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Should the Portland Trail Blazers trade for Nikola Mirotic? | After making a smaller deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire Rodney Hood in exchange for Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin IV and two future second round picks, the Blazers have seemingly addressed their need for depth on the perimeter and added a capable shooter. But Portland is still in need to a big man who can shoot. Someone that can reliably hit from outside when defenses collapse on Lillard and McCollum, much like they did in the 2018 NBA playoffs when New Orleans swept the Blazers out of the postseason in four games. A player who fits that description perfectly is Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic. UPDATE: Kevin OConnor of The Ringer mentions in his latest trade chatter story that the Blazers and Utah Jazz are two teams that are interested in trading for Mirotic and that the Pelicans are looking for a first round pick in return. Separate from all things Anthony Davis, New Orleans continues to explore trades for Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic in advance of Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2019 Blazers still need a playmaking/and or shooting 4 to make teams pay for traps. Most teams wont blitz in the regular season like Miami has tonight, but thats what is coming in the playoffs. Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) February 6, 2019 The Pelicans are staring down a rebuild on the heels of Anthony Davis' trade demand and looking to move any and all of their large contracts or veteran players so long as those trades can bring them back young players, expiring contracts or draft picks in return. It would be tough for the Blazers to make a deal with the salaries on their roster. They would most certainly have to give up their 2019 first round draft pick and might have to include a young player like Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons or Jake Layman along with any other player they include to match Mirotics $12.5 million expiring salary. You tell us: | https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2019/02/should-the-portland-trail-blazers-trade-for-nikola-mirotic.html |
Is more snow on the way for Portland? | You might be thinking after one sweet snow day of staying home with hot chocolate and sledding down barely dusted hills, with roads clear by the afternoon, Portlands very short winter is over. But, according to the National Weather Service in Portland, it might just be getting started. The sun was out in a cold Portland on Wednesday and Thursday is expected to remain dry during the day. But by late Thursday night and early Friday, that is likely to change. Thats when what Colby Neuman, a meteorologist for National Weather Service in Portland, called a weak storm system should come through the area, bringing with it a decent chance for some very light snow showers late Thursday night into Friday morning. While that wont mean a ton of snow, it could mean a dusting of snow, which could wreck the roads Friday morning, Neuman said Wednesday. Icy roads, low temps prompt Wednesday school closures and delays in Oregon, SW Washington Cold weather and tricky road conditions continue to affect the area. Still, by Friday afternoon, any ice or snow should melt, giving people a chance to get home for what comes next. Then, Neuman said, were going to see a second, stronger storm system. That system will start as rain or possibly a rain and snow mix on Friday night. Up at 1500 feet, Neuman said, people could see heavy snow Friday night. During the day Saturday, snow levels are expected to drop and people on the valley floor should see snowflakes in the air, Neuman said. Thats where we are too far out to tell what will actually happen. Pay attention to the forecast. And then keep paying attention. Coming out of this weekend, he said, were going be probably even colder than we were this past 24 hours. During those last 24 hours, if youve been paying attention, Portland experienced its coldest night since Feb. 23, 2018, with a low of 24 degrees. Cold weather homeless shelters stay open for fourth night The number of people who use the beds continues to grow as the freezing temperatures continue. Tuesday night, 225 people used the severe weather beds. That is double the number of Sunday -- the first night they were open. Wind chills will come down, Neuman said, adding. Its going to be a pretty cold and blustery day late Sunday into Monday. And there are additional storm systems on the horizon that could impact next week. So stock up on soup and dont schedule any golf meetings just yet. Weve still got some serious winter to get through. | https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2019/02/is-more-snow-on-the-way-for-portland.html |
Can Waukesha officials reach an agreement on new city hall's design? | This updated rendering shows what the exterior of the new Waukesha city Hall building will look like from Delafield Street. City officials are trying to finalize the design of the $27 million project, taking into considerations the concerns voiced by aldermen on Feb. 5. (Photo: City of Waukesha/BWBR rendering) WAUKESHA - The city's elected leaders got one more shot at the design of the new city hall, and it's safe to say some of what they saw they didn't like. A fitness center, a rooftop terrace and the number of private offices included in the preliminary design plans didn't sit well with multiple members of the Waukesha Common Council on Feb. 5. In fact, complaints came from a majority of the aldermen. Concerns also slipped into the realm of where certain features should be relocated including a mayor and administrator's office on the main floor and a meeting room adjacent to the council chambers for closed sessions before the plans are finalized by the end of February. Even the skyway, which would connect city hall with parking facilities in the transit center across North Street, drew additional criticism because of a revised angled design that would add to its length and cost. Building plans Rick Gabriel, the city's consulting architect with St. Paul-based BWBR, presented the floor-by-floor layout envisioned by designers, based on core teams within city hall as well as public input. The three-floor structure, an estimated $27 million building that will be erected on the existing campus on Delafield Street near Buena Vista Avenue, will look a lot different than the existing city hall. Aldermen had no concerns with its appearance, which features a yellow and tan stone design with large windows. One of the BWBR renderings of the new city hall focuses on the main entryway accessible from the Delafield side of the building. The municipal building would also be accessible via a skyway connected to the North Street transit center's parking facilities. (Photo: City of Waukesha/BWBR) As in earlier iterations, the site plan would depend on a skyway connecting the building to the North Street transit center, where guests would most often park. Though some aldermen still groused about the skyway concept in general, most accepted it as part of a design concept, which limits the amount of surface parking on the city hall grounds itself, thereby allowing some of the land to eventually be sold for private development. Beyond those elements, most of the focus was on the floor plans. The first floor would include the large council chambers (which will double as a municipal courtroom) and offices for municipal court officials and the city clerk and treasurer staff. It would also house a training center and building support space, including mechanical and electrical equipment. Both the main doors and the skyway would usher guests to the first floor, where an elevator would be located to take them to other floors. The second floor would feature office space for the community development and public works departments, plus a work cafe and a roof terrace which Gabriel explained is part of the building's green roof design to help manage stormwater runoff. The third floor would house the offices for the mayor, the city administrator, human resources, the city assessor, the city attorney, the information technology department and the finance department. Design don'ts After Gabriel's presentation, aldermen got to have their say in what city staff said was their last chance to have input on those plans. It took more than an hour and a half of sometimes pointed criticism to get through it all. And the fact that so much of the plan seemed out of character with aldermen's ideals irritated some council members, who acknowledged feeling pressed to offer input given the tight deadlines to keep the project on schedule for construction beginning this fall. "This is our last final kick a cat before we vote on a plan," Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings noted in frustration of the process, which she said should have included more input from aldermen prior to this point in the timeline. Here's what bothered aldermen most. Alderwoman Cassie Rodriguez was the first to question the inclusion of a small fitness center for employees on the first floor of the building. "When we were having our (design) meetings, some of the council was not in favor of having a gym," Rodriguez said. "And it looks particularly large in comparison to some of the other (spaces). So that I'm not OK with, particularly when we are using taxpayer money to buy gym equipment." She wasn't alone. At least a half-dozen aldermen expressed concerns about the fitness room in particular, despite staff's assertion that the facility was included as part of the city's wellness program to keep employees healthy. This overhead show shows where the new Waukesha City Hall would be located on the property. It would be closer to North Street at the rear of the existing campus, and the building would be connected to the city's transit center parking ramp via an angled skyway across North. (Photo: City of Waukesha/Legistar) The green roof concept, in which stormwater is absorbed by grass instead of running off of the typical hard surfaces, didn't necessarily bother aldermen. Making it an accessible garden for employees to occupy did. "I think that we have to strike a balance with the understanding that this is a public building," Alderman Joe Pieper said. "We want modern space, a solid and good work environment for city staff. ... I can appreciate the fact that other private entities have these types of luxuries and amenities, but we need to remember that there is a little bit of a difference in the way a private company and a public government (plan for space)." Some aldermen felt the amount of space set aside for private offices space separated by doors and full walls instead of partition space seemed excessive against earlier ideals discussed in design sessions they were part of. Likewise, several noted that the decision to put the mayor and administration offices on the third level instead of on the first floor, where the public would have easier access to top-ranking officials, was inconsistent with their preferences. For some, especially those who had previously expressed vocal concerns about the overall cost of the city hall project, the bottom line was that architects were not acting conservatively enough in their plans. "I've counted something like 10, 11, 12 conference rooms in that new building," said Alderman Eric Payne, who also concurred with concerns about the rooftop terrace and fitness room. "I believe we have five here now, and they're not always being used. "There is a whole lot space already in this building," he added. "Maybe if somebody sits down and goes over it the overall layout of all three floors and really thinks hard that the taxpayers are paying for this, ... I think there is an opportunity to downsize this whole building." BWBR and city officials will likely modify the final design plan to account for some of aldermen's concerns before the council votes on the design in March. If plans hold under what city officials acknowledge is an aggressive timeline, construction would be completed by fall 2020. Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/waukesha/2019/02/07/can-waukesha-officials-reach-agreement-new-city-halls-design/2783529002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/waukesha/2019/02/07/can-waukesha-officials-reach-agreement-new-city-halls-design/2783529002/ |
Is Germanys Far Right Getting Less Racistor More Strategic? | Alexander Gauland is a one-man Godwins Law. He has warned of an invasion of foreigners, argued a German minister should be disposed of in Turkey, and echoed an address Hitler gave in 1933 by writing a column attacking members of the globalized class, or rootless, international clique. He is also the moderate face of the Alternative for Germany (AfD)the countrys anti-migrant right and, since 2017, its largest opposition party in parliament. Since its 2013 founding, the party has struggled to move past the Sieg Heil crowd and simple xenophobia that tends to accrue to its official euroskeptic platform. Last month, at the partys conference in Riesa, Saxony, co-leader Gauland went a step further, discarding even the most recent party manifestos calls for Dexit (a German Brexit). The result, however, has been a schism, the more rabid party members splitting to form a more reliably extremist corps. At a moment when the party seeks to build a transnational right-wing alliance ahead of European Parliament elections in May, these internal politics could have an outsized effect on the trajectory of Europes resurgent right. Gauland distilled the AfDs new tone into a 20-minute speech in Riesa last month, where sporting his signature tweed, he delivered a typical takedown of Brussels paternalism. The blocs 28 nations are squeezed into a corset, Gauland said, meandering through nationalist references to Nietzsche, Franz Josef Strauss, and Otto von Bismarck. He compared the EU to Hitlera guaranteed crowd-pleaser, in short, from a party whose foundation was predicated on the abolishment of the Euro. But in a new move, Gauland also questioned the party manifestos for an an exit from the bloc altogether by 2024, should its immigration demands be ignored. And shouldnt we be realistic? Germans are overwhelmingly pro-EU: a May 2018 poll found 79 percent would vote to remain in the bloc if given a British-style referendum. Even in Saxony, the AfDs former-East German stronghold, a huge majority would oppose Dexit. But Gaulands speech reflected more than political pragmatism. It marked an apex in a growing fight for control of the AfD, between Gaulands so-called moderates and a more radical wing of the party, led by Bjrn Hcke, a Thuringian statesman who publicly denounced Berlins Holocaust memorial as a monument of shame and who has advocated for a 180-degree turn in attitudes to the Second World War. In 2016, Hcke came under fire for a speech in the city of Erfurt, in which he demanded Angela Merkel be removed from the Chancellory in a straitjacket for her open-door policy on immigration. | https://newrepublic.com/article/153082/germanys-far-right-getting-less-racistor-strategic |
Are investigations getting in the way of legislation? | During the State of the Union, President Donald Trump made clear he felt the ongoing investigations into his campaign and administration were highly partisan overreaches. Not only that, his language implied they were harming the very safety and continued functioning of the nation. The president's criticism is coming as Democrats are beginning to take advantage of their majority, expanding the scope of their inquiries into Trump. They say the investigations are critical for the health of the nation. PERSPECTIVES During the State of the Union, the president took a hard pivot from talking about the country's economic strength to lob veiled threats at House Democrats. Trump said the strength and safety of the country was being compromised by continued investigations. Per the New York Times: An economic miracle is taking place in the United States -- and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn't work that way! While the president did not specifically mention the investigation into his campaign's potential ties to Russia, most politicians and pundits assumed that was the investigation to which he was referring. While Trump was making his comments on the validity of investigations, Representative Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, sat stone-faced. Schiff has doggedly pursued the investigation into collusion since Trump took office, yet now, with a Democratic majority in the House, his investigation will now have more teeth. Donald Trump says "war and investigations" hurt the nation. Adam Schiff knows it's best not to react when you're being subtweeted. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/GS4huWJghA -- The Tylt (@TheTylt) February 6, 2019 The day after the State of the Union, Schiff released an outline of his committee's ongoing investigation. Per The Washington Post: Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) laid out an extensive -- and expansive -- outline for how his committee will resume its probing of Russia. Schiff laid out five areas of inquiry. They include the ones you would expect and are familiar with because of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation: Russian interference, potential collusion and potential obstruction of justice. Schiff also expanded the scope of the investigation, saying the committee would be looking into "whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage, financial or otherwise, over Donald Trump, his family, his business, or his associates." Additionally the probe will seek to find out whether the president or any members of his family are in any way vulnerable to bribery. The newly released information is a clear sign Schiff is intending to step up the committee's investigation. Analysis: Trump warned Democrats not to investigate him. Instead, they're playing hardball. After Schiff released his statement, the president accused him of being a "political hack who's trying to build a name for himself," attempting to discredit the investigation as a whole. Trump just referred to House Intelligence Chairman @RepAdamSchiff as a "political hack who's trying to build a name for himself," per WH pooler, in a move that Trump said amounts to "presidential harassment." Trump is speaking from a ceremony for the new head of the World Bank. -- Nancy Cook (@nancook) February 6, 2019 Schiff hit back via Twitter, saying the House Committee was "going to do our job and won't be distracted or intimidated by threats or attacks." I can understand why the idea of meaningful oversight terrifies the President. Several of his close associates are going to jail, others await trial, and criminal investigations continue. We're going to do our job and won't be distracted or intimidated by threats or attacks. -- Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 6, 2019 Myriad investigations are taking place simultaneously around the president. According to The Washington Post: On Wednesday, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) promised a high-profile grilling of acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker. Nadler sent Whitaker a letter two weeks ago asking him which areas Trump would claim executive privilege about concerning their interactions. Nadler now says he has received no response by his deadline and expects Whitaker to "provide full and complete answers." Nadler has said he is going to subpoena Whitaker's testimony. This decision brought condemnation from Republican Doug Collins, who tweeted the Democrat was "setting up a dangerous precedent" by subpoenaing a cooperating witness. When we start subpoenaing witnesses who come in voluntarily, we're setting a dangerous precedent. https://t.co/k5uqKZNcnh -- Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) February 5, 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/are_investigations_getting_in.html |
What is effect of NBA All Star weekend on Airbnb rentals? | Demand for housing is intense for the NBA All-Star Game, the biggest sporting event in Charlottes history thats expected to draw 150,000 visitors to the city. Many residents are looking to take advantage of the demand by renting their homes or apartments out over the weekend to make some extra cash. With many hotels filled to capacity, thousands of visitors need a place to stay. Theyre visiting for the game itself and also for the dozens of fan activities, parties and other NBA events throughout the weekend. The All-Star weekend, in fact, is expected to be the busiest weekend ever in Charlotte for Airbnb, the short-term home rental service. Airbnb estimates 3,400 guest arrivals during the All-Star weekend Feb. 15-17, the most that the company has ever seen over a one-weekend stretch in Charlotte. Hosts here are expected to make a combined income of $720,000, Airbnb spokesman Ben Breit said in an email. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer The typical host in Charlotte over the All-Star Game weekend will make $370, Breit said. In determining those figures, Airbnb looked at rentals just inside Charlottes city limits, not in the suburbs. The NBA contracted about 32,000 hotel rooms for the event from Feb. 7 to Feb. 15. Uptown has only 5,700 rooms, so overflow is expected well outside the city center. We just see particular value from our platform during these types of major events that cause hotels to reach peak capacity, Breit said in an email. Our host community can expand lodging capacity to ensure everyone who wants to be a part of the experience can stay within the corporate limits of Charlotte. Lejena Wynn is leasing two properties over the All-Star weekend. Her two-bedroom townhome near Villa Heights, roughly 2.5 miles from the Spectrum Center, is going for $400 per night over the All-Star Game weekend, for instance. Over the course of two nights, and including the cost of cleaning, a service fee and occupancy taxes and fees, the total comes to $960. The following weekend, Feb. 22-24, however, its about half that price ($160 per night, and $482 for the weekend). Cherry Treesort is a private 26 acre farm with 4 treehouses available to rent just outside of Charlotte Trent/ Airbnb We have been doing Airbnb for three years and are Super Hosts and love people. Thats why we are doing this, Wynn said of renting her home. Prices get even steeper the closer you get to the arena, where the NBA will host a number of events over the weekend, including the Rising Stars game on Feb. 15, the All-Star Saturday Night events Feb. 16 and the All-Star Game on Feb. 17. A one-bedroom high-rise apartment near Romare Bearden Park will cost $800 per night, or $2,015 for the the weekend, with taxes and fees included. For first-time Airbnb hosts, the Better Business Bureau is cautioning against scammers. Tom Bartholomy, CEO of the BBB of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina, said that the bureau received notices of a type of fraud called overpayment scams by Airbnb renters during the Democratic National Convention in 2012. When that happens, a renter/fraudster will pay in advance for the duration of their stay, often with a cashiers or other type of check. Theyll then contact the host again saying they sent too much money, and request that it be wired back after the host deposits the check. The host complies, only to find that the check has bounced, and that he or she has been scammed. Anyone who asks you to wire their money back run away, Bartholomy said. Just go away and tear (the check) up because its going to be worthless. The BBB also advises hosts to keep their valuables in a double deadbolt locked closet for security. VRBO is another vacation home rental marketplace. The company has rentals available in Charlotte over All-Star Game but would not share data on the weekend because its in a quiet week before its parent company, HomeAway, reports its quarterly earnings. Heightened Airbnb demand is typical when a large-scale event comes to town. Forbes reported last month that average Airbnb hosts in Atlanta stood to make about $690 from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 for Super Bowl LIII. Airbnb hosts welcomed an estimated 9,200 guests from 59 countries and 49 states, according to Forbes. Short-term rentals are popular throughout North Carolina as a way to generate supplemental income. According to an Airbnb report last year, North Carolina residents who rented out their homes on the site made $97 million in 2017. Rentals were the most in demand in Asheville, where hosts earned almost $20 million. In Charlotte, hosts made $8.7 million, and in Raleigh, they made $3.8 million. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article225610375.html |
Why will Rangers Globe Life Field have artificial grass? | The Texas Rangers announced their new ballpark Globe Life Field will have artificial turf when it opens in 2020. The club, from general manager Jon Daniels to executive vice president of business operations Rob Matwick to senior medical operations and sports science director Jamie Reed, all shared similar stories with how the decision came to be last week. All agreed that they originally envisioned having natural grass in the retractable-roof Globe Life Field. Those three, along with representatives from Shaw Sports Turf, explained why synthetic grass was the best move for the new stadium, why this turf will be unlike previous artificial turfs and how it will benefit both the Rangers and fans. Here, in their own words, they explain how they came to their decision: Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram Rob Matwick: We certainly looked at grass from the beginning. The ballpark was designed to accommodate grass. The challenge with grass in retractable roof stadiums is they are not consistent from foul line to foul line. Arizona, for 20 years, tried to grow natural grass. This year, they finally said enough. We think its better from foul pole to foul pole. Better conditions, better safety for the players. We challenged Shaw [Sports Turf]. We said we are not going to consider this unless we have the best surface in Major League Baseball. We believe we have accomplished that and have the consistency from foul line to foul line. Jamie Reed: I got involved in this study to make sure this was the best possible synthetic playing surface for our players to play on. Im very confident this is going to be best artificial playing surface in the game. It will be the safest for our players and for the fans, aesthetically it is going to look like a natural field. Im really confident this is going to be a great product. Philipe Aldahir (Shaw Sports Turf director of research and innovation): There are three main keys to making a field play with excellence: one is the surface itself. We have been to a dozen natural grass venues to baseline what those properties needed to be. So when you start tweaking the fabric with the padding below, you start getting closer or further away from natural grass. We found this turf to be closest to natural grass playing ability. We went out and looked at natural fields and made our baseline properties look the same. Lastly, making sure the surface is compliant with player performance and player safety. We collaborated with institutions to make sure the surface has a similar feel as natural grass. Chuck McClurg (Shaw Sports Turf vice president): We do have a year to learn. We are not going to stop learning just because we are announcing today. Research is on-going and anything we learn, we will apply. This is a system that is more manageable to increase or lower the speed [of the reaction to the ball]. This is designed for this specific environment. This one is based on our research and studies here [at Globe Life Park] in Arlington. Matwick: One of the things that will be different too is this will be a permanent installation. We dont intend on putting this surface down and then roll it off and take it off the field lets say if we were moving a concert in. We will treat it like grass. So this will be a permanent installation, specific to this building, specific to the Rangers and then well study it. After each homestand next year well come in and test and make sure were meeting those standards that weve set to match us to our current ballpark to make sure were consistent throughout the year. Jon Daniels: I think we all started from the same place, which is baseball, ballpark, grass. But then as you start to dig into it, not just from the evidence-based studies these guys worked on, but just talking to the players, talking to agents. I didnt get a sense that it was going to be an issue for anybody. Players questions were over the past year or so, they were more curious about how it was going to play. The bounce in the outfield. Questions about the ball bouncing over peoples heads. Weve clearly learned that the difference in synthetic fields are very different and we can control those. What I was naive to was how different the [natural] grass fields are around the league. And even how different the individual fields are week to week if they had an event there. The consistency element were going to be able to have is pretty meaningful. And ultimately I think the decision came down was we feel like this will be a more consistent, higher quality field than we can provide than a grass surface at this point. | https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article225488955.html |
Where's the best/worst place for a public breakup in Metro Vancouver? | Valentines Day is the day to tell people how you really feel. Its the perfect opportunity to let your sweetheart know how much you care about them or, if the increased focus on your relationship has led you to suspect you really dont anymore, tell them that instead. As the big day approaches, youre sure to see plenty of date recommendations (theres a hot chocolate festival on, just FYI) and listicles counting down the most romantic places in Metro Vancouver. There are several nice spots, usually at the end of long hikes, because nothing says romance like walking uphill for hours. Thats the piece were interested in putting together and, as theres nothing less romantic than the site of a messy public breakup, we want to hear about yours. Well tell you as soon as you tell us, by filling out the form below. [email protected] CLICK HERE to report a typo. Wed like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email [email protected]. | https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/wheres-the-best-worst-place-for-a-public-breakup-in-metro-vancouver |
Is it proper to intervene when somebodys struggling with a corkscrew? | The question Every time I see somebody struggling with a cork, I get the urge to intervene before the thing invariably breaks into pieces. The answer On the contrary. You are a good soul with a high purpose. You want people to enjoy good wine in its pure state, without having to first pass the liquid through a cone-shaped coffee filter or a sweaty T-shirt. Some people take to uncorking better than others. I suspect the inferior ones are also bad at physics. Youve got to maintain correct angles at all times and youve got to be able to recognize when that little cylinder of tree bark is so dry that its going to strip when you pull with too much pressure. Story continues below advertisement Beppi's Pick of the Week: Burmester 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal Each cork assuming its the natural kind, not made of plastic and not one of those composite corks pressed into a cylinder using cork fragments and glue is different. Some strip or crack easily, some dont. Its always a good idea to go slowly. If youre good at it, and by your question I assume you are, its okay to offer to come to the rescue, particularly in the case of a precious bottle. Just be courteous and amusing about it. Say something like, That seems dry. It looks like its preparing to break. I hope you wont be offended, but Im actually really good at opening wine bottles because I get so much practice at my house! Can I give it a whirl? Should your undertaking fail, at least you can take comfort in the fact that you spoke up. Im thirsty and its stuck. Beppi Crosariol will once again be participating as The Globes wine expert on both the July 1-11, 2019, Globe and Mail Seine River (Paris and Normandy) Cruise and the July 28-Aug. 7, 2019, Globe and Mail Portugal River Cruise. For details on how to reserve your cabin visit GlobeandMailCruises.com. E-mail your wine and spirits questions to Beppi Crosariol. Look for answers to select questions to appear in the Wine & Spirits newsletter and on The Globe and Mail website. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/article-is-it-proper-to-intervene-when-somebodys-struggling-with-a-corkscrew/ |
What's Next For Virginia? | Attorney General Mark Herring standing along his family waves after taking the oath of office during inauguration on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, VA. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images) I stumbled on this image yesterday and it wrecked me. It was posted by Julie Carey, a political reporter and the NBC4 bureau chief for Northern Virginia. This photo illustrates how overwhelming the chaos is right now at Virginias Capitol, she tweeted. It shows Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas leaning against a car, tipped at the waist, her purse in one hand, cradling her head in the other. She looks very much like a beloved auntie temporarily rocked by a wave of grief. Lucas was trying to catch her breath while surrounded by reporters looking for comment on the latest disclosure that [Attorney General Mark] Herring wore blackface once in college. To me, the photo perfectly sums up this painful moment in time. Not the pain of the now three state executives who find themselves in serious professional jeopardy the Virginia governor and his attorney general for their admissions of wearing blackface, and the lieutenant governor facing serious allegations of sexual assault. Instead, I imagine the exhaustion of the citizens of their state, along with the millions of others who are now re-living our ugly history and worrying about the potential blind spots in their leaders. Its interesting that blackface, which was a beloved form of mass entertainment for decades, has suddenly become a bright line that cannot be crossed. It was always about making a mockery of black folks and dehumanizing them, Duke Universitys Mark Anthony Neal explained to host Yamiche Alcindor on PBS News Hour. The optics, of course, are terrible. People react so vehemently about it [because] there is no real defense of it as any type of legitimate art. It is completely racist and we all know it to be so, Vann Newkirk of The Atlantic said on the same program. And now there are real consequences: Social media makes it easier for relics of the past to bubble up and be amplified, opening up the conversation to millions of people who do not find the practice funny or nostalgic. Expect more pictures, more conversation. Yesterday, Colin Campbell, editor of the NC Insider, which covers government affairs in North Carolina, tweeted a photo that turned into a must-read thread. Randomly flipped through the 1979 UNC-Chapel Hill yearbook today just to kill some time, and found this photo on one of the fraternities pages, he said. Holy shit. Indeed. It was an image of a festive mock-hanging, complete with two hooded Klansmen and a hapless pledge (I assume) in blackface. There were plenty of offensive images, and the mini-maelstrom the post created forced UNC system interim president Bill Roper to comment publicly. Thats a horrific part of our past, one that I think has no place then or now in our university system. Its not hard to imagine the quivering anxiety of leaders these days, worried about photo-evidence of racism long forgotten, preparing to reach for their own fevered foreheads in the hopes that they can find higher ground. This is not who I am, this is not who we are, as the refrains go. Sadly, old yearbook pictures are not a distraction from the work. They are the work. The fact that these issues keep tumbling into public consciousness even as political weapons is not just a sign of a cynical system, but of a perpetually postponed reckoning, a long, unpaid tax. And yet, I remain comforted by The Warmth of Other Suns author Isabel Wilkersons sage advice to raceAhead readers that the only way forward is through courageously confronting the past. Difficult issues are gateways, she believes. These are opportunities for anyone who is doing this [diversity and inclusion] work and its really important work and I admire it to consider how history impacts the people they want to include. And themselves, as well. Without that a deep understanding they will look at a situation and not be able to understand what theyre seeing. Parsing the past with a sense of empathy for others is a good place to start. And so, the lions share of my sympathies goes to the Senator Lucass of the world, the enterprising employee resource group members, the diversity professionals, and everyone from allies to token hires who continue to clear their throats and point to the gateways. Its exhausting, necessary, and fraught with risk, and so much easier if you dont have to go it alone. This column is dedicated to my many cousins in the AAIB. I see you. | http://fortune.com/2019/02/07/whats-next-for-virginia/ |
