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Would More Women In Fashion Power Positions Mean More Female Customers? | The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recently released an industry briefing calling on the fashion industry to do more than talk-the-talk of diversity and inclusion, but to walk-the-walk as well. The fashion industry has so far struggled to reflect the countrys diversity in its workforce across all levels, the CDFA reports in its briefing entitled Insider/Outsider. We are calling on our colleagues, peers and consumers to hold American fashion accountable to be inclusive and diverse. This briefing was prepared in collaboration with PVH Corp., parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, among others, and references earlier research conducted by Glamour magazine and McKinsey and Company. The outsider status of women is particularly troubling in womens fashion. Women make up half of the population, spend three times more on clothing than men, and at least in the womens fashion segment, account for virtually 100% of customers. Yet only 40% of womenswear fashion brands are designed by women and only 14% of the 50 major fashion brands are run by women , according to a Business of Fashion survey. Fashion remains a male-dominated business In the fashion world, women tend to be chosen for supporting rather than starring roles. They find opportunities in traditional female-friendly areas like marketing, public relations, human resources, journalism, and retail buyers. But the real power in the business continues to be held by men. Mens social role has dominated the fashion culture. They capitalize on this creative industry and monetize it ruthlessly, often at the expense of the creativity which gave birth to it in the first place and which appeals to the target audience, says Melissa Wheeler, a London-based journalist and consultant in fashion retail marketing for nearly 20 years. Women represent only about 25% of board-level positions at publicly-listed fashion companies. For example, only two women hold seats on LVMHs executive committee, but one is in the traditionally female-skewing human resources area. Of the eight places at Herms executive table, one is held by a woman, but in women-friendly communications. And of Kerings 12-person executive team, just one-third are women, but only one, Francesca Bellettini, manages a fashion brand, Yves Saint Laurent. The industry must recognize and prioritize efforts to support greater diversity on the business side: the financier, the chief executives, the heads of fashion houses, the senior level magazine editors and business leaders. Its a systemic issue tied to the homogeneity of industry leadership, said Erica Lovett, manager inclusion and community at Cond Nast, in the CFDA report. Women know best what women want Change is coming slowly, with Dior only appointing its first female designer in 2016 and Givenchy in 2017. And by 2020 LVMH has pledged to equal gender representation in its executive positions. Yet male designers continue to jump to the head of the line, like the recent appointment of Hedi Slimane, a designer notorious for over-sexualizing womens fashion, to LVMHs Celine, an historically woman-led, female-positive fashion brand. However, Slimanes first womens collection shown last fall was widely met with derision. A brand that was once thoroughly identified with a peerless instinct for what women want in fashion all of a sudden looked like a gust of toxic masculinity, wrote Tim Blanks in Business of Fashion. Women are simply more attuned to what their female customers want. The closer you can get to your customers life experience the closer you will be to finding solutions, says Bridget Brennan, CEO of Female Factor, fellow Forbes.com contributor and author of the upcoming book, Winning Her Business. Why it is so powerful for companies that are serving women as customers to bring women into leadership and decision-making positions is they have a perspective that may be missing without them, she continues. By excluding women from the designer and executive ranks, fashion is also excluding women customers that dont measure up. For the most part, the fashion industry is not representing what its audience looks like, says Katie Smith, retail strategist and formerly retail analysis and insights director of Edited. That results in marginalizing women who fall outside of its archaic definitions around shape, race and age. Since nearly 70% of American women wear a size 14 or higher, that means the majority of women are thus marginalized. Kirsten Philipkoski, a writer, editor and Forbes.com contributor in fashion, has a warning for brands that are out of touch with women. Those that dont cater to the diverse world of women will be left behind. Why would women waste their time and money with brands that dont represent them and that actually disrespect them? Women go it alone As the great women fashion designers did before them Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Norma Kamali, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, and many others ambitious female designers have to take the entrepreneurial route, like Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, now number 21 on Forbes Americas Self-Made Women list. Following in her footsteps, many notable women fashion entrepreneurs have found traction in underwear, like Heidi Zacs ThirdLove, Michelle Lams True & Company, and Miki Agrawals Thinx. Others are prospering serving the ignored plus-size woman, like Kathryn Retzer with 11 Honor, Zelie For She by founder Elann Zelie, and Premme founded by plus-sized fashion bloggers Nicolette Mason and Gabi Gregg. Also catering to that market is Eloquii which CEO Mariah Chase and designer Jodi Arnold revived after it was closed down by The Limited, only to have it acquired by Walmart last year. It joined Walmarts stable of online brands including Susan Gregg Kogers Modcloth that offers clothing for all sized women. Women designers know best how women want to dress, and they also are more in tune with how women want to shop . So women entrepreneurs are leveraging their insights to bring women new styles of shopping as well. For example, women entrepreneurs lead in fashion subscriptions (Katrina Lake and Stitch Fix and for plus sizes Gia & Co by Nadia Boujarwah and Lydia Gilbert); fashion rental services (Rent the Runway founded by Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss and for high-end fashion rental Tulerie by Merri Smith and Violet Gross). Then there is the combo subscription-rental model for plus-sized women from Christine Hunsickers Gwynnie Bee and second-hand, gently-used fashion from Julie Wainwrights TheRealReal for luxury brands and PoshMark, co-founded by Tracy Sun, for the rest. But these female fashion entrepreneurs are operating largely on the outside. They havent gotten inside yet to bring their unique understanding of what women want into the major fashion brands and retailers where it can be realized and monetized, as the CFDA briefing warns, The important perspectives brought by outsiders, which are often central to creativity and innovation, can be lost. Let women in The brightest hope for the fashion industry in general and womens fashion in particular will be found by letting women outsiders in. It can pay off big time for fashion brands that hear the message. The Glamour/McKinsey study reports that across industries, gender-diverse companies are 22% more likely to outperform their peers. Female consumers are looking for brands they trust and can connect with, and those that continue to ignore them (and worse, offend them) will, bottom line, sell fewer clothes, Philipkoski says and adds, There are so many exciting small fashion brands that are making it their mission to be inclusive. Women have insights into what other women want that men can never fully comprehend. Fashion cant be bottled into a formula and driven as solely a money-making venture. Ironically fashion succeeds and the magic of it is its fluidity. It is ultimately creative, expressive, empathetic and mercurial, Wheeler says. Women understand women better. And Smith adds, While the shift at the grassroots is encouraging, the industry desperately needs more female voices heard at senior and executive positions globally to reflect the women who support the industry both as customers and the workforce. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2019/02/03/would-more-women-in-fashion-power-positions-mean-more-female-customers/ |
Can the left unite to make a Green New Deal a reality? | Several 2020 hopefuls are already embracing the nascent effort but success will require overcoming legislative hurdles Carl Shoupe, a 71-year-old who lives in Benham, Kentucky, at the foot of the tallest mountain in the state, does not feel well served by America. When he came back from Vietnam, he went to work in the coal mines. At 22, he was nearly killed by a roof collapse. He spent a year on his back in the hospital. When he was mobile again, he got a job with the United Mine Workers Union. But after 12 years his injuries flared up and he had to quit. Then Vietnam memories started coming back, and he took to alcohol and pills. I was a wasted man for several years, he recalled. In September 2005, everything changed. He went to church and got sober. When his mind was clear, he didnt like what he saw. Man, he said, I seen all this destruction the coal companies were doing, tearing the mountains down. Since then, Shoupe has worked with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, a grassroots environmental and social justice group that wants to do things like insulate old camp homes and use the energy savings to pay the costs. It is also looking to create jobs to replace those that left with the mining companies as coal use declined. Such ideas could now form the backbone of a national strategy that more and more Democrats are supporting and which will also aim to help slow the pace of climate change: a Green New Deal. The concept has the backing of the 2020 presidential contenders Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren and the likely candidate Bernie Sanders. The New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts senator Ed Markey will soon roll out a brief outline. A Green New Deal will aim to spur jobs and tackle inequity. It will aim to help people of color and indigenous communities. And it will try to help places like Benham, Kentucky. But most importantly, people involved say, the document will push candidates for the White House to explain what they plan to do about climate change. Where 2020 contenders stand on this legislation will make it clear who is using the Green New Deal as a buzzword and who is serious about transforming our economy in line with what science and justice demand, said Varshini Prakash, founder of the Sunrise Movement, a youth climate advocacy group. The concept is already entering the mainstream. Earlier this week, Harris declared her support, telling an Iowa town hall: Climate change is an existential threat to us, and we have got to deal with the reality of it. The California senator also touted statistics projecting huge growth in wind and solar power jobs. Behind the scenes, environmental groups, unions and climate justice advocates have been laying out their thoughts on what a Green New Deal should include. A challenge on Capitol Hill For people like Shoupe, its hard to get excited just yet. They need help now, while climate scientists stress that the world is already off the pace, having failed to begin phasing out coal and petroleum and working to limit greenhouse gas emissions from industry, agriculture and land use. Donald Trump is still president, still openly doubting climate change science. Then there is the legislative challenge a Green New Deal would present, even if all the groups involved could agree on the best way forward. So far, organizations are aligning around general aspirations, people familiar with discussions said. As concrete policy is generated, that will become more difficult. One conflict will come around whether a Green New Deal can include nuclear power, which is carbon-free but runs on mined uranium. Another will regard the use of carbon sequestration, a technology to collect and store emissions from power plants, thereby letting them keep running. Basav Sen, who works with a national consortium of groups, the Climate Justice Alliance, is against the inclusion of nuclear and carbon sequestration. There can be disagreement about other things, he said, [but] those are things theres no compromise on. For Paul Getsos, national director of the Peoples Climate Movement, an umbrella group for community organizations and environmental justice and labor groups, the Green New Deal has to be about reducing emissions as well as building a more just economy. Working with unions, meanwhile, could make it hard to set specific goals for phasing out fossil fuels, because organized labor represents people working in coal, oil and gas, steel and concrete: all sources of greenhouse gases. The plan could also divide Democrats in Congress. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland has been calling for a green deal including a carbon fee and dividend. Enthusiasm on the Democratic side is overwhelming, he said, adding that he favored a comprehensive deal that commits us to meet goals [with] some detailed policy commitments built into it. But he acknowledged: I know some members of the House have concerns about overly ambitious goals built into the Green New Deal, such as trying to wean us off fossil fuels in a decade. One such member was John Delaney of Maryland, who left the House last month in order to run for president. In January, he told the Guardian: Theres a way of doing something really big on climate change in my opinion: it involves putting a price on carbon Thats the best way to do it: its a market-based solution. But suddenly some people are saying, No, no, thats not good enough, weve got to go further, weve got to basically ban carbon in 10 years. Now, thats just not going to happen. I worry that they move the goalposts to a point where you cant get anything done and I think that plays into Trumps hands, actually. Advocates insist nonetheless that they have an opportunity to overcome such obstacles. Ben Beachy, with the Sierra Club, said he has been happy to see just how much alignment on the broad goals there has been. Furthermore, for once, some say they might have an advantage in the messaging war. Julian Brave NoiseCat, a policy analyst for the climate group 350.org and a Guardian contributor, said: Climate change and climate policy has been framed through tradeoffs, scarcity and sacrifice for so long. But whats powerful about the Green New Deal is it frames it as: We can build and provide millions of jobs and do phenomenal things for everyday people through climate policy. | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/03/green-new-deal-climate-change-jobs-plan |
Who is Kevin Limbaugh, killer of Davis Officer Natalie Corona? | Kevin Limbaugh never owned guns as a young man growing up in Michigan, never even talked about them. He dressed well, and was a handsome but shy young man whose high school girlfriend still remembers him coming to her 16th birthday party with an oversized teddy bear to add to her collection. As a young high school graduate, Limbaugh was accepted into Central Michigan University to study to be an orthodontist, but his college days ended after he got a job at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and began a lifelong career in the gaming industry. That career brought him to a small rental house on E Street in Davis and a job working on slot machines at the Cache Creek Casino Resort in nearby Brooks. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Until Jan. 10, Limbaugh apparently led an unremarkable life, an only child who grew up with divorced parents, a 48-year-old bachelor who left virtually no trace of his life in online databases or local newspapers. Kevin Limbaugh, 48, seen in a booking photo related to September incident at Cache Creek that resulted in a misdemeanor conviction for battery. Yolo County Sheriff's Office Then, for reasons even those who were once closest to him cannot fathom, Limbaugh went on a shooting spree in downtown Davis, ambushing rookie police Officer Natalie Corona and shooting up his neighborhood before killing himself inside his home. I dont think youre going to figure out how this ever came about to happen, his father, Rodney Limbaugh, said in a brief telephone interview last week from his Michigan home. It sounds like he just flipped. Sacramento County Sheriffs detectives, who have taken over the investigation of the shooting, are still examining what little evidence Limbaugh left behind, including the two semiautomatic handguns he used in his rampage. Police said Limbaugh used a .45-caliber and 9 mm, both weapons he was prohibited from possessing because of a September battery charge stemming from a late-night incident at Cache Creek during which he sucker punched a co-worker. As a result of that case, Limbaugh was ordered to surrender a black .22-caliber Bushmaster AR-15 rifle he owned. California Department of Justice records show Kevin Limbaugh agreed to surrender a .223-caliber Bushmaster AR-15 rifle in November. Detectives still are researching how Limbaugh obtained the handguns. But the fact he owned any firearms and used them to randomly gun down a 22-year-old police officer stunned people who grew up with him. He wasnt anything like that, said Jennifer Wells, his high school sweetheart in Owosso, Mich., a town of about 15,000 residents 25 miles west of Flint. He never talked about guns with me. I never pictured him to be the type to have guns. Wells, 48, remembers Limbaugh as kind of quiet, laid back. He didnt get into trouble in school, he was well-dressed, very handsome, she said. He was a gentleman to me. Wells said Limbaughs parents divorced when he was a young boy, and that he split his time living with his mother in the summers in Florida and in Michigan with his father during the school year. He was smart, he was like an A student, maybe some Bs, she said. But he was very smart, and he got accepted into CMU and was going to be an orthodontist. The two dated for nearly two years, she said, starting when he was 16 and she was 15. Jennifer Wells and then-boyfriend Kevin Limbaugh in a July 1986 photo while the two were high school students in Michigan. Courtesy Jennifer Wells We were young, but we were young and in love, she said. Wed go to the movies. He lived two blocks from me, so we would spend a lot of time together. Wed walk home from school, sometimes Id go to his house or hed go to mine. Wells recalls Limbaugh as bashful, and a photo taken during her 16th birthday party shows Limbaugh turning away from the camera and holding a hand over his face. On the table, partygoers are sitting around a bouquet of pink flowers and a balloon, one of the gifts Limbaugh brought for Wells. He came to my Sweet 16 birthday party, Wells said. I collected teddy bears, and he brought me a large one. I had it till about three years ago. A puppy thought it was a toy and got it and tore it up. Wells and another childhood friend recalled Limbaugh growing up in a strict household where his father, a salesman, traveled frequently. His dad was real strict with him, said Doug Skutt, a cousin of Limbaughs who grew up with him. When he sat down to eat he had to sit exactly straight up. Limbaugh and his father had a falling out, Skutt said, and Rodney Limbaugh acknowledged that he had spoken to his son only rarely over the years after a family split convinced Kevin Limbaugh to only keep track of his mothers side of the family. I havent talked to him in quite a while, Rodney Limbaugh said. Last time I knew, he was in Bakersfield. Wells and Limbaughs father both said he never exhibited signs of mental illness, or anything that could explain the bizarre, typewritten note he left behind on his pillow before he shot himself in the head after police surrounded his home. The note accused Davis police of bombarding him for years with ultra sonic waves and said, I cant live this way anymore. The letter Davis Police say Kevin Douglas Limbaugh left on the bed of his rental home after he gunned down Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona. Davis Police Department The note was signed Citizen Kevin Limbaugh. Davis police said they have no record of Limbaugh ever complaining to them about sonic waves. The note and Limbaughs rampage mystifies Wells. I cant put my head around this, that he did this, she said. It doesnt make sense. Wells has been married for 28 years and said she still wanted to stay in contact with Limbaugh over the years, but had little luck finding any details about him online. In 1995 or 1996, she said, she got Limbaughs phone number from his uncle and called him for a brief chat. We talked briefly, she said. I told him I was married, that I had a son. I think I kind of broke his heart. Wells said that was the last time she talked to Limbaugh, or heard anything about him. Then, on Jan. 20, 10 days after the shooting, she says a premonition woke her up at 3 a.m. and she thought of Limbaugh. Id been trying to find him for the longest time but I could not find any mention of him at all, she said. Im like, you know what, Im just going to put his name in there. So I Googled his name and I could not believe what I was seeing. All of a sudden Im reading all of this and Im thinking, It cant be the same guy, it just cant. Wells and Skutt said they both are devastated for the Corona family, and that they wanted to discuss Limbaughs past to give people a sense of what he was like when they knew him. Im so sorry for Ms. Corona, it just breaks my heart, Wells said. SHARE COPY LINK | https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article225054545.html |
Has WhatsApp Secured A Stay Of Execution from Facebook? | The pressure on social media to regulate has never been greater than it is now. With this as the underlying theme, there has been a concerted 'messaging' campaign from Facebook HQ in recent days to dampen the negative response to the news that the company plans to integrate its three messaging apps, which between them serve 2.6 billion users. That news landed especially badly with the approaching 1 billion users of WhatsApp, More than any other platform, WhatsApp has come to define the secure and independent mobile messaging that has replaced the SMS technology built into the cellular networks themselves. Whilst Signal, Wickr and Telegram might be more suited to secure messaging amongst those trading in secrets and sensitivities, including implicit or explicit nods from certain agencies as to their 'fit for purpose', it is actually WhatsApp that commands more of the traffic. Across great swathes of the world, private messaging between ministers, each other and their staff use the end-to-end encrypted platform to keep their words and media away from the prying eyes of the national cellular carriers. Facebook Steps In The New York Times first broke the story that has been driving worldwide headlines ever since. The integration of Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram was the bad news, the wider deployment of encryption the quid pro quo. How exactly the company planned to trade off the mutually exclusive goals of data privacy and data exploitation was left to the detail. But then, in Facebook's quarterly earnings update last week after the messaging news had done the global rounds, CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared to pour some cold(ish) water on the fires that had been started. "There's a lot more we need to figure out before we finalize the plans. And then, of course, this is going to be a long-term project that I think will probably be to whatever extent we end up doing it in a 2020 thing or beyond, he told stock analysts. Facebook's convenient response to a challenging PR week had been to post stellar results that delighted Wall Street. This was not a hostile audience. Zuckerberg's statements followed newly appointed head of global affairs and communications Nick Clegg's briefing in Brussels, after the initial news: "We haven't worked out how that will work," he told his audience, "whether it's workable, what regulators may or may not think about it before they jump to any conclusions, what you would need to do, how you make that work in the data infrastructure, how much data integration you need between them. I'm afraid I can't give you much more color." There was an agreed line to take and it was being followed. Plugging The Benefits Zuckerberg has been keen to highlight user convenience as the driver behind the proposed changes: the idea being that users of one service, say Facebook's Marketplace, can more easily interact with users on different messaging platforms to keep everything nice and convenient (read in-house). Clearly, the wider market response was that this was much more likely to be driven by the social media giant's unquenchable thirst for data mining. Theories that became much harder for Facebook to bat away when the news broke days later that the company had been paying teenagers and young adults for almost unfettered access to the messaging (and email) data on their phones, and had even broken Apple's rules for iOS apps in doing so. In addition to the data issues, there was also some serious concern about privacy and security, summed up by Forbes contributor Davey Winder in his assessment of the risks. Facebook has quite clearly lost the blanket trust it once enjoyed across its user base. That's not coming back anytime soon, especially not as long as one PR disaster follows another. Perhaps. The question, though, is whether the company expected the strength of response to the initial news and if it did, whether or not it cared. One thing is for sure, the era of ad-free and unexploited usage loved by WhatsApp fans is coming to an end. The various issues around privacy and commercialization were reportedly the drivers behind the departures of founders Brian Acton and Jan Koum. Zuckerberg's blog, published in the wake of the results announcement, set out the commercial intent. Messaging is "the area that's growing the most quickly [for Facebook]," he wrote. "This year people are going to feel these apps becoming the center of their social experience in more ways... We'll roll out payments on WhatsApp in some more countries... We're going to onboard millions of more businesses that people can interact with." The Antisocial Network Last week, a study from Stanford and NYU found that 'deleting' Facebook "increased offline activities... including socializing with family and friends, reduced both factual news knowledge and political polarization... and increased subjective well-being." Once out of the platform's grasp, any return saw lower levels of usage. The U.K.s Childrens Commissioner wrote the same week to the major social media organizations. With great power comes great responsibility, she told them, and it is your responsibility to support measures that give children the information and tools they need growing up in this digital world or to admit that you cannot control what anyone sees on your platforms. The pressure on social media is building. The response to the messaging integration news, taken alongside the '10-year challenge meme' and the VPN data scheme and the Instagram U.K. teen suicide headlines will be having an impact. Ultimately, though, the only driver of restraint will be user response. When plans for the integration surface again, we will know a lot more about how strongly people really feel and how this will shape the future direction for WhatsApp. The good news for Facebook is that history (and results) suggest we will again trade privacy for convenience and ultimately go along with it. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/02/03/has-whatsapp-secured-a-stay-of-execution-from-facebook/ |
Who wants to be a part of Super Bowls halftime spectacle? | The Super Bowl halftime show is a humungous event, generating its own sponsorship, with performers anxious for the opportunity to perform in front of a captive and massive audience. Yet, Rihanna and others turned down invitations to perform at todays game. The NFL and Super Bowl organizers are not used to being turned down. The game draws large audiences with a majority of U.S. households tuning in. Gladys Knight attends SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIII Radio Row on Thursday in Atlanta. ( Cindy Ord / GETTY IMAGES for SiriusXM ) Musicians usually leverage the publicity, announcing theyre about to go on tour, realizing that performing at the Super Bowl is great advertising. Thats why the NFL reportedly considered charging performers to appear at halftime. News stories in 2014 suggested that the NFL, which does not pay appearance fees but does cover expenses, considered charging performers to appear at the 2015 Super Bowl. Apparently the response from musicians was strongly negative, however, and the idea was abandoned. The real financial windfall for performers comes after the event. Tracking data shows that performers normally see more sales and downloads of their music soon after the game. Article Continued Below But, halftime shows have also featured regrettable public displays. Consider Janet Jacksons wardrobe malfunction in 2004. The NFL would prefer to avoid controversy during the game. The subsequent halftime performers, in 2005 and 2006, were Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. Going with classic rock acts for a while was seen as less contentious. However, we are seeing more political statements recently, such as when Beyonc performed in 2016, which had elements of the Black Panther Party in it. In 2017, the halftime show featured Lady Gaga. The anticipation of her making a political statement at a volatile time in U.S. politics was intriguing. Given that she is ideologically opposed to U.S. president, Donald Trump, many were questioning whether Lady Gaga would be able to avoid saying anything when in the spotlight. Although just two weeks ago Lady Gaga used her Las Vegas residency as a platform for speaking out against Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, she did not prompt controversy during her Super Bowl performance. For this years Super Bowl, many turned down the opportunity to perform as acts of solidarity for Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who refused to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem in efforts to bring attention to racial injustices being observed domestically. Gladys Knight, on the other hand, agreed to sing the national anthem before Sundays game. She has been constantly defending herself for agreeing to do so. And Maroon 5, the headline halftime performers, had their Super Bowl press conference cancelled by the NFL to avoid controversy. Article Continued Below Formerly, it was an easy decision for entertainers about whether to perform at the big game. Yet, reflecting a larger business phenomenon, brands including human brands are increasingly expected to express their values and take sides on polarizing issues. The NFL should also consider doing so. Timothy Dewhirst is associate professor, Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies, College of Business and Economics, at the University of Guelph. Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/02/03/who-wants-to-be-a-part-of-super-bowls-halftime-spectacle.html |
Can researchers bring a brain-stimulation remedy for depression out of clinics and into the home? | Open this photo in gallery Julie Marriott undergoes repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment at Toronto's Krembil Research Institute. She commutes from the Hamilton area to treat her depression, which she has had for around 30 years. The bulky equipment and prohibitive cost of the procedure make it out of reach for many Canadians. Fred Lum Its safe, its effective, and its been approved by Health Canada for treating depression since 2002. Yet, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment that brings relief to patients who do not respond to antidepressants remains out of reach for most Canadians because most provinces dont fund it, and the cost at private clinics can be out of reach. In an effort to make it more efficient, cost-effective and accessible, a team of Canadian researchers investigated a new method of administering rTMS that makes treatment more than 10 times faster. In a large, landmark study published in the journal The Lancet last year, they showed that by using a different pattern of currents, rTMS could be just as effectively delivered in, shorter, considerably cheaper three-minute sessions, instead of the standard 37 minutes. Now Dr. Jonathan Downar, who is a scientist at the Krembil Research Institute at Torontos University Health Network, wants to take this work another step further. He believes that if rTMS can be safely, cheaply and effectively self-administered by patients at home, many more will be able to receive the treatment. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Dr. Jonathan Downar demonstrates the rTMS with Ms. Marriott. Fred Lum During a typical session at a clinic, the patient sits back in a chair, while a doctor or technician positions a magnetic coil against his or her forehead. The coil generates a magnetic field strong enough to induce currents in targeted areas of the brain to regulate brain circuits that are not working properly. Roughly 30 per cent of patients with depression do not respond to antidepressants. But with rTMS, about 50 per cent see a significant reduction in their symptoms, including 30 per cent who achieve remission. Patients typically need 20 to 30 sessions, as well as periodic follow-up booster sessions, since their symptoms tend to return after several months. Dr. Downar is looking to study whether a portable rTMS device that is on the market and already approved by Health Canada can produce the same effect on patients at home as the ones used in clinics. (He declined to name the device to avoid promoting the manufacturer.) He suggests that if his clinic were to issue the devices to patients and show them how to administer rTMS on themselves, it would save them from having technicians or doctors deliver the treatment. Plus, since patients can often go months between courses of treatment, the clinic could lend out the devices temporarily, so that multiple patients could use the same one. If it works, he believes the cost of rTMS treatment could be further reduced to less than $5 per session. Health Canada-approved home brain stimulation that you can get from your doctor is coming, says Dr. Downar, co-director of the University Health Network rTMS clinic, though he cautions, it is at least five years away. Health professionals currently advise against people using any type of brain stimulation on their own without expert guidance. For Julie Marriott, 69, the prospect of avoiding the long daily drive from her home in Ancaster, Ont., to Toronto for treatment and some day being able to administer it in the comfort of her own home, would be a life-changer. In the meantime, Dr. Downar and his colleagues say rTMS could be made widely available to Canadians who need it now, if only it were publicly funded. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement RTMS is only publicly covered in Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon and at certain Alberta Health Services centres. According to Albertas Ministry of Health, publicly funded treatment will be available in Edmonton as of this January, and it will be available in Calgary later this year. But Canadians suffering from treatment-resistant depression are out of luck if they live outside major cities, or are unable to afford the treatment at the few private clinics that offer it. (Using the three-minute version, a full course of treatment costs approximately $1,500, compared with $3,000 for a standard course.) We need to level the playing field here a bit, and provide access [to rTMS] across the country, says Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, director of the non-invasive neurostimulation therapies laboratory at the University of British Columbia. In B.C., he says his clinic, which relies on research grants, is the only site in the province to offer rTMS at no cost to patients. Although rTMS was offered in Victoria from October, 2016, to March, 2017, that program was halted because the treatment is not a publicly funded health care service in B.C., a spokesperson for B.C. 's Island Health, formerly known as the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said in an e-mail. Encouraged by the results of The Lancet study, however, Dr. Vila-Rodriguez, who was a co-author, says he made a submission to the B.C. Health Technology Assessment committee in December, suggesting that it review rTMS for treating depression. The committee is responsible for making recommendations about health services and medical devices to the Ministry of Health. Ontarios health technology assessment committee recommended publicly funding rTMS in 2016. However, the province has yet to cover the treatment. In an e-mail, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care said the ministry is continuing to review the provision of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the province. In Toronto, Dr. Daniel Blumberger, the lead author of The Lancet study, says it is important for governments to consider funding rTMS, since it can prevent patients from requiring other treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy, which involves putting a patient under general anaesthetic and inducing a seizure. Electroconvulsive therapy also has the potential for more side effects. Story continues below advertisement At the end of the day, the investment [in rTMS] could lead to very good returns in the long term by getting more people back to work, getting more people better, and reducing the societal cost of treatment-resistant depression, says Dr. Blumberger, medical head and co-director of the Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Once people get into that cycle of not getting better, its harder to get them out and the costs increase exponentially. Dr. Downar points out that rTMS is covered across the U.S. by Medicare, the national publicly-funded insurance program. And based on the Canadian findings in The Lancet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved of the three-minute theta burst form of rTMS in August, allowing U.S. doctors to see many more patients. It would be nice if Canadian taxpayer funded research actually led to better access for Canadians, he says. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-can-researchers-bring-a-brain-stimulation-remedy-for-depression-out-of/ |
Should the day after the Super Bowl be a national holiday? | The Super Bowl is one of the most celebrated events in the United States, but some may regret a few game day decisions once the work week starts. Whether fans celebrated or grieved too hard, many feel the day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. With an estimated $3 billion in lost productivity for employers, it is pointless to force employees to go to work. Still, adults should make adult decisions--like not overindulging in celebration. PERSPECTIVES The people want it. HR wants it. Politicians want it. It's time to make the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. With companies losing billions of dollars from workers calling in "sick," it's pointless to even open up shop. The Super Bowl is an annual celebration many Americans take part in. Expecting them to be productive the day after is unfair. The key to a good business is a happy and productive workforce. If companies want happy workers, they should allow their employees to recover after a game that nearly a third of the United States watches. Let's make the day after the Super Bowl a federal holiday! That is new level lazy, folks. The Super Bowl is just a football game. Just because people decided to make poor decisions regarding alcohol and food consumption doesn't mean they should not be held accountable. Maybe instead of having that extra greasy sausage or beverage, you could show a little self-control. Production shouldn't be sacrificed because of bad choices. Get off your butt and work. Not only that, the government loses about $200 million a day on federal holidays. There is no way the government is sacrificing that because of football. This Is Why "Super Bowl Monday" Isn't A Holiday & Yes, We're All Mad About It The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/02/should_the_day_after_the_super_1.html |
Is AbbVie a Buy? | I'm biased. I wanted to mention that right out of the gate before discussing whether AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) is a buy. I've owned AbbVie for a while and have a favorable view of the big drugmaker's long-term prospects. However, I'm not oblivious to the challenges AbbVie faces. For investors trying to make a decision about buying AbbVie stock, it's important to consider the arguments both for and against it. Here are those arguments -- presented in what I hope is an unbiased way. Red pills forming a question mark against a background of white pills More Image source: Getty Images. Against AbbVie The biggest knock against AbbVie, by far, is that the company depends heavily on sales for a drug that's already under pressure and faces more threats in the not-too-distant future. I'm referring, of course, to Humira. The immunology drug generates close to 60% of AbbVie's total revenue. Biosimilars to Humira hit the market in Europe beginning in October 2018. They're already taking a toll. AbbVie reported that international sales for the drug fell nearly 15% in the fourth quarter. The company predicts that international sales will plunge by 30% in 2019. But the real problems for AbbVie begin in 2023. That's when Humira faces biosimilar competition in the U.S., where nearly three-quarters of total sales for the drug are made. Some industry observers have been skeptical about the company's projections for blood cancer drug Imbruvica since AbbVie acquired Pharmacyclics in 2015. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug Mavyret has been a big winner, but its growth has probably peaked. Other drugs, including Venclexta and Orilissa, as well as AbbVie's top pipeline candidates, have a long way to go to deliver on the company's predictions. AbbVie has already demonstrated that it was overly optimistic about one candidate. The company acquired Stemcentrx in 2016 for $5.8 billion, adding cancer drug Rova-T to its pipeline. However, clinical flops for Rova-T left AbbVie writing off much of its investment related to the Stemcentrx acquisition in the fourth quarter. For AbbVie Perhaps the most important argument to note in AbbVie's defense is that Humira isn't disappearing overnight. Market research company EvaluatePharma even predicts that Humira will remain the top-selling drug in the world for several more years, with expected sales of $15.2 billion in 2024. AbbVie is shooting for peak sales for Imbruvica of around $7 billion. It's already more than halfway to that level, with 2018 sales for Imbruvica totaling nearly $3.6 billion. Sales also continue to soar: AbbVie reported that Imbruvica's revenue jumped 42% year over year in Q4. And the drug recently won its 10th FDA approval, this time as a first-line treatment in combination with Gazyva for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. HCV drug Mavyret isn't likely to be a growth driver for AbbVie. However, no one should dismiss the financial impact of a drug that should contribute $3.5 billion or more annually for years to come. The launches for newer drugs, including Venclexta and Orilissa, are also going well. AbbVie plans to file for approval later this year for another indication for Orilissa, treating uterine fibroids. The company's chances of winning this additional approval appear to be pretty good. | https://news.yahoo.com/abbvie-buy-140600603.html |
Will General Motors' Earnings Be a Blowout or a Miss? | General Motors (NYSE: GM) will report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings before markets open on Wednesday, Feb. 6. What Wall Street expects Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect GM to report adjusted earnings per share of $1.22 for the fourth quarter, down from $1.65 per share in the year-ago period. They expect GM to report revenue of $36.48 billion, down from $37.7 billion a year ago. How GM's sales fared in the fourth quarter GM's U.S. sales fell 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018, but that number doesn't tell the whole story. While sales of many of GM's sedans fell sharply year-over-year, sales of its big-selling Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse crossovers rose 26.4% and 14.1%, respectively. Those increases suggest that GM may be successfully moving many of its former sedan customers to (more profitable) crossovers. A dark red 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, a 7 passenger crossover SUV. More Nearly all of GM's crossovers were new in the last couple of years, and most are selling very well. Chevrolet Traverse sales rose 14% in the fourth quarter. Image source: General Motors. GM's full-size pickup sales fell 1% in the fourth quarter, but note that GM was selling a mix of highly profitable all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups along with deeply discounted outgoing 2018 models. The proportion of 2019 to 2018 pickups grew as the quarter unfolded, meaning that while GM's pickup sales may have been down slightly, its pickup profits may well have risen significantly year over year. The story was different in China, where the overall market for new vehicles came under intense pressure toward the end of 2018. GM's sales in China fell 25.4% in the fourth quarter -- and while that's a disturbing drop, several of GM's mass-market rivals fared much worse. The good news, such as it is, is that the market for luxury vehicles in China held up somewhat better than the mainstream market in the fourth quarter. Sales at GM's luxury Cadillac brand were up 17.2%, beating out market leader Audi's 0.4% gain. What to expect from GM's earnings report At an investor briefing in January, CFO Dhivya Suryadevara said that GM's full-year adjusted earnings per share and adjusted automotive free cash flow will both be above the guidance she gave in October, when she said that GM expected: Adjusted earnings per share between $5.80 and $6.20. 2018 result: $6.62. Adjusted automotive free cash flow of "around $4 billion." 2018 result: $5.2 billion. GM's "adjusted" figures exclude the effects of one-time items, and its "automotive" figures exclude results related to subsidiaries GM Financial and Cruise Automation. Through the first three quarters of 2018, GM generated: Adjusted earnings per share of $5.11. Adjusted automotive free cash flow of negative-$310 million. If we subtract those from the full-year guidance, assuming that we should be at least a bit above the ranges given, we learn that we should expect adjusted earnings per share of at least $1.10, to get a full-year total of $6.21, a penny above the guidance range, and adjusted automotive free cash flow of more than $4.31 billion, for a full-year total of over $4 billion. Suryadevara said the result was driven by "strength across every operating segment," that North America finished the year particularly strong, that China performed well despite difficult market conditions, and that GM's financial-services subsidiary also delivered a good result. If GM can deliver that cash flow -- and it's not at all implausible, given that GM delivered $4.2 billion in adjusted automotive free cash flow in the year-ago quarter -- then Wall Street's consensus estimate for adjusted earnings per share of $1.30 probably isn't far off. It might even be a bit low. More From The Motley Fool John Rosevear owns shares of General Motors. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/general-motors-apos-earnings-blowout-140300052.html |
What's the Difference Between a Tax Deduction and a Tax Credit? | If you're not familiar with the difference between tax deductions and tax credits, you won't know which represents the better deal for your tax return. They both reduce the amount of your hard-earned cash that goes to the government, but in different ways. Below, I'll explain how the mechanics of tax deductions and tax credits differ, as well as walk you through some of the most popular ones. Tax deductions reduce your amount of taxable income in the eyes of the IRS, or in other words, how much money the government will consider in deciding what rate to use in taxing your income and how much cash to apply that rate to in tallying up your tax bill. If you take a $1,000 tax deduction, your taxable income for the year will be reduced by $1,000. Depending on your annual income and how many tax deductions you qualify for, you could wind up in a lower income tax bracket, resulting in the government taxing a smaller percentage of your earnings. Even if your tax deductions don't change the bracket you occupy, allowing you to be taxed at a lower rate, they can still reduce the amount you owe in tax, by reducing your taxable income. You can figure out how much you're saving by multiplying the value of the deduction by the income tax bracket you're in. For example, a $1,000 tax deduction would be worth $220 off the tax bill for someone in the 22% income tax bracket. When it comes time to do your taxes, you'll have the choice between a standard deduction and itemized deductions. The standard deduction may change from year to year and depends on your tax filing status. Individuals will get a standard deduction of $12,000 when they file their taxes for the 2018 tax year, as will married couples filing separately. Married couples filing jointly have a standard deduction of $24,000 and heads of household have a standard deduction of $18,000. These numbers are slightly higher for the elderly, blind, and disabled. It's worth noting you can't take the standard deduction and itemize deductions at the same time. You have to choose one or the other. The only time it makes sense to forego the standard deduction, instead itemizing your deductions, is when you believe the other tax deductions you qualify for exceed the value of the standard deduction. Tax-filing software will automatically calculate whether a standard deduction or itemized deductions is your better option, so you don't need to worry about choosing if you go that route. An example: For people who are self-employed and have a number of business expenses to write off, itemized deductions may make sense. Other popular tax deductions filers can write off their taxbale income include medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), charitable contributions, state income and property taxes, and mortgage interest. Tax credits reduce the amount of taxes you owe, but instead of doing so by reducing your taxable income, tax credits reduce your actual tax liability, acting as a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax bill. If you qualify for a $1,000 tax credit, the total in taxes you owe will be reduced by $1,000. So to answer the question at the start of this article: You're much better off taking the $1,000 tax credit over the $1,000 tax deduction. | https://news.yahoo.com/apos-difference-between-tax-deduction-134500373.html |
