinquent borrower’s home. The equivalent in student loans could be a requirement that servicers consider borrowers for income-linked repayment plans before placing their accounts in default.
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