Which former LSU players are participating in the NFL Scouting Combine? | Six former LSU players are listed as participants in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. The six are: safety John Battle, running back Nick Brossette, tight end Foster Moreau, placekicker Cole Tracy, linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams. White and Williams were two of the three LSU Tigers to declare for the draft early. The third was nose tackle Ed Alexander. Alexander is not listed on the NFL Combines list of participants. Battle, Brossette, Moreau and Tracy had all run out of eligibility. Battle had three interceptions, five passes defensed, two pass breakups and 39 tackles in his senior season. The 6-foot, 200-pound Hallandale, Florida, native only played in 10 games this season after being temporarily sidelined with an ankle injury against Alabama. Battle doesnt have a prospect grade listed on his Combine page, meaning he likely needs time in developmental league." Brossette led LSU in rushing with 1,039 net yards on 240 carries in his senior season, averaging 4.3 yards per touch. He also had 78 yards receiving. The 6-foot, 221-pound Baton Rouge natives 14 rushing touchdowns helped him lead the offense in scoring with 84 points. Brossette had one extra game after the Fiesta Bowl the East-West Shrine Game. He finished that college all-star game with five carries for 19 yards and a touchdown. Brossette, like Battle, doesnt have a prospect grade listed on his NFL Combine page. Moreau was the main tight end LSU used this year, racking up 272 yards on 22 receptions for an average of 12.4 yards per catch. Moreau scored two touchdowns in his final year of eligibility. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound New Orleans native stood out in the lead up to the Reeses Senior Bowl, earning the offensive practice player of the week accolade for tight ends. In the all-star game itself, Moreau had one catch for 11 yards in the Norths 34-24 victory. Moreau has a prospect grade of 5.39, which lends itself to NFL backup or special teams potential. LSU tight end Foster Moreau with plenty to prove at Senior Bowl Tracy set multiple records in his one year with LSU. The graduate transfer from Assumption College made 28-of-33 field goals and all 42 of his PAT kicks, leading all of LSU with 129 points last year. In the Fiesta Bowl, the 5-foot-10, 188-pound Camarillo, California, native set the season record for LSU and the NCAA record for most field goals in a career. Tracy, along with Moreau, represented LSU at the Reeses Senior Bowl. He made both his field goal attempts in the all-star game, but missed an extra point that appeared to be tipped. Tracy has a prospect grade of 4.99, which corresponds with should be in an NFL training camp. White declared early for the NFL Draft after turning heads all career long. The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Springhill native is already widely regarded as one of the best linebackers to play for LSU and his professional career has yet to begin. He was the first LSU linebacker to win the Dick Butkus Award. White led LSU in tackles (123), tackles for loss (12), run stuffs (20.5) and forced fumbles (3). He was also named LSUs MVP for the second-straight season. White has a prospect grade of 6.20, which corresponds with "should become an instant starter. ESPNs Todd McShay ranks him as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2019 Draft, and CBS Sports has White at No. 6. Ask his family Williams also declared for the NFL Draft after his redshirt-sophomore season. The 6-foot-2, 182-pound Shreveport native threw his name into the ring before the Fiesta Bowl and sat out. Even with the missed game, Williams still had 11 passes defensed, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, a quarterback hurry and 33 tackles in his final year as a Tiger. Williams has a prospect grade of 6.21, which corresponds to should become an instant starter. ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. has Williams ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect for the 2019 Draft, and CBS Sports has him at No. 8. The NFL Combine is in Indianapolis from April 26-28. | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/which-former-lsu-players-are-participating-in-the-nfl-scouting-combine.html |
When does Nikola Mirotic return to New Orleans? | After any trade deadline in any sport, there are always a few awkward return dates for the players involved in the transaction. This one is no exception. Former New Orleans Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic, who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday (Feb. 7) for Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith and multiple second-round picks, will return to Smoothie King Center on March 12 to face his former team ... on what was scheduled to be his bobblehead night. Guys... Nikola Mirotic returns to the Smoothie King in March 12. On what was scheduled to be... Nikola Mirotic bobblehead night pic.twitter.com/ekZoJEz0rV Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) February 7, 2019 No word yet on what the Pelicans King Cake Baby mascot plans to do with the extra bobbleheads. And for those reading the tea leaves, there was no Anthony Davis bobblehead night scheduled for the Lakers game Feb. 14. NBA trade deadline live updates: All eyes on Anthony Davis, Pelicans | https://www.nola.com/sports/2019/02/when-does-nikola-mirotic-return-to-new-orleans.html |
How Important Is Brand 'Marlboro' To Altria's Profitability In 2019? | Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), one of the worlds largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes, and related products, ended 2018 with marginally higher revenues compared to the previous year, mainly driven by growth in smokeless products. Altria was adversely affected by lower sales from the companys smokeable products division due to a reduction in sale of cigarettes. Marlboro, the largest brand of cigarettes, contributes 85% of segment sales and 75% of total revenue for the company. However, the market share of the brand has seen steady decline over the last two years, which is expected to diminish further. Our analysis shows that a decrease in Marlboros market share (which is currently 43.0%) to 40.0%, could lead to a decline of over 7.7% in Altrias adjusted EPS, which could drop to $4.52 in 2019, from $4.89 in 2018, and $5.32 in 2017. You can view our interactive dashboard Declining Market Share Of Marlboro Poses A Significant Threat To Altrias Profitability In 2019 and make changes to our assumptions to arrive at your own estimates for revenue, margin, and EPS of the company. Lower Cigarette Sales In 2017, about 249 billion cigarettes were sold in the US, which was 3.5% lower than the 258 billion sold in 2016. Sales were lower in 2018 and are expected to decline further in 2019. This is primarily driven by an increase in sales of non-combustible products. Increased awareness and health consciousness have led to todays youngsters preferring e-cigarettes over the traditional ones. Marlboro, which is the most valuable cigarette brand, has seen its market share decline from 43.3% in 2017 (it was 43.8% and 43.7% in 2015 and 2016), to 43.0% in 2018. Marijuana, which is preferred by youngsters because of health concerns and its medicinal qualities, was recently legalized in several US states and Canada, which is expected to accelerate the rate of decline in Marlboros market share. At a market share of 43.3%, Altria sold close to 100 billion units of Marlboro cigarettes, which came down to 94.7 billion units in 2018. If the market share declines rapidly to 40% this year, then the number of units sold could sharply reduce to about 82 billion for 2019. This could bring down Marlboros share in revenue of Altrias smokeable products segment to 84.0% from 86.0%. In such a scenario, a price increase is the only alternative for Altria, which the company has resorted to over the last few years. However, a reduction in volume could far outweigh increasing prices, reducing revenues from the companys smokeable products segment to $20.6 billion, 7.6% lower than 2018. As Altria is currently focusing on its smokeless products segment through organic and well as inorganic growth, revenues from this segment are expected to see healthy growth of about 20% in 2019. However, a decline in sales of Marlboro could more than offset any gain in the smokeless segment, causing total net revenue to decrease by over 4.7% compared to 2019. Marlboro is also the most profitable brand for the company, contributing the most to Altrias net margin. A decrease in volume sold would hit the companys margin. In case of reduction in Marlboros market share to 40%, we expect Altrias net margin to decline to 35.0% in 2019, from 36.1% in 2018 and 40.0% in 2017, thus reducing net income to $8.5 billion in 2019, from $9.2 billion and $10.2 billion in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The importance of brand Marlboro to Altria is reflected in its influence and weight in the companys profitability, which could decrease by 7.7% with a 3.0 percentage point decline in the brands market share. Altria recently announced the acquisition of a 35% stake in JUUL Labs, which is expected to provide Altria great exposure to, and benefits from, the sale of smokeless products. However, fresh concerns related to regulation of e-cigarettes have taken the sheen out of the deal. JUUL is the company at the forefront of the FDA commissioners crusade against teenage e-cigarette usage. Any harsh regulation or partial ban on these products would be a huge setback for Altria. In such a case, Marlboro becomes more important for the company than ever before. The companys management too has acknowledged the importance of stabilizing Marlboro for the overall profitability of Altria. Thus, it would be ideal to have a balance between non-combustible segment growth and maintaining the share of Altrias biggest brand. However, based on current trends and our analysis, a diminishing market share of Marlboro, and declining profitability of the company, is the most likely scenario to materialize over 2019. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/07/how-important-is-brand-marlboro-to-altrias-profitability-in-2019/ |
Will Migrants Stay In Mexico? | 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. The Suchiate River marks the border between Guatemala and Mexico in a murky, khaki-colored expanse. It flows slowly; if you dont mind getting wet up to your thighs, its narrow and shallow enough to cross walking with a backpack hitched high. Ad Policy Last year, the migrant caravan that left Honduras in October walked through this river, only to be greeted with tear gas, rubber bullets and a helicopter on the other side as Mexicos former president Enrique Pea Nieto sent dozens of federal police to block their entrance. But as a new caravan, which initially started with 2,000 people from San Pedro Sula, makes its way through Mexico, and with a new Mexican president in power, Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador , Central American migrants face a different welcome. Earlier this month, the Mexican government announced that it would offer expedited humanitarian visas to Central Americans entering the country. The visa, resembling a drivers license and green like a US dollar bill, allows people to move freely and seek work anywhere in Mexico for a year. It also offers access to health services and education, and the right to leave and re-enter the country. After a year, if visa holders wish to remain in Mexico, they can renew it. According Mexicos National Institute of Migration (INM), more than 15,000 people mostly from Honduras, but also Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and a handful from Cuba and Angolaapplied for the visa. Among them are 3,000 children and adolescents. On Jan 29, the head of INM, Tonatiuh Guilln Lpez, announced that the program would be closed to new applicants: it was too successful, he said. Instead, Salvadorans and Hondurans can apply for alternative work permits previously reserved for Belizeans and Guatemalans; these allow them to work only in seven southern states of Mexico, where poverty is higher. Both visas are indicative of a more welcoming approach to migrants, championed by AMLOs new government, and an attempt to encourage development as part of a $20 billion plan to address the causes of migration in the Northern Triangle. Current Issue View our current issue In an op-ed in The Washington Pos t , Roberto Velasco Alvarez of the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs cited the most recent United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration : Mexicos position will no longer be one of migration deterrence and blockage. A plan to boost development in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras that creates employment and, as a consequence, lowers crime rates, represents a better and more effective alternative than merely focusing in stemming the outflow of immigrants, he wrote. Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America, a DC-based human rights think tank, calls Mexicos move a laudable commitment, but cautions that the visas dont address all the reasons people are fleeing, their homes, she says. The government needs to provide more options to those that do want to seek more asylum, which is a more permanent option, says Meyer. Mexico has historically been considered a transit country for people migrating north to the U.S. But a combination of increasing instability in Central America and stricter U.S policies has meant that the number of people seeking asylum there has increased more than twentyfold to nearly 30,000 between 2013 and 2018. This created a two-year backlog in processing refugee requests, handled by the understaffed and underfunded Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees (COMAR). The agency only has three offices in the entire country, and none north of Mexico City; by contrast, the INM, which operates separately, promised to process the more short-term humanitarian visas in just five days, and hired extra staff in Chiapas to help fulfil this. Unlike asylum, the humanitarian visa does not immediately lead to permanent residency in Mexico. For most, though, the offer of one year to work and move through Mexico safely was enough. On the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate river, Keila, 29, and Sayra, 32, from Honduras, sat with Marlin, 26, from Guatemala, under makeshift tarps. Hundreds of people scheduled to receive their visas lined up with torn cardboard boxes to shield their faces from the tropical sun beating down on no mans land. Keila, who had caught a bus to the Guatemalan-Mexican border with her nine-year-old son, had her wristband and was waiting for the visa. Sayra and Marlin had only gotten to the border the day before, and still had not had the chance to even sign up for the wristbands; they were worried they might miss out. As the three women lounged under the sun, Keila gave the other two advice on how to budget while waiting. Go to the market for avocados, tortillas and cheese, she said. And wash your clothes in the river, its free. Its not as good as a washing machine, but itll get rid of the sweat at least. Keila said that at least the humanitarian visa would allow her and her husband to work while waiting for their turn to plead asylum in the US. She called the visa a useful tool, but still hoped eventually to make it to the U.S. I have family there and they are going to give us part of the money to cross, but we have to work to make up the other part, she said. Her chances for making it to the U.S are slim, though, as the U.S is growing increasingly hostile to all immigrants, with those seeking legal asylum stuck in between changing border policies. On the same day Mexico ended its offer of fast-track humanitarian visas, the US began its Migrant Protection Protocols policy, also known as Remain in Mexico. Under this protocol, U.S authorities have begun to send some asylum seekers crossing the San Ysidro port of entry back to Tijuana while their cases are being processed. It has risks: Tijuanas murder rate hit an all-time high in 2018, and in December, two teenage boys from Octobers caravan were murdered there while waiting to enter the US to plead asylum. With shelters overflowing, and migrants forced to sleep outside without access to food or protection, they face risks of kidnapping, disappearance, sexual assault and trafficking. According to the executive director of Amnesty International, Margaret Huang, This deal is a stark violation of international law, flies in the face of US laws passed by Congress, and is a callous response to the families and individuals running for their lives. Still, for those who already have humanitarian visas but who hope to ultimately apply for asylum in the US, Maureen Meyer says at least they will have a human, legal way to be in Mexico. Yet another unforeseen use of the humanitarian visa, she says. Whats more, the right of passage means that those now entering no longer need to seek safety in numbers, as the infamous caravan had last year. Though various groups have still chosen to travel together, largely for economic reasons, those with means will also be able to use safer, faster modes of transportation, taking advantage of Mexicos vast bus network, without worrying about immigration checks along the way. Relaxing on the Mexican side of the river on a recent Thursday, Samuel, 21, from Honduras, already had his card. He said he had asked his cousin to come with him, but his cousin had declined. When Samuel received his visa, he took a picture with his iPhone 5 and sent it to his cousin. Hes so mad he didnt come now, Samuel laughed. A week later, Samuel and the small group of men he was traveling withfellow Hondurans he met along the way: Orin, 42, a single father traveling with his 12-year-old son, Juan Carlos; and Orins brother-in-law, Edouin, 43boarded a bus from nearby Tapachula directly to Mexico City. After nearly 20 hours, they arrived at the citys vast northern bus terminal. Though family members in the US and Honduras had wired them money, they were aware their funds were limited, and decided to get on their next bus straight away to save on accommodation. At the ticket counter, Orin, Edouin and Juan Carlos counted out a stack of bills for three tickets to the state of Coahuila, along the border with Texas. Edouin wanted to make it to upstate New York where his wife and three-year-old daughter lived. Orins goal was Houston, where his brother lived. He was skeptical they would celebrate Juan Carlos birthday, which was in mid-February, there. Samuel, on the other hand, was about to board a more than thirty-hour bus ride to Mexicali, where his brother had lived for the past three years. His plan was to work for a few monthsno more than three, he said, wrinkling his nose at the idea of staying for longerand, together with his brother, eventually go to Louisiana, where a Honduran friend who was also a US citizen, had offered him a job. While the others bought water at an Oxxo convenience store, Samuel decided he didnt need anything, and would just buy food along the way if the bus stopped at a restaurant. I dont need much, he shrugged. On the bus later, he snapped photos of the sunrise and uploaded them to his Whatsapp status with a folded hand emoji, and thanked God for keeping him safe. | https://www.thenation.com/article/will-migrants-stay-in-mexico/ |
Is Spains Left-Wing Party Podemos Cracking Up? | 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. Early in the morning on January 17, Pablo Iglesias, the 40-year-old leader of Podemos, Spains second-largest party on the left, received an unexpected phone call from his old friend igo Errejn, 35. Iglesias was at home, on parental leave to take care of his infant twins. Errejn called to tell him that he had changed his mind about the upcoming regional elections, which will be held in May and will coincide with municipal elections and elections to the European Parliament. Ad Policy Errejn was poised to be Podemoss candidate for the region of Madrid, which has been governed by the right since 1995 and which Podemos is determined to win in an alliance with the United Left (Izquierda Unida), Spains third-largest left-wing party. Errejns phone call cut that plan short. Rather than running just on the Podemos ticket, Errejn told Iglesias, he had decided to join the coalition headed by Manuela Carmena, a retired judge who was elected mayor of Madrid in 2015. Five minutes after Errejn hung up, Carmena and Errejn tweeted out a letter announcing their alliance, called Ms Madrid (More Madrid). In Madrid, they wrote, theres a democratic and progressive majority that needs a project to renew its hope and confidence. Such a project, they added, needs to move beyond existing party structures. The recent regional elections in Andalusia, which saw an unexpected surge of the radical, nationalist right, due in part to a low turnout among progressive voters, were a wake-up call, they wrote. Today, everyone knows we need a shake-up. Later the same day, Iglesias published an emotional letter to his constituency all but expelling Errejn from the party. This has left me shaken and sad, he wrote. I cant believe that Manuela and igo would have kept from us that they were preparing to launch their own electoral bid. This is a bitter day. He also announced that Podemos would not follow Errejn into his alliance. Instead, he said, the party would present its own candidate. And so, on the five-year anniversary of Podemoss founding, the party suffered its biggest split yet. Sebastiaan Faber and Bcquer Segun The reaction to the split has been mixed among Podemos supporters. One unofficial poll from the online daily eldiario.es found that 59 percent of its readers thought Errejn was in the right. Another, from Telemadrid, concluded that 70 percent of Podemos voters favored a single ticket with Carmena and Errejns Ms Madrid and that 58 percent thought Errejn and Iglesiass going their separate ways was a bad or very bad decision. Many of those who over time have been sidetracked by Iglesias, or turned off by his leadership style, expressed their support for Errejns bid, pointing out that his attempt to broaden the electoral appeal is exactly what Podemos was created to do five years ago. I see it as good news, Clara Serra, the spokesperson for Podemos in the region of Madrid, said, welcoming Ms Madrid as a project for unity, a coordinated and joint initiative for Madrid. I think its a great idea that we overcome party identities and acronyms, Carolina Bescansa, a Podemos MP and one of the most powerful voices in the party, said. We should instead get behind political projects and visions that captivate a large majority of the society, as has been Manuela Carmenas way of doing politics, she said. That generates hope. Others, however, branded Errejns decision as selfish and opportunistic or, worse, treasonous. Anticapitalistas, a group within Podemos most closely associated with Miguel Urbn, a Podemos Member of the European Parliament, and Teresa Rodrguez, the leader of Podemos in Andalusia, called the alliance between Errejn and Carmena a unilateral move that doesnt meet the minimum requirements for a democratic municipalist project. Ms Madrid, they continued, is a party that would not be willing to confront the financial powersthat continue to run the city from the shadows. Meanwhile, 10 of the partys 17 regional leaders came together on January 25 to issue a call for unity, implicitly criticizing not only the divisiveness of Errejns action and Iglesiass reaction, but also the tendency of Madrid to impose itself on other regions. Current Issue View our current issue Whatever conclusions people drew from the split, many read Errejns surprise move and Iglesiass harsh reaction as the last straw. I dont think this is the umpteenth battle between igo and Pablo, Ignacio Escolar, the editor-in-chief of eldiario.es, said on television the following day. I think its the last. From now on, he continued, they will almost certainly take separate paths. The precocious pair of political scientists who together helped reshape Spains electoral landscape over the past five years had now become rivals. Iglesias and Errejn are the Lennon and McCartney of Podemos, which emerged in 2014 as the new hope of Spains, and Europes, progressive movement, promising not just a new party but a whole new way of doing politics. Podemos rejuvenated the left across Spain by shepherding into party politics the activist energy, organizational structures, and political ideas that, in the summer of 2011 and in response to the grave economic crisis, had erupted into mainstream Spanish political life with the 15-M movement (aka the indignados). The party used grassroots assemblies, called circles, to generate and debate policy proposals. It then held a large Citizens Assembly during which such proposals were debated by thousands of people both in person and online in real time. As Zeynep Tufekci writes in her book Twitter and Tear Gas, Podemos turned to free software social-media platforms, such as Loomio, that blended practical considerations with a movement ethos. Such platforms, she writes, were meant to keep the participatory structures of the assembly model to facilitate decision making. But as the years ticked by, so too did the patience of party leaders with many of the new ways of doing politics the party had once proposed. At its beginning, Podemos was much more than a party with a group of leaders, Marina Garcs, a philosopher and intellectual, told us. It wanted to be a broad, self-organizing, and creative base. Once that was lost, what was left was a fragile and individualized structure that, when it failed to reach power, began to fracture and confront itself. Garcs saw the split between Errejn and Iglesias coming from miles away. If Im being honest, what has happened between Errejn and Podemos is, unfortunately, not surprising, she said. For a while these dynamics have been visible and predictable in what remains of Podemos. Many point to Podemoss second national congress in February 2017 as the origin of the split. But the decision seems to go back to nearly five years ago, when the party was founded. Even at the time, as Iglesias and Errejn campaigned together on the same primary ticket, many onlookers saw a clear political difference between the two. In the fall of 2016, Iglesias, following the somewhat frustrating results of the June elections that year, said that the major internal debate in Podemos was deciding whether we should continue being populists or not. He meant populist in the very specific sense in which it was used by the late Argentine political philosopher Ernesto Laclau, whose ideas on the subject culminated in his book On Populist Reason. That kind of populism, which is what Errejn was advocating and still advocates to this day, involved talking about the caste and the people, viewing politics in moral terms, and crystallizing popular demands in certain symbols in order to bring all kinds of people together. Iglesias, by contrast, thought the party needed to move away from populism and attempt to consolidate the left and compete directly with the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), which today leads a minority government under Prime Minister Pedro Snchez. Ironically, despite Iglesias and Errejns shared political differences with Snchez and the PSOE, Podemoss most notable policy achievements have involved reaching deals with Snchez and pushing his government to the left on a number of issues. On December 21, for instance, the parties passed a 22 percent increase to the monthly minimum wage, which took effect on January 1. Errejns departure appears to echo what has taken place elsewhere in Europe, where left-wing parties, such as Die Linke in Germany, have split over questions of immigration. But such a view would mistake Errejns motives, which partly have to do with how to view the recent Andalusian elections and the rise of the xenophobic, far-right party Vox. Following Voxs surprise performance, few on the left thought the solution was to turn to nationalism and close the borders. Observers noted the historically low voter turnout, which disproportionately affected the left, and Podemos leaders concluded that motivating left-leaning voters would be key to stemming the far-right tide. But Errejn, whose political strategy includes downplaying left-wing symbols and appealing to voters from across the political spectrum, said that if the occasion presented itself, he would speak to and negotiate with Vox. As in the United States with President Trump, many on the left disagree with that strategy, preferring to quarantine the radical right. Its unclear whether Errejns strategy would work. Few, if any, historical precedents exist and, in a country where the far right ended its dictatorship only in the late 1970s, hostility toward any kind of negotiation is warranted. The Errejn-Carmena candidacy may instead simply end up playing for progressive votes that fall somewhere between the Socialist Party and Podemos. Another worrying factor is that Carmenas tenure as mayor of Madrid has not been without its own problems. The retired judge, who won the elections in 2015 with the support of a broad progressive coalition that included Podemos, has managed to alienate many of her initial supporters. They blame her for doing little to curb the power of urban developers or resolve the ongoing housing crisis. To make matters worse, last year Carmena struck a budget deal with Cristbal Montoro, former prime minister Mariano Rajoys conservative treasury minister, who, like many other treasury ministers from Rajoys Popular Party (Partido Popular), has been embroiled in a corruption scandal. As a result, Carmenas economy czar, Carlos Snchez Mato, who worked hard to reduce the citys massive debt but who opposed her deal with Montoro, was let go. He is now considering a run against Carmena in Madrid this spring on the ticket of the United Left. Despite its misgivings about Carmena, Podemos has announced it will not run against her in the city elections. But what will happen in the regional elections, where Errejn is running but not on the Podemos ticket, is not clear. In an interview with EFE, the Spanish equivalent of Reuters, Carmena urged caution when it came to joining in a coalition with Podemos. Why develop homogenous alternatives if there exist different visions, she said, comparing the direct action of left-wing parties like Podemos with broader movements like Ms Madrid. The opportunity to join forces will still be there, she said, after the election. Carmena downplayed the importance of division on the left. Im not worried, she said. Let citizens have the option to choose between different alternatives. At an emergency Citizens Council meeting on January 30, Podemos decided to first solidify the alliance with the United Left and other leftist parties, and only then invite Errejn to join. The United Left, meanwhile, has not yet decided what it will do. Errejns move puts Podemos in a further bind: The party has few candidates, if any, who would be able to compete against a Carmena-Errejn ticket in the region of Madrid. In the end, Podemos may be forced to join forces with Errejn, whether it wants to or not. This chaos and confusion was not exactly what Errejn had hoped for, Pedro Valln, a journalist at La Vanguardia, told us. I honestly think Errejn thought his challenge was going to work and that Podemos and the United Left would join his operation to avoid greater evils, he said. But to think that Pablo Iglesias would swallow such a thing was not very realistic. If theres one thing that distinguishes Iglesias, for better or worse, its his lack of fear. A week after Errejns departure, the chaos and confusion reached a fever pitch. On January 25, Ramn Espinar, the regional leader of Podemos in the Madrid region, announced that he would abandon politics altogether, saying that the conditions dont exist to take the project of Podemos in Madrid where it needs to go. Espinar, who is closer to Iglesias than to Errejn politically, made the decision to step down, apparently, in direct response to Iglesiass handling of Errejns departure. A recent poll from eldiario.es doesnt add much clarity to the situation in the Spanish capital region: It puts Errejn and Carmenas Ms Madrid at 10.5 percent, slightly ahead of Podemos, at 9 percent. In a widely read article, Valln, the journalist, compared the situation to France, speculating that Errejns break from Podemos may turn Madrid into a test case for a Macron-style coalition between the center-left (the Socialist Party and the Errejn-Carmena tandem) and the center-right, represented by Citizens (Ciudadanos). Such an alliance would end up isolating not only the radical right (Vox, along with the Popular Party) but also Podemos and the United Left. The countrys economic powers have long pushed for such a coalition, he explained: Madrid can become a laboratory for rehearsing a centrist front against the threat of the far right, a conservative bloc against postmodern fascism. As in France, such a front would mean a return to Tony Blairstyle neoliberalism. Iglesias and his inner circle have gone one step further, suggesting that Errejns breakaway was part of a premeditated strategy from the Socialist Party establishment and economic elites, meant to defang Podemos once and for all. I dont believe in Iglesiass conspiracy theories, Noelia Adnez, a writer and radio commentator, told us. They mostly serve to discredit Errejn. She continued, It was a mistake to dramatize the situation right away and to suggest that Errejn was a traitor. True, Errejn did not go about it in the best way possible. But he has ambitions. And in a politician, thats not a bad thing. Valln similarly rejects conspiracy talk. I dont buy into conspiracies from the powers that be, he said. That said, it is clear that some political operations receive support while others are sabotaged. Albert Rivera, the leader of Citizens, has gotten a white-glove treatment ever since he appeared on stage. He explained that Errejn, for his part, was seen by the center-left establishment as a useful battering-ram against Iglesias. But today, he continued, Iglesias and his party shore up the Socialist government in parliament. So for now, its not convenient for Podemos to fall apart. But some see a silver lining. Escolar, the editor, has said that having three parties on the left might turn out to be a good thing. Against the standard analysis that says division harms the bloc that becomes divided, in this case, Im not so sure it will go this way, he said on the news program Al Rojo Vivo. He pointed to the recent Andalusian elections, where the division of the right into three parties handed the right its first governorship there since the transition to democracy in the 1970s. He also compared the 2015 and 2016 general elections, where, in the first, there were three major parties on the left and, in the second, there were only two. The first elections. He continued, Its better to have three parties that are mobilized than two parties that are not. Sebastiaan Faber and Bcquer Segun Despite the possible silver lining, the public cockfights between the two former friends and their faithful have left many by the wayside. Theyve harmed the party, Lola Snchez, a political scientist who in 2011 was among the first five Podemos candidates to be elected to the European Parliament, said in a newspaper interview. Their leadership attitudes have been very traditional, classically alpha male, top-down. I honestly thought Podemos was going to be something different. The chaos in Madrid has spread across Podemoss regional affiliates as well in the form of conflict, cliques, and infighting. In the Andalusian elections in December, the alliance of Podemos with the United Left won 16 percent, five points less than in 2015. These results were disappointing but not surprising. Since the Catalan crisis came to a head in the fall of 2017, Podemos has had a hard time navigating a political landscape dominated by the territorial question. The Podemos leadership has also committed errorsamong them, allowing political conflicts to quickly get personal and public. And despite the partys much-touted internal democracy, its members have complained about participation, which, in some cases, has been reduced to referenda on trivial matters. Last May, Podemos members were asked to decide whether Iglesias and his partner, Irene Montero, who is also the partys second-in-command, should resign over their controversial decision to buy a $700,000 family home. (They won by 68 percent.) Important issues, such as how to respond to Errejns decision to join forces with Carmena, on the other hand, have not been submitted to a vote. Still, Adnez told us, the damage of this latest split may well be limited. Spain needs a strong party to the left of the Socialists. And Podemos members have learned not to take their party leadership too seriously, she told us. For many, Iglesiass decision to call for a vote over his purchase of a home was one bridge too far. But in the end, Podemos has a clear political program with policies that have broad social support, including raising the minimum wage, more access to affordable housing, and fighting gender violence. The latest national polls seem to confirm support for those policies. The conservative Popular Party has fallen to fourth place, and left-of-center parties, overall, now command 50 percent support as opposed to 39 percent support for those on the right. I think Podemos and the United Left will have no trouble maintaining between 15 and 18 percent of the votewhich is more than the slice that the United Left used to get on its own, Adnez told us. That said, they can no longer reach for the almost 25 percent they won in 2015. That opportunitys been lost. | https://www.thenation.com/article/spain-podemos-split/ |