Where Will DryShips Inc. Be in 1 Year? | DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) stock is up more than 40% over the past year. That showing trounces many of its shipping peers. The stock's solid run has been driven in part by improving financial performance. However, even a year from now, there's going to be one thing DryShips can't change. Here's what that is and what it means for investors. Things are looking better DryShips lost $0.85 a share in 2017, but it's on pace to be solidly in the black in 2018. Through the first nine months of the year, the shipping concern had earned roughly $0.16 per share. From that perspective, you can understand why investors have rewarded the stock with a higher price. A natural gas tanker ship at sea More Image source: Getty Images. Driving that earnings improvement was underlying strength in the company's two largest divisions. The rates DryShips was able to charge in its bulk shipping group, for example, were more than 60% higher year over year through the first nine months of 2018. Rates were more than 65% higher in the tanker business. These two businesses accounted for roughly 75% of the company's total revenue over the span. And while rates were roughly flat in the company's gas carrier fleet, it added new ships and was able to increase revenue in the division from around $3.3 million to over $31 million. DRYS Chart More DRYS data by YCharts. DryShips has clearly benefited from an upturn in the shipping business and from the expansion and diversification of its fleet. On the surface, there's a lot to like, here, and it makes sense that the stock has done quite well over the past year. A bigger-picture view However, you need to pull back a little more to see the full picture with DryShips. Go back three years, and suddenly the stock has lost virtually all of its value. The upturn over the past year is coming off of a near-total collapse in the stock price. That changes things in a big way, and one key cause of that decline isn't going away soon. That's true even if the company continues to benefit from improved shipping rates over the next year, which is far from a given in the highly cyclical and economically driven shipping business. The truth is that it doesn't really matter what happens to shipping rates from here -- DryShips isn't worth owning for most investors. The important story goes back to 2016, when the then-heavily indebted company was facing a cash crunch. CEO George Economou provided a cash infusion. It also sold shares to a third-party investor. All in, it had access to as much as $400 million dollars. | https://news.yahoo.com/where-dryships-inc-1-131600840.html |
Is niece being damaged by her parents fighting? | I see this a lot, says her 5-year-old niece of her parents arguments. DEAR CAROLYN DEAR CAROLYN: My brother and sister-in-law have two little girls, 5 and 2, and I love the four of them very much. My brother is a doctor and works many irregular and overnight shifts; my sister-in-law must necessarily manage the girls by herself a lot. My brother and sister-in-law fight frequently. Typically at very low volumes, and never ever physically, but I tend to witness at least one fight per day when I visit. During the last visit, I was coloring with my nieces in one room while their parents fought in the other. The 5-year-old looked at me and said, Well just be quiet, Auntie. I see this a lot. That broke my heart. My husband and I were in couples therapy recently, and it helped us so much something Ive shared with my brother and sister-in-law. I desperately want to suggest they begin seeing a therapist because their small children are very clearly being affected by their fights but I dont know how to do this, or if I should bring up what my niece said to me. L. DEAR L.: Ugh. You have to tell your brother what your niece said. Only a parent who is openly pro-denial wouldnt want to know. Though he might still respond to you with something short of gratitude for telling him; the two arent mutually exclusive. Anyway, as you approach this difficult task, stay focused on these three essential elements: truth, compassion and discretion. Tell your brother exactly what you witnessed, tell him privately and tell him you dont judge reminding him of your recent go-round with couples counseling. Then say youve shared your one reportable fact and are officially butting back out, unless and until he requests otherwise. DEAR CAROLYN: I met a woman through a friend, and we soon began a fun and interesting relationship. After we went out a few times, she told me she had a serious, chronic illness that makes her extremely fatigued. Now, that illness has gotten worse, and she sleeps basically all day and is awake only in the evenings. Fortunately she has enough money to support herself but as her condition has worsened, her personality has soured. I want to help, but I also didnt sign up for this. The life I had envisioned for myself and us isnt possible. Shes told me that if I leave her, it would wreck her. I have dreams and aspirations too, and she wont be able to have children or to lead a normal life. B. DEAR B.: Im sorry. Sometimes there is no good answer. There is only a bad answer, and a worse one. The bad answer is that you break up with your seriously ill girlfriend. The worse answer is that you stay with someone you dont love and have not committed to, just out of guilt. You do have some choice. You always have the prerogative to choose a path thats right for you. Just know the consequences beforehand. The consequence of breaking up will be to inflict pain on someone already in pain. This matters. The consequence of staying will be that, as long as you stay, neither of you will experience the joys of being in love, or the pervasive warmth of knowing your partner could be anywhere else but wants to be with you. These matter, too. Your only appropriate course is to see where things are going and decide accordingly. Sharp pain now, or at best dull ache always. She has choices too, by the way. She can recognize you didnt sign up for this before and arent invested enough to sign up now and lovingly set you free. | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/is-niece-being-damaged-by-her-parents-fighting/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
How much company profit should an owner pocket? | Enzo Vinholi, founder Like It Was Yesterday A: The answer depends upon two things. If your firm is in its early stages when there is high growth and/or little to no positive cash flow, the priority needs to be reinvestment. If your company is growing at 20 percent, it probably does not make sense to pull cash out to put in the bank at 1 percent. In that case try to reinvest 100 percent, if at all possible. On the other hand, if your firm is mature and has less growth it might make sense to start taking cash out. One way to do this is to simply pay yourself a higher salary. The alternative would be to have the firm make distributions to the owners directly out of the profits, such as by dividends. In the rare case where the firm is very, very mature, has zero buyers, and you have no heirs to take it over, and you are personally are too old, or ill, or simply want to retire, then taking the maximum out in salaries and dividends might be the only exit strategy. The second issue of determining how much to take out of the business vs. reinvesting depends on your personal life goals. If it is long-term wealth creation, reinvest. But usually all business creators wish to monetize their business eventually. So if you need the current income just to pay your bills, then you need to draw a salary or in some way take cash out of the business. If you have sufficient income to live on and you simply are at a stage of your life where you wish to have your personal net worth to be more diversified, then you should consider selling all or part of your business. But if your personal life goal includes a desire to start diversifying your net worth but at the same time you still enjoy running the company, then take more cash out of the business. You can do this as salaries and dividends and then invest that money in stocks or bonds to diversify. David Vang is on faculty at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. | http://www.startribune.com/how-much-company-profit-should-an-owner-pocket/504984752/ |
How Does the Puppy Bowl Work? | Puppy Bowl XV is upon us. For two hours before Super Bowl LIII kicks off, the country's most adorable (and adoptable) pups will play one another in a Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff showdown on Animal Planet. Thirty-six puppies have made 2019's starting lineup, with another 55 second stringers to stand watch on the Puppy Bowl sidelines. The competition kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Super Bowl Sunday, and we've got you covered with all the rules you need to know to follow along with the furry antics. Here's how the Puppy Bowl works: The annual contest features two teams of 18 tiny puppies romping around on a mini football field in the Geico Puppy Bowl Stadium. The rules of the Puppy Bowl are rather flexible given the energy, excitement and lack of training that characterizes most of the participating players. The rules loosely resemble existing American football rules in that the goal is for a puppy to drag one of the multiple on-field chew toys across the finish line (on either side) for a touchdown. Regardless of finish line crossed, the touchdown counts as a score for whatever team the puppy belongs to. Puppies can be called for penalties including pass inter-fur-ence," unnecessary ruffness, and premature watering of the field. If a dog commits any of the aforementioned fouls, the puppy will be replaced by a second stringer on the sidelines. All participating puppies are within 12 and 21 weeks of age meet certain height and weight restrictions due to the size of the stadium. A rotating species of cheerleaders will root for their favorite ruff and fluff pups from the sidelines along with the backup team members. One dog will be crowned the MVP of the game depending on online votes from viewers. Last year's winner was Bear, an adorable hound mix from Virginia Beach, Va. A big congrats to Bear for earning #PuppyBowl XIV @BISSELLcleans MVP honors. #ad pic.twitter.com/8OLjUJUvRR Animal Planet (@AnimalPlanet) February 5, 2018 The highest scoring teamRuff or Fluffwill take home the "Lombarky Trophy," a large Petco-branded stuffed toy (and a riff on the Lombardi Trophy given to the NFL's Super Bowl champion). The Dog Bowl, a one-hour special is dedicated to older adpotable dogs, will follow the Puppy Bowl, with 21 dogs, divided into Team Paws and Team Tails and ranging in age from 2 to 15, taking the field for their own match-up. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/puppy-bowl-rules-scoring-penalties-explained-animal-planet |
What channel is the Puppy Bowl 2019 on? | Puppy Bowl XV, the 15th annual showdown between adorable (and adoptable) puppies, will be broadcast on Animal Planet on Super Bowl Sunday. The event will air at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 3. Animal Planet will begin coverage at 11 a.m. ET with the Puppy Bowl XV "Training Camp Confidential." The day will be filled with fluffy faces, with the pregame show starting at 2 p.m. before kickoff at 3 p.m. ET. Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff will play for two hours, with a winner crowned before the show's end at 5 p.m. ET. Take a look at each team's starting lineup before the big game and the backup pups here. You can watch Super Bowl LIII on CBS after the Puppy Bowl. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/puppy-bowl-2019-tv-channel-watch-broadcast-info |
Who Has the No. 1 Pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? | The Cardinals have the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft after their league-low three-win season. Arizona, who finished the season at 313, secured the first pick following their season-ending loss to the Seahawks. The 49ers (412), Jets (412), Raiders (412) and Buccaneers (511) will follow the Cardinals in taking the top-5 picks. The Giants (511) have the No. 6 pick, the Jaguars (511) have No. 7, while the Lions, the Bills, and the Broncos take slots eight, nine and ten after all three finished at 610 in 2018. The 2019 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. The second and third rounds will take place on Friday, April 26 and rounds four through seven will conclude the draft on Saturday, April 27. Here's the complete draft order: 1. Cardinals 2. 49ers 3. Jets 4. Raiders 5. Buccaneers 6. Giants 7. Jaguars 8. Lions 9. Bills 10. Broncos 11. Bengals 12. Packers 13. Dolphins 14. Falcons 15. Redskins 16. Panthers 17. Browns 18. Vikings 19. Titans 20. Steelers 21. Seahawks 22. Ravens 23. Texans 24. Raiders (via Bears) 25. Eagles 26. Colts 27. Raiders (via Cowboys) 28. Chargers 29. Chiefs 30. Packers (via Saints) | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/2019-nfl-draft-order-number-1-pick-arizona-cardinals |
Did Sean McVay Play in the NFL? | Rams' coach Sean McVay did not play professional football in the NFL but joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff in 2008 immediately after graduating from Miami University of Ohio. McVay, 33, played collegiate football as a wide receiver from 2004 to 2007. While in Oxford, Ohio, McVay recorded 39 receptions for 312 yards for the RedHawks. He began his coaching career with the Buccaneers as an assistant wide receivers coach under then-Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden after graduating from Miami of Ohio. The young coach spent one year learning from Gruden before taking a position as the quality control and wide receivers coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League in 2009. In 2010, McVay joined Mike Shanahan in Washington and stayed with the Redskins through the 2016 season. McVay was hired as the Rams' 28th head coach on January 12, 2017 at just 30 years old. With Los Angeles's hire, McVay became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/did-sean-mcvay-play-nfl-football-playing-history-coaching-rams |
What Are The Rules For Robots Delivering Food? | A fleet of 25 robots started delivering Blaze custom pizzas, Starbucks lattes and Dunkin Donuts pastries to students at George Mason Universitys Fairfax, Va., campus last week. It turns out those guidelines, mostly involving safety and customer service, are largely unwritten. But that hasn't stopped the experts from thinking about them. If your idea of a robot is shaped by the work of mid-20th-century science fiction (as mine is), then your imagination is running wild right about now. Robots delivering food! Isaac Asimov would have a field day. So before we answer the question, let's just get a few things out of the way: The robots, developed by Starship Technologies, are "small" and "cute." They don't menace the professors or students. The robots do not shoot you with lasers if you get in the way. They drive around you. The robots do not run amok. They use a GPS pinpoint on a map to find your location to drop off your order. But seriously, they're delivering food. Some of the rules for these clever food-delivery bots are outlined in a message from administrators to George Mason students. Among them: The robots move s-l-o-w-l-y They move at about 4 mph. Delivery happens within 30 minutes. Robots will not be able to enter buildings, so you have to meet them at the door. No phone, no service Bring your phone to the pick-up point. The locked robots can only be unlocked through the app. Space is limited The small robots can hold up to three pizzas, along with a few salads and drinks. They are temperature controlled so your pizza will stay hot while your salads will stay cold, according to officials. The robots do social media Seriously. The fleet of robots even has its own Twitter and Instagram - the handle is @StarshipGMU. Told you they were smart! "Our robots are designed to always be safe and polite," a spokesman for Starship told me. "One of the things were proud of is how happy customers are when the robot arrives with their order. Weve received thank-you notes and special robot drawings from every location where we operate. The bots have become famous across social media at GMU, with many students posting pictures of their deliveries." The biggest potential problem, according to officials, is a collision with a robot. "The robots look both ways before crossing a street and can detect people walking around them," the university reassures students. "They are not likely to run into a person standing still, but if something does happen, incidents can be reported to Mason Police." It's hardly the only danger. At UC Berkeley, a food delivery bot operated by KiwiBot reportedly burst into flames in December. No one was hurt. Other than not running over a student or exploding, the number one rule for a food delivery robot is food safety, according to Candess Zona-Mendola, the editor of MakeFoodSafe.com, an advocacy site. Specifically, it's keeping foods at the right temperature. "In Haidilao, a robotic restaurant chain in China, an automated cold room kept at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius is on view, where queues of robotic arms prepare and deliver raw meat and fresh vegetables," she says. Zona-Mendola says robots are not equal substitutes for humans. At MITs robo restaurant Spyce, for example, humans still handle food prep. She says cutting, chopping, and measuring each ingredient still needs a personal touch. "Workers on-site take care of the details and load everything into containers for the robots to select," she adds. "Humans are still needed to clean up." Sodexo, the food service company working with Starship to deploy the robot deliveries, says humans are still essential. Some tasks, such as food preparation, are still being done by people. Other jobs can't -- and should never be -- automated. "We firmly believe that the community thats built when you share a meal together can never be replaced," a spokeswoman told me. "Many of our students have longstanding relationships with our employees and see them as their second parents or grandparents while away from home." "Robots should not be used to replace customer relationships" Good customer service is also important, say observers. "Obviously, you have the potential to lose the human touch," says Bret Greenstein, the head of Artificial Intelligence for Cognizant. "We may miss chatting with people and saying 'Have a great night,' and, Wow its cold out there.'" He adds, "Robots should not be used to replace customer relationships." Food delivery has always been a guessing game, he adds. Even under the best of circumstances, with experienced human delivery, questions remain. "Will I get my order or someone elses?" he asks. Even if it was understood when the order was taken, there are a lot of handoffs in a restaurant and lots of room to get an order wrong. Will the charges be correct?" I pressed Greenstein on the rules. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. "Like Asimovs rules, which are all about protecting people and robots, companies that use robots and AI to provide delivery and service must put customers first at every point of their experience," he says. "Dont design for automating tasks, reinvent the experience to leverage the power of AI and robotics, not to replicate what people did." It's only a matter of time before robots show up at your doorstep with a package from Amazon, a parcel from the postal service, or a hot pizza from Domino's. If they don't deliver, maybe you can invoke Greenstein's rules for robots delivering food. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2019/02/03/what-are-the-rules-for-robots-delivering-food/ |
Who is Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam? | A scandal over old college photographs featuring blackface and KKK robes has thrust Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam into the national spotlight. Northam, a Democrat, has faced pressure from both Republicans and his own party to resign over these photos, but he has so far declined to do so. Until this controversy bubbled up on Friday, Northam's history was relatively low key on the path to becoming a public servant. Northam grew up on Virginia's rural Eastern Shore, where its two counties have less than a combined 45,000 residents. His father was a judge. He became a doctor and served in the U.S. Army before becoming a state delegate, then was elected lieutenant governor in 2013 and governor in 2017. Despite being the commonwealth's top official, Northam was often seen returning to the Eastern Shore. Before news broke about a racist yearbook photograph on the page bearing Northam's name, the Virginia governor came home to Accomack County to contribute his memories of a local blacksmith. Northam said of the African-American man he used to watch fix tools, tractors, bicycles and other items his family brought into the blacksmith shop: "Growing up, the way we were raised, my brother and I, we didn't see color and I don't think he saw color either. He just treated everybody as human beings. I think that's a lesson that everybody needs to hear." Northam's Eastern Shore roots Northam is only the second Virginia governor to hail from the Eastern Shore of Virginia two counties at the narrow southernmost tip of the Delmarva Peninsula. The first governor from the Eastern Shore was Henry A. Wise, elected in 1855. The area is perhaps best known to the outside world for its Chincoteague ponies and rocket launches from NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Northam also became the first lieutenant governor from the Eastern Shore, after winning the November 2013 election. The same weekend he recorded his recollections about Outlaw, Northam celebrated the Martin Luther King Jr. Day at an Eastern Shore church whose congregation King himself addressed nearly 70 years ago and where Northam is now a member. Gov. Ralph Northam, left, is pictured with church deacon Charles Bell, center, and Pastor the Rev. Kelvin F. Jones after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King celebration service at First Baptist Church in Capeville. More First Baptist Church in Capeville was founded as an African-American congregation in the19th century. The mixed congregation today attracts visitors from as far as Virginia Beach for worship. Northam counts the church's pastor, the Rev. Kelvin Jones, as a mentor. It was Jones who gave the invocation at Northam's inauguration. Northam spoke at the Sunday celebration service at the church on Jan.20. We may have all come on different ships but were in the same boat now, Northam quoted King as saying, adding We have made great progress, but we have more work to do to make sure we are a country where everyone is treated successfully. Northam continued: There are many things that were trying to do in Virginia to be inclusive and to really embrace diversity and to embrace equality ... We must continue to raise our voices that we do not condone hatred or bigotry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Northam told the congregation about being a student during school desegregation on the Eastern Shore in 1971. He was in sixth grade at the time. While many white families chose to send their children to private school, Northam's parents kept their sons in the public schools. Eastern Shore of Virginia youth Northam grew up on a small farm outside Onancock, a town of around 1,200. He graduated from Onancock High School in 1977. Northam's father is retired Circuit Judge Wescott B. Northam. Northam was a good student and as a teenager always held down a job, his father recalled in previous interviews including as a stock boy at the Meatland grocery store, driving a tractor on a farm, and as a boat mate. | https://news.yahoo.com/virginia-gov-ralph-northam-155225094.html |
Is Microsoft's Biggest Growth Engine Losing Its Mojo? | Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) had a mixed second quarter based on last week's earnings report. Its revenue rose 12% annually to $32.5 billion, but that marked its slowest growth in four quarters and missed expectations by $40 million. However, its non-GAAP net income rose 14% to $8.6 billion, as its EPS rose 15% to $1.10 per share -- which beat estimates by a penny. Microsoft expects its revenue to rise 10%-12% annually in the third quarter, which matches analysts' expectations. Analysts expect its earnings to rise 7%. Those forecasts indicate that Microsoft's growth is decelerating as its growth engines cool off. Microsoft's strongest growth engine over the past year was its commercial cloud business, which generates most of its revenue from Office 365, Azure, and Dynamics CRM. However, several components of that engine posted softer growth during the second quarter. Two IT professionals in a data center. More Image source: Getty Images. Taking apart the engine Microsoft's commercial cloud revenue rose 48% annually to $9 billion during the quarter and accounted for 31% of its top line. That represents a slight acceleration from its 47% growth in the first quarter, but remains below its 50%-plus growth rate in 2018. Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Commercial cloud revenue $5.3 billion $6.0 billion $6.9 billion $8.5 billion $9.0 billion Year-over-year growth 56% 58% 53% 47% 48% Source: Microsoft quarterly reports. Microsoft doesn't disclose exactly how much revenue comes from each of its cloud services, it only reports year-over-year growth rates. Azure, its infrastructure cloud platform, remains the fastest-growing division -- but its growth clearly decelerated over the past year. Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Azure revenue 98% 89% 85% 76% 76% Year-over-year growth, constant currency. Source: Microsoft quarterly reports. Azure is still growing at a faster rate than its main competitor, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Web Services (AWS), which posted 45% sales growth last quarter. But Azure has a lower market share than AWS, so it could fall further behind if its growth peaks. Microsoft isn't worried Microsoft doesn't seem concerned about the year-over-year deceleration in Azure's growth. During the conference call, CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that Azure was the "core platform" that powers "everything" -- including Office 365 and Dynamics 365, the two other pillars of its commercial cloud business. The growth of those two businesses also decelerated over the past year, although Dynamics' growth slightly accelerated during the second quarter on more "modular, extensible, and AI-driven" offerings for its customers according to Nadella. Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Office 365 Commercial 41% 40% 35% 35% 33% Dynamics 365 68% 62% 56% 49% 50% Year-over-year growth, constant currency. Source: Microsoft quarterly reports. Simply put, Microsoft believes that it can keep leveraging the strength of Windows, Office, Dynamics, and its other products to tether more customers to Azure. Once they're locked in, Microsoft can cross-sell other services to boost its commercial cloud revenue. Microsoft also holds another key advantage against Amazon. Brick-and-mortar retailers that were burned by Amazon are more likely to partner with Microsoft, since they don't want to support Amazon's highest margin business. That's why Microsoft recently added Walmart, Kroger, and Walgreens Boots Alliance to its growing list of retail partners. | https://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-apos-biggest-growth-engine-143000903.html |
Can the bipartisan congressional panel strike a border security deal before the deadline? | This is a rush transcript from "Fox News Sunday," February 3, 2019. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. CHRIS WALLACE, HOST: I'm Chris Wallace. The governor of Virginia refuses to step down over a racist picture despite of barrage of calls from fellow Democrats for his resignation. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GOV. RALPH NORTHAM, D-VA: I am not either of the people in that photo. And I'm asking for the opportunity to earn your forgiveness. WALLACE: From the firestorm over the offensive yearbook photo to the outrage over Northam's comments about late-term abortion. NORTHAM: The infant would be delivered and then the discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother. WALLACE: This hour, we'll discuss how the events have brought the issues of race and abortion to the forefront of the 2020 campaign. Then, President Trump prepares to address the State of the Union amid a fight over the border wall that's growing even more bitter. REP. NANCY PELOSI, D-CALIF., SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself because she's hurting a lot of people. We'll ask two members of the bipartisan conference committee trying to find one -- Republican Senator John Hoeven and Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar. Plus, the Trump administration pulls the plug on an arms control treaty with Russia signed by Ronald Reagan. MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Russia has jeopardized the United States security interest and we can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia shamelessly violates it. WALLACE: We will discuss the threat of a new arms raised and the president's split from his own intelligence chiefs with Ron Johnson, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, all right now on "Fox News Sunday." (END VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE: And hello again from Fox News in Washington. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is defying calls for his resignation, from the Democratic Party in his own state and almost all the leading contenders for his party's 2020 presidential nomination. Northam says he is not one of the two people in a clearly racist photo in his 1984 medical school yearbook. And he's appealing to Virginia voters to give them some time to earn back their trust. We begin our coverage with the latest from Garrett Tenney live outside the governor's mansion in Richmond -- Garrett. GARRETT TENNEY, CORRESPONDENT: Chris, in less than 24 hours, Governor Ralph Northam went from "I'm sorry" to "it wasn't me". And his explanation has done very little to quell the calls for his resignation. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) NORTHAM: I am deeply sorry. I cannot change the decisions I made, nor can I undo the harm that my behavior caused then and today. TENNEY: Clearly racist and offensive. On Friday, that's how Governor Northam described this picture in his 1984 medical school yearbook which shows one man wearing black face and another in a KKK costume. On Saturday, Northam said he never believed it was him in the picture and only apologized because people were upset. NORTHAM: Last night I finally had a chance to sit down and look at the photograph in detail. It is definitely not me. I can tell by looking at it. TENNEY: Northam admitted he did wear black face for a dance competition that same year, dressing up like Michael Jackson. He's facing a growing wave of calls from across the political spectrum for him to resign, including these from the campaign trail. SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, D-N.Y.: He should resign. I saw the photo after I saw you guys last night. So disturbing, so racist. SEN. SHERROD BROWN, D-OH: I have called for him to resign, he should. TENNEY: If Northam were to resign, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax will become the second African-American governor of the commonwealth. In a statement, he said, I cannot condone the actions from his past that at the very least suggest a comfort with Virginia's darker history of white supremacy, racial stereotyping and intimidation. (END VIDEOTAPE) TENNEY: Governor Northam said he is launching an investigation to determine who the two men in the photo are, and to prove to the public that he isn't one of them, using facial recognition technology -- Chris. WALLACE: Garrett Tenney, reporting from Richmond -- Garrett, thanks for that. We want to discuss this now with our Sunday group who represent a range of political opinions. Former Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Mo Elleithee of Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service, Liz Marlantes, politics editor of the "Christian Science Monitor", and Jonah Goldberg of "The National Review". Well, Mo, let me start with you because you have a long experience in Virginia Democratic politics. Here is Governor Northam yesterday asking Virginia voters for more time. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NORTHAM: Right now, I am simply asking for the opportunity to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person I was is not the man I am today. I am asking for the opportunity to earn your forgiveness. MO ELLEITHEE, GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE OF POLITICS & PUBLIC SERVICE: It's hard to see how. As you reference, I've worked in Virginia Democratic politics for a long time, eight statewide campaigns over a dozen-year period, and one thing that's very clear in Virginia, in Virginia today, is that issues of race remain complicated, they remain raw, they remain emotional for so many people. To have those issues and those emotions spill over into the governor's office of what was once the capital of the Confederacy, something is hard to come back from. I think the governor has mishandled this every single step of the way. I don't know how you can on one night admit that you are in the photo and the next day come back and say I only said that because I didn't look at it. That at least suggests to me that for a moment he thought it was possible that it might have been him. That in and of itself is concerning to me. And so, I think you have seen -- and I will say this, as difficult a day as this is in the Commonwealth of Virginia and nationally, I do feel a little optimism come from it because we have seen a unanimity. We have seen people from across the political spectrum come together and say this kind of behavior is not acceptable, so in a few united moments we have had as a nation recently. I wish we could see that same feeling when it's a Steve King or somebody else, but I do think we are seeing people say, let us turn the corner on this and move forward. WALLACE: We ask you for questions for the panel. And on the Northam issue, we got this tweet from Greg. And I have to say, in all fairness, this story since it broke has been the lead on almost every newscast and as we pointed out, almost every potential contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination has condemned Northam and has called for him to resign. JASON CHAFFETZ, CONTRIBUTOR: The reaction has been severe and it has been pervasive. It's hard to believe that it could be any worse but even then I do believe it would be even exponentially worse for somebody who supported Donald J. Trump. But at the same time, every single Democrat that I've heard has come out and said that he needs to step down, he shouldn't be in place. Probably easier for Republicans to say that but I'm glad and proud actually that the Democrats are calling out one of their own. And at this point, I think the governor is being just wholly selfish. He can't govern at this point. He's going to be terribly ineffective. It sounds like they have a decent, competent person to step in behind him and he should step down immediately. WALLACE: Jonah, I'm going to ask the question which may be hopelessly out of date and may seem hopelessly out of touch to some people. But as hateful as that photograph from 1984 is, and there's no question it is hateful, it was 35 years ago and this governor does have a pretty good record of reaching out to African-Americans. He has been a member of an African-American church. JONAH GOLDBERG, NATIONAL REVIEW: In principle, I absolutely think you should be able to apologize sincerely for this and maybe part of the problem is that a sincere apology would come with a resignation, not with what we've seen. But we are at a moment where we are talking about giving felons second chances because of mistakes they've made when they killed people or murdered people or raped people. Surely, if this was a stand-alone thing that he did in his past and the contrition was sincere, I think we should be able -- people should get a shot at redemption or at least have their apologies heard. The problem is they've been so bad. This was such a bad handling of this thing where even now he's begging for forgiveness while denying it was him and promising a search for the real racists. It is a bizarrely, convoluted, embarrassing handling of something and it just -- it chums the water in ways that makes it impossible for a lot of people to give him the benefit of the doubt. WALLACE: I promise, Liz, I'm going to bring you in a minute. Let's say it even was his picture in 1984 in the medical school yearbook. It's a terrible mistake. It's hateful. It's unacceptable. ELLEITHEE: Of course -- I think he has -- I've struggled with this too. He has a long distinguished record as a pediatrician and as a veteran and as an elected official, and has done so much good for the people of Virginia. WALLACE: And has reached out to the African-American -- ELLEITHEE: He's reached out to the African-American community in very real ways so the notion that you have this one moment from your past to find and invalidate everything else doesn't sit well with me. But I'm with Jonah on this one in that if he had come out on day one and said in a very real way that it was either -- that it was him and here's how I'm going to regain your trust, I think people would listen to him. To come out yesterday then and do the about-face -- WALLACE: Yes, but wait, wait, to be fair, long before the news conference, and I certainly agree it was a weird news conference -- ELLEITHEE: Yes. WALLACE: -- there were people calling for his resignation. Everybody was calling for his resignation, including every Democratic potential contender. ELLEITHEE: You know, I actually give a lot of credit to the state's two senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who both former governors who condemned the photo immediately and said were going to give the government a chance to speak directly to the people of Virginia, let him explain to them and do the right thing. And after that, after yesterday, they said, you know what, he can't do it. WALLACE: OK, Liz, I want to bring you and if I want to broaden this because I want to talk about a somewhat different issue, which was that before the story broke, the big story involving Democrats this last week was that they were being attacked by Republicans as dangerous, out of touch leftist radicals in Virginia of all places. A Democratic lawmaker was pushing a bill that would make it easier to get late term abortions. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where it's obvious that a woman is about to give birth. She has physical signs that she is about to give birth. KATHY TRAN, D-VIRGINIA STATE DELEGATE: My bill would allow that, yes. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Interestingly enough, Governor Northam supported that bill, which would make it easier to get late-term abortions, which was defeated in the statehouse and then, there was Senator Kamala Harris who supported Medicare for all, even saying, well, maybe we don't need private insurance anymore. Take a look at this. Let's eliminate all of that, let's move on. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And some Democrats are making dramatic new calls for stiff new increases in taxes on the very wealthy. LIZ MARLANTES, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: Absolutely. I think, you know, if you look at the field of 2020 candidates right now, there's a huge opening for moderate that isn't being filled at the moment, unless, I don't know, may be Joe Biden ends up getting in or something. But yes, I think the field is going to the left and what we saw this week with Howard Schultz talking about possibly running as a third party, all of that I think points to the fact that there is right now a vacuum in the field for moderate candidates. However, I was going to say, back to the Northam thing, even if he had handled it correctly from the beginning, I think Democrats would have been calling for him to be out of there right away, because the one thing is they are gearing up for 2020, they do not want to be seen as in any way hypocritical on issues of race or sex. They just don't end -- I think he would've been done even if he'd handled it perfectly. The media coverage of this governor basically rhetorically endorsing infanticide in the eyes of millions of Americans was treated as a strange obsession by the mainstream media. If a right-wing governor said, well, zero tolerance for any abortion, we're going to put the doctors in jail, we're going to put the mom in jail, it would be a firestorm of media coverage, and that shows the double standard and also how race plays so much differently than some of these other sort of Christian pro-life culture war issues. WALLACE: Panel, thank you all. I don't usually lead with the panel. I'm glad we did. See you all a little later. Up next, President Trump says there's a good chance he will declare a national emergency to build his border wall if a bipartisan congressional panel can't hammer out a deal. Two members of that committee join us, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: A Congressional Conference Committee has just 12 more days to strike a deal on border security that President Trump will sign before there's another government shutdown. Joining me now, two members of that committee: from Texas, Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, whose district sits right on the border with Mexico and he says he opposes any money for a new barrier, and here in Washington, Republican Senator John Hoeven. He says there has to be money for a wall. And, gentlemen, welcome to both of you to "Fox News Sunday". SEN. JOHN HOEVEN, R-N.D.: Thanks, Chris. REP. HENRY CUELLAR, D-TX: Thank you so much. WALLACE: President Trump has been very pessimistic about the prospects that your committee is going to be able to come up with a compromising -- compromise, including funding for the wall. And here he is on Thursday. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I don't expect much coming out of the committee because I keep hearing the words that we'll give you what you want but we're not going to give you a wall. And the problem is, if they don't give us a wall, it doesn't work. Without a wall, it doesn't work. HOEVEN: Well, I think the president is trying to push the process along and, you know, you need to. I mean, we only have until February 15th. I think we can get to a solution but it does need to include barrier funding. It needs to include personnel, technology and funding for a border barrier. WALLACE: Congressman Cuellar, here is Speaker Pelosi this week. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. NANCY PELOSI, D-CALIF., SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There's not going to be any wall money in the legislation. CUELLAR: Well, you know, surely, I want to make sure we emphasize the deficiencies that we might be down there -- more personnel, more technology. First of all, we're not going to have a wall. That's something we can certainly look at. But I have to say, living on the border, you have to let the local border patrol chief have the say so and let the local communities be involved so they can come up with maybe some sort of enhanced barrier. But again, Washington cannot dictate what sort of barrier and where to put it at. WALLACE: Well, let me make sure I understand, though, because a lot of the border patrol people have been saying they want to see at least in some areas, enhanced barriers. CUELLAR: No. No, no. Notice what I said is that the local border patrol chief should make that local assessment of the threat and then you let the local communities have a say so. But Washington is not going to say -- is going to say what sort of barrier they're going to have. Again, I don't believe in the wall. I think a wall is a 14th century solution. The way the president is saying, the president is looking at a false premise. He thinks that the only way you secure the border is by having a wall. That is a false premise. There's other ways of securing the border. WALLACE: Well, Senator Hoeven, you hear -- you are on the same panel with Congressman Cuellar. HOEVEN: That's why I proposed at our meeting this week that we bring in the border patrol professionals and were going to do that next week. Chairman Shelby has agreed on the Senate side, where working to get Chairman Lowey (ph) to agree as well. And then we want the -- including the sector chiefs, to come in and say why they need border barrier as well as personnel and technology and take some of the politics out of the equation. WALLACE: Let me continue with you, Senator Hoeven, because President Trump suggested this week that he may just give up on the work of your committee and declare a national emergency either during or just after his State of the Union Speech. Here he is. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: We will be looking at a national emergency because I don't think anything is going to happen. I think the Democrats don't want border security. Listen closely to the State of the Union. I think you'll find it very exciting. One of your Republican colleagues, Senator Rubio, says you set that precedent, you're going to get a Democratic president somebody who says, well, we need national emergency to redirect funds on climate change. HOEVEN: Well, the best solution is getting to one where Congress puts together a funding package for border security, including all three components that I've laid out that is acceptable to the House, the Senate, and to the president. That's the best solution. There have been something like 58 emergencies declared under the National Emergency Act going all the way back to 1979 and President Carter. I think 31 of those are still enforced. So I think what the president is saying is if we don't compromise -- he's put compromise on the table, real compromise, things that Democrats want. But if we can't get compromise out of Speaker Pelosi and get to a good solution, then he would be forced to go the national emergency route. WALLACE: Congressman Cuellar, we have the State of the Union speech on Tuesday. CUELLAR: Look, when he says there's an emergency, let me give this analogy, if you have a fire if you're going to send that a fire department right there. You're not going to say, you know, if I don't get this, I will send the fire department. If you don't do this, I threaten you with this emergency. That's not an emergency. By nature, the way he's been laying this out, any reasonable judge is going to say this is not an emergency. And if you look at the emergency, what he talks about -- you know, our border area, I live at the border, it's safer than most areas, and I have use numbers before. FBI stats will show that the national murder rate is 5.3 murders per 100,000. The border cities are lower than that. In fact, Washington, D.C., is about three or four times more dangerous than Laredo, my hometown. So, again, he knows it's not an emergency. He's using the threat as leverage to get a wall. He's not going to get that 14th century solution called the wall. It's a false premise (ph). WALLACE: OK, let's get off the politics, both of you, and let's talk about the merits of the issue, and I've got some statistics here. First of all, let's talk about the effectiveness of physical barriers. When they were put up in the Yuma, Arizona, sector, arrests for illegal crossings felt 94 percent in three years from 138,000 to 8,000. When barriers went up in San Diego, arrests fell 80 percent and seven years from over half a million to 100,000. Congressman Cuellar, you voted for fencing in an appropriations bill last year, $1.3 billion for fencing. CUELLAR: Well, let's look at the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of a wall. If you put money -- (CROSSTALK) WALLACE: You keep talking about a wall. CUELLAR: No, no, no -- WALLACE: Wait, wait, sir. Let's just talk about -- let's just talk about barriers rather than a wall. CUELLAR: OK, OK. Let's call it a barrier but let's call it a fence, let's go in the middle, a fence. WALLACE: OK. CUELLAR: If you look at the cost-- let's look at the cause of one mile of technology, it will cost $1 million to $2 million per mile. One mile of fencing is going to cost $25 million to 26 million. They all have said, quote, a few minutes or a few seconds. If you look at Border Patrol Union, the Border Patrol before 2012 said that a wall was useless because they can go ahead, go under, go around and it is a waste of taxpayers dollars. WALLACE: OK. Let me bring in Senator Hoeven, because the president keeps calling this a crisis and I want to look at some statistics on that, and this brings up some measures that Congressman Cuellar talked about. In 2000, the Border Patrol stopped 1.6 million people, 19 years ago. Last year, they arrested just a quarter as many, less than 400,000, and two- thirds of the people here illegally each year are visa overstays, not people who cross the border illegally. So, I guess two questions. HOEVEN: Well, it is a crisis. And the numbers are going back up. If you look, we're now going back up to 50,000 to 60,000 people coming every month, 200,000 over the last four months. So, you can see this number is going back up. And it's not just people coming here illegally. Look at the drug flow, look at the human trafficking, gangs, MS-13. This is something we've got to get a handle on and that's what you need all three components -- border barrier as well as technology and personnel. It's like a three-legged stool and the Border Patrol will tell you that, which is why I go back to what I'm trying to get done. And you're going to see it happen this week, bring the Border Patrol professionals and, let's hear from them, what they need, why they need it. WALLACE: OK. I'm going to try to step back for a minute, we've only got about two minutes left, but, Senator Hoeven, Congressman Cuellar, talk to each other. HOEVEN: Sure. I have been to Laredo with Congressman Cuellar. He's a good man and I think we can get to a solution here, but we are going to have to have all three in a way that we can agree on. I'm certainly willing to fund personnel and technology. We've got to have some money for barrier as well. CUELLAR: Well, I certainly want to sit down with Senator John and other members because I feel that if we don't get outside pressure, the committee can sit down and work this out. Appropriators are -- as you know in Washington, there's Republicans, Democrats and there's appropriators both in the House and the Senate. We can work out a deal. I know we can sit down and work it if we just don't get any outside pressure, do what we need to do and I feel that the process as appropriators, House and Senate Democrats, Republicans, we can work something out. I feel confident. By the way, the deadline is February 15th. If we have to do something, our committee probably has to do something by this coming Friday because then you got to print it out and then you've got to lay out the bills in the House and the Senate. So, it's less than February the 15th for the committee to come up with something. WALLACE: All right, on that relatively helpful note, I'm going to say, Congressman Cuellar, Senator Hoeven, thank you both. Thanks for joining us today, and we'll be tracking what your committee does over the next week or maybe two weeks. Thank you both, gentlemen. HOEVEN: Thanks, Chris. CUELLAR: Thanks. WALLACE: Up next, the U.S. pulls out of a missile treaty with Russia sparking fears of a new arms race. We'll discuss the fallout of the president's split with his intel chiefs and with Senate Republicans, discuss all that with the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. That's next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: Coming up, the U.S. and Russia pull out of a major nuclear arms treaty. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: The piece of paper, if it's not been complied with, is -- doesn't reduce the risk. It doesn't take down that threat. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: We'll ask the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee if we're headed for a new arms race, next on Fox News Sunday. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: President Trump's America first agenda will be on full display Tuesday night during his State of the Union Address. On Friday, he announced plans to pull out of the INF missile treaty, a treaty that was signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev during the Cold War. All this as Trump's foreign policy is being questioned by some surprising people. Joining us now from Wisconsin, Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Homeland Security Committee. Senator, let me start with the most recent news. Both the U.S. and Russia have just announced that they are pulling out of compliance with the medium-range missile treaty. President Trump has been saying that the -- the Russians have been violating that treaty for some period of time. SEN. RON JOHNSON, R-WISS. : Well, good morning, Chris. And, of course, the -- the most salient point here is that Russia has been violating this treaty for at least six years testing and now we believe deploying these intermediate range nuclear missiles. And what's so dangerous about these is, you know, they -- if something flies out of those batteries, it's only a couple of minutes before it hits the target, probably in the European theater, so we have very little warning and all kinds of miscalculations could occur. So it's unfortunate that Vladimir Putin has taken this path and that he's been violating this treaty, but there's really no treaty in existence when one person is violating and not even admitting to violating it as well. So this is something that's just natural. Our NATO and European allies completely back the president's move here. Hopefully, in the six-month period before -- you know, between the announcement in the final ending of the treaty, Russia will come to her senses and -- and verifiably dismantled these batteries. WALLACE: Let me turn to another subject. This week, most Republican senators broke with President Trump on his announcement of a quick withdrawal of some or all U.S. troops from -- all U.S. troops from Syria, about half from Afghanistan. Here's Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, who introduced the measure opposing a fast withdraw from those theaters. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, R-KY, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: ISIS and al Qaeda have yet to be defeated, and American national security interests require continued commitment to our missions there. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Senator, you're one of 43 Republicans in the Senate who voted for the McConnell amendment, opposing the president's announced policy. You say that we can't -- and using your phrase -- "bug out" of Syria and to do so would be, quote, very unwise policy. JOHNSON: Well, Chris, I can't tell you how many times I came on shows like this after President Obama decided to bug out of a Iraq precipitously and so that ISIS was able to rise from the thoroughly (ph) defeated ashes of al Qaeda in Iraq. And I don't want to be making the same statement six months from now that we bug out of Syria, unwisely, and that ISIS has reemerged from the defeated ISIS -- or ashes of ISIS in Syria. We met -- a bipartisan group of senators met with the co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Coalition, Ms. Ahmad, and, you know, she had a very compelling case to make. They've got about 60,000 fighters. They represent about 4 million Syrians, about 2.5 million Kurds and about a 1.5 million Christians. And they want democracy. They want peace. And she made a very strong case of just having American military people present, not even involved in the fighting, but as advisors does a -- it goes a great deal toward providing the peace and stability for that part of Syria. And I think it would just be tragic if we bugged out, left the Kurds, who, by and large, have done the fighting and have defeated the ISIS caliphate, the territorial caliphate in ISIS, if we just abandon them to the -- to the mercies and let's -- you know, I use that term loosely, of Russia and Iran and possibly Turkey. WALLACE: So -- JOHNSON: It would just be unconscionable. So -- so, again, I think Republican senators are sending very strong signals to the president, we don't want to see that happen, and I hope he is listening. JOHNSON: Well, as it relates to pulling out of Syria, there's -- there's a pretty serious split. Hopefully the president -- because when he -- he came to Senate lunch, he was talking about, you know, we're still going to defeat ISIS and their airbases from Iraq that we can still continue these missions. So, you know, I'm -- I'm not on the ground there. I don't know all the military assets. But it's a very bad sign when Secretary Mattis resigns, Brett McGurk, our envoy there for the defeat of ISIS, also resigns because they simply can't carry out this policy. These are people that are intimately knowledgeable of the conditions of the ground, of -- of are allies there and they simply couldn't in conscience -- in good conscience stay in office. That's a pretty bad sign. I hope the president is listening to those people as well. WALLACE: Well, talking about people who are knowledgeable on the ground, we saw a remarkable split this week between the president and his own intel chiefs on a number of world hot spots. While the president, since the summit with Kim Jong-un has said that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, here was the testimony this week by the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAN COATS, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities. It is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And here are the president and Director Coats on the threat from ISIS. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRESET: We've really stepped it up and we have won against ISIS. We've beaten them and we've beaten them badly. DAN COATS, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: ISIS is intent on resurging and still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: They also disagreed, the president and, in this case, CIA Director Gina Haspel, over whether or not Iran is violating the Iran nuclear deal. JOHNSON: Well, let me also say that Ms. Ahmad was -- was also pretty firm in her assurances that ISIS has sleeper cells existing. They are not thoroughly defeated yet. Now, the caliphate, the territorial caliphate, is gone, but you still have those sleeper cells. Listen, I come from the private sector. Spent 30 years in manufacturing. Enter public life. And I --I realized -- I have the modesty to understand that there's an awful lot -- there's an -- you know, so much tradition and history and complexity to some of these foreign policy issues, you have to rely on people who have been working these issues for -- for decades. And it's just imperative that you actually listen to, for example, the CIA chief, the director of national intelligence, these people have the real knowledge and you have to listen to them. WALLACE: Well, that wasn't the president's first reaction. Actually, none of his reactions. His first reaction was to bash the intel chiefs. Let me put up a couple of his tweets. The intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and na<ve. Perhaps intelligence should go back to school. And then after meeting with his chiefs the next day, the presidents at this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRESET: They said that they were totally misquoted and they were totally -- it was taken out of context. So what I do is I'd suggest that you call them. They said it was fake news. JOHNSON: Well, you know, I just say one instance, the -- what the intelligence chiefs were talking about Iran, they were saying currently and technically Iran is in compliance. But I think the president's absolutely right of the -- the -- this type of danger that Iran represents, not only to the region but the world. I mean they're -- they're -- they're continuing to plot terrorist attacks into Europe. They, obviously, are fomenting the conflict in Yemen. And, you know, they are certainly not helpful in Syria. They are a real threat to Israel and to world peace and stability. So, technically, they may be in compliance with the agreement, currently they may not be pursuing nuclear weapons, but, you know, they're still fomenting terror, they're still the largest state sponsor of terror in the world. And so I -- you know, again, I think maybe that difference was blown way out of proportion. WALLACE: I've got about a minute left. I want to go to one other hotspot. There's a lot on the international plate right now and that's Venezuela. The president, this week, announced some dramatic escalations in our campaign against the Maduro regime. He's now backing, as a number of other countries are, the opposition president from the national assembly. And he's also imposed some tough, new economic sanctions on Venezuela. JOHNSON: Well, I think the administration's really done an admirable job when it comes to their reaction to what's happening on the ground. It's the national assembly, probably the closest thing to an open democratic forum in Venezuela, that voted for -- you know, their assembly president, Juan Guaido, to basically run the country now. And when you see the protest in the street in support of Mr. Guaido, we are just reacting to the conditions on the ground and we are supporting the Venezuelan people in trying to shed the -- just the deprivations of -- of Maduro. When -- WALLACE: It -- I -- JOHNSON: When you listen to the hit squats going into -- WALLACE: Let me just ask you, though, because we're -- we're running out -- JOHNSON: It just is awful. So, again, I think the administration's done a good job. JOHNSON: Well, we certainly have to protect American personnel there, and I think that's exactly what we've done, move -- you know, moving troops into Colombia. I really do think the people of Venezuela will take care of the situation and we'll just take -- you know, we'll use economic sanctions to support them. And I think it's appropriate that we do support the people of Venezuela. Because there was this statement, 1,500 troops in Colombia. JOHNSON: Well, that's -- I'm just basing it off news reports. That would be a prudent action on my -- you know, from my standpoint. I hope we have done that. WALLACE: Senator Johnson, thank you. Thanks for your time. It's always good to talk with you, sir. JOHNSON: Have a good day. WALLACE: Up next, we'll ask our Sunday group about the president's disagreement with Senate Republicans and his own intel chiefs, and what we can expect from the State of the Union. All that, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MCCONNELL: My amendment would acknowledge the plain fact that al Qaeda, ISIS and their affiliates in Syria and Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to us here at home. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warning President Trump against pulling troops out of Syria and Afghanistan too soon. And we're back now with the panel. Well, Congressman Chaffetz, 43 of the 53 Republicans voted for the McConnell amendment, against the president's policy of pulling troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. Only three Republicans opposed the amendment and seven members didn't vote at all. Profiles in courage. JASON CHAFFETZ, CONTRIBUTOR: That was a very strong message to the president. But I'm actually with the president. I don't think we should be in Afghanistan and Syria in perpetuity. I think if the Senate wanted to invoke the war powers act and take a strong vote, then have the political guts to go ahead and do that. But -- and I think it's also good that the president has some tension with his intel chiefs. But the president campaigned on this. And what I like about him is he's always taken the same position on the -- on these issues. We've only got 2,000 people there. I -- I understand. CHAFFETZ: Yes. WALLACE: But, I mean, it's not a huge number and they're not on the front lines. CHAFFETZ: Well, I really do worry about the Kurds, but we are able to -- to fight from -- from Iraq. And we do have proximity and we do have the ability, but let's give President Trump a chance. I think he's had great success in dealing with Iran and North Korea. The world is a safer place. And I think trying, the president's doing it the president's way, after, what 17 years in Afghanistan. I think that's the right way to go. WALLACE: This is not the only issue where Senate Republicans have broken with the president over foreign policy. Let's put up a list. Yes, this last week they opposed him on quick withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. Before that, imposing new sanctions on Russia over his objection. And also voting -- voicing support for NATO when the president didn't seem to be doing that last summer. LIZ MARLANTES, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: Well, what I found so fascinating, particularly about the Syria-Afghanistan vote, is that Trump's actually closer to the 2020 Democrats on this issue then he is to his own party. And we could end up in a cycle this coming year where there is no major candidate representing that sort of internationalist interventionists point of view in our presidential race. And that's -- I can't remember the last time we had a cycle. We could end up with two candidates who are both basically much more isolationist than we've ever seen before, which is just fascinating. WALLACE: I want to turn to the other big split this week between the president and his own intelligence chiefs on the threat from North Korea, Iran, ISIS. Here is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PELOSI: One dismaying factor of it all is that the president just doesn't seem to have the attention span or the desire to hear what the intelligence community has been telling him. JONAH GOLDBERG, CONTRIBUTOR: Yes. So it's funny, I have profound disagreements with Jason about the Syria-Afghanistan stuff, but this is somewhere where I'm a little more sympathetic to -- to Donald Trump. I do think this was a little overblown in this divide between the intelligence chiefs. I don't think it was fake news. I don't think President Trump should have said that. But the simple fact is, is that the intelligence chiefs are right, Iran is -- is in technical compliance because it's a great deal for Iran. On a lot of these things, Donald Trump is the salesman. He's out there -- I don't think he's had great success with North Korea by any stretch of the imagination, but he's trying to. And so he is trying to make his rhetoric turn into reality. So he says he's doing great stuff to build momentum, the intelligence chiefs, they have to have a much more realistic point of view, which is, he hasn't done a lot and a lot hasn't been accomplished and -- and North Korea still wants its nuclear weapons. And so it's a disconnect between two kinds of -- of missions. The intelligence guys are trying to describe the world as it is. GOLDBERG: Yes, on their I'm entirely with the intelligence chiefs. I think they're entirely right. And I think one of the reasons why we saw Mitch McConnell lead this is because Mitch McConnell is not a huge ideologue about foreign policy. He's hugely committed to getting Republicans re- elected and himself re-elected. And what we heard Ron Johnson earlier say, I don't want to come back on here in six months and talk about how ISIS is back. I think this was almost entirely about self-protection because Republicans understand, if we pull out prematurely, there are no other players in the region who really care about fighting ISIS. And ISIS will come back. They're in much better shape now than when they were when they first emerged in the middle of the Obama administration. WALLACE: Mo, one of the arguments that Trump supporters make when -- this split with the intel chiefs -- is the intelligence community is not always right and, obviously, the number one thing they point to is the so-called slam-dunk that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, which is what CIA Director George Tenet told Bush 43. MO ELLEITHEE, CONTRIBUTOR: An overwhelming majority of our intelligence community are dedicated professionals who are really good at what they do. Absolutely not. But they don't get everything wrong either, as this president tends to -- to portray whenever he disagrees with them. And so to -- to wage a public battle with your own intelligence community, which is run by his own appointees, seems like a huge concern for a lot of people in the foreign policy and national security community. WALLACE: All right, in the time we have left, there's going to be a big event on Tuesday, and that is the State of the Union speech. Yes, the president is finally going to get to make it after his back and forth with Nancy Pelosi. Congressman Chaffetz, this is going to be quite a scene. The president there, in the well of the House, and Nancy Pelosi, and they have really been at it for the last month or so, right over his left shoulder. CHAFFETZ: Having sat on the floor for the last ten State of the Unions, I can tell you that the Democrats, they are not very disciplined. And when President Trump, who has delivered, I think, two of his very best speeches as president have been the State of the Union, I think he'll do exceptionally well. He stays on script, he's got a good message and he has the microphone for a good hour and a half. But I think the Democrats will overplay their hand. There will be moments when Nancy Pelosi can't help herself and the members in the audience, they were just downright rude. When we were thinking the troops, Democrats were out there sitting on their hands. (INAUDIBLE) do it. You watch, they will do that same thing on Tuesday night. WALLACE: But, in terms of the president towards Pelosi -- CHAFFETZ: Yes. WALLACE: Because he said some tough things about her this week. She's a disgrace. CHAFFETZ: Yes. WALLACE: She's back of the country. CHAFFETZ: I don't think you can make it personal to Nancy Pelosi, but he has a chance to state his case. And as long as he does that in a tempered way, making the case to the real audience, which is the American people, he'll do just fine. CHAFFETZ: Oh, I think they -- they will do -- they will just -- they can't help themselves. They will overreach and they will be downright rude. MARLANTES: I don't know. I mean -- WALLACE: I have to say, as a -- as a person on the air covering it, that would be good TV. This is his chance for some sort of reset after the whole shutdown debacle. And he kind of, you know, he needs to have a good speech and it's hard to make the State of the Union a good speech, to be perfectly honest. (INAUDIBLE). WALLACE: We've got less than a minute left. GOLDBERG: Barack Obama and Donald Trump have shown that State of the Unions don't actually persuade people or move public opinion. By this time next Sunday, the State of the Union will seem like the (INAUDIBLE). WALLACE: But, having said that, it's very urgent right now. GOLDBERG: Yes. ELLEITHEE: He's hobbling into this State of the Union. He's hurting. His public opinion is hurting because of the shutdown. Nancy Pelosi kind of owned that whole fight. I -- it was interesting, I saw a news clip the other day where a White House aide said that the president may throw in a warm and fuzzy towards Nancy Pelosi. I don't know what that means. He's got to appear less strident than he did during the shutdown or else I think his downward spiral continues. WALLACE: Thank you, panel. See you next Sunday. Up next, we'll be back with a final word. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: Be sure to tune to your local Fox station Tuesday night for President Trump's State of the Union Address anchored by Shepard Smith. And I'll see you here on Fox News Channel for special coverage. And that's it for today. Have a great week and we'll see you next Fox News Sunday. Content and Programming Copyright 2019 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2019 ASC Services II Media, LLC. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of ASC Services II Media, LLC. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. | https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/can-the-bipartisan-congressional-panel-strike-a-border-security-deal-before-the-deadline |
Who is Travis Scott, Super Bowl LIII halftime performer? | CLEVELAND, Ohio For anyone under the age of, say, 25, it may seem like an obvious question. Meanwhile, those older than the millennial generation are left scratching their heads about one of Sundays Super Bowl 53 performer Travis Scott. Hip hop acts rarely play the Super Bowl halftime show. Since P Diddy and Nelly took the stage for small roles in 2004, only a few pure hip-hop acts (specifically, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott) have assisted the performance; never headlining. Well, Scotts not the household name that an artist like Drake, Jay-Z, Kanye West or Eminem is. But he is the hottest thing going in urban music. Scott (real name Jacques Webster II) scored a No.1 album in 2018 with Astroworld and released one of the biggest singles of the year with the Drake-assisted Sicko Mode. Astroworld is nominated for three Grammys at the Feb. 10 ceremony. Meanwhile, Scott graced the cover of Rolling Stone last December. Scott was picked to join Maroon 5 for the Pepsi Halftime Show after other artists Cardi B, Rihanna, Andre 3000 turned it down. Even then, Scott required the NFL to make a hefty donation to his non-profit Dream Corps. Scott has yet to collaborate with a big name pop star (other than Drake) that would put him on the radar of baby boomers. But that hasnt stopped teens and college students from streaming his music in huge numbers. Still, given all of that, most people probably know Scott, age 26, for something outside of music He is currently dating Kylie Jenner of the Kardashian family. The two have a daughter together named Stormi Webster. | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/02/who-is-travis-scott-super-bowl-liii-halftime-performer.html |
What Player Has Won the Most Super Bowls? | Quarterback Tom Brady and pass rusher Charles Haley have both won five Super Bowl rings, the most of any player in NFL history. Brady has won all five of his Super Bowls with the Patriots during his ongoing 19-year career, and he'll have a chance to win a sixth on Sunday against the Rams. The quarterback won his first ring in his second season when New England defeated the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Patriots then went on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Panthers and Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles. New England went to two more Super Bowls over the next nine season, but lost to the Giants in both. The Patriots then went on to win Super Bowl XLIX over the Seahawks and Super Bowl LI over the Falcons. The Patriots lost to the Eagles last year in Super Bowl LII. In his five Super Bowl wins entering 2019, Brady won Super Bowl MVP in four of them, which is the most of any player in NFL history. Haley won his five Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys over his 13-year career. Haley's first Super Bowl win came in Super Bowl XXIII when the 49ers beat the Bengals, and he won a second ring when the 49ers beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. Haley's next three Super Bowls came as a member of the Cowboys, who beat the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII before topping the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/most-super-bowl-wins-rings-player-tom-brady-charles-haley |
Which quarterbacks have won the most Super Bowls? | Quarterback Tom Brady is often called the G.O.A.T., or "Greatest of All Time." And for good reason. The 41-year-old Brady leads the pack of quarterbacks with the most Super Bowl titles. Brady leads the list with five rings, winning his most recent in 2017 against Atlanta in Super Bowl LI. He could have won his sixth last season in Super Bowl LII, but the Patriots lost 4133 to the Eagles. He'll have another chance to win his sixth on Sunday against the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana have four Super Bowl titles to their names. Troy Aikman has three championships, while 12 quarterbacks have won multiple Super Bowls. Super Bowl LIII will be played Feb. 3. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/which-quarterbacks-have-won-most-super-bowls |
Could AI-Powered Traffic Cameras Finally Stop Distracted Driving? | The other evening as I worked in a coffee shop on a busy intersection at rush hour in Washington, DC, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the number of drivers passing by that were looking down at their phones. Over the hour I watched, at least half of the drivers who were stopped at the red light looked down at their phone screens at least once, hurriedly scrolling and typing away, entirely oblivious to the fact that the light had turned green until they received a helpful honk from the car behind. When the light was green at least a quarter of those passing through were glancing down at their phones or fixated on some knob or dial on their console, glancing up only sporadically to see if the car ahead was braking. The quaint days when driving meant actually focusing on the road are long gone, merely a bygone relic of a long-distant historical era. Today our vehicles are essentially computers with car seats, bombarding us with information and offering every imaginable distraction, from adjusting the temperature every 60 seconds to switching radio stations during a commercial break to searching for that perfect song to go with the moments traffic conditions. In our laps we lovingly cradle smartphones whose tiny screens belie their ability to connect us to the entire planet. Pay attention to the cars going by on a weekday evening and youll see it all: drivers watching movies, video chatting with friends, reviewing documents, reading and sending email, checking social media, reading digital books or simply surfing the web. Look close enough and you might even see a few Pokemon players war driving while stopped at a red light. It seems we cannot bear the idea of spending even a few minutes disconnected from the digital world. With all those distractions, actually piloting our one-ton missiles safely is the least of our concerns. On top of all these distractions are the myriad drivers gazing down or fiddling with the GPS maps on their phones. Private drivers, ride sharing services and even increasingly taxi drivers now are glued to their GPS maps as they navigate the city streets. There was once upon a time when any taxi driver in DC could get you to the Capitol from memory. Today Ive lost track of how many taxi drivers have had to plug the Capitol into their GPS to find the route, while even seasoned veterans sometimes use their GPS for traffic conditions. Ride sharing vehicles are a particular offender when it comes to their phones. Many seem glued to their phone GPS, either trying to figure out what their next turn is or relentlessly examining surrounding traffic conditions in search of a creative route to drop the passenger off as quickly as possibly so they can move on to their next fare. Often their phones will ping regularly with alerts of other possible passenger pickups or phone calls from friends, forcing them to look down at their phones to decide whether to accept or not. Washington, as a tourist mecca, suffers the additional indignity of hordes of lost tourists trying to navigate the labyrinth of one-way streets, roundabouts, divided turn lanes and traffic jams by GPS, adding to the number of drivers whose eyes are glued to their smartphones and oblivious to the world around them. Cities like DC are filled to the brim with surveillance cameras, with traffic cameras silently watching intersections all across the city. One could imagine plugging all of these cameras into AI systems that look for each drivers gaze. Drivers that are looking down at a smartphone device could be automatically flagged, with a photograph and warning mailed automatically to the registered driver of the vehicle. A certain number of violations could result in human review to confirm the violation and then a ticket issued under existing laws banning distracted driving. While such applications might raise Orwellian surveillance concerns, we are already heading in this direction as cities examine the use of mass facial recognition through AI and many already deploy mass license plate recognition in production. In fact, there are already some early pilots doing precisely this. Putting this all together, cities across the world are saturating their roadways with surveillance cameras and increasingly connecting those camera networks to everything from license plate scanners to facial recognition systems. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/02/03/could-ai-powered-traffic-cameras-finally-stop-distracted-driving/ |
When Was the Last Time the Patriots Weren't in the Super Bowl? | Tom Brady and the Patriots will play in their third straight Super Bowl come Feb. 3, appearing in the championship game for the fourth time in five years after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 3731 in the AFC Championship. The last time New England didn't play on Super Bowl Sunday was in 2016, when the Broncos beat the Patriots in the AFC Conference Championship, 2018, stopping the Pats short of a shot at another Super Bowl just one season after they claimed the title in Glendale, Ariz., in 2015. Denver went on to beat the NFC champion, the Carolina Panthers, 2410, to win Super Bowl 50 in Levi's Stadium. The Patriots returned to the championship game the next two consecutive seasons, beating the Falcons in the first reappearance before falling to the Eagles last year. Brady has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls appearances since entering the league as the 199th pick in the 2000 draft. All five of New England's Super Bowl championships have come under Brady, who has also added four Super Bowl MVP honors to his resume during his astounding 19-season tenure with the Patriots. The 41-year-old quarterback is one of only two signal callers to win the Super Bowl in their first season as a starter, accomplishing that feat when the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXVI for his first ring. Brady will attempt to clinch another championship against the Rams when the two teams meet in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Super Bowl Sunday. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/new-england-patriots-super-bowl-appearance-history-last-missed-championship-game |
How do Super Bowl squares work? | There are numerous ways to make money gambling on the Super Bowl, from point spreads to player props. But for casual fans, the best move may be to participate in Super Bowl squares. We'll explain below. Format: The setup for Super Bowl squares is simple. Create four 10-by-10 boards (one for each quarter), with zero-to-10 on each axis. The Patriots will take one axis, placing the Rams on the other. Each square should be priced equallylet's say $1 per square. The members of your respective Super Bowl party can then buy as many squares as they'd like in each quarter. The more squares that are bought, the greater the payout for the winner, although it's not necessary to have every square bought by gametime. How to win: Once the board is settled, finding a winner is easy. Take the last digit of each team's score in a given quarter and match it on each axis. Whomever owns the square wins the pot. If the square is unowned, you can roll over the money to the next quarter. Here's a quick example: Say you have the Patriots on the Y axis and the Rams on the X axis. If New England enters the second quarter with a 7-3 lead, the person who selected the box with seven on the vertical axis and three on the horizontal axis would win the first quarter. Repeat the steps in each of the four quarters. Safest Betting Sites.com You may have low odds of winning in Super Bowl squares, but the game is a low-risk commitment with a significant reward. Not a bad way to win a few bucks on Super Bowl Sunday. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-squares-rules-how-works-patriots-rams |
Which team has won the most Super Bowls? | The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for their ninth appearance in the last 18 years behind another strong performance from quarterback Tom Brady. But despite the dominance over the last two decades, New England does not have the most Super Bowl titles ever. That honor goes to the Steelers: Pittsburgh has won the most Super Bowls with six titles in eight appearances. The Steelers last won in Super Bowl XLIII in February 2009. San Francisco, Dallas and New England have five wins apiece. The Patriots picked up their last victory in Super Bowl LI in an epic comeback win over the Falcons. New England appeared in Super Bowl LII last year, but lost 4133 to the Eagles. The Patriots will face the Rams in this year's big game. The Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants have four titles. The Denver Broncos, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and the Washington Redskins have three each. On the flipside, 12 teams have never won a Super Bowl. With a victory over the Patriots last year, the Eagles picked up their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. Super Bowl LIII will be played Feb. 3 in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/teams-most-super-bowl-wins-titles-rings-history |
Could Vasyl Lomachenko Vs. Richard Commey April 12 Lightweight Unification Fight Be In Jeopardy? | If just under nine weeks wasn't a quick enough turnaround for Richard Commey to defend his newly won IBF lightweight world title, add a potential hand injury into the mix and a WBO, WBA and IBF unification bout against top-five pound-for-pound Vasyl Lomachenko seems in jeopardy. Commey puts Chaniev on the mat in the first! #AlvarezKovalev2 pic.twitter.com/0QqphkJoPq Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 3, 2019 After Commey's less than two round destruction of Isa Chaniev by knockout on Saturday night in Texas, Mike Coppinger of The Ring, immediately reported from ringside that Commey might have suffered a hand injury. Commey says he felt something pop. I asked him if he can fight on April 12. Says he wont know until X-Ray https://t.co/GemcDaayz2 Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) February 3, 2019 I reached out to Commey's promoter Lou DiBella immediately after the fight regarding the injury. DiBellas said, "Going to get it checked out. Doesn't LOOK that bad, but quick turnaround." Meaning, if Commey has to nurse any hand injury, that could sideline him for at least two weeks, maybe even more, giving him ample time for training camp, improbable. In three minutes and 39 seconds of a blistering performance, @RichardCommey dropped Isa Chaniev three times over two rounds to make history as Ghana's 9th world champion, capturing the IBF lightweight title. Well, initially, Matchroom Boxing was lobbying for the purse bid scheduled on February 6 to move forward for mandatory WBA challenger, Anthony Crolla. The WBA was inclined to provide Lomachenko with a special exception to face Commey in April, for the purposes of unifying the WBA, WBO and IBF belts. Leaving only Mikey Garcia's WBC belt left from a true lightweight unification, in which Lomachenko seems to be after. The April 12 bout between Lomachenko and Commey was ambitious to say the least. Commey would have barely had enough time to enjoy his first world title victory in his second attempt having previously lost a highly contested and controversial split decision loss to Robert Easter in 2016. According to DiBella, Commey will have his hand looked at on Tuesday by his doctor and make a decision based on that prognosis. If the injury were to prevent the Lomanchenko fight from taking place, it could put a Lomachenko vs. Commey unification bout on ice until the summer, depending on what contingency plans are made by Top Rank. Conventional wisdom would suggest that Top Rank will keep Lomachenko's April 12 date and look to make a deal with Crolla's promoter, Matchroom to get Lomachenko's mandatory out of the way. After Commey's destruction of Chaniev, many of the TV analysts during the ESPN broadcast were suggesting that Commey's style and power could pose problems for Lomachenko. The hard-working lightweight from Ghana is heavy-handed and can end a fight in the split of a second as was on full display against Chaniev, to leave no questions this time around in his quest for the IBF world title. Whether or not Commey faces Lomachenko remains to be seen. It will all play out this week. Finally, the latest from Mike Coppinger at the time I published this post. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterkahn/2019/02/03/vasyl-lomachenko-richard-commey-fight-hand-injury/ |
How Long is Halftime at the Super Bowl? | Halftime normally lasts between 12 and 15 minutes during a regular NFL game, but the Super Bowl's break is much longer due to the broadcast's elaborate halftime show. Super Bowl halftime usually lasts anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, which can be more than twice as long as the traditional break time during regular season games. The longer halftime accommodates for lengthy Super Bowl halftime shows. Justin Timberlake spent almost 14 minutes performing during the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, getting parts of 11 songs in after the stage was set on the field in Minneapolis. Lady Gaga, the 2017 performer, went on for 13 and a half minutes, while Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars finished in just over 13 minutes the year before. The extended halftime means that players and coaches have much more time in the locker room to prepare and reset for the second half of the season's biggest game during the performances, but the period of rest is much longer than what most players are accustomed to. Some teams actually practice for the lengthy break, like the Patriots in 2012. On the Wednesday before the game, head coach Bill Belichick stopped practice and made his players go back to the locker room for 30 minutes to prepare for halftime at the Super Bowl, adding in a pep talk to complete the training. It really gets into a whole restarting mentality, Belichick said then. Its not like taking a break and coming out in the second half. Its like starting the game all over again. Its like playing a game, stopping, and then playing a second game. Maroon 5 is headlining this year's Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta, with rappers Travis Scott and Atlanta native Big Boi also joining the band in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. The Patriots and the Rams will meet at Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-halftime-length-time-performances-players-break |
How old is Sean McVay? | Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is the youngest head coach currently in the NFL. On Feb. 3, he could also become the youngest to ever lead his team to a Super Bowl win. McVay turned 33 years old on Jan. 24. McVay was hired as the Rams' head coach when he was just 30 years old, the youngest to achieve that feat since Art "Pappy" Lewis for the Cleveland Rams in 1938. Lewis was just 27 years old when he took over. McVay is also three years younger than the NFL's current youngest Super Bowl-winning head coach: Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like McVay this year, Tomlin was also in just his second season coaching the Steelers when his team defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. He was 36 years old. The Rams will play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, Feb. 3. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/how-old-sean-mcvay-los-angeles-rams |
Which Quarterback Has Played in the Most Super Bowls? | When the Patriots face the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, quarterback Tom Brady will be playing his ninth Super Bowlmore than any other quarterback in NFL history. Brady, in fact, has appeared in more Super Bowls than every NFL franchise except the Patriots. Brady has four more Super Bowl appearances than the Broncos' John Elway, who is second on the all-time list among quarterbacks with five. Quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Peyton Manning and Jim Kelly are all tied for third with four appearances apiece. Brady has five Super Bowl wins on his resume, while Rams quarterback Jared Goff will be making his first Super Bowl appearance on Sunday. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/quarterback-super-bowl-starts-apperances-record-tom-brady |
When did the Rams move to Los Angeles From St. Louis? | The Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots will face off in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. This year marks the second time the two franchises have met in the big game, with their first coming in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. A young Tom Brady and the Patriots defeated Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams 2017 and started a dynasty. Since then, the Patriots have won five more Super Bowls. The Rams suffered a string of losing seasons and eventually moved to Los Angeles in 2016. But it wasn't the franchise's first stint in Southern California. The NFL added the Cleveland Rams to the league in 1937, and the team stayed in Ohio through 1945. That same season the Rams won the NFL Championship Game over the Washington Redskins in Cleveland. In 1946, the Rams moved to Los Angeles to begin their 49-year stint in Southern California. During their early days in Los Angeles, the Rams won four Western Division titles in seven years, including another NFL Championship in 1951. During the 1960s, the "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line of Rosey Grier, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy reigned. The franchise won seven consecutive division titles from 1973-79, reaching their first Super Bowl during the final year. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers toppled the Rams 3119 at Super Bowl XIV in January 1980. The Rams left Los Angeles after the 1994 season and relocated to St. Louis. Warner led the team to its first Super Bowl victory in franchise history with a 2316 win over the Tennessee Titans in January 2000. The team returned to the big game two seasons later, only to lose to the Patriots. Fast forward to 2016, and the Rams returned to Los Angeles. They defeated the New Orleans Saints 2623 in this year's NFC Championship Game, which included a controversial missed pass interference call, to advance to Super Bowl LIII against the Patriots. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/rams-move-los-angeles-st-louis-history-explainer |
Why is it called the Super Bowl? | There's nothing quite like the Super Bowl. Millions of fans all over the country and world huddle in front of their televisions to watch the NFL crown the season's champion. Traditions are born, bowls of chips and salsa are consumed, and grown men and women cry. It's a uniquely American spectacle. But football's beloved event hasn't always been such a big deal. In fact, it hasn't always been called the Super Bowl. The National Football League was founded in 1920, and the American Football League formed forty years later. Competition between the two leagues prompted the owners to negotiate an agreement in 1966 that both factions would merge by 1970 and play a championship game. When trying to decide what to call the game, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle came up with names like the "Big One" and "Pro Bowl" but those didn't stick, according to Time. Rozelle's suggestion of "AFL-NFL World Championship Game" became the official moniker. Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt suggested the term "Super Bowl" inspired by his son's "Super Ball" toy, but the name wasn't used until later. On Jan. 15, 1967, the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, retroactively called Super Bowl I, took place between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The Packers won the inaugural game 3510 under legendary coach Vince Lombardi. The Super Bowl officially started using that name in the fourth championship contest in 1970, and the league added a roman numeral behind the name the following year with Super Bowl V. Fast forward to 2019, and Super Bowl LIII is almost here. This year's game will be hosted at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-name-explained-why-afc-nfc-world-championship-game |
When Did Tony Romo Retire from the NFL? | Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo retired after the 2016 season following a 14-year playing career. An undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois, Romo signed with the Cowboys in 2003. He didn't play in his first year, but he appeared in 22 games over the next two seasons while he was the team's backup quarterback, but he did not throw a pass until 2006. He earned a Pro Bowl nod that season, and then again in 2007 when he guided the team to a 13-3 record an a NFC East division title. He earned two more Pro Bowl spots during his career in 2009 and 2014. In 2010, Romo fractured his left clavicle and missed the majority of the season. He suffered a similar injury in 2015, which also left him out for the majority of that season, and opened the door for his eventual replacement to take the starting job the next season. The Cowboys drafted Dak Prescott in 2016 in the third round, but due to Romo's health and Prescott's potential, he took over under center and has been the starter for every game since he came into the league. Romo played one game in his final season with the Cowboys before hanging it up. He retired with 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdowns along with 117 interceptions on a 65.3% completion rate. He is the franchise leader in yards and touchdowns. After one year away from football, Romo joined the CBS broadcasting crew prior to the 2017 season and has quickly become one of the best announcers in all of sports. He'll call Super Bowl LIII between the Rams and Patriots on CBS. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/tony-romo-career-timeline-nfl-retirement-quarterback-cbs-announcer |
