When an app goes viral, how can you know whether it's all good fun   or covertly violating your privacy by, say, sending your face to the Russian government? That's the burning question about FaceApp , a program that takes photos of people and "ages" them using artificial intelligence. Soon after it shot to the top of the Apple and Google store charts this week, privacy advocates began waving warning flags about the Russian-made app's vague legalese . Word spread quickly that the app might be a disinformation campaign or secretly downloading your entire photo album. Leaders of the Democratic party warned campaigns to delete the app 'immediately.' Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post I got some answers by running my own forensic analysis and talking to the CEO of the company that made the app. But the bigger lesson was how much app-makers and the stores run by Apple and Google leave us flying blind when it comes to privacy. I raised similar questions a few weeks ago when I ran an experiment to find out what my iPhone did while I slept at night. I found apps sending my personal information to all sorts of tracking companies I'd never heard of. So what about FaceApp? It was vetted by Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, which even labeled it an "Editors' Choice." They both link to its privacy policy   which they know nobody reads. Looking under the hood of FaceApp with the tools from my iPhone test, I found it sharing information about my phone with Facebook and Google AdMob, which probably help it place ads and check the performance of its ads. The most unsettling part was how much data FaceApp was sending to its own servers, after which … who knows what happens. It's not just your own face that FaceApp might gobble up   if you age friends or family members, their face gets uploaded, too. In an email exchange, FaceApp CEO Yaroslav Goncharov tried to clarify some of that. These five questions are basics we ought to know about any app or service that wants something as personal as our faces. 1. What data do they take? FaceApp uploads and processes our photos in the cloud, Goncharov said, but the app will "only upload a photo selected by a user for editing." The rest of your camera roll stays on your phone. You can also use FaceApp without giving it your name or email   and 99 percent of users do just that, he said. 2. How long do they hold on my data? The app's terms of service grant it a "perpetual" license to our photos. Goncharov said FaceApp deletes "most" of the photos from its servers after 48 hours. 3. What are they doing with my data? Is FaceApp using our faces and the maps it makes of them for anything other than the express purpose of the app, such as running facial identification on us? "No," Goncharov said. Legally, though, the app's terms give it   and whoever might buy it or work with it in the future   the right to do whatever it wants, through an "irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferrable sub-licensable license." (Clear as mud?) 4. Who has access to my data? Do government authorities in Russia have access to our photos? "No," Goncharov said. FaceApp's engineers are based in Russia, so our data is not transferred there. He said the company also doesn't "sell or share any user data with any third parties"   aside, I pointed out, from what it shares with trackers from Facebook and AdMob. (Another exception: Users in Russia may have their data stored in Russia.) 5. How can I delete my data? Just deleting the app won't get rid of the photos FaceApp may have in the cloud. Goncharov said people can put in a request to delete all data from FaceApp's servers, but the process is convoluted. "For the fastest processing, we recommend sending the requests from the FaceApp mobile app using 'Settings->Support->Report a bug' with the word 'privacy' in the subject line. We are working on the better UI [user interface] for that," he said. Why not post this information to FaceApp's website, beyond the legalese? "We are planning to make some improvements," Goncharov said. Same question for the app stores run by Apple and Google. Those giant companies make money from a cut of upgrades you can purchase in the app. We're literally paying them to read the privacy policies   and vet that companies such as FaceApp are telling the truth. Why not better help us understand right where we download what's really going on? Neither company replied with an on-the-record comment. Much better to help us sort through all of this before millions of us upload our faces somewhere we might regret. Read more tech advice and analysis from Geoffrey A. Fowler: Goodbye, Chrome: Google's Web browser has become spy software Not all iPhones are the same. These cost less and are better for the Earth. Rock this way: AirPods, Beats and Bose wireless ear buds take the headbang test


NEW YORK   Being tied after four games of the first round brought out the best in the Atlanta Hawks. And as they showed in delivering a devastating third-quarter knockout, their best was better than anyone else in the Eastern Conference this season. Paul Millsap had 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and the Hawks finally finished off the Brooklyn Nets in six games, advancing to the East semifinals with a 111-87 victory Friday night. "We believe," forward DeMarre Carroll said, "and we believe that when we are playing the right way, as you seen tonight, we can beat anybody." BOX SCORE: HAWKS 111, NETS 87 Kyle Korver added 20 points and hit three of his six 3-pointers during a series-deciding run as the Hawks turned a six-point halftime lead into the only blowout of the series. The East's No. 1 seed has a quick turnaround before facing Washington on Sunday in its second-round opener. "We didn't play that well the first three games. I didn't think we had our edge," Korver said. "I think coming here and losing two kind of woke of us." The Wizards, the No. 5 seed, swept Toronto in the first round. Atlanta won the final two games and left no doubt about this one after beginning the second half with a 23-3 blitz that made it 74-48, opening as big a gap on the scoreboard as there was between the teams in the standings. The Hawks were 60-22 in the regular season and the Nets were only 38-44 as the last team to qualify for the postseason, but Atlanta had outscored Brooklyn by just nine points through the first five games. The Nets looked as if they would keep this one close after recovering from the Hawks' strong start, but Atlanta wouldn't let that happen. Brook Lopez scored 19 points for the Nets, who had saved first-round elimination with Game 6 victories in each of the last two years. But a lethargic start to the third quarter ended any hopes of taking the series back to Atlanta on Sunday. "We wanted to make the playoffs. We did, and we thought we put up a great effort against this team that's the best in the East," Nets guard Deron Williams said. Williams had two turnovers that started Atlanta fast breaks in the opening minutes of the third as the Hawks started with an 8-0 spurt that made it 59-45. Williams then made a 3-pointer, but the Hawks ripped off the next 15 points, opening a 26-point bulge midway through the period. "You could just see they had the wave of momentum that they weren't going to let up," Nets coach Lionel Hollins said. The Hawks won the East so handily after building a big cushion with their 17-0 January that they were able to give their starters plenty of rest down the stretch, though that contributed to them not clicking when the playoffs started. A Nets team they beat four times by an average of 17.3 points during the regular season kept the first two games close and won the next two. But Atlanta pulled away late in Game 5 and came out clicking Friday. Korver made three 3-pointers in the first quarter and Carroll added two, including one with 1.4 seconds left that made it 36-23. The Hawks shot 13 of 18 in the period (72 percent), went 5 of 7 from 3-point range and looked like the team that ran such precision offense for most of the season. TIP-INS Hawks: Budenholzer finished third in voting for executive of the year, which was won Friday by Golden State general manager Bob Myers. Budenholzer, who won coach of the year, has overseen basketball operations since general manager Danny Ferry's racially charged comments. Nets: The Nets fell to 5-1 in Game 6 of first-round series. They beat Chicago in 2013 in a series they eventually lost, then topped Toronto last year before edging the Raptors in Game 7. ... Mirza Teletovic, who had sat out the last two games after returning in Game 2 after recovering from blood clots that had sidelined him since January, played 9 scoreless minutes. CLUTCH CARROLL Carroll finished with 20 points, his fourth straight game with at least that many. He is the first Hawks player to do that since Jamal Crawford in 2011, and Hollins said he was the MVP of the series. "Oh man, that brings joy to me," Carroll said. "He was my first coach in the NBA." IF AT FIRST The team leading after the first quarter won all six games in the series. The Hawks had a 47-point advantage in their victories.


Houston cornerback Johnathan Joseph has already fully etched his name into Texans history after eight impressive years to date down south. However, he may be about to stake his claim as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history very soon. The 35-year-old who recently received a $1.5 million raise on the year from Bill O'Brien's side currently has 181 career defended passes to his name, just 22 off of soon to be Hall of Famer Champ Bailey's NFL record of 203. "Somebody tweeted me that one day or something, and it kind of popped out to me," Joseph told the media Wednesday. "I know I'm within reach, and I think - obviously, I've put all my work into it just to beat that record." With Joseph not currently considering retirement, there is a very real possibility that within the next year or two we could be looking at a new all-time leader in career pass deflections. Joseph may only have two Pro Bowls to his name, which in my opinion doesn't do him justice, but an NFL record like that would certainly put him up there with some of the best to ever play the position. "I think if I have a great year and do what I'm supposed to do from a defensive standpoint, that record is within reach with what I've done consistently throughout the year from a pass defense standpoint," Joseph said. MORE: Baker Mayfield's sassy response to Jets' trash talk won over the Browns offensive line Winners and losers from first week of Raiders training camp Biggest winners from the first week of Packers training camp Observations from Lions training camp, Day 7: Amani Oruwariye gets 1st team reps Steven Jackson gets random drug test from NFL after signing 1-day contract