Why Aren't Robots More Integrated Into Our Everyday Lives? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Erik Schluntz, Cofounder & CTO at Cobalt Robotics, on Quora: The biggest cultural barrier that prevents robots from being a bigger part of our daily lives is the stereotype created by Hollywood. When most people hear the phrase security robot, the first thing they think of is Terminator or Robocop. Thats really not what were going for at allsecuritys job is to help employees feel safe and comfortable. Nevertheless, its always a hurdle in peoples minds, so we have to work extra hard to make the robots friendly and pleasant to be around. A big part of this was in our industrial designwe worked with world-class designer Yves Behar at Fuseproject to really understand how people would interact with the robot and how people would feel around it. My favorite thing to come out of the design process is that our robot is covered with fabric, not plastic, which gives it a much warmer and softer feel. We were also incredibly careful with our design of the robots body languagelittle details like how fast the robot accelerates or turns when it first starts moving, and the sounds the robot makes as it goes around a corner so it doesnt surprise anyone. Robotics companies have a lot of work to do to prove to people that robots are good guys and can be really helpful, and its just in the movies that theyre always the villains. 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/2019/02/07/why-arent-robots-more-integrated-into-our-everyday-lives/ |
Is Cuyana Poised To Become The Next Billion-Dollar Fashion Brand? | This week, Cuyana announced a $30 million growth equity financing from H.I.G. growth partners (in partnership with d.Luxury Brands), making it one of the largest rounds raised by a female-founded fashion retail company. The news comes as the six-year-old direct-to-consumer startup announced that it was also now profitable. It has been able to expand from an online-only business into physical retail as well. (The company currently operates five stores in the U.S.) Thanks to its focus on building a community of small but loyal customers (similar to how skincare and beauty brand Glossier started out), it's been able to deliver strong year-over-year growth with a nimble supply chain and vertically-integrated omni-channel business. When Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah first launched Cuyana as a digital-only channel (as Warby Parker and Bonobos did when they first started), the message out there was that in order to be a successful direct-to-consumer brand, you had to operate digitally only. Gallardo says she knew that there had to be a physical component to brand building as well, and so the company studied retail comprehensively and experimented with popups in several markets before opening permanent locations. However, in order to truly scale further, they needed the right partners who understood digital, branding and retail in a strong way to fuel growth. John Kim (managing director of H.I.G. Growth Partners) and Ben McPherson (Co-CEO of d.Luxury Brands), who linked together in the investment, see plenty of potential in the brand thanks to the emerging 35-and-under millennial consumer whose values align with that of Cuyana (and its 'Fewer, Better' philosophy). Kim said that among the target audience, brand awareness for Cuyana is still relatively low, but based on the metrics that they see (conversion rates, repeat rates) there's a huge opportunity to introduce new customers to the brand and build on the their strong retention capabilities. McPherson explained how the brand's founders have been very considered in their approach to growth while maintaining a strong long-term vision. "The fact that they've been able to achieve profitability is quite an anomaly in this market," he said, noting how young the company is. Part of this owes to how the team has been able to sell directly to the consumer (and avoid low wholesale margins), as well as maintaining a strong digital component and strong relationships with their manufacturers who they work very closely with. Kim cites a friends and family/word-of-mouth system among their customers that has enabled Cuyana to grow organically, with social media coming in a close second. "The fact that Cuyana comes highly recommended to friends and family is a great testament to the brand's product quality, merchandise assortment, and what the brand means to people," he says. In addition to all the paid digital marketing and customer acquisition strategies that are ongoing, Kim notes that that Cuyana will continue to work with its community of loyal customers which will inspire further brand awareness, especially in markets where stores are already present. In addition, the investors see so much opportunity for growth that they're betting that Cuyana has the potential to become a billion dollar brand. While the company did not disclose revenue figures and exact growth rates, it is planning to double the amount of stores and employees it currently has by next year, although it still generates the bulk of its revenue online. And with the new round of funding, it will be able to expand into additional product categories, find more manufacturing partners, add more U.S. stores and double down on marketing. For now, the Cuyana founders are committed to keeping the ethos of the brand and helping their customers feel confidence and ease with every product they choose to buy and wear. "Our women live busy lives and they want clothes that are incredibly high quality and designed in a way that they don't have to overthink what they're wearing," said Gallardo. "If we can continue to give them ease and confidence, then we've achieved our mission." | https://www.forbes.com/sites/marioabad/2019/02/07/cuyana-funding-investment-fashion/ |
Why is Dallas Rep. Colin Allred taking a break from Congress to return home? | WASHINGTON Rep. Colin Allred is taking a break from Congress to return to Dallas. He and his wife, Alexandra Eber, are expecting the birth of their first child "very soon," the freshman congressman said in a statement Thursday. Aly and I are so thrilled to start this new chapter in our lives, he said. Family is so important and as a country we must allow for parents to spend time with their babies because providing parents the ability to stay home during this critical period leads to better outcomes for men, women and families. Allred also said his experience makes it clearer than ever that Washington needs to fund basic paid sick leave and parental leave. | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/02/07/dallas-rep-colin-allred-taking-break-congress-return-home |
Where do the Suns go from here after a relatively quiet NBA trade deadline in Phoenix? | Suns forward Josh Jackson rallies his teammates during a time out in a game Jan. 8 against the Kings at Talking Stick Resort Arena. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic) Josh Jackson saw his name in trade talks going into the NBA trade deadline. No worries. I wasnt concerned, Jackson said after Thursdays practice. Had I been traded or had I not been traded, I feel like its a blessing to play in this league. I have fun doing what I love to do. Im just thankful for the opportunity to do that no matter where it is. The NBA trade deadline came and went without the Phoenix Suns making another move after acquiring Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington, who they later waived Thursday, from the Miami Heat for 10-year veteran Ryan Anderson. While it seemed as if every other team was making deals right before the deadline at 1 p.m. Phoenix time, the Suns (11-45) stayed pat and kept Jackson. Every team is trying to do whats best for them, said Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft who is averaging 10.0 points in his second NBA season. Seeing my name in trade talks, somebody else wants me. As long as some team in this league wants me, Im going to have a job. I felt that was a good sign. Suns forward Josh Jackson is defended by Rockets guard James Harden during the first quarter of a game Feb. 4 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. (Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic) League sources told The Republic that Jackson wasnt on the trading block despite numerous reports which said hed be an ideal player in perhaps a three-team deal that would have delivered New Orleans All-Star center Anthony Davis to Los Angeles and point guard Lonzo Ball to the Suns. That didnt materialize. Davis is still in New Orleans. Ball remains with the Lakers. And Jackson is still in Phoenix after matching his season high with 27 points against the Jazz to mark his third consecutive game with at least 25 points. One would think the Suns are going to make major offseason moves. If the Suns get the top overall pick, there will be several teams, including some playoff squads, willing to give up say a proven point guard and possibly a stretch four who can score inside to get the opportunity to draft Duke freshman phenom Zion Williamson. The Suns also still have players to evaluate the rest of the season like rookie point guards DeAnthony Melton, Elie Okobo, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jackson and Johnson to see if theyll have a future in Phoenix. Thats in the future. Right now, Phoenix is looking to end a season-high 12-game skid. The Suns might get Devin Booker back for Fridays game against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Suns coach Igor Kokoskov listed him as questionable as Booker missed Wednesdays 116-88 loss at Utah with right hamstring tightness from Mondays loss to Houston. He was with the team, he was practicing, Kokoskov said. Practice was light. It wasnt a contact practice, but he felt good. As we know, he is anxious to come back and help his guys and help our team, especially tomorrow. Playing the world champs. Thats quite a challenge. He likes challenges. Kokoskov said TJ Warren (right ankle soreness) and Melton (right ankle sprain) are making progress, but are both will be out against the Warriors, and they might not return until after next weeks All-Star break. Looking at their recent additions, Johnson will be available for Fridays game. Im really excited, Johnson said. Its a new opportunity, a new challenge I get to face and hopefully I can bring some things over that Ive learned in my first five years over here. Kokoskov worked with the 6-foot-4 combo guard on a couple of offensive sets for Fridays game. Johnson said he arrived in Phoenix last night as he passed the team physical Thursday afternoon. Its going to be challenging, hard, but we know what hes going to bring, Kokoskov said. He doesnt have to know our offense. Hes going to know our defense. Bring energy and toughness and a presence on the court. FRIDAY'S GAME Golden State Warriors at Suns When: 7 p.m. Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena. TV: FSAZ. Outlook: Phoenix (11-45) has lost 12 consecutive games for the second time this season as it hasnt won since Devin Booker returned from back spasms. The Suns are coming off a 116-88 loss Wednesday at Utah in Igor Kokoskovs return to Utah, where he was an assistant before taking over in Phoenix. Golden State (38-15) has won 13 of its last 14 games and is coming off a 141-102 win over San Antonio. The Suns traded 10-year veteran Ryan Anderson to Miami for Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington, who they later waived Thursday. Klay Thompson has scored a total of 54 points in Golden States last two games, shooting 8-of-12 from 3, after missing the Warriors loss to Philadelphia (illness). Booker (right hamstring tightness) is listed as questionable as he missed Wednesdays game with the injury he sustained in Mondays loss to Houston. MORE SUNS | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/02/07/nba-trade-deadline-phoenix-suns-josh-jackson/2805722002/ |
What can TV viewers expect with Marquette women's coach Carolyn Kieger wearing a microphone during a game? | Marquette coach Carolyn Kieger talks with guard Danielle King. (Photo: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports) The eighth-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles are one of the best teams in womens college basketball. Now, for one game at least, they get to be reality television stars. MU (19-3, 10-0 Big East) plays Georgetown (11-11, 5-6) at 7 p.m. Friday at the Al McGuire Center, but this matchup will have a behind-the-scenes twist. The head coaches, the Golden Eagles Carolyn Kieger and the Hoyas James Howard, will be wearing live microphones so fans watching on TV will get a different perspective of the action. It is the fifth All-Access Game produced by Fox Sports and will be shown without commercials on FS1. That means viewers will be hearing what goes on in huddles, interactions with players and, yes, probably some terse observations directed at the referees. Itll be different, Kieger said. We got to make sure the team isnt focusing on that. Im not focusing on it. Were just taking it as another game, business as usual. Hopefully theres no distraction. Cameras will be trained on Kieger and Howard throughout the game and they will be shown in separate boxes on the TV screen next to the game action. There will be a traditional play-by-play announcer and analyst in Lisa Byington and Monica McNutt, but Fox Sports producer Steve Scheer will mostly be cutting to audio from the two coaches. "From Day 1, we've talked to our announcers about how they were going to be minimalists," Scheer said. "This is a different type of broadcast." Fox Sports is also trying something new with this game. MU assistant coach Scott Merritt will wear a camera that fits around his ear like a pair of glasses. I want you to feel like you are in the game, Scheer said. And the one place weve never had a camera is on the bench. I dont think we can cut it into the live play-by-play. We might try it, but its on the opposite side of the access. All of our cameras are on the other side and, (cutting) all of a sudden, it would be jarring. But during a free throw, we can cut to it. If Carolyn happens to be talking to an official, I can show (Merritt) looking at her. Viewers will also get the chance to go inside the teams locker rooms at halftime. The huddles are great, Scheer said. Hearing the play calls and them talking to their kids and talking to officials, it is off the charts. But when halftime hits, thats really when my ears perk up. Because I just think its so cool that we can be hearing the speech as the players are hearing it. Kieger admits that she was a bit reluctant to do this broadcast, but her concerns were eased after talking with other coaches at Big East media day before the season. I just think its good for womens basketball, Kieger said. Anything we can do to be creative. On the mens game, they have such a following regardless. And they get so many viewers on TV, they get so many fans in the stands. For our game, we want to get people to follow our team. And if this is a way to get more people to get engaged in our team, if its a way to get more people to fall in love with womens basketball, Im all for it. The MU coach hopes the broadcast will shine a brighter light on her players, who include two of the most dynamic in the Big East in senior guards Allazia Blockton and Natisha Hiedeman. I think theyll be able to see their personalities a little bit more, Kieger said. Our team, being that theyre such a veteran team, they talk to each other so well in timeouts. They hold each other accountable, its kind of neat to see. Hiedeman is not worried about people getting an intimate look at in-game talks with Kieger. Its a lot of positivity, a lot of encouragement, Hiedeman said. If theres stuff weve got to fix, shes going to let us know what we got to fix. Theres also the obvious danger in strapping microphones on fierce competitors in the heat of battle. My biggest fear, and the coaches biggest fear, is the magic four-letter word getting out, Scheer said. But were live TV, with a five-second delay. Kieger isnt worried. Should be fun, she joked. Just got to clean up my mouth a little bit. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2019/02/07/marquette-womens-basketball-fox-sports-all-access/2795371002/ |
Is LaVar Ball ruining Lonzo Ball's career? | LaVar Ball, father of Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball, is in the headlines again, telling Undisputed that LeBron James won't win a championship without his son. LaVar brings a lot of attention on himself, but his actions are now making things more difficult for Lonzo to gain a foothold in the league, even interjecting into trade talks. PERSPECTIVES It's hard enough to become an impact player when you're a rookie in the NBA, but LaVar is making things even more difficult for his son with the outlandish things he says or does. If players gang up to guard Lonzo, he will crumble under the pressure. Lavar Ball just guaranteed Lebron will never win a championship in LA without Lonzo. pic.twitter.com/1XBu1LqXJ5 -- NBA/Paint [?] (@NBAPaint1) February 7, 2019 These are grown men in the NBA who don't care who his father is. Lonzo has a target on his back, and there will be no mercy on the court for his father's antics. Opposing players are going to have a field day making life miserable for him. Lonzo's career is going to be over before it ever began. In one interview, LaVar Ball did the following: -Called the Lakers losers -Called Luke Walton the worst coach for Lonzo -Said the Suns would take all 3 of his boys -Said that Lonzo made Kyle Kuzma He's back y'all [?] https://t.co/36KBeS2EuQ -- Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) February 5, 2019 LaVar Ball says some wild stuff, but he believes in and loves his son. He is a positive role model in his son's life. Maybe everyone is just jealous. He's ultra-supportive and really believes in his son's ability to play basketball. Like a good college football coach, he keeps the attention on himself with crazy statements, and Lonzo can just work on improving his game. LaVar Ball isn't lying when he talks about Lonzo Ball, I'm pretty positive his teammates love playing with him because of his special ability to pass & make everyone better. -- Suns Nation (@SunsNationNBA) February 5, 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_lavar_ball_ruining_lonzo_ba_1.html |
What's wrong with the Coyotes' power play and how can it be fixed? | What has been a weakness for the Coyotes all season long is starting to become even more detrimental to the teams success. The Coyotes power play has struggled for the better part of the 2018-19 season. Their 17 percent conversion rate ranked 21st out of 31 NHL teams entering play Thursday. But the Coyotes power-play issues have grown even worse lately. Rookie Conor Garland scored the teams last power-play goal on Jan. 23 in Montreal -- before the All-Star break. Since then, the Coyotes are 0 for their last 14 on the man-advantage. San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) blocks a shot from Arizona Coyotes center Alex Galchenyuk (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. (Photo: Tony Avelar, AP) Special teams is such a big part of the game, Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk said. Weve got to find a way to do better at it. I think we need to be more active as a unit and not waiting for the one person with the puck to make a play. All of us need to attack the net more. Were winning the battles, but we just need to attack the right way. The Coyotes power play is no longer a nagging issue. Its seriously hurting them. The Coyotes led Dallas 2-1 when they were staked to an all-you-can-score, five-minute power play late in the second period, but failed to do anything with it. The Stars quickly flipped the momentum starting the third period and scored three goals in a 71-second span to win the game. A similar disaster unfolded the following night in Nashville. The Coyotes led 1-0 in the second period and a 5-on-3 opportunity for more than 40 seconds, but failed to generate anything resembling a high-quality scoring chance. The Predators quickly gained all the momentum and blitzed for three unanswered goals to clinch the game. I thought we were the better team against San Jose and Dallas in terms of chances and zone possession, Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said of the recent road trip. But when it comes to special teams and high-end situations, (Dallas and Nashville) made the plays and we didnt. Thats the key for us is that, when we get in those moments, we have to seize those moments. One thing to consider is the absence of Nick Schmaltz, expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. When Schmaltz was in the lineup, a stretch of just 16 games, the Coyotes were converting on the power play at 20 percent (10 goals in 50 chances). While 20 percent would only be good enough to rank 17th in the NHL entering play Thursday, Schmaltz added a different dimension to the Coyotes power play. He was extremely effective on the half-wall (the section of boards stretching from the end line to the blue line) and showed a willingness to attack the net as well as spread the puck around. Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz, left, celebrates with Jakob Chychrun after scoring in overtime, as Anaheim Ducks right wing Ondrej Kase skates past in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo: Chris Carlson/AP) That same dynamic has not been present lately. Players such as Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller seem to be jammed up and point men such as Oliver Ekman-Larsson arent generating enough chances from the middle. As a coach, youre looking at your options in a sense where I need Galchenyuk and I need Keller, Tocchet said. ... I dont think thats the proper way, but there needs to be a message to these guys that we need results. We dont need to score but we need momentum. Were not even getting chances on a 5-on-3 and thats upsetting to me. I want to keep rolling these guys out there, but they need to give me something. I need to see more diligence and leadership on that power play. Someone has to be willing to make a read and attack instead of deferring. Were not shooting. Everyone wants to score but nobody wants to do the dirty work. You never want that kind of power play, but thats on me. Ive got to get these guys to do it. Galchenyuk is lauded for his lethal one-timer from the slot, but its a weapon that hasnt been on display much this season. Tocchet said hed like to see Galchenyuk make better reads and get creative when other teams choose to take away his one-timers. As long as Ive coached, I cant stand the mentality of, This is my spot, Tocchet said. Its not your spot. Everybody knows where Alexander Ovechkin is going to be; thats his spot. But if you watch Ovechkin, if you take him away hell go to the net and hell go to the post. And that means (John) Carlson gets a one-timer and he scores or (Niklas) Backstrom hits somebody backdoor because everyone is looking at Ovechkin. You have to make those adjustments on the ice. Tocchet also wants to see more chances generated from the middle of the ice, a reason why rookie defenseman Kyle Capobianco could be the Coyotes next power-play experiment. Capobianco, recalled from AHL Tucson on Jan. 31, runs the Roadrunners power play and could get a look with the Coyotes man-advantage as well. I think Capo is a guy that can shoot the puck hard, Tocchet said. To me, its not the initial shot. Its the second shot because thats when the penalty killers are out of position. Ive tracked power-play goals over the past year. Most power-play goals I think its 80 percent start from something from the middle. Very rarely does it come from somewhere else. For a team already battling more adversity than it can handle the Coyotes were missing nine regulars during Wednesday's game in Nashville due to injuries there is simply no room to give away games in this manner while mired in a Western Conference playoff race. The Coyotes entered play Thursday just three points out of a wild card spot. To close that gap, they'll need to find a way to start taking advantage of their man-advantages. READ MORE: Richard Morin covers the Coyotes and Diamondbacks for azcentral sports. He can be reached at [email protected] and by phone at 480-316-2493. Follow him on Twitter @ramorin_azc. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2019/02/07/whats-wrong-arizona-coyotes-power-play-and-how-can-fixed/2806155002/ |
Why Cant Australia Just Be Normal? | (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Time to liberate Australia's economy. It needs to be freed from folklore thats built up around the 27-year stretch sans recession. The reality is that the expansion waxed and waned during that period. Business cycles aren't dead Down Under, despite Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's only half-joking proposition in November that they are defunct in Australia. It's waning now. That's good because once Australia's economy is seen as normal, subject to ups and downs, then standard policy prescriptions can be deployed. Few things are more standard than monetary policy, which has been on ice for more than two years. It wasn't inconceivable that Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe would serve his seven-year term without moving interest rates up or down. Sure, rates could move higher at some point in the next few years, so most thinking went. Only recently did a few brave souls venture that borrowing costs could move down. Lowe shook complacency this week in a typically thoughtful speech. He called time on the upward bias inherent in even the central bank's stance, shifting to neutral, meaning that a cut in rates is in theory as possible as a hike. Given that Lowe climbed down from a predisposition to hike, the bar to a reduction doesn't look massively high. If Australians are finding jobs and their wages are rising more quickly, it is reasonable to expect that inflation will rise and that it will be appropriate to lift the cash rate at some point. On the other hand it is possible that the economy is softer than we expect, and that income and consumption growth disappoint. In the event of a sustained increase in the unemployment rate and a lack of further progress towards the inflation objective, lower interest rates might be appropriate at some point. The RBA followed Friday by lopping off a chunk of its growth forecast. The economy will now expand 2.5 percent in the year to June, down from a prior projection of 3.25 percent. Not a disaster, but not superhero stuff. The course adjustment can be attributed to anemic household spending, linked to a slide in housing prices, and inflation's failure to ignite despite a fairly robust labor market. Too-low inflation is scarcely a local phenomenon; it's something many central bankers have wrestled with for years. There's also China, where a slowdown has rippled through Asia and beyond. The Reserve Bank didn't invent the narrative of a death-defying economy. The absence of two consecutive drops in gross domestic product during the 2001 and 2008-2009 periods is to be praised. Many things were working in the country's favor then, not least China's rapid growth and its seemingly insatiable demand for resources. That looks sepia-tinged. Australian politicians, past and present, and not a small number of business leaders also fanned the image abroad of the economy as something that needed to be taken to a lab for study. I have never heard Lowe buy into this kind of propaganda. He didn't say the sky is falling in his speech this week walking back the RBA's tightening bias. It's great that he called out some of the heavy-breathing that accompanied the International Monetary Fund's new forecasts and overly excitable media reporting of recent market gyrations. I'm all for perspective. The lens through which the world views Australia could use some cleaning. This economy isn't a freak of nature. It isn't immune from global currents and domestic shoals that erode the outlook. Almost normal. Let it be judged as a normal economy would, not as a legend. (Updates with RBAs Friday statement in the seventh paragraph.) To contact the author of this story: Daniel Moss 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. Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for global economics, and has led teams in Asia, Europe and North America. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion 2019 Bloomberg L.P. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-t-australia-just-normal-190027560.html |
Can the second Trump-Kim summit end the Korean War? | US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are due to meet in Vietman this month (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB) Seoul (AFP) - The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has raised hopes for the longest ceasefire in history to be replaced by a peace treaty. Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice. Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy for North Korea, said last week that Trump was "ready to end this war", fuelling speculation that the formal end of the conflict may be near, with Trump and Kim meeting in Vietnam this month. But analysts say a full peace treaty poses many complications, and will need extensive negotiations. The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two neighbours technically still in a state of conflict. The signatories to the armistice included the US-led United Nations Command, which fought alongside the South's troops, as well as China and North Korea. Declaring an end to the war was one of the agreements at the first summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in last year, but little progress has been made, with the US and the North at loggerheads over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. In his New Year's speech, Kim called for "multi-party negotiations for replacing the current ceasefire... with a peace mechanism in close contact with the signatories to the armistice agreement". For Pyongyang, a peace treaty is vital to regime survival as it will mean "North Korea and the US are no longer enemies", said Koo Kab-woo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. South Korea's dovish Moon -- with a slogan of creating a peninsula "free of war" -- is also a supporter. But Washington has been wary as the treaty could bring into question the justification for its military alliance with Seoul and the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. "The US fears abrupt changes to the regional order will impact its own interests, which won't be good as China flexes its muscles," Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University. A peace treaty would be welcome news for Beijing as it seeks a "reduction of the US role" on the peninsula, Koh added. The possibility is very low, given the complexity of the issue. Koo of the University of North Korean Studies says the deal would require "so many world-changing issues", from amending the constitutions of the two Koreas and re-addressing the role of the US troops. Kim Dong-yub, an analyst at the Seoul-based Institute for Far Eastern Studies, added that negotiations for such a treaty may need more than three years. The more likely scenario is for the concerned parties -- North and South Korea, the US, and China -- to declare a formal end to the war as a political statement. "This will pave the way for a peace treaty," said Go Myong-hyun, an analyst at the Seoul-based Asan Institute of Policy Studies. The South China Morning Post reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in Danang -- a potential venue of the Trump-Kim summit -- for meetings with the American president. Analysts offer differing outlooks but all agree on one aspect: an end to the war will undoubtedly trigger debate about the US troops in South Korea. Chinese forces that fought alongside the North Koreans in the Korean War pulled out of the peninsula in 1956, and with an official end to the conflict, Washington may struggle to justify its military presence in the South. But a peace treaty would also place increased pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme -- which the regime has repeatedly claimed was developed to defend against the United States. "An end-of-war declaration is verbally ending hostile relations," Koh said. "And a peace treaty will finalise it in a legally binding manner." | https://news.yahoo.com/second-trump-kim-summit-end-korean-war-021521751.html |