Who Won the Super Bowl Last Year? | If you're reading this, you're probably struggling to remember which team won the Super Bowl last season. Here's your answer: The Eagles won Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018, beating the Patriots 4133 to win the league championship. With quarterback Carson Wentz out after tearing his ACL in early December against the Rams, backup quarterback Nick Foles led the Eagles through the post season and to the franchise's first Super Bowl win in history. Philadelphia defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round before beating the Vikings for the NFC conference title en route to taking on the Patriots, the AFC champion, in the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. After swapping scores in the first half, the Eagles led by three going into the final quarter of the contest. Despite throwing for 505 yards and a trio of touchdowns, New England's Tom Brady couldn't lead his team to overcome Philadelphia's strong offensive performance. Foles went on to win Super Bowl MVP honors after going 28-of-43 for 373 yards with three passing touchdowns and one touchdown catch of his own. The Patriots will face the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/who-won-2018-super-bowl-last-year-team-score |
What Teams Have Never Won the Super Bowl? | There are now 12 NFL franchises that have not won a Super Bowl after the Eagles earned their first title in 2018. The Bengals, Bills, Browns, Cardinals, Chargers, Falcons, Jaguars, Lions, Panthers, Texans, Titans and Vikings have not won a Super Bowl in their history. The Browns, Jaguars, Lions and Texans have never reached the Super Bowl. Philadelphia raised its first Super Bowl banner after beating New England 4133 in Super Bowl LII. Quarterback Nick Foles was named MVP after starting quarterback Carson Wentz underwent surgery in December to repair torn knee ligaments. Philadelphia finished the regular season at 133, then advanced past the Falcons in the divisional playoff. The Eagles beat the Vikings to take the NFC championship and move on to the Super Bowl. Among the eight teams that have played in a Super Bowl, four have appeared multiple times. The Falcons were the last team in the group to appear in a Super Bowl, playing against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Atlanta led 28-3 at late in the third quarter but went on to blow the biggest lead in Super Bowl history, losing 34-28 in overtime. This season, the Chargers and Texans were the only teams to reach the postseason. Houston lost the AFC Wild Card game to the Indianapolis Colts, while the Chargers moved past the Ravens in the other AFC Wild Card game. The Chargers last appeared in the Super Bowl in 1994, losing to the 49ers. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/what-teams-have-never-won-super-bowl |
How Many Super Bowls has Tom Brady Lost? | Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is headed to his ninth Super Bowl after winning yet another AFC Championship. He has the chance to earn his sixth title. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 3731 in overtime to move on to Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 in Atlanta. New England will face the Los Angeles Rams who moved past the Saints in the NFC Championship. Brady is 53 in his Super Bowl appearances. He is one of only two quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl in their first season as a starter. That season, he beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXVI for his first title. Brady won his last ring in Super Bowl LI, but he appeared in Super Bowl LII last year. Here's a look at all of Brady's Super Bowl appearances: XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17 XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29 XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14 XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17 XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT) LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33 LIII: Patriots vs. Rams (Feb. 3, 2019) Kick off for Super Bowl LIII is at 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/how-many-super-bowls-has-tom-brady-lost |
Were Rockwell Automation's Earnings Enough to Refute the Doubters? | Given the disappointing outlooks issued recently by industrial companies such as Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), it's understandable that the market was a bit nervous about the prospects for Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) in 2019. After all, the company's revenue is tied directly to its customers' capital spending -- and that's something businesses are sure to cut back on during an economic downturn. No matter, Rockwell delivered a good set of first-quarter earnings, and maintained its full-year guidance. Let's take a closer look. An industrial engineer at work. More Image source: Getty Images What the market is afraid of You can see the cyclical nature of Rockwell's sales in the chart below. The company got hit hard by a downturn in U.S. industrial production in 2015 and 2016, but growth bounced back nicely in 2017. With this in mind, when a company like Stanley Black & Decker starts talking about a slowdown in spending in interest rate-sensitive sectors such as housing and automotive, and Caterpillar talks down growth prospects in China, it's natural that investors would start to become concerned about Rockwell Automation. Then factor in the cautious views Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) CEO David Farr expressed in November about growth in both China and Europe. (Emerson is a peer, and tried to take over Rockwell in 2017.) On the other hand, Rockwell CEO Blake Moret gave a relatively positive outlook for 2019 during his investor day presentation in mid-November -- which suggests that a certain amount of optimism was baked into the company's 2019 guidance for organic sales growth in the 3.7% to 6.7% range. Whenever a CEO gives an outlook which is relatively more positive than what's its rivals and peers are saying, it raises concerns that the internal assumptions used to create guidance are overly optimistic and management may need to take them down in the future. Rockwell Automation organic sales growth. More Data source: Rockwell Automation presentations. Chart by author. Rockwell Automation's solid first quarter Fast-forward to the first-quarter earnings report and presentations. As you can see in the chart above, the company reported organic sales growth of 5.7%, which encouraged Moret to maintain full-year guidance for: | https://news.yahoo.com/were-rockwell-automation-apos-earnings-200400945.html |
Could Canopy Growth Be a Millionaire-Maker Stock? | Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) has already made some investors quite rich. Since the company's initial public offering in 2014, Canopy stock has skyrocketed around 1,380%. Along the way, Canopy Growth became the world's largest marijuana business in terms of market cap. Here's what it would take. Man in a suit holding an umbrella with money raining down More Image source: Getty Images. Two very different challenges First of all, for Canopy Growth to make current investors rich is a much different challenge from making current investors millionaires. Both are possible. But one is much more probable. Of course, how much money makes a person wealthy is subjective. What you thought was wealthy when you were a teenager probably doesn't match up with what you think is wealthy now. What your friend who lives in an area with a low cost of living thinks is rich will probably differ from what a friend who lives in an area with a high cost of living thinks. That being said, a stock that performs well can certainly make an investor significantly richer than when they bought the stock. If that's our criteria, then it wouldn't be terribly difficult for Canopy Growth to make investors who buy shares now rich -- relatively speaking. However, for Canopy Growth to be a millionaire-maker stock for most investors is a tall order. And we're talking about a Mount Everest kind of tall. Important variables The key factor in answering our initial questions is just how much Canopy Growth can grow. Those growth prospects depend on several important variables. One important variable is whether or not the U.S. legalizes marijuana at the federal level. Currently, the U.S. represents around 85% of the worldwide legal marijuana market. Even as marijuana markets expand in other countries, the U.S. appears likely to generate at least three-quarters of total global marijuana sales for years to come. Another critical variable is how quickly legal marijuana markets displace the illicit black market for marijuana. Some executives of marijuana companies like to talk about a global marijuana market of $150 billion or more. However, this figure is largely made up of illegal marijuana sales. Even when marijuana is legalized, the black market can still thrive -- something California found out last year. Then there's the level that cannabis can disrupt other markets. Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton thinks cannabis could affect other markets that combined are worth $500 billion annually. He has suggested that cannabis products could capture significant share from the beverages, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco markets. Note that so far we've only addressed the market opportunity at a macro level. Another make-or-break variable is how effectively Canopy Growth can capitalize on the opportunities it has. Canopy Growth's prospects It seems a reasonable argument that the global marijuana market will increase dramatically in the future. It also seems reasonable to believe that Canopy Growth will be, as it is now, a major player in that market. Different investors will disagree on exactly how good Canopy's prospects are, though. Let's examine the viewpoint of one investor -- Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ). The big alcoholic-beverage company invested around $190 million in Canopy in 2017 and followed up with another $4 billion investment last year. | https://news.yahoo.com/could-canopy-growth-millionaire-maker-190000294.html |
Which player has won the most Super Bowl MVPs? | Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has the chance to earn his fifth Super Bowl MVP this year. Brady will get the chance to earn his sixth Super Bowl title when the Patriots take on the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 in Atlanta. It's his ninth Super Bowl appearance, and he's 53 in the big game. Brady has won the Super Bowl MVP award in four of five Super Bowl victoriesthe most of any NFL player. He earned that distinction in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX and LI. He has one more Super Bowl MVP award than Joe Montana. Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw and Eli Manning have won the award twice. Starr and Bradshaw have won it in back-to-back years. Seven Cowboys players have won the award, the most of any NFL team. Quarterbacks are also favored to win the award, with 29 earning the honor in 52 games. Kickoff for Super Bowl LIII is at 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/which-player-has-won-most-super-bowl-mvps |
How many times has the Super Bowl gone into overtime? | The Patriots and Rams will square off in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, marking the 53rd Super Bowl in NFL history. There have been 19 Super Bowls decided by one score, but a strikingly small number of overtime games. The Super Bowl has only gone to overtime once, and not until February 2017. Tom Brady and the Patriots rebounded from a 28-3 deficit against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI to tie the contest at 28-28 at the end of regulation. New England won the coin toss in overtime and drove right down the field, winning the fifth Super Bowl in franchise history on a touchdown run by James White. Several other Super Bowls were. Last night: James White's game-winning OT touchdown that capped off the greatest comeback in #SuperBowl history for the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/dJM6zveBf7 High & Outside Sports (@HighandOutside_) February 6, 2017 Brady's five Super Bowls are the most of any quarterback in NFL history. The Rams enter Super Bowl LIII seeking their second Super Bowl and first since January 2000. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-2019-overtime-patriots-falcons-tom-brady |
How Many Super Bowl MVPs Does Tom Brady Have? | Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is headed to his ninth Super Bowl, and he has the chance to earn his sixth title. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 3731 in overtime of the AFC Championship to move on to Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 in Atlanta. New England will face the Los Angeles Rams who moved past the Saints in the NFC Championship. Brady is 53 in his Super Bowl appearances. He is one of only two quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl in their first season as a starter. In that feat, he beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXVI for his first title. Brady won his last ring in Super Bowl LI, but he appeared in Super Bowl LII last year. Brady has won the Super Bowl MVP award in four of five Super Bowl victories. He earned that distinction in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX and LI. He has one more Super Bowl MVP award than Joe Montana. Here's a look at all of Brady's Super Bowl appearances. An asterisk indicates Brady won Super Bowl MVP for that game. XXXVI*: Patriots 20, Rams 17 XXXVIII*: Patriots 32, Panthers 29 XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14 XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17 XLIX*: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 LI*: Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT) LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33 LIII: Patriots vs. Rams (Feb. 3, 2019) Kickoff for Super Bowl LIII is at 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/tom-brady-super-bowl-mvp-history-how-many-winner |
Who is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl? | In his just third season as an NFL quarterback, Jared Goff will have a chance to lead the Los Angeles Rams to their first Super Bowl title since 2000. Last month, Goff led the Rams to a stunning 2623 overtime NFC Championship win over the New Orleans Saints, going 25-of-40 for 297 yards, one touchdown and one interception, to seal his team's place in Super Bowl LIII. But while Goff will get his shot at a Super Bowl ring at just 24 years old, he wouldn't be the youngest quarterback ever to win a ring. That title belongs to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who led his team to a championship win when he was 23. Roethlisberger, then only in his second professional season, became the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback in NFL history with a 2110 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Before Roethlisberger, the record was previously held by Tom Brady, who led his New England Patriots in a 2017 win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI when he was 25 years old. A win in Super Bowl LIII would make Goff the second-youngest quarterback to win a title, but he and the Rams will have to get past Brady and the Patriots to do it. The Rams and Patriots face off for the 2019 title on Sunday, Feb. 3. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/youngest-quarterback-ever-win-super-bowl-ben-roethlisberger-jared-goff |
How much did it cost to build Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta? | Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United, and it is also the site of Super Bowl LIII. The stadium opened in 2017 and it took about $1.5 billion to build, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. It was initially supposed to cost closer to $1 billion, but over time and as more and more construction delays pushed back the opening of the stadium, the cost gradually continued to rise. There is a retractable roof on the stadium, but it has a history of leaking in the rain. They started construction for the stadium in 2014 and held the official groundbreaking ceremony on May 19, 2014. The first event was a Falcons preseason game against the Cardinals on Aug. 26, 2017. Since then, the stadium has hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship and MLS Cup. In 2020, it will host the men's basketball Final Four. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/mercedes-benz-stadium-cost-construction-price-atlanta-super-bowl |
How Much Do Players Get Paid for Winning the Super Bowl? | The Rams and Patriots will meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII on Sunday. The winner of this year's championship will walk away with the Lombardi Trophy and $118,000 in the bank, according to the CBA. Players on the losing team in 2019 will still make $59,000 from the NFL, paid by the league through a designated postseason fund as opposed to being paid by their individual teams. Those numbers are in addition to the $54,000 each player of a Super Bowl contender will have gotten from winning their respective conference championship, plus whatever was earned in the postseason leading up to their conference championship appearance. The NFL pays every player on the 53-man active roster an identical amount per postseason appearance and/or win regardless of impact or performance, except for in conference championship games and the Super Bowl, where the payout becomes more nuanced depending on a player's most recent participation. Players will be paid within 15 days after the Super Bowl. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/how-much-do-players-make-winning-super-bowl-payout-amount |
What can Lyft and Uber drivers do to defend themselves? | Uber app. (Photo: Getty Images) The stabbing death of a pregnant Lyft driver in Tempe on Jan. 27, followed by an attack Wednesday on an Uber driver in the West Valley, has renewed questions about driver safety and the companies' differing policies on whether drivers can carry any type of weapon. Lyft has a strict "no weapons" policy. Uber allows drivers to carry non-lethal weapons but regulates how they can be used. The differing company policies are an issue for drivers who spoke to The Arizona Republic last week. Mila Almodvoar, a former Uber driver, said she's concerned because riders don't get screened. I think drivers should be allowed to carry something to protect themselves, she said. The issue was elevated in Arizona last week after Fabian Durazo, 20, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing his driver, Kristina Howato, 39, outside a Tempe apartment complex around 1 a.m. last Sunday, Tempe police said. Then on Wednesday, an Uber driver in the West Valley reported a person he had picked up cut his throat with a knife. An arrest was made a short time later. Lyft and Uber have differing policies when it comes to how drivers can defend themselves. Lyft's policy Lyft vehicle. (Photo: Josh Edelson/AP IMAGES FOR LYFT) In the case of an emergency, Lyft drivers are encouraged to call the company's emergency number, referred to as a critical response line, the company policy states. Lyft encourages anyone in immediate danger to contact police first before calling that line, or to use an in-app Emergency 911 button, company officials said, in response to an inquiry from The Republic. According to Lyfts weapons policy, drivers are not allowed to carry firearms and weapons such as handguns, stun guns, explosives, knives, sling shots and Tasers. Lyft also reserves the right to determine anything that may constitute as a weapon, which can be defined as any item that can cause harm to someone else including pepper spray, according to the Lyft representative. The policy also applies to riders. Lyft believes a weapon can make another person inside a vehicle uncomfortable, the representative said. The company issued a statement after Howato's killing last week. "We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of this tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims,'' the company said. "The safety of the Lyft community is our top priority. The passenger's account has been permanently deactivated and we are actively assisting law enforcement with their investigation." A driver who works for both companies disagrees with Lyft's policy. Lane Jensen, who works in Portland, received life-threatening phone calls from a passenger after he passed his pick up time. The passenger was able to contact Jensen through the app. He said an extra layer of self defense is necessary. "Lyft, I don't like that policy," Jensen said. "Drivers need to protect themselves on the road." At a memorial ride held for Howato last week, which ended at Lyft's Phoenix hub, several drivers who work for the company expressed concerns they have over safety. "We put ourselves in the same position she was in every time we get behind the wheel," said Teresa Avendano, a Lyft driver who organized the procession and knew Howato. "We don't know who we pick up. We do a service to get people from one place to the other and we don't know what danger is getting in our seat." CLOSE The procession of Lyft drivers arrives at the Lyft hub in Phoenix in honor of Kristina Howato, a pregnant Lyft driver fatally stabbed this week. Arizona Republic Uber's policy Ubers in-app emergency button automatically sends out the information of the driver (cars make/model, drivers name, etc.) to the nearest 911 dispatcher, in the case of an emergency according to Uber's policies. "There's nothing more important than the safety of the drivers and riders we serve. Uber has a number of safety features in place for riders and drivers, including an emergency button, share trip feature, and 911 integration technology in 40-plus cities across the US,'' said Andrew Hasbun, an Uber spokesman, in an email. "We will continue to put safety at the heart of our business and expect to roll out more features this year.'' Uber prohibits drivers and riders from carrying firearms while using the app to the extent permitted by applicable law, according to Ubers safety policy. Non-lethal weapons are allowed. Uber does not forbid things such as pepper spray, Hasbun said. Uber (Photo: Associated Press) The company's guidelines add the following: "Actions that threaten the safety of drivers and riders will be investigated and, if confirmed, lead to permanent deactivation of your account,'' according to Hasbun. Almodovar, who formerly drove in Connecticut, said she did not feel safe after an incident with a passenger. After that, she brought a friend to ride with her, which led to a passenger complaint that resulted in a suspension. I stated my side of that case (to Uber) about feeling unsafe and being more vulnerable as a female driver. I had a ride along with me. Uber then lifted my restrictions, (but) I later cancelled my (driver) account with them shortly there after." After the Uber driver was attacked last week, the company issued the following statement: What the driver experienced is frightening," Uber said in a statement. "There's nothing more important than the safety of the drivers and riders we serve. We are relieved he is recovering and stand ready to help police in their investigation. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/02/03/what-can-lyft-uber-drivers-do-defend-themselves-from-riders-self-defense-rideshare/2736416002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/02/03/what-can-lyft-uber-drivers-do-defend-themselves-from-riders-self-defense-rideshare/2736416002/ |
What does Donald Trump think about Saints-Rams no-call? | Donald Trump said the controversial missed call by game officials that negatively impacted the New Orleans Saints in their NFC Championship loss was a bad call. Maybe it was a terrible call, he said. The President was asked about the missed call when he sat with Margaret Brennan of CBS News for a recorded interview that aired Sunday (Feb. 3) before Super Bowl 53. It was certainly a bad call, he said. And you know the Saints are a wonderful team with a great quarterback. And its a shame that we couldnt have seen that game finished out, because that was a beautiful pass. And it was a perfect pass. And he was not just interfered with, he was he was really hit hard. So its a shame that that had to happen. But certainly they wouldve been in a very good position to have won that game. But it is what it is. It was a bad call. I dont think anybody denies it was a bad call. Maybe it was a terrible call. He also talked about his relationship with Roger Goodell, protesting during the national anthem and who he thinks will win between the Patriots and Rams. Read the full interview transcript here. Steve Gleason trolls NFL refs, receives philanthropic achievement award at Super Bowl 53 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/02/what-does-donald-trump-think-about-the-saints-rams-no-call.html |
What Time is Super Bowl Halftime? | While football is the main event of the Super Bowl, many fans tune in to watch the halftime show. If you're here, you're probably wondering when this year's show featuring Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott starts. It's impossible to say exactly when the halftime show will begin. But we know Super Bowl LIII between the Patriots and Rams will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET. According to a 2012 Bloomberg report that looked at Super Bowl broadcasts over two decades, the average game is about three hours and 35 minutes. The Super Bowl takes longer than an average game because of halftime, which is usually around double the normal 15-minute halftime. The first half typically lasts around an hour and a half, which puts halftime around 8 p.m. ET. Of course, that isn't exact; it depends on how the first two quarters unfold. In 2016, The New York Times examined taxi patterns during the Super Bowl, and halftime always fell around 8 p.m. in the three years examined. So tuning in a few minutes before 8 p.m. ET would probably be wise. But you want to make sure you see Maroon 5 perform in real time, make sure to keep close tabs on the game. Past Super Bowl Halftime Shows 2018: Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids along with the University of Minnesota marching band 2017: Lady Gaga 2016: Coldplay, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson and the University of California marching band 2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott and the Arizona State University marching band 2014: Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers 2013: Beyonce and Destiny's Child 2012: Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green 2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash 2010: The Who 2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2008: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers 2007: Prince and the Florida A&M marching band 2006: The Rolling Stones 2005: Paul McCartney 2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Jessica Simpson, Nelly and Justin Timberlake along with the University of Houston and Texas Southern University marching bands 2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting 2002: "Tribute to Sept. 11" performed by U2 2001: "The Kings of Rock and Pop" performed by Aerosmith, 'N'Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly 2000: "A Tapestry of Nations" with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton 1999: "Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing" performed by Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 1998: "A Salute to Motown's 40th Anniversary" with Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and the Grambling State University marching band 1997: "Blues Brothers Bash" with the Blues Brothers (Dan Akroyd, John Goodman and James Belushi), James Brown and ZZ Top 1996: "Take Me Higher: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Super Bowl" performed by Diana Ross 1995: "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye" with Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine 1994: "Rockin' Country Sunday" with Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna and Naomi Judd 1993: "Heal the World" performed by Michael Jackson 1992: "Winter Magic" with Gloria Estefan, the University of Minnesota marching band 1991: "A Small World Tribute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl" performed by New Kids on the Block 1990: "Salute to New Orleans and 40th Anniversary of Peanuts," with trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, Irma Thomas and the Nicholls State University and Southern University marching bands 1989: "Be Bop Bamboozled" with Elvis Presto 1988: "Something Grand" with 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes, Chubby Checker and the combined San Diego State and USC marching bands 1987: "Salute to Hollywood's 100th Anniversary" with George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State University and USC marching bands 1986: "Beat of the Future" with Up with People 1985: "A World of Children's Dreams" with Tops In Blue 1984: "Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen" with the University of Florida and Florida State marching bands 1983: "KaleidoSUPERscope" with the Los Angeles Super Drill Team 1982: "A Salute to the 60s and Motown" with Up with People 1981: "A Mardi Gras Festival" with Helen O'Connell and the Southern University marching band 1980: "A Salute to the Big Band Era" with Up with People and the Grambling State University marching band 1979: "Salute to the Caribbean" with Ken Hamilton and various Caribbean bands 1978: "From Paris to the Paris of America" with Tyler Apache Belles and Apache Band Pete Fountain and Al Hirt 1977: "It's a Small World" with the Los Angeles Unified All-City band 1976: "200 Years and Just a Baby: A Tribute to America's Bicentennial" with Up with People 1975: "Tribute to Duke Ellington" with Mercer Ellington and the Grambling State University band 1974: "A Musical America" with the University of Texas band 1973: "Happiness Is" with the University of Michigan marching band, Woody Herman and Andy Williams 1972: "Salute to Louis Armstrong" with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team 1971: Southern Missouri State marching band 1970: "Tribute to Mardi Gras" with Marguerite Piazza, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton and the Southern University Marching Band 1969: "America Thanks" with the Florida A&M University band and Miami area high school bands 1968: Grambling State University band 1967: The Three Stooges, University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/what-time-super-bowl-halftime-2019-show-start-maroon-5-travis-scott |
Has a running back ever won Super Bowl MVP? | The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots enter their Super Bowl LIII matchup as two of the NFL's top scoring offenses in 2018. While each team's quarterback will be heavily relied upon to oversee their offense's success, the Rams and Patriots will also turn to their dynamic backfields for balance. Todd Gurley has been a cornerstone of the Rams' offensive attack all season, finishing the year ranking third in the league with 1,251 rushing yards and first with 17 touchdowns. Patriots running back Sony Michel has been integral in New England's postseason run so far, rushing for 129 yards and three touchdowns against the Chargers before breaking free for another 113 yards and two scores against the Chiefs. With both running backs looking to continue their successes on the big stage, each could have a chance to join a list of just seven running backs to win Super Bowl MVP and be the first to do so since 1998. Here's a list of every recipient: Super Bowl XXXII: Terrell Davis, Broncos Super Bowl XXVIII: Emmitt Smith, Cowboys Super Bowl XXV: Ottis Anderson, Giants Super Bowl XVIII: Marcus Allen, Raiders Super Bowl XVII: John Riggins, Redskins Super Bowl IX: Franco Harris, Steelers Super Bowl VIII: Larry Csonka, Dolphins | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/running-backs-who-won-super-bowl-mvp |
Who Won the Super Bowl Coin Toss? | The Super Bowl is finally here, and every gambling fan will be on the edge of their seat for the next three and half hours wondering if they're going to make (or lose) any money Sunday night. The coin toss remains one of the most popular aspects of the Super Bowl to bet on. Sportsbook William Hill set Super Bowl LIII's coin toss odds for both heads and tails at -105. This year, the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl LIII coin toss and chose to defer to the second half. The coin landed on tails after the Patriots picked heads. New England won the flip last year after the Eagles picked tails and the coin landed on heads. Interestingly, the coin landed on tails four straight times from Super Bowl XLVIII to Super Bowl LI. The previous five tosses were all heads. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-coin-toss-winner-result-patriots-rams |
Why are accountants getting their sums wrong? | Image copyright Getty Images Image caption PwC was fined 6.5m for its audit of collapsed retailer BHS When bosses at the top four audit firms were asked by Parliament last week whether they were happy with the quality of the audits they were performing, only one could bring himself to say yes. And his firm, PwC, was fined a record amount last year for how badly it reviewed now-defunct department store BHS's books. It's a stark assessment of one of the least glamorous but most important roles in finance. If you are a UK company with more than 10.2m of sales or 5.1m of assets, you usually have to have an auditor. If you don't, the government can force one upon you. There are about 5,600 smaller registered auditors in the UK, but auditing of large businesses is dominated by the so-called big four firms: Deloitte, EY, PwC and KPMG. And these big four have come in for criticism over their failure to spot warning signs at collapsed businesses such as construction firm Carillion (audited by KPMG) and BHS (PwC). This has resulted in the Competition and Markets Authority proposing a major shake-up of the industry, as well as the big four bosses' appearance in front of MPs on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee. Access everything An audit is effectively a test of a company's accounts on a sample basis, says Simon Mott-Cowan of H W Fisher, a smaller auditing firm. For a smaller business, a few auditors will spend a few weeks on site at the client firm, plus a few weeks of planning, reviewing and writing up their final assessment. Exact timings depend on how complicated the business is. Auditors can demand access to anything and everything they need, which may involve an entire backup of a company's accounting system, says Mr Mott-Cowan. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption KPMG signed off on Carillion's accounts before it went bust These numbers are tested by sampling transactions. How much you sample depends on how complicated the business is, he says, and judgement must be used. Since accounts cover a year, and some things companies do last more than a year - like building projects, or being sued - sometimes estimates must be made. This is another area for judgement and one where an auditor and a company boss may clash. 'Interesting things' An audit goes through several stages, from planning, to gathering the necessary information, testing and then a number of layers of review. The best information can often come from outside the firm, says Mr Mott-Cowan. A bank letter tells you "interesting things" including all loan and deposit balances, but you have to know which bank to go to, he says. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption An audit involves using samples to check the soundness of the accounts as a whole Another big area, and the thing most investors will at least glance at in their report, is whether the auditor sees any reason why the company wouldn't survive the next year. "When I sign off that audit report as part of the process, I'm actually signing off to say that I think there is no issue with that entity continuing to trade for the next 12 months," says Mr Mott-Cowan. "If I'm not confident of that we would mention it in the audit report." 'Always improve' These concerns are more and more common. Partly that's down to the economy, he says, but also because regulators have become more interested in this area. "Over the years there's been more emphasis on [whether a business is a] going concern." Image copyright Parliament TV Image caption "What would it take for you to not be happy?" Labour MP Rachel Reeves asked PwC chief Kevin Ellis Last year, PwC was fined a record 6.5m for its failed audit of BHS. It signed off on the health of the retailer days before it was sold for 1. In 2017, it was fined 5.1m for its poor audit of fellow auditor RSM Tenon and 5m for its audit of collapsed property services group Connaught. KPMG, EY and Deloitte bosses all agreed they were unhappy with their firms' performances when asked in Parliament last week, while Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC UK, would only say "we can always improve". 'Did you just forget?' A bone that two MPs on the select committee were keen to pick was with the auditors' alleged failure to follow rules on rubberstamping dividends. Money paid out of a company must be very carefully accounted for and auditors must say if firms have been following the law. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Domino's was found to be paying dividends without following the rules Firms including Domino's Pizza and Carillion were among those that had admitted to or were found to have paid dividends when they shouldn't have, said Labour MP Peter Kyle. "When we look at the example of Domino's Pizza, 85m of unlawful payments were made in a 16-year period," he said. "Did you just forget the capital payments rules or did you ignore them?" he asked EY UK chairman Steve Varley. "It can only be one of the two." 'Complicit in fraud?' "We are and have been" complying with the law, Mr Varley said, but added: "We are not lawyers." He declined to talk further about Domino's, saying it wouldn't be appropriate. On the shareholders?" The accounting chiefs who spoke up in the hearing insisted they were compliant with the law. Image copyright Parliament TV Image caption "We are not lawyers," EY boss Steve Varley told MPs What disappoints Tim Bush, head of governance at the shareholder lobby group Pirc, is the sweeping power auditors have and don't appear to be exercising. According to the law, an auditor can request any information needed from any employee. If information given is knowingly or recklessly false or deceptive in something important, that can land you in prison for up to two years and with a fine. "The reason they don't invoke this power is it's confrontational," says Mr Bush. 'You have a duty' In practice, if things are this bad, a relationship will already have broken down far beyond repair, says Mr Mott-Cowan. Although that's not to say other things won't go wrong. "You've seen what happened recently where people have said the auditor is at fault for various things. You have to make sure you have the backup of your audit files to substantiate the opinion you have arrived at. "You have a duty if you spot something to take it forward, absolutely. But you aren't going to find everything." The BEIS Committee will hold further hearings this week on the future of audit. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47074971 |
Did Bud Light Just Tease How Shocked We Will Be With the Game of Thrones Ending? | It's a battle we never knew we needed and now we're shook. During Sunday's Super Bowl game fans got a serious reminder that the end of Game of Thrones is coming and no one is safe...not even the Bud Knight! In one of the best commercials during the game, fans thought they were watching a Bud Light ad for the beer that fuels all medieval kings and their people, but what starts out as a fun jousting match fit for the "Dilly Dilly" crowd up ends is flames...which seems like it might be a warning for GOT fans. As the Bud Knight unloads his beer and saddled up on his horse, things got dark fast. He was knocked off his horse courtesy of a GOT character the Mountain (Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson) and then killed in front of everyone in attendance. | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1011151/did-bud-light-just-tease-how-shocked-we-will-be-with-the-game-of-thrones-ending |
Why is Todd Gurley not being featured by Rams in the Super Bowl? | Todd Gurley touched the football only three times in the first half of Super Bowl LIII. This continues a somewhat baffling trend of the league's highest-paid running back staying on the sideline in a do-or-die game for Los Angeles; he had only five against the Saints in the NFC Championship. He averaged 22.5 touches per game during the regular season. The Rams have dismissed all suggestion that he's injured - even though that thought has persisted. The truth, though, seems to be something easier to explain: The Patriots are doing everything in their power to stop the Rams' staple run concept, the outside zone. Translated: the Patriots are playing with five men on the line of scrimmage with their two edge defenders lining up wide and forcing runs back inside. PATS are defending RAMS by playing 5UP on run downs . Instead of traditional 4-2 sub front, they are effectively playing an over 5-1 front This is to reduce the push combos on the rams wide zone scheme. Paul Alexander (@CoachPaulAlex) February 4, 2019 After calling an outside zone on the first snap of the game - as a way to diagnose how the Patriots would react - the Rams called mostly inside zone runs for Anderson. When Gurley did re-enter the game, Los Angeles continued with the inside runs - but with limited success. Gurley has been the Rams' preference on those outside runs throughout the season, but with the way the Patriots are setting their front, Los Angeles is better served attacking the middle with inside runs, which C.J. Anderson is better suited to execute. The same was true against New Orleans, as we wrote at the time: The Saints defensive line is strongest on the edges, and with DT Sheldon Rankins out injured, the interior of their line was short-handed. So instead of leaning on perimeter runs, where Gurley is at his best, the Rams when with a more downhill attack, which suits Anderson's bruising running style. As McVay said, the Rams "just had to grind some things out today," and Anderson is the better grinder. Bill Belichick is known for taking away what an offense does best and making his opponents play left-handed. It's not a shock that he's done everything he can to keep Gurley off the field. The Rams offense is still effective with Anderson on the field, but not nearly as explosive as it is with Gurley out there. If the Pats play that five-man surface look to defend the outside zone, i'd expect to see these two counters. Play 1: tight end works up to the second level and allows the RT to take the end man on the line of scrimmage. Play 2: A crack toss that will get Gurley in space pic.twitter.com/lwSrDhpxL9 Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) February 3, 2019 It's now up to Rams coach Sean McVay to find a way to make his offense work. It's built off play action made possible by the success of the outside run; without those, you get a flustered Jared Goff making difficult reads and completing just 5-of-12 passes for 52 yards. McVay has certainly seen what other teams countered with and will most likely try something similar. But this much is for sure: so far, Belichick has won the coaching matchup convincingly - and it didn't take any sort of genius to do it. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2019/02/03/why-is-todd-gurley-not-being-featured-in-the-super-bowl/39000939/ |
Which countries eat the most meat? | Image copyright Getty Images You may have heard an increasing number of people vow to reduce their meat eating lately - or cut it out altogether. This often forms part of a bid to become healthier, reduce their environmental impact, or consider animal welfare. A third of Britons claim to have either stopped eating meat or reduced it, while two thirds of those in the US say they are eating less of at least one meat. This trend is partly thanks to initiatives such as Meat-free Mondays and Veganuary. At the same time, a number of documentaries and high-profile advocates of veganism have highlighted the potential benefits of eating less meat. Rising incomes What we do know is that global meat consumption has increased rapidly over the past 50 years. Meat production today is nearly five times higher than in the early 1960s - from 70 million tonnes to more than 330 tonnes in 2017. A big reason for this is that there are many more people to feed. Over that period the world population more than doubled. In the early 1960s there were around three billion of us, and today there are more than 7.6 billion. While population is part of the story, it doesn't entirely account for why meat production increased five-fold. Another key factor is rising incomes. Around the world, people have become richer, with the global average income more than tripling in half a century. When we compare consumption across different countries we see that, typically, the richer we are the more meat we eat. There are not just more people in the world - there are more people who can afford to eat meat. We see a clear link with wealth when looking at patterns of meat consumption across the world. In 2013, the most recent year available, the US and Australia topped the tables for annual meat consumption. Alongside New Zealand and Argentina, both countries topped more than 100kg per person, the equivalent to about 50 chickens or half a cow each. In fact, high levels of meat consumption can be seen across the West, with most countries in Western Europe consuming between 80 and 90 kilograms of meat per person. At the other end of the spectrum, many of the world's poorest countries eat very little meat. The average Ethiopian consumes just 7kg, Rwandans 8kg and Nigerians 9kg. This is 10 times less than the average European. For those in low-income countries, meat is still very much a luxury. These figures represent the amount of meat per head available for consumption, but do not account for any food wasted at home or on the shop floor. In reality, people eat slightly less meat than this, but it's still a close estimate. Middle-income countries driving the demand for meat It is clear that the richest countries eat a lot of meat, and those on low incomes eat little. This has been the case for 50 years or more. This trend has been largely driven from a growing band of middle-income countries. Rapidly growing nations like China and Brazil have seen significant economic growth in recent decades, and a large rise in meat consumption. In Kenya, meat consumption has changed little since 1960. By contrast, the average person in 1960s China consumed less than 5kg a year. By the late 1980s this had risen to 20kg, and in the last few decades this has more than tripled to over 60kg. The same thing happened in Brazil, where meat consumption has almost doubled since 1990 - overtaking almost all Western countries in the process. India is one notable exception. While average incomes have tripled since 1990, meat consumption hasn't followed suit. It is a misconception that the majority of India is vegetarian - two thirds of Indians do eat at least some meat, according to a nationwide survey. Nonetheless, the amount of meat consumed in India has remained small. At less than 4kg per person, it is the lowest in the world. This is likely to be partly down to cultural factors for some in India, including not eating certain types of meat for religious reasons. Not really, according to statistics. Recent data from the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) suggests meat consumption per head has actually increased over the last few years. While we may think that meat is becoming less popular, US consumption in 2018 was close to its highest in decades. It's a similar picture with meat consumption in the EU. While Western consumption of meat is steady, or slightly increasing, the types of meat eaten are changing. This means less red meat - beef and pork - and more poultry. In the US, poultry now accounts for half of meat consumption, up from a quarter in the 1970s. These types of substitution could be good news for health and the environment. More stories like this The impact of meat In some circumstances, eating meat can be beneficial. Moderate quantities of meat and dairy can improve people's health, particularly in lower-income countries where diets may lack variety. But in many countries, meat consumption goes far beyond basic nutritional benefits. In fact, it could be a health risk. Studies have linked excess red and processed meat consumption with increased risk of heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. Substituting chicken for beef or bacon could be a positive step. This swap is also better for the environment as cows, in particular, are inefficient converters of feed to meat. Compared to chicken, beef has anywhere in the range of three to 10 times as much impact on land use, water and greenhouse gas emissions. Pork is somewhere in between the two. A future where meat consumption is sustainable and balanced across countries would require major changes. This would mean not only a shift in the types of meat we eat, but also how much. Essentially, meat would have to become more of a luxury again. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Hannah Ritchie is an Oxford Martin fellow, and is currently working as a researcher at OurWorldinData.org. This is a joint project between Oxford Martin and non-profit organisation Global Change Data Lab, which aims to present research on how the world is changing through interactive visualisations. You can follow her on Twitter here. Edited by Eleanor Lawrie | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47057341 |