U.S. allies, looking to buck American control over international trade, are developing alternate systems that don't rely on U.S. currency. The catalyst was the Trump administration's decision last year to reimpose trade sanctions on Iran after pulling out of the 2015 nuclear-weapons deal. The U.K., Germany and France didn't support the sanctions, which include a ban on dollar transactions with Iranian banks. So they are fine-tuning a system to enable companies to trade with Iran without using dollars. India wasn't happy either. Iran is a longtime trading partner, and India wants Iranian oil. India began using a similar alternative system in November, and shipping records show it already is being used by international companies to trade with Iranian businesses subject to sanctions. China and Russia, also eager to break free of U.S. control, are promoting their own alternatives to the global bank-transfer system, which the U.S. effectively controls, and are striking deals to trade with yuan and rubles instead of dollars. Global trade runs on dollars, giving the U.S. extraordinary power over nearly every entity that imports or exports anything anywhere. That clout has long frustrated America's enemies, making them vulnerable to U.S. trade sanctions. The new arrangements won't change the dollar's dominance in global trade, but they will diminish the U.S.'s power to impose its policies, including sanctions, around the globe. They also could make it easier for criminals and terrorists, who have long tried to sidestep the dollar, to move money outside of U.S. oversight. The White House declined to comment about efforts by other countries to bypass dollar-denominated trading. A senior administration official said the U.S. is working to make sure oil is readily available in dollar-denominated markets from sources other than Iran, and to "bring Iran's oil exports to zero." In congressional testimony in March, Treasury Department undersecretary Sigal Mandelker said that "those who engage in activities that run afoul of U.S. sanctions risk severe consequences, including losing access to the U.S. financial system and the ability to do business with the United States." Jacob J. Lew, treasury secretary under President Obama, says the U.S. is at risk of losing some of the power it has long wielded. The world, he says, now has "pathways" for those who "need to or want to avoid the U.S." Get news and analysis on politics, policy, national security and more, delivered right to your inbox The dollar's status dates back to the end of World War II, when the U.S. economy was the world's most robust and dollars were plentiful. The currency's liquidity, and the efficient U.S. banking system anchored by the Federal Reserve, mean trading in dollars is much less expensive and more convenient than using other currencies, says Craig Pirrong, a University of Houston professor who studies payment systems. Here's how it works: A Canadian lumber company sells boards to a French buyer. The buyer's bank in France and the seller's bank in Canada settle the payment, in dollars, via "correspondent banks" that have accounts at the Fed. The money is transferred seamlessly between the banks' Fed accounts because their status as correspondent banks means they are seen as safe counterparties. The use of these accounts, the U.S. says, means every transaction technically touches U.S. soil, giving it legal jurisdiction. Because using most other currencies is relatively inconvenient and expensive, many countries and companies will do whatever the U.S. requires to maintain access to dollars. Related video: How to stop Iran oil-sanction busters? Take 50 million photos a day Tensions over the Iran nuclear deal have ratcheted up recently, with Iran threatening to abandon some of its commitments if it doesn't realize certain economic benefits. The foreign ministers of the U.K., Germany and France, in a joint statement, expressed concern and rejected Iran's ultimatum. An unraveling of the deal could affect Europe's plans for rolling out Instex, the name of its new system. India's system is being used already. Although it is supposed to facilitate trade involving only nonsanctioned entities and goods, a Wall Street Journal review of Indian customs records shows it is allowing companies to trade with Iranian entities named on the U.S. sanctions list. On Jan. 24, Punjab Bevel Gears Ltd., a parts manufacturer in Ghaziabad, India, sent nearly $71,000 of tractor components to Iran Tractor Manufacturing Co. Treasury classifies the company as a "specially designated global terrorist," and says it can sanction any company anywhere in the world that trades with the Iranian company. Iran Tractor didn't respond to a request for comment. Mohan Singh, who handles exports for Punjab Bevel Gears, says his company got paid through India's payment mechanism. He says he wasn't concerned that the buyer is on the sanctions list because "the Indian government has allowed export to Iran. That's what we are doing." The European effort may be the most serious threat to the U.S. dominance. "I want Europe to be a sovereign continent, not a vassal, and that means having totally independent financing instruments," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said at a press conference last year. In an op-ed around the same time, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote that it is "essential that we strengthen European autonomy by establishing payment channels independent of the U.S." Planning in Europe began after the U.S. threatened action against Swift the Belgium-based system that banks use to communicate with each other about money movements unless it cut off Iran's banks. In response, Germany, France and the U.K. decided to set up Instex, an acronym for Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges. The system, which isn't yet operational, will be based on the euro, the second-most-used currency in international trade. Initially, it will allow for trade with Iran of goods not covered by new U.S. sanctions, such as consumer products and medicine. It is needed because U.S. sanctions bar dollar transactions with Iranian banks, even on deals for unsanctioned goods. Once operational, Instex's members could expand it to cover any trade with Iran. Vice President Mike Pence told a conference in February that European countries were trying to "break American sanctions against Iran's murderous revolutionary regime." Officials in Europe say they needed to create Instex to honor earlier deals with Iran. The system aims to bypass the dollar by using the same mechanism underlying the age-old hawala money-transfer system popular in the Middle East and Asia, under which people pay cash in one office and a recipient draws the equivalent funds at a distant locale without money actually moving. This is how the Instex system would handle the sale of medicine by a German company to an Iranian buyer: The German exporter wouldn't get paid by the buyer, but by another European company that is separately importing goods from Iran. Similarly, in Iran, the buyer of the medicine would pay the exporter of the other goods. No dollars at all would be involved, which means the U.S. would have no jurisdiction. Instex incorporates a "sovereign shield" that puts government officials who can't be prosecuted by the U.S. in the top positions, which protects individual bankers from U.S. pressure. While the European initiative is focused on bypassing the Iran sanctions, China's effort is broader. It has struck deals under which countries including Turkey and Pakistan have agreed to sell goods to China in exchange for yuan. Last year, it did a currency swap with Nigeria to reduce the need for dollars in bilateral deals. And it established a yuan-based system that enables Serbians to use their local credit cards in other countries. In 2013, less than 7% of trade between China and Russia was in yuan and rubles, the bank ING Groep reported last year. In 2017, it was more than 18%. If China trades in yuan with sanctioned entities, the U.S. would have trouble detecting and stopping it. China's effort to develop nondollar payment systems is significant because it is the world's second-biggest economy, with a huge role in global trade. China's Cross-border Inter-Bank Payment System, which started in 2015, is operated by the People's Bank of China. So far, it is used only in yuan transactions and is using Swift, the global payments system, for communicating about transactions. Many who study international trade expect it to evolve into a system that allows widespread yuan-based trade without using Swift. Even if such alternative systems catch on, the dollar is likely to dominate international trade for years to come. In 2016, the most recent year for which data are available, the dollar was involved in 88% of the daily trades in the $5 trillion-per-day foreign-currency market, according to the Bank for International Settlements, an international institution owned by central banks. The euro is handicapped by political uncertainty in Europe, and the yuan by Chinese restrictions on currency flows and unease about that nation's economy. Further bolstering the dollar's standing is its role as the world's main reserve currency, held by central banks globally. That creates a strong incentive to keep the currency stable and liquid. "The rest of the world can't do without the U.S. dollar," says Daniel Drezner, a Tufts University professor who used to advise the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. has used that power to force foreign countries to abide by its laws on money laundering and corruption. After the 9/11 attacks, it used its control of the dollar to increase surveillance of global money flows and curb financing for terrorist organizations. That began a shift toward using the dollar to further U.S. policy goals. North Korea, Syria and al Qaeda were mostly cut off from the global financial system by U.S. sanctions. Policy makers used the U.S.'s control of the dollar to try cutting off funds for despotic regimes, would-be nuclear powers and rivals intent on undermining elections in democratic countries. Yet tensions have arisen over big U.S. fines against companies seen as important in their own countries. France's Société Générale last year paid $1.34 billion to settle claims it violated U.S. sanctions against Cuba, Iran and Sudan. Petróleo Brasileiro SA, Brazil's state-controlled oil company, agreed last year to pay $853 million to U.S. and Brazilian authorities and additional money to investors for allegedly paying kickbacks and inflating costs on projects in Brazil. This year, Russian telecom MTS agreed to pay $850 million to resolve charges that it bribed Uzbek officials. Even with the risk of fines, though, the high cost of alternative transactions meant avoiding the dollar was hardly worth it. Even bitcoin has failed to catch on as a large-scale substitute because of the cryptocurrency's volatility. India's alternative system is similar in concept to Europe's, though it is used now only for trade involving Iranian oil, for which the U.S. gave India a temporary waiver. In April, the U.S. said it would end the waiver. India has stopped direct purchases of Iranian oil, at least temporarily, the Journal reported this week. A Journal review of customs data on more than 5,000 shipments from India to Iran in January shows hundreds going to Iranian entities whose owners are subject to U.S. sanctions. American and European companies have used the system to sell goods despite the sanctions. Ajay Sahai, CEO of the Federation of Indian Exporting Organizations, says India is on track to export some $3.5 billion in goods to Iran this year, about 25% higher than last year. He says he hopes the Indian government can "convince the U.S. of our need to import oil from Iran" so that Indian exporters can continue selling to Iran. While the system is designed to facilitate only trade involving nonsanctioned entities, Mr. Sahai says Indian exporters must rely on the word of the Iranian counterparts for how products will be used, presenting a risk of goods being sold to parties who are subject to sanctions. One U.S. company's use of the Indian system shows that even companies complying with sanctions need to find ways around bank policies of not doing business with Iran. On Jan. 9, the Indian subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based medical-supply company Colorcon Inc. got paid the equivalent of about $9,000 for drug ingredients shipped to an Iranian firm called Sobhan Oncology. Sobhan is owned by companies whose owner is controlled by Iran's supreme leader, according to Kharon, a Washington company that uses open-source data to reveal networks of sanctioned entities. The Treasury Department has said that Sobhan Oncology's parent is involved in "generating revenue for the Iranian leadership" and "assisting the Iranian Government's circumvention of U.S. and international sanctions." Colorcon is allowed to trade with Iranian companies because the goods it sells are covered by a license allowing food and medical exports. And while it isn't allowed to trade with entities sanctioned for things like terrorist connections, it is allowed to sell to companies that, like Sobhan's owners, are only sanctioned for being owned by the Iranian government. Colorcon's lawyer, Janet Reed, says "the practical reality" is that most banks won't process such transactions because of their fear of doing any business with Iran. So Colorcon got paid through India's payment mechanism. In theory, says Colorcon General Counsel Bruce Reed, the company could have received payment in dollars, or any other currency. In practice, though, "it appears that the only one that's effectively trading now is rupees," he says.