How Will Members Of Congress Respond To The New Green Deal? | STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: More than 50 lawmakers are co-sponsoring the Green New Deal resolution, which we have published first at npr.org. NPR political editor Domenico Montanaro has been reading, and he's on the line. Good morning, Domenico. DOMENICO MONTANARO, BYLINE: Hey there, Steve. MONTANARO: Well, you know, the - this Green New Deal is obviously something that Democrats want to be able to try to push at least some on the left because it does frame a blueprint of something that's big and bold and broad - to be able to try to break through this sort of gridlock of what to do about climate change. They know that there's something big that has to happen, but nothing has been able to be agreed to. INSKEEP: Although this doesn't actually do any of those things. It just sets a framework for what ought to be done. MONTANARO: Right. There aren't a whole lot of specifics of how to get there, and it's certainly not something that Democratic leadership is going to want to try to put on the floor to try to put moderates in a potentially precarious position because, remember, Democrats did win the House on the backs of moderates because of a lot of those suburban districts that were held by Republicans previously. INSKEEP: When you're talking about moderates, help me understand what you're talking about here, Domenico. You're saying that - I don't know - Texas Democrats, who gained some ground in the last election, might be a little worried about signing on to the idea of phasing out fossil fuels. MONTANARO: Well, and that this costs trillions and trillions of dollars. I mean, the fact is that people want to know how much their energy bill is going to be each month. And that's, frankly, as you know, the biggest thing that you can think about. It's - well, how it affects your paycheck and your pocketbook. And if you have extra money on hand, that's one thing. But figuring out how to actually pay for something like this - and as you talked to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, she didn't have a lot of ideas on how this would actually be paid for aside from taxes and deficit spending. And deficit spending - obviously something that Democrats, like you pointed out, have been critical of Republicans on in some of their tax cuts. MONTANARO: She's going to have to figure out a political strategy because real change - for example, when President Obama was in office, when LBJ was in office to enact the Great Society measures or Obamacare - came from having numbers and assembling coalitions. And that's something she's going to have to learn how to do. INSKEEP: Domenico, thanks very much for the insight. Really appreciate it. MONTANARO: You're welcome. INSKEEP: That's NPR's Domenico Montanaro. And he speaks on this day, when some Democrats will release a Green New Deal resolution. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Copyright 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. | https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/692259110/how-will-members-of-congress-respond-to-the-new-green-deal?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=morningedition |
How will trade impact the Miami Heats rotation? | With Thursdays NBA trade deadline now in the past, the Heat moved forward. Not much different than it looked a few days ago, but different. The Heat didnt make a move on deadline day, but Wednesdays trade that sent Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington to the Suns in exchange for forward Ryan Anderson was enough to shake things up for a group that had mostly remained intact for the better part of three seasons. I think no one on this team expected for us to be together for three years, forward James Johnson said after Thursdays practice in Sacramento. Tyler Johnson developed into a rotation-level NBA player with the Heat after joining the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2014. Ellington first signed with the Heat as a free agent in 2016 and set a career-high and team record with 227 made three-pointers last season. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald I think the most important thing about this is when you make transactions like this, its OK to feel sadness for guys that are going out. I absolutely love Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Thats not going to change. Weve created a bond thats going to transcend this. Yeah, Im not going to feel ashamed of feeling sad about them moving on to other teams. At the same time, the duality is I can feel great gratitude with the opportunity to coach both of them. But as Tyler Johnson prepares to make his Suns debut on Friday and Ellington looks for a new team after being waived by the Suns, Miami moved forward with a Friday game against the Kings looming the second of a five-game West Coast trip. Miami moves forward with a 13-man roster after the two-for-one trade, and Anderson was with the team for Thursdays practice. Teams are allowed to go up to two weeks at a time with 13 players, which forces the Heat to add another player to reach the league minimum of 14. This is a top notch organization, Anderson said in his first interview as a member of the Heat. Obviously Ive known about that, but just to experience it Day 1 is pretty special. To go from an organization thats rebuilding and trying to figure things out to an established organization with great players and real direction and really playing for something year, I cant tell you how excited I am to be a part of this. Aside from the financial implications (trimming a $9.7 million luxury tax bill to $1.8 million), trading away Tyler Johnson and Ellington worked to tighten what was a crowded rotation. With two fewer guards on the roster, it leaves Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, Dwyane Wade and Rodney McGruder as Miamis guards on a team that plays a lot of three-guard lineups. The move should free up additional minutes for Waiters, whos publicly made it clear he wants to play more as hes averaged 19.4 minutes of playing time in a reserve role since returning Jan. 2 from ankle surgery. The trade even opens up a spot in the Heats starting lineup, with the departure of Tyler Johnson leaving a void in the Heats first five. Tyler Johnson made three consecutive starts in the backcourt before the trade. Spoelstra has three options to replace Tyler Johnson in the starting lineup: Wade, Waiters or McGruder. The Heat prefers to keep Wade in his sixth man role, so it could come down to McGruder (who has fallen out of the rotation recently after starting in 44 of Miamis first 45 games) and Waiters (who was the Heats starting shooting guard before he underwent ankle surgery). When asked if Waiters will slide into the starting lineup after Wednesdays trade, Spoelstra said: No, not immediately. Goran [Dragic] is still working his way back and I dont want to necessarily make two changes. But Ive always been open to changing my mind, as well. Spoelstra added that McGruder is going to be in the rotation and he could start, hinting that he would rather wait until Dragic returns to move Waiters into the starting five. Dragic and Waiters formed a nice chemistry in their first season together in 2016-17, calling themselves 7-Eleven because of their uniform numbers. There are still tough rotation decisions in front of Spoelstra even after Wednesdays trade, especially when Dragic returns from right knee surgery at some point after the All-Star break. The Heat is also hopeful forward Derrick Jones Jr. will return in March from his bruised knee. But the Ellington situation, which Spoelstra called the most challenging, most difficult maybe of my entire career, is gone. Ellington had fallen out of rotation and was an active scratch in 15 of the final 20 games of his tenure with the Heat. And by trading Tyler Johnson, it helps ease Miamis minutes crunch at guard. The Heats roster now looks like this: Hassan Whiteside, Bam Adebayo, Kelly Olynyk, Udonis Haslem, James Johnson, Jones, Anderson, Winslow, McGruder, Richardson, Wade, Waiters and Dragic. With Jones and Dragic injured, the Heats nine-man rotation for Fridays game against the Kings is likely to include Whiteside, Adebayo, Olynyk, Johnson, Winslow, Richardson, Wade, Waiters and McGruder. I think we were already developing good role clarification, even as everybody was available, Spoelstra said when asked if Wednesdays trade helped stabilize Miamis rotation. It didnt mean there werent tough decisions. But Im sure this will simplify things, definitely on this road trip. | https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article225706460.html |
Will the EU stop a no-deal Brexit? | Unless an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks, Britain will crash out of the European Union without a deal. The Guardians Jennifer Rankin, Angelique Chrisafis and Kate Connolly dig into the detail. Plus Amelia Gentleman on the resumption of deportation flights to Jamaica after the Windrush scandal Theresa May has been in Brussels this week for more negotiations. Britain and the EU appeared no closer to a Brexit deal, but the tone from Brussels is changing. The European council president, Donald Tusk, said there was a special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without a plan, while the president of the European parliament said a no-deal Brexit would be a an economic and human catastrophe. Joining Anushka Asthana to discuss it all are the Guardians Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin, the Paris correspondent, Angelique Chrisafis, and the Berlin correspondent, Kate Connolly. Also today, Amelia Gentleman, the Guardian journalist who broke the story of the Windrush scandal, on the resumption of deportation flights to Jamaica. | https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2019/feb/08/is-the-eu-ready-for-a-no-deal-brexit-podcast |
Can old-fashioned journalism combat fake news? | Fiction masquerading as news has persisted since the early days of the printing press. But the ease of publication in the Digital Age has made it all the more difficult for readers to sort reported, objective journalism from the chaff of hoaxers and propagandists. Recent years have seen attempts to draw political maps of the media landscape, but efforts to alert readers to bias are susceptible to internal biases as well. Bias, however, is different from outright misinformation. To help people distinguish the genuine from the ersatz, journalist, lawyer, and entrepreneur Steven Brill teamed up with former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz to create NewsGuard, a company that has so far produced nutrition labels for 2,200 sites. NewsGuards methodology is a decidedly old-school approach to a new problem. Instead of using algorithms or other machine-learning tools, NewsGuard has paid dozens of journalists to dig into each site and to contact news organizations for comment. Some critics caution that the effort borders on censorship, while others describe the effort as sensible and a valuable service. Google What is fracking? and one of the top results will be what-is-fracking.com, a cleanly designed website that explains that extracting natural gas through hydraulic fracturing does not contaminate drinking water, does not pollute the air to a significant degree, and helps raise wages in local communities. What the site doesnt explain is who published it. The only hint is a copyright notice, in 10.5-point font at the bottom of each page, linking to api.org. I don't care what you think of fracking, says journalist, lawyer, and entrepreneur Steven Brill. But, he says,you should know that this website, which reads like The Economist, is owned and operated and published by the American Petroleum Institute. Whether created by spammers, grifters, conspiracy theorists, or propagandists, sites that conceal or play down their ownership and financing, blend news with advertising, and routinely publish misinformation are widespread on the internet. And its not always easy to distinguish these sites from the ones operated by those acting in good faith. There are so many sites now that its hard to know which ones are credible and arent credible, says Lisa Fazio, a psychologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville who studies how people process information. It takes a lot of effort and cognitive brainpower to really think through our prior knowledge on a topic, so we tend not to do that. Fake news is, of course, nothing new, nor is the feeling that misinformation is prevailing. Outright lies and misleading narratives masquerading as facts have persisted since the early days of the printing press. But the ease of publication in the Digital Age has made it all the more difficult for readers to sort reported, objective journalism from the chaff of hoaxers and propagandists. Recent years have seen attempts to draw political maps of the media landscape, but efforts to alert readers to bias are susceptible to internal biases as well. For instance, AllSides, a news aggregator that presents news from across the political spectrum, labels MSNBC, the television network that in 2003 canceled Phil Donahues show for being too liberal, as being on the far left. It places Newsmax, a conservative news site that in 2009 laid out how a military coup could be the last resort to resolve the Obama problem, in an equivalent position on the right. Other efforts to map media bias fail to capture the political stances of the publications they rate. For instance, the popular Media Bias Chart created by Ad Fontes Media places the liberal-leaning online news magazine Slate to the left of the unabashedly progressive TV and radio program Democracy Now!, a rating that is laughable to anyone familiar with both news outlets. Ordinary people are, on average, good at identifying media bias, says Gordon Pennycook, a psychologist at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. His research, published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that non-experts across the political spectrum tended to rate mainstream news outlets more trustworthy than low-quality or hyperpartisan sources. But, he says, they aren't so good at determining the quality of mainstream sources. Other efforts to rate the credibility of news outlets rely on machine learning. In 2016, Google gave more than $170,000 to three British firms to develop automated fact-checking software. An old-school approach To help people distinguish the genuine from the ersatz, Mr. Brill and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz created NewsGuard, a company that has so far produced nutrition labels for 2,200 sites, which Brill says account for more than 96 percent of the online news content that Americans see and share. In January Microsofts Edge browser included NewsGuards technology on mobile browser (Edge users can turn it on in Settings). Desktop users running Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers can install NewsGuard as a plugin. NewsGuards methodology is a decidedly old-school approach to a new problem. Instead of using algorithms or other machine-learning tools, NewsGuard has paid dozens of journalists to dig into each site and to contact news organizations for comment. The nutrition labels, which detail each sites ownership, history, advertising policies, and editorial stance, can run more than a thousand words. When we started talking to tech companies about it, they were horrified at how inefficient it is, says Brill. It's actually highly efficient and is the only way to achieve scale. Users with the NewsGuard extension will see a badge appearing on their browser toolbar and next to some hyperlinks a green one with a checkmark for sites rated as credible, a red one with an exclamation point for those rated as not, and a yellow Thalia mask for satire sites like The Onion and ClickHole. Click on a badge, and youll see how NewsGuard rates the site according to nine criteria, including objective measures like whether it clearly labels advertising or provides biographies or contact information for the writers, as well as more subjective ones like gathers and presents information responsibly. A screenshot showing NewsGuard's rating system for news outlets. NewsGuard awards full marks to mainstream news sites like The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post. (The Christian Science Monitor also gets top grades.) Far-right sites like Breitbart and InfoWars get failing grades. Not surprisingly, what-is-fracking.com also gets a red badge. Human-powered, with human biases NewsGuards rating system occasionally produces results that have raised eyebrows. Al Jazeera, the Qatari state-funded news outlet credited with helping to spread the 2010-11 Arab Spring protests, gets a failing grade for not disclosing its ownership and for painting Qatar in a favorable light. Boing Boing, a 30-year-old webzine generally held in high regard by tech journalists, is also tagged as unreliable for blurring the lines between news, opinion, and advertising, claims that Boing Boings editors have disputed. Because its powered by human beings, NewsGuard can fall prey to the same human biases that afflict news organizations. For instance, NewsGuards label for The New York Times includes a discussion of the 2003 Jayson Blair scandal and the discredited reporting in 1931 by Stalin apologist Walter Duranty, but it contains no mention of the papers reporting before the US-led invasion of Iraq, in which the Times, by its own admission, was insufficiently critical in accepting official claims about weapons of mass destruction. When asked why no mention of the pre-invasion reporting was on the label, Brill said, It should be there; it will end up there. Adam Johnson, an analyst for the nonprofit media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, says that NewsGuard fails to account for how mainstream news outlets can manufacture false narratives. If any other country used a fake-news plugin to flag false information, he continues, we would call it what it is: censorship. Brill acknowledges that NewsGuards isnt a panacea. We are not solving all the problems of the world, he says. If we existed in the run-up to the Iraq war, you would not have seen a red mark on the Timess reporting on WMDs. But, he says, his company offers an improvement over how social networks like Facebook and news aggregators like Google News determine which news sites are credible. Those companies keep their process secret, they say, so that people wont be able to game their system. We love it when people game our system, says Brill. We now have 466 examples of websites that have changed something about what they do in order to get a higher score. To me [NewsGuard] sounds very sensible, says Professor Pennycook. But, he says, the people who are going to go out of their way to install this thing, theyre not the people were worrying about. NewsGuards labels may represent a less heavy-handed way of dealing with misinformation than what some Silicon Valley companies have proposed. In 2017, for instance, Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Alphabet, Googles parent company, said that it should be possible for Googles algorithms to detect misinformation and delist or de-prioritize it on search-engine results pages, an approach that Mr. Johnson calls creepy and dystopian. I dont really believe in de-prioritizing, says Brill, who says he would be uncomfortable licensing his technology to companies that would hide sites flagged as unreliable. Our view is that people ought to have the chance to see everything. Still, NewsGuards ranking system, if widely adopted, would likely influence whether people choose to read or share certain stories. In a Gallup poll commissioned by NewsGuard, more than 60 percent of respondents said they were less likely to share stories from sites that were labeled as unreliable. Its this binary approach to news that rankles Johnson. People arent children, he says. They should be able to navigate information online without a US corporate, billionaire-funded report card telling them whats real or not. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Robert Matney, the director of communications for New Knowledge, an Austin-based cybersecurity company that the US Senate commissioned to investigate Russias efforts to influence US politics, notes that the strength of companies like NewsGuard lies not necessarily in their ratings, but in the way they educate the public. Encouraging news/media literacy by enabling consumers to learn more about sources is a valuable service, he writes via email. | https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2019/0207/Can-old-fashioned-journalism-combat-fake-news |
Are Headlam Group plcs Returns On Capital Worth Investigating? | Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Today we are going to look at Headlam Group plc (LON:HEAD) to see whether it might be an attractive investment prospect. Specifically, well consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. First, well go over how we calculate ROCE. Second, well look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. Finally, well look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. All else being equal, a better business will have a higher ROCE. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets Current Liabilities) Or for Headlam Group: 0.16 = UK42m (UK471m UK199m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2018.) Therefore, Headlam Group has an ROCE of 16%. ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. It appears that Headlam Groups ROCE is fairly close to the Retail Distributors industry average of 16%. Independently of how Headlam Group compares to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears decent, and the company may be worthy of closer investigation. LSE:HEAD Last Perf February 8th 19 More When considering this metric, keep in mind that it is backwards looking, and not necessarily predictive. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. Headlam Groups Current Liabilities And Their Impact On Its ROCE Short term (or current) liabilities, are things like supplier invoices, overdrafts, or tax bills that need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. Headlam Group has total assets of UK471m and current liabilities of UK199m. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 42% of its total assets. With this level of current liabilities, Headlam Groups ROCE is boosted somewhat. What We Can Learn From Headlam Groups ROCE Headlam Groups ROCE does look good, but the level of current liabilities also contribute to that. You might be able to find a better buy than Headlam Group. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). | https://news.yahoo.com/headlam-group-plc-returns-capital-054726448.html |
Why was I sent an iPhone when I asked to cancel my order? | Two months ago I ordered a reconditioned iPhone for 598.50 from Quick Mobile Fix. Two weeks later it had not been dispatched so I cancelled and was promised a refund. A month on, the unwanted handset arrived. I returned it but no refund. VT, Liverpool Quick Mobile Fix says it told its courier you no longer wanted the parcel but it was delivered for some reason out of our control. The refund was delayed because it changed its card processing provider. You have been refunded and Quick Mobile Fix has switched to Royal Mail. 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/08/iphone-mobile-quick-fix-delivery-refund |
Why is it so easy to fall in love while travelling? | Amidst the nail-clipping, chair-reclining, bare-feet-on-back-of-seat horror stories we hear from 40,000 feet in the air, a survey last summer from HSBC tells a far better tale: Of 5,000 travellers from 141 countries, one in 50 lucky flyers will de-plane having met the love of their life. All of the above, perhaps. But if you dont find true love in the air, alls not lost just yet. A 2014 survey from Intrepid Travel found more than 10 per cent of Australian travellers reported falling in love proper while on holidays; casual hook-ups by singletons, on the other hand, are had by one in three, according to a separate 2011 study from Liverpool John Moores University. Still, it seems every avid traveller has a sexy story or two to tell about striking up relationships on the road. Some last forever, most do not, but vacation love of all forms has this in common: Its efficient, effortless and, thanks to biology, might be unavoidable. Story continues below advertisement The nitty-gritty business of travelling selecting a new locale, running to catch a connecting flight, navigating a different city map all flood your brain with adrenaline. While we typically view stress as bad, there is such a thing as positive stress (aka eustress," which gets far less attention than its foil, distress). Good stress includes first-date jitters, climbing a mountain, waiting for your water to break and, of course, adventure travel. Physiological arousal isnt necessarily sexual, but your brain cant necessarily tell the difference. The heart beats faster and blood flows more quickly and then, according to a study from Illinois McKendree University, higher adrenaline makes you more likely to find people more attractive. When you meet someone under conditions that are physiologically arousing, youre more likely to be attracted to them, says Dr. Arthur Aron, professor of psychology at Stony Brook University in New York. Long before excitation-transfer theory became widely accepted, Aron looked at meetings atop a fear-arousing suspension bridge, where participants reported higher levels of sexual attraction amidst conditions of higher anxiety. A 2013 study at the University of Texas found similar results when people rated others better looking after riding a roller coaster. In pop culture, the phenomenons dubbed The Bachelor Effect and, in all seriousness, is why contestants on reality dating shows are always bungee jumping and flying in helicopters. People on vacation often put themselves in novel and exciting situations, which can have the same physiological effects on your body as falling in love, explains Melissa Lem, a Vancouver-based family physician (and avid traveller). Combine this with a sense of urgency because vacations only last for so long youve got a recipe for accelerated emotional attachment. Elaisha Stokes, a New York-based foreign correspondent and globetrotter, agrees: A limited time frame intensifies things, she says, because you know from day one that the relationship is finite, so you give yourself over to it completely. Other more tangible factors are also at play. First, setting: warm breezes, dreamy sunsets, palm trees. Next, practicalities: open bars, little swimsuits, ample free time, no dishes or laundry. For women in particular, that last factor is a turn-on and a half. Womens desire is completely responsive, says University of British Columbia sex researcher Dr. Lori Brotto, citing fresh sheets, more rest and extra energy as reasons women might be feeling frisky. Theres nothing special about the walls in that Holiday Inn; its simply about elimination of all the things that dampen desire at home. Also far from mind are the politics of dating proper. You can skip the awkward first-date talk (so do you have any siblings?) in favour of a shared experience already in action. similar values?) arent important. The only thing that matters is your attraction and willingness to be open with this completely different person. While most travel crushes will eventually end and be filed away into the memory bank, a rare few are the real thing. Kris Rieger, 41, spent a week on a Mexican beach not knowing his total vacation fling was actually his wife-to-be, a single bridesmaid at a destination wedding. We spent our first night up talking until 5 a.m., he says. Vacation gives you the space to do that stuff. It took six months of post-trip emailing for the couple to acknowledge that, despite all odds, they were serious. Rieger relocated from Montreal to Toronto and five years later they got hitched. If youre lucky enough to find the right person, can navigate the transition back to the real world and dismiss the expectation that things will be as easy as they were in paradise, then you might have a chance, he says with a laugh. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/article-why-is-it-so-easy-to-fall-in-love-while-travelling/ |
Is the #MeToo movement killing mentorship opportunities for women? | Recently at the Davos Forum, The New York Times reported on anxieties that men expressed about mentoring women. Perhaps it's because of the continuing fallout of the #MeToo movement, which led to more than 200 prominent men losing their positions. There appears to be an emerging concern that cross-gender mentoring should be approached with caution. But this conflates the serious issue of harassment with boundary setting. Effective and impactful mentoring should be cognizant of gender identity, but not limited by it. I've been conducting research on mentoring for over a decade, and much of my work looks at cross-gender mentoring, mainly because the numbers of women in leadership roles is so low. In many cases, the only mentorship available to junior women is from men. That's why the thought of men shying away from mentoring women is so troubling, because it has severe implications for ability of women to advance in leadership. And it is particularly true for women of color, who often experience double marginalization in organizations that are male-dominated and predominantly white. Mentoring can't be done at arm's length. Mentoring, by definition, is a close relationship between a junior person and a senior person in an organization. There are types of developmental relationships that eschew the personal, such as role modeling, sponsorship and coaching. But mentoring means a connection between career development and personal development. And frankly, not everyone is suited to serve as a mentor to any junior person: the match matters, personality and interest-wise. Many organizations still have glass ceilings that prevent women from advancing to the highest levels of leadership. For men in these organizations, the responsibility to provide access to pathways of leadership is profound. It is unlikely that women leaders will emerge without the support and nurturing of supportive mentors. A major reason behind this emerging concern is something theorists term toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is not defining men as problematic, but rather, the socially sanctioned behavior of men that validates aggression and status-climbing. The term sometimes pops up after mass shootings or domestic violence incidents, but it also manifests itself in the workplace when some men feel their everyday interactions with women are at risk of accusations of harassment so their solution is to avoid women altogether. But here is the reality: It is entirely possible to develop close, supportive relationships that entirely avoid harassment. Leaders have a responsibility to understand the ethics of organizational behavior. Opting out of engagement with women essentially embraces the idea that men are unable to control their behavior, or lack judgment about what constitutes appropriate conduct. In fact, this belief is an affront to the professionalism and obligations of male leaders. It would be inappropriate for anyone to purposely avoid a colleague out of fear of a false accusation of impropriety. Justifying this choice is the essence of a mind-set that limits the potential for mentorship across gender identities. There is a large space between supportive mentoring and harassment: sharing work projects, interpersonal networks and identifying strengths and weaknesses in a rsum should not trigger a response in male mentors to retreat. Men who mentor junior women have a responsibility to ensure their protgs are protected and treated as emerging leaders and valued members of the organization who bring impressive skills to work, and who are equals in potential and aspirations. | https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/02/08/metoo-movement-killing-mentorship-opportunities-women |
What happened to the fight against racist monuments after Charlottesville? | Though national news outlets are paying less attention, efforts to remove Confederate statues and other memorials are alive and well Shortly after the horror of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, there was extensive reporting on the snap decisions of many cities and counties to remove commemorations of the Confederacy, many of which were erected long after the conclusion of the war. Eighteen months later, the national news cycle has largely moved on. The good news that most media, aside from small local outlets, are not covering is the continuing success of grassroots activists fighting to remove statues and plaques, rename landmarks and delete dedications from state houses. One example of this progress is in Jefferson county, West Virginia, where a freshly minted state house delegate is celebrating a victory after a public fight over a plaque outside a courthouse. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Slaves were once sold on the steps of the Jefferson county courthouse and the trial for the Harpers Ferry raider John Brown was held there. Photograph: Michael S Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images It began in 2017, in the wake of the rally, when activists sought to have a bronze plaque commemorating Confederate soldiers which was only affixed in 1966 removed from the local courthouse. The Jefferson county native Sammi Brown was in another state doing activist work when she received the call from local activists. In the wake of Charlottesville, she says, there was heightened concern, especially from members of the community who had seen [the] civil rights [movement] and had seen segregation, and who were afraid that all that could happen again. Read more The original call to remove the plaque had come from a group of older African American women. They called and said, We need your help, said Brown, who flew home to attend a hearing about the plaque. Facebook Twitter Pinterest This plaque honoring Confederate soldiers is just feet from the entrance to the Jefferson county courthouse. Photograph: Michael S Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images Other attendees at the public meeting ceded their time to allow Brown to speak longer, but the county board president refused to allow her to continue, and ordered that she be forcibly removed. That meeting, which voted to keep the plaque, drew national coverage. What went less noticed was the way that the debate around the plaque influenced subsequent elections Brown made a second run for the state house and won. The plaque was removed in December after many heated debates and another commission vote. It was a victory for what Brown calls a movement that is finally being heard. As last weekends failed rally at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta shows, white nationalists are struggling post-Charlottesville to muster any real numbers in defense of pro-Confederate monuments and are still facing serious pushback from counter-protesters. Meanwhile, despite a recent setback in Virginia, which is still refusing to pass a bill allowing local authorities to remove monuments, progress has been made, and the movement against monuments and memorials continues to grow. Texas A plaque in the state capitol erected in 1959 by the Children of the Confederacy was removed in January. The state preservation board voted to remove it at the Dallas-area representative Eric Johnsons request, which came days after Charlottesville, and are now considering what to do with it. Florida A group of representatives from Confederate organizations attempting to prevent the removal of a statue in Lakeland lost their lawsuit last week after a judge ruled that it was a matter of government speech, not free speech. The city is planning to relocate the monument from a park to a cemetery, where it will stand alongside monuments to veterans of other wars. North Carolina A statue in downtown Winston-Salem, which has been repeatedly vandalized, was scheduled to be removed on 31 January after the city council pointed to safety reasons for taking it out of the downtown area. But the Daughters of the Confederacy, who erected the statue in 1905, are engaged in legal action to keep it in place. The land it stands on is privately owned, which means the councils move would not violate state laws that prevent the removal of statues on public property. Wisconsin The college town of Madison has a 4,000lb Confederate cenotaph erected in a cemetery in 1906 commemorating the Confederate dead (even though 12,000 men from the state died fighting for the Union). In October, the city council voted to remove it after sustained pressure from activists and a continuing community debate. It plans to put the monument in a museum. Nevada Nevadas third-highest peak, named for the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, could be renamed. After Charlottesville, the Shoshone tribe began campaigning to return the peak to its original name, Doso Doyabi, which means white mountain. In January, the Nevada board of geographic names voted to recommend the name change to the federal government. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/racism-confederate-statues-taken-down |
