The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights Wednesday. According to NBC News‚ the agency issued the ground stop due to a computer problem at the carrier. Earlier Wednesday‚ the FAA did not offer any explanation‚ leading to panic and mass speculation about the reason for the grounding. DEVELOPING: FAA Issues Ground Stop Advisory For Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines on Wednesday asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause the airline’s departures nationwide. The FAA issued a ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines at 7:50 am on Wednesday.… — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 17‚ 2024 Alaska Airlines on Wednesday asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause the airline’s departures nationwide. The FAA issued a ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines at 7:50 am on Wednesday. According to KIRO 7‚ the ground stop is related to a problem with the airline’s weight and balance system. “This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance. A ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights was instituted at approximately 7:50am PT. We’re working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage guests to check the status of their flights on http://alaskaair.com or the Alaska App prior to heading to the airport.” This is a developing story‚ we will continue to monitor and bring you updates. Just in: The FAA has issued a ground stop advisory on all Alaskan Airline's flights without mentioning the reason. pic.twitter.com/U2NU4d3oPb — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) April 17‚ 2024 Alaska Airlines said in a statement that an issue arose “while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.” #UPDATE: A ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights has been lifted after the company requested the Federal Aviation Administration to halt travel Wednesday morning for all mainline departures nationwide while the company addressed &;quot;an issue&;quot; after a &;quot;system upgrade.&;quot;… pic.twitter.com/2bTjgTDxgG — ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) April 17‚ 2024 Per NBC News: The FAA initially approved a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights starting at approximately 10:50 a.m. ET. It was lifted just before 11:45 a.m. ET. It wasn’t immediately clear how many flights were affected. An Alaska spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The FAA temporarily issued a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights on Wednesday morning for a technical issue with an upgrade. It was issued just after 7:30 a.m. and lifted about an hour later. Travelers can expect residual delays throughout the day.https://t.co/s0W6sYjbhx — San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) April 17‚ 2024 From the San Francisco Chronicle: The ground stop was issued just after 7:30 a.m. and lifted about an hour later‚ according to the FAA’s air traffic control system command center. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the airlines experienced “an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.” The airline requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights‚ which was issued at about 7:30 a.m.‚ the spokesperson said. Travelers can expect residual delays throughout Wednesday and were urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. “We apologize for the inconvenience‚” the spokesperson said. Twelve Alaska Airlines flights delayed at San Francisco International Airport shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday according to FlightAware‚ which tracks airport traffic.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden warned the National Security Agency (NSA) is on the cusp of taking over the internet. “The NSA is just DAYS from taking over the internet‚ and it’s not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed‚” Snowden said‚ referencing the reauthorization of FISA Section 702. “If the bill becomes law‚ any company or individual that provides ANY service whatsoever may be forced to assist in NSA surveillance‚ as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored—such as routers‚ servers‚ cell towers‚ etc‚” Elizabeth Goitein‚ co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice‚” commented. The NSA is just 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 from taking over the internet‚ and it's not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed. https://t.co/qp5BimwOjI — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 15‚ 2024 “This bill represents one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history. I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing in the Senate‚” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said. Goitein called the Section 702 reauthorization the “biggest expansion of domestic surveillance since the Patriot Act.” Buried in the Section 702 reauthorization bill (RISAA) passed by the House on Friday is the biggest expansion of domestic surveillance since the Patriot Act. Senator Wyden calls this power “terrifying‚” and he’s right. 