What is the Lowest Scoring Super Bowl in History? | Entering Super Bowl LIII, Super Bowl VII was the lowest-scoring title game in NFL history. The Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins with a score of just 147. In addition to the 1973 game, eight of the first ten Super Bowls rank among the lowest-scoring. Super Bowl IX's 22 total points is ranked as the second-lowest Super Bowl. Three othersall between 1969 and 1975also saw fewer than 30 points scored. Super Bowl 50 is the most recent low-scoring Super Bowl. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 2410 in that 2016 game. Here are the five lowest-scoring Super Bowls of all time. LowestScoring Super Bowls 1. Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14, Washington Redskins 7 2. Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6 3. Super Bowl III: New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7 4. Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3 5. Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13 | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/lowest-scoring-super-bowl-history-fewest-points-scored |
What's happening this week? | It's Monday, a new week, so let's get a sense of what's coming up with some of the most important and interesting stories over the next seven days. President Donald Trump delivers his delayed State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Well, this is his chance to set out his agenda for the next year and so it should give us an idea of what his priorities are - although we could take a pretty good guess at what they are without even hearing the speech (the wall, anyone?). The real question will be whether he will choose to extend the hand of friendship to the Democrats, as he did last year. If recent events are anything to go by, we'd say not. Whatever happens, there are sure to be fireworks because, well, it's Donald Trump. A sixth of the world's population will be marking the Lunar New Year and welcoming in the Year of the Pig on Tuesday. Because a billion people are celebrating the start of their year, from China to Singapore, the Philippines to Mauritius and beyond. That means huge fireworks displays, gifts and a lot of tasty treats. It is also important for any parents-to-be because The Year of the Pig - according to traditional belief - means anyone born over the next 12 months is likely to be hardworking, enthusiastic and optimistic. On the downside, they are also said to be naive, stubborn and materialistic. Well, you can't have everything. The jury is set to start its deliberations on whether Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn is guilty or not guilty after hearing weeks of evidence in a New York court room. US officials allege El Chapo is the leader of the world's biggest drug cartel. If he is found guilty, he faces the possibility of life behind bars. Removing him from the picture, authorities hope, will lead to the eventual collapse of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel - a sort of cut-the-head-off-the-snake type deal. If it works, it would be a massive win for the US war on drugs. On the other hand it will be more than a little embarrassing if the jury decides he is not, in fact, the Mexican kingpin prosecutors believe him to be. But if we're honest, a jail sentence might not matter. After all, this is a man who has escaped prison twice - although we are guessing he might finding escaping from a high-security jail in the US a little harder. The Baftas and the Grammys - on one night! Because we want to know what people are wearing, of course. And also, we want to know who won what. That is hard to say exactly. We just like to know these things. On a more serious note, the Baftas will take place first on Sunday, with The Favourite looking like the actual favourite. The historical costume drama has the most nominations of the night, followed not-that-closely by Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born, First Man and Roma, which all have seven nominations each. A few hours - and thousands of miles - later, the Grammy awards will take place. At first glance, it looks like it might all be about the boys here, with Kendrick Lamar and Drake leading the field in nominations. Of course, the number of nominations is no guarantee of actually winning: it could all change on the night. So we suggest you grab some popcorn and settle in for a night of high glamour, and not inconsiderable drama. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47045055 |
Who is Toni Harris, the woman in Toyotas Super Bowl commercial? | Antoinette Toni Harris has never been a big fan of assumptions. And for good reason. The star of Toyotas Super Bowl commercial advertising its new RAV4 Hybrid which is also not a fan of assumptions has overcome whats been said about her time and again. Harris is a 5-foot-6, 135-pound free safety for East Los Angeles College. All true. She has fought to play at every level of the sport and continues to battle for an NFL dream. Scroll to continue with content Ad Harris is the first female football player to receive a scholarship offer at a skilled position. She is only the latest woman to knock down a milestone moment. Katie Hnida was the first to play at the FBS level in 2002. Becca Longo was the first to sign with a Division II school, doing so in 2017 with Adams State as a kicker. Harris has scholarship offers coming out of JUCO Harris finished her sophomore season last autumn at the community college. ELAC head coach Bobby Godinez proudly shared news pieces about his players commercial and in 2017 told CBS Los Angeles she earned her spot. When she first approached me naturally I was a little nervous I didnt want anybody getting hurt, Godinez said. Shes earned everybodys respect her resilience, her perseverance, everything that she kind of encompasses, kinda bled through into everybody, after that we said we gotta get her on the field. In January 2018 she made headlines when she received a scholarship offer from Bethany College, an NAIA school in Kansas. She decided to stay her last year at ELAC and now has a total four offers including ones from Adams State University in Colorado, Graceland University in Iowa and Kentucky Christian University. Story continues Im waiting until after the Super Bowl when everything dies down a little bit and then Ill make my decision, Harris told Amy Campbell on Fridays SI Now Live. She has an associate degree in social science and behavioral development with an emphasis in criminal justice. Her sights are set on the NFL Harris wants to be the first female player in the NFL, no matter the route that requires. And if she doesnt get there, shell at least know her efforts were worthwhile. There isnt a path but I want to make sure Im paving a way for myself to get there, Harris said on SI Now Live. And if I cant get there, I want to make sure the next little girl can get there. I want to open up some type of doors for women to do it. It does not say Mens National Football League. It just says National Football League. Theres no rules that women can not be there, theres just no woman whos tried to get there. But I want to be that woman whos the first NFL player. Shes faced early obstacles Harris was placed in foster care at 4 years old and adopted at 13. She spent her youth as an all-star cheerleader and an AAU track and field star, she said. Harris told Amy Campbell on Fridays SI Now Live that her interest in playing football piqued when she watched her cousin play. I always wanted to play football, but nobody would give me the chance, said Harris, who graduated from Redford Union High School in Detroit in 2014. I had been kicked off teams in little league. But once I learned to make my own decisions, I was like, Ill handle it myself and Ill protect my dream at any cost. ' In various interviews over the years, she said because of her sex she was left off of youth teams, had to get the superintendent involved when she wanted to play in high school and was always convincing coaches. She faced her biggest obstacle at 18 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, which she told CBS Los Angeles resulted in lost weight and muscle mass, and went into remission in summer 2015. But she doesnt want that to define her story or even give a background to what she has accomplished as a football player. Just football player, please The entire premise of the commercial is to defy expectations. For Toyota, thats breaking out of what an SUV should be. For Toni, thats getting past what society expects of girls and women. People say women cant play because of this, that and the other. Harris wants to be the one that shows they can play and do it well. And while she likes changing the perception of what girls do, she said its about being a football player. Drop the female. Once I step on that field, although I am a female, yes, I want to be treated accordingly as a football player along with the rest of my teammates, she told SI Now Live. Its her vision, not anyone elses There are plenty watching Toyotas commercial with certain thoughts, which they will share in comments sections and Facebook diatribes. It will not deter Harris, who described her message for herself and others to former NFL star Michael Strahan on Good Morning America. Female #football star @_Antoinetteeeee's message to others: At the end of the day no one elses opinions matter about your dreams. https://t.co/W1vUNMab63 pic.twitter.com/DMOTtsvqzv Good Morning America (@GMA) January 30, 2019 At the end of the day no ones opinions matter about your dreams you shouldnt have to fight to have people understand your vision. Its your vision. Its not for them to understand. Its something that God gave you for you to go excel at. And thats why Id speak to them to let them know nobodys going to decide where Im going to go in life. Thats my decision. Antoinette Toni Harris is a football player with a dream. (Toyota Motor North America via AP) More Super Bowl coverage from Yahoo Sports: This hasnt happened to Brady in a Super Bowl before Ex-Patriot shares unfortunate Super Bowl photo Grading the best and worst Super Bowl ads Wetzel: Trump just sounded alarm NFL fears most | https://sports.yahoo.com/toni-harris-woman-toyotas-super-bowl-commercial-004117206.html?src=rss |
Has There Ever Been a Shutout in the Super Bowl? | No game in Super Bowl history has ever ended with a shutout. While there are a number of occasions where one team's offense failed to score, no team was completely blanked on the big stage. In 1972, the Washington Redskins' lone score came on a fumble return following a blocked field goal attempt. The Redskins lost 147 in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in NFL history. The Minnesota Vikings' offense also failed to score in 1974. The Vikings fell 166 to Pittsburgh, their only touchdown coming on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone. The New York Giants fell 347 to the Baltimore Ravens after scoring one touchdown on a kickoff return. The only team who failed to score a touchdown were the 1971 Dolphins, who lost 243 to the Dallas Cowboys. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/nfl-super-bowl-shut-out-history |
Has there ever been a Super Bowl without a touchdown scored? | There has never been a Super Bowl game without a touchdown scored by either team. There has, however, been a title game where one team failed to score a touchdown: the 1971 Dolphins, who lost 243 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, La. Miami's three points came from a field goal in the second quarter before the Dolphins were shutout entirely in the second half. The Cowboys tallied two more touchdowns after halftime to secure Dallas's first-ever Super Bowl championship. One season later, the Dolphins were also part of the lowest-scoring title game in NFL history. Entering Super Bowl LIII, Super Bowl VII between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins was the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history. Miami walked away with a 147 win. Going into the fourth quarter of Sunday's championship game, the Patriots and the Rams were tied at 33 with one field goal apiece. But the Patriots scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to keep the streak of at least one team scoring a touchdown alive. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/super-bowl-no-touchdown-scoring-history |
When is the Patriots Super Bowl parade? | The City of Boston will host a duck boat parade Tuesday to celebrate the Patriots' 133 Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the city announced after Sunday night's championship win. Tuesday's parade marks the sixth time in 18 years that Boston will host a Super Bowl parade. More details about the parade will be announced on Monday. Cue the duck boats! Great work, @Patriots see you all Tuesday at 11am for the parade. More details to come tomorrow, https://t.co/mFbPPzwg4K #EverythingWeGot pic.twitter.com/irVNi2ohhz City of Boston (@CityOfBoston) February 4, 2019 While Brady seemed a bit unsure about the celebratory schedule after the game, telling Jim Nantz "We could've been at Gillette Stadium. Think we might have a parade Tuesday or something," he was, in fact, correct. The parade will kick off Tuesday, February 5, at 11 a.m. from the Hynes Convention Center. Celebrate the Patriots' Super Bowl win with Sports Illustrated's commemorative package The Patriots got the Duck Boat treatment in 2002 after Super Bowl XXXVI, 2004 after Super Bowl XXXVIII, 2005 after Super Bowl XXXIX, 2015 after Super Bowl XLIX and in 2017 after New England's comeback overtime win in Super Bowl LI. Tuesday's parade will mark the city's second celebration for the 2018 sports year, after the Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the World Series in five games. At the Red Sox parade last fall, Boston manager Alex Cora told the haters to "suck on it." We imagine we'll see more deserved gloating from the Patriots this year. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/03/patriots-2019-super-bowl-parade-date-time-location |
Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Banking Inquiry? | While the real answer is probably a mixture of the two, its worth trying to pick apart the factors if you think commissioner Kenneth Hayne is set to deliver a fatal blow to one of the worlds most richly valued banking industries. The share prices of major banks move closely in line with Australias housing market: Westpac Banking Corp. and National Australia Bank Ltd. show a correlation of 0.87 with CoreLogic Inc.s index of prices in the countrys five largest state capitals, while Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. is on 0.61 and Commonwealth Bank of Australia on 0.46 (a figure of 1 implies a perfect correlation, with 0 suggesting no relationship). Another rough way of visualizing this is to assume that a fall in the housing index will correspond to a fall in share prices, and strip out the two effects. Do that exercise with Commonwealth Bank shares, and you have a picture of a company that suffered a dramatic Royal Commission discount whenever hearings were going on, before reverting to the housing market-implied mean whenever the noise died down. ANZs share price weakness, similarly, can largely be explained by real estate, with Westpac and National Australia Bank and Westpac suffering more dramatic effects. Thats not nothing and indeed, its probably not unconnected to the Royal Commission, since the lending drought thats helping drive the housing slump is probably being fueled by banks that have become gun-shy under Commissioner Haynes scrutiny. At the same time, it underlines the conclusions of his initial report: The problems besetting Australias financial-services industry have happened in spite of the existence of generally sensible black-letter regulation, not in its absence. Changing that will involve shifting the incentive structures, business models and cultures of the big banks and the agencies that regulate them by no means a certain process. It seems clear that the recommendations will focus on ways to fix those latter issues from reducing incumbents hold on the distribution of mortgages, insurance products and retirement savings accounts; to beefing up Australias weak corporate regulators; to removing the culture of sales targets which appears to have underpinned much of the abuse chronicled in Haynes public hearings. Most of that is likely to be implemented whichever government wins the federal election due by May, with the Labor opposition which has led in opinion polls for almost three years likely to put through the toughest set of measures. Still, any lasting damage to Australias financial sector will depend upon consistent enforcement by governments for years after the hearings of the past 12 months have been forgotten. Right now, MSCIs Australia financials index, a basket in which the big four banks constitute about three-quarters of the weighting, is at some of its lowest price-book multiples in a decade, and has all but lost its historic premium to the equivalent U.S. benchmark. Anyone predicting an acceleration of that trend is forecasting a market that will be much harsher to Australian bank shareholders (and kinder to their customers) than the current one. Such an outcome is far more likely to result from the cracks spreading in Australias housing market than anything that will come out of this Royal Commission. To contact the author of this story: David Fickling at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Matthew Brooker at [email protected] This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities, as well as industrial and consumer companies. He has been a reporter for Bloomberg News, Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and the Guardian. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion 2019 Bloomberg L.P. | https://news.yahoo.com/afraid-big-bad-banking-inquiry-035458104.html |
Who is Patriots linebacker Ramon Humber? | originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com Age: 31 Position: Linebacker Scroll to continue with content Ad College: North Dakota State Drafted: Undrafted, 2009. Signed with Indianapolis Colts as a UDFA. Experience: Has played in 136 career NFL games between the Colts, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, and now the Patriots. Was previously on the Pats' practice squad in 2016 before being signed by the Bills until his release in November 2018. Was picked up five days after his release by the Patriots, appearing in the final six regular season games and two playoff games. 2018 stats: Playing primarily on special teams, he has 12 total tackles in 15 games. : In Buffalo, Humber shared the same college coach as his quarterback Josh Allen -- Craig Bohl, who developed Carson Wentz at North Dakota State before moving on to work with Allen at Wyoming. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device. | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-linebacker-ramon-humber-070501316.html?src=rss |
Why did my nursery furniture arrive long past the due date? | I placed an order with baby products company moKee for a nursery bundle (essential equipment including a cot) at the end of September 2018, allowing plenty of time before my November due date for the quoted four to eight weeks shipping. We received part of the order on 2 December after a great deal of chasing. But our daughter had arrived a week earlier, so we could not set up her nursery. I was left scrambling to arrange for someone to be in to collect the order and set up the nursery, whilst recovering from a caesarian section. Thirty emails later we are still waiting for the mattress and sheets for the mini cot, which we have only been able to use for storage. MoKees customer service team sounds like a broken record, repeatedly saying the order will be dispatched at some point in the next week. Its all been stressful at what should have been a special time. Months of delay is simply unacceptable babies dont wait (and grow quickly)! EB, Brighton, East Sussex The trendy Scandi-style brand admits it has been a victim of its own success as a small startup with only a small team. Its founder and chief executive, Sam Serra, has personally apologised to you and others also facing delays at a critical time (close to birth). Your outstanding goods have been delivered, and the waterproof sheets changed for a superior version in order to ship faster. Serra told us: We are extremely happy to see the sales increasing. It is, however, extremely challenging to adjust the production process in such a short time. Weve been doing our best offering part shipment for free or changing ordered products for ones in stock. However, customers are sometimes facing delays. While we are very disappointed and sorry every time we fail to deliver on time: we know there are thousands of parents in the UK that love the brand and have had a positive experience. Now we have to make sure we can deliver this to all of our customers. We apologise to EB for her experience and hope to do better in the future. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at [email protected] or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/feb/04/mokee-online-shopping-delivery-late-baby-bundle |
Will Robo-Advisors And Chatbots Eliminate The Need For Financial Literacy? | OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK According to one banking industry expert: Traditional methods for financial education are a waste of time when it comes to helping Millennials plan for their financial futures--instead, credit unions should share financial advice that helps Millennials get through the week or month, and relaying that information through mobile platforms and real-time alerts." There are four problems with that statement, the first three being: Not all Millennials need help "getting through" the week or month. The oldest Millennials are 38 years old already. Many have actually moved out of their parents' basements, believe it or not. Real-time alerts have been around for a long time and haven't solved anything for anyone because they don't address the root cause of someone's financial troubles. Traditional methods for financial education are a "waste of time when it comes to helping Millennials" because they're a waste of time for all generations. The fourth problem is that delivering advice on smartphones might backfire. A study on financial literacy from the TIAA Institute revealed some surprising findings: Millennials who make mobile payments and/or track their spending with their smartphone are more likely to overdraw on their checking accounts than other consumers. The study went on to assert that improving levels of financial literacy would lessen the negative effects of using smartphones to make payments and track spending. Two things wrong with this assertion: Making mobile payments and using smartphones to track spending aren't causes of overdraft behavior, and It ignores the impact of age and income: Financial literacy scores increase with age and income. So if you want to reduce the prevalence of overdrafts among Millennials, don't take away their smartphones--turn them into Baby Boomers. And I guess give them more money, but let's start with the first thing first and see how that goes. Financial Education Doesn't Have the Impact Proponents Would Like to Believe it Does Plenty of studies attempt to prove that Americans' level of financial literacy is low, and that therefore, we need more financial education. Leading fintech influencer Chris Skinner calls financial literacy the "scourge of our times." There are a couple of issues with this perspective. 1) According to a study conducted at the University of Colorado using the Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances data: "57% of US households exhibit signs of financial illiteracy, a phenomenon even among college degree holders. Financial illiterates report that they are aware of their lack of financial knowledge, and thus they bear less financial risk and allocate less money in risky assets, and are constructively less overconfident. Collectively, financial illiterates households adopt a portfolio choice strategy that is fully rational." In other words, households that are financially "illiterate" exhibit smarter financial behaviors and may make smarter financial decisions than so-called financially literate households. 2) A study titled So Many Courses, So Little Progress: Why Financial Education Doesnt Work--And What Does concluded: "One-size-fits-all financial education has little to no effect on changing real-world financial behaviors. A meta-analysis of more than 200 studies found that educational interventions explained only 0.1% of the financial behaviors studied." As the expert quoted above said, they can "share financial advice [through mobile platforms]." Some banks are already doing that: A Bank of America press release says its Erica virtual assistant can "help clients tackle more complex tasks and provide personalized, proactive guidance to help them stay on top of their finances." Citizens Bank's vision for its AI-driven SpeciFI program "is for customers to realize were being intelligent about looking out for them, calling out the important stuff." Chatbots and Robo-advisors Won't Necessarily Change Behavior There's no question that consumers want digitally-provided advice from their banks. According to JD Power: 78% of U.S. retail bank customers are interested in receiving financial advice or guidance from their bank and 58% say their preferred means of receiving advice is digital content delivered through a bank website or mobile app." It would be like Erica turning into HAL (you know, from 2001: A Space Odyssey): Sorry, Ron. But I can't let you spend $300 for tickets to see Dead and Company when they come to Boston this summer. You need the money to pay your electricity bill." That ain't happening. Banks are between a rock and a hard wall when it comes to improving their customers' financial performance. On one hand, education designed to improve literacy may not have the desired impact. But on the other hand, advice tools may not be effective in changing behavior. Financial Illiteracy Isn't the Problem The cause of financial problems isn't poor financial literacy--it's poor financial behavior. But bad behavior is really just a symptom. Bad financial behavior--like overdrawing on a checking account or paying bills late--doesn't occur because someone is financially illiterate. It happens because they have other challenges and problems. Find out what those problems/challenges are and address them. Financial services providers are just making themselves feel better by providing financial education to "cure" financial illiteracy. Bottom line: Robo-advisors may be great for stock picking and portfolio allocation, and chatbots might be great for customer service, but they're useless in helping people improve their financial health and performance unless they drive behavioral change. The reality is this: A mediocre robo-advisor with the right incentives and engagement model to drive behavior change can be more effective in improving consumers' financial performance than a great rob0-advisor with poor incentives and ineffective engagement model. The industry needs to lose its literacy/education delusions and refocus its efforts on behavior change. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/04/will-roboadvisors-and-chatbots-eliminate-need-for-financial-literacy/ |
Can The Octopus Brain Save Humanity? | Introduction Humans are the most relentless and oblivious killers on earth, and our violence operates far outside the bounds of any other living species. This lethal violence is extensive in human society as we not only kill other species, but we kill our own as well. The reason behind this is that humans have neural circuits of rage and violence encoded in their biology, and violence -- like all human behavior -- is controlled by the human brain. So, as the efforts intensify to build human brain-like capacity in machines, it needs to be understood that, when neural circuits of violence are being knowingly / unknowingly replicated in machines, we are allowing the replication and transferring the triggers of violence in machine intelligence. Now, irrespective of man or machine, the most important factor in violence will perhaps not be politics but actually biology. Since empathy and violence have the same circuits in the human brain and as we replicate the same qualities in intelligent machines, the rapidly evolving autonomous systems are raising red flags for the future of humanity. However, there is another way, one in which an octopus can be a model for developing a reliable functioning of artificial intelligence. Rise in Autonomous Systems As seen across nations, autonomous systems that can think and act on their own are on the rise. Since these systems are on their way, the risks resulting from autonomous system applications could very well doom humanity. While the emerging autonomous systems technology seems to be transformative and disruptive and holds the potential for enabling entirely new intelligence and problem solving capabilities for human ecosystems in cyberspace, geospace and space (CGS), the very idea of an intelligent autonomous system that has human like neural circuits and where both hardware and software work together: to gather information, find a solution based on the collected information, and execute an action (even an action to kill a human) to achieve a goal is becoming frightening. It is important to understand that autonomous systems are more than just unmanned machines. When these unmanned autonomous systems which are capable of adapting to changing conditions, which have knowledge, and which have no inbuilt constraints in their code, are assigned broad objectives to increase performance,, enhance safety and security, and reduce cost, the actions and outcomes they could take to achieve those broad goals (based on the human like neural circuits) makes them highly unpredictable and likely prone to violence. It wouldnt be unreasonable for the machine to turn towards competition, violence and even elimination of other speciesincluding the human species. So, the question is while autonomous systems are becoming important for a nations science and technology vision, should we create an intelligence with neural circuits like a human, allow them to think on their own and trust them blindly to not eliminate us. Evolving Autonomous Systems Across nations, a wide range of increasingly sophisticated autonomous systems for practical applications are on their way. They exhibit high degrees of autonomy and can perform tasks independently of human operators and without human control. Without direct human intervention and control from the outside, these evolving autonomous systems today can interact with humans, can interact with machines, can conduct dialogues with customers in online call-centers, can steer robot hands to pick and manipulate objects accurately and incessantly, can buy and sell stock in large quantities in milliseconds, can forecast markets, can fly drones and shoot weapons, can navigate cars to swerve or brake and prevent a collision, can classify individual humans and their behavior, can impose fines, can launch cyber-attacks, can prevent cyber-attacks, can clean homes, can cut grass, can pick weeds, can provide surveillance and security, can lend loans and can even launch space missions. The weaponization of artificial intelligence has begun, and the power of self-governance is already on its way to being transferred to intelligent autonomous machines in some cases. This gives autonomous systems the ability to act independently of any direct human control and explore unrehearsed conditions for which they are not trained to do so -- to go places it has never gone before. While this is a remarkable progress, we must turn our heads from the promise of autonomous systems to the perils. Acknowledging this emerging reality, Risk Group initiated the much-needed discussion on Autonomous Systems with Dr. Hans Mumm on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company. Risk Group discusses Autonomous Systems with Dr. Hans Mumm, an Autonomous Systems Expert, a Futurist and Principal Investigator of Victory Systems based in United States. While it is important to understand and evaluate the development of autonomous systems capabilities, reach and impact, it is more important to evaluate the complex challenges and risks it will bring for the future of human civilization. It is unfortunate that the rapid progress and development of autonomous systems brings us the most obscurity for our own survival and security. But it is not too late. We can reverse and correct the course in developing the human like (violence prone) machine intelligence brain. While the principle of autonomy implies the freedom in action and decision-making, as we move towards developing autonomous systems (with the current approach to its design and development), the doom of human civilization is almost certain. It is therefore urgent that each one of us understand and evaluate why we are replicating the science of human violence in intelligent autonomous machines. Perhaps there's another way. Let us consider defining and designing neural nets to reflect not the centralized vertebrate human brain (as is the focus today), but the cephalopod octopus. The octopus has evolved with a much larger nervous systems and greater cognitive complexity, and is perhaps closest to an intelligent alien species, which uses and implements a distributed decentralized system. The time is now to explore developing autonomous systems with the mind of an octopus instead of a human! | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/02/04/can-the-octopus-brain-save-humanity/ |
Can AI Become Our New Cybersecurity Sheriff? | Two hospitals in Ohio and West Virginia turned patients away due to a ransomware attack that led to a system failure. The hospitals could not process any emergency patient requests. Hence, they sent incoming patients to nearby hospitals. It is due to incidents like these that cyber threats are one of the top concerns for several industry leaders today. However, such situations can be avoided with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. AI has already displayed limitless potential in various applications across different industries. Likewise, deploying AI for cybersecurity solutions will help protect organizations from existing cyber threats and help identify newer malware types too. Additionally, AI-powered cybersecurity systems can ensure effective security standards and help in the creation of better prevention and recovery strategies. Using AI for cybersecurity will give rise to data-driven security models. Implementation of AI for cybersecurity Using biometric logins Just before Black Friday, Amazon was targeted in a major security breach that compromised the email addresses and personal information of multiple users. Amazon officials claimed that users need not change their passwords, but Richard Walters, Chief Technical Officer CensorNet, didnt agree with Amazon. He added that users have to change their passwords as most passwords are predictable, and some passwords are readily available on the dark web due to previous high profile data breaches. Similarly, multiple cybersecurity experts believe that passwords are vulnerable to cyber attacks and users personal information, credit card information and social security numbers can be easily compromised. Therefore, deploying AI for cybersecurity has introduced biometric login techniques for secure logins. AI systems can scan fingerprints, retina and palm prints accurately. Such biometric logins can be used in combination with passwords that are already in use with devices like smartphones. Detecting threats and malicious activities Conventional cybersecurity systems utilize Advanced Threat Prevention to detect cyber threats and protect against them. However, 845.37 million malware were created in 2018 and around 10 million new malware are created every month this year. Traditional cybersecurity systems are inefficient in handling such new varieties of malware. Therefore, adopting AI for cybersecurity is a feasible solution to tackle such problems. Cybersecurity firms are training AI systems to detect malware and viruses with the help of several datasets that include algorithms and codes. Using such data, AI can perform pattern recognition that helps identify malicious behavior in software. Moreover, AI and machine learning can play a crucial role in online security. Machine learning can analyze path traversals of websites to detect whether a website navigates to malicious domains. Likewise, AI-based systems can recognize malicious files, like web shell, and preemptively isolate them from the system. AI systems can be trained to analyze micro-behavior of ransomware attacks to recognize ransomware before it encrypts a system. Furthermore, AI systems can use predictive analytics to AI-based alternatives that will always be quicker and more effective than a manual approach. Learning with natural language processing One of the most significant reasons to use AI for cybersecurity is the potential of Natural Language Processing that comes into play. AI-powered systems can automatically collect data for reference by scanning articles, studies and news on cyber threats. AI systems use Natural Language Processing for selecting useful information from the scanned data. Such information will provide insight into cyber attacks, anomalies, mitigation and prevention strategies. Using the analyzed information, cybersecurity firms can identify timescales, calculate risks, harvest data and make predictions. Therefore, cybersecurity firms can stay updated on current cyber threats and prepare effective strategies to secure organizations from numerous cyber attacks. Securing conditional access Organizations generally use authentication models to secure vital data from unwanted people and intruders. If an employee or business leader with higher authentication privileges is accessing such data remotely, then the system can be compromised using the network. In such cases, traditional authentication models prove to be less agile. Alternatively, using AI for cybersecurity will help create a dynamic, real-time and global authentication framework that alters access privileges based on location or network. AI systems can use Multi-Factor Authentication for this purpose. With this approach, the system will collect user information to analyze the behavior of the user, application, device, network, data and location. Using such information, the AI-powered system can automatically change any users access privileges to ensure data security on remote networks. Limitations of using AI for cybersecurity Although there are many benefits of deploying AI for cybersecurity, the limitations of AI are obstructing the mainstream adoption of the technology. For starters, building and maintaining an AI-based system requires a tremendous amount of resources, such as memory, computing power and data. Since AI systems are trained with data, cybersecurity firms need to feed new datasets of malicious codes and non-malicious codes regularly to help AI learn. Besides, the data used for training needs to be accurate, as inaccurate data will lead to inefficient outcomes. Therefore, finding and collecting precise datasets can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Similar to ethical hackers and cybersecurity experts that use AI for cybersecurity, black hat hackers can use AI to test their own malware. With constant testing, hackers can develop advanced malware or maybe even AI-proof malware strains. Considering the malware risks we face today, one can only imagine how destructive an AI-proof malware could be. Using the same principles, hackers can develop their own AI system that can outsmart AI-powered cybersecurity systems. Such systems can learn from the existing AI systems and lead to even more advanced cyber attacks. Solutions for overcoming the challenges After knowing the limitations, organizations need to understand that AI has a long way to go before it becomes a standalone cybersecurity solution. Until then, using AI for cybersecurity along with the traditional techniques is the best option. Hence, organizations can follow the below guidelines to maintain effective security standards: Hire experienced cybersecurity professionals with niche skills. Cybersecurity professionals can test systems and networks for vulnerabilities and fix them preemptively. Use URL filtering and reputation-based security services to block malicious links that may contain viruses or malware. Implement firewalls and malware scanners to block malware and viruses. Further, hackers constantly redesign malware to avoid being detected by traditional signature-based systems. Hence, using advanced persistent threat protection and AI for cybersecurity can help detect malware based on malware behavior. Organizations must pay close attention to the outgoing traffic and apply egress filters to restrict the outgoing traffic. Analyze cyber threats and security protocols to gain informative insights that would help create a more secure approach toward cyber attacks. Update existing systems in the organization to integrate modern technologies such as AI and machine learning. Conducting regular audits of hardware and software to monitor the health of the systems must be among the top priorities. Organizations should consider training employees and educating them about cyber attacks. Incentivize and promote the development of innovative applications. Even after following all these steps, every organization remains prone to cyber attacks. Many tech giants use state of the art security systems and still fall prey to cyber threats. For example, Yahoo has recently agreed for a $50 million settlement for a data breach in 2013. The data breach compromised email addresses and personal information of approximately 3 billion users. Hence, organizations need to proactively work with cybersecurity experts to create recovery strategies. Effective recovery strategies should include: Encrypting all the organizational data to help buy some time for the cybersecurity experts to stop an attack in case of an intrusion. Organizations need to set up alerts for outgoing data. Such alerts can notify the organization if their data is being compromised. Hackers can control systems and networks with malware-based communication systems. Hence, cybersecurity professionals should block outgoing command and control connections to stop any outgoing malware communication. Continuous research and development in AI is helping the technology grow exponentially. Hence, applications that use AI for cybersecurity will become mainstream soon too. Additionally, AI will be integrated with other advanced technologies such as Blockchain to ensure better security protocols. And then, maybe AI will become our new cybersecurity sheriff! | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/02/04/can-ai-become-our-new-cybersecurity-sheriff/ |
Are Consenticorns the Spirit Animal of 2019? | On a freezing Friday night, a group of partygoers in winter coats huddled under a heat lamp at the entryway of House of Yes, the night club, event space, and self-described temple of expression in Bushwick. The evenings event was House of Love, a monthly party for the sexually adventurous. Costumes were mandatory, but most patrons had just come to dance with their friends. (This party is Rated R . . . not X. If you know what we mean, the invitation read.) Tickets had sold out, as they usually do, but first one had to get past the consenticorn. The consenticorn, a kind of dance-floor monitor, wore a long fur coat and a light-up unicorn horn, and stood before a table bearing free New York City Department of Health-brand condoms, ready to deliver a short lecture on the rules. Rule No. 1: No photos or video. Rule No. 2: Costumes. Is everyone wearing a costume? she asked. The partygoers opened their coats to reveal corsets, fishnets, lace. One man, dressed in a button-down shirt, had missed the memo. Im on the guest list, he protested. I can lend you some bondage tape! someone offered. Problem solved. Rule No. 3: Mandatory consent. You are not going to touch anyone, in any way, without getting express, verbal consent, the consenticorn, who wished to remain anonymous, said. This is true for all gender variations, she continued. Anything that is not a Yes or a Hell, yes is a Hell, no. And should anyone, at any point, feel unsafe, she went on, look for one of us with a horn. Were the consenticorns, and were here to help you. The consent program at House of Yes is three years old. It consists of waivers, signage (If you feel something, say something), staff trainings, and a policy posted on all event pages. At House of Love, where partyers are invited to embrace the full spectrum of gender and sexual possibilities, vigilance is heightened. Most of the consenticorns have been trained by Emma Kaywin, a sexual-health educator for hospitals and civic groups, who now co-directs House of Yess consent program. Shortly before 11 p.m., Kaywin stood in the lobby off the dance floor, wearing a corset with a long gauze skirt. She greeted the consenticorns as they arrived, handing out horns from a shopping bag. The first shift starts an hour into the party, and comes with free admission, a plus one, and a drink; the second, known as the hero shift, starts at 1:30 a.m. and goes until the bar closes, at 4. When House of Yes opened at its current location, a few years ago, Kaywin thought that she would become a regular. Instead, every time she went she got groped. After she posted about an incident on social media, Jacqui Rabkin, the clubs marketing director, hired her as a consultant. Along with the Houses founders, Kae Burke and Anya Sapozhnikova, the women began proselytizing the ideal of a better party environment. The goal is not to police but to educate. Its really about people looking out for each other and not feeling like theres this nanny-state babysitter of a night club, Burke explained on another night at the club. She and Sapozhnikova had just hosted an erotic revue called Dirty Circus. Burke was dressed as a French maid. Sapozhnikova, who was wearing a red lace bodysuit, agreed: We dont want to just dismiss everyone that doesnt know any better because they didnt grow up in a family that had a positive masculine presence. Eighty people have been trained in de-escalation strategies, including how to talk about micro-aggressions, consent violations, over-inebriation, and violence. Other party organizers have begun to hire the consenticorns for freelance gigs; the waiting list for training is now seventy people long. Its part of a larger trend. Rafael Espinal, the city councilman who represents sections of Bushwick, and is running for public advocate, recently introduced a bill to make signage and training about consent mandatory for night-life venues. At Bossa Nova Civic Club, a message is painted on the wall: If you touch a woman against her will in this establishment we will literally ruin your life. Back at House of Love, it was early, and the crowd was still well-behaved. A dominatrix dripped candle wax on a couple who had been tied together back to back. Consenticorns have authority to kick people out, but first theyre taught to acculturate, Kaywin said. The lesson can take many formsif its a male consenticorn dealing with another male, she said, bro-speak can be incredible. Kaywin handed a unicorn horn to Emily Barrett, a veterinary cardiac technician and part-time consenticorn. First I walk through the room taking a look at their faces, making sure nobodys distressed, she said. In a cage suspended above the stage, a man whose body appeared to be bound with leather straps lifted his legs into a full split. Barrett navigated the crowd, looking for people in need of a rescue. Im everyones best girlfriend on the dance floor, she said. | https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/11/are-consenticorns-the-spirit-animal-of-2019 |