Kawhi Leonard did not sound too interested in joining an existing superteam with the Los Angeles Lakers, especially after he took down the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Why would he need LeBron James and Anthony Davis when he won it all with Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam? But what also didn't help the Lakers' case to sign him was the leaks from Magic Johnson. Cris Carter, who has been on top of the Leonard free agency story, reported that Leonard wasn't in favor of forming a superteam after taking one out. He also said Magic's leaks didn't help either. Video by USA Today Sports Kawhi wasn't in favor of forming another super team after taking down the Warriors.   Cris Carter (@criscarter80) July 6, 2019 All the information that leaked from Magic's conversations with Kawhi team didn't help the Lakers case.   Cris Carter (@criscarter80) July 6, 2019 All the information about Kawhi Leonard's free agency process was as quiet as could be. Information was hard to come by, with most of the random rumors coming from unreliable sources. None of the typical credible reporters were providing information. But there was one piece of information that came out, and it was the details of Magic Johnson's conversation with Leonard and his manager, Uncle Dennis. Brad Turner reported several details on Spectrum SportsNet of Magic's conversation with Leonard. Where else did that information come from if not through Magic? It's obvious Johnson yapped. Kawhi's camp did not like that, just as was reported during the week . Meanwhile, there was not one leak from the Clippers all along. Not one. They proved they were trustworthy, and they ended up with the biggest prize of all. Leonard probably was unlikely to choose the Lakers. The fact that the only leak about his free agency came from them probably cemented things in his mind. Related slideshow: 2019 NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


Brooks Koepka admitted the final round of the PGA Championship was "stressful" after a dramatic win Sunday. Koepka defended his title in New York despite a back-nine collapse at Bethpage Black, beating Dustin Johnson by two shots. But Koepka made his fourth major victory difficult, bogeying five of his final eight holes as his seven-stroke overnight lead was briefly cut to one. He was happy to get the job done after shooting a four-over 74 in the final round, becoming the first man to win both the U.S. Open and PGA titles back-to-back. "I'm just glad we didn't have to play any more holes. That was a stressful round of golf," Koepka said at the trophy presentation. "The wind was up, DJ played awesome, congrats to him, he put the pressure on but I'm glad to have this thing back in my hands." #PGAChamp @BKoepka pic.twitter.com/JONT9kqSMW   PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 19, 2019 Johnson's charge fell short after the 2016 U.S. Open champion bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes. Koepka said he was aware of Johnson, who finished with a one-under 69 in the fourth round. MORE : PGA Championship 2019: Rory McIlroy finishes with back-to-back rounds under par "How could you not with the DJ chants? I heard everything," he said. "He did an unbelievable job putting pressure on me, making me play some solid golf coming down the end."


Despite the stir caused by Tiger Woods' shirt at the Masters, he'll only wear the mock neck style on Sunday at the PGA Championship. Thursday through Saturday, Woods will wear traditional collar shirt styles of the Nike TW Vapor Block Polo. Woods will start the week out in the blue color-blocked stripe shirt and grey pants. The blue solid shoulder pattern gives the traditional striped shirt a little more personality and style. On Friday and Saturday, Woods will stick with a quieter color palette in a black striped shirt on Friday and white stripes on Saturday. The simple looks are consistent with Wood's typical athletic-yet-serious styling. The looks are also in line with the Nike team's scripting that was inspired by the nearby New York City style scene and 1990s color-blocking patterns. Expect to see similar color palettes of bright blue, red and black from other Nike athletes like Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy. On Sunday, Woods will return to his now-iconic mock neck Sunday red shirt and black pants. Woods is now the only Nike athlete to wear the mock neck on tour. The shirt has been flying off shelves since Woods' win at Augusta and even a PGA Championship-logoed version of the top was spotted at the tournament merchandise tent. No word on the reasoning behind his only wearing the style once at Bethpage. SHOP WOODS' PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LOOKS NOW: Thursday through Saturday Shirt: TW Vapor Block Polo: Blue, Black, Platinum Available at golfgalaxy.com BUY NOW: $85 Sunday Shirt: Nike Dri-FIT Tiger Woods Vapor Men's Mock-Neck Golf Top Available at nike.com BUY NOW : $85 Pants: TW pant, for a similar look, try the Nike Flex Slim Fit Golf Pants Available at nike.com BUY NOW: $100 Hat: TW Aerobill Classic 99 Available at nike.com BUY NOW: $35 Shoe: Nike Air Zoom TW71 Available at nike.com BUY NOW: $150


6 tech trends for business owners What can tech mean for your business? You know you can ask Alexa to play music while you re busy prepping dinner. And you know you can scan your smartphone to pay for a Starbucks latte. But do you know what these (and other) consumer tech trends mean for your business? We spoke to business leaders and retail experts to find out more about the technologies   from voice commerce to augmented reality and artificial intelligence   that are affecting businesses big and small. Click through the slideshow to see the six tech trends you should be paying attention to right now. 1. Cashless commerce Grab and go. Tap and pay. These catchy calls to action entice shoppers to get on their way fast, whether exiting an Uber ride or a store that has no checkout lanes. Technology enabling next-generation cashless transactions comes in many forms   such as chip-embedded key fobs, smartphones and mobile ride-sharing apps. Because these transactions do not require PIN code entry, credit slip signatures or cash handling, they're super speedy. While no one pretends to know what technology ultimately will win over the masses, consumers' increasing demand for speed and convenience signals it's time for businesses to craft a mobile payment strategy. So how do you create such a strategy? The experts we spoke to recommend a holistic approach, where cashless payments represent one step on the path to increasing convenience and customer satisfaction. 2. Augmented reality Augmented reality, or AR, is technology that superimposes information   like digital images or text   on the real world (usually through the lens of a smartphone camera). You've probably heard about AR in the context of mobile gaming (think: Pokémon Go), but big brands and retailers, like L'Oreal and Wayfair are also using this technology to offer a realistic "try-before-you-buy" visual experience that helps assure shoppers of their purchase decisions. While smaller businesses may not have the resources to develop their own AR technologies, they do have the ability to jump on the AR bandwagon in a more cost-effective way, says Chris Baker, founder of social media agency Totem Media, who told us that social platforms like Facebook and Snapchat provide inexpensive opportunities for brands to experiment with AR to find out how the tech resonates with their customers and whether this technology might warrant further investment. 3. Personalizing customer experience Enhancing the customer experience has become a key strategy for brands seeking to differentiate themselves and grow their sales in highly competitive industries. In the food industry, pizza chains paved the way to more personalized customer service with user-friendly ordering apps, Starbucks raised the bar with its digital loyalty program and personalized product offers and McDonald s recently made an acquisition that will enable the food chain to provide product suggestions to e-commerce shoppers based on their orders and other variables. While the data collection tactics of these huge brands may seem out of reach for smaller businesses, there are a few basic steps businesses can take to collect information about their customers that can lead to greater personalization. First and foremost, businesses need to build up the digital channels (i.e., social media posting and email campaigns) they use to communicate with customers, said Mary Martin , a partner at Boston Consulting Group. Customer loyalty programs, Martin noted, are also a proven way for businesses to glean insights into customer preferences and identify opportunities to personalize the customer experience. 4. Voice commerce Voice commerce encompasses shopping and purchasing activities that use voice-recognition technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret and respond to the spoken word from live human beings. "Voice is to the future of retail as walking erect was to human evolution  a critical next step," technology futurist and anthropologist Thornton May told us . Other tech experts, Sterling Hawkins, co-founder of Center for Advancing Retail & Technology, Los Angeles, sees potential for voice commerce but is a bit more measured about where it applies. Businesses considering whether voice assistants might fit into operations need to use the technology themselves, he said. "The most important thing is to engage with it. Engage by bringing in vendors, conversations at trade shows, pilot testing and use it as a consumer," Hawkins told us . 5. Artificial intelligence Good customer service is enough to make or break a purchase, and digitally native hair care company Madison Reed is one of the brands that has realized and addressed this by implementing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot that communicates with customers who have questions or are looking for the perfect hair color shade. The chatbot (her name is Madi), can be accessed through text message and Facebook. She offers the customer options like, "Get Color Matched" or "Live Chat Support." If the customer chooses to get color matched, a selfie can be sent directly to Madi so she can provide color suggestions. Even businesses that primarily operate in the real world, like Walgreen's, are flirting with responsive in-store technologies, such as interactive shelf displays and AI-powered virtual demos , that bring products to life in new ways while amassing valuable data on shoppers' in-store behavior to continually enhance the experience. 6. Predictive analytics "In the retail industry, the single most difficult decision in the entire equation is not necessarily what to buy, but how much," said Theo Rose, a principal at New York-based consulting firm Applied Retail Transformation Ltd. Historically, retail apparel merchandisers have relied on a combination of in-store testing and intuition to make decisions about what items to carry and how to price them   which can be time-consuming and often costly, when items that miss the mark with customers need to be marked down. To make the process more effective and expedient, retailers like rue21 have begun working with technology companies that apply predictive analytics to the evaluation of potential new items and their optimal price points before bringing the items into the stores. The system works by sending out brief surveys in which the retailer asks customers to evaluate potential new items and provide feedback on suggested prices. The surveys are positioned as "games" to the retailer's young audience, and often sent through social media platforms such as Instagram. The whole feedback loop takes a matter of hours, compared with the many months that traditional in-store tests can encompass. This article originally appeared on CO  and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.


OAKLAND   The Warriors are down just eight points to the Raptors at the half of Game 3, despite no Klay Thompson , no Kevin Durant , and playing no good defense for extended stretches. They are close because of Stephen Curry . Curry scored 25 points in the 24 minutes on 7-of-13 shooting overall, including 4-of-8 from three. Plus he did this to Kyle Lowry . Steph is insane 😲 pic.twitter.com/TVChBXCUF8   Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) June 6, 2019 Curry has kept the Warriors within striking distance of the Raptors, the question is can these banged up Warriors pull off the kind of second-half comeback we've come to expect from this team? Curry is going to have to dominate another half (which may be harder because Toronto is not going to keep Kyle Lowry on him), but more than that the Warriors need to play much better defense (particularly bench guys such as Quinn Cook and Jonas Jerebko ).


Calistus Anyichie, a rising sophomore forward at Binghamton, drowned on Sunday. He was 19 years old. "There are no words," Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "There is no blueprint for how to deal with such a painful loss. We all loved Calistus so much. He was such a special young man. We are devastated." "A talented young person has been tragically taken from us," said President Harvey Stenger. "This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. We will do all that we can to be there for his family, for the team and everyone who knew Calistus." Anyichie's body was found down a 15-foot bank in Upper Buttermilk State Park on Sunday evening, after the Ithaca Fire Department responded to calls of an unconscious man in the water.