Why Are The UK's Women Still Not Getting Their Fair Share Of Business Funding? | The under-representation of women during the UKs recent renaissance of entrepreneurialism has been an enduring frustration: while start-ups and scale-up businesses have attracted ever-more funding from investors, male-run enterprises have dominated. And the bad news is that the story here may even be deteriorating. New data from the market research group Beauhurst reveals that 254 female-founded companies picked up funding of 570m during 2018. If you think thats encouraging, thing again the figure was down from 650m in 2017. And while its true that male-founded companies also received less funding last year, amid a general slowdown in investment in start-ups and scale-ups, female founders appear to be faring worse. There were 15 per cent fewer investments in female-founded companies in 2018, compared with a drop of only 6 per cent amongst male-founded businesses. Everywhere you look, the statistics make depressing reading. Female entrepreneurs secured just 8 per cent of the total amount of equity funding invested in start-ups and scale-ups last year, the same percentage as in 2017, but down on the 13% achieved in 2016. The average deal involving a business run by a female founder was worth 2.33m, compared to 5.43m amongst the men. In short, male entrepreneurs continue to attract more investment than their female counterparts and not only do they find it easier to persuade backers to invest, theyre also more successful in securing larger sums. The data could hardly be more disappointing. All the more so given the increasing effort to focus on female entrepreneurs, from support networks set up specifically with the needs of women in mind to investment networks and funds that deliberately target female-founded companies. Even women who do manage to pick up investment support appear to be struggling to secure further rounds of funding. Beauhursts statistics show that 40 per cent of female-founded companies raising money between 2011 and 2018 are still stuck at the seed stage of their growth cycle. Amongst male-founded companies, this figure falls to 28 per cent. Its not a happy picture. For all the bold talk from banks, venture capitalists and private equity firms so often male-dominated themselves about investing more in female entrepreneurship, little progress is being made on the ground. The disconnect is particularly obvious when you compare data from the venture capital sector to whats being achieved on crowdfunding platforms, which attract a broader spread of investors, including non-professionals. While venture capital firms put only 13 per cent of their investment capital into female-founded businesses last year, the figure on crowdfunding platforms was 20 per cent. Clearly, theres an opportunity here for investors to work with the best female-led businesses currently missing out on funding. In a competitive market to provide growth capital, it makes sense for investors to target under-exploited areas, and female entrepreneurs are an obvious example. More broadly, however, its clear that were going to need to work much harder to get funding to women-led businesses all the warm words on this issue of recent years, from policymakers to investors, dont appear to have translated into much action. Too many businesses with huge potential are struggling to secure the backing they deserve. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidprosser/2019/02/08/why-are-the-uks-women-still-not-getting-their-fair-share-of-business-funding/ |
What can the New Orleans Pelicans get for Anthony Davis this summer? | (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) Anthony Davis trade request didnt see the 25-year-old superstar get moved prior to the NBA trade deadline. Now, the New Orleans Pelicans can sit back and deal Davis in the offseason. After an initial offer that included Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly offered Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and Josh Hart as well as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and two first-round picks. Ultimately, the Pelicans balked at the offer and instead opted to wait until the summer to see what other offers can get put on the table. Heres a look at what the Pelicans can look forward to talking about once the season is over: | https://www.nola.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/897be625a05311/what-can-the-new-orleans-pelicans-get-for-anthony-davis-this-summer.html |
What are the odds for Oregon State, Oregon and others to win NCAA mens basketball title? | Oregon State has a better record and a road win over Oregon, but the Ducks have lower odds to win the NCAA mens basketball championship, according to betting lines provided by BetOnline.ag. The Ducks (14-9, 5-5 Pac-12) are 150-1 to win this years tournament, while Oregon State (14-7, 6-3) is 250-1. One month ago, the Ducks were 80-1, and the Beavers werent on the board. The lowest odds among Pac-12 teams are current leader Washington, which is 50-1. A month ago, the Huskies were 150-1. Other Pac-12 teams listed are Arizona and Arizona State at 100-1, and UCLA at 150-1. The current favorite is Duke at 5-2. Tennessee and Virginia are co-second choices at 7-1, followed by Gonzaga at 8-1, Kentucky and Michigan at 10-1 and North Carolina at 12-1. Other notables are Nevada at 16-1, Kansas at 25-1 and San Francisco at 500-1. --Nick Daschel | [email protected] | @nickdaschel | https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2019/02/what-are-the-odds-for-oregon-state-oregon-and-others-to-win-ncaa-mens-basketball-title.html |
Why has Roger Stone become a critic in NFL concussion settlement? | Roger Stone has emerged as an unlikely critic of the NFL concussion settlement over the last several weeks, and the indicted former associate of President Donald Trump has been a go-to source for a lawyer involved in litigation, according to a federal court filing obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Stop the racism and pay up! Stone wrote in part on an Instagram post Monday that featured a player card of former Seattle Seahawks defensive back Cornell Webster, who is black. Christopher Seeger, co-lead counsel for the class of retired NFL players that helped craft the settlement, wrote in a Tuesday filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania the same federal court that handled the settlement that Florida-based attorney Patrick Tighe "appears to be a go-to source for Roger Stone." Roger Stone, the self-described dirty trickster and a focus of the on-going Russia investigation by Robert Mueller, has been peddling conspiracy theories and trash-talk about the Settlement since January 2018, Seeger wrote. Tighe, who represents Webster and about 90 other former NFL players, denied any association with Stone in an interview with USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "I have nothing to do with Roger Stone," Tighe said. "I have not hired Roger Stone and he's not an agent of mine." Asked why Stone has become interested in the concussion settlement and Webster's case in particular, Tighe replied, "Your guess is as good as mine." Webster suffers neurological consequences consistent with traumatic brain injury, Tighe said. Messages left with Webster by USA TODAY Sports were not returned. Webster is among the more than 20,000 retired players players covered by the concussion settlement that became final in January 2017. As of this week, more than $617 million has been approved and $425 million has been paid for claims out of 2,312 applications received by the administrator overseeing the settlement. Federal agents arrested Stone at his Florida home Jan. 25 after a federal grand jury indicted the longtime political consultant on charges related to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Last week, he pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, which included: a count of obstruction of an official proceeding, five counts of false statements, and a count of witness tampering. American political consultant Roger Stone. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports) Stone has taken aim at U.S. District Judge Anita Brody, who has presided over the settlement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and others involved in the settlement in columns and appearances on conservative-leaning websites like the Daily Caller, as well as far-right fringe sites known for peddling conspiracy theories, such as Gateway Pundit and InfoWars. "This is the biggest scandal surrounding the NFL in the wake of the biggest profits in their history. This is a scandal worthy of a presidential tweet," Stone wrote in a Daily Caller op-ed. The NFL and their co-conspirators are blatantly screwing brain injured retired NFL players, to keep the NFLs billionaire owners pockets lined, while feigning compassion, Stone wrote on Gateway Pundit last month. All with the blessing of Senior Federal Judge of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Anita Brody." Critics have voiced concerns over shortcomings in the concussion settlement, but Stone and Tighe most recently have honed in on a ruling by Brody last month that was so in-the-weeds only legal sites covered it. Brody sided with lawyers representing the former players over the NFL when it came to generally consistent criteria on how doctors determine the level of disability for each former player. Stone lawyers Grant J. Smith and Bruce S. Rogow told USA TODAY Sports they had no information on why Stone has taken an interest in the NFL concussion settlement and declined further comment. Follow A.J. Perez on Twitter. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/02/08/roger-stone-nfl-concussions-donald-trump-russia/2794064002/ |
What will National Park Service do with shipwreck off NC? | Visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore this week have been given a concrete reminder of why the coast off North Carolina is called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Locked in the sand off Cape Point is the haunting mast-like rigging of the trawler Big John, which mysteriously flipped over Monday and broke apart, spreading hazardous wreckage debris for a mile. Three crewman survived. The debris on the beach has been removed, but the tough-to-reach rigging remains offshore days later, looking like the foundered brigantine. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer SHARE COPY LINK A fishing ship broke apart in the Outer Banks on February 4, spreading debris for more than mile on beaches at Cape Point. Seventy volunteers showed up the next day to pick up parts of the shrimp trawler Big John. The National Park Service told the Charlotte Observer Friday that it has decided not to leave the wreckage as a curiosity piece for tourists visiting Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The remaining parts of this particular shipwreck are scheduled to be removed from the beach by (Friday) afternoon, Cape Hatteras spokesman Mike Barber told the Observer. A company out of Beaufort was hired to remove the rigging and take it away. Barber didnt say where the wreckage would end up, but the ocean off the Outer Banks is notorious for being a final resting place for more than 2,000 shipwrecks. Bulldozers were being used to haul the wreckage off, according to photos sent from the park service. In some areas, blockade runners from the Civil War and retired World War II troop transport ships can actually be seen sticking out of the water at low tide. In others cases, century-old shipwrecks are revealed when storms peal away beach sands, revealing old schooners ships buried underneath. The unusually large number of shipwrecks is due to Cape Hatters location at a spot where warm Gulf Stream waters collide with the Arctic Current, explains NCPedia.org. The result is a treacherous spot where sands constantly shift and ships can easily run aground, says the site. Included in some of the shipwrecks is treasure waiting to be found. Over the past two years, the shipwreck exploration groups Blue Water Ventures International and Endurance Exploration Group have found hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold coins from two wrecks off the Carolinas. SHARE COPY LINK A 2,400-square-foot home on the Outer Banks is crumbling into the ocean near the Rodanthe Pier. Video shows part of the home's support structure being torn away by the waves. Video by Chicamacomico Banks Water Rescue | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article225971815.html |
How Did Motorola Solutions' Software Business Fare In Q4? | Motorola Solutions published a better than expected set of Q4 2018 results on Thursday, driven by strong land mobile radio sales in the Americas and the EMEA region as well as continued growth of the companys software business. While quarterly revenues grew by roughly 15% to $2.3 billion, adjusted earnings grew by 25% to $2.63 per share. For Q1 2019, the company has guided for year-over-year revenue growth of about 11%, with its adjusted earnings projected to come in between $1.11 to $1.16 per share. We will focus this note on the companys services and software operations, which are likely to be a key driver of its business in the long-run. Our interactive dashboard analysis on what to expect from Motorola Solutions in 2019 outlines our expectations for the company for 2019. We note that that the model has yet to be updated for the Q4 and FY18 earnings release. Services And Software Business Updates Motorola Solutions software and services sales expanded by roughly 12% to $584 million, driven by growth across its geographic markets. The backlog for the segment also rose from about $6.2 billion in Q3 to around $7.4 billion, driven primarily by multi-year services agreements in the Americas as well as the extension of the contract for the companys Airwave digital radio network in the United Kingdom. Motorola has been doubling down on command center software which is essentially an end-to-end solution that integrates intelligence and analytics with dispatch systems via a comprehensive software suite. The focus on the command center could bode well for the companys radio and video surveillance products as well, as it ties them together as a single platform, potentially improving stickiness. For instance, in January, the company acquired VaaS, a provider of AI-driven image capture and analysis technology for vehicle location, in order to expand its command center software portfolio. Services and Software adjusted operating margins have also been steadily expanding, coming in at about 28.1% of sales compared to 25.7% in the prior year, driven by a higher mix of software sales, which have better margins. The company expects the metric to increase further to about 30% for FY19. While overall Services and Software growth is expected to be in the high-single digits in the long run, the company expects to see double-digit growth in its software sales, proving accretive to the segments margins. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/08/how-did-motorola-solutions-software-business-fare-in-q4/ |
Can Viacom Turn Around Its Core Business In Fiscal 2019? | Viacom recently announced mixed Q1 results, as its earnings per share came in ahead of market expectations but revenues missed. The companys total revenue increased 1% year-over-year (y-o-y) to $3.1 billion. Overall, revenues at Media Networks declined 2% y-o-y, due to an advertising decline as a result of the negative impact of foreign exchange rates on international operations. In addition, Bumblebee contributed to a strong theatrical performance in Q1 for Paramount. The results were driven by growth in worldwide affiliate revenues, Filmed Entertainment revenues, benefits from cost transformation efforts, continued year-over-year improvement in Filmed Entertainment operating income and lower interest expense due to the companys deleveraging actions. Furthermore, Viacoms operating income grew 4% y-o-y and its adjusted earnings per share grew 9% y-o-y in Q1. Viacom also acquired free streaming television platform Pluto TV for $340 million, a deal which is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Our $35 price estimate for Viacoms stock is slightly ahead of the current market price. We have created an interactive dashboard on How Did Viacom Fare In Q1 which outlines our detailed analysis of the companys earnings as well as our forecast for the companys full-year fiscal 2019 results. You can modify our forecasts to see the impact any changes would have on the companys earnings. Going forward, we expect Viacom to continue to post an increase in earnings and revenue growth rate in Q2, driven by growth in affiliate revenues, strength at Paramount, and savings from its cost transformation. Future Outlook For fiscal 2019, Viacom expects its adjusted operating income to return to full-year profitability at Filmed Entertainment and expects a low single-digit decline at Media Networks. In the same period, the company also expects to benefit from lower interest expense. Viacoms top line growth in fiscal 2019 is expected to be accompanied by investments in AMS, digital, next-generation products and its studio initiative, which may pressure margins. These investments could be partially offset, however, by the benefits of its cost transformation initiatives, which remain on track to deliver over $300 million in run-rate annual savings in fiscal 2019 and beyond. In fact, these savings are expected to largely drop to the bottom line as well. In terms of top line, the company expects growth in the mid-single-digits on a constant currency basis, with growth at both Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment. Media Networks Outlook In terms of domestic affiliate revenues, Viacom expects to see low single-digit growth in fiscal 2019, helped by rate escalators, the multi-platform expansion of products based on its IP, and continued virtual MVPD growth. For domestic advertising sales, the company anticipates a negative impact of approximately 100 basis points in Q2 due to the shift of the Easter holiday into Q3. However, the company expects domestic ad sales to return to growth in the back half. Advertising sales will benefit from strong upfront pricing and significant growth in revenues from Advanced Marketing Solutions. On a constant currency basis, the segments total expenses are expected to grow in the low- to mid-single-digit range. AMS is designed to help Viacom earn more revenue from emerging advertising platforms. The company has seen its advertising revenue decline year-over-year as ratings across its linear cable TV channels have suffered. In order to address this problem, the company is offering brand solutions ranging from consulting, creative and social campaign services, alongside its video inventory. This platform continues to be an engine of growth, as it increased 54% in Q1. The company expects this business to accelerate into 2019 as well, and represent about 15% t0 20% of total domestic ad sales. Filmed Entertainment Outlook In fiscal 2019, Viacom expects to see strong top-line growth driven by the new slate strategy, continued momentum in TV production, as well as continued improvements in the monetization of Paramounts film library. Paramounts 2019 upcoming slate includes animated feature Wonder Park, horror classic Pet Sematary, and the Elton John biopic Rocketman. Putting this all together, the company expects low single-digit growth in fiscal 2019. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/08/can-viacom-turn-around-its-core-business-in-fiscal-2019/ |
Does The NIH Deserve A Piece Of Biopharma's Profits? | It is no surprise that the 116th Congress has opened with hearings on drug pricing - a bipartisan issue. It is also no surprise that as the newer members of Congress are digging into this, old issues are again resurfacing and new outrage is being expressed with the role of the NIH in drug discovery touching a big nerve. The following exchange at a hearing last week between Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Professor Aaron Kesselheim of Harvard has generated special attention. So the public is acting as an early investor in the production of these drugs. Is the public receiving any sort of direct return on that investment from the highly profitable drugs that are developed from that research? AK: No, in most cases there is - when those products are eventually handed off to a for-profit company, there arent licensing deals that bring money back into the coffers of the NIH. That usually doesnt happen. AOC: So the public is acting as an early investor, putting tons of money in the development of drugs that then become privatized, and then they receive no return on the investment that they have made. AK: Right. Such Congressional inquiries are not unique. Back in 2013, Sen. Ron Wyden sent an open letter to NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins urging the NIH to reexamine its policies to protect the interests of tax payers. The NIH and its mission deserve strong support yet citizens remain concerned about public dollars being used to research and develop drugs and treatments which are then commercialized with the public getting the short shrift. Scientific advances rarely happen overnight or as the result of any single agreement a partnership, CRADA or license. But there should be a mechanism in place that ensures that the return on taxpayer investment is considered. My bottom line: When taxpayer-funded research is commercialized, the public deserves a real return on its investment. Wydens letter was triggered by the approval of the rheumatoid arthritis drug, Xeljanz, which emanated from an early Pfizer NIH collaboration. Ironically, in the 1980s, Congress was concerned about U.S. industry competitiveness, particularly with respect to the timely transfer of technology from government labs to the private sector. Thus, in 1986 it passed the Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA) which allowed government labs like the NIH to enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with biopharma companies. With CRADAs in place, scientists at the NIH were allowed to conduct collaborative research with industry scientists to promote the discovery of new drugs. Unfortunately, the collaborations that were expected to boom once the FTTA was passed never materialized. Thats because the NIH policy was that the price of any resulting product would have to reflect the taxpayers investment. In effect, the government would have the right to control the price of any drug that came out of such a collaboration. Naturally, industry avoided such collaborations like the plague. That all changed in 1995. NIH Director and Nobel Laureate, Dr. Harold Varmus recognized the problem and ended this policy. As a result, NIH industry collaborations began to flourish. It is safe to say that this change has helped spur the discovery and development of the drugs now reaching the marketplace drugs for AIDS, Cancer, chronic diseases and rare diseases. But it is also important to ponder the question raised years ago by Eugene Fitzgerald and Andreas Wankerl : Are national expenditures on research and development like other government spending or are they a national investment? The same question undoubtedly arose 80 years ago as Vannevar Bush and Karl Taylor Compton at MIT foresaw that the use of national resources to fund science and technology research could change the course of warfare. Through a partnership between universities, government and industry, the R&D investments resulted in U.S. defense technology coming of age just in time for World War II. With an even greater vision at the end of the war, Bush portended that such national expenditures in science and technology would have broad, non-defense implications for a national economy. President Obama (in his 2011 State of the Union address) summarized the subsequent success by recalling the space-race investments, with which we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. In fact, every nation climbing the global economic ladder has followed the U.S. model. The investment by the U.S. in basic R&D has fueled growth across other industries beyond defense and space. The basic technology that underpins the iPhone, things like the touch screen and the lithium battery have their roots in government funded research. Yet we wouldnt dream to ask Apple to give the American people discounts on their iPhone purchases so the American people can get a return on their investment. One might argue that the actual return on investment is the enormous tax bill that Apple pays every year along with the 80,000 people Apple employs in the U.S. Unfortunately, many government officials believe that the crucial part in the development of a new medicine is the first step taken in basic science at a research institute like the NIH. Yes, that work is important. However, it is the equivalent of running the first mile of a 26.2 mile marathon. You still have 25.2 miles to go and each mile gets more difficult as you progress. In the Xeljanz story, an important observation made at the NIH by Dr. John OShea led to a CRADA signed with Pfizer scientists. After 19 years of hard work by hundreds of scientists and a Pfizer investment of well over a billion dollars, Xeljanz was available to rheumatoid arthritis patients. Decades ago, the U.S. believed that investments in research were important for the public good 49 vb for our defense, for our health and for our economic prosperity. Furthermore, any progress coming from these investments has to be broadly disseminated and made available so that they can be capitalized on. Yet, these projects are taken on by industry with great risk. Less than 5% of these programs actually lead to a successful drug. Should Congress decide to reinstitute payback provisions on drugs that emanate from work done by the NIH, we will go back to the situation that existed in the 1980s. Companies will shy away from any contact with programs that can be perceived to have ties with government agencies. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnlamattina/2019/02/08/does-the-nih-deserve-a-piece-of-biopharmas-profits/ |
What Are the Top 10 Best Value Colleges? | Unlike buying something in a store, when it comes to college shopping, you have to ignore the price tag. It may not even apply to you. The real price tag for any college is your net cost, that is, what you pay after financial aid and discounts are applied. The problem is that most college shoppers get spooked by that first price tag and don't apply. Net cost is what determines the best value for a college. It's also counter-intuitive. The colleges with the lowest net costs may have the highest price tags -- generally more than $70,000 a year. The answer is simple. If you're a great student, qualify for financial and merit aid (not tied to financial need), then you may get the best deal. Some of the most prestigious colleges offer the best aid packages. That's because they've invested well over the years and their alumni have been generous contributors. Their endowments, or the kitties that they built up for long-term savings, are usually in the billions of dollars. So they can afford to be generous. Here's the latest ranking from Princeton Review: Although there's only one state school in the Princeton top 10, that doesn't mean that you can't get a decent aid from a non-private college. Further down the list is University of California-Berkeley (#11), University of California-Santa Barbara and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (#16). You also have to be an extraordinary student to get into most of these colleges. Acceptance rates are extremely low. Stanford, for example, rejects 95% of applicants and the others aren't much lower. As with anything with college admissions today, the key to obtaining a low-cost education is to have a superior high school record (grades, test scores, community service) and to apply for all aid. You'll definitely need to fill out the FAFSA form and possibly the CSS Profile. Don't forget to dream big, but look locally. While you may not get into one of the elite colleges, you can still find an affordable education at community and commuter colleges. Getting a degree without debt is the best part of your education. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwasik/2019/02/08/what-are-the-top-10-best-value-colleges/ |
How Clear Are The Implications of Clear Air Turbulence? | Its no secret that bad weather, particularly throughout the winter season, wreaks havoc on air travel. According to a 2016 study in Physical Geography, weather was a cause or contributing factor in 35% of fatal general aviation accidents. This time of year is especially difficult as winter weather and spring-break travel coincide to create frequent and highly visible disruptions. When flights are en route to their destination, they have a possibility of encountering clear air turbulence (CAT), particularly this time of the year. By its very nature, CAT is virtually impossible to detect with onboard instruments or the naked eye, making it difficult, if not impossible, for a pilot to avoid. All turbulence, but particularly CAT, can be dangerous and expensive. During the cruise stages of flight, CAT can cause the aircraft to buffet hundreds of feet, sending items flying around the cabin, injuring passengers and crew. CAT is most prevalent during the winter months as there is a strong relationship between it and jet streams, which are fast-moving narrow air currents in the atmosphere. While the jet stream itself rarely causes significant CAT, the rapid change of wind speeds around the edges of the jet stream are a significant factor, and these wind changes are much more common during the cold winter months over North America. The cost of turbulence is estimated at more than $500 million each year in damage and delays. Since CAT occurs in cloudless environments, it is impossible to physically see and extremely difficult to detect using onboard radar equipment. Airlines are investing in systems from private weather companies that can detect CAT so pilots can plan to avoid it; but thats only the first step in avoiding CAT. These systems provide the ability to integrate high-resolution, gridded, and frequently updated turbulence potential information into flight management and planning systems. For example, Hawaiian Airlines, uses an Eddy Dissipation Rate-based (EDR) global turbulence modeling system that provides visibility across all major flight levels. Airlines are using this detailed information to plan the safest and most time and cost-efficient flight plan. By being alerted to potentially hazardous conditions, pilots can plan accordingly. That might mean flying at different altitudes or flying a different route to minimize the impact of CAT. The information also leads to better efficiency. Whether transporting passengers or packages, getting from point A to point B as quickly, safely and as efficiently as possible is the goal. The more accurate the turbulence information, the most direct and comfortable route can be chosen, ultimately making the best use of time and fuel. These new methods for detecting turbulence of any kind, especially CAT, are more important than ever before. A study from the University of Reading predicts that there could be a 149 percent increase in severe turbulence in the coming years, primarily due to stronger jet streams and the tendency for more wavy patterns to develop. Increasing wind speeds and stronger north-south temperature changes will only cause more issues for air travelers. Next time you are on a smooth flight, you can thank the rapidly-advancing weather and flight planning technology for helping your pilot avoid detected turbulence. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimfoerster/2019/02/08/how-clear-are-the-implications-of-clear-air-turbulence/ |
Does the world need crunchy Nutella? | Nutella is one of the greatest gifts the world has to offer. It is creamy, chocolate-hazelnut perfection that can be served at any time of the day. Even so, some say Nutella could still be improved -- if only there was a crunchy variety of this hazelnut-spread snack. This camp argues that if crunchy peanut butter exists, crunchy Nutella should as well. Others (likely creamy peanut butter advocates) say Nutella is perfect as it is. PERSPECTIVES Nutella is a chocolate-hazelnut spread produced by Ferrero -- the same team behind the amazing Ferrero Rocher truffles. Given its nut base, it's only logical to conclude that Ferrero should diversify its offering with a new, crunchy variety. Little pieces of hazelnuts would only improve the already-delicious treat. Imagine your favorite Nutella-vessels enhanced by the texture of crunchy, sweet hazelnuts. Your toast, crepes and ice cream would be out of this world. Ferrero is already halfway there with the Ferrero Rocher truffle, which consists of an entire hazelnut, surrounded by a chocolate-hazelnut cream, encased in a wafer orb, and then coated with milk chocolate and tiny hazelnut pieces. Nutella is perfect just the way it is. Everyone knows Nutella is mostly chocolate anyway, so there's no need to bring out the hazelnut flavor even more by adding gross little chunks into your immaculate Nutella jar. When it comes to other nut spreads, most Americans prefer smooth anyway. Unless we're talking adding bits of a chocolate bar to the jar, crunchy Nutella is a no-go. A Monday morning dream: someone waking you up to share a Nutella breakfast together! #Nutella #breakfast pic.twitter.com/z2vh96aYk4 -- Nutella (@NutellaGlobal) March 26, 2018 Crunchy Nutella is what the world needs. It could make your favorite spread slightly healthier too. Hazelnuts are full of healthy fats, nutrients, and antioxidants. A healthier Nutella variety would give you even more reason to eat it on a daily (okay, hourly) basis. Spoon University's Jeanne Paulino makes the case: Seeing rows of Nutella is a sight to behold, but the eye is drawn to things that are different and unique. Imagine the joy you'd feel as you saw the word "crunchy," slapped on a jar of Nutella. Nutella is now a staple of any kitchen. Beyond eating it for breakfast, it's also perfect for baking. There are Nutella cookies, brownies, cakes and icing. All of these incredible inventions would be ruined by crunchy bits of nuts infiltrating the system. Nutella is an amazing thing. Let's not ruin 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.nola.com/interact/2019/02/does_the_world_need_crunchy_nu.html |
