Sex Offender Group Homes Are Cause For Concern, According To LA City Council

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Citing concerns over illegal residences that serve as group homes for sex offenders, the Los Angeles Police Department was asked Friday to look into what other cities are doing to house the criminals and, from that, increase its efforts to limit their concentration in certain areas.

The City Council's Public Safety Committee asked for the report in 60 days, prompted by concerns that some landlords have illegally been housing too many sex offenders, often near parks and schools.

"State law allows six or fewer, but we have some buildings with 20, 30 or 40 people living in a home," Councilman Mitch Englander said. "Many of them are sex offenders. We end up with some very shady characters that are housing these people. They don't register, and we need to look at a way we can provide protection for the community."

Capt. William Hayes, commanding officer of the Robbery-Homicide Division, said the LAPD has a program where it checks on sex offenders to make sure they are complying with the terms of their probation and that they have registered.

Of the 12,000 registered sex offenders believe to be living in Los Angeles, Hayes said last year the department reached out to more than 8,400.

In addition to routine compliance checks, he noted officers respond to citizen complaints regarding the housing of sex offenders. Procedurally, the department coordinates with Parole and Probation to ensure there is no over-saturation of sex offenders in a particular part of the city.

However, Hayes cautioned about creating too tight of a residency requirement that could render the offenders homeless and thus required to re-register every 30 days.

"Making it more stringent turns this population into transients rather than living in homes with specific addresses," Hayes said. "They can register as transients, but what that means is we have no idea where they are until they register again. And they can register anywhere in the state, so you don't know where they are." ___

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Nelson Mandela 'Dangerous' health, according to court documents filtered

Nelson Mandela is in a "dangerous" condition on life support in the hospital, leaked documents showed on Wednesday.

Health of the icon "anti-apartheid" bleak assessment came in articles sent by their relatives on June 28 as part of legal efforts to recover the remains of three children of Mandela.

"The anticipation of his imminent death is based on real and substantial reasons. Applicants are willing to bury his father and him committing to the land where there are remains of their descendants, "according to the document cited by the Guardian & mail and other means.

"The health of Nelson Mandela is dangerous. (A) affidavit will be provided of the doctors who is assisted breathing by a life-support machine, "added.

Mandela, 94, has been in intensive care at a hospital in Pretoria since June 8 when he entered with a recurring lung infection.

The Presidency said his condition is "critical but stable", but he has published some details of his illness.

An elder of the clan told AFP on Wednesday of last week that Mandela was on a ventilator. But South African President Jacob Zuma said the next day that his health had improved.

Mandela led the struggle against the regime of the white minority in South Africa and became the first Black President of the country after the multiracial elections in 1994, after 27 years in prison.

A court in the city of Mthatha Wednesday ordered the remains of three children of Mandela returned immediately to their town of Qunu kindergarten.

His oldest grandson Mandla had moved in 2011 at Mvezo, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) away, supposedly without the consent of the family of rest.

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Peaks of Amazon deforestation in Brazil, according to photographs of the space agency in the country

By Paulo Prada

Rio DE JANEIRO, 10 Sept (Reuters) – published on Tuesday by the space agency of Brazil preliminary data indicate the deforestation of the Amazon heel by more than one third last year, reversing a steady decline in the destruction of the world's largest rain forest.

If backed by tracking data typically compiled by the end of the year, the increase would confirm fears by scientists and environmental activists who warn that the agriculture, mining and Amazon infrastructure projects, coupled with changes in environmental policies long of Brazil, are investing progress against deforestation.

Last year, the deforestation of the Amazon was shown to be at an all-time low.

The likely increase of deforestation has led to concerns that Brazil may lower its guard and provides an opening for the loggers, ranchers and others eager to develop parts of a forest that is seven times the size of France.

The space agency of Brazil, whose destruction of the rainforest track using monthly satellite imagery, detected almost 2.766 square kilometers (1,067 square miles) of the forest from August 2012 until July of 2013. The total area, more than twice the size of the city of Los Angeles, is 35 percent greater than the cleared area in the previous year, the Agency said.

The measurement year ends in July, when the visibility is better, because the clouds meet often in the region of much of the rest of the year, making it difficult to pick up the satellite images.

A more complete count for the period is compiled, using data from additional satellites and field research provided by researchers in the Government. Additional data will help determine if clear are the result of deliberate destruction or natural degradation caused by drought, fire, or other factors.

Data collected by Imazon, a private Research Institute, also point to an increase in deforestation in recent years. The group, the other source of regular data Amazon considered reliable by many scientists, recently said destruction over the past year have almost doubled. (Edition of Stacey Joyce)

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10 Things every student should have in their kitchen, according to Reddit

If you're a college student who tries to navigate a kitchen for the first time, this is for you.

The beautiful village of Reddit has shared a list of all the things that must be purchased until he embarks on the path of becoming an adult in real life cooking. Scroll down for 10 items must be purchased as soon as possible and click here to read the entire thread.