It isn't up for debate that James Harden makes his teammates better, from creating assists to perfecting the pick and roll to being an outright leader for his team. But according to Chris Paul, it isn't even him doing anything specific that helps. "It's been great. It's been cool. It's the way that we play," Paul said, according to Michael Pina of SB Nation . "If you play the way that we play, push it in transition and stuff like that, and then we play together some and then we don't play together some. I don't think for me and him, we don't even pay any attention [to assisting each other]. "Sometimes the biggest assist is having James on the court, and me driving and them hugged on him. There's no stat for that though. There's no stat for that. When I'm driving, and the guy is denying him, you know what I mean?" Both Paul and Harden are players that like to run the point and have the ball in their hand, but they've clearly found a great rhythm together. Interestingly enough, SB Nation points out, in 1130 minutes together on the court, Paul and Harden - a pair that averaged 15.7 assists per game overall this year, which was more than any other two teammates in the league - only set each other up on 53 total buckets. "Is there another tandem of two Hall of Fame point guards?" Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said when asked why Harden and Paul don't collaborate more often. "James is an iso guy, that's what he does. That's what he does best. He's great at it. We exploit that and we'll live with the consequences…we're not questioning now 'Oh yeah let's change everything and let's figure something else out.' No we're not doing that." Let's hope the two can get rolling for Game 6 tonight (9 pm ET on ESPN), as the Rockets face elimination from the Western Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Harden is having a great series, whereas Paul is struggling. MORE: The full story from the guy who got Danica Patrick a drink at the Bucks-Celtics game NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players There's still room for Josh Jones in the Packers defense 3 Raiders players who could have breakout seasons in 2019 Richard Sherman: 'The secondary wasn't the issue last year'


Kevin Durant is coming to New York. Just not to the team everybody thought. The superstar power forward has agreed to sign a four-year, $161 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, according to multiple reports, a stunning move that puts the outer borough into the NBA's focus. Durant, who tore his Achilles earlier this month, is missing next season but will eventually team up with Kyrie Irving. Irving will enter into a four-year, $141 million deal with the Nets. That combination was the Knicks' dream for two years, and Sunday it became their nightmare. The neighbor in Brooklyn has the juice and the Knicks are left with cap space to fill on unworthy players. James Dolan and Steve Mills, the duo at the top of the Knicks' hierarchy for majority of the last 20 miserable years, failed yet again. That's not to anoint Brooklyn as an NBA champion. They're just the winner of New York and free agency, even beating the Warriors and their supermax offer of $220 million. The road ahead is littered with potholes for the Nets, specifically concerning their superstar duo. Already considered an all-time great, Durant will be 32 when he finally plays for the Nets. But the Nets, unlike the Knicks, have an infrastructure in place to absorb some growing pains. They made the playoffs last season and the young core of Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris is returning.     ©2019 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Video by USA Today Sports


Couldn't catch the latest high school battles? Here's your roundup of high school softball scores from Los Angeles this past week, powered by data from high school sports source MaxPreps . (Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Details like game dates, times, scores and team records are based on data provided by MaxPreps and may be subject to change; the latest up-to-date information is available at the links below.) Hamilton edges out View Park Thursday saw the Hamilton Yankees defeat the View Park Knights by a score of 3-2. The Hamilton Yankees hit one home run to bring their total to 16 this season. The win brought Hamilton's record to 18-4, while View Park's record fell to 11-5. Bravo outsmarts Northridge Academy Also on Thursday, the Bravo Knights traveled to Northridge to face off against the Northridge Academy Pumas . The Knights ultimately unseated the Pumas in an 8-4 victory. The loss brought Northridge Academy's record to 16-5, while Bravo's record rose to 11-6. El Camino Real outsmarts Banning On Thursday, May 9, Wilmington's Banning Pilots hosted Woodland Hills's El Camino Real Conquistadors at home. The El Camino Real Conquistadors out-hustled the Banning Pilots 7-1, to walk away with the victory . The Banning Pilots had four hits, while the Conquistadors had 10. The El Camino Real Conquistadors hit one home run to bring their total to 15 this year. The loss brought Banning's record to 17-12, while El Camino Real's record rose to 20-9. Verdugo Hills sneaks past Discovery Also on Thursday, the Tujunga Verdugo Hills Dons traveled to Pacoima to face off against the Discovery Warriors . The Dons snuck past the Warriors for a 4-3 win . Although they lost, the Discovery Warriors actually had 13 hits to Verdugo Hills' four. The Warriors hit one home run to bring their total to 20 this year. The Verdugo Hills Dons also hit one home run of their own. The loss brought Discovery's record to 20-7, while Verdugo Hills' record rose to 10-11-2. Chavez prevails over Venice Thursday also saw the San Fernando Chavez Eagles face off against the Venice Gondoliers at home. The Chavez Eagles ultimately triumphed over the Gondoliers in a 9-5 win. The win brought Chavez's record to 21-13, while Venice's record fell to 11-13. Chatsworth prevails over San Pedro Also on Thursday, the San Pedro Pirates traveled to Chatsworth to face off against the Chatsworth Chancellors . They drove home disappointed: the Pirates lost to the Chatsworth Chancellors by a score of 2-0. The win brought Chatsworth's record to 25-5-1, while San Pedro's record fell to 14-8. Eagle Rock scores 18 runs, smothers Palisades The Pacific Palisades Dolphins traveled to Los Angeles this week to face off against the Eagle Rock Eagles on Thursday. Eagle Rock's home team advantage paid off: they walked away with the 18-4 victory . The Eagle Rock Eagles hit two home runs to bring their total to 21 this season. The win brought Eagle Rock's record to 15-9, while Palisades' record fell to 8-12-1. Granada Hills Charter snuffs out San Fernando The Granada Hills Granada Hills Charter team traveled to San Fernando this week to face off against the San Fernando Tigers on Thursday. The Granada Hills Charter Highlanders wrangled a win from the San Fernando Tigers, 9-3. The Granada Hills Charter Highlanders hit one home run. The loss brought San Fernando's record to 23-6-1, while Granada Hills Charter's record rose to 18-10. Los Angeles strikes out Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy Thursday also saw the Los Angeles Romans matchup against the Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy Eagles at home. The Los Angeles Romans walked away with the win , beating the Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy Eagles soundly, 13-0. The win brought Los Angeles' record to 13-3, while Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy's record fell to 9-7. Chavez overthrows Birmingham Wednesday brought a new round of high school contests, Lake Balboa's Birmingham Patriots clashing with San Fernando's Chavez Eagles . The Chavez Eagles walked away with a win , beating the Patriots soundly, 10-0. The loss brought Birmingham's record to 19-13, while Chavez's record rose to 22-13. This story was created automatically using local sports data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Bill Hayes always had a clear memory of how World War II started. He was entering Fort Shafter in Honolulu to play golf on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, when he saw soldiers with combat helmets and rifles pour out of their barracks. At first, he thought it was an exercise. Then a friend cried, "The Japs have attacked!" Hayes, a retired Army colonel, died this week at a San Antonio nursing home at 100, leaving only three Pearl Harbor survivors in the area: Navy Radioman 1st Class William St. John, 97; retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Platt, 98; and Gilbert Meyer, 95, a retired chief petty officer who served aboard the USS Utah. Hayes will be buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. May 31 in Shelter No. 1. On ExpressNews.com: And then there were four On the day of the attack, Hayes, like so many soldiers, sailors and Marines, didn't hesitate. He was the personnel sergeant major at Hickam Field's Station Hospital, adjacent to the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, and he drove there as fast as he could   85 mph. "And as I drove up the road, I saw a … plane drop a bomb into a large oil tank, and it went up in smoke. The sky was full of planes and bursts from antiaircraft shells," Hayes wrote in a remembrance of the battle. He dashed into his quarters. "When I came out, I stood on the fender of the car and watched them bomb a ship in Pearl Harbor," he wrote. "There were four planes attacking the ship in four directions. One plane came over my head about 50 feet high, and I could see the (pilot's) face almost clearly enough to recognize him if I saw him again ... He let his bombs go as he passed the ship. They didn't look very big but they made a hell of a noise." Hayes' front-row seat to America's entry into World War II started in 1938, when he joined the Army intending to serve in Hawaii. He completed basic medical training at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu before taking over as NCO of sick and wounded troops in the Surgeon's Department. He transferred to Station Hospital at Hickam Field in November 1941. Decades later, as an officer, he served as Brooke Army Medical Center's comptroller in a career that spanned more than 39 years. "He was history. He was history in the making," said his daughter, Judith Kroczek, 76, of Michigan City, Ind. "A finer man you would not know. The military was his life." On ExpressNews.com: Pearl Harbor survivors honored on 75th anniversary A native of Bristol, Tenn., William Haskell Hayes moved with his parents to Salisbury, Md., in 1934 and later attended Takoma Academy in Washington, D.C., and Southern Junior College in Chattanooga, Tenn. Five months after Pearl Harbor, he went to Officer Candidate School at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. He made warrant officer in May and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Medical Administrative Corps the next month. He went on to serve as chief of the Surgeon's Offices' personnel section in San Francisco. He organized medical supplies for Army troop transports in Portland, Ore., and held a variety of roles in post-war Germany before becoming medical detachment commander at William Beaumont Army Hospital on Fort Bliss. After earning a master's degree in business administration, Hayes worked in the Pentagon and later played a key role in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, better known as CHAMPUS. Hayes and his wife, Laura, had five children. Their three surviving children said their father was active in Fort Sam Houston's Garden Club, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and other groups. "He was just always wanting to help," said Richard Hayes, 64, of San Antonio. "He just had a very strong faith in God, and he attended church after mom passed away especially. But even before that, he just had a strong faith that things were going to be OK." On ExpressNews.com: Some Pearl Harbor survivors' remains returned to Hawaii after death Irene Hernandez helps put on the annual Pearl Harbor Survivors Association's luncheon at a San Antonio restaurant that starts with a moment of silence at 11:55 a.m. Dec. 7, the moment the battle began. She said Hayes always had a good mind. "He was real sharp," she said, adding that he was "very, very active in the organization for a long time." Hayes' wife, Laura, died in 1988 and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Bill Hayes also was preceded in death by a son, William Hayes II, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and a daughter, Suzen Hayes. They died in 2009 and 2005, respectively. Two of Hayes' other children   Kroczek, a registered nurse, and Donald Hayes of Omaha, Nebraska   said the war wasn't much of a topic for their father until late in life. "He never talked about anything until he started hitting about 90, 95, and then he started recollecting a whole lot of stuff," said Donald Hayes, 59. "He didn't have any ill will. I'm sure at the time he was probably (angry), but as time went on … he would tell the story." In a Dec. 8, 1941, letter to his mother, Bill Hayes wrote that the war had been some time in coming, and that America had simply not wanted to believe it. "Our war with Japan really started a while back, but no one would take any notice. A few high officials tried to warn us of impending danger but we were afraid it might create disunity with Japan and lead to war. So we leaned back and let them bring war to us," he wrote. "They knew what they wanted and how to get it," Hayes wrote. "They knew the waters better than our Navy. They knew the inside of the military setup, the locations of vital installations, and had maps of the same that were as good as ours." On the dawn of battle, he awoke to a beautiful, sunny day alone. His wife had spent the night with her mother in Kaimuki, a Honolulu neighborhood. He had breakfast and took off for the golf course at Fort Shafter, where he realized the attack had begun and took off for Station Hospital. When he arrived there, he grabbed his helmet and first aid kit and was running to help when a bomb exploded 20 feet from the building, knocking him and everyone nearby off their feet. "Things were getting lively by now. Wounded were pouring in, blood was running an inch deep on the floor. I applied four tourniquets, which was about all one could do, then went out and started carrying in the wounded," he wrote. They were brought in by the truckload, Hayes wrote. "Most of the wounded were three-quarters dead by the time they were picked up, they had their legs blown off, their stomachs torn out, their heads torn open, and everything else that isn't imaginable." Sig Christenson covers the military and veterans in San Antonio, Bexar County and the nation. Read him on our free site , mySA.com, and on our subscriber site , ExpressNews.com. | sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe


It is entirely understandable for others to be keenly passionate about desserts and for some to have difficulty wrapping their heads around a colorful three-tiered cake. While there are individuals who seem to understand both territories well, many of us can only accommodate one preference in this savory-versus-sweet predicament. But if the conversation falls on the topic of breakfast, the entire discussion is changed. Breakfast can be overly specific, always starting at tender hours of the day. On that account, how do you exactly choose between savory and sweet breakfast foods ? First of all, this entire discourse is partly cultural . In America, breakfast foods are likely to approach a sweeter taste. This reason is supported by the abundance of boxed cereals during the baby boom generation. On the other hand, Asian countries gravitate toward savory breakfast foods. These can come in the form of noodle broths, fried rice and different kinds of meat. Moreover, Europe, just like America, encourages children to have sweet choices in the morning, like pastries or toast drenched in sweet preserves. But one of the reasons why people opt for a savory or sweet plate in the morning is due to the meal eaten for dinner. When you eat foods that have a high amount of carbs, your sugar level will eventually crash, after which your body craves something sweet. Say, if you had classic spaghetti before going to bed, chances are you are going to wake up the next day wanting something filled with sugar. That said, is one more superior than the other? The answer is both yes and no. It is essential for you to get enough protein in the morning, and to achieve this, you can eat savory ones like eggs and meat or sweeter options, such as a bowl of yogurt topped with nuts. It is also essential to avoid eating a refined carb-loaded meal in the morning and ensure that you are getting enough healthy fats and sugar. As long as you can eat something good for your body and overall health, it does not matter whether you opt for a savory or sweet breakfast. Related video: Is Pizza a Healthier Breakfast Choice Than Cereal? (Provided by Buzz60)


Only hours after the Texans announced they have fired Brian Gaine as General Manager, the Jets hired Joe Douglas as their G.M. The team announced the agreement with Douglas on Friday night, and Adam Schefter of ESPN reports it's a six-year deal. Douglas was on the Texans' list of candidates last year when they hired Gaine, but the Eagles had denied Houston permission to interview Douglas. Because of his close relationship with Jets coach Adam Gase, Douglas was the favorite to land the Jets' job as soon as they fired Mike Maccagnan. Douglas initially interviewed with the Jets on Sunday. Douglas spent the past three seasons with the Eagles after spending one year with the Bears in 2015 when Gase was in Chicago. Douglas worked for the Ravens for 16 years before making the move to Chicago. He was the team's national scout when they drafted linebacker C.J. Mosley in the first round of the 2014 draft. Mosley made the move to the Jets as a free agent this offseason. The Jets also interviewed Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer, Saints director of pro scouting Terry Fontenot and Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly.


Hungry? A new neighborhood coffee and tea spot has you covered. Located at 401 Park Drive in Kenmore, the new addition is called Time Out Market - Boston . Time Out Market - Boston provides an eating and drinking market that features Boston's top chefs, restaurants and bars. At the market, expect to see seafood, meat, vegetarians options, sweets and more. Some of the eateries in the market include Union Square Donuts, Revolution Health Kitchen, Craigie Burger and more. The new cocktail bar has gotten off to an uneven start thus far, with a three-star rating out of 30 reviews on Yelp. Yelper Jacqueline M. wrote , "The fried chicken sandwich was absolutely delicious. The chicken thigh was straight from the fryer, and had a crispy crunchy breading." Interested? Stop by to welcome the new business to the neighborhood. Time Out Market - Boston is open from 7:30 a.m. 10 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. midnight on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. noon on Saturday and 9 a.m. 10 a.m. on Sunday. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Boston? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Week in celebrity photos for June 17-21 Cardi B attends the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on June 20, 2019. Jake Owen performs at Country Stampede Music Festival, Day 1, in Topeka, Kansas, on June 20, 2019. Saweetie attends the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on June 20, 2019. Kendall Jenner is spotted out and about wearing Maisie Wilen in New York City on June 20, 2019. James Wan, Writer/Producer, Annabelle, and Vera Farmiga appear at the "Annabelle Comes Home" premiere in Los Angeles on June 20, 2019. Ricky Martin appears in the front row of the Berluti show for Spring/Summer 2020 at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 21, 2019. Jessica Alba is spotted out and about in Milan, Italy, on June 20, 2019. Joe Jonas appears in the front row of the Berluti show for Spring/Summer 2020 at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 21, 2019. Kehlani attends the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on June 20, 2019. Gigi Hadid appears in the front row of the Louis Vuitton show for Spring/Summer 2020at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 20, 2019. Helen Mirren appears on stage during the Karl For Ever memorial at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 20, 2019. Prince Charles and Daniel Craig go on a tour of the "James Bond" film in London on June 20, 2019. Mischa Barton and Audrina Patridge pose at the premiere afterparty for MTV's "The Hills: New Beginnings" at Liaison Restaurant and Lounge in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Ciara arrives at BBC Radio 1 Xtra in London on June 20, 2019. Tilda Swinton appears on stage during the Karl For Ever memorial at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 20, 2019. Corinne Olympios appears at the "Annabelle Comes Home" premiere in Los Angeles on June 20, 2019. Jenna Coleman attends the V&A Summer Party in London on June 19, 2019. Dame Joan Collins and Felicity Jones attend the V&A Summer Party in London on June 19, 2019. Paris Hilton and Kris Jenner attend The Glam App Launch in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Kathy Griffin and Aubrey Plaza attend the "Child's Play" film premiere in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Naomi Watts appears at "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" TV Show in New York City on June 19, 2019. Spencer Pratt , son Gunner and wife Heidi Montag arrive at MTV's "The Hills: New Beginnings" TV show premiere and party at Liaison Restaurant and Lounge in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Cara Delevingne appears on stage during the Karl For Ever memorial at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 20, 2019. Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards attend The Glam App Launch in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Heidi Klum is spotted out and about in New York City on June 19, 2019. Kaitlynn Carter Jenner, Brody Jenner , Linda Thompson and Frankie Delgado pose inside the premiere afterparty for MTV's "The Hills: New Beginnings" at Liaison Restaurant and Lounge in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Ginnifer Goodwin is spotted out and about in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Joel Edgerton appears in the front row of the Louis Vuitton show for Spring/Summer 2020at Paris Fashion Week Men's on June 20, 2019. Irina Shayk is spotted out and about in New York City on June 19, 2019. Stevie Nicks attends the V&A Summer Party in London on June 19, 2019. Jeff Goldblum and Sean Muller attend the Variety Studio in Cannes, France, on June 20, 2019. Eleanor Tomlinson appears at the ELLE List VIP Party in London on June 19, 2019. Mark Hamill and Gabriel Bateman attend the "Child's Play" film premiere in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Busy Philipps is spotted out and about in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Brandon Thomas Lee arrives at MTV's "The Hills: New Beginnings" TV show premiere and party at Liaison Restaurant and Lounge in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Whitney Port arrives at MTV's "The Hills: New Beginnings" TV show premiere and party at Liaison Restaurant and Lounge in Los Angeles on June 19, 2019. Rachel Zoe and Nikki Reed attend the Summer 2019 Box Of Style By Rachel Zoe Launch at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills on June 18, 2019. Lily James poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Yesterday" in London on June 18, 2019. Nicky Hilton Rothschild attends the World Pride summer kickoff party hosted by Alice and Olivia and The Trevor Project in New York City on June 18, 2019. Rihanna attends The Webster x Fenty Pop Up Experience in New York City on June 18, 2019. Jessie James Decker is spotted out and about in New York City on June 18, 2019. Rob Lowe and Sheryl Berkoff attend the Closing Ceremony of the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival on June 18, 2019. Ed Sheeran poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Yesterday" in London on June 18, 2019. Jenny Mollen and Jason Biggs attend the World Pride summer kickoff party hosted by Alice and Olivia and The Trevor Project in New York City on June 18, 2019. Kate McKinnon poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Yesterday" in London on June 18, 2019. Duchess Kate attends Royal Ascot, Day 1, at the Ascot Racetrack on June 18, 2019. Sofia Richie attends the World Pride summer kickoff party hosted by Alice and Olivia and The Trevor Project in New York City on June 18, 2019. Michael Douglas attends the Closing Ceremony of the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival on June 18, 2019. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice attend Royal Ascot, Day 1, at the Ascot Racetrack on June 18, 2019. Gigi Hadid sits front row at the Heron Preston show during Paris Fashion Week on June 18, 2019. Tom Hanks steps out in London on June 18, 2019. Kerry Washington attends the Cannes Lions 2019 in Cannes on June 17, 2019. Olivia Munn attends "The Rook" TV Show Premiere in Los Angeles on June 17, 2019. Theo James and Emily Ratajkowski attend the screening of "Lying and Stealing" in New York City on June 17, 2019. Raven Symone attends the 28th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards at Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on June 17, 2019. Kendall Jenner stops to buy a Orange Vanilla Coke and Nutella Breadsticks in New York City on June 17, 2019. Eric McCormack attends the "Will & Grace" TV show photocall at the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival on June 17, 2019. Kelly Ripa attends The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE Gala in New York City on June 17, 2019. Ashley Benson attends The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE Gala in New York City on June 17, 2019. Tyler Oakley attends The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE Gala in New York City on June 17, 2019. Julianne Moore attends the Chopard Flagship Boutique reopening party in London on June 17, 2019. Marion Cotillard attends the Chopard Flagship Boutique reopening party in London on June 17, 2019. Colin Firth and Livia Firth attend the Chopard Flagship Boutique reopening party in London on June 17, 2019. Richard Madden and Samuel L. Jackson appear in the front row at the Giorgio Armani show for Spring/Summer 2020 at Milan Fashion Week Men's on June 17, 2019. Emily Ratajkowski appears at the Build Speaker Series in New York City on June 17, 2019. The Spice Girls meet Adele backstage at the final night of their Spice World UK Tour at Wembley Stadium in London on June 16, 2019. Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union pose on the red carpet while arriving for the opening ceremony of the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 14, 2019. Prince Harry arrives at the Commonwealth 70th Anniversay garden party in London on June 14, 2019. Jenna Coleman attends the Cartier Queen's Cup at Windsor Great Park on June 16, 2019. Duchess Kate arrives at the Order of the Garter service at St George's Chapel on June 17, 2019. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Holland attend the "Spider-Man: Far From Home" film photocall in London on June 17, 2019. Madison Beer attends attends theARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration in Los Angeles on June 16, 2019. Tom Hanks attends the "Toy Story 4" film premiere in London on June 16, 2019. Irina Shayk walks on the catwalk for the Versace show for Spring/Summer 2020 at Milan Fashion Week Men's on June 15, 2019. Victoria Beckham and David Beckham arrive at Sevilla's cathedral to attend the wedding between Spanish Real Madrid soccer player Sergio Ramos and Pilar Rubio, in Sevilla, Spain, on June 15, 2019. Zendaya attends the "Spider-Man: Far From Home" film photocall in London on June 17, 2019. Niall Horan is spotted out and about in Milan, Italy, on June 15, 2019. Patricia Arquette appears at Day 3 for the Filming Italy Sardinia Festival on June 15, 2019. Jesse Williams appears at Day 3 for the Filming Italy Sardinia Festival on June 15, 2019. Bella Hadid walks on the catwalk for the Versace show for Spring/Summer 2020 at Milan Fashion Week Men's on June 15, 2019. Winnie Harlow attends Beautycon in Tokyo, Japan, on June 15, 2019. Matthew Koma, Hilary Duff and daughter Banks are spotted out and about in Los Angeles on June 15, 2019. Avril Lavigne attends theARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration in Los Angeles on June 16, 2019. Eva Longoria appears at "Good Morning America" in New York City on June 17, 2019. Darren Criss appears at Day 3 for the Filming Italy Sardinia Festival on June 15, 2019. Riley Keough attends the "Maiden" film premiere in Los Angeles on June 14, 2019. Olivia Holt attends theARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration in Los Angeles on June 16, 2019. Bella Thorne is spotted out and about in New York City on June 14, 2019. Alan Cumming poses on the red carpet while arriving for the opening ceremony of the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 14, 2019. Selma Blair and son Arthur support Country Time's efforts to legalize lemonade stands in all 50 states with a lemonade stand in Los Angeles on June 14, 2019.


