Was Charles Dickens the first celebrity medical spokesman? – PBS NewsHour

Charles Dickens was a great supporter of the Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital in London. In our present era of public service announcements, telethons, fun-runs, cyber-fundraising events and ice bucket challenges, it seems as if every disease or medical cause has a celebrity spokesman drumming up donations and interest. Yet such effective fundraising practices are…

Crown Casino haven for drug traffickers, ‘a blot on the community’ – Sydney Morning Herald

Gambling chips are becoming underworld currency. Photo: Getty Crown Casino is a haven for drug traffickers and money launderers, leading one of Victoria’s most prominent judges to label the venue a “blot on the community”. The Sunday Age can also reveal that crown’s gaming chips have become a de facto currency among underworld figures to…

Autodesk announces 925 layoffs 10% of its workforce as part of restructuring plan – VentureBeat

Design-focused software firm Autodesk has announced a restructuring plan as the company looks to expedite its transition to the cloud and a subscription-based business model. As with many such restructurings, this means that Autodesk is laying off a significant chunk of its staff 925 positions, equating to around 10 percent of the workforce. Founded out…