1. "A slow cooker is a great thing have around and learn how to use. Pull a broth, meat and vegetables, go to class and then return to delicious homemade soup. You can Cook roasts there, make impressive sauces and stuff (my colleagues make a super delicious bean dip in the crock pot). "Yes!"-juzoe

2. "A can opener and a two-sided bottle opener. One with a pointed side so you can drill you fluid-filled canisters. (For example, cans from stock or broth). Then get a small magnet and stick it to the fridge. "Jewzeejew bottles and cans will not withstand an opportunity."

3. "A Foreman Grill. I am out of College and we still use it almost every day. Also a toaster oven. "Does anyone have time for a full-sized oven."-bringinthebo810

4. "A pot of dubious quality - enough to hold beans/noodles for 3-4" - falicor

5. "My advice is, don't go to savings in spices in bulk. Get the smallest who, come what may. Spices so quickly lose flavor. There is no need for a pound of cinnamon."-thegregbradley

6. "The mandolin. You can cut vegetables/fruits, super fast and super consistent. "Be careful, it is easy to let go and cut a finger too!"-mikebelanger

7. "Well the sharp knives." Victorinox makes some large sheets, which can be less than $30. "Check out the Fibrox line."-Roketderp

8. "A dish hot (if not have a stove)." - mkirklions

9 "Bread half sheet (13 x 18 - get two if you're planning to make biscuits)"-TechnoAllah

10. "Fire extinguisher. One that covers all types of fires."-crikfromcincy

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College Advice: What High School Grads Should And Shouldn't Do In College, According To Reddit

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Graduating high school seniors: by now, you've probably talked with advisors, teachers, campus tour guides and gone through stacks of college-related articles and guidebooks. But what advice do you really want as you get ready for your freshman year away from home?

Reddit user lilit829 took to the social networking site to get some answers, posting the following message:

I'm a recently graduated high school student who is looking for advice about things I shouldn't do in college (especially freshman year). From what I've heard there are a lot of things that people hate about new college students and I would like to know what they are. Please feel free to share your own failures or cringe worthy stories about college!

Click through 15 of our favorite pieces of advice from the thread in the slideshow below, then tell us: do you agree? What tips would you add? Sound off in the comments or tweet @HuffPostTeen!

Head over to the original thread on Reddit to read more.

'The Voice': Danielle Bradbery's Performance Is 'Amazeballs,' According To Usher (VIDEO)

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'The Voice': Danielle Bradbery's Performance Called 'Amazeballs' By Usher

Even performing in the semi-finals of "The Voice" wasn't enough to break 16-year-old Danielle Bradbery's poise. The teen powerhouse even made Usher say a word no one probably ever thought he would say after her first performance of the night.

“Amazeballs," he said. "It was incredible.”

The word cracked up the panel, but what more can be said? Adam Levine decided to go with it, echoing Usher's sentiment. "Amazeballs. You know, that is exactly what came into my mind as well," he joked. "You can not sing a song better than you just did that.”

Hollywood Life agreed with both coaches that Danielle's performance was "amazeballs." Buddy TV, though, doesn't think she's ready to win the competition. Sure, she can sing, but she isn't connecting emotionally to the more grown-up songs she's belting out.

That said, she's certainly connection with the fans. Five of her performances from "The Voice" are placing on the iTunes Top 200 chart, with two of them in the Top 10, including her "amazeballs" take on "Please Remember Me" from this week.

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Best Cities For Recent College Grads, According To Nerdwallet

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What are the best U.S. cities for new college grads?

The answer to that question will largely depend on which factors you're taking into account. In a recent report, the personal finance website Nerdwallet considered the usual factors -- unemployment rates, costs of living -- along with some more unusual measures, like the cost of a 12-inch Pizza Hut pizza and the price of a 6-pack of Heineken.

Given this unique amalgam of considerations, here's Nerdwallet's 10 best cities for fresh college grads:

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And here's what Nerdwallet had to say about life in D.C., which falls smack in the middle of the list:

As the center of American politics, Washington, D.C. has always been popular with recent college graduates, as evidenced by its rank as the second-most populous place for 18 to 24 year-olds. The city is highly walkable and has a moderate unemployment rate, making it likely that you’ll be able to afford that sky-high rent. The city attracts policitcally active students for jobs with politicians and thinktanks.

As for the nitty gritty: Nerdwallet found that movie tickets in D.C. cost $11.34, a 12-inch Pizza Hut pizza costs $8.00 and the unemployment rate is 10.2%.

Like the study mentions, the cost of living in the District is infamously punishing. In March, ZipRealty named D.C. the least affordable city in America. Nerdwallet noted that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment was the second most expensive in the top ten. At over $1,800, D.C.'s housing costs were bested only by San Francisco's, where a two-bedroom apartment costs a whopping $2,702.