Despite new disciplinary action by Pope Francis, West Virginia's attorney general called on a Catholic diocese to "come clean" with what it knows about alleged allegations of sexual harassment and financial improprieties by a former bishop. The pope on Friday banned former bishop Michael Bransfield from the public ministry or even living in the Wheeling-Charleston diocese based on the findings of a church investigation of "allegations of sexual harassment of adults and of financial improprieties." The pope's declaration, which stopped short of defrocking Bransfield, was posted on the website of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston/ It also requires Bransfield, who resigned in December, to make amends "for some of the harm he caused." That probe had earlier found Bransfield guilty of sexual harassment of adults and misuse of church funds, spending them on dining, liquor, gifts, personal travel and luxury items. The Washington Post, which obtained a copy of drafts of the investigation, reported in June that the church found that Bransfield spent $2.4 million in church money on travel, much of it personal, which included flying in chartered jets and staying in luxury hotels. Bransfield and several subordinates spent an average of nearly $1,000 a month on alcohol, the Post said, citing the confidential report. West Virginia attorney general Patrick Morrisey on Friday called the pope's decision "only one step" toward resolving the Bransfield case. He called on the diocese to comply with subpoenas issued as part of state probe of the church's handling of the case.. "After decades of covering up and concealing the behavior of priests as it relates to sexual abuse, it is time for the Diocese to come clean with what it knows and release the Bransfield report and any other relevant materials," Morrisey said . "None of the allegations of financial improprieties and sexual abuse may have been revealed if not for our investigation   the public shouldn't have to wait any longer for transparency." Morrisey filed suit against the diocese and Bransfield in March alleging it knowingly employed pedophiles and failed to conduct adequate background checks for those working at the diocese's schools and camps An amended complaint added allegations that the Diocese chose not to publicly disclose a report of child sexual abuse by a teacher in 2006. A statement from the diocese after the state's suit was filed dismissed the allegations, saying it does not "fairly portray its overall contributions to the education of children in West Virginia nor fairly portray the efforts of its hundreds of employees and clergy who work every day to deliver quality education in West Virginia." On Friday, the diocese announced that an independent auditor had been chosen to audit its accounts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: West Virginia attorney general calls on diocese to 'come clean' on remarkable allegations against former bishop


Hotels are going far beyond the typical coffee machines and turndown service with chocolates that travelers are used to, and making amenities more personalized and eclectic. Travel + Leisure has pulled together some of the coolest amenities guests can find at properties around the world, from a hotel that serves a fresh piece of pie each night to one that has in-room beer taps. Here are the hotel amenities that can upgrade your stay from good to great. Pie Turndown Service At the Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast in Salisbury Mills, New York, guests who book a stay in September can enjoy a fresh piece of pie as part of turndown service each night. The pie service starts after Labor Day and runs through the end of the month, with fresh pies baked daily (including cherry, cream, apple and more). In-room Beer Taps and Shower Mini-fridges In 2018, BrewDog opened The DogHouse , the world's first craft beer hotel, located inside their Columbus, Ohio brewery. Guests can enjoy beer all day long thanks to in-room beer taps and showers that come with adjacent mini-fridges. Puzzle Turndown Service At Twin Farms, in Barnard, Vermont, guests can get a unique and seasonally crafted puzzle to take home thanks to a partnership with Stave Puzzles . The puzzle company is known for its intricate and handcrafted wooden puzzles. An Elevator Bartender At the W Los Angeles   West Beverly Hills , guests who step into the hotel's elevator on Saturday evenings will find a Sip N Lift Cocktail Caddy. The in-elevator bartender mixes cocktails from the hotel's dining venues including STK Los Angeles and The Living Room Bar. In-room Arcade Games At the Curtis Denver, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel , guests get DoubleTree's standard warm chocolate chip cookies. For an added nostalgic experience, book a stay at the hotel's video game suite , one of several themed suites that includes a Donkey Kong arcade game in the room, alongside Mario-inspired wall decorations and more. Some of the other themed rooms include a disco room, complete with lava lamps, to the big hair room, where guests can sit in their own salon chairs. A Broadway Experience Thanks to the Chatwal's location just steps from New York's Theater District, guests staying at the property can take advantage of its Broadway Experience , which includes an in-room dress up trunk for youngsters filled with items from popular theater shows with items like the genie lamp from "Aladdin," Elsa's crown from "Frozen," and Harry Potter's wand. The hotel also offers an afternoon tea with a Broadway theme, with pastries designed around shows like "Aladdin," "Frozen," and "The Lion King." Afternoon tea prices start at $95 for two. Wildflower Bookmarks At the Betsy-South Beach, a family-owned luxury boutique hotel in Miami's Art Deco district, art is weaved into every stay. Through the hotel's turndown amenities, guests receive nightly bookmarks made out of a combination of recycled paper and wildflower seeds. Guitars and Sheet Musicr With "The Rock Stars and Guitars" program at the Edgewater, Seattle's only over-water hotel, guests can enjoy their own acoustic or electric guitars along with sheet music from artists like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Van Halen, and Pearl Jam. The hotel has hosted musical legends including members of The Beatles and KISS. The hotel also has a "Hey! Be a DJ!" program to check out record players and records from groups like The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Who, Beastie Boys, and Willie Nelson. Celebrity Wake-up Calls For a wake-up call you'll never forget, opt for a stay at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort . The resorts "Waking with the Stars" amenity treats guests to a special wake-up call from famed musicians like Kellie Picker, Vince Gill, and Trace Adkins. In-room Cocktails Stations All of the guest rooms and suites at the Troubadour in New Orleans come with a cocktail station so that guests can mix drinks in their own room. The station includes a recipe for the hotel's signature cocktail (made of bourbon, old fashioned mix, and San Pellegrino Blood Orange), as well as other liquor, bitters, and tumbler cups with straws for guests to take their drinks with them. Hunter Boots and Outerwear The Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island is a nature lover's paradise, and an on-site naturalist leads excursions like stargazing, biking, and bird watching for guests. To help guests get ready to head out, the hotel has a Hunter Borrowing Closet with Hunter boots and outerwear options for adults and children. Champagne Sabering At St. Regis properties, one of the traditions is champagne sabering , which dates back to the days of Napoleon. Sabering, the act of opening champagne bottles using a saber or sword, is celebrated in different ways depending on the property. Fresh Coffee and a Sloth Sanctuary At the Nayara Springs resort in Costa Rica, guests can pick their own coffee beans at a local farm, which they then bring to the hotel's espresso bar to roast. Blends can be bagged to take home. Meanwhile, the resort's sister property, Nayara Resort Spa and Gardens, is home to a sloth sanctuary . Customized Aromatherapy Las Alcobas Napa Valley offers guests the ability to create customized aromatherapy blends as part of its experience at the Atrio spa. The spa, which focuses on treatments based on ancient healing techniques, also includes an apothecary-style aromatherapy blending bar. The amenity is available when booking any massage experience. Burberry Trench Coats Guests staying at properties under the Maybourne Hotel Group, including Claridge's, The Connaught and The Berkeley, can look stylish on their vacation with complimentary Burberry trench coats . The coats, available to use during stays, are located in the wardrobe of the hotel's suites once guests arrive, and guests who want to purchase a coat can also request one (which the hotel will order from the nearest Burberry store location). Popcorn Delivery The Lanesborough is the only hotel in London that offers butler service for every room. One of the lesser known amenities guests can request from their butler is a complimentary popcorn service. Sweet and savory popcorn selections come straight to the room on a silver tray. In-room Workouts and Meditation Instead of heading to the hotel gym, guests staying at the Dream Downtown property in New York can get workouts straight in their room thanks to a partnership with Melissa Wood Health , created by certified yoga and Pilates instructor and wellness coach Melissa Wood-Tepperberg. Spice Sessions With Master Chefs Guests at the Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur can learn more about the spices used in Rajasthani dishes they'll taste during their stay in the property's weekly spice talk sessions . During the one-hour session, guests learn about the secrets of herbs and spices used to cook traditional cuisine from the hotel's master chefs. The hotel recommends calling in advance. Complimentary Smartphones Staying connected with friends and family can get tricky when dealing with international plans, which is where hotels like the Almanac Barcelona come in, offering complimentary iPhones in each room that guests can use to make calls and to connect with the hotel's team during their stay. Several other properties also offer complimentary phones to guests, including at the Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong , where guests get free smartphones with unlimited data, complimentary local and international calls to select locations, and a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. A BMW SUV Travelers who book either the Anchorage House at the Wauwinet or the lofts at White Elephant will get access to a BMW 760L SUV for the duration of their stay   a perfect way to explore the island and its 82 miles of coastline. In-room Plant Menus The Halcyon hotel in Denver lets guests bring the greenery right into their rooms with its in-room plant menu. Guests can choose from a menu of plants they'd like to care for in their room, and each plant includes directions on its care and where to place it inside the room. In-room Matcha Kits At the Woodlark in Portland, Oregon, guests are provided with matcha making kits from the Steven Smith Teamaker Company. The kit includes everything needed to make matcha concoctions. Handwritten Love Letters The five-star lakeside Grand Hotel Tremezzo , in Lake Como, offers guests a historic look into the property's past with its turndown service. Each night, guests receive love letters written by hotel guests in the 1970s. The letters were discovered behind the wallpaper of a secret wardrobe in the hotel and kept as a family secret for years before the owners incorporated them into stays. Local Orange Juice Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa might not be the only hotel to offer guests freshly-squeezed orange juice each day, but thanks to the property's location across 45 acres of gardens, olive and orange groves in San Diego, California, the oranges come straight from the property's on-site groves. Detox Happy Hours and Mini Ice Cream Cone Platters Every day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Arlo Hotels host complimentary happy hours with wine, beer, and a rotating menu of light bites from the hotel's restaurants. The happy hour is meant to be a digital detox, inviting guests to take time away from their devices. Guests staying at Arlo Soho can also stop into its restaurant, Harold's, where every meal ends with a complimentary ice cream platter with mini cones topped with sprinkles. RELATED VIDEO: The Simple Request That Will Get You a Bigger Hotel Room for Free