Can The Philippines Survive Rodrigo Duterte? | As economic bookends go, a recent assertion by Philippine research group IBON Foundation is a head-turner. It claims President Rodrigo Duterte produced the lowest number of jobs in two years since Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s. That may come as news to observers who last month heard Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno tout the best economy since the late dictator fled the Philippines in 1986. As political wags debate IBONs contention, though, there should be no dispute that Dutertenomics is sputtering. Its indisputable that growth in Southeast Asias fifth-biggest economy ebbed to a three-year low in 2018. Granted, a 6.2% rise in gross domestic product is nothing to sniff at. But when your mandate is reducing the number of Filipinos living on $2 a dayroughly 40%, based in United Nations datamoderating GDP is the last thing the one-time sick man of Asia needs. That was the nations dreaded moniker before Benigno Aquino arrived in the presidential palace in 2010. That was its own tantalizing bookmark. His father, an opposition leader, was assassinated 27 years earlier trying to oust Marcos. Aquino the younger spent six years dismantling the kleptocracy Marcos created over 20 years in the palace. He increased transparency, upped tax receipts and reassured investors to win Manila its first investment-grade ratings. He faced off with the powerful Catholic Church, implementing population controls to curb poverty. He even went after the loot with which the Marcos clan fledseveral billions of dollars of cash, allegedly, and masterworks by the likes of Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley. By June 2016, when Aquino turned the keys over to Duterte, Manilas standing in Transparency Internationals annual corruption perceptions index improved to 95th. When Aquino took over, the Philippines trailed Nigeria at 134th place. 99th place. Not an epic reversion to the pre-Aquino mean, but another telltale sign that the reform big bang voters wanted from Duterte isnt happening. Dutertes mandate, remember, was turning the Aquino boom up to 11. His legend grew from 22 years of running Davao City in the south. That period often produced faster growth than the national average, less red tape, better infrastructure and lower crime. This last success earned him the nickname Duterte Harry, a play on the character Clint Eastwood made famous. Yet instead of bringing his economic playbook to Manila, Duterte brought loads of testosterone. The army of police and assorted mercenaries he deputized to wage a war on drugs has made for ghastly headlinesand at least 5,000 corpses (Human Rights Watch says the number is above 12,000). Its tarnishing the surge in global soft power that Aquino bequeathed Duterte. The chaos is a distraction at the worst possible moment. Most nations in Asia face drug-trade challenges. Few have shot their economy in the foot the way Duterte risks doing. Given the reform drives from Indonesia to Malaysia to Vietnam, multinational companies have a fast-growing number of choices in Southeast Asia, never mind India, too. Some multitasking would help. The 2018 surge in inflation to the highest rate in nearly 10 years, for example, was the last thing a high-poverty population of 105 million people needs. Even if it is coming down, thanks to assertive central bank tightening, its still north of 5%. Nor has Dutertes government been able to tame the twin deficits in the budget and the current account, which are keeping the peso under downward pressure. Both deficits and inflation could heat up further ahead of mid-term elections due in May. Pork-barrel spending to woo voters has long been a threat to Manilas balance sheet. This year could be a budget-buster in that respect. A darkening global scene isnt helping. Donald Trumps trade war leaves many global investors in a decidedly risk off state of mind. Chinas economy in 2018 just grew at its slowest pace since 1990, a sign the U.S. presidents protectionism is slamming Asias export engine. Duterte, its worth noting, has pivoted to China in ways Aquino wouldnt. Thats now backfiring. All this makes the coming elections a referendum on Duterteand an economic renaissance moving in the wrong direction. One indicator worth considering gets us back to the issue of bookends between the Marcos and Duterte eras. Dutertes health has been a subject of obsessive speculation, particularly since undergoing medical tests in October. On Feb. 3, Duterte, 73, popped up in a Facebook video to reassure those who believe in the news that I passed away. He pledged to step down in the case of serious illness. But Duterte has been vocal in his reservations about being replaced by Vice President Leni Robredo. His preferred successor: Ferdinand Marcos Jr. One of the great paradoxesand sources of conspiracy theoriesof the Duterte era is his affection for the Marcos family. One of his first acts was, weirdly, to grant the late dictator (who died in 1989) a heros burial. It seemed a rebuke of predecessor Aquino and spoke to the Marcos clans ambitions to return to power. In 2016, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lost the No. 2 gig to Robredo (in the Philippines, the president and vice president run for office separately) and is contesting the result in the courts. If Marcos, a former senator, somehow prevails and Duterte steps aside, Marcos 2.0 would morph from nightmare to reality. Hence the social-media freak-out last month over a political ad featuring Imee Marcos and Sara Duterte. The latter, former dictator Marcos daughter, is governor of family stronghold Ilocos Norte province (shes now running for national office). The latter is Dutertes daughter who currently holds his old job, Davao City mayor. Seeing the two together, and in motorcycle garb, raised questions about what these two powerful families are revving up together, politically-speaking. Lost in all this chaos, though, is why Duterte was elected. To date, hes largely ridden the momentum generated by the Aquino years, much like Trumps eating out on predecessor Barack Obamas heavy lifting. As global growth slows, though, the Philippines faces a bull market in headwinds. The foreign-direct investment Duterte needs to finance his Build, Build, Build infrastructure scheme is now hard to come by. A slowing external sector makes is harder for Manila to export ever more Filipinos abroad to work and send remittances home. Investing more in human capital via improved education and training took a backseat to the drug war. The way forward is clear enough. As IBON points out in its Jan. 24 report, growth is slowing most of all because of the economys unsound fundamentals in backward agriculture and shallow industry. IBON executive director Sonny Africa says manufacturing cratered to 4.9% in 2018 from 8.4% a year earlier. He claims Duterte created just 81,000 jobs in two years. The real problem is that Manila is still too focused on growing faster, not better. In the pre-Aquino administrations of Gloria Arroyo (2001-2010) and Joseph Estrada (1998-2001), the cult of GDP rivaled the archipelagos Catholicism. Leaders got rates to 5% or 6%, declared victory and moved on to looking after cronies. Team Duterte, too, hopes rapid GDP eclipses all manner of sinsfrom resurrecting Marcos Inc. to slow-walking reforms to all those body bags. Lost in the chaos is the reform drive that moved the Philippines out of the economic ER. If Duterte doesnt change course soon, his legacy could be a tragic relapse. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/williampesek/2019/02/04/can-the-philippines-survive-rodrigo-duterte/ |
Which Global Risks Are Increasing In 2019? | Every year, prior to the big event in Davos Switzerland where movers and shakers from around the world get together, the World Economic Forum produces a Global Risks Report. The report includes a survey of around one thousand members of their stakeholder communities. The results reported are worth the attention of executives that participate in risk management programs at their companies. The top 5 global risks in terms of likelihood are: Extreme weather conditions Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation Natural disasters Data fraud or theft Cyber-attacks The top 5 risks in terms of impact include: Weapons of mass destruction Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation Extreme weather events Water crises Natural disasters Global risks were defined as uncertain events that if they occurred, could cause significant negative impact within the next ten years. Environmental risks dominate the list for the third year in a row. Environmental risks account for three of the top five risks by likelihood and four of the top five by impact. In terms of short-term risks, a list of risks expected to increase in 2019 was published. Many of the risks mentioned will require changing national attitudes, new laws, or better multilateral cooperation. Those risks are not listed below. Only the lists an operational team can create contingency plans for are listed. Percentage of Respondents Expecting Risks to Increase in 2019: Economic confrontations/frictions between major powers 91% Erosion of multilateral trading rules and agreements 90% Political confrontations/frictions between major powers 85% Cyber-attacks: Theft of data or money 82% Cyber-attacks: disruption of operations and infrastructure 80% Personal identity theft 64% Loss of privacy (to companies) 63% Regional conflicts drawing in major powers 62% Destruction of natural ecosystems 62% Protectionism against foreign workers 62% Water crisis 58% Protectionism regarding trade and investment 54% Air pollution 52% Weak economic growth 51% Authoritarian leadership 51% Concentration of corporate power 51% High levels of crisis-driven or economic migration 50% Debt defaults (public or private) 48% State-on-state military conflict or incursion 44% Erosion of constitutional and civil society checks on government 44% Civil unrest (including strikes and riots) 44% Bubbles in stock or other asset prices 40% Currency crisis 35% Deep or corrupt ties between business and government 35% Violent crime 30% Terrorist attacks 20% It is a sobering list. What companies can do about a risk depends upon the type of risk. Risk mitigation can include changing where factories and other facilities are located, which ports goods and raw materials flow through, where companies choose to invest in growth, hardening IT systems, and many other things. Companies also need to know more than just that a certain type of risk has increased, they also need to know where that risk is likely to occur. Risks can be interconnected, mitigating against one type of risk can also mitigate against similar risks. But sometimes choosing to mitigate one risk can increase a different type of risk. In short, risk trade-offs need to be considered. Finally, not all risks can or should be mitigated. Still, as companies go through their annual strategic planning process, and update their risk management strategies, this report can be a good brainstorming tool. I just wish the report came out in October or November, when most companies are going through strategic planning, rather than in January, when the process is done for the year. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2019/02/04/which-global-risks-are-increasing-in-2019/ |
What can be done about stagnant pay? | Arguably the major concern of economists in the West today is laggard wage gains, not trade wars, volatile commodity prices, or the worrisome practices of erratic governments (such as Brexit). The Canadian jobless rate is at a 42-year low, and the country has more than 500,000 job vacancies, according to the Bank of Canada. That wage and GDP growth rates rise or fall in tandem practically defines modern economics. The Canadian jobless rate is at a 42-year low, and the country has more than 500,000 job vacancies, yet wage growth is stagnating. ( Richard Lautens / Toronto Star File Photo ) Yet wage growth, at 2.5 per cent rather than an expected 3.0 per cent given the strength of leading economic indicators, is barely keeping pace with inflation, and in that sense is actually stagnant. That is a disturbing phenomenon across all Western economies, not just Canada. Weak wage growth not only suppresses consumer spending, but keeps Canadians from more quickly retiring record levels of household debt. Culprits in the weaker-than-expected wage gains include industry consolidation that has reduced pressure on the smaller number of big employers competing for talent. Automation continues to kill jobs outright, and depresses wages for remaining workers. And high housing prices dampen labour mobility. Winnipeggers think twice about taking higher-paying jobs in Vancouver and Toronto, where shelter costs have skyrocketed. Two relatively short-term fixes include municipal zoning adjustments, and federal and provincial tax incentives to encourage developers to shed their fixation with luxury condos and start providing serious amounts of affordable housing. And higher education remains out of sync with workplace demands for selected vocational skills. That challenge better coordination among employers and colleges and universities would have been met by now, save for the balkanized curricula among the 13 provinces and territories with jurisdiction in education. Relief from U.S. tariffs The trade deal to replace NAFTA looks increasingly like a dead letter unless U.S. President Donald Trump lifts the U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum exports he imposed last year. Canada is Americas largest supplier of imported steel. Several of the Democratic lawmakers who now control the U.S. House of Representatives are demanding that the tariffs be lifted before they consider the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). And some U.S. senators of Trumps Republican Party are making the same demand. For many Democrats and Republicans, the tariffs are a punishment inflicted on U.S. businesses and consumers. For instance, the U.S. beer industry estimates that the steel tariffs have raised their expenses by about $347 million (U.S.), a cost they are trying to pass on to consumers. And many U.S. metal fabricators, underpriced by non-North American firms unaffected by tariffs, are losing market share to offshore rivals and have been forced to lay off U.S. workers. Article Continued Below For Republicans, traditionally Americas free-trade party, the failure of the Trump administration to honour its promises to lift the tariffs once a NAFTA replacement was agreed on means America cant be trusted in negotiating any international treaties. And for disgruntled free-market ideologues, Trumps post-agreement demands that Canada and Mexico consent to quotas on their U.S. metals exports debases genuine free trade. The quota demand is politically managed trade that responds to lobbying in Washington, The Wall Street Journal has editorialized, not free trade that responds to market supply and demand. The U.S. metals-supply lobbies are delighted with Trumps tariff protectionism, but few other Americans appear to be. Canadian oil and Venezuela Recently applied U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan oil imports threaten to exacerbate the Alberta crisis in getting its oil to market. U.S. demand for Athabasca crude has soared due to the supply gap caused by the Venezuela disruption, at a time when Alberta producers are scrambling to secure rail-tanker cars to move their product, and Edmonton has purchased its own rail cars for that purpose. As Bloomberg reports, U.S. oil imports from Canada hit a record 4.06 million barrels a day in the third week of January, while Venezuelan shipments fell by 13 per cent. Under normal conditions, the extra demand would benefit Alberta. Instead, given the pipeline and other supply constraints on Alberta producers, the additional demand could pose a logistical nightmare. Meanwhile, Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian foreign minister, has convened a meeting in Ottawa Monday of the 12 members of the so-called Lima Group to pressure Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro to step down from the presidency in favour of Venezuela national assembly leader Juan Guaido. Guaido, who declared himself his countrys legitimate president Jan. 23, enjoys wide support among the 11 Latin American Lima Group members. Canada isnt quite spearheading this unusual endeavour. But as a founding member of the Lima Group, created two years ago, and as the only non-Latin American member, Canada commands broad-based Latin American support. Resolving the Venezuelan presidential crisis would relieve demand pressures on Alberta, which has cut its production to ease storage constraints. Longer term, Ottawas Venezuelan strategy could help lay the groundwork for more extensive Canadian free-trade access beyond Mexico in Latin America, conspicuous as one of the few regions with which Canada has yet to forge strong trade ties. David Olive is a business columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @TheGrtRecession | https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2019/02/04/what-can-be-done-about-stagnant-pay.html |
Can Devlins plan improve health care? | On Thursday, the Premiers Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine delivered its initial thesis on health care reform. The highly anticipated report identifies a number of key areas that have created strain in a system that is struggling to keep up with growing patient demands. Dr. Rueben Devlin, who chairs the council and has had extensive experience in health care as a community-based orthopedic surgeon and hospital executive, has assembled an impressive team to tackle the challenging and unenviable task of improving access to care in Ontario. This group includes a healthy mixture of physicians, nurses, public health experts and patient advocates. This diversity of experience is clearly on display in the language of this overture, much of which is hard to argue with. The Premiers Council has an enormous challenge ahead. It has outlined an ambitious plan for health care reform that will take years, if not decades, to come to fruition, writes Adam Kassam. The hard part will be executing these ideas in a time when reigning in debt is seen as a priority. ( Peter Power / The Toronto Star ) One of the foundational aspects of this report is having the patient experience be a central focus for any of the reform measures to be implemented. This is an important recognition of the importance of patient-centred care that will become increasingly more personalized in the years ahead. The council also mentions supporting the social determinants of health in a signal that it values how a patients socioeconomic, cultural and geographic background impacts his/her health. Additionally, the council has identified a crucial area that is often overlooked during discussions surrounding health care reform. The rise in caregiver burden is will affect the success of any health care system as it attempts to better integrate hospital and community based services. Whats more is that women, who do the majority of caregiving, are at a disproportionately higher risk of burnout. It is why the desire to better integrate services across the health care continuum is an important goal for the future of Ontario. The adoption of technology, as highlighted by the council, will be an important tool to achieve progress. This will be created through leveraging the potential of virtual care, creating a framework for interoperability and accessibility of electronic medical records and the integration of allied health care providers in the community. Article Continued Below Ontarios projected aging and growing population over the next several decades is an indication that a fundamental shift in the delivery of care must take place sooner rather than later. This is an immense challenge that requires buy-in from all the stakeholders. Without properly engaging these different partners, Ontario will continue struggling with hallway medicine, long wait-times and failed projects. The Premiers Council has an enormous challenge ahead. It has outlined an ambitious plan for health care reform that will take years, if not decades, to come to fruition. Its initial report is light on specific details, despite identifying themes that are generally universally agreed upon. The hard part will be executing these ideas in a time when reigning in debt is seen as a priority. Adam Kassam (@AdamKassamMD) is a resident physician who writes about health care, public policy and popular culture. Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/02/04/can-devlins-plan-improve-health-care.html |
Will mosque killer Alexandre Bissonnette's sentence mean he dies in prison? | Quebec City mosque killer Alexandre Bissonnette may be sentenced to die in prison this week. On Friday, Judge Franois Huot is to hand down his long-awaited sentence for Bissonnette, who murdered six Muslim men on Jan. 29, 2017 after storming into a mosque with two guns and 108 rounds of ammunition. Security camera videos showed him calmly carrying out the two-minute rampage, retreating to a safe area to reload his handgun four times, and returning to some men he had shot to shoot them again, execution-style. Bissonnette also pulled the trigger on a semi-automatic rifle, but it jammed. Aside from the six killed, five other men were injured by Bissonnettes gunfire, including Aymen Derbali, left paralyzed from the waist down. Another 35 people, including four children, were in the mosque. Crown prosecutors are asking that Huot hand down the longest sentence in Canadian history and the harshest in modern Canadian judicial history. They say the 28-year-olds crime was so vile, so clearly spurred by bigotry, he deserves six consecutive life sentences, one for each of the six men he murdered: Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti. That would mean he would not be eligible for parole for 150 years, eliminating any chance he would leave prison alive. Lawyers for Bissonnette, who pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder, say he should get one life sentence, meaning he could request parole after 25 years. They say a 150-year sentence would be unconstitutional because it would be inhumane and remove any glimmer of hope for their client. Through questions and comments during hearings last year, Huot gave hints about the issues he is weighing in the sentence, which could set a precedent for mass murderers and end up before the Supreme Court of Canada. The sentence was originally expected in October but Huot delayed it in order to get more input from the Crown and defence lawyer and to have more time to ponder his decision. Here are five issues related to the sentence: 1) Consecutive vs. concurrent sentences In court last year, Huot told Bissonnette that its probable that he will impose consecutive sentences, which could add up to 50, 75, 100, 125 or 150 years before parole eligibility. Ottawa changed the Criminal Code in 2011 to allow consecutive sentences in multiple-murder cases, as opposed to concurrent ones. Whether or not to apply the provision is left to the discretion of judges, who must consider the character of the offender, the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission. Before 2011, multiple murderers could at maximum receive a life sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years, with the Parole Board of Canada deciding when the killers could be released. Huot has the option of giving Bissonnette a life sentence with no possibility for parole for 25 years. Or he could order him incarcerated for between two and six consecutive sentences of 25 years. Since 2011, at least four murderers have been sentenced to consecutive life sentences with no parole eligibility for 75 years, the longest sentences in modern Canadian judicial history so far. Among those sentenced to 75 years is Justin Bourque, who killed three RCMP officers in New Brunswick. If Bissonnette gets one life sentence, parole would not be automatic after 25 years. To be released, he would have to convince the Parole Board that he does not present an undue risk to society. On average, killers sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for 25 years, leave prison after 28 years, Bissonnettes lawyers have noted. 2) Constitutionality of a death sentence Crown prosecutor Thomas Jacques told Huot the murders were vile and repulsive and motivated by hate and prejudices. The Crown is not seeking vengeance but a just sentence proportional to the gravity of the crime and Bissonnettes moral responsibility, he said. Evidence from Bissonnettes computer showed he was fascinated with anti-immigrant alt-right and conservative commentators and worried about an influx of Muslim immigrants in Quebec. Bissonnettes father last year accused the Crown of seeking a political, not a judicial sentence that would be a death sentence in disguise. Although Canada formally abolished the death penalty in 1976, the last executions in Canada took place in 1962. Bissonnettes lawyer, Charles-Olivier Gosselin, argued a 150-year sentence would be a death sentence by incarceration and would contravene Section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It reads: Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. By removing any hope of release from prison, a 150-year sentence also contravenes another section of the charter that protects the right to security of the person, Gosselin said. If Huot opts for a 150-year-sentence, the defence is expected to appeal and the Supreme Court could ultimately rule on its constitutionality. That process would take more than a year. Quebecs attorney generals office told Huot that consecutive sentences are not arbitrary, excessive or totally disproportionate. It noted that in about one-quarter of cases in which consecutive sentences were considered, judges opted not to impose them. 3) Blocks of 25 years During a hearing in the fall, Huot asked the Crown prosecutor and one of Bissonnettes defence lawyers whether they thought there was an option of imposing a sentence that was not in blocks of 25 years. Both the prosecutor and the defence said jurisprudence indicates that when a judge imposes consecutive sentences, they must be in 25-year segments. 4) Serial killers vs. mass murderers Huot has wondered aloud whether a murderer like Bissonnette, who killed a large number of people in a single mass shooting, has the same blameworthy state of mind as a serial killer who commits multiple murders over a long period. Is Bissonnettes blameworthy state of mind comparable, for example, to that of a Pickton? Huot asked the Crown, referring to Robert Pickton, a British Columbia serial killer convicted of murdering six women and suspected in many other killings. Is a mass killer who murders six people in 90 seconds different from a serial killer who murders six people over a six-month period at a rate of one per month in a climate of planning and premeditation? Crown prosecutor Thomas Jacques responded: It would be exceedingly dangerous and harmful for the courts to send a message that a multiple murderer who kills several people in a single event has less moral guilt than someone who kills many, over a much longer period. Jacques also highlighted the Islamophobic and hateful nature of Bissonnettes crimes, and noted that if one of his weapons had not jammed, the carnage would have been far worse. 5) Impact on other cases Bissonnettes sentence could have consequences on other mass killers, including one awaiting trial. In April 2018, 25-year-old Alek Minassian allegedly drove a van down a busy downtown Toronto sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 16. Minassian has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. His trial is set for early 2020. Related [email protected] | https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/will-mosque-killer-alexandre-bissonnettes-sentence-mean-he-dies-in-prison |
How did CBS do with its Super Bowl 53 coverage? | CLEVELAND, Ohio When a big game lives up to its billing, it makes the announcers' jobs a bit easier. Storylines play out, a game is close, it's exciting. Unfortunately that didnt happen Sunday night with Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. It was a great game, if you like punting. The teams combined for 14 punts. Those who bet the over probably felt like they had eaten a plate of bad clams by halftime. This game is trash! This game is BORING #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/5F71rCmN8q HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 4, 2019 Overall, CBS kept a steady hand. With all the heated opinions surrounding the Patriots, coverage seemed even-handed. But there were hits and misses: In-game Jim Nantz (play by play), Tony Romo (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn (on-field reporters). The game was in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Pre-game yucks The NFL promo movie that aired about 15 minutes prior to kickoff featured Peyton Manning in fine self-deprecating form in a pitch room to advertising executives. John Malkovich also plays his intense self. The 4-minute, 30-second promo is worth it. Storyline The obvious storyline involved the tandem of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick going for New England's sixth Super Bowl victory, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers for most ever. Nantz is a seasoned pro who can handle a variety of sports well. Romo, whose last game as a player came in 2016, is relatively new to the booth. He's animated and knowledgeable. But he's a bit hokey. Repeating the official's call "Automatic first down!" is not necessary. Sounds like some fans after a few beers watching the game in a living room somewhere. Understatement of the game "It's been a kicker's game so far." - Nantz with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter and the score 3-3. (It wound up being the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever.) Overstatement of the game "I can't believe it!" - Romo when New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 46-yard field goal. Not exactly a chip shot. Always important when you're checking your Super Bowl squares: First quarter: 0-0. Halftime: 3-0, New England. Third quarter: 3-3. Final: 13-3, New England. Here's a fact CBS did not note, but worth pointing out: The Rams scored 527 points this season, good for second most in the NFL. After averaging almost 33 points per game all year, they managed 3 on Sunday. The Rams' Johnny Hekker boots a 65-yard punt during the second half of Super Bowl 53. Mark Humphrey Know your audience It's a safe bet that most of the estimated 100 million people watching are casual fans, so a bit of an explainer time to time is needed. When Sony Michel ran up the middle for a New England first down, Romo referred to the A gap (between center and guard). Moments later, when Cory Littleton intercepted a Brady pass, Romo mentioned a "zone dropout." But he did explain "going vertical" - the defense breaking through to the backfield. Leave the nomenclature to coaches analyzing the game, when there are ESPN Megacast-like channel options. The game, sort of. The network aired the Super Bowl Game Center, with a radio broadcast on audio and in-game stats on the screen. Alternative programming It's always interesting to see what other sports networks air during the Super Bowl. ESPN Classic had the Florida State-Georgia Tech college football game from Oct. 17, 1992. MLB Network broadcast several hourlong documentaries - the 1990s Atlanta Braves; Tony Gwinn; and the Oakland As under Charlie Finley. NBCSN had the World Curling Cup. (For those who are curious, No. 6 Florida State defeated No. 16 Georgia Tech, 29-24.) Speaking of alternative programming, file this under W for Why: Great Lakes Theater sent a press release to the media to announce its schedule at 6:30 p.m., moments before kickoff. Timing is everything I like how Nantz drops in factoids at appropriate moments, like "There's never been a punt returned in Super Bowl history" right before a punt. There still hasn't been a punt returned for a touchdown. New England Patriots' Jason McCourty breaks up pass intended for Los Angeles Rams' Josh Reynolds. Frank Franklin II Shots, stats and observations A first-quarter stat showed that New England had never had a first-quarter touchdown with Brady and Belichick in a Super Bowl. "I was saying such good stuff on that play, Jim, it was fantastic." - Romo joking after his microphone came back on after a brief hiatus. The booth noted it might have been wise for the Patriots to challenge a Rams reception in the second quarter. Hat tip for the quick replay to let fans see it before Rams quarterback Jared Goff took the snap on the subsequent play. New England's coaches should have been as responsive. "We did not even see a single snap in the game in the red zone in that first half." - Nantz before the third quarter. (The game's first play in the red zone came when Rob Gronkowski caught a Brady pass with 7:08 remaining.) Late in the third quarter, Romo said the Rams had not strung together more than five consecutive offensive plays. Cmon! Nantz reminded Romo that his prediction on the game was 28-24 - but he did not pick a team. C'mon, Tony, pick. The rest of us did. (Disclosure: For the record, on Friday's Munch Bishop's radio show, "Beer with Bona and Much, Much More!" I had the Rams winning, 34-31. At least I made a prediction.) Quotes of the game "Thats the highlight of the game!" - Nantz after Rams punter Johnny Hekker set a Super Bowl record with a 65-yard punt. "I was saying such good stuff on that play, Jim, it was fantastic." - Romo joking after his microphone came back on after a hiatus late in the first quarter. "Might as well make it count." - Nantz after the Rams were hit with a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty. Romo had said there were more than 12 men, jokingly saying there were "13 to 18." From the No Kidding department "You're going to see some adjustments by both of these coaches coming out of the second half." - Romo as the teams headed to the lockers for halftime with the Patriots ahead 3-0. Whoa! (but true) "The real story of this first half is Tom Brady and how poorly he has played." - Boomer Esiason at halftime. (The five-commentator team included James Brown, Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher and Phil Simms.) Kudos To Wolfson for hanging in the frenetic on-field post-game scrum to get the celebration interview with Brady. | https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/02/how-did-cbs-do-with-its-super-bowl-53-coverage.html |
How Much Money Has Congress Taken From Social Security? | For better or worse, Social Security is the financial foundation responsible for supporting tens of millions of retirees, as well as millions of long-term disabled workers and the survivors of deceased workers. Of the nearly 63 million people currently receiving a benefit check, more than a third are being kept out of poverty as a result of the added income they're receiving from the program. Yet for as important as Social Security is, it's also about to encounter its biggest speed bump since being signed into law back in 1935. Dice and casino chips lying atop two Social Security cards. More Image source: Getty Images. Social Security's problems come to a head Every year, the Social Security Board of Trustees releases a report examining the short-term (10 year) and long-term (75 year) outlook for America's most important social program. Since 1985, it's been warning that long-term revenue wouldn't be sufficient to sustain the existing payout schedule, which includes assumptions for annual cost-of-living adjustments. Ongoing demographic changes that include the retirement of baby boomers, increased longevity, lower fertility rates, and growing income inequality, are adversely impacting Social Security. According to the June 2018 report, the program is soon expected to begin paying out more money than it collects each year. The last time we saw a net cash outflow from Social Security was back in 1982. While these net cash outflows will be relatively small at first, compared to the $2.9 trillion currently held in asset reserves, they're expected to grow in size by 2020 and beyond. Based on the estimates of the Trustees, Social Security's $2.9 trillion in asset reserves will be completely gone by 2034. Should lawmakers not find a way to raise additional revenue and/or cut expenditures by then, an across-the-board cut in benefits of up to 21% may await. That's particularly worrisome, given that 62% of retired workers rely on their benefit check to account for at least half of their income. A businessman in a suit holding a neat stack of hundred dollar bills behind his back, while also crossing his fingers. More Image source: Getty Images. One postulation is that the federal government is to blame. You see, the Social Security program has accrued close to $2.9 trillion in net cash surpluses since its inception, with nearly all of this amount being generated over the past 35 years. Put another way, the program has collected more money than it's expended every year since 1983. | https://news.yahoo.com/much-money-congress-taken-social-120600259.html |
Is A Possible Recession Price Into Oil Markets? | The U.S. stock market, after plunging late in 2018, has largely recovered, yet thinking about the economy in coming months should include the possibility of a recession or at least significant economic slowing in the U.S. and the world more generally. The IMF recently lowered its growth forecast for 2019 by 0.2% and for 2020 by 0.1%. That revision is certainly small, but since most forecasters tend to be lagging indicators, predicting a recession after it occurs, this could be suggestive of further revisions. One of the irreparable intellectual divides is between those who think economics is an exact science and those who consider it somewhere between a social science and a dark art (not to mention voodoo economics). The former are primarily those academics who believe they can generate precise results because of sound theories and detailed data, while the latter tend to be real world practitioners annoyed with the fallibility of those results, or the ability of experts to provide a plethora of answers to any given question. The best approach is to realize that the basic principles of economics are sound, but the enormous number of variables and imprecise data create uncertain results and contradictory interpretations.Thus, while it cannot be said with any confidence that U.S. economic growth in the first quarter will be 3%, it remains very true that the odds favor a weaker economy or even a recession in the near future. Consider: The current period of economic growth is exceptionally long; Unemployment is so high as to be threatening significant wage inflation; Uncertainties about trade policy are hindering investment; New tariffs have raised costs and reduced policies for many industries; Fiscal stimulus is coming to an end, after years of boosting economic growth; and Signs of weakness are appearing in many countries. Many often joke that one of the best indicators that a recession is looming is broad agreement that a recession is not in the offing. I personally think that signs of conspicuous consumption also imply too much fiscal stimulus, as in the recent stories about how one of Dubais favorite garnish for their food is real gold. More worrying are signs that Chinas economy might be slowing, partly because Chinese data tends to be suspect meaning that it will not become apparent that their economy is slowing until several months after the fact (if it does slow). Of course, recession if not a Japanese-style malaise has been repeatedly predicted for China without materializing, in large part due to fiscal stimulus. Current expectations do not seem to reflect any potential for an economic slowdown. The table below shows the most recent IEA Oil Market Report forecast for 2019 demand, including the relative change over the past few years. The rate of growth in oil demand for 2019 is expected to be higher, not lower, than in 2018, the U.S. being a notable exception (growing at half the rate of 2018), but oil demand in Europe, whose economy is slowing, is forecast to grow faster than in 2018, while Chinese demand is expected to grow at the same rate as last year, despite signs of economic weakness there. But one side effect of slower demand is a reduction in the desired inventory level. Companies gauge their inventory needs not on an absolute basis but relative to usage, that is, product inventories in days of product supplies and crude inventories in days of refinery runs. If US demand weakens by 0.5 mb/d, then needed inventories would drop by about 30 million barrels. But that number could double if companies decide to hold lower relative amounts, that is, reduced the crude inventories in days of refinery runs by one, then desired inventories would drop by roughly 60 million barrels. If that occurred within one quarter, it would mean lower apparent demand for oil in the U.S. of 670 tb/d. Obviously, the global economy is unlikely to weaken evenly or equally, and destocking in one area can see bargain seekers in other areas snap up unwanted barrels, but this makes it obvious why even weak recessions can seem to have an outsized impact on oil prices. (Mixed in with the Libyan, Nigerian, and Venezuelan situations and OPEC+ compliance to the new production reduction agreements.) As American philosopher Donald Meredith once commented, If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, wed all have a Merry Christmas. Which should remind traders of J. P. Morgans response when asked what the stock market would do, It will fluctuate. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellynch/2019/02/04/is-a-possible-recession-price-into-oil-markets/ |
Is Julius Peppers a first-ballot Hall of Famer? | After 17 seasons of haunting the nightmares of quarterbacks, Julius Peppers is hanging up his cleats and retiring. He finishes his career fourth on the all-time sack list, with nine Pro-Bowl appearances and three All-Pro team selections. That body of work justifies a first-ballot ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to many fans. Others think Peppers isn't worthy of a first-ballot induction but is still a great player who will eventually be in the Hall of Fame. PERSPECTIVES The next time NFL fans see Julius Peppers, he might be getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Julius Peppers has something to say... pic.twitter.com/VKGjFmlWum -- Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 1, 2019 Let's give a short rundown of Peppers' contributions to football: 159.5 sacks, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 9 Pro Bowls, three First-Team All-Pro and a 2000s All-Decade team selection. If that isn't first-ballot, nothing is. Peppers is getting into the Hall of Fame on the first try. Julius Peppers: 159.5 sacks (4th most all time), 16 seasons with 5.0 sacks, 11 seasons with 10.0 sacks, 11 INT (2nd most by a DE of all time), 6 total games missed in 17 seasons. First ballot Hall of Famer. -- Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 1, 2019 Peppers was a great player, but the glaring holes in his resume are Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion. Not every great player should be granted the honor of being a first-ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Peppers is almost there, but there has to be a cut off somewhere. He will get into the Hall of Fame, but not on the first go-around y'all julius peppers is not a first ballot hof'er -- Debo GOAT (@PrimeDebo) February 1, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/is_julius_peppers_a_first-ball.html |
Will Decelerating Revenue Continue When Shopify Reports Earnings? | 2018 was a wild ride for Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) investors. The stock had been up as much as 72% before settling for a 37% gain to close out the year, blasting past the 6% decline for the S&P 500. Fears concerning the company's slowing growth and the correction late last year slowed the stocks relentless advance. Still, the company has a vast opportunity ahead as the trend toward e-commerce continues to build, and Shopify provides the platform that makes setting up an online presence easy. Investors will be looking for signs that the company's growth story is still intact when Shopify reports the financial results of its fourth quarter before the market opens on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Let's recap the third-quarter results and look at a couple of considerations that could affect the current results when Shopify reports earnings. The lobby of Shopify HQ in Ottawa with an illuminated Shopify logo on the front of a desk. More Image source: Shopify. Still impressive by any measure For the third quarter, Shopify generated revenue of $270.1 million, up 58% from the prior-year quarter and easily topping both analysts' consensus estimates and the high end of the company's forecast. Profits also exceeded expectations, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.04, well above the $0.02 loss analysts anticipated. The robust growth was evident in both business segments. Merchant solutions grew to $149.5 million, up 68% year over year, driven by gross merchandise volume (GMV) that soared 55% year over year, and gross payments volume of $4.1 billion, increasing to 41% of GMV, up from 37% in the prior-year quarter. Subscription solutions revenue grew to $120.5 million, up 46% year over year, and adding to the company's growing cache of monthly recurring revenue. Shopify's bottom line continues to be affected by international expansion, as operating expenses of $181 million grew 61% year over year. It's important that the company continue to invest in its business, as it will set the stage from future growth. What the quarter may hold Shopify's better-than-expected results gave the company a shot of optimism sufficient enough to increase its forecast. Shopify is now guiding for revenue in a range of $315 million to $325 million, which, if achieved, would represent year-over-year growth of 43% at the midpoint. It's important to note that this would be a dramatic deceleration from Shopify's recent revenue growth of 68%, 62%, and 58%, for the first, second, and third quarters, respectively. In addition, the company is expecting adjusted operating income of $17 million at the midpoint of its guidance. Shopify doesn't provide earnings-per-share guidance. While we don't want to get caught up in Wall Street's short-term thinking, knowing the market sentiment toward a company can help put the stock movements into perspective. Analysts' consensus estimates are calling for revenue of $327.63 million, a 47% year-over-year incresase, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.20, up from $0.15 in the prior-year quarter. These figures show that analysts believe management is being conservative with its guidance. A couple of important considerations As longtime shareholders are aware, there are two factors that tend to make Shopify a more volatile stock. First, with a market cap just short of $19 billion, the stock price tends to move much more than those of its megacap colleagues. | https://news.yahoo.com/decelerating-revenue-continue-shopify-reports-131800015.html |
What's in Store for Mettler-Toledo (MTD) in Q4 Earnings? | Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. MTD is set to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 7. The company topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, while missed the same only once, recording average positive earnings surprise of 1.03%. In the last reported quarter, Mettler-Toledo reported adjusted earnings of $5.12 per share, which increased 17.4% on a year-over-year basis. Moreover, the figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13 cents. Net sales of $734.85 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $739.76 million but were up 5.1% year over year. The growth was driven by robust performance of Laboratory business across all geographies. Also, strong performance in China propelled growth. For fourth-quarter 2018, the company anticipates local currency sales growth of 6%. Adjusted earnings are expected in the range of $6.72-$6.77 per share, up 13% year over year. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Key Factors to Consider Mettler-Toledos sales growth remains very specific to its segmental performance. The companys well performing Laboratory segment has been driving top-line growth over the past few years. Its strong product pipeline that includes robust analytical instruments, balances, auto-chem, to name a few, remains a positive for the to-be-reported quarter. Further, Spinnaker sales and marketing programs are likely to drive the top and bottom lines. Additionally, the company remains confident of its position in the European as well as Chinese market. However, its cost consolidation process associated with product inspection business is likely to impact the companys performance in the Industrial segment. Additionally, Mettler-Toledos Retail segment is likely to experience sluggish growth due to its lumpy nature. Further, the U.S.-China trade war regarding tariff is a major concern for the companys export-import activities in China. What Our Model Says According to the Zacks model, a company with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) has good chance of beating estimates if it also has a positive Earnings ESP. The Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) are best avoided. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Mettler-Toledo currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, making surprise prediction difficult. Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. Quote Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are a few stocks worth considering as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to deliver an earnings beat in the upcoming releases. Vipshop Holdings Limited VIPS has an Earnings ESP of +5.26% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Square, Inc. SQ has an Earnings ESP of +6.06% and a Zacks Rank #2. Gogo Inc. GOGO has an Earnings ESP of +9.46% and a Zacks Rank #2. From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-store-mettler-toledo-mtd-130501887.html |