2/25 https://t.co/9GltMyp5ZY — Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15‚ 2024 “I’ll explain how this new power works. Under current law‚ the government can compel ‘electronic communications service providers’ that have direct access to communications to assist the NSA in conducting Section 702 surveillance‚” Goitein explained. “In practice‚ that means companies like Verizon and Google must turn over the communications of the targets of Section 702 surveillance. (The targets must be foreigners overseas‚ although the communications can—and do—include communications with Americans.)” In practice‚ that means companies like Verizon and Google must turn over the communications of the targets of Section 702 surveillance. (The targets must be foreigners overseas‚ although the communications can—and do—include communications with Americans.) 4/25 — Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15‚ 2024 The Project for Privacy &; Surveillance Accountability (PPSA) said the FISA Section 702 bill would “virtually make everyone a spy.” WATCH: 2/ Sen. Wyden is not writing science-fiction. We’ve seen again and again when the FBI and other federal agencies can find a way to expand a loophole – as with backdoor searches of Section 702 data or the data broker loophole – they will do so. Read more: https://t.co/dpSIrGdmfK — Project for Privacy &; Surveillance Accountability (@savingprivacy) April 17‚ 2024 From PPSA: Is it fair to call one amendment to the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) the “Everyone’s a Spy” provision&;#63; This amendment to RISAA now before the Senate would compel a provider of any service‚ who has “access” to communications equipment‚ to quietly cooperate with the NSA in collecting messages. Because the people who work at most ordinary businesses – from fitness centers to commercial office buildings – have no expertise in parsing data‚ they would likely just hand over all the messages of their customers to the NSA‚ including countless messages between Americans. Here’s how Sen. Ron Wyden characterized this measure on the Senate floor: “After all‚ every office building in America has data cables running through it. These people are not just the engineers who install‚ maintain‚ and repair our communications infrastructure; there are countless others who could be forced to help the government spy‚ including those who clean offices and guard buildings. If this provision is enacted‚ the government could deputize any one of these people against their will and force them to become an agent for Big Brother. “For example‚ by forcing an employee to insert a USB thumb drive into a server at an office they clean or guard at night. “This could all happen without any oversight. The FISA Court won’t know about it. Congress won’t know about it. The Americans who are handed these directives will be forbidden from talking about it. And unless they can afford high priced lawyers with security clearances who know their way around the FISA Court‚ they will have no recourse at all.” WATCH: “The Senate is expected to vote on the House bill as soon as this week‚ and if it passes there‚ Joe Biden is likely to sign it. All Americans should be terrified by that prospect‚” The Guardian writes. The outlet said the U.S. House of Representatives didn’t just reauthorize the controversial spying law but vastly expanded it. From The Guardian: The vote not only reauthorized the act‚ though; it also vastly expanded the surveillance law enforcement can conduct. In a move that Senator Ron Wyden condemned as “terrifying”‚ the House also doubled down on a surveillance authority that has been used against American protesters‚ journalists and political donors in a chilling assault on free speech. Section 702 in its current form allows the government to compel communications giants like Google and Verizon to turn over information. An amendment to the bill approved by the House vastly increases the law’s scope. The Turner-Himes amendment – so named for its champions Representatives Mike Turner and Jim Himes – would permit federal law enforcement to also force “any other service provider” with access to communications equipment to hand over data. That means anyone with access to a wifi router‚ server or even phone – anyone from a landlord to a laundromat – could be required to help the government spy.

One day you’re on the cover of Time and the next year you’re doing time

With a legacy spanning over five decades‚ Blue &;Ouml;yster Cult is a unique force in the hard rock firmament. Their 2024 studio release‚ Ghost Stories‚ proves this uniqueness‚ as much as in the songs we hear‚ as where they come from. Collected on this album are reimagined and newly completed tunes‚ all save one originally recorded between 1978 and 1983. George Geranios‚ the band’s original audio engineer‚ as well as an integral part of the band’s heyday‚ co-produced the original recordings with B&;Ouml;C‚ on reel-to-reel analog tape. Modern technology applied all these years later‚ the songs were transferred to digital audio with the vintage multi-track recordings de-mixed‚ re-mixed‚ and produced by Steve Schenck and more recent B&;Ouml;C member‚ multi-instrumentalist and producer Richie Castellano. With remaining original B&;Ouml;C members‚ Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser‚ on board as well as old B&;Ouml;C mates — Albert Bouchard and Rick Downey appearing on some drums‚ along with original bassist Joe Bouchard and the late Allen Lanier on guitar and keyboards — we get B&;Ouml;C past and present as we have never heard. Opening with a roiling bass leading