Is streaming killing the radio star? | The music industry has endured its share of crises in the digital era from the slow death of the CD to the rise of online piracy. Now it is the turn of radio broadcasters, who face a worrying exodus among young listeners because of streaming. At first glance, radio listening in the UK appears robust, holding steady at around 48 million adults 88% of Britains adult population listening to just over 1bn hours each week. Those figures, however, belie the fact that radio is facing a crisis over youth audiences. Since 2010, around 840,000 15 to 24-year-olds have switched off for good, according to research from Enders Analysis. And among the 6.5 million or so who do still tune in, the amount of time they spend listening has plummeted 29% between 2010 and 2018. The problem is even more acute at the BBC, with total listening hours among 15 to 24-year-olds falling 40% over the same time period. Radio broadcasters are ringing the changes to try to keep hold of young audiences. BBC Radio 1, the station that attracts the biggest youth audience in UK radio, has replaced Nick Grimshaw with Greg James to spice up its flagship breakfast show. Zoe Ball has taken the helm of the Radio 2 breakfast show, the biggest show on radio, after Rupert Murdochs Wireless Radio signed up her predecessor, Chris Evans, in a bid to attract new listeners to its digital-only Virgin Radio. The BBC admitted last year that it had found for the first time that 15 to 34-year-olds spent more time listening to streaming music services such as Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music, and YouTube than all of the BBCs radio services. Among 15 to 24-year-olds, music streaming has grown rapidly to account for about a third of their listening time from about 10%. People are going to music streaming services and we are seeing younger people turning off the radio, says Gill Hind, an analyst at Enders. But a lot of streaming is taking the place of listening to collections and CDs, not necessarily directly substituting live radio listening. Young people are still tuning in but they are listening for shorter periods each week. There are so many alternative options out there, from YouTube and gaming to Netflix and streaming music. Spotify buys podcast firms Gimlet and Anchor Read more Spotifys move earlier this week to spend hundreds of millions on two podcasting companies and earmark up to $500m (387m) for more acquisitions in the field this year is a clear indicator that the rise and rise of podcasts looks set to be the next looming challenge for traditional radio. Spotify quantified the scale of the threat, saying it expects that over time 20% of all listening on its service will be non-music content. It currently has 207 million monthly active users. The digital disruption in radio is the same part of the same phenomenon that has already affected other market sectors most notably TV, where viewing hours among 15 to 24-year-olds is down 45% in the UK since 2010. Siobhan Kennedy, the chief executive of the industry body Radiocentre, says radio broadcasters are handling it better though. Every medium has challenges with younger audiences, but radio is riding it out better than others, she ssaid. As the radio industry has moved into the internet era, broadcasters have seized on the opportunity to launch new local and national digital-only stations, which are doing better at attracting listeners. There were 453 digital stations at the end of 2018, up from 192 in 2010. The industry argues that the rise of products such as Amazons smart speaker Alexa will encourage people to try new stations rather than bypass them by directly requesting songs, playlists and recommendations. Nonetheless, the latest figures this week from Rajar, the radio industry measurement body, showed a slight decrease in listening via online and apps in the fourth quarter, accounting for 9.4% of total weekly listening. Scott Taunton, the chief executive of Wireless, which owns stations including TalkSport and Virgin Radio, says that radio, similar to TV, has strengths that continue to make it a must-listen experience that cannot be replicated by streaming. Live sport and must-watch TV shows such as Love Island or in radios case, star presenters such as Evans, keep audiences coming back. The move of Chris, his first week on air, the station as a whole had digital listening hours 18 times better than in 2018, Taunton said. And people are definitely saying: Alexa, play TalkSport. Smart speakers is the fastest growing piece of our audience. There is still a demand for a live radio station if you can make it relevant and something the consumer wants to listen to here and now. Last year proved to be the most successful in commercial radio history, where ad revenue hit a record 713m, while the BBC launched its new BBC Sounds app, the new home for its music and radio efforts, in a bid to future-proof its radio business. There are those, however, who believe that the traditional radio industry is on borrowed time. There is absolutely a generational divide, MIDiA Researchs Mark Mulligan said. The industry believes as these young people get older they will come back to traditional radio, like a life stage thing. But the evidence says they wont, that these are established behaviours. And the generations after them will follow suit. The audience tipping point is happening and the commercial tipping point will follow. Every shift driven by the internet ad revenues have been slow to follow audiences. When advertising on streaming services gets its house in order there will be a cliff drop for commercial radio. | https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/feb/08/is-streaming-killing-the-radio-star |
Why Is Almost 20% of Marijuana's Biggest ETF Invested in 1 Pot Stock? | Cannabis investing has been hugely popular recently, and the surge in pot stock prices to start 2019 has driven a lot of interest in the industry. In particular, the landmark exchange-traded fund ETFMG Alternative Harvest (NYSEMKT: MJ) has been hugely successful, recently topping the $1 billion mark in assets under management and seeing good gains to begin the year. But even though investors don't typically ask questions when things are going well, there's one thing about ETFMG Alternative Harvest that's hard to explain. As of Feb. 5, despite holding three dozen stocks in its portfolio of holdings, Alternative Harvest has almost a fifth of its assets invested in a single stock -- and it wasn't even the biggest company in the market. Even though most cannabis investors have paid most of their attention to a small number of first-moving stocks in the field, Alternative Harvest's particular mix raises some questions about the methodology that the underlying Prime Alternative Harvest Index uses to select and weight the stocks in its investing universe. Alternative Harvest's biggest holdings You can see below a list of Alternative Harvest's top five stock holdings as of Feb. 5: Stock Weighting in Fund Market Capitalization Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) 18.6% $3.49 billion Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) 8.7% $15.9 billion Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) 7.7% $7.51 billion Tilray (NASDAQ: TLRY) 5.6% $7.28 billion OrganiGram Holdings (NASDAQOTH: OGRMF) 4.4% $700 million Data source: ETFMG, Yahoo! Finance. At first glance, this weighting scheme looks pretty odd. Most ETFs use a system that's based on market capitalization, giving the largest companies the highest weightings. Using such a system, you'd expect Canopy, Aurora, and Tilray all to have much larger weightings than Cronos, because their market capitalizations are anywhere from two to five times higher than Cronos' market cap. However, not all indexes use straight market-cap weighting. On its website, ETFMG refers to its tracking index, the Prime Alternative Harvest Index, as its primary authority in making investment decisions. The prospectus makes limited references to the actual methodology that the index follows, instead focusing on how it takes the information that the index provider gives it and uses it to make its own investing decisions. Marijuana leaf on top of a pile of similar leaves. More Image source: Getty Images. Prime Indexes has a website as well, but its information is limited. It refers to its methodology as a "modified market cap" weighting scheme. But even though many of the other indexes it offers have detailed descriptions of the methodologies they follow in separate PDF documents, there's no such link on the page describing the Alternative Harvest index. What's likely to be the cause of the current situation is a confluence of events that brought Cronos into the spotlight recently. In particular, the following appears to be the case: The index would have gone through a typical reconstitution in December. If the index uses the same modified market cap approach as some of its Prime Indexes peers, then the overweight percentages that would've applied to stocks like Canopy, Aurora, and Tilray would've been artificially reduced and redistributed to smaller-cap stocks like Cronos. Since the beginning of December, Cronos has dramatically outperformed Canopy, Aurora, and Tilray. Cronos shares have doubled over that time frame, compared to gains of 35% to 40% for Aurora and Canopy and a roughly 25% decline for Tilray. In other words, what's likely to have happened is that as of the most recent rebalancing in December, most of the top marijuana stocks would've had roughly equal weightings because of the specific restrictions in the index methodology. Ironically, those restrictions were designed to prevent the very overweighting issue that has since resulted. The huge gains for Cronos following the decision of tobacco giant Altria Group (NYSE: MO) to invest in the cannabis company were responsible for putting the ETF's weightings out of whack. ETF proponents will argue that any such overweighting should be a temporary phenomenon. When the ETF next does its rebalancing in March, the methodology should work to pull Cronos Group's weighting back down into line with its peers. From there, relative performance could again lead to overweight or underweight positions within the portfolio, but it would take massive share-price movements to create the same situation again. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-almost-20-marijuana-apos-131400391.html |
Did the NFL manage to silence Colin Kaepernick's protest at the Super Bowl? | Six years ago this week, a 25-year-old mid-season injury replacement for the San Francisco 49ers stepped onto the field at the Superdome in New Orleans, becoming only the fourth quarterback to start in a Super Bowl in the same season as his first career start. So much has transpired in the time since Colin Kaepernicks metamorphosis into the most divisive figure in American sports, and one could argue society at large, that its easy to forget the overnight sensation he generated as a mostly anonymous understudy in dizzying ascent, captivating the country with his rare blend of arm strength and rushing ability. That night Kaepernicks inexperience was laid bare in the first half as he was harried, hit and harassed by the Baltimore Ravens formidable defense. But with San Francisco trailing 28-6 in the third quarter, the young quarterback came alive. He made one play after another and chipped away at the deficit, marching the Niners to within five yards of a game-winning touchdown in the dying seconds. The Ravens held on for the 34-31 win, but the ingenues finishing kick augured a future of limitless promise. There was little then to suggest Kaepernicks impact would in a short time extend far beyond the field, well beyond the scope the typical sportsman, and that his decision to take a knee in protest of police brutality and state-sanctioned violence would make him one of the most vilified men in the United States, cost him his football career and usher in an era of athlete activism unprecedented since the 1960s. His cause was given mainstream corporate backing in September when Nike announced the most famous unemployed man in the country would be the face of a new ad campaign for the 30th anniversary of their Just Do It slogan, casting a shadow over the leagues opening weekend. But when Americas biggest game returned to the Deep South last Sunday for the first time since the biggest game of Kaepernicks life, all signs of his movement were relegated to background noise and demonstrated the challenges of punching a hole in the hype surrounding the nations secular religion, which for all the hand-wringing over TV ratings remains a national obsession. The prospect of a Super Bowl in Atlanta, considered the cradle of Americas civil rights movement, had appeared to be a tailor-made platform for amplifying Kaepernicks concerns over systemic injustice, but signs of his message were all but absent on the ground throughout the week. Sure, they were there if you looked. A number of musical acts made headlines for reportedly turned down the halftime show over the NFLs perceived blackballing of Kaepernick, leading to a conspicuously delayed rollout of the leagues official reveal. NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant wore his jersey in solidarity. Artists like the film director Ava DuVernay called for a boycott of the game, joining the rapper Common, actor Nick Cannon, actress Zendaya and singer Janelle Mone in deluging social media with the #ImWithKaep hashtag. Ava DuVernay (@ava) I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFLs racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. Its not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs Yet NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has earned hundreds of millions in salary during his tenure as a human shield for the cadre of billionaire owners he represents, skillfully pirouetted from repeated queries on Kaepernick during Wednesdays state-of-the-league press conference like a scatback slipping tacklers in the open field. The league enlisted a collection of civil rights leaders Ambassador Andrew Young, Representative John Lewis and the wife and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr for the pre-game coin toss and flooded their programming with PSAs showing the leagues charity work in the community and league executives touring landmarks like the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The show must go on and it did without a hitch, dreadful slog of a game notwithstanding. Kaepernick is 31 today, an age when quarterbacks are considered in their prime. Its been more than 25 months since he played in an NFL game, and it seems unlikely hell ever play another. Hes stayed almost entirely out of the spotlight during that time while living in Manhattans Tribeca neighborhood, insistent that he wants the conversation to focus on the issues rather than himself. Over the next few months, an arbitrator will rule on his grievance against the league, in which he alleges the owners have conspired to keep him off the field because of his protests. Proving collusion by all 32 owners will not be easy due to the high legal standard of the claim, but a quick survey of the middling quarterbacks who have received opportunities during Kaepernicks exile speaks volumes. Yet last weeks Super Bowl demonstrated the position of power from which the NFL is operating and the uphill battle that remains. Kaepernick succeeded by starting a conversation, but for at least one week of breathless noise it was almost impossible to hear. | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/feb/08/colin-kaepernick-super-bowl-protest-atlanta |
Can Elizabeth Warren reclaim her role as Democrats' top foil to Trump? | Warren will join a crowded field when she formally launches her campaign but her entry will differ sharply from the enthusiasm surrounding her Senate bid seven years ago Despite the years that have since passed, many of Elizabeth Warrens former students at Harvard Law School share the same distinct memory: it was their very first day at the prestigious institution, and for many, their very first class. Why women 2020 candidates face 'likability' question even as they make history Read more Not knowing what to expect, they took their seats for an introductory course on contracts law. At the exact minute that the clock struck the top of the hour, Warren bounded into the room and rested her casebook on the podium. Im Elizabeth Warren. This is contracts, she said. But whereas other professors had prepared a welcome speech, Warrens pleasantries ended there. Glancing down at her seating chart, she proceeded to cold-call on the students with queries stemming from their reading material, making her way through at least half the room by the time the class was over. Years later, when clips of Warren grilling corporate CEOs and cabinet officials from the US Senate went viral, her former students would fire off emails and texts to one another joking about what it was like to be at the receiving end. We could all empathize with the witness in the hot seat, said Andrew Crespo, a former student of Warrens who is an associate professor at Harvard. She was rigorous, thoughtful, careful, precise She had a big profile on campus. Warrens tough teaching style was notorious across Harvard always come prepared, her students recalled. It is that same rigorous and methodical approach that Warrens former colleagues expect her to bring to her bid for the Democratic partys nomination for president in 2020. On Saturday, Warren, 69, will return to Massachusetts to formally launch her campaign for president after forming an exploratory committee in December. It will be an event long in the making for the closely-watched senator, whose meteoric rise from academia to politics brought with it relentless speculation over possible presidential ambitions. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Elizabeth Warren lectures a law class at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1990. Photograph: Leif Skoogfors/Getty Images In interviews throughout the Boston area, Warrens former students and colleagues described her as a pragmatic idealist whose lifes work has centered on understanding and rooting out income inequality. Shes had a very consistent, coherent, intellectual ideological position, said Barney Frank, a retired Massachusetts congressman who worked closely with Warren on financial reform. She can claim to have been there when this critique of economic inequality, and the systematic problems that exacerbate it, wasnt fashionable. But Warrens official entry into the race has differed sharply from when she captured widespread liberal enthusiasm in her unlikely bid for the Senate seven years ago. The two-term senator will join a crowded Democratic primary field with no clear frontrunner and several contenders jockeying to claim the progressive mantle that she aspires to grasp. She has also found herself contending with a lingering controversy for previously identifying as Native American over the course of nearly two decades. The question now is whether Warren, who moved early to build an expansive field operation in anticipation of her presidential run, can overcome early setbacks and reclaim her role as the Democratic partys top foil to Donald Trump. Born to middle-class parents in Norman, Oklahoma, Warren has spoken candidly about how her familys livelihood was upended when her fathers heart attack forced him out of work. Addressing crowds across the country, Warren often recalls how her late mother determined not to lose the familys home pulled on her best dress and got her first paying job at the department store Sears. The job paid minimum wage and exposed Warren firsthand to the topics that would later define her career: the power of corporations and the effects of bankruptcy on the American consumer. Her research in bankruptcy law and the impact on the average persons medical bills, mortgage payments and other installments led Warren to become a leading expert on the subject and rise in the academia world. These are the issues she still cares about, said Charles Fried, a professor at Harvard Law School who helped recruit Warren to its faculty. I think she is extraordinary for this reason, that she got into politics because she cared about some issues. She didnt get into politics because she wanted to be in office and then tried to figure out what issues she cared about. Warren cultivated a profile as a populist firebrand against the backdrop of the Great Recession, earning the ire of Wall Street by spearheading the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau an agency established under the Obama administration as part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill of 2010. Upon being passed over to head the agency she helped create, Warren decided to continue the fight from within the government, embarking on a campaign to win back the late senator and liberal icon Ted Kennedys seat from Republican incumbent Scott Brown in the high-profile 2012 Massachusetts Senate race. Roughly $70m was spent on the bitterly-waged contest, which catapulted Warren to the national stage. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Elizabeth Warren speaks during day two of the Democratic national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on 5 September 2012. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images The race also saw Warren cement herself as a leader of the burgeoning progressive movement within the Democratic party; branding the choice before voters as Wall Street versus you, Warren viewed the election as an opportunity to hand a major defeat to what she once dubbed as the largest lobbying force ever assembled on the face of the earth. Following her victory, Warrens profile grew so rapidly that speculation swiftly emerged over a potential White House run in 2016, despite the inevitability of Hillary Clintons candidacy. A group of progressives even mounted a #DraftWarren campaign. The full list of Democrats vying to take on Trump Read more Warren, who had been sharply critical of Clinton in part over her ties to Wall Street, ultimately chose not to challenge her for the Democratic partys nomination and endorsed the former secretary of states campaign. It was also during this time that Warren proved among the few capable of getting under then candidate Donald Trumps skin. After Trump derided Clinton as a nasty woman, Warren famously riffed: Get this, Donald. Nasty women are tough, nasty women are smart and nasty women vote, and on November 8, we nasty women are going to march our nasty feet to cast our nasty votes to get you out of our lives forever. The 2016 presidential election did not, however, produce the groundswell of unified opposition to Trump that Democrats had hoped for. Instead, it left the party in search of a clear leader to fill the void left by Obamas departure from the White House. For Warren, it looked as though her moment had arrived. In the early days of the Trump administration, Warren quickly emerged as the face of the Democratic opposition, matching the presidents tweets with sharp ripostes of her own and holding his cabinet nominees to account when they appeared for consideration before congressional committees. During the confirmation process for former attorney general Jeff Sessions, Warren famously read a letter written 30 years prior by Coretta Scott King, in which the widow of Dr Martin Luther King Jr warned of Sessions civil rights record from the time of his nomination for a federal judgeship. Silenced by Republicans mid-speech on the Senate floor, Warren read the letter on Facebook Live. The hashtag #LetLizSpeak trended on Twitter and the phrase Nevertheless, she persisted was coined. At the same time, Warren became a top target of conservatives and Trump himself. The president has repeatedly mocked Warren with the derisive nickname Pocahontas including at an event intended to honor Native Americans. Although Warren long ignored the presidents taunts, she took the unusual step of addressing the issue head on in October by making public the results of a DNA test revealing that she did, in fact, have some Native American ancestry. Rather than putting the topic to rest, Warrens move was rebuked by some tribal leaders, who felt it politicized their identity, and reignited the story. Republicans first tried to push the notion that Warren used her Native American ancestry to further her career in the 2012 Senate race, honing in on a single questionnaire in which she claimed mixed ancestry. An exhaustive investigation by the Boston Globe found no evidence that Warren benefited from doing so, and nearly every living Harvard law professor involved in her hiring has said it was not a factor in their votes to offer her a tenured position. When we brought her to Harvard, no one had a clue that she thought of herself as Native American, said Laurence Tribe, the schools professor of constitutional law. I think shes had an unfair rap, he added. I dont think its the case that she ever exploited her familys background or ancestry in a way that some people seem to think she did. The Cherokee nation, one of the groups that was critical of Warren, said she privately apologized to to tribal leaders. But the matter did not end there. The Washington Post published a story revealing Warren listed her race as American Indian while seeking a Texas bar registration card in 1986. Warren apologized once more, telling reporters: Im not a tribal citizen. My apology is an apology for not having been more sensitive about tribal citizenship and tribal sovereignty. I really want to underline the point, tribes and only tribes determine tribal citizenship. Warren remains a popular figure in the Democratic party and was easily re-elected to a second Senate term in the 2018 midterm elections. Even so, she received fewer votes in her home state than Charlie Baker, the Republican governor of Massachusetts, prompting Warrens hometown paper to urge the senator to reconsider a presidential bid. While Warren won reelection, her margin of victory in November suggests theres a ceiling on her popularity, the Boston Globe editorial board wrote. Baker garnered more votes than she did in a state that is supposed to be a Democratic haven. Shes hard-edged, not personally, but ideologically. She takes very sharp and controversial positions Barney Frank While Warren is an effective and impactful senator with an important voice nationally, she has become a divisive figure, the board added. A unifying voice is what the country needs now after the polarizing politics of Donald Trump. Those close to Warren dismissed the editorial as having more to do with the personal biographies and inclinations of those who sit on the board. Shes hard-edged, not personally, but ideologically, said Frank. She takes very sharp and controversial positions. So, yeah, theyre going to be people who are unhappy with her. More challenging for Warren, friends and former colleagues said, would be the task of distinguishing herself within a diverse field of Democratic candidates that includes at least three of her Senate colleagues and a record number of women seeking the partys nomination. Warrens platform includes the single-payer healthcare system Medicare for All, debt-free college tuition and anti-corruption legislation designed to restore accountability in government. She is also poised to unveil a proposal that would impose a wealth tax on Americans worth over $50m. Fried, who served as solicitor general under Ronald Reagan, said he disagreed with some of the more expansive economic policies touted by Warren. Iowa Nice: hawkeyed experts say Elizabeth Warren hit ground running Read more But her greatest asset as a candidate, he acknowledged, would be to approach the campaign with the same steely resolve to elevate the middle class that endeared her to voters seven years ago. Although he is only occasionally in touch with Warren as she embarks on what will undoubtedly be a grueling campaign for Americas highest office, Fried recalled recently sending Warren a lengthy article about capitalism and income inequality. To his surprise, he received a response from Warren 10 days later. She had not only taken the time to read the article, but highlighted a portion that stood out to her. How many presidential candidates would do that? Fried asked. In her email, Warren also recounted to her old colleague how not very long ago they sat together on a flight discussing the prospects of a Clinton presidency. That day never came to fruition, Warren noted. I dont know what lies ahead, she added. But I know what Im fighting for. | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/08/elizabeth-warren-2020-presidential-race-democrats-trump-foil |
Why is hip-hop practically uninvited from the Grammys show? | The first hour of Sunday nights Grammy Awards will showcase, were told, Shawn Mendes, Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Camila Cabello, Ricky Martin and Post Malone, whos teaming up with Red Hot Chili Peppers. If youre keeping score, that includes only one act from the world of hip-hop todays biggest selling sound and hes been paired with a group of 50-somethings. When CBS, which is broadcasting the Grammys this year, promoted that list during the Super Bowl, there was a collective yawn from music fans. I was confused, said Eboni ODonnell, a senior at Cooper High School in Robbinsdale who is an avid awards-show watcher. Its a lot of the same thing. Why arent there different acts? Because CBS and the Recording Academy cant risk people tuning out in the opening 60 minutes. Imagine how CBS pooh-bahs felt when red-hot rapper Travis Scott got bleeped three times during his Super Bowl halftime show. If viewers werent already bored with the bloodless efforts of Maroon 5, Scotts indecipherable performance of his smash Sicko Mode was certainly a channel-changer. Grammy Awards When: 7 p.m. Sun Where: WCCO, Ch. 4. With: Host Alicia Keys and performers including Post Malone with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, Diana Ross, Janelle Mone, Kacey Musgraves and more. Hip-hop apparently is not safe for prime time. In the case of TV, youre dealing with older, white executives who are more worried about the response of advertisers, said Donna Halper, a professor of media studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. Executives making these choices are trying to walk a tightrope: I need a big name and a big name that isnt going to alienate every advertiser. Youre dealing with caution. Or fear. Television executives think rap music is scary, said Peter Parker, DJ and music director at Twin Cities hip-hop station Go 95.3. Theres still a stigma. Theyre afraid something bad could happen. They havent been to a Juice Wrld concert at Myth in Maplewood and seen 4,000 white suburban teenagers. Listeners dont stay in one lane when it comes to music nowadays. Whether theyre turning to Spotify, a car radio or their own collection, music consumers are switching among hip-hop, pop, rock, R&B, Latin, EDM and country. Its all popular music. Do not disturb Four hip-hop albums by Cardi B, Drake, Post Malone and the Kendrick Lamar-produced soundtrack to the blockbuster film Black Panther deservedly landed as Grammy finalists for album of the year. But those nominations were made by a blue-ribbon panel. That doesnt mean the 12,000 voting members of the Recording Academy and the producers of the 3 -hour televised ceremony will get it right. Avoiding tune-out factors is the watchword of Grammy producers. Dont offend the masses. Keep the baby boomers hanging on to see Diana Ross 75th birthday bash. You could see this kind of thinking in the latest edition of Dick Clarks Rockin New Years Eve. Host Ryan Seacrest trotted out a parade of current hitmakers including Mendes, Cabello, Dua Lipa, Halsey, Charlie Puth, the Chainsmokers, Dan + Shay and Kane Brown along with a handful of still relevant oldies (Christina Aguilera, Weezer, New Kids on the Block). Oh, and Post Malone, who, despite his freaky-to-some tattooed face, was suitably mass appeal for TV programmers. Hes certainly got a track record like a rock star: a string of hazy, highly listenable hits including Psycho and Rockstar from his LP Beerbongs & Bentleys, which was the second biggest seller of 2018. I wouldnt call Post Malone edgy, said Macalester College freshman Lucien OBrien, who likes a variety of musical styles. No, hes safe enough. Not to mention white. Post Malone, in essence, is singing rap songs, Go 95.3s Parker said. Its a white guy singing, so Post Malone is acceptable. Hes also safe enough for mainstream radio stations such as KDWB, the Twin Cities leading Top 40 outlet, which is guided by research indicating that listeners like him. However, KDWB listeners dont hear the equally easy-to-listen-to Drake, the streaming-music king who had 2018s biggest album with Scorpion. Blame it on research. Losing young listeners You live by research, you die by research, said Halper, who was a longtime radio programmer and consultant before becoming a professor. You have to have a feel for your market, she said. Certain songs are going to go over in your city; you might as well give them a chance. Research is sometimes used by people in management to reinforce a position they already have. Radio has lost lots of young listeners because its perceived as too cautious, too safe, the same songs over and over, too many commercials, etc. Take it from a KDWB listener: So if you were, like, to get in the car at 3 oclock and you go to the mall, youre going to hear a good five songs, said Cooper High senior ODonnell. And when you get back in the car a couple hours later, youre going to hear those exact five songs. Maybe she exaggerates. But on Monday night, KDWB played three Ariana Grande songs in 40 minutes. On the stations playlist last week, there were only two numbers that were remotely hip-hop: Wake Up the Sky by Gucci Mane (featuring the Grammy-beloved Bruno Mars) and Sicko Mode. And neither ranked high on the list. Regardless of genre, the bottom line is that young music lovers react to tunes one at a time, regardless of the performer. And theyre using those tunes to create personal playlists on such streaming outlets as Spotify and Apple Music. Kids are song-oriented, Halper said. Yes, they like certain artists, but they really like certain songs that speak to them. When I first got into radio, I was taught that a hit song either makes you want to dance or makes you want to cry. Songs that do that can come from just about any genre. Kids are more eclectic than some people think. ODonnell, a true eclectic whos influenced by her older brother, rattled off some of her current favorites: Grammy-nominated R&B newcomer H.E.R., teen emo-pop singer Billie Eilish, socially conscious hip-hop star Childish Gambino and pop megaforce Grande. And she still likes Taylor Swift, but in her country phase rather than her current pop incarnation. ODonnell is rooting for the Black Panther soundtrack one of the few current projects shes bought on CD to win album of the year Sunday. The Grammys have had a strange maybe estranged is more accurate relationship with hip-hop. Kanye West crashed the podium and protested the winners. Jay-Z doesnt bother to attend anymore. Neither of this years leading nominees, Drake and Lamar, is scheduled to perform. Even though hip-hop has been the soundtrack of young America for three decades, only two such albums have snared the top Grammy Lauryn Hills The Miseducation of Miss Lauryn Hill in 1999 and OutKasts SpeakerBoxx/The Love Below in 2004. Maybe ODonnell will be surprised in the final moments of Sundays Grammys if Black Panther, Drake, Cardi B or even Post Malone grabs album of the year. That is, if shes still watching. | http://www.startribune.com/why-is-hip-hop-practically-uninvited-from-the-grammys-show/505530612/ |
