Selfie Consternation

"How can we live in harmony?  First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God."
--Thomas Aquias

Clinton opens up double-digit lead over Trump nationwide: Reuters/Ipsos poll

4 JUNE 2016       REUTERS       CHRIS KAHN

NEW YORK, U.S.A. (Reuters) -- Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton has opened up a double-digit lead over Republican rival Donald Trump, regaining ground after the New York billionaire briefly tied her last month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday.

The shift in support comes as Clinton steps up her attacks on the real estate mogul's policy positions, and as Trump fends off criticisms of his eponymous university and the pace at which he doled out money that he raised for U.S. veterans. 

Some 46 percent of likely voters said they supported Clinton, while 35 percent said they supported Trump, and another 19 percent said they would not support either, according to the survey of 1,421 conducted between May 30 and June 3. 

Trump had briefly tied Clinton in support among likely U.S. voters in mid-May, raising expectations for a tight race between the two likely contenders in November's presidential election. Read More

Kerry hails Mongolia as 'oasis of democracy' in tough neighborhood

4 JUNE 2016      REUTERS      YEGANEH TORBATI

ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA (Reuters) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hailed Mongolia as an "oasis of democracy" sitting in a tough location between Russia and China as he made a rare visit by a cabinet-level U.S. official on Sunday.

Arriving from Paris, Kerry made the visit to Mongolia en route to Beijing to attend the eighth Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the high-level talks held between the United States and China each year. 

The Obama adminstration has sought to cultivate Mongolia as a partner, given its location between two increasingly assertive U.S. rivals -- China and Russia, countries Mongolia relies on heavily for trade and energy imports. 

U.S. officials regularly tout Mongolia, a country of three million people, as an inspirational story of democratic transition since winning independence from the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago. 

... Kerry said it was important the Mongolian government implement a transparency agreement with the United States, which would provide greater business confidence to foreign investors. 

The Mongolian and U.S. governments signed the agreement in 2013 after years of negotiations but its final implementation has been mired in red tape. 

... "The implementation of this agreement is really key, a very important step to be able to attract foreign direct investment," Kerry said. Read More

This Ferrari MM458 Speciale Is Really Something Special

4 JUNE 2016      PURSUITIST      HARVEY BRIGGS

Rolls-Royce has it's Bespoke division.  Bently has Mulliner. And BMW can create custom version of their cars with their Individual program.  So to can Ferrari with a program they call, One-Off.  To demonstrate their capabilities, Ferrari have created a unique version of their 458 Speciale for a British customer who prefers to remain anonymous.

The unnamed customer was looking for something even sportier than the standard 458, something more dramatic.  So he worked with Ferrari's in-house design team to take one of the world's most desirable cars and make it even more so. 

The effects of this make-over are stunning and most noticeable in profile. 

First, the black out A-pillars in give the front windshield a wrap-around effect, making it appear as though it's one piece of glass surrounding the cockpit.  This design feature also makes the car's roof appear to be a visor, cantilevered over the driver. 

The car's side panels have also been greatly reworked with a sharp crease defining the car's beltline that leads into an scoop that draws cooling air into the engine compartment. The new rear wing also give the car more of a wedge shape. 

The rear of the car has also been highly modified, with a new taillight configuration emphasising the wide, low stance of the car.  The rear diffuser has been completely updated and large exhaust vents help pull heat from the engine compartment of the car. 

The MM 458 Speciale's aluminum bodywork is finished in a stunning Bianco Italia with green and orange stripes that finish the Italian flag motif.  It was delivered to the customer at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit after the company's chief test driver Dario Benuzzi gave it a full shake down. 

The One-Off program offers a world of possibilities to create unique tribute cars based on the brand's rich heritage.  To create your own custom Ferrari, just contact the company they'll be happy to make your dream a reality, too. Read More