The Nuclear Option | and Why It Matters - NBC News

What is "the nuclear option"? The "nuclear option" is a last-resort, break-in-case-of-emergency way for the majority party in the Senate to overcome obstruction by the minority. All it actually involves is changing the rules of the Senate so that a nominee like Gorsuch can be confirmed with a simple majority of 51 votes. Under the previous rules, 60 votes were needed to foil any attempt by the minority party to block a vote by use of the filibuster. While senators are no longer required to give actual speeches to mount a filibuster, it has remained powerful tool that allows the minority to gum up action in the Senate until the majority can find 60 votes to break a logjam. The change to a simple majority vote may not sound very dramatic, but in a place like the Senate, which operates on tradition and bipartisan comity, it's a big deal befitting its apocalyptic name.
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/nuclear-option-what-it-why-it-matters-n742076

Taylor Swift May launch her own online music service

Taylor Swift has filed trademarks to launch a service that may offer music downloads and content, EW has learned. Should the 27-year-old pop star ultimately launch a digital music hub, it could resemble services maintained by the likes of Pearl Jam, Phish, and Bruce Springsteen, which those artists use to distribute their own concert recordings and rarities. Swift has had a complicated relationship with the music streaming services. When she released her most recent album, 1989, in late 2014, Swift declined to offer it on platforms like Spotify — and went a step further when she subsequently pulled the rest of her catalog from streaming services.
http://ew.com/music/2017/03/15/taylor-swift-online-music-service/

Canadian Weather News | what does 97 cm of snow in 72 hours looks like

It's a fact that makes leaves most Canadians amazed, though it's uncertain whether Newfoundlanders feel the same: Toronto has seen 81 cm of snow this winter. Gander has seen 97 cm of snow since Thursday. As the storm rolls out of the region late Tuesday, it'll be followed by clear skies to end the week. Here's hoping Newfoundlanders are able to catch some sunshine below the scenic snowdrifts left behind.
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/top-10-tweets-newfoundland-buried-by-spring-blizzard/81012/

Washington State News | Seattle mayor touts construction milestone

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says completing a tunnel that will serve as an underground highway was “a major construction milestone in our plan to reclaim Seattle’s waterfront.” Murray said Tuesday that the city is one step closer to taking down a double-layer waterfront highway to make room for “our vision of a well-connected 21st century city” serving “pedestrians, transit and sensible car trips.” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the breakthrough is “a historic moment in our state’s transportation history.” Critics call it an expensive vanity project, and environmentalists have objected to building another highway in Seattle.
http://mynorthwest.com/591725/the-latest-seattle-mayor-touts-construction-milestone/

Self Help News | Becoming Larger Than Life as a public speaker

Becoming Larger Than Life To say that there is no ego in a person who does public speaking regularly or for a living would be clearly a false statement. But for those of us who only speak from time to time, when you see a speaker who can walk out in a room of 30 people or a auditorium of 3000 and literally “own the room”, it really is an amazing transformation. To imagine how you could ever be that much larger than life is mind boggling. But in a lot of ways, when you step out to talk to a group of people, you do become larger than life. That is because you are doing the impossible. You are having a conversation with dozens of people all at once. Now, whether you feel like you are having that conversation or not isn’t important. If your talk is not interactive, you may not know the dialog is happening. But in the minds of every single individual in that hall, they are interacting with you. What you are saying is getting down inside of them and they are reacting to it.... read on
http://rockstarseo.ca/becoming-larger-life-public-speaker/

Google could be buying Spotify for $41.1 Billion Cash | Breaking News

Google is now planning to acquire Spotify in a deal valued at roughly $41.1 billion in cash and equity. The acquisition, first reported by the Wall Street Journal this morning, creates a clear frontrunner in the music subscription space. It would also give Google a massive edge over competitors like Apple Music. According to research emerging this week, Apple Music now has more unique users than any other streaming music service. Apple’s rapid ascent may have rekindled the on-again, off-again acquisition talks. The unexpected acquisition may also accelerate the upcoming combination of Google Music and YouTube. Currently, Alphabet and its Google and YouTube subsidiaries are struggling to create a strong, premium music streaming service. That just changed with the acquisition of Spotify, which is now reaching its 50 millionth paying subscriber.
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/04/01/google-acquiring-spotify-41-billion-april-1/

8 Tips for Dealing with a lack of Self Confidence

Self-Help Tips for Dealing with a Lack of Confidence Many people suffer from a lack of confidence. This is nothing to be ashamed of, though. Unfortunately, it’s been a part of our society for a while now, making it a common problem. Here is a list of ways that people have been able to deal with their lack of confidence. 1. Live in the moment. When you live in the moment you can focus on the now rather than focus on the past where you experienced your hurt and encountered your fears. You can then be unconcerned and hopeful about your future without the pressure of your past looming up behind you and making your confidence plummet once again. This mindfulness tool takes time to master as it can be hard to ignore the past making its way back into your mind.........please read on
http://sherwoodparkweather.com/8-tips-dealing-lack-self-confidence/