Should a sick child blow out candles on cake? | Q: The birthday boy has a cold. A: Parents can so easily be defensive around criticisms of their child. Saying something like, Jimmy is sick, so he really shouldnt be blowing out the candles because all the other kids will get sick, too, not only states the obvious, but it easily can come off as a criticism of the childs illness and the parents. To protect against this, start by offering empathy. This will show the parents that you understand what theyre going through and that you care about them. Then offer a positive suggestion and help the parents implement it. Say, What a bummer that little Jimmy is sick on his birthday! Thats so hard on him and you. Ive been thinking about how to help you with his cake so he can still enjoy blowing out the candles without the other kids getting sick, too. The other kids can still enjoy cake without catching his cold. What do you think? CHRISTINA G. HIBBERT, host of Motherhood podcast A: Knowing children, they likely will not be judicious about touching their nose, the other children at the party and subsequently the surfaces around the party area, which will then transfer the cold. So maybe the cake doesnt matter. JACK GILBERT, co-author of Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Childs Developing Immune System | http://www.startribune.com/should-a-sick-child-blow-out-candles-on-cake/505524152/ |
How does the Dallas Zoo keep its animals warm on chilly winter days? | They don't pull out the fuzzy socks and flannel robes, but when it's cold out, the Dallas Zoo has its own ways to keep animals cozy. The zoo never lets the animals get too hot or too cold, by keeping an eye on the forecast and considering other factors, including the temperature ranges of each species' natural habitats. Keepers also rely on care manuals that are shared in zoos across the country for guidelines about when animals should be inside. But the suggestions can't always be applied species-wide. Some animals, like people, are picky and have their own ideas of what counts as too cold, and for the most part, the keepers accommodate them. "Every species and every individual is a little different, so our team of zookeepers really understands the individual animals," said Matt James, the Dallas Zoo's senior director of animal care. | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas-zoo/2019/02/08/dallas-zoo-keep-animals-warm-chilly-winter-days |
What The Heck Are These "Ghost Apples" Spotted In Michigan? | Well theres something you dont see every day: icy casing of apples hanging off a tree. Currently going viral on Twitter, these rather striking features were spotted in West Michigan by one Andrew Sietsema, who posted the images on his Facebook page. He told me that hes not quite sure how they formed, but suspects that after some rather cold conditions and plenty of chilly rainfall, the surface of the apples froze over. The apples themselves, which are resistant to temperatures that freeze water to a greater extent, remained intact. Later, it was just warm enough to allow the encased apples to take on some of that water and turn into a mush. When I pruned a tree it would be shaken in the process, and the mush would slip out of the bottom of the ghost apple, he explained. Most apples just fell off, ice and all. But quite a few would leave a cool ghost apple behind. As these apples happen to be of the Jonagold variety, Sietsema has come to calling them Jonaghosts. As far as I can tell, this phenomenon hasnt really been seen before. During a brief Twitter exchange, I wondered if botanist extraordinaire James Wong had seen anything like this before, to which he replied: No! before noting that he isn't sure how a frozen apple would rot and fall out of the casing like that. Some of you may be wondering if this is too good to be true. At this point, I cant say for sure. If there are any horticulturalists out there that might have any insight as to how these apples formed, or how rare the set of circumstances need to be for ghost apples to appear, please do get in touch. Sietsema, who studied horticulture himself at Michigan State University, said that he understands that the pictures might provoke some skepticism because they are certainly quite strange. Saying that, he says that he's sure it's happened before, but added that most pruners are hard at work instead of taking pictures like me. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinandrews/2019/02/08/what-the-heck-are-these-ghost-apples-spotted-in-michigan/ |
Can Solid Product Portfolio Aid Baidu's (BIDU) Q4 Earnings? | Baidu, Inc. BIDU is expected to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 12. The company topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, with average positive earnings surprise of 22.67%. In the last reported quarter, Baidu delivered a positive earnings surprise of 7.78%. Earnings of $2.77 per share declined 12.9% sequentially. However, revenues increased 27% year over year to RMB 28.2 billion ($4.11 billion). Product Portfolio & Partnerships to Drive Results Baidus continuous efforts to strengthen its mobile search engine and AI technologies are likely to drive top-line growth. Moreover, strong focus on leveraging the AI platform is aiding it to provide an improved user experience. The company is leaving no stone unturned to bolster its presence in the autonomous driving space. Recently, Baidu announced new product launches and solutions at CES 2019 in a bid to boost its footprint in this space. The company unveiled Apollo 3.5, the latest version of Apollo open source driverless car platform. It also introduced Apollo Enterprise, which is a suite of customizable autonomous driving solutions for vehicle fleets. These developments are likely to aid the company in rapidly penetrating into the self-driving market, where in safety and the prevention of accidents are most important. Per Grand View Research data, the AI market is expected to hit $35.9 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 57.2%, with 2017 as the base year. The projected figure takes into account direct revenue sources. Given the huge growth prospect of the industry, Baidu is putting its best foot forward to seize a major share of the projected revenue growth. Hence, we believe that Baidus strong focus on product innovation and expansion is likely to favor fourth-quarter results. For the fourth quarter of 2018, Baidu expects revenues between RMB 25.48 billion ($3.71 billion) and RMB 26.72 billion ($3.89 billion), representing a year-over-year increase of 15-20%, excluding revenues from announced divestures. The corresponding Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter to be reported is pegged at $3.88 billion. What Our Model Says Currently, Baidu has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, a combination that makes surprise prediction difficult. This is because per our proven model, a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to beat estimates. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. We dont recommend Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement. Baidu, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise Baidu, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Baidu, Inc. Quote Stocks to Consider Here are some stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to deliver a positive earnings surprise 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. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All | https://news.yahoo.com/solid-product-portfolio-aid-baidus-141802244.html |
Are Investors Undervaluing Lowe's (LOW) Right Now? | Qorvo (QRVO) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of 8.82% and 1.38%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 2018. Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers. Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks. Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today. One stock to keep an eye on is Lowe's (LOW). LOW is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and an A for Value. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 16.01. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 17.07. Over the past year, LOW's Forward P/E has been as high as 20.38 and as low as 14.40, with a median of 16.40. LOW is also sporting a PEG ratio of 1.14. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. LOW's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 1.25. Over the last 12 months, LOW's PEG has been as high as 1.42 and as low as 0.80, with a median of 1.06. We should also highlight that LOW has a P/B ratio of 14.47. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 30.21. Over the past 12 months, LOW's P/B has been as high as 16.50 and as low as 11.51, with a median of 13.88. These are just a handful of the figures considered in Lowe's's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that LOW is an impressive value stock right now. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | https://news.yahoo.com/investors-undervaluing-lowes-low-now-141002896.html |
Are llamas the new unicorn? | Getty Images Step aside unicorns, there's a new trend-setting creature in town... the llama of course! The llama has been tipped as the latest animal to take the world by storm. You can see them everywhere: on clothes, slippers, cakes, pencil cases, toys, even shower curtains! Llamas seem to be taking over. Tell us what you think below. Oops you can't see this activity! To enjoy Newsround at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Llamas aren't just showing up on clothes and household items, they're also becoming a cool new food theme. On Pinterest, searches for llamas increased 75% each year across the world, with the craze particularly taking off in Australia. In 2018, the trend on Pinterest also exploded in the UK and the US. In contrast, searches on the site for unicorns declined 10% during the same time period. Llama pics have also flooded social media and TV. Instagram account Llama With No Drama has over 140,000 followers and the bestselling Llama Llama book series is now an animated Netflix show. Perhaps one big reason for the sudden llama-overload might be down to Fornite introducing llama loot boxes to the game. Artyom Geodakyan\TASS via Getty Images And now, llamas are being used for something a little bit surprising... Earlier this year Stanford University in America brought four "therapy llamas" to the campus to decrease stress and promote wellness on campus. It seems petting these fluffy animals isn't just fun, but can help chill us out too! Stories about unicorns have been captivating us for thousands of years. No-one knows where the idea of unicorns came from. Many people in the Middle Ages really believed that unicorn horns could heal sickness. Many of the horns that were shown off as unicorn horns actually came from other creatures, like rhinos and narwahls. One thing we do know... people are obsessed about these beautiful imaginary creatures! Getty Images The mythological creatures are like horses with a single curled horn. This picture was taken at a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. The woman wearing a unicorn mask, said she thought the imaginary creatures were beautiful. There has even been a newly discovered praying mantis species in the Brazilian rainforest that has been named after the mythical animal. The 'unicorn' mantis has a similar horn-like feature on their heads. Whilst it seems unicorns are still on the scene, the growing competition with the llama is a tough one. Let us know in the comments below. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46480224 |
How Has Brexit Affected Foreign Investment In The U.K. Property Market? | The expression safe as houses is used to indicate an utterly secure, no-risk situation. In Victorian times, it is believed to have meant something slightly different, instead indicating a state of absolute certainty. Whichever way you look at it though, for more than two centuries, houses have been the benchmark of stability. The U.K.s increasing population, limited landmass and strong rule of law have always made investment in our houses both a safe and an alluring opportunity for foreign investors. Property prices have been particularly bullish since the 1970s, despite volatility during recessions. But with Brexit and recent tax and lending rules enforced by the government causing ripples of uncertainty, some are wondering if the revered safety of our property market has indeed reached tipping point. Foreign buy-to-let in decline Its true that overseas property owners in the U.K. are an increasingly rare sight but Brexit isnt necessarily at fault. In fact, the proportion of overseas property owners has been declining for quite some time. Hamptons International suggests that the share of new lettings accounted for by landlords based outside the U.K. has more than halved in eight years, falling from 14.4% in 2010 to 5.8% in the first 11 months of 2018 the lowest proportion the company has recorded since it began gathering the data eight years ago. More than just a single event, it would probably be more accurate to argue that it is a combination of factors shaping investor behaviour; including lower expectations of house price growth, a much tougher tax regime from April 2019, higher stamp duty and increases in Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED). This decline was particularly notable in London, which has seen the number of overseas landlords fall from 26% in 2010 to 10.5% at the end of 2018. Yet, as with all trends, exceptions always abound. While the capital has become less desirable for foreign buyers since the 2016 referendum, prime central London boroughs seem to have bucked the trend. Overseas investors bought more than half of all properties for sale in Londons most exclusive areas in the second half of 2017, and homes in high-end parts of central London like Belgravia have rocketed in value, spurred in part by Middle Eastern investors. Bucking the trend foreign investment boom in the North and exclusive central London Besides the buy-to-let market, foreign investment in British property is still strong. In 2016 alone that is, the year of the Brexit vote Britain hit a record high for foreign direct investment (FDI), with net flows jumping to 145.6B, up from 25.3B in 2015. In the first half of 2017, the U.K. made up 14% of global commercial property investment transactions, second only to the US. Indeed, many areas across the country are experiencing renewed interest since the Brexit vote, including Northern England, which has been particularly favourited by foreign property investors. Stimulated by low-interest rates and cheaper pound sterling, which has dropped 13% in value against the US dollar since the vote, foreign investors have been in the position to snap up U.K. property at discount prices. The effect in these investment pockets has been significant, and were seeing a regeneration of jobs as well as increased demand from people looking to live and work in the regional cities across the country. The success of regional cities One of Europes fastest growing cities, Manchester, is one such area. With affordable properties, the ongoing construction of HS2 and rising local employment levels, its become a firm favourite amongst Asian investors looking outside the capital for bargains that will yield better returns. Named one of the top global cities for FDI, prices surged in Manchester more than anywhere else in the U.K. last year increasing 6.6% and enquiries by Chinese investors about buy-to-let in the city soared in January 2018 by 255.6% compared to the previous year. Liverpool, transformed into one of the U.K.'s leading business destinations by an ambitious and far-reaching regeneration programme, has been another foreign favourite in the run-up to Brexit. In 2018, house prices rose 5.3%, while enquiries from Chinese investors rose by 160% year-on-year in January 2018, according to Juwai.com. The future of foreign U.K. property investment So, whilst there are concerns about the impact of Brexit on the U.K. property, it would seem that for the most part, its only a decelerated market from a domestic perspective. Foreign investors are not put off and are instead seeking areas in the U.K. that secure investments with the greatest possible yield. In fact, research from Knight Frank showed that the U.K. property market is very much top of the preferred investment list for 2019. It is very plausible that a hard Brexit might actually encourage even greater investment. If, as many pundits suppose, the pound weakens further, and if house prices drop by up to 35% as suggested by Bank of England governor Mark Carney, then the U.K. might just be set to become a property investment honeypot even if government policy appears to be pushing out overseas buyers and prioritising U.K. buyers. Given the countrys persistent undersupply of homes, its expanding population, high rental demand and returns, as well as the growth of cities outside of London, its quite plausible that a centuries-old expression might soon be rephrased by foreign investors to read safe as U.K. houses. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/garybarker/2019/02/08/how-has-brexit-affected-foreign-investment-in-the-u-k-property-market/ |
Which Small Business Retirement Plan Is Best? | Choosing the best retirement plan for you and your personal financial goals will depend on a few factors. Those include how much you can save into a retirement plan, whether or not you have employees and when you are setting up the retirement plan. To name a few. As a small business owner, you are likely busy running your business and havent had the time to research the best retirement plan for your firm. I would challenge you to remember that a penny saved is a penny earned, and a retirement plan can help you keep more of your hard-earned money. Take the time to plan for your future, and lower your current tax liabilities. Even if you plan to never retire, because you love what you do, its still nice to achieve financial freedom and have the choice to not work anymore. At the very least, look at saving for retirement as a way to pay less in taxes. Ideally, you will be saving in the range of 10-20% of your gross income each and every year. If you are getting a late start, you may need to save even more. That may seem impossible, but I assure you, its not. If youre unable to save 10-20%, start saving a smaller percentage of your gross income. You can then work your way up to saving more. The important thing is to start saving something. Consider the following retirement options depending on what type of saver you are. The Small Saver Up to $6000 IRA contribution limits have increased to $6,000 for 2019. If you are expecting to save no more than this amount in 2019, consider a Traditional IRA or a ROTH IRA. An additional $1,000 catch-up contribution is available for those who are 50 and older making the total allowable contribution $7,000. The Medium Saver - $6,000 to $55,000 For those looking to save more than $6,000, per year, you will need to move beyond only using a Traditional IRA or ROTH IRA. Consider adding a Solo 401(k) or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA to the mix. These small business retirement plans have higher contributions limits. Bigger contributions translate into larger tax deductions. Both plans come with a maximum contribution limit of $55,000 for 2019. The allowed contribution amount will vary from business owner to business owner. Likewise, what you can contribute will vary between the SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) plan. SEP IRA: This type of retirement account is more common as it has been the easier of the two accounts to set up and maintain. However, you will likely be unable to contribute as much money to a SEP IRA compared to a Solo 401(k). Generally speaking, you can contribute up to 25% of your adjusted gross income (after other tax deductions, which will include your SEP IRA contributions). SEP IRA is great for Procrastinators: I am writing during tax season 2019. This is when you will likely be filing your 2018 taxes. One big advantage of the SEP IRA is that you can still set it up and fund it for the prior tax year. For example, lets say you get surprised with a huge tax bill. You could potentially make a large SEP IRA contribution to minimize the tax hit. You have until you file your taxes to make the full contribution, meaning you could potentially wait until October to set up and fund this type of retirement account. A solo 401(k) plan needs to be set up before the end of the tax year. However, you would still have until filing taxes to make the profit-sharing portion of your contribution. Solo 401(k): Solo 401(k) plans have grown in popularity over the last few years. They have become much easier to set up and maintain. Additionally, the costs and fees associated with these plans have decreased. When using a Solo 401(k) (you can also set up a Solo Roth 401(k)), you will have an easier time putting more money away in a tax-preferred manner. For 2019, you can sock away $19,000 as an employee of the business or up to 100% of your income. That, plus profit-sharing contributions (made by the business), means a whopping $55,000 can be put into this type of plan, per person, per year. Allowable profit-sharing contributions will be based on your net income, or payroll, and are similar to the SEP IRA calculation. Additionally, those who are 50-years-old, or older, can make catch-up contributions up to $6,000, per year to a Solo 401(k). That brings the potential maximum contribution to $61,000, per year. SEP IRAs do not allow catch-up contributions. If you need to save more than $55,000, per year, you may want to consider adding a Defined Benefit Pension Plan to your 401(k) / profit sharing plan. You get the benefits of a Solo 401(k) and get to stack the larger contribution limits of a pension plan on top of that. You may also hear these plans called the Rich Person Pension or a Cash Balance Pension Plan. These plans are less common in part because not many people are willing or able to put away $55,000 or more, per year, for retirement. They are structured for high earners who own and operate small businesses or are self-employed. Business owners with a few employees, and those who work alone, will receive the most benefit. Specifically, individuals who are in the age range of late forties and retirement will receive the maximum benefit. Again, this is a plan to consider once you are already maxing out your 401(k) / profit sharing plan. These plans do come with minimum funding requirements so you need to be prepared to make substantial contribution for several years. You will get a tax deduction for your contributions, but distributions will be taxed when made in the future. You are essentially setting up your own personal pension, which you can later turn into a guaranteed income stream for the rest of your life. This is similar to the pension your parents, or grandparents, likely enjoyed during their golden years. Lastly, these plans are often more complicated to set up and run. Consult with a certified financial planner, and fiduciary, who has the knowledge and expertise in setting up these types of plans properly. Your maximum allowable contributions, per year, will be based on your age and income. Basically, the older you are the more you will likely be able to contribute. It is not uncommon to be able to contribute $300,000, or more, into a combination of pension and 401(k). Think of all the money you could save if you were able to lower your current taxable income by $300,000 or more. The downside here is pension plans are often costly to set up and run. Of course, those costs are also tax deductible. You will also need to make contributions for employees who meet certain requirements, such as hours or time working for you. As your income grows, the best combination of small business retirement accounts for you may also change. You may feel overwhelmed from running your business, and thinking about retirement is the last thing you want to do. Make the time if for no other reasons than the potential for huge tax savings and that saving for retirement may lead to the financial freedom to work less in the future. Closing note: There are other factors to consider when choosing the best retirement accounts for your business. will allow the largest contributions for you. Also, talk with your CFP to pinpoint how much you actually need to be saving in order to maintain your current standard of living in retirement and achieve financial freedom. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/02/08/small-business-retirement/ |
Are Netflix shows successful? Who knows? | Netflix has become a major player in the Hollywood award season, including garnering multiple nominations for this year's Oscars. We don't know, because Netflix won't say. In an industry in which TV ratings and box office stats are the lifeblood of business, the streaming entertainment titan plays by its own rules, keeping its viewer statistics out of sight and making it difficult for outsiders to measure the success of its shows. Recently, Netflix has revealed some fuzzy performance figures for a handful of projects, among them the former Lifetime series "You," the Spanish-language teen drama "Elite" and, most prominently, the science fiction thriller "Bird Box," which the company said had been seen by more than 45 million accounts in its first week. But these are the exceptions. Viewership numbers for Netflix's hundreds of other original series and movies remain corporate secrets. As the company continues to grow, this game of peekaboo has become increasingly irksome to other studios as well as talent agencies, some of which feel that Netflix's lack of transparency gives it an unfair competitive advantage. Despite pressure on Netflix to disclose more data, experts say, it has little motivation to be more open, in part because it doesn't answer to advertisers that normally would demand such information. "Netflix frankly doesn't have to tell anybody anything about the viewing of any of their stuff because they don't have to," said Tim Hanlon, chief executive of the Chicago-based media advisory and investment firm the Vertere Group. Netflix also faces rising costs associated with content licensed from other studios, and disclosing ratings on popular shows would likely lead to even higher licensing fees. Older favorites such as "Friends," "The Office" and "Breaking Bad" are major draws for Netflix subscribers and continue to bring in big business. Netflix recently paid more than $100 million to Warner Bros. to retain the exclusive streaming rights to "Friends" for an additional year, more than three times what it had previously paid. Netflix declined to comment for this story. Companies that license shows to Netflix receive basic viewership data, but executives say the information isn't useful. "We get a compilation of views by season, so it's not divided out by episode, and there's no indication of what a view even means like how long the duration," said one network executive who wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly. "From an analysis standpoint, it's meaningless." Netflix also doesn't publicly reveal box office figures for the handful of prestige movies it releases in cinemas, among them "Roma," which got 10 Oscar nominations, including the streamer's first best picture nod, and "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," which received three. The choice not to release ticket sales was made by Netflix, not the theater owners, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. | http://www.startribune.com/are-netflix-shows-successful-who-knows/505567322/ |
Why Did France Just Save Nord Stream 2? | What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, things were looking bleak for Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. After months of insisting it didn't want to get involved in the pipeline dispute, a French foreign ministry spokeswoman suddenly announced the country will support a European Commission proposal to make construction more difficult. Then, just as suddenly, France changed its mind today at a meeting of energy ministers in Brussels - saying it had reached a "compromise" with Germany. The proposed pipeline, which would bring gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, is being fiercely opposed by an unlikely coalition of environmentalists and right-wing governments in the United States and Eastern Europe. Their view, just about the only thing they agree on, is that the new pipeline will lock Europe into long-term dependence on Russian gas. This is problematic both for efforts to fight climate change and for European energy security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is desperate to get the pipeline built because she needs to replace the nuclear and coal power she has committed to phase out in the coming years. But at a NATO summit in Brussels last July, US President Donald Trump fiercely criticised Merkel's decision to approve the pipeline, saying it will make Germany "totally dependent" on Russia. The Trump administration would prefer Germany import liquified natural gas from America instead. Stops and starts After plenty of pressure from Washington, a critical mass of EU countries was able to block the EU's mandate to approve the pipeline. In response, Germany and Russia said they didn't need EU approval for the pipeline - only national approval from the four EU countries it's passing through (Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany). Acknowledging that the rules were unclear, the European Commission put forward a proposal that would indisputably make such pipelines coming to and from non-EU countries fall under EU jurisdiction for approval. Germany has been lobbying countries not to accept this proposal, because it could allow Brussels to kill the pipeline project, on which construction has already begun. France had stayed out of the fray. The announcement yesterday that it would support the commission's proposal would have been a game changer, since it has the second-highest number of votes in the European Council after Germany. But the German and French ministers reached a compromise this morning which would keep the aspects of the proposal which increase EU oversight of such projects, but would not give the EU the ability to kill them. According to EU sources, while the compromise might make construction of the pipeline more complicated, it will not prevent its construction. Nord Stream 2 isn't completely out of the woods yet. This position adopted by ministers this morning must now be signed off by the European Parliament. Those negotiations will take place over the coming months. But even if the parliament blocks this compromise, it would just result in the proposal not being adopted - keeping Nord Stream safe. There has been speculation that France never intended to support the commission's proposal, but was using Nord Stream as a bargaining chip in an unrelated dispute with Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron wants Merkel to accept his proposals for reforming the European Union, but Merkel has been resistant to his ideas for a common Eurozone budget and debt system. In the coming weeks, the trade-off for the French compromise may emerge, with Germany announcing it will accept some of Macron's proposals. Given that France hadn't expressed much interest in the Nord Stream issue before this week, this seems to be the most likely explanation for the about-face. The back-and-forth will surely frustrate the pipeline's opponents in Washington and Warsaw. But in Berlin and Moscow, they will be breathing a sigh of relief today. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davekeating/2019/02/08/why-did-france-just-save-nord-stream-2/ |
Will the Cleveland Browns make the playoffs in 2019? | The Cleveland Browns finished one game away from .500, and many fans have high hopes for the perennial basement dwellers of the NFC North. Baker Mayfield looks like the franchise quarterback the team has always wanted and the Browns look primed to make the playoffs next season. However, Cleveland has fallen flat in prior seasons when the team was faced with high expectations. PERSPECTIVES Browns fans have been waiting for a team like this for a while. With a stable quarterback situation and solid defense coming back, there is no way this team doesn't make the playoffs in 2019. Cleveland has nearly $80 million to spend on free agents this season and find weapons for Mayfield. Le'Veon Bell is on the market and has plenty of incentive to stay in the AFC North to play the Steelers twice a year. Having a player like that to lean on would be a relief for the young Mayfield. On defense, Myles Garrett is holding down the fort, but the team can go after premier defensive players like C.J. Mosley or DeMarcus Lawrence to really solidify a defense that already knows how to generate turnovers. The Browns have NFL Playoffs written all over them. Doug Lesmerises: Browns the favorites to win AFC North in 2019 The Browns have talent and improved from a winless season, but that doesn't guarantee anything in the NFL. The Browns have had hype surround them before only to have them falter under the weight of expectation. This team still needs to learn how to win consistently. Speaking of youth, Mayfield may have had a Rookie of the Year-caliber season, but the league has a way humbling quarterbacks with adjustments in defense. Plus, his pettiness toward Hue Jackson is a sign of immaturity that will prevent him from taking the next step in his development. Cleveland might get its one season, but 2019 isn't it. Colin Cowherd: Browns ain't making playoffs in 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/will_the_cleveland_browns_make.html |