Can Blockchain Create The Marketplace A New Content Creator Class Crave? | When the internet took its big leap into version 2.0, otherwise known as the Participative or Social Web, a lot of new sectors were born. The evolution and growth of social media has created an entirely new subclass of earner, known as the content creator. This new profession is rapidly growing and expanding to different platforms, markets, and niches, but it is also suffering growing pains, especially when it comes to monetisation. Content creation is a form of production that is entirely self-adjudicated, that is to say, it is mostly up to the individual, who put themselves out there, what they want to produce content on. It has led to a rich amalgamation of different topics being explored to a wide audience that if almost entirely catered for. The content creation revolution starting with the availability of simple, cheap, and relatively high-quality means of producing video and audio, coupled with the decimation of the friction involved in the distribution of information on the net, made for a new content creator class, explains Dor Konforty, CEO and founder of HyperSpace, a blockchain-based content creation platform. With our economy being nowhere near prepared for this new class, creators suffer with regards to their ability to properly support themselves, to contribute to the economy as equal participants in it, and to reap the rewards of their contributors. However, there are also limitations as to where this content can reach, and it is these limits, and the associated censorship, that is starting to irk content creators. As part of the deal, content creators create, but they then seek platforms to broadcast; these include places like YouTube, but more and more, we're starting to see direct monetisation platforms come forward, such as Patreon. Like any form of work, it can only be driven forward if made viable, and thus, these platforms that offer monetisation are a lifeline to content creators. But on the other side of things, in the social Web 2.0, audiences, as well as creators, are demanding unlimited freedom to produce their work. This is problematic though as a lot of these centralised platforms have agendas they seek to serve, as well as rules and controls that can be seen as quite stifling in a world that is increasingly becoming more open-minded and free-spirited. A bubbling undercurrent With this content creation sector still being relatively new, and the platforms hosting them equally so, there is still much feeling out to be done, but already we are seeing an undercurrent of dissatisfaction starting to gather. The owner of one of the top-grossing accounts on Patreon, the author and podcaster Sam Harris, said he deleted his account and accused the crowdfunding website of exhibiting "political bias" when it banned several accounts of users on the conservative fringe, it was reported. Harris announced this to his over 1 million Twitter followers in December last year. "As many of you know, the crowdfunding site Patreon has banned several prominent content creators from its platform," Harris said. "While the company insists that each was in violation of its terms of service, these recent expulsions seem more readily explained by political bias. Although I don't share the politics of the banned members, I consider it no longer tenable to expose any part of my podcast funding to the whims of Patreon's 'Trust and Safety' committee." It is a difficult one to come to grips with as Patreon maintained that these banned members were associated with hate groups, and thus it is their duty not to allow those types of people to use their platform for such an agenda. However, because of the difficulty in directly correlating a person to a particular faction of viewpoint, it becomes a decision made based on an interpretation, and in this case from a centralised body, such as Patreon. This kind of censorship has, on the other extreme, led to Jordan Peterson, a Canadian professor who frequently rails against political correctness on YouTube, saying he's planning to launch an alternative to the crowdfunding platform Patreon. "I've been working on a system to allow authors and other people who engage publicly on intellectual issues to interact more effectively with their readers and viewers and listeners," Peterson said. "What we're going to try and do as fast as we possibly can is to set this system up on a subscriber model that's analogous to Patreon. It will have a bunch of additional features, which I don't want to talk about right now, and I don't want to overpromise because the system is new." Already alternative available There is a need for platforms that allow content creators much more freedom and scope in what they are posting, but at the same time, there also needs to be some accountability. The thing is, having accountability coming from a centralised entity will always cause indignation. Whenever there are seemingly issues with intermediaries in a sector, or concerns on centralisation and even security and transparency, the blockchain is often hauled out and tested against these problems. With regards to a blockchain platform that offers a space for content creators to go about their business unheeded, there is a lot of potential, and already some use-cases of a decentralised content platform that has an incentivisation program already attached. Many are aware of Steemit, within the blockchain sphere, which is a blogging and social networking website that uses the Steem blockchain to reward publishers and curators. It is a useful service as because of its decentralised nature, there should be no censorship - but that is in question because there is still Steemit Inc heading up the entire operation. But in principle, a fully decentralised content platform allows for free reign regarding posting, and because of the token economy associated with it, there is monetisation, as well as crowd sentiment driving the content. Many will worry about hate speech and other dangers being pronounced on these decentralised platforms, but in quite a libertarian viewpoint, this will only be as successful as the demand for it. Because of the token economy, content creators on a decentralised platform, crowd incentivised and this work that is deemed useful by the collective will be rewarded. The hope this is that any hate speech or the likes would not succeed. But at the same time, if this style of content is successful, the question needs to be asked is it the content creator who should be shunned or the public at large supporting them? But what the decentralised nature does offer is full accountability to the individual for what they say, and a lack of accountability to any organisation behind the platform. One for the future Social media companies, as well as content producing platforms, have a massive hold over the internet as it stands with Facebook, Google, Twitter, Youtube and others up there as some of the most valuable companies in the world. However, as more dissatisfaction builds surrounding the control of individuals content, and the movement of free speech on the internet grows stronger, there could be a change in the air. We believe that as soon as some regulatory hurdles are cleared out of the way, allowing for a framework that is fair to the creator and protective of prospective participants, token-crowdfunding will allow for novel ways to support creators and their content chiefly by allowing their fans, especially those whove discovered and stick with them from their early days, to receive a stake in their future success rather than merely purchasing some proposed content in advance or tipping them post-hoc, adds Konforty. More involved fans become integral to the success of the creator, also making redundant other centralised mechanisms previously necessary for success (or even the simple existence of the creator), such as major labels, advertising companies, and distributors. This is already the case for some megastars on the Internet, but as this model becomes more pervasively available, it will allow even starting artists to bootstrap themselves by the support of their appreciating communities. Konforty expands on some of the other benefits of this burgeoning blockchain content creation space, mentioning the added incentives for those who consume content, something that is purely a one-way street at the moment with platforms and companies syphoning data from said consumers. For example, at HyperSpace we incentivise the communities forming around content creators to support them in every way that makes sense: from supporting them financially, to distributing their content every which way, to finding more appreciating audiences for them. We want to provide a complete envelope of services to creators using its platform without creators having to do anything but post their content. Consumers enjoy a platform where the best creators and content on the web come to life as well as the benefit of having other users incentivised to post content they may like to the specific communities they are part of." | https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynpollock/2019/02/04/can-blockchain-create-the-marketplace-a-new-content-creator-class-crave/ |
Could NHS have been doing more operations? | Image copyright Getty Images The number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for routine operations such as hip and knee replacements is rising year on year in England. The total waiting list of more than 4.1 million is up more than 10% over 12 months. But now a leading health regulator says hospitals could treat more patients if they planned use of operating theatres more effectively. A report by NHS Improvement say at least 291,000 more non-urgent operations and procedures could be carried out each year at 92 hospital trusts in England. This is based on a study of 1.72 million surgical cases at those trusts in 2017. The regulator says hospital facilities could be used more efficiently and intensively. No-deal Brexit could see ops cancelled, NHS trust says Many serious surgeries cancelled on the day, study finds Patients 'left in pain' by surgery delays The report found that a third of operating lists - the schedule for each theatre for the day - started 30 minutes or more late and nearly 40% finished half an hour or more early. The time lost to late starts, early finishes and delays between operations could, according to NHS Improvement, have been used to carry out the extra 291,000 operations. The report says delays in patients arriving in theatre from wards or admission units and incomplete pre-surgical checks waste time. And it urges hospital managers working with senior medical staff to analyse how facilities can be used more effectively. Forward planning One example given is better planning of the availability of senior doctors and surgeons. Surgical staff, says the report, should be required to give more notice when booking annual leave and to agree lists of patients for operations four weeks in advance. Well, yes it is. That's because BBC News was shown a similar analysis by NHS Improvement back in the autumn of 2017 and reported it. This concluded that an extra 280,000 non-urgent operations and procedures could be carried out each year if delays in operating theatres were to be minimised. I was told at the time that the full report would be out imminently. But it has only now finally appeared, in February 2019. There have clearly been differences of opinion over what could be achieved through higher productivity. It is understood the Royal College of Surgeons did not receive the full analysis with all the number crunching until the summer of 2018. Health service leaders and ministers were focused on the NHS 70th birthday celebrations and perhaps decided that improving hospital efficiency was not an appropriate message at that time. Guarded welcome The Royal College of Surgeons has given a guarded welcome to the NHS Improvement report, noting that there is an opportunity to improve the scheduling of operating lists. But a college official added there were wider issues that should be tackled, including inadequate numbers of hospital beds to accommodate patients needing an overnight stay after their operations. The problem, says the college, "is compounded by workforce shortages". Andrew Haldenby, director of the public services think tank Reform, said: "What is striking is that neither the NHS authorities nor hospitals themselves are doing very much to improve the situation. "It is possible that the way the government runs the NHS, hospitals are still not under enough pressure to strive for value for money every day." NHS Improvement says all hospitals will be encouraged to adopt best practice already in evidence in some trusts. But as yet there is no detailed plan for implementation of the report. Patients might wonder why if the analysis was carried out in 2017 and proposed straightforward solutions there was not more effort on this front in 2018. Perhaps hundreds of thousands more operations could have been carried out by now, relieving patients of the pain and inconvenience associated with long waits. Use our tracker to check whether your local services are meeting waiting-time targets for cancer, routine operations, accident and emergency and mental health treatment. Sorry, your browser is unable to display this content. Please upgrade to a more recent browser. A&E waits less than four hours Cancer care within 62 days TARGET Target hit Target missed last hit the target last hit the target TARGET Target hit Target missed last hit the target last hit the target TARGET Target hit Target missed last hit the target last hit the target TARGET Target hit Target missed last hit the target last hit the target INSPECTION RATINGS Care Quality Commission inspection rating: Go back to the top If you can't see the tracker, click or tap here. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47118329 |
What are the Chicago Blackhawks hoping to accomplish? | A four-point performance from Patrick Kane on Friday night gave Chicago its third straight win. Scroll to continue with content Ad Its the teams first three-game winning streak since late December, and it came at an interesting time. On the one hand, the Blackhawks are now only five points out of a playoff spot (which is of course a ton of ground to make up). On the other, theyre still just four points above being the worst team in the league. By points percentage, too, Chicago remains quite bad, tied with Detroit for 27th, but with a big gap between itself and Florida for 26th. To put it bluntly: This is a team thats closer to being 31st than 26th. But things are happening. Theres suddenly a lot of noise being made about, well what if they go out and get Artemi Panarin this summer? and what if they move up in the draft lottery and get Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko? At the same time, though, there are now rumblings that the Blackhawks might also ask Duncan Keith to waive his no-move clause so they can get futures and maybe a lower-level roster player for him. Kane continues to be one of the best players in the league, with 31 goals and 75 points from just 51 games, both of which were the second-best marks in the league heading into Saturday. Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat, too, are flirting with point-per-game seasons and thats great for them, but the problems, as ever, for this team are on the margins; after you get past those top three scorers, the No. 4 guy is defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who has 31 points in 49 games. Brandon Saad is fifth with 29 in 50. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Story continues If youre Bowman and you can get Keith to waive that no-move clause, and get someone to take that contract which runs for his age-36-through-39 years off your hands, that would be great. And someone in the league might just be dumb enough to do it, even with the acknowledgement that hes having a bad season and not at all likely to return to, say, 2015 Duncan Keith form. But if you give up Keith, that already-bad defense only gets worse, even if you call up Henri Jokiharju again after that inexplicable demotion. Hes one of the best players at his position in the league, but this team isnt a Panarin away from even being a lower-end playoff team unless Colin Delia is the next Corey Crawford, insofar as hell be reliably .920-plus. The problem for Bowman is that his bad contracts have him somewhat trapped. He cant get significantly better because of expensive long-term commitments no one in their right minds would take off his hands, and thats if the nine guys on his team with no-move or some form of no-trade protection are inclined to help out by going elsewhere. This team is bad, one of the worst in the NHL, but because of what they accomplished it seems no one will question whatever half-baked plans to improve get floated through the media. Trade Keith, sure, great. But also sign Panarin and get to, I guess, 19th in the league or something. And the thing I keep coming back to on any of these rumored deals is, to what end? This team cant really rebuild because of how the core is set up, contract-wise, and they cant really go for it because of how good the core isnt anymore. You cant reasonably do a rebuild and then by the time you come out of a re-tool, or whatever other thing you want to call half-assedly tanking because you cant whole-ass it, Kane and Toews are 33 or something like that. Erik Gustafsson may seem young, but hes 26. So is Brandon Saad. Connor Murphy is 25. The only guy that seems like he might end up being on the same kind of borderline-elite level as many of Chicagos best players were at the teams height is DeBrincat, and while hes only 21 and still has another ELC year, this team basically needs to win the draft lottery to ensure theres more high-end talent coming into the roster than Adam Boqvist two years from now. Which, to some extent, is the problem with being so good for so long. This team has punched above its weight in terms of drafting and developing talent, but you can only do so much picking in the 20s for a decade. There likely isnt a real difference-maker in the organization that isnt on the main roster right now. This is a club in accidental-tank mode, meaning they cant go out and load up on picks and prospects, but theyre still one of the worst teams in the league. Barring a draft lottery win, which is narrowly possible (they currently have about a 19 percent chance to pick first or second overall and get a borderline-elite prospect), it doesnt seem like anyones coming to make Bowman look smart again. If it seems like no one knows what to do with this roster bolster it by signing Panarin, diminish it by trading Keith thats probably because there isnt a good answer. They may only be five points out of a playoff spot, but it should feel like 50. And thats just to get back to a point where they get smoked in the first round by an actual good team. More NHL coverage on Yahoo Sports Ryan Lambert is a Yahoo! Sports hockey columnist. His email is here and his Twitter is here. All stats via Corsica unless otherwise noted. | https://sports.yahoo.com/chicago-blackhawks-hoping-accomplish-174512493.html?src=rss |
Is clean beauty a skincare revolution or a pointless indulgence? | Their lids gleam under the shop lights: bottles made of elegant black or vivid green glass stand alongside white tubes with bold, minimalist lettering. These beauty products make many claims: to defy age, minimise pores, block pollution, plump skin. They promise radiance, illumination, hydration, brightening and perfecting. In many ways, they are no different from the beauty products that have come before them, except that they all claim to be somehow morally better, or cleaner. This is the new era of clean beauty one that promises no nasties, and a chemical-free, nontoxic skincare regime. It is one that attempts to divide beauty products into good and bad, clean and dirty, toxic and nontoxic. There is certainly money to be made. Women in the UK are spending more than ever on facial skincare. According to the market research firm Mintel, 92% of us use a facial cleanser, 66% a day cream and 48% a night cream (up from 39% in 2017). Last year, the UK beauty industry was worth 1.15bn, and is expected to grow by 15% in the next five years. The term clean in cosmetics is woolly. Within clean beauty there are many, many different elements, says Sarah Meadows, the head buyer at the beauty chain Space NK. Whether it is about sustainability, whether it is vegan, conscious living, free-from playing into any of those would make you a clean brand. It can be fairly confusing for the customer. With shoppers keen to reduce their environmental impact, it makes sense to focus on sustainability for example by using recyclable packaging. But the argument is less clear when it comes to the growing market in free-from products, which omit ingredients that the brands have deemed bad for some customers. The French cosmetics firm Officinea has even developed an app that can scan a products ingredients list to flag controversial chemicals. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Drunk Elephant warns consumers of the suspicious six. I train all of our new staff, and I have to really press on them that this is the view of that brand, says Niamh Butler, the training manager at Space NK. Because even the makers of clean products cant agree what substances we should be avoiding or embracing. Some, such as Tata Harper and Holland & Barrett, put an emphasis on the ingredients all being natural, while Drunk Elephant, a US brand that recently launched in the UK, warns consumers of the suspicious six, a handful of ingredients it claims are at the root of almost all skin complaints. It even sells kits with magnifying glasses so customers can identify these harmful chemicals in rival products they may already have at home. There are, however, two ingredients that have been ditched by almost all clean beauty advocates: parabens and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Parabens are preservatives that help products last longer, while SLS is a surfactant that helps to remove oils and allows foams to form, meaning it cleans, and produces the lather we see in shampoos and shower gels. Sarah Willson, an assistant category manager for beauty at Holland & Barrett, says the company removed both ingredients from its clean beauty range because they irritate customers skin although she admits that it hasnt cut out all ingredients with the potential for irritation. It has focused on those two, she says, because SLS and its chemical cousin sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) and parabens are used in everything they are in your toothpaste, your mouthwash, your hair, your skin lotion. Because they are used so much, that is then what causes a mass irritation. It is not small-scale a lot of people get an irritation. Dermatologists tend to disagree. Consultant Dr Anjali Mahto says that SLS can occasionally be problematic, but it depends on the person, and whether a product is left on or washed off. And if it is designed to be left on, it will have lower concentrations anyway. Prof Richard Guy, an expert in skin barrier function at the University of Bath, says that whether SLS triggers irritation depends on the individual, on the levels in a product, how much is used and where on the body it is applied. All I think it does is create guilt among people who cant afford to buy these products For example, someone with eczema, who has a weakened skin barrier, may be more vulnerable because more SLS can be absorbed, increasing the likelihood of irritation, he says. According to Guy: Given that SLS is still found in many personal care products, this suggests that it is generally being used at sufficiently low levels that irritation is avoided. While SLS can be made from palm oil or coconut oil, its direct impact on the environment is relatively small as it quickly degrades. Read clean beauty blogs and youll learn that they are hormone disruptors, and have been linked to cancer. Holland & Barretts clean beauty page says that some research suggests that [parabens] may disrupt the way our bodies work (although parabens havent been directly linked to any serious health conditions). Research in the area continues, but Cancer Research UKs website says that while parabens have similarities to oestrogen high levels of which can increase the risk of certain cancers they are far weaker and any effects are likely to be overwhelmed by natural oestrogen produced in our body, or similar chemicals found in our diet. The UK and the EU tightly regulate how chemicals are used in products, and this includes parabens, says Katie Patrick, a health information officer at Cancer Research UK. For most chemicals, whats important is the dose were exposed to. Most things have the potential to cause damage, but only at levels far higher than wed ever experience in cosmetics or day-to-day life. Gary Moss, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutics at Keele University, agrees, saying that the skin is very well evolved to keep things out. Consumers dont want them. And perhaps it really is that simple. If we are told that something is bad for us whether that is backed by evidence or not as consumers we will try to avoid it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tata Harper emphasis on natural products. They are incompatible with the skin organ itself, she says. As the Drunk Elephant website puts it, they are the ingredients we feel are at the root of most skin behaviours we see, including oily, acne-prone, inflamed, sensitive, combination, dry/dehydrated and more. Masterson describes some of these six ingredients as toxic although, as Moss points out, all things are toxic if taken in the wrong dose, and EU regulations mean cosmetics can only contain ingredients and concentrations deemed safe. I think [these skin problems] are more of a result than we are led to believe of what we put on our skin, Masterson says. Everyone has hormone fluctuations, there is absolutely this thing with teenage acne that is true but when your skin is healthy and it is not in a reactive mode because of what you are using every day, then it can weather those storms much better. (She adds, though, that her daughter, who only uses clean-compatible cosmetics, sought help from a doctor for her teenage acne.) Mahto, however, says there is absolutely nothing wrong with most of the ingredients Masterson singles out. If you suffer from eczema or sensitive skin, you should avoid essential oils, but most people have nothing to worry about. The problem with blaming peoples skin problems on the products they use is that it completely fails to take into account peoples own hormones and genetics, she continues. All I think that does is create guilt among people who cant afford to buy these products that they are doing something wrong by not spending all this money on clean healthcare, and that is why they have skin issues. Even clean products have the ability to cause sensitivity and allergy Surely, the cleanest approach to cosmetics would be to not use any at all. Thats like saying that, instead of eating junk food, we just eat nothing, Masterson says. I think you need to nourish your skin, I think some skin needs oil and hydration. Younger skin doesnt need as much, but, importantly, as we mature, our skin cells dont turn over as rapidly. We can use help with chemical exfoliation, antioxidants are great, physical protection is necessary, you need to cleanse your skin because there is dirt in the environment Mahto takes a simpler approach. We should all be washing our faces morning and evening, to remove dirt, she says, adding that as the weather gets colder it can become necessary to moisturise, while sunscreen is important if spending time outdoors in the summer. But she adds it is not necessary to layer 20 different products on in the morning. I think people are inherently scared of chemicals and chemical names that they dont understand, or they cant read on the backs of their products, and that has led to this kind of drive of: if it is clean and it is natural, it is somehow better for you. And that is absolutely not the case, says Mahto, stressing that it is the concentration and dose of an ingredient that matter most. While clean beauty is not bad in itself, its unnecessary, she says. It creates and propagates a myth that chemicals are bad and clean is better or more virtuous. And this, in turn, leads to a move away from scientific fact. Even clean products have the ability to cause sensitivity and allergy, she adds. It seems that when it comes to cutting out ingredients, its really just about individual choice. David Colquhoun, a professor of pharmacology at University College London, has no patience for what he calls the cosmetic industrys made-up slogans. But if people have the money and wish to pay for it, he says, it is probably not going to harm them. | https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/feb/04/is-clean-beauty-a-skincare-revolution-or-a-pointless-indulgence |
Will Revenue Growth Support GoPro's (GPRO) Q4 Earnings? | GoPro, Inc. GPRO is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2018 financial results after the closing bell on Feb 6. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 42.9%. The action video camera maker is likely to report higher revenues in the to-be-reported quarter on the back of better-than-expected demand for its cameras particularly, HERO7 Black. It is also likely to benefit from its continuous efforts on cost management. Whether this can result into an earnings beat remains to be seen. Lets find out how things are shaping up prior to the announcement. Factors at Play During the fourth quarter, GoPro announced the global availability of its HERO7 line of cameras. Notably, HERO7 Black the companys flagship camera witnessed record levels of social engagement at launch and achieved the highest post-launch sell-through of any new camera in the history of the company. Furthermore, the company announced that its best-selling $399 HERO7 Black has garnered a number of industry awards, highlighting the products state-of-the-art features. Its present cash cow received innovation awards from CES, CHIP, PCMag and Popular Science, among many others. HERO7 Black also received Editors Choice Awards from publications around the world including Mashable, Wired, Digital Photo, Kaden Hihyo and Xataka, and Fusion. Such international momentum and overwhelming positive reviews have helped to augment the companys traction in camera market, translating into top-line growth. During the quarter, GoPro announced its plan to move the production of most of its U.S.-bound cameras out of China by the summer of 2019 to counter the potential impact of any new tariffs in the wake of the ongoing Sino-American trade war. However, cameras bound for other countries will continue to be produced in China. Such a diversified approach should help the company to expand its business, irrespective of tariff implications. Although GoPros manufacturing partner provides facilities, the company owns its production equipment and therefore expects to make this move at a relatively low cost. With intensifying competition, GoPro is trying to drive demand for its cameras. It also aims to maintain its competitively priced product line up in order to increase market share globally. For the fourth quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues stands at $376 million. The company reported $335 million in the year-earlier quarter. Adjusted earnings per share are pegged at 26 cents. The company reported a loss of 30 cents per share a year ago. What Our Model Says Our proven model shows that GoPro is likely to beat earnings this quarter as it possesses both the two key components. A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. This is exactly the case here as you will see below: Earnings ESP: GoPros Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is +5.47% as the former is pegged at 27 cents and the latter at 26 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. GoPro, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise GoPro, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | GoPro, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank: GoPro currently has a Zacks Rank #3. This increases the predictive power of ESP and makes us reasonably confident of an earnings beat. Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing a negative estimate revisions momentum. Other Stocks to Consider Here are some other companies that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CNST has an Earnings ESP of +9.72% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Ameren Corporation AEE has an Earnings ESP of +1.68% and a Zacks Rank #1. ALLETE, Inc. ALE has an Earnings ESP of +5.26% and a Zacks Rank #2. From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Allete, Inc. (ALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report GoPro, Inc. (GPRO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CNST) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | https://news.yahoo.com/revenue-growth-support-gopros-gpro-145002806.html |
How Many American Airlines Miles Are Needed To Fly To Europe? | As a large domestic carrier, American Airlines is a popular option because of their numerous routes between North America and Europe. Plus, they don't charge a fuel surcharge on long-haul flights. It's also possible to book American Airlines award flights with miles. To get more mileage from each point, keep some of these suggestions in mind when planning your trip. With American award flights (and any carrier for that matter), you will still pay any fees and taxes for award flights. American Airlines offers a fixed mileage award chart. You pay the same amount of miles whether you fly from New York or California to Europe. However, American has three different pricing tiers they can charge based on demand for certain routes. MileSAAver Awards Are The Cheapest Option Although you can enjoy discount rates flying during the off-peak season, the best everyday award rate is the MileSAAver award tier. This is the cheapest rate for main cabin, business and first class seats. Below are the award seat prices for a one-way flight between the continental U.S. and Canada to Europe: Main Cabin: 30,000 miles (22,500 miles off-peak) Business: 57,500 miles First Class: 85,000 miles AAnytime Levels 1 And 2 When the discount MileSAAver Awards aren't available, you must pay the AAnytime price. American Airlines currently has two levels with Level 2 requiring more points. You will pay notably more for these award seats. Below is how much you can pay for a one-way flight: Main Cabin: 47,500 miles (Level 1) or 65,000 miles (Level 2) Business: 110,000 miles (Level 1) or 135,000 miles (Level 2) First Class: 140,000 miles (Level 1) or 175,000 (Level 2) Finding The Best American Airlines Award Flights To Europe You can search for American Airlines award flights on AA.com. Simply click "Redeem Miles" to pay with points instead of cash. In the search screen, you will see flight options for American and their partner airlines (expect to pay a fuel surcharge if you fly partners British Airways or Iberia across the ocean). To avoid this carrier-imposed fee, fly an American-operated flight to Europe. If you need a connecting flight inside Europe, you can use these oneworld partners for intra-Europe flights without paying the fuel surcharge. Book Main Cabin Off Peak Flights To Europe The cheapest way to book American Airlines award flights with points is during the off-peak season. For Europe, the off-peak dates are usually between November and mid-March. During this time, you can book main cabin seats for 22,500 miles each way (45,000 miles roundtrip). This saves you at least 15,000 miles roundtrip if you fly during peak season. But, this discount only applies to main cabin seats. You still pay the regular rate if you fly Business or First Class. Book American Airlines Flights With Avios If you own a travel rewards card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, you can use your credit card points to book American Airlines award flights. This is possible by transferring your points to British Airways Executive Club and converting your points into Avios. Log into your British Airways account to search for flights. If some are available with points, compare the rates. It's possible these award flights can be cheaper than booking directly through American Airlines. For instance, you might be able to find off-peak transatlantic flights for 20,500 Avios plus $208 in fees and taxes for a main cabin seat. Your fees and taxes are higher when booking through British Airways, but you spend fewer Avios. If the numbers make sense, it's something to keep in mind. Note that it can be easier to redeem Avios for American Airlines award flights instead of American's own frequent flyer miles. Consider Flying British Airways First Class Although British Airways has the carrier-imposed fuel surcharge between $700 and $1,000, British Airways first class can be worth the added expense. The British Airways premium cabin experience can be better than American Airlines depending on the plane, and premium cabin award availability is easier to come by. Flying on the elite 787-9 Dreamliner fleet lets you enjoy one of the most comfortable first-class experiences flying to Europe. In fact, this fleet only has 8 seats instead of the usual 14. So, you may need to act fast to claim an open seat. Expect to pay 85,000 miles each way plus taxes and fees for a first class seat. Otherwise, the British Airways business class is a worthy alternative and only costs 57,500 miles each way. You can book these flights directly through the American Airlines website. Explore New Routes Throughout 2019, American Airlines is adding new nonstop routes between the United States and Europe. Being one of the first to book can help you secure the discount MileSAAver rate. You can track the latest route additions online. In the meantime, here are the routes American is launching in 2019: Charlotte, NC (CLT) to Munich, Germany (MUC) starting March 31, 2019 Chicago OHare (ORD) to Athens, Greece (ATH) starting May 3 through September 28, 2019 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB) starting June 6 through September 28, 2019 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW) to Munich, Germany (MUC) starting June 6 through October 26, 2019 Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI) starting April 2 through October 26, 2019 Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Bologna, Italy (BLQ) starting June 6 through September 28, 2019 Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Dubrovnik, Croatia (DBV) starting June 7 through September 27, 2019 Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Berlin, Germany (TXL) starting June 7 through September 28, 2019 Phoenix, AZ (PHX) to London-Heathrow (LHR) starting March 31 through October 26, 2019 Recent Changes To American Airlines AAdvantage Changes are coming to the AAdvantage loyalty program in 2019. When it comes to flying from Europe, Canada is now in the same zone as the contiguous 48 U.S. states. This change went into effect January 16, 2019. If you're flying from Canada to Europe, you will most likely pay fewer miles than before. For example, you save 10,000 miles each way on main cabin MileSAAver award seats. Additionally, you'll pay about 5,000 fewer miles each way when flying business or first class. Summary American Airlines can save you points if you can find an off-peak flight. When flying an American-operated flight to Europe, you can avoid those hefty fuel surcharges that British Airways and Iberia partner flights charge you, even when booking with American Airlines miles. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnnyjet/2019/02/04/how-many-american-airlines-miles-are-needed-to-fly-to-europe/ |
What Is So Complicated About Trials Returning To 'Destiny 2'? | As Destiny started producing roadmaps for the future of its content last year, something a bit strange happened. Bungie announced that Trials of the Nine would be leaving along with Faction Rallies and wouldnt be around after Forsaken launched in the new season. That was September, its now February and content roadmaps for the coming year show no sign of either activity returning, and Trials in particular seems like a pretty major thing to cut out of Destiny completely. And I dont really understand why its happening. Sure, Trials had its problems, as some of the changes to mechanics and format from Destiny 1s Trials of Osiris werent particularly appreciated by players. But Id argue that Trials of the Nine was no less controversial than say, the entire competitive playlist has been with all its myriad issues, yet thats still in the game. Destiny 2s Crucible has adjusted pretty well to major changes in the game which have made the mode more like D1, namely returning to things like shotguns/snipers/fusions being out of the power slot, and making quickplay 6v6 again, despite most maps being specifically designed for 4v4 originally. What I dont understand is why its supposedly so complicated to have Trials return to Destiny 2, and why it needs to be removed from the game for this long. Tell me if Im missing something here but just... Restore power advantages like they did with Iron Banner so its truly endgame PvP Change the revive/respawn/rules mechanics to exactly mirror Trials of Osiris which people liked more Make it 3v3 again which is the main thing everyone was asking for all along, which cant be all that much different than making quickplay 6v6 even if the maps werent designed for it. Even if ideally it would be nice to get new Trials armor and weapons, Trials went away before armor got perks and weapons got random rolls, so even using that old gear, but updated to be relevant again, would be enough to get a lot of people playing. I just dont really understand what Bungie is waiting for. The changes that need to be made are more or less just making the activity as much like D1s Trials of Osiris as possible, so Im not quite sure what the big internal debate is here as to why this needs to stay on ice for so long. Maybe they are hard at work building new armor and weapons for its return but A) I would find that sort of weird given that nothing about that appears on the Annual Pass roadmap and B) even if that was the case, again, you could just use the old gear for the time being because it can now be relevant again with random rolls. Something like Faction Rally not returning makes somewhat more sense because that was a new activity that doesnt have a clear roadmap as to how it should be fixed when it returns. I am not even a big Trials player (I had to have Mtashed carry me to flawless), but for those wishing for true endgame PvP, Trials not existing in Destiny feels flat out bizarre, and I just dont understand the logic behind it. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read my new sci-fi thriller novel Herokiller, available now in print and online. I also wrote The Earthborn Trilogy. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2019/02/04/what-is-so-complicated-about-trials-returning-to-destiny-2/ |
Is It Possible For Solar Energy To Compete With Coal-Fired Electricity In China? | Chinas energy policies may, at first, seem paradoxical: it is shooting for the stars and it is working to have renewable energy start replacing coal-fired electricity. Thats a hard task in a country where coal is now 60% of its electricity base and renewables are 20% and poised to be 35% in 2030. Its goal is to clean its cities and to comply with the Paris climate agreement. In its latest five-year plan that outlines its energy goals, China has set a cap on on coal-fired generation at about 1,100 gigawatts a hard task, given that it already has about 1,000 GW with another 250 GW under construction. China, meantime, is cutting the subsidies it gives to solar panel makers, which has negative implications for the domestic landscape but which has positive ramifications for foreign markets. In fact, shipments to Australia, India and Mexico have skyrocketed, says Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It adds that Vietnam, Thailand, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Ukraine and Kuwait are also prime destinations. Policy shakeups in renewable energy markets, as shown recently when new solar tariffs in the U.S. caused a stir, do not have to lead to crisis, adds Wood MacKenzie consulting firm. What seems like a great backlash for the renewables industry in China now, could eventually become an opportunity for improvement and, most importantly, a chance for renewables to finally reach grid parity to become competitive with coal. When China formed a five-year plan in 2015, its solar producers over-performed and thus created a multi-billion deficit in the program set up to encourage such manufacturing. The removal of the subsidy last June is resulting in higher local prices that will hurt domestic installations. As a result, though, Chinese producers are looking to make up ground in overseas markets where the increased competition results in better solar panels at cheaper prices. For China, its ultimate goal is to have wind and solar compete with coal without the benefit of government subsidies, all by 2024. That may be wishful thinking. But the natural result will be that its solar sector will become more efficient and produce a better product. In other words, China could not afford to flood its own market with cheap solar panels. A better use of those dollars now would be to expand its transmission grid to handle the additional wind and solar energy capacity that it expects to come on line. Solar power is already the cheapest source of electricity in some countries, and its also the largest energy source, in terms of capacity net-additions, for the last two years, says IHS Markit. All of this is occurring in the context of the trade dispute between the United States and China the one that prompted Donald Trump to place a 30% declining tariff on solar panels coming out of China a year ago. The tariffs are intended to save American solar makers, which only comprise 5% of the global production market. While the U.S. solar industrys lobbyists oppose those tariffs, their resentment has been somewhat muted because solar panel prices have fallen so precipitously. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, solar module prices dropped by 35% last year because of increased global competition, all of which implies more and more solar installations around the world. Even China has surpassed its 2020 goal of 105 GW of rooftop solar capacity. In the first half of 2017, it added about 7 GW triple the amount from a year earlier. It also has a goal of adding about 55 GW of utility-scale solar, which connects to the grid. Indeed, China announced in December that it was connecting two utility-scale solar plants to the grid totaling 1 GW. At least one of those demonstration projects could sell its power for 5 cents per kilowatt/hour, which is cheaper than coal-fired power. That would offset coal usage and help the country comply with the Paris agreement. China, in fact, cut its 2005 intensity level, or the amount of heat-trapping CO2 it produces per unit of economic growth, by 46% in 2017. Chinas quest to reduce its own pollution levels is directly tied to its efforts to rollout more green energy projects. It needs to do so not just to improve the quality of life for its citizens but also to win acceptance in developed markets like the European Union and the United States to get is products on retailers shelves. WalMart, Target and CostCo are pressing China as much as its own citizens. The clean up efforts are genuine. The long-game is thus to put green energy in the driver's seat. In some locations in China, price parity is occurring. And it is also happening elsewhere in the world. As costs of photovoltaics decline, global solar installations will definitely grow, Sebastian Liu, director of investor relations at JinkoSolar, the worlds biggest solar panel maker, told Bloomberg. This trend is irreversible (and) so is Chinas solar exports in the new year. Chinas developing economy means that coal will continue to play a key role there. And while the government can no longer afford to subsidize its domestic solar makers, the good news is that may not have to do so, given that the countrys rollout of solar energy has surpassed all expectations. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2019/02/04/is-it-possible-for-solar-energy-to-compete-with-coal-fired-electricity-in-china/ |
Does Patriots WR Josh Gordon get a Super Bowl ring despite suspension? | The Patriots captured their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history Sunday when they defeated the Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII. Despite not playing in the game, wide receiver Josh Gordon will still receive a Super Bowl ring with the rest of the team, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Gordon was suspended indefinitely back in December, coinciding with when he stepped away from the team to address his mental health. The suspension was for "violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement" after he already had multiple offenses regarding the league's substance abuse policy. However, Gordon still gets a ring as he was never released by the team despite stepping away to go to rehab. Celebrate the Patriots' Super Bowl win with Sports Illustrated's commemorative package Prior to the game, it was reported that Gordon could potentially be reinstated by training camp next season. He played 12 games in 2018 and 11 of those with New England. In those 11 contests, he had 40 catches for 720 and three touchdowns. In Super Bowl LIII, wide receiver Julian Edelman took home MVP honors for snagging 10 catches for 141 yards in the win. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/04/josh-gordon-super-bowl-ring-new-england-patriots-suspension |
Do we need 'What Men Want,' almost 20 years after the Mel Gibson rom-com? | CLOSE Almost 20 years after Mel Gibson starred in What Women Want, Taraji P. Henson gives the story a gender flip in What Men Want. USA TODAY Things sure were different in 2000. When "What Women Want" came out almost 20 years ago, it starred Mel Gibson, then six years away from a drunken arrest during which he hurled anti-Semitic slurs at cops. Back in those simpler times, Gibson was George Clooney-level charming in the romantic comedy, which depicts him as the kind of rakish bachelor who grossly feels up girls in coffee shops. After 10 years, a job still sucks.") No matter what she does, Ali (Taraji P. Henson) keeps hitting the glass ceiling in "What Men Want." (Photo: JESS MIGLIO/PARAMOUNT) It's easy enough to be wary of the source material in the #TimesUp and #MeToo era. But surprisingly, on a recent rewatch, the original in all its early-aughts glory proves to be rather sweet. Maybe that's because director Nancy Meyers was at the helm, and two of the movie's three credited screenwriters were women. After showcasing Nick (Gibson) in all his boorish glory, Meyers spends the next two hours mopping up on her single dad. Thanks to freshly gained telepathy, Nick, a New York advertising executive known for hocking "babes in bikinis" and fat-shaming women who eat pastries at work, actually evolves. He falls for his firm's new female creative director, Darcy (Helen Hunt), who he's been trying to undermine. He figures out how to relate to his teen daughter. Nick even realizes "penis-envy" is a meritless male construct. Fueled by its respectable gender analysis, "What Women Want" raked in $182.8 million at the box office. Mel Gibson's advertising executive enrolls in an all-female yoga class after realizing he can read women's minds in "What Women Want." (Photo: ANDREW COOPER/PARAMOUNT PICTURES) First, the new plot: "What Men Want" runs with the same "men are from Mars" gambit, but switches up the sexes. Moving the (now R-rated) story down to Atlanta, Henson takes center stage as Ali, a fearsome sports agent who's hit a glass ceiling at her talent management firm. But when a psychic (Erykah Badu) serves up drug-laced tea during Ali's gal's night out (and she subsequently knocks herself unconscious dancing at a club), it happens: Ali can hear what men are thinking. And, as it turns out, like Nick almost two decades before her, Ali had no idea how she came off to the opposite sex. Ali (Taraji P. Henson) hits on her neighbor (Kellan Lutz) after reading his mind in "What Men Want." (Photo: JESS MIGLIO/PARAMOUNT) "What Men Want," directed by Adam Shankman ("Hairspray") and executive produced by Henson, works because it makes a rather timely, happily diverse example of the telepathy plotline. Ali definitely deserves a promotion, but she repeatedly gets in her own way. Her personal relationships are hollow, she treats dates as sex objects (cue a hilarious callback to the original film when she utilizes her powers) and Ali constantly crosses the line while bossing around her male gay assistant. Like Gibson's character, Ali tries to give back her newfound gift before being convinced to put her new inner ear to use at work. Determined to become partner after all, she crashes her firm's poker night, finally gets a solid read on her boss, and swoops in to sign a young NBA draft pick by wooing his zany helicopter dad (Tracy Morgan). Ali (Taraji P. Henson) tries to convince a NBA draft pick's dad (Tracy Morgan) to sign with her in "What Men Want." (Photo: JESS MIGLIO/PARAMOUNT) While Meyers did a fine job of showcasing the interior life of Hunt by way of Gibson's mind-reading, "What Men Want" manages to explore the opposite sex while also digging deeper into its main protagonist. In pulling the curtain back on Ali's journey to climb the corporate ladder, "What Men Want" is unrepentant (and shame-adverse) about what ambition looks like in 2019. Sure. But Henson's (dare we say) woke update is worth the price of admission. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/02/04/do-we-need-remake-mel-gibson-romcom-what-men-want/2738128002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/02/04/do-we-need-remake-mel-gibson-romcom-what-men-want/2738128002/ |