The so-called Rough Fire, the largest of the fires burning across northern and central California, has edged closer to the giant trees in recent days. "The fire has moved into a number of Sequoia groves in King's Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Forest, and we are taking preventive measures to make sure nothing happens to them," said park spokesman Mike Theune. Theune said firefighters were monitoring the trees round-the-clock, spraying water and clearing the area. The Rough Fire in California has burned 139,000 acres near Sequoia and King's Canyon national parks. More than 3,700 firefighters are battling the blaze, which is 40 percent contained, according to the US Forest Service. Further north, thousands of firefighters are also battling two fast-moving wildfires - the Valley Fire and the Butte Fire - that erupted over the weekend. The fires killed at least one person, forced the evacuation of more than 23,000 people and destroyed more than 700 homes. Small town completely destroyed Middletown, north of San Francisco, was completely gutted by the flames that left an apocalyptic scene and shocked even seasoned firefighters with its speed and strength. Residents slowly came back to the town on Tuesday to check on their still smoldering homes. Officials said at least 400 homes and businesses had burned to the ground. "Everyone in here could tell you a horror story you wouldn't believe," said Ashley Mayhew, a manager at Hardester's, a market in the heart of Middletown that stayed open during the inferno. Although temperatures are expected to drop this week, fire officials remain on alert due to hot conditions and landscape that has been left parched by a four-year drought. California Governor Jerry Brown, who has declared a state of emergency in the affected counties, said Monday that he did not see an end to the fire season in the months ahead, blaming climate change in part for the blazes. "It is going to get worse because of the nature of climate change," he told reporters. Resources have been stretched thin as firefighters have also been battling wildfires in other West Coast states this summer, including Washington and Oregon. Officials said the wildfires, which have mobilized 30,000 firefighters, could be the costliest on record with more than $1.23 billion (1.09 billion euros) spent so far. av/sms (AFP, Reuters, AP) Author: Valvur, Andy


STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Investigators are working to figure out what caused a fire that forced an evacuation at the Ford Plant in Sterling Heights. Fire crews responded early Tuesday morning to the Ford Sterling Axle Plant along Mound Road just north of 17 Mile Road and found white smoke billowing from a portion of the building. A statement from Ford said a system that supplies oil to machinery on site caught fire. Ford Sterling Plant: Fire in axle factory on Mound Rd, in a portion along 17 Mi Rd. Overnight shift sent home early, according to Maria Messina, standing in fenced area where she says day-shift was told to evacuate. "It's so Smokey in there you couldn't hardly." More @WWJ950 . pic.twitter.com/dYW8k9ptcF -- Mike Campbell (@reportermikec) July 9, 2019 Workers on the scene told WWJ's Mike Campbell that the fire took off in the annex building. "I came in this morning and there was just a bunch of smoke and I heard in the annex there was a fire," said Maria Messina. "I have no idea (what started it). Oil? That's what people are talking." Messina said smoke inside the building was so thick, she couldn't see. While portions of the plant are closed for the traditional summer shutdown, this section was running at the time of the fire. Workers were evacuated from the building and have been held outside ever since. As of 10 a.m., workers were still being kept out of the building. No injuries were reported. Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and WWJNewsradio.com for the latest. >> LISTEN LIVE !


OXNARD, Calif.   Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agrees: Dak Prescott has the intangibles and leadership that Jones wants for his next franchise quarterback. But Jones wants to clarify the leadership praise that Prescott has drawn from his coaches, teammates and more throughout training camp. "So often you'll have a player that, because they're special with their charm or they're special with their ability to human skills, that they'll imply that he's not physically what you want," Jones said Sunday after the Cowboys' intrasquad scrimmage. "Michael Irvin's one that you always hear: We couldn't have done it without his heart and soul and leadership. And it implied a little bit that he was an overachiever, which means a little less talent. And that was not the case. Michael was one of the most talented guys you could ever be around. Dak Prescott." Irvin caught 750 passes for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns in 159 regular-season games with the Cowboys. The 11th overall pick of the 1988 draft helped the Cowboys to each of their three Super Bowls in the 1990s. Dallas hasn't returned to the NFC Championship game since the 1995 season. HARD KNOCKS: Jon Gruden ends NFL dreams early in camp NFL'S 100 GREATEST TEAMS: Who's best squad ever? 4th & MONDAY: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz Irvin understands Jones' argument. "(People) don't appreciate the charisma as a talent and gift," Irvin told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. "It's got to be the greatest talent in this business we don't count. This is why Tom Brady has six rings. Rarely, rarely do you get the heart and soul of the football team at the quarterback position. "Dak Prescott has that in him. I tell people: Stop it. Stop being a dummy here. It's the ultimate gift a quarterback could have, especially in a world where the quarterback is so isolated and put on a pedestal." Irvin also disagrees with those criticizing physical gifts. Sure, he's biased toward the team he spent his entire 12-year career with. But the league has changed since his 1990s glory, Irvin said. Faster defensive linemen, faster linebackers and the overall speed of defenses increasingly emphasizes the value of quarterback mobility in addition to accuracy. Prescott's completion rate through three years, 67.7 percent, ranks 15th among quarterbacks who have attempted at least 100 throws. But he was the fourth most accurate quarterback in 2016. After the Cowboys traded for Amari Cooper in October, Prescott's completion rate jumped from 62 percent in the first seven games of the season to 72 in the final nine. Irvin sees the latter as indicative of what Prescott can do in 2019, with receivers who fit his skill set better. "Talent must be harmonious with one another. Dak and Dez (Bryant) was not harmonious," Irvin said. "Now he has guys that fit his talent. And I think now he takes off. (With Cooper,) he can throw the ball while the guy's in the route knowing he's going to transition well out of the route and be open. Now I'm throwing anticipatory throws. I'm throwing anticipatory throws and getting the ball out of my hands quickly, and I'm putting the ball in a spot and expect him to get to it. That will improve accuracy." Prescott will also look to shoulder fewer sacks in 2019. The 56 he took in 2018 were more than his first two years combined. Prescott said Sunday he'll take the blame for at least half of them. The goal this season: Balance a quicker release with the understanding that sometimes his best plays come on the run as he extends them with his legs. Prescott scored six rushing touchdowns each year in the league. Irvin thinks that harmony is the key to Prescott's progress. Game management and understanding time of possession, including wearing down defenses and moving the chains in shorter scenarios, are crucial. "Aaron (Rodgers) should have more (titles) but the problem is the dramatic and dynamic you can't win with all the time," Irvin said. "The dramatic and dynamic in this league has to be something you mix in here and there not something you live on and feed on all day long. "For Dak to understand that   that I have to toe this line, I need to play the game 'steady Eddie, steady Eddie' until I have to, until I have to be the dynamic and dramatic? What he just said is why Tom (Brady) has six (Super Bowls) and Aaron has one." No doubt, Irvin said, running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is currently holding out, is "necessary" to the Cowboys offense working as described. Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones continue to reiterate their praise for Prescott as the face of the franchise. They're interested in closing a deal with Prescott before the season, but they are willing to let him play out the last year of his contract in a "prove it" scenario. Irvin believes Prescott will prove his worth. The win record (32-16) through three seasons is convincing, Irvin says. "It's insane sometimes when I hear the analysis on Dak Prescott and this man has won as many games as he's won," Irvin said. "It's like everyone's looking for a reason not to believe, instead of opening their eyes for all the reasons they should believe." Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein . If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Irvin: Criticism of Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is 'insane'


PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland   The weather doesn't look like it wants to cooperate with players and fans on Sunday at Royal Portrush, which explains why the tee times are earlier than you would expect on Sunday at an Open Championship. Rain is expected to arrive late in the morning, with heavy bursts throughout the remainder of the day. The expectation is a quarter of an inch of rain in the afternoon and another half inch between 6 p.m. and midnight. Oh, and there's going to be some wind, too, starting at about 15 miles per hour, then increasing to 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35 after 4 p.m. The hope is that starting a little early will mean avoiding the really bad stuff. With that, here's the complete order of play for the final round: SUNDAY tee times Local time/East Coast time All players starting on the first tee 7:32 a.m./2:32 a.m. Ashton TURNER, +7 7:42 a.m./2:42 a.m. Shubhankar SHARMA, +6 Kiradech APHIBARNRAT, +5 7:52 a.m./2:52 a.m. Eddie PEPPERELL, +5 Nino BERTASIO, +5 8:02 a.m./3:02 a.m. Paul WARING, +5 Thorbjorn OLESEN, +4 8:12 a.m./3:12 a.m. Jason KOKRAK, +4 Branden GRACE, +3 8:22 a.m./3:22 a.m. Jim FURYK, +3 Callum SHINKWIN, +3 8:32 a.m./3:32 a.m. Kevin STREELMAN, +3 Bubba WATSON, +3 RELATED: British Open Day 3 (Speedy) Recap 8:42 a.m./3:42 a.m. Bernd WIESBERGER, +2 Kyle STANLEY, +2 8:57 a.m./3:57 a.m. Paul CASEY, +2 Benjamin HEBERT, +2 9:07 a.m./4:07 a.m. Adam HADWIN, +2 Matthew WALLACE, +2 9:17 a.m./4:17 a.m. Francesco MOLINARI, +2 Thomas PIETERS, +1 9:27 a.m./4:27 a.m. Louis OOSTHUIZEN, +1 Andrew WILSON, +1 9:37 a.m./4:37 a.m. Yosuke ASAJI, +1 Stewart CINK, E 9:47 a.m./4:47 a.m. Joost LUITEN, E Doc REDMAN, E 9:57 a.m./4:57 a.m. Innchoon HWANG, E Ryan FOX, E 10:07 a.m./5:07 a.m. Yuki INAMORI, E Charley HOFFMAN, E 10:17 a.m./5:17 a.m. Lucas BJERREGAARD, -1 Ernie ELS, -1 10:32 a.m./5:32 a.m. Aaron WISE, -1 Lucas GLOVER, -1 10:42 a.m./5:42 a.m. Patrick CANTLAY, -1 Sergio GARCIA, -1 10:52 a.m./5:52 a.m. Mikko KORHONEN, -1 Dustin JOHNSON, -2 11:02 a.m./6:02 a.m. Rory SABBATINI, -2 Robert MACINTYRE, -2 11:12 a.m./6:12 a.m. Romain LANGASQUE, -2 Kevin KISNER, -2 11:22 a.m./6:22 a.m. Tom LEWIS, -2 Graeme MCDOWELL, -2 11:32 a.m./6:32 a.m. Justin HARDING, -3 Erik VAN ROOYEN, -3 11:42 a.m./6:42 a.m. Tyrell HATTON, -3 Webb SIMPSON, -3 11:52 a.m./6:52 a.m. Byeong Hun AN, -3 Matthew FITZPATRICK, -3 12:07 p.m./7:07 a.m. Patrick REED, -4 Justin THOMAS, -4 RELATED: Why this Open is not technically a British Open 12:17 p.m./7:17 a.m. Sang Hyun PARK, -4 Russell KNOX, -4 12:27 p.m./7:27 a.m. Xander SCHAUFFELE, -5 Cameron SMITH, -6 12:37 p.m./7:37 a.m. Andrew PUTNAM, -6 Dylan FRITTELLI, -6 12:47 p.m./7:47 a.m. Matt KUCHAR, -6 Alex NOREN, -6 12:57 p.m./7:57 a.m. Henrik STENSON, -6 Jordan SPIETH, -7 1:07 p.m./8:07 a.m. Tony FINAU, -7 Jon RAHM, -7 1:17 p.m./8:17 a.m. Danny WILLETT, -7 Lee WESTWOOD, -8 1:27 p.m./8:27 a.m. Rickie FOWLER, -8 Justin ROSE, -9 1:37 p.m./8:37 a.m. Brooks KOEPKA, -9 J.B. HOLMES, -10 1:47 p.m./8:47 a.m. Tommy FLEETWOOD, -12 Shane LOWRY, -16 Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. Forgotten Courses That Have Hosted a Major


'Speed Freak' Zef Eisenberg has smashed the outright speed and flying mile records at Pendine Sands Zef Eisenberg has powered into the history books with a new speed record, courtesy of his MADMAX 1200hp Porsche 911 Turbo   successfully reaching 210.332mph upon the famous Welsh Pendine Sands on Saturday, May 18. This is the fastest recorded speed ever achieved by a wheel-powered vehicle on sand, eclipsing actor Idris Elba's 'flying mile' speed record (180.361mph) set at Pendine in 2015, and emulating Eisenberg's hero   Sir Malcolm Campbell. Campbell first set the record at Pendine Sands in 1927 (174.8mph) in his iconic Blue Bird; a feat that went unrivalled for nearly 90 years. More Speed Record Greats! Why Donald Campbell Remains A True Hero The Lost Land Speed Record M1 Has Been Found After 25 Years Better known for his motorbike exploits, Eisenberg had his road-legal Porsche specially prepared by ES Motors and his MADMAX Race Team for the 'sand' speed attempt, which smashed three other records. Besides taking the 'sand speed record', the Porsche 911 also cracked the fastest flying quarter (one way) record, the fastest flying mile one-way record, and the fastest flying mile two-way record. The latter was clocked at 187.962mph, the very same measurement as Sir Malcolm Campbell. Further to these achievements, Eisenberg is now the only person in history to have achieved over 200mph with both bike and car at Pendine Sands, the United Kingdom's hallowed speed-record strip. A jubilant Eisenberg said: "A huge thank you to ES Motors and my own MADMAX Race Team for working tirelessly on the extensive Porsche preparation, engine build and tune, to ensure we had the engineering and power to achieve this very challenging record." "An additional thanks to the event organisers; Straightliners and Speed Record Club for finding and setting a 2-mile course with difficult sand conditions." Zef's Porsche started out as a factory standard, 550=horsepower 2014 911. The MADMAX Race Team then crafted a bespoke 4.1-liter race engine with new internals, gearbox, clutch and drive shafts, along with an upgraded E85 fuel system and sophisticated charge cooling set-up to prevent engine detonation. Endless testing was undertaken to ensure that the new 1200hp unit could cope with the tricky surface, and limit wheelspin on the sand. To handle such an extreme output, the PDK transmission had to be upgraded, and the suspension lifted to allow adequate ground clearance for the beach. "Apart from a full FIA roll cage, competition seats and safety harness, the Porsche's interior is completely standard, as weight is actually your friend on the sand. It's about stability   putting enough weight on the tyres to increase traction," Eisenberg explained. "The Porsche behaves very differently on sand than tarmac. The sand creates a lot of resistance and tire slip. In the end we could only use 850hp (1000hp at the engine) to avoid too much wheel spin, compared to just 550hp (engine) from a factory car." "Pendine has such an illustrious history," Eisenberg continued. "Racers have been flocking here since the 1900s trying to set speed records. The world land speed record heroes of yesteryear like Malcolm Campbell and J.G. Parry-Thomas in the air have all raced here. It really is the holy grail of land speed". Last month Eisenberg also established a Flying Mile record at Pendine, racing his MADMAX 400bhp supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle. The records come less than 2 years since surviving Britain's fastest-ever (230mph) motorcycle crash. A true successor to the gentleman racers of yesteryear, Eisenberg will be attempting more speed records soon…


Sam Presti has a new task ahead of him. His Oklahoma City Thunder look more different than ever before, and now he has the unenviable task of rebuilding a contender in a small market city without any certified stars on his roster. Things have been a whirlwind since Presti traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers under duress as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal. Russell Westbrook soon followed to the reviled Houston Rockets. Nobody would have guessed this is where OKC would stand come the end of July. But alas, here they are. As such, Presti penned a letter to the fans of Oklahoma City in The Oklahoman this past week, telling the Thunder faithful they'll need to be patient, and invest their faith in the organization. In part, the letter read: In order to build   and then sustain   a truly great basketball team, it requires a method. This method is not guesswork or a convenient message that miscasts other's good fortune as a repeatable skill. To build true excellence in any industry, and then sustain it, requires trading on time and playing the empirical odds. This will require strategic discipline and thoughtful patience, but these are values our organization has always held high. That's how longevity is earned. It is important to remember that. It will take us time, now, to reposition, replenish and then ultimately rebuild our team. Things will inevitably get harder from here. At some point during this transition, we may not have the kind of team you've been used to. But we will be fearless, focused, and relentless in seeking opportunities to improve our long-term position. Presti drew on the revitalization of the city itself over the past 30 years or so, and ended by writing that, "The people of Oklahoma City should be able to one day watch the rise of another great team." It's going to take some time, but at least Presti has the most impressive haul of draft picks in NBA trade history to start with. That's not a bad spot to be in.