Baltimore also cracked the top ten, sitting two spots ahead of D.C. as the fourth best city for recent college grads, maybe because of the slightly cheaper movie tickets ($10.45 per), or the much cheaper rent ($1,307 for a two-bedroom).

See all the rankings here -- and tell us in the comments which U.S. city you think is best for new college grads. Is it Baltimore? Boston? D.C.? Somewhere else entirely?

While you're here, ogle some staggeringly expensive beach homes!

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Six bedrooms, 7 baths and water views from every room. Separate guest quarters, too. Here's the listing.

Five bedrooms, 6 baths and an in-ground pool, plus a deck, a dock and a patio. Here's the listing.

Hello there 7 bedroom, 7 bath, 6500 square foot waterfront house. Here's the listing.

Eight bedrooms and 8 baths, right on the beach. Aaahhh. Here's the listing.

Five bedrooms and 7 baths on the beach. In case you and yours can't shout to each other in the 5284 square foot place, there's also an intercom. Here's the listing.

Five bedroom, 7 bath contemporary-style oceanfront home. Rooftop deck, fireplace, elevator and gourmet kitchen, too. Here's the listing.

Four bedrooms and 6 baths in a house on your own private island. The property has a heated riverfront outdoor pool. Boat dock, too. Here's the listing.

One sweet penthouse. Four bedrooms, 3 baths, views from every room -- and check out that roof deck. Here's the listing.

Five bedrooms, 4 baths on 5+ peaceful acres. Views, decks, a private boat dock and a touch of appealing tiki in the decor. Here's the listing.

Two houses for the (expensive) price of one. This three-parcel waterfront property comes with two houses -- one of which appears to be in the shape of a boat! Here's the listing.

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Divorce Care Package: How To Survive Divorce (And Pregnancy), According To Emma Johnson

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Si nunca hay un momento que necesita una pequeña distracción en tu vida, es durante el proceso de divorcio. Es por ello que lanzamos nuestra serie de Paquete de cuidado de divorcio . Con cada post, le mostraremos qué cosas--libros, películas, recetas, otros ayudaron a aliviar el estrés en el medio de divorcio, con la esperanza de que algunos de sus selecciones servirá bien, demasiado. ¿Quieres compartir lo que superado su divorcio? Envíanos un email a divorce@huffingtonpost.com o tweet @HuffPost divorcio

En su sitio web, madre soltera ricos, escritor y periodista Emma Johnson camina a monoparentales a través de los altibajos de la crianza de los hijos solos, y describe los pasos que se deben adoptar para garantizar sus familias es financieramente seguros. Johnson escribe de la experiencia ganada; después de que su marido sufrió una lesión cerebral, divorció de ella, dejándola con su hija y un niño en el camino.

¿Una historia, derecha? A continuación, Johnson comparte con nosotros las cosas--cotizaciones, Francés productos de repostería y más--que le ayudó a pasar ese período de su vida.

Presentación de la carga

"Es 'Usted puede sobrevivir mucho más de lo que usted piensa que puede'. En las horas más oscuras a veces nos preguntamos si nos se desmenuzará. Pero por supuesto, nosotros no. Pasé por un infierno de un tiempo para un par de años--primero contendiendo con lesión cerebral de mi esposo, al final de mi matrimonio, traer a un bebé al mundo, ingeniárselas para apoyarnos financieramente solo. Pero luego me las arreglé todo eso--y algo más. He encantado yo."

"Una cama nueva. Un año después de mi partida, fui un nuevo colchón y ropa de cama blanca. Mi ex odiaba nada blanco, así nunca recibí mi ropa de sueño, y opté por un chollo Pillow-Top, que encontró demasiado caliente para dormir. Además, hay algo en la limpieza de su espacio de algo tan específico de matrimonio como una cama! Tengo que decir que mi vida citas abrió significativamente después de eso".

"Pain au chocolate. Cuando yo era muy embarazada y a la altura de mi drama familiar, quisiera comer un desayuno saludable y equilibrado con mi hija, le caiga en la guardería y continuar recto a la panadería cerca de mi apartamento para un croissant de chocolate dulce. Cada día probado simplemente tan delicioso como el día anterior".

"Llorando. Durante mi más oscura, más tensionado y pánico en los próximos meses, mantuvo la cabeza fría, sobresalía la mandíbula y se hizo cargo de la empresa. Eso fue durante el día. Después de ir a dormir y cuando fue terminado mi trabajo, yo me refugié en la comodidad insonora de mi cuarto de baño, que se sentó en la tapa de asiento de inodoro, que se derrumbó en mis brazos doblados en el borde del fregadero y rompió a llorar. Cada noche".

"Mis hijos tienen este pequeño libro de fotografía Retratos de Mary Cassatt de mamás y sus hijos. Estas escenas tiernas me recordaron las experiencias potentes, universales de ser una madre--y cómo muchas mujeres han pasado por todas las alegrías y angustia que vienen con la familia. Estas imágenes me ayudó a sentirse menos solos."

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