How far did LSU fall in the polls after losing to Arkansas? | The LSU Tigers fell two spots in the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll, which was released on Monday. LSU (17-4, SEC 7-1) fell to No. 21 in the AP Top 25 after rolling over Texas A&M on the road and then losing a heartbreaker to Arkansas at home last week. The Tigers were No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and the coaches poll last week. This weeks USA Today Coaches poll has yet to be released. LSU started the season as the No. 23 team in the Associated Press' preseason poll, rose to No. 22 after the first week and moved to No. 19 when it was 4-0. The Tigers tumbled out of the poll after losing back-to-back games in the Advocare Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. LSU appeared back in the poll last week after starting SEC play at 4-0. The Tigers didnt make the coaches preseason poll, rose to No. 21 after starting the season at 4-0, and then fell out of the poll the next week after its Advocare Invitational showing. This is LSUs first week back in the coaches poll. LSU is one of three ranked SEC teams in the AP Top 25: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and No. 21 LSU. Mississippi State, which LSU plays on Wednesday, fell out of the poll and received votes this week. Auburn, which LSU plays on Saturday, also received votes. | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/how-far-did-lsu-fall-in-the-polls-after-losing-to-arkansas.html |
Why did Nissan cancel X-Trail production in the UK? | Nissans decision to reverse a promise to build its latest sport utility vehicle at its Sunderland plant in the UK sent shockwaves through the industry. While the company will go ahead with the next edition of the Qashqai at the Sunderland site, it has opted to build its X-Trail SUV in Japan, where it is currently made. The move could not come at a worse time for the UK car industry, which is facing falling production levels, and is busy preparing for the impact of Brexit, which is only weeks away. There are a number of factors behind Nissans decision, with the decline of Europes diesel market and Nissans own business conditions as critical as the uncertainty about the UKs future relationship with Europe. The companys original 2016 decision to build the X-Trail in Sunderland was predicated on a letter from business secretary Greg Clark that promised the government would do all it could to protect Nissan from any negative effects of Brexit. The letter, revealed by the Financial Times on Monday, said that protecting Nissans operations was a critical priority for the government when negotiating with the EU. This was crucial for the plant Sunderland exports more than half its vehicles to Europe, and relies heavily on the continent for imported components. The plant was founded in the 1980s primarily as an export base to Europe, and more than 80 per cent of its cars are sold overseas. The industry has warned that tariffs and border checks will make their UK businesses uncompetitive compared with other sites across Europe and the world. In its letter to Nissan, the government said it recognises the significance of the EU markets to your presence in Sunderland. But if Brexit, and fears of a no-deal exit, had been Nissans biggest driving factor, the company would probably have waited until April when the relationship with the EU should be clearer. In its statement on Sunday, Nissan said that decision was made because of changes to the business environment. Since the companys 2016 promise to make the car in the UK, two critical things have happened. The first is the decline of the diesel market across Europe. Sales of diesel cars in the EUs five largest markets Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Italy have fallen from 55 per cent of new vehicle sales in 2014 to 36 per cent last year, and are expected to fall further. The X-Trail is the largest SUV made by Nissan and the majority of buyers choose diesel because the petrol equivalent is less fuel efficient. But the car, which was going to be produced from 2022 for about seven years, risked becoming obsolete if the market for diesel cars dried up while the vehicle was still on sale. The potential demand, especially towards the end of the vehicles production run, did not warrant a specific European manufacturing base for the car. With Nissan in Europe suffering falling sales and poor margins, corporate headquarters in Japan is also keen to prioritise investment into more profitable areas. New European emissions rules have come into force since Nissans original decision, as well as a shorter timetable from the EU for lowering CO2 emissions during the 2020s. The costs of complying with the new rules have forced the company to spend more on the development and engineering of the vehicle than planned leading it to seek savings elsewhere, according to people familiar with the vehicle programme. The company said it had increased its investments in new powertrains and technology for its future European vehicles since making its original decision. By keeping production in Japan, rather than expanding it to the UK, Nissan saves itself the money that it would have spent hiring several hundred workers in Britain, and preparing the plant for the new model. All of the factors listed so far can be classed as business decisions. But there is one more moving part Nissans own internal politics. The 2016 deal was struck by Carlos Ghosn, who was at the time chief executive of the company but stepped back from the role in 2017 and is under arrest in Japan. The business is run more centrally by its present Japanese management than during Mr Ghosns globe-trotting era. There is one school of thought within the company that Japan may have sought to repatriate the model to shore up its domestic business, ahead of future discussions with its alliance partner Renault over joint manufacturing. Nissan employees are concerned about losing their vehicles to Renault plants, as happened with the Nissan Micra, which is made by Renault in France. | https://www.ft.com/content/feb5b988-289b-11e9-a5ab-ff8ef2b976c7 |
What could be more romantic than bratwurst for Valentine's Day? | Everybody knows that Valentines Day itself can be a culinary zoo, with set menus you may not like, speedy seatings and a good deal of pressure to look as happy as the couple at the next table. If you want to get ahead of the heart, think about celebrating Valentines Day (and your love of Alberta pork) early with a special Swine and Dine at Salz Bratwurst Co Ltd. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, chef and Salz co-owner Allan Suddaby is preparing a three-course menu featuring Alberta pork from appetizer to dessert for $40. The first course is Brettljause (a traditional Austrian farmers plate) featuring Prebwurst, Liptauer, house pepperoni, rye bread, pickles and a nice nibble of Sylvan Star Gouda. Next up is Wurstsemmel, with two classic sausage sandwiches Nrnberger and Leberkse, served on Kaiser buns with fixings. Dessert is Palatschinken (Austrian pancakes) crafted from buckwheat, fresh cheese, and a dollop of Saskatoon rhubarb jam. Along with the three courses, Alberta craft beer pairings will be available for $10, which you can order at the restaurant during the event itself. There are two seatings at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and tickets are available on Eventbrite. Salz is at 10556 115 St. [email protected] Follow me on Twitter @eatmywordsblog. | https://edmontonjournal.com/life/food/what-could-be-more-romantic-than-bratwurst-for-valentines-day |
Can Growing Digital Subscriptions Help New York Times End Fiscal 2018 On A Strong Note? | New York Times (NYSE: NYT) is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, February 6. NYTs performance has been mostly above its guidance and market expectations so far this year, driven largely by the political climate in the U.S. In the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the company saw weak print advertising trends, with print advertising revenue declining 5% y-o-y. However, digital advertising revenues increased slightly during the same period. Overall, the companys total revenues grew 5% y-o-y to $1.2 billion in this period, driven by more than 20% y-o-y growth in digital-only subscription revenues to $295 million. NYT reported unprecedented growth in digital-only subscribers, which grew by 24% y-o-y to 3.1 million. This increase in new subscribers led to growth in NYTs overall subscription revenues, which contribute more than half of the companys total revenues. The companys total subscriptions now stand at more than 4 million. New York Times stock price increased more than 20% over the course of 2018, primarily driven by impressive digital subscriber growth. Our $25 price estimate for NYTs stock is slightly below the current market price. Our interactive dashboard on What To Expect From NYTs Q4 outlines our forecasts for the companys Q4 and fiscal 2018 results. You can modify our forecasts to see the impact any changes would have on the companys earnings and valuation. We expect NYT to continue to post an increase in earnings and revenue growth rate in Q4, driven by the positive momentum of digital subscriptions and the U.S. midterm elections. Q4 Guidance Going forward, NYT expects its total subscription revenues to increase in the mid-single digits compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, with digital-only subscription revenue expected to increase in mid-teens. The company also expects its advertising revenues to be approximately flat y-o-y, while digital advertising is expected to increase in the mid-teens. In addition, the companys other revenues are expected to increase 40% y-o-y, largely due to anticipated growth in its commercial printing operations. Also, NYTs adjusted operating costs are likely to increase in the mid-single digits, driven by higher marketing costs. Fiscal 2018 Outlook Overall, NYTs online subscriber base has grown from 800,000 in 2013 to 3.1 million in Q3 2018. Going forward, we estimate NYTs online subscriber base to be its biggest value driver and forecast this growth to pick up in the coming years and reach 4.2 million by 2022. As of now, we forecast the companys subscription revenue for 2018 to grow more than 10% y-o-y. We forecast advertising revenue to decline a little more than 10% y-o-y to around $480 million in 2018, on the back of the continued decline in the display (print) advertising and traditional website display advertising. We also estimate NYTs operating profit to reach $240 million, based on lower expected operating expenses and higher expected special items costs such as restructuring charges, pension settlement expenses, and post-retirement benefit plans. Based on the above estimates, and our adjustments to operating expenses, we expect NYTs adjusted net income to grow about 14% y-o-y. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/04/can-growing-digital-subscriptions-help-new-york-times-end-fiscal-2018-on-a-strong-note/ |
Will Trump's Venezuela Sanctions Hit U.S. Gasoline Supply? | When the Trump administration announced sanctions on the Venezuelan oil industry last week, it set in motion a situation that could lead to higher gas prices for Americans. So far, gas prices in the United States have not risen noticeably based on the sanctions. However, the administrations new policies will, undoubtedly, mean a disruption in a portion of the countrys gasoline supplies . The ultimate impact on Americans wallets is yet to be determined. The sanctions disincentivize Venezuela and its national oil company, PdVSA, from continuing to operate its Citgo subsidiary. In recent months, Venezuela has been exporting about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the U.S. (The number had been higher before Venezuelas oil production capabilities floundered under the weight of mismanagement and poor finances). In January, those exports dropped to just 355,000 barrels per day. The new sanctions mean that the money PdVSA makes when the Citgo subsidiary buys its oil must stay in the U.S. in an account to be released to a new Venezuelan government without Maduro. Moreover, the profits earned by Citgo must stay in the U.S. so Maduros government cannot benefit from them. Therefore, there is no reason for Venezuela to continue to send oil to the U.S. and little incentive for Venezuela to continue operating Citgo. There is a considerable risk that Citgo will haltor at least drastically cut backits operations. Oil will stop coming from Venezuela and refineries may slow or even halt operations entirely. Citgo gas stations, which are franchised but have contracts to purchase Citgo gas, will be forced to buy and sell something else. The overall supply of gasoline in the U.S. will be strained. There is a more optimistic perspective to consider. Patrick DeHaan, the Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, is not nearly as concerned. He says that GasBuddy has not seen anything extraordinary concerning prices at Citgo stations yet. DeHaan explains that, even if there was a full cut of oil imports from Venezuela, I believe Citgo could acquire oil from other sources before their gasoline supply takes a hit. The fate of Citgo and its refineries is an important question to consider as the impasse in Venezuela drags on . It is a subsidiary of PdVSA but also employs almost 3,500 people in the United States. There are Citgo stations in 30 states plus the District of Columbia. Even if the U.S. and other countries now recognize Juan Guiado as the president of Venezuela instead of Nicolas Maduro, Maduros people still control PdVSA. Citgo is owned directly by PdVSA, not the Venezuelan government. Such a move could be legally questionable and complicated. The only certainty is that with every day that Maduro clings to power, the risks to Citgo and the U.S. gasoline supply grow. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenrwald/2019/02/04/will-trumps-venezuela-sanctions-hit-u-s-gasoline-supply/ |
Why Do We Measure Everything By Tweet? | We live in a world in which we increasingly measure the importance of moments by how many tweets they receive. The hours after any major story from the Super Bowl to a political speech are filled with summaries of how each moment was viewed through the lens of the Twitter hordes. Every commercial, every play, every second of halftime is dissected and ranked according to the average attention and sentiment of Twitter users who decided to post about it. Even politicians now are being assessed by how many likes and retweets they receive rather than on how well they govern, with success being defined as Twitter stardom, rather than legislative impact. We dont report Facebook posts, Instagram photos, online news articles, newspaper column inches or minutes of television airtime. We examine only tweets. It is a truly extraordinary commentary on the influence of social media that in a world quite literally drowning in data, we use tweets as our barometer of what is important, as our ultimate tool to assess what the world is feeling and thinking about. In an era where almost everything is monitored and measured in realtime, where every imaginable piece of information is encoded and recorded somewhere in the digital ether, we turn time and again back to Twitter to understand our world. In its 13 short years, Twitter has become one of the most used datasets for cataloging global trends and reaction. Twitter remains frozen in time since July 2013. For more than half a decade it has not grown in terms of tweets, tweeting users or geographical coverage. Its view reminds blinded to much of the world, its statistics shrouded, its insights wrong more often than they are right. Facebook is vastly larger, reaches far more deeply geographically and culturally across the world and captures a far more representative cross-section of society. Its emphasis on private conversations over public pronouncements means it is also home to far more diverse and unvarnished reflections on how the world truly feels. Why dont we turn to Facebook then as the ultimate arbitrator of what matters? The answer is that Facebook doesnt make its data accessible to outside assessment. Its limited APIs do not support the kind of detailed assessments possible through Twitter and its vast data stores are restricted to its own data scientists focused on ever more effective monetization. In contrast, Twitter has explicitly emphasized analytics since its founding, offering a realtime firehose of the totality of its public tweets and encouraging an entire cottage industry of companies to be built around using that data to assess public trends. That was historically the way we measured importance, treating the stature of each paper as a measure of its influence in the way we rank Twitter influencers today. Certainly, we dont lack for the technology to assess media coverage. Traditional news coverage has the added benefits of offering stability, trustworthiness and longitudinal comparison trends. While Twitter accounts come and go each day and it can be difficult to tell whether a given account is an automated bot or a human, newspapers are real businesses that are registered and traceable. While they may make mistakes in running incorrect stories, they have editorial structures and accountability. Most importantly, news outlets offer the ability to perform longitudinal comparisons. Reporting that a particular play in last nights Super Bowl received one million Twitter mentions might seem like a lot at first glance. Social medias brief existence and the fact that it did not reach saturation until relatively recently, means the insights it offers are extraordinarily limited. In contrast, traditional news media offers a historical backstop against which we can contextualize last nights events against the entire history of the game and everything that preceded it. Perhaps the biggest reason is that as a society we cling to the false notion that social media can somehow divine the inner truths of society itself. That within Facebooks billions of daily interactions or Twitters trillion tweets is recorded the meaning of life and the unvarnished truth of what we care about and how we feel about the world around us. That with the right algorithms we can unlock these underlying truths about human nature and see the world through the eyes of those in every corner of the planet. Unfortunately, social medias immense representational biases and the warped presentational ways in which we have integrated it into our lives means it captures a world that is often very different from reality. Social media is much like photography: it constructs reality rather than capturing it, presenting us a world of the authors aspirations and imagination rather than the world as it really stands. Cataloging the worlds reaction to a story through Twitter is akin to understanding a place through portraits on Instagram. You see the world as it can be at its most constructed, either at its most beautiful or its most devastating, but you dont see it as it really is. Most importantly, we lack the ability to groundtruth social platforms in meaningful ways to understand their biases. We can compare how many tweets a given Super Bowl moment received compared to how many newspaper sports writers covered it the following day, but we cant truly measure how much that moment truly meant to people and how it made them feel inside. In essence, in our era of data we have myriad lenses through which to see the world and we can compare those lenses to see how the views they offer compare. However, we have few ways to understand whether any of those perspectives reflect reality in a meaningful way. If Twitter volume about an event matches Facebook post volume matches news coverage, we might say that because three major views are in alignment that the event was something very important to society. Triangulation across differing mediums offers us hope that these insights are reflective and our confidence increases with each additional matching medium. However, at the end of the day we still have no way of knowing whether any of these mediums are correct. We only see the world through the data we have rather than the data we need. Putting this all together, we have arrived at a strange moment in history where we seem to evaluate every moment through the eyes of Twitter, even as we freely acknowledge that we simply have no idea how well that trillion-tweet archive actually captures society. We rush towards the shiny new object that has focused on making itself the easiest for us to analyze, while simultaneously dismissing all of the existential questions about just what it is that we are analyzing and what our results actually mean. In the end, our obsession with Twitter reminds us that our data driven world represents not the pursuit of truth through data, but rather the age-old adage that we pursue what is easiest and most fashionable, updated to the digital era and cloaked in the falsehood of big data. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/02/04/why-do-we-measure-everything-by-tweet/ |
Where Does Art Belong? | Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Every modern or contemporary artist has either had to answer these questions, or else accept the ready-made answer that our culture offers: Just do your work and let the invisible hand of the market sort out its fate. Ad Policy Hilma af Klint was among the few who rejected that idea. She thought her work was for people who didnt exist yet, and that it belonged in a templewhere, as we all know, money changers have no place. Its hard to think of any artist more determined to take the eventual fate of her art into her own hands than this Swedish painter, whose work is now on view at New Yorks Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum through April 23. Curated by Tracey Bashkoff with David Horowitz, the exhibition, Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, is the first comprehensive presentation of the artists work in the United States. Af Klints response to the lack of an adequate social or institutional place for her art, and to the chimerical nature of its potential public, was a nearly complete renunciation of the public sphere. Born in 1862, she graduated with honors from Stockholms Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1887 as a highly competent realist painter, according to the conventional standards of her day, as several early works on view at the Guggenheim demonstrate. Looking at her landscape paintings and portraits of the 1880s and 90s, its easy to imagine af Klint achieving success as the practitioner of a solid and sensitive naturalism enlivened by some hints from the Impressionistscertainly not the kind of renown enjoyed by her flashier Swedish contemporary Anders Zorn, whose flattering portraits and delectable nudes were coveted around the world; but a solid career nonetheless. Thats not how it went. The late 19th century was the heyday of spiritualism; like so many others, af Klint was hungry for a word from the beyond. In 1896, she started a series of weekly sances with four friends, all women artists, where she began receiving messages in the form of writing and images. Such was af Klints talent at this occult task that the higher ones commissioned her to produce a series of Paintings for the Temple that would become her most important projectnearly 200 works whose production occupied her from 1906 to 1915. The temple that the paintings were meant to adorn was never built, needless to say, and the artist, convinced that her work would not soon be understood, left instructions that it was not to be exhibited for at least 20 years after her death. That happened after a streetcar accident in 1944. If her works had emerged on schedule, they would have been an ideal match for the work of the American painter Alfred Jensen, who in the late 1950s began producing diagrammatic paintings based on esoteric systems like the Mayan calendar, Goethes color theory, and the I Ching. But no such luck: Her paintings went almost unseen until 1986, five years after Jensens death, when they finally emerged in the important revisionist exhibition The Spiritual in Art: Abstract Painting 18901985, curated by Maurice Tuchman for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The works that af Klint began producing under the tutelage of the spirits in 1906 bear no resemblance to anything accepted as art in Europe up to that time. Its commonly said that she anticipated the wave of abstraction that suddenly welled up across Europe and the United States around 1912much of it by artists who had also been influenced to some degree by Theosophy and spiritualism. And its easy to understand why one would think so: The flatness of her paintings, their eschewal of illusionistic three-dimensional space, recalls the works that Piet Mondrian and Kazimir Malevich would soon be making, and the simple geometrical figures she often usedcircles, spirals, stylized botanical forms, and other curvilinear shapesare also compatible with those used by the more famous abstractionists, who were mostly about a decade younger than she. But I cant quite think of af Klints art as being abstract in the same sense. Its more like an expanded form of writing or, as she believed, a language of symbols that has already existed forever and that has now been given to humanity by the creative spirits. Her works share as much with Goethes color-theory diagrams, and more generally the kinds of diagrams that often illustrate esoteric and occult texts, as they do with modernist abstraction. What exactly her diagrams illustrate is at once obvious and elusive. They are all about the union of oppositesdark and light, up and down, material and spiritual, etc.and the souls winding path toward enlightenment. But the details are obscure. Helen Molesworth puts it well in the catalog for the Guggenheim exhibition: Her pictures are like a set of instructions that then need other instructions. But Im not sure I want that second users manual. Sometimes the works specific meanings were better known to the higher powers than to the artist herself, who at first considered herself little more than their amanuensis, only eventually taking a more conscious control of their production. In any case I can better appreciate her work apart from the belief system that generated it, which is not an unusual situation: When I admire a Madonna and child by Bellini, Im not concerned with ideas about the Trinity or the virgin birth, notions as alien to me as anything in Theosophy. The beauty of af Klints paintings comes from the delicacy and concentration with which theyve been realized. One thing her belief system gave her was an ability to keep her ego out of the way of her art; theres a kind of blunt, unfussy anonymity to her touch that carries conviction. Still, as fascinating and radical as af Klints paintings are, they are also limited by her conception of them as essentially illustrational. They lack body. Color, for her, was less a corporeal entity than an idea. And yet af Klints diagrams were more than just that; they were paintings conceived for permanent display in a temple, where the wisdom they embody would presumably be given ritual form. In the three altarpieces meant as a kind of culmination, to be seen at the center of the temples highest level, its undeniable that she achieved an appropriate grandeur. Their physical expansiveness lets the color spread and vibrate. The works are inspiringand the moment you let yourself be inspired, even the Guggenheim can become a provisional temple. Current Issue View our current issue Af Klint may not have succeeded in building her temple, but she did manage to keep her art out of the clutches of the market. Her works all belong to a foundation that has said they will never be sold. Nothing sounds more unlike Andy Warhol, the guy who once mused that being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. By now, Warhols image and style are so ubiquitous that its easy to wonder whether we need another exhibition of his work; its like hearing a song youve heard a hundred times before. But still, there it is, at the Whitney Museum of American Art through March 31: Andy WarholFrom A to B and Back Again, curated by Donna De Salvo, whose knowledge of Warhols oeuvre is second to none. And its a good reminder that theres always more to see: more of Warhol, and more in him too. (The exhibition will travel to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, May 18 to September 2, and the Art Institute of Chicago, October 20 to January 26, 2020.) As with af Klint, Warhols early efforts give little clue of his mature art. After graduating from what was then the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh in 1949, Warhol moved to New York and pursued a highly successful career as a commercial illustrator. With a charmingly whimsical drawing stylean unlikely cross between Jean Cocteau and Ben Shahnhe became the king of shoe advertising. He also did more personal work and occasionally showed it in galleries, under titles like Fifteen Drawings Based on the Writings of Truman Capote. None of it had anything to do with the big, blustery abstract paintings that were the going thing in the 1950s, or with the cooler, more enigmatic kind of art that began cropping up later in the decade with the work of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. In fact, Warhol hardly painted at all in those days. Drawing was his forte, and he knew it. Who knows, but at the start of the 60s, he suddenly began painting on a big scale, using imagery taken from mass culture. Pop art was born. Warhol wasnt the only one doing it, but he was among the first. It was his use of a technique then more associated with commercial artsilk-screen printingthat gave his work its true impetus, allowing for a greater directness in the use of found imagery and lending itself to the repetition of images, both within a work (e.g., Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962) and from piece to piece (the innumerable Marilyns, Last Suppers, flowers, and electric chairs). Sometimes the distinction between a single work and a series becomes almost arbitrary, as in the 32 canvases of Campbells Soup Cans (1962). First downplaying his exquisite draftsmanship, Warhol then turned painting inside out by his innovative method of printing on canvas. The critics hated it, but collectors like the taxi mogul Robert Scull were hooked. Yet painting alone, however technically innovative, could not satisfy Warhol, who was soon making filmsand later televisionas well as sculptures like the famous Brillo boxes; in 1968, he also published a: A Novel, transcribed from taped conversations. It was once hed found success as a painter that he discovered I dont really believe in painting anymore. But Warhol didnt really need belief (unlike af Klint), and most of his best paintings date from the period after hed supposedly lost the faiththat is, the 1970s. And yet, after having retired from painting for several years, he articulated his return to it in 1971 precisely in terms of belief: His new subject, thanks to the announcement of Nixons trip to China, would be the chairman of the Chinese Communist Partynot, of course, as an ideological construct, but as a sort of fashion iconand even Mao would be really nutty not to believe in it. (Meanwhile, the American presidents own unlovely face appears in Warhols art only in a screen-printed campaign poster reading Vote McGovern).The gigantic Mao at the Whitney, borrowed from the Art Institute of Chicago, shows Warhol using his silk-screened photographic imagery in a different way than he had in the 60s: The familiar portrait from the Little Red Book becomes the armature for bravura brushwork (not in the mold of the Abstract Expressionists, but rather evoking society portraitists like John Singer Sargent or, for that matter, Anders Zorn) and brilliant color. The 1970s were a great period for Warhol; his Skull series (1976) and the quasi-abstract Shadow paintings (197879) are probably the pinnacle of his work as a painter, surpassing the more famous works of 1962 to 66, the ones that made history as the quintessence of Pop. But to the extent that theres a single takeaway from the Whitneys surveywhich, with more than 350 works, is massive, yet still inevitably partialits not the self-evident superiority of certain seriesand within any series, certain piecesover others. Theres plenty of work that would simply be dull if it werent recognizably Warhol. The portraits filling the museums ground floor dont look that much better than what you might do at home with your own photos and an online Andy Warhol Pop-art effect filter; among the few that stand out are precisely those that eschew the random-color Warhol-studio effect, for instance, a 1986 Peter Halley, not colorized, in which the young painters face is doubled to lend him a line of four staring eyes. A more beautiful and less tiring show could have been put together with a more stringent exercise of connoisseurship, however subjective. But such an exhibition would have left out what might be the most important thing about Warhols approach to art making: his sheer will to productivity. When Warhol named his studio the Factory, he wasnt kidding. No ordinary studio could have produced, as Warhols did, 199 Mao paintings in five different sizes in less than two years. But since theres just one such painting on view here, whats more striking is not how many variations Warhol could spin out of the same idea, but how many different ideas he was willing to try outhow many different media he used, how many different kinds of imagery he cycled through. In 1982, the artist and critic Thomas Lawson noted an awful desperation in [Warhols] search for new images, and in his reuse of old ones. In any case, this productivity could not have been based on any great economic rationale; during Warhols lifetime, the sheer profusion of his work must have depressed the potential price of any individual piece. Only later did his prices skyrocket. The Factory was less a real place than a guiding myth, the embodiment of an obsession with producing relentlessly, and to hell with where it would end up afterward. This could well be the great either/or of modern art: Warhols determined plunge into the glare of publicity and his total identification with the time, versus af Klints withdrawal of her art from the uncomprehending eyes of her contemporaries, her resolve to hold out for the future. One of the most interesting things about Bruce Nauman, whose intransigence emerges in work that at times seems to methodically frustrate the viewers interest, is that he appears to simultaneously accept and reject Warhols and af Klints positions. From his studio in the desertin 1979, after working in California for more than a decade, the Indiana native moved to Pecos, New Mexicohe keeps his distance but exhibits regularly, withdrawing and participating at the same time. Right now, a comprehensive selection of his work from circa 1964 to the present can be seen in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art (through February 18) and at MoMA PS1 (through February 25). Titled Bruce Nauman: Disappearing Acts, the show, curated by a team led by Kathy Halbreich, was previously mounted at the Schaulager in Basel, Switzerland. Naumans harsh and desolate worldview, often compared to Samuel Becketts for its bleak humor, places hope in no future and imagines no temple. Like Warhol, Nauman seems to have tried almost every medium (the show includes sculptures, drawings, photographs, films, videos, sound works, neon signs, and architectural installations), and his mythic place is the point of production, the studio. But unlike Warhols Factory, which was as much a social milieu as it was a site of positively Stakhanovite productivity, a place where everyone and everything of interest would eventually turn up to be incorporated into the artists work, Naumans idea of the studio has little room for other people. His essential relation is to the studio itself: Being alone there, he once reflected, raised the fundamental question of what an artist does when left alone in the studio. (Its important to note that the artist is not simply alone but left alone; the phrase is an ambiguous one, implying that Nauman is both unbothered and abandoned.) His conclusion: Whatever I was doing in the studio must be art, including just drinking coffee and pacing the floor wondering what to do. But perhaps his most revelatory intuition about the studio is that once it has been established, the artist becomes optional; its like a machine that keeps operating even in his absence. Mapping the Studio II (Fat Chance John Cage) is a seven-channel video installation from 2001, which Nauman made by setting up cameras to surveil the studio overnight. Not much more happens than the occasional mouse scurrying by. The grainy, blown-up footage has been colorized, giving the whole thing an eerily dreamlike, watery atmosphere; its as if the image of the studio has come to stand in for the artists unconscious, where something is always stirring even in an apparent vacancy. I think the works subtitle refers to something that Cage is supposed to have once told the painter Philip Guston: When you start working, everybody is in your studiothe past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideasall are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if youre lucky, even you leave.Yet still, the mice will keep scurrying around. Nauman found a way to put the critters to work. At five hours and 45 minutes in length, Mapping the Studio would be quite an endurance test for anyone willing to take it on. A lot of Naumans films and videos are like that. They seem to keep asking how much youre willing to takehow much inaction, as in this case, or how much headache-inducing agitation, as in the 1987 video installation Clown Torture. In philosophy, whats called the problem of other minds has to do with justifying the belief that other people possess consciousness. Nauman seems to have a different kind of problem: Other minds are too much on his own. Its as though hed prefer to be a solipsist but cant, because he needs to demonstrate his solipsism to others in order to believe in it. What a peculiar strain of artistic individualismone that needs a public in order to tell them to get lost. Whether arts place is in a temple, a factory, or a studio, its all in someones mind. | https://www.thenation.com/article/hilma-af-klint-warhol-nauman-guggenheim-whitney-moma-new-shows-review/ |
When is the hearing in 9th district election investigation? | The newly appointed state board of elections plans to vote on whether to certify the election or call for a new one in North Carolinas 9th Congressional District after a hearing on Feb. 18 and 19 in Raleigh, the boards chairman said Monday. The five-member board, appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper on Jan. 31, will begin its evidentiary hearing at 10 a.m. at the North Carolina State Bar in Raleigh. The hearing is expected to last for two days, but the site has been reserved for three. Republican Mark Harris leads Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in the unofficial results from the 9th district. But the previous nine-member state board twice declined to certify the results, citing irregularities among mail-in absentee ballots in Bladen and Robeson counties. The previous board had scheduled an evidentiary hearing for January, but a court disbanded the nine-member board on Dec. 28 due to an unrelated issue. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Harris attempted to get his election certified in Wake County Superior Court, but was denied. The state board has three Democrats and two Republicans. It takes three votes to certify the election results and four votes to call for a new election. A vote will be held at the end of the meeting, said Bob Cordle, the boards new chair. Thats normal process of the state board, Cordle, a retired Charlotte attorney, told The Charlotte Observer on Monday. You have a vote at that time. The state board will meet on Feb. 7 for other business, including appointments to county boards of elections. That meeting will include an executive session, during which staff will brief the state board on the evidence it has uncovered during its investigation, Cordle said. Cordle lives in the 9th district. Seating for the Feb. 18 evidentiary hearing is limited, but the hearing is likely to be live streamed by the news media, according to the state board. The 9th district has not had a representative in the new Congress, which took office in early January. | https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article225498865.html |
Which Advertiser Won Super Bowl 53? | In spite of recent officiating controversies, NFL games have the benefit of a clear outcome. Picking a winner or winners of Super Bowl advertising is more difficult. Like me, many of you have probably heard friends, colleagues, or family complain that there are "no good Super Bowl ads this year." It is a refrain that seems to be growing every year. My own take on this is that there a few great ads and many good ones as well. It is just that expectations are so high because of the accumulation of great ads that have historically run in the Super Bowl. Consumers hold the ads to a very high standard. Given the high stakes involved the scrutiny is warranted. Nonetheless, I do think there were some winners in 2019 and here they are: 1) Amazon Alexa "Not Everything Makes The Cut" Outstanding creative focused on a series of celebrities "beta-testing" fails for Amazon's Alexa in funny situations including operating an electric toothbrush, feeding a dog and turning on music is a hot tub. Great choice of celebrities in Forrest Whitaker, Harrsion Ford, Ilana Glazer 2) Ads Featuring Trade Characters (M&M and Mr. Peanut) M&Ms made effective use of their candy characters in a funny "Bad Passengers" spot that also starred Christina Applegate. Charlie Sheen's surprise appearance alongside Alex Rodriguez and a bold Mr. Peanut also worked in "Mr. Peanut is Always There During Crunch Time." The use of traditional trade characters in somewhat edgy creative situations brings a nostalgia element to the ads for these U.S. based brands while still making many viewers laugh. The popular trade characters value gets reinforced, and the consumer is effectively reminded of these candy/snack products. In Mr. Peanut's case, the use of the controversial Sheen in a self-deprecating manner helped the ad gain attention it probably would not have received. 3) Bud Light/Game of Thrones While it can be argued that the ad was even more beneficial to Game of Thrones than Bud Light, the creative was clever on multiple levels. First, Bud Light's long-running "Dilly Dilly" campaign had long used a Game of Thrones motif for years. Second, the brand's first ad focused on its competitors' use of corn syrup focused on a real product difference that enhanced memorability. Finally, the scene of the dragon swooping down over the stadium in the joint spot was stunning. In a year when many ads were pre-released, along with Mr. Peanut, Bud Light capitalized on the element of surprise. 4) Microsoft's "We All Win" And Other Ads Focused on Corporate Social Responsibility The "We All Win" spot was a touching look at how Microsoft technology has allowed handicapped children to play video games in a way they otherwise could not. The ad is not only likable - it also emphasizes Microsoft's long-used focus on the development of technology for helping people, reinforcing a longer-term commitment to this issue. Longer-term commitment to a CSR program is more likely to resonate with consumers in terms of corporate and brand image. Verizon, with its excellent, emotional "First Responders" ad, along with Stella Artois' use of Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeff Bridges for water.org, also scored with viewers. In addition, Audi's "Cashew," Google's tribute to veterans in "Job Search for Veterans" and the Washington Post's balanced focus on the importance of journalism were effective. 5) Bumble "The Ball is in Her Court" As I mentioned in an earlier post, Serena Williams is a great fit with Bumble, especially as it moves into social networking among women. While a lot is going on in the ad, Serena effectively get across of message of female empowerment and taking control While it may have not been a banner year for Super Bowl ads, I do think there were some standouts. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlesrtaylor/2019/02/04/which-advertiser-won-super-bowl-53/ |
What Will Be The Next Innovation In Retail? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Mark Pilkington, Author of Retail Therapy, on Quora: The next innovation in retail markets will be for retailers to change their operating model away from relying mainly on their stores towards one where the internet becomes more central, with the store performing only those functions that add value to the brand. Holding large amounts of stock in a store does not really add any value. It is very expensive, because it takes up a lot of space and also requires a lot of processing time by store staff - unpacking it, preparing it for display, rotating it around, marking it down and counting it. Products are also inclined to go out of stock in one location, while building up in others. The space and staff time is much better used to create an impactful brand environment and to give customers a high level of personal service. The store would be closer to a showroom, with key products on display, but most of the stock being help centrally in the internet business. For example in a fashion business, the staff could have one item in each size, to establish the customers fit, but the actual order would be placed via internet terminals, and shipped direct to the persons home. Under this model, retailers do not need big box stores. They can use lean stores instead, which would be far cheaper to run. They can also push into the town and city centres, where younger people are congregating, rather being stuck out in the suburbs. This model is being used by Direct-to-Consumer brands like Bonobos, and also by established retailers like Ikea and Nordstroms. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/02/04/what-will-be-the-next-innovation-in-retail/ |
Could a former Baylor football coach Art Briles land a job at Southern Miss? | Well, Trysta Krick and Paul Myerberg tell us what to look forward to next season. USA TODAY Almost three years ago Art Briles' college football coaching career abruptly halted amidst great controversy. Now it looks as if the once-maligned head coach might the opportunity to get a fresh start at Southern Mississippi. According to a report from SunHerald, the former Baylor coach is interviewing for the Golden Eagle's vacant offensive coordinator position. The position opened in January after Shannon Dawson accepted the offensive assistant coach position at the University of Houston. Baylor fired Briles in May 2016 after a third-party law firm's investigation into misconduct in the athletic department found that football coaches failed to report complaints against players. Art Briles speaks to two of his players during his time as Baylor's coach. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports) Baylor football players were accused of at least 52 known acts of rape in five years by at least 31 different players during Briles' tenure as head coach, according to a lawsuit. The school has settled five Title IX lawsuits over assault allegations from former students. Briles was hired in August of 2017 in the Canadian Football League as an assistant coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but the team let him go 12 hours later amidst criticism for the move. He also recently was the head coach of the Estra Guelfi Firenze team in the Italian Federation of American Football. During his time with Baylor, Briles led the Bears to a 65-37 record, including two Big 12 titles. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/02/04/art-briles-interview-southern-miss-for-offensive-coordinator-job/2770103002/ |
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