the chunking “Late Night Street Fight‚” through the 50s send-up of “Cherry‚” into the first real stand-out track early on “So Supernatural‚” and the pure rockin’ “Money Machine‚” Ghost Stories flashes the classic B&;Ouml;C sound‚ with the touch of some new magic studio sweetness. By the time we are into the barrelhouse piano and spoken vocal opening of noir story-song “Shot in the Dark‚” we have run through a  solid bunch of tunes‚ thankfully salvaged from way back when. “The Only Thing” presents a nice change up with organ and synth up front in a slow love groove‚ and we also get the only known studio recording of B&;Ouml;C’s concert classic cover of the MC5’s  “Kick Out the Jams.” As with their cover of the Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place‚” also included here‚ this a hard rockin’ tome‚ though it doesn’t really add anything really to the classic. Ghost Stories ends with a tender take at the Beatles’ “If I Fell.” Recorded in 2016‚ the song is notable for some smooth harmonies with stalwart Kasim Sulton lending his vocal talents and Jules Radino’s percussion. ~ Ralph Greco‚ Jr. The post Blue &;Ouml;yster Cult | Ghost Stories – New Studio Release Review first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Irish post-punks Fontaines D.C. return with their new single Starburster alongside news of their highly-anticipated fourth album‚ Romance

When two unlikely friends face failing health‚ their owner watches her cat and dog snuggle up at the end of their lives and cross the Rainbow Bridge together. For animal lover Louisa Cook‚ losing two of her beloved pets at the same time must have been heartbreaking. However‚ she knew the two needed one another during their final moments‚ so she put their interests above hers. RELATED: A Dog and His Veteran Owner Stay Together Until the Very End‚ Passing Away Just Hours Apart Winston‚ the Dog Joins the Family Louisa shared the story of her two precious friends‚ dog Winston and Cat Tilly‚ with News Week. Winston joined Louisa's home in 2019 after she saw a Facebook photo of the starving and homeless dog. Regarding her adoptions of pets over the years‚ Louisa said‚ &;quot;The dogs I would take in from the streets had usually only been there a matter of months. But he was this old‚ hardened dog who had survived in an industrial area where food is scarce for over eight years.&;quot; Louisa never expected to have more than six months with Winston‚ but he lived several years. Even with sores from a skin infection covering his body‚ a deformed right leg-probably the result of being hit by a car-and a visible rib cage showing through his starving body‚ Winston was resilient. The trauma of Winston's life impacted his personality and temperament‚ but with lots of love and care‚ he became a loving and contented pet. However‚ Louisa noted‚ &;quot;Though my other dogs helped‚ Winston never lost his ‘street dog spirit' completely.&;quot; RELATED: Man Puts His Dying Dog In A Wheelbarrow So They Can Go On One Final Adventure Tilly the Cat Moves In Two years later‚ in 2021‚ Louisa added another pet to her family. This time‚ it was a cat named Tilly. Unloved and neglected‚ Tilly had been abandoned by her owners when they moved. In addition to being deprived of love and basic care‚ Tilly had a severe head injury. As before‚ Louisa and her family saved Tilly and restored her health. In an unusual twist‚ Tilly was the friendlier one in this particular cat-dog connection. Winston may have had unpleasant experiences with cats when he lived in the streets‚ and he had become &;quot;a grumpy old man‚ very set in his ways.&;quot; Slowly‚ though‚ Winston warmed up to Tilly's calm and gentle manner. The two became best friends‚ cuddling and spooning constantly&;#33; The Cat and Dog Snuggle Together While They Crossed the Rainbow Bridge Unfortunately‚ Tilly and Winston both began having health problems. Though they'd been saved from horrible conditions‚ both had lived complicated lives. Perhaps that’s why they loved one another so well. When they turned 15 and 13‚ respectively‚ Tilly and Winston had become so sick that the vet advised they be put to sleep. It's always hard to say goodbye to a beloved pet‚ but Louisa decided to let them go simultaneously‚ snuggled up together. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Dog Dying Of Cancer Goes Viral And Gets Showered With ‘Extra Love' Louisa shared‚ &;quot;Winston was unbelievably scared at the vet. But when Tilly came and rested up on his chest like she always would‚ he was visibly calmer and actually laid down more. It's awful to have any pet put to sleep‚ even when it's necessary. But this was such a deeply beautiful way to say goodbye.&;quot; &;quot;Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather‚ in humility value others above yourselves‚&;quot; Philippians 2:3 LISTEN: Costco Worker Coworkers Came Together and Saved His Life | She Hasn't Eaten Anything for 4 Years h/t: Inspire More Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Newsweek The post Cat and Dog Snuggle up at the End of Their Lives and Cross the Rainbow Bridge Together appeared first on GodUpdates.

UnitedHealth Group said on Tuesday it expects the hack of its Change Healthcare Unit to cost the company close to $1.6 billion this year but has maintained its 2024 earnings forecast‚ which suggests a smaller impact than experts had predicted.