What's the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia? | Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Ann Whaley: I just wish the law would allow me to have him for a little longer Before his death at Dignitas in Switzerland, Geoff Whaley talked openly about his decision to have an assisted death rather than endure the final stages of motor neurone disease. Euthanasia Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending a life to relieve suffering - for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor. Under English law euthanasia is illegal and is considered manslaughter or murder. However, last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that legal permission would no longer be needed to withdraw treatment from patients in permanent vegetative state. The NHS says withdrawing life-sustaining treatment can be part of good palliative care and should not be confused with euthanasia. In 2016 in the Netherlands - where euthanasia is legal - Mark Langedijk was granted life-ending treatment after years of suffering from alcoholism, depression and anxiety. "For me its very important to make sure that everyone knows we did everything and some people just aren't curable," his brother, Marcel, told the BBC. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption 'We are made to look like we ended it because it was convenient ... this was in no way convenient' Assisted suicide Intentionally helping another person to kill themselves is known as assisted suicide. This can include providing someone with strong sedatives with which to end their life or buying them a ticket to Switzerland (where assisted suicide is legal) to end their life. The Suicide Act 1961 makes it illegal to encourage or assist a suicide in England and Wales. Those found guilty of the offence could face up to 14 years in prison. Similar laws also exist in Northern Ireland. It is not uncommon for police to interview relatives after a loved one has ended their life at Dignitas. And in fact, Geoff Whaley's wife Ann, was interviewed under caution before they left the country - after police were made aware of his intentions. In Scotland there is no specific offence of assisted suicide but those who do help someone to die could be charged with general offences such as murder, culpable homicide or reckless endangerment. Assisted dying The campaign group Dignity in Dying wants a law allowing assisted dying. In contrast to euthanasia and assisted suicide, assisted dying would apply to terminally ill people only. The group says people with terminal illnesses should be allowed to have a choice over the manner and timing of their imminent death. There would be legal safeguards, and patients would have to meet strict criteria, it says, before they were given the option of taking life-ending medication and dying peacefully at home. At present, in the UK, it is possible to make an advance decision or an advance directive to refuse a specific type of treatment in the future if you lose capacity to make the decision for yourself. But that does not go far enough for some. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Noel Conway challenged the law on assisted dying Noel Conway has motor neurone disease and only has movement in his right hand, head and neck. He fought a legal battle with the Supreme Court to be allowed medical assistance to die when he has less than six months to live. The judges rejected his appeal - a decision Mr Conway described as "downright cruel". "The only option I currently have is to remove my ventilator and effectively suffocate to death under sedation," he said, adding: "To me this is not acceptable." Image copyright PA Image caption Debbie Purdy spent her final years seeking legal clarity Right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy had lived with primary progressive multiple sclerosis for almost 20 years. She described the pain of her disease as "never-ending" and had hoped to travel to Dignitas to end her life, fighting a legal battle to clarify whether her husband would be prosecuted for helping her travel to Switzerland. However, her condition deteriorated to the point that she was unable to leave her house. Speaking to the BBC she said: "It's not a matter of wanting to end my life, it's a matter of not wanting my life to be this." She died in 2014 at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford. While there have been several high-profile legal battles fought by right-to-die campaigners, several groups believe the laws around all forms of assisted death should remain the same. The Care Not Killing alliance argues that any change to the law would result in elderly or vulnerable people worried about being a financial burden feeling under greater pressure to end their lives. It also argues that requests for euthanasia are extremely rare. Disability Rights UK opposes a change in the law arguing that the choice to die could be "an illusory choice" if disabled people are not offered proper support. The British Medical Association (BMA) says that improvements in palliative care allow patients to die with dignity but that assisted death should not be legalised in the UK in any form. The organisation argues that legalisation would go against "the ethics of clinical practice, as the principal purpose of medicine is to improve patients' quality of life, not to foreshorten it". Politicians have been reluctant to legalise forms of assisted suicide. In 2015, Labour MP Rob Marris introduced a law that would have allowed some terminally ill adults to end their lives with medical supervision but the House of Commons rejected his bill by 330 votes to 118. In 2018, 43 people from the UK died at Dignitas and Life Circle - two facilities in Switzerland. Research by Dignity in Dying found that there is an average of 14,800 internet searches of "Dignitas" every month from the UK. In 2014, a Freedom of Information request to Directors of Public Health found that approximately 7% of suicides in England involve people who are terminally ill - that's 300 suicides every year. Two women with opposing views discuss the issues Euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, while assisted suicide is permitted in Switzerland. A number of states in the United States have made assisted dying legal. In Oregon assisted dying has been legal for terminally ill, mentally competent adults since 1997. Since then other states have introduced similar laws including Washington, California and Hawaii. If you've been affected by issues in this article, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47158287 |
How is folk music defined in 2019? | The Folk Alliance International Conference is not a music festival. It is a conference. The distinction is important. The international folk music community is converging on downtown Montreal for five days, starting Wednesday, Feb. 13, but unless youre a paid-up FAI member, you wont be seeing any of the almost 200 showcased artists Fair enough its a music-industry event. But it does provide a handy opportunity to assess folk musics current state of health. Its the worlds largest conference for the folk music community, said FAI executive director Aengus Finnan, speaking from the organizations head office in Kansas City. Its the big annual opportunity for agents, managers, media, record labels, promoters, producers and presenters to network, do professional development, have peer sessions and mentorship. A longtime Montrealer who hosted the popular self-created program Folk Roots/Folk Branches on CKUT, he now lives in Ottawa, where he hosts a similar show on CKCU. He has attended multiple FAI conferences in places as far-flung as Washington, D.C. and Memphis, and he covered the event extensively for the Gazette in 2005, the last time it was held in Montreal. Its not a guy in a coffee house singing his own songs with an acoustic guitar, although thats certainly part of it. It envelops all of that, plus various ethnic and international styles, from klezmer to Arabic music, to Celtic music, African music. New Orleans brass-band music is a folk tradition, although you might commonly think of it as jazz or funk. Scanning this years list of showcased artists, Regenstreif saw a lot of what I would call old-guard folkies David Bromberg, Eliza Gilkyson. But also a lot of new names, a lot of Qubcois music, all sorts of things. When FAI was founded in 1989 as the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, it was an opportune moment to begin a more inclusive definition of what most Americans and Canadians had thought of as folk. The 80s and early 90s saw a dramatic increase in the visibility of a whole array of traditional and modern international sounds for the first time, a person could step into a good record store and be presented with a choice of music that was truly global. Some crucial albums helped spread the word: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto introduced international listeners to South African music, making stars of Ladysmith Black Mambazo; David Byrnes Luaka Bop label did something similar for Brazilian music; Peter Gabriels Real World imprint brought artists from all over the world to record and collaborate in the stars studio in rural England. It was a time that saw frequent use of the buzz phrase world music, a lazy tag that has thankfully fallen into disuse as the forms to which it referred have been more and more drawn into a global folk embrace. There isnt really a difference between the two, Finnan stressed. World music is only a term if were using it from here in North America or the Anglo-Saxon music industry and scene. But if youre in a band in a community in Madagascar or Colombia, playing your folk music, then using that same paradigm, bluegrass is world music if you dont understand the music and the language and its from a different place. Its an industry-contrived term. Weve opted to use the term global roots, as it relates to a fusion of sounds. The relationship between the North American and international styles and cultures has become increasingly nuanced with awareness that the traffic is two-way. Malian guitarist Ali Farka Tour was embraced by North American audiences in the 80s as a living link to the wellspring of the blues tradition, even though he was happy to admit that he himself had been influenced by John Lee Hooker. Its helpful to remember, too, that there was a time when folk, quite literally, was pop. In 1950, when the Weavers put out Goodnight Irene, it became a monster pop hit, said Regenstreif. Dylan did the same in 65 with Like a Rolling Stone. The Lovin Spoonful guys were all Greenwich Village folkies. The Byrds I could go on. The relationship has always been very fluid. But not always completely fluid, one could argue. Sure, theres always been a certain amount of policing (of genre borders), Regenstreif said. If you think back to 1965 when Dylan went electric at Newport, some of the old-guard folkies were really upset about it. Today, what Dylan was doing back then is very common on the folk scene. A popular debate has revolved around how, exactly, folk is delineated. Take hip-hop: grassroots, supporting local scenes, utilizing the musical tools at hand it fits the standard criteria as well as, or even better than, some of the things we call folk without a thought. There are valid arguments to be made that hip-hop is a valid folk form, said Regenstreif. Its part of a community. I wouldnt say that what Kanye West does necessarily has anything to do with folk music, but certainly with the street-level artists, the case could be made. From the artists perspective, folk makes for a milieu thats more loyal and less ageist; performers can maintain a dignified career into their later years. For another thing, its a whole lot easier for rockers to repurpose themselves as folk artists than vice versa. John Kay of Steppenwolf had a hand in inventing heavy metal with the biker anthem Born to Be Wild, but hell be at the Folk Alliance International Conference as a singer-songwriter a return, in fact, to his pre-Steppenwolf identity in Torontos Yorkville folk scene of the mid-1960s. Its the rare artist who can comfortably inhabit both realms, and Regenstreif cited one. When I look at, say, Bruce Springsteens Broadway thing (Springsteen on Broadway, the long-running solo concert series now commemorated with a Netflix special and album of the same name), to me thats much more of a folk evening than a rock n roll evening. Its a solo performance with a lot of talking. When I listen to (the album), it reminds me of a folk concert. John Prine, a contemporary of Springsteen from the more acoustic end of the spectrum, was far ahead of the curve in establishing an independent, self-run business model when the major labels started dropping the first wave of singer-songwriters. But even this paragon took considerable flak in 1979 when he recorded Pink Cadillac, a rockabilly-flavoured outing partly produced by Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis Presley. One persons roots could be another persons betrayal. That kind of binary thinking has been dissolving over the years, though. It could be that straitened times foster a greater sense of unity. Co-operation benefits everyone. The music economy in this day and age is a really difficult one, said Regenstreif. Record companies, for most intents and purposes beyond the most popular acts, have mostly fallen away. Eighty to 90 per cent of the folk material that crosses my desk now comes from artists who are putting out their own records. In Finnans view, the most significant development of the past 20 years has been the consolidation and dissemination of myriad American roots styles under the Americana banner. soundtrack brought it into the full spotlight. The branding of that, the presence of that, the adoption outside of the U.S. of the term as a descriptor for a certain sound and style that would be the one dramatic shift in terms of the musical ecology across the spectrum, Finnan said. Emblematic of another very healthy development is Tanya Tagaq, this years FAI keynote speaker and a spiritual inheritor of Buffy Sainte-Marie, this years recipient of the International Folk Music Awards Peoples Voice Award. (While in town for the conference, Sainte-Marie will discuss her authorized biography Friday, Feb. 15 at Rialto Hall and will perform Saturday, Feb. 16 at Corona Theatre; both events are open to the public.) Im looking forward to what Tanya Tagaq has to say, said Regenstreif. Theres been a real surge in the presence of Indigenous music in the last several years, and she has been right at the forefront of that. There is no other artist who so boldly inhabits an approach to creativity that is as devoid of artifice, convention or worry about public perception, said Finnan. The relationship to Indigenous communities in the U.S. isnt as engaged or interactive within the (American) music industry. Its one of the great challenges and opportunities. Theres plenty of work to be done to foster the same sort of renaissance thats being seen and felt and heard in Canada. As the conference gets set to welcome 3,000 delegates from 35 countries, Finnan who got his post-secondary education at Concordia University remarked on how Montreal was chosen partly for its incredible musical history. As it relates to our theme of creativity and innovation, Montreal is an internationally known hub. And it dovetails with our return to the U.S. next year, in New Orleans. Theres a cultural and musical story and lineage there that we want to tap into. AT A GLANCE The Folk Alliance International Conference takes place Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel. The event is closed to the general public. A world of folk music from Quebec The Folk Alliance International Conferences lineup of 180-plus showcased acts includes a fair proportion of Quebec-based names. Here are five locals to look out for in future months and years. Pierre Kwenders: The Montreal-based musical polymath operates at the cutting edge of Congolese rumba, modern R&B/hip-hop and electronica. His album Makanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time was a highlight of 2017. Stardom beckons. Christine Tassan et les Imposteures: The all-female quartet led by guitarist Tassan draws on an uncommonly broad range of the folk and Gypsy jazz repertoire, from Django Reinhardt to Flix Leclerc. De Temps Antan: From St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, this young trio injects theatrical flair and a comedic edge into the Quebec folk tradition. See also frequent touring partners Le Vent du Nord. Les Poules Colin: Indie-folk-trad exemplars of how traditional music can be made to sound and feel completely contemporary. The quintet made a big splash at last years Edinburgh Fringe and looks set to become a mainstay on the international circuit. Yves Lambert Trio: The founding member of the seminal La Bottine Souriante now heads a smaller ensemble melding that bands Qubcois folk with classical elements. Chops, needless to say, are sky-high. [email protected] | https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/how-is-folk-music-defined-in-2019 |
Can a family vacation without a rental car? | Behind the wheel of a strangers car, I adjust the seat and mirrors, even as my adrenaline tells me that what Im doing is wrong. I dont know the cars owner or his vehicle. But then, I start the engine and pull into downtown Chicago traffic. My husband, riding shotgun on our way out of town, hits the begin trip button on my phones Turo app, a platform that lets travelers rent cars from locals. Moments earlier, a man named Gabriel had pulled up to our hotel, dropped the keys to his sedan in my hands and walked off with a casual farewell as if this was normal. It was our last day on a recent weekend trip to the Windy City, where we skipped the usual rental car and avoided the hotels nightly parking fee. Instead, to sightsee we hopped in Uber cars, sailed along in a water taxi and zoomed on L trains, the rapid transit system. Chicago has ample old-school public transportation options, and the sharing economys offers newer options for getting from place-to-place. Together, they make Chicago easy to navigate without the stress and costs associated with mainstream car rentals. My family including my husband and our 9-month-old girl were ready to test-drive the modern world of ground transportation. Now, with our 9-month-old baby strapped into her carseat as the engines hum lulled her toward naptime, we settled in for some untethered freedom up Lakeshore Drive. Price of the ride Star Tribune staff recently compared the prices of taxi and UberX rides in four U.S. cities. City Miles Traveled Uber X Taxi Chicago 18.3 $40 $49.50 New York City 9.9 $40 $49.50 New Orleans 4.6 14.76 16.10 Santa Monica, Calif. 3.3 8.11 12.15 Chicago 1.9 16.02* 9.25 *This trip was taken during rush hour. During particularly busy times, Uber charges a premium. The practice is called surge pricing. The weekend began as many Chicago trips do: lurching through traffic in the backseat of a cab. For the nimble and lightly-packed traveler, catching the train at OHare International Airport is a cheaper, often faster, way to reach downtown during work-week hours. But when our airplane touched down in Chicagoland under a rainy sky, the thought of schlepping a carseat, stroller, bags oh, and squirmy baby through turnstiles, train cars and several city blocks sounded exhausting. In my pre-motherhood life, I prided myself on my scrappy travel style (read: cheap), but this time I favored a drier, quieter and more direct route to our hotels doorstep. A $49 cab fare hurts, but a $60-a-day fee to park a rental car at the hotel wouldve hurt more. I love saving money almost as much as I love saving time and this anti-car-rental weekend was already checking both boxes. The key to a carless trip is staying somewhere centrally located with access to multiple modes of transportation and transit lines and modes. After settling into our hotel off Chicagos famed Magnificent Mile, we were already thinking about dinner. In a food city like Chicago, it seems a shame to waste a meal on a mediocre restaurant, so we set our sights on the West Loop, a neighborhood known for its gastronomic delights. I pulled up the ride-sharing app Uber on my phone and ordered a car to shuttle us the short two-mile trek to the other side of the Chicago River. App-based ride services offer the conveninece of a lift exactly when and where you need one. The free extra riders, upfront cost estimates and permanent log of your riding history provides transparency and some additional reassurance. Within 10 minutes we were stepping out onto Randolph Street where the Friday happy hour vibe was spilling onto sidewalks through open restaurant doors. We grabbed a drink at Haymarket Pub and Brewery then popped across the street to snag a table before the dinner rush at Little Goat Diner, a kid-friendly sister restaurant to the famed Girl & The Goat. After filling our bellies with tempura mashed potatoes with kimchi, chop chae and buttery cheddar biscuits, we ambled our way down the popular street back toward downtown, absorbing the energy of a city welcoming its weekend. Sensing a baby on the brink of bedtime, we decided to head back to our hotel just as I saw a cab parked a half a block in front of us. For years, Ive relied solely on my smartphone to arrange such transactions, but decided to try the old-fashioned hail-a-taxi method. Ive grown accustomed, by steady use of ride-sharing apps, to having the drivers name and service rating before we ever meet. So, it was admittedly a bit disarming to approach this parked taxi car with no information. The driver was talking on his phone. Is he waiting for a client in the nearby apartment building? Before I could sort it out, he gestured to get in. The uneasiness of the interaction quickly gave way to amazement as he hurtled toward our hotel on an unexpected, and efficient, route. He navigated downtown Chicagos busy thoroughfares and one-way streets with only the name of a hotel as his guide no address and smartphone map dictating directions for him. All ride-hailing experiences were like this not that long ago, but my increased reliance on technology made his maneuverings through the city feel like wizardry. I arrived at the hotel with scarcely a word spoken, and thats OK with me. The pressure to hold a conversation is strong now that ride-sharing companies allow drivers and riders to grade one another on their pleasantness. But sometimes I just want a quick, calm and drama-free ride where I can have a moment alone with my thoughts. Uber and Lyft By Kerri Westenberg Uber and Lyft work similarly: Users download an app on their smartphone and use the app to request a ride. Both show the price of the ride before you hit confirm, and then let you follow along on a map as your ride approaches. Both also offer upgraded services for higher prices; prices pop up for each type of available service when you request a ride so you can choose among them before you confirm the ride. Lyft offers Lyft Lux, with high-end vehicles for four passengers; Lux Black, with premium black car service; and Lux Black XL, with premium black SUVs that seat up to six. Uber has UberX, the basic service; UberXL, for up to six passengers; UberSelect with luxury vehicles for up to four passengers and UberBlack and UberSUV. The company recently introduced UberPool for low-cost ride sharing. Lyft users who accrue Delta SkyMiles, take note: You can link your Lyft and Delta accounts to earn miles while you hop around town. We woke up on our first full day in Chicago with the simple goal of not just seeing the city, but experiencing it. One strategy: be open to surprises, tear up the sightseeing checklist and set out on foot. Carless trips require some thinking ahead, but then offer the freedom to not think at all. It turns out, Im not alone in this sentiment. Travelers used to book their tours and vacation activities months in advance, but are increasingly deciding what they want to do while they are at their destination, said Andrew Sheivachman, senior editor for SKIFT, a media and marketing company for the travel industry. Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, Sheivachman said. Travelers want convenience and on-demand services. And, truthfully, the car rental process can be such a hassle (they) are kind of behind in what they offer the consumer, he said. The process just becomes so much simpler for the traveler if they dont rent a car. Lake Michigan was beckoning my water-loving husband and I. Tucking the baby into her stroller, we made the easy one-mile walk from our hotel to Navy Pier, scanning for doughnut shops and speculating about rent prices for a newly constructed high-rise apartment building along the way. Navy Pier feels a bit touristy, but is one of the best ways to interact with the lake during the non-beach weather months. The view of the city makes the free cost of admission all the more of a bargain. After a lap around the piers lengthy perimeter, we moseyed our way to the Chicago Riverwalk, accessible just south of the Pier. Chicago is distinct from most U.S. cities in that traveling by water is a viable transportation option. A number of ferry companies operate on the Chicago River some designed for tourists and others for commuters who use these boats to quickly bypass bottlenecks at the citys busiest points. We wanted to escape the citys downtown core to a neighborhood neither of us had previously explored, so we stopped at the Michigan Avenue Dock near the famed Wrigley Building. Looking at the service map, we decided to head north, rather than south, from the main channel toward Goose Island, a route run by the Chicago Water Taxi company, which runs bright yellow and black boats reflective of street taxis. I bypassed the long line at the ticket window, opting for the faster self-service kiosk. We bough unlimited day passes for $10 per adult and hustled down the steps to the loading ramp. Thats when I discovered my mistake: the northern route only runs on weekdays. Saturdays are for taking it easy, and that means going wherever the wind or in this case, the river leads. So down to Chinatown we go. The main channel was packed with weekend leisure cruises, double-decker architectural tour boats and privately chartered boats of raucous bachelor or bachelorette parties. Chicagos water taxis dont offer frills, but are efficient and punctual, a new boat arriving every 20 minutes. Our boat captain docked at each station for exactly five minutes before departing. They also give passengers a relaxing float trip through the heart of the city and to some other point on the citys map for a low fee. After the last stop near Willis Tower, the river crowd thins and the scene transitions from polished corporate facades to industrial, low-slung buildings. Concrete blocks and mangled steel rebar peek out from riverbanks as we drift past the South Loop. Rusted railroad bridges signal the entry to Chinatown, with Ping Tom Memorial Park welcoming water taxis to its shore. We disembark with stomachs growling and head toward the districts commercial center in search for lunch. We picked the first restaurant that caught our eye, Joy Yee Noodles. It had a long line of locals always a good indicator ordering bubble teas to go. It was the perfect lunch spot, with a vast menu and friendly staff that assured me the rice explosion beneath my daughters highchair was not a problem. With midday drowsiness setting in, we catch the next water taxi leaving Chinatown, walking the last half-mile from the dock to our hotel. Hours later, we are napped and reinvigorated and thinking about food again. Chicago is known for its deep-dish pizza, and its only right to indulge in the local specialty at least once while in town. A handful of long-standing restaurants are consistently ranked on the best of and most authentic lists of deep-dish pizza shops in town, each with fiercely loyal fan bases. After a day of gallivanting around town, this was the perfect night for the one-block stroll to the original Ginos East, counted among the elite of deep-dish pizza institutions. ** A few weeks before our trip, I reserved a car for Sunday through Turo, an app-based platform best likened to Airbnb for cars. Turo has a feature that allows users to filter cars by owners who are willing to deliver the vehicle to you. In this way, it felt similar to Uber or Lyft, but with a flat fee agreed upon when booking the reservation. Our car was just $56 for all-day use and up to 200 miles. This was my first time using the service and the frequent texts reminding me of the upcoming trip did create a sense of urgency and self-induced stress I would have rather not felt on a Sunday morning. I didnt know exactly how this car-borrowing arrangement worked, but any frequent user of ride-sharing apps is conditioned to avoid tardiness when meeting a driver at the agreed upon location as it can result in late fees and curt words. Ten minutes before our reservation was scheduled to begin, Gabriel, the cars owner, texted through the app that he was on his way and would be at the drop-off point in 10 minutes. We hurried down to the hotels curb, early enough to watch him pull into the loading zone right on time. The app prompts users to check-in the vehicle by uploading pictures of the vehicle in case theres any dispute on its return condition later. Gabriels casual farewell, as he headed toward the train station, took the edge off my anxiety. After two days of being driven and ferried around by other people, Turo offered some control and a longer geographic leash, which we used to visit the expansive Chicago Botanic Gardens about 25 miles north of downtown. We couldve reached our destinations by train, but this day trip was about the sights along the way as much as it was about the destination. We took the route the kept us nearest the lake rather than the faster freeway route. After grabbing sandwiches and snacks at a quaint deli, we passed the Ba-hai Temple, skirted the pretty campus of both Loyola and Northwestern universities and detoured through the cutesy downtown of Winnetka. We arrived at the Botanic Gardens early at 10:30 a.m. and faced the downside of driving: a $30 parking fee. The train wouldve cost us $20 for two people and required us to walk a mile from the station to the Gardens. The convenience, speed and control were worth the $10 difference. After a day and a half in the hustle and bustle of Chicagos urban canyons, the wide-open spaces and tranquility of these perfectly curated gardens from the impressive fruit and vegetable plot to the immersive Japanese Garden was a welcome retreat. For those who struggle with time management, the Turo apps sends reminder notifications several hours in advance. Not knowing what traffic would be like, we left the Gardens with time to spare, making a few stops and refilling the gas tank as we neared our hotel. I set the reservation to end at 5:00 p.m. Gabriel walked up to our hotel loading zone at 5:02 p.m. as I uploaded pictures of the car in the Turo app to check it back in and document its returned condition. There was a some relief when he took the keys from me, knowing I was no longer responsible. Rested and recharged from our getaway, we struck out on foot again, this time for the train station. We took the underground red line to the State and Lake station. We then popped up to street level and climbed the steel-framed staircase to the elevated green line. We were heading back to the gastronomical West Loop. My daughter found the whole train-riding process endlessly fun, always trying to catch a strangers eye with the flash of a goofy smile. We snagged a table on a lively patio where our daughter managed to make friends with servers, patrons and dogs alike. As we climbed the stairs of the L platform, we stood between a setting sun to the east and the citys glass skyscrapers that reflected the red, orange and pink light. The ride back felt peaceful and the crowds of passengers had thinned as Chicagoans prepared for their Monday morning and as we prepare for our early morning flight home. ** The alarm went off at 3:15 a.m. and Ive never been more grateful for Uber, which offers door-to-door ease at such an unholy hour. I was yet again thankful to avoid the hassle and time that wouldve been needed if I had to return a rental car and catch a shuttle to the terminal. The car arrived within three minutes of placing my request and we were checking in our luggage at the airport 30 minutes after that. | http://www.startribune.com/can-a-family-vacation-without-a-rental-car/505208412/ |
Could all-star game in Nashville set U.S. women's pro hockey attendance record on Sunday? | CLOSE Joe Rexrode and Geoff Calkins recap the US women's hockey team win and what that means for the Gold medal game. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee Rocco Grimaldi wasn't surprised when Kendall Coyne Schofield placed seventh in the speed skate competition last month at NHL All-Star Weekend. The Predators center has worked in the offseason with Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, twin sisters who helped the U.S. win women's hockey gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics last year. "I've trained with them for the last couple of summers," Grimaldi said. "They had specifically talked about Kendall and her speed. I don't know. She beat my time last year I fell, though." Schofield will be among the players competing during the National Women's Hockey League All-Star Weekend. She will be part of the skills competition Saturday at Ford Ice Center and in the NWHL All-Star Game that will take place Sunday at Bridgestone Arena following the Predators' game against the St. Louis Blues. FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, United States' Kendall Coyne Schofield skates during the Skills Competition, part of the NHL All-Star weekend, in San Jose, Calif. Coyne Schofield says she doesnt believe NBC Sports analyst Pierre McGuire questioned her knowledge of the sport during an awkward pre-game interaction. McGuire was criticized on social media for telling Coyne Schofield which sides the Penguins and Lightning were on during their broadcast of the game on NBC Sports Network on Wednesday night and for saying the network was paying her to be an analyst and not a fan. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) (Photo: The Associated Press) The skills competition is already sold out. Those who attend the Predators' game can stay to watch the 2:45 p.m. all-star game which will consist of two 25-minute halves at no additional cost. Tickets, priced at $20, are also on sale through Ticketmaster and at the door. The NWHL hopes to have a record crowd at the all-star event. "The is actually our first all-star game on NHL ice, so it's an opportunity to set an attendance record for professional women's hockey in the United States," said Dani Rylan, the league's commissioner. "Around 2,700 would be our current record. "Our sport made huge gains in San Jose at the NHL All-Star Game. Now we have our stage in Nashville and it's our time to shine again, and we want to prove that these moments exist beyond 14 seconds of Kendall Coyne skating around the rink." Dani Rylan, seen here at a summit in New Jersey last year, is founder and commissioner of the National Women's Hockey League. (Photo: Paula Barbagallo/Special to NorthJersey.com) The league will host a Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Ford Ice Center, a learn-to-play clinic for girls at 3 p.m. and a Black Girl Hockey Club meet-up at noon at Bridgestone Arena. Last year's all-star game in Minnesota was seen by more than 500,000 people via live stream on Twitter. This year's event will be the best collection of women's hockey talent on the ice at one time outside of the Olympics. "In the all-star game we'll have 10 Olympians from the U.S. national team and a Canadian Olympian in Shannon Szabados," Rylan said. "We will play four-on-four, fast-paced hockey. It's the best sampling of professional women's hockey and it should be a great time." Grimaldi doesn't need to be sold. "They're the best girls from around the world," he said. "They can play: good skaters, they can shoot. They can do everything just like we can. "It's great what they're doing for little girls. I saw a post saying some girl, like 3 or 4 years old, watched (Schofield at the NHL skills event) and was like, 'I want to play hockey.' I think they're doing an awesome job being role models and examples." The NWHL has five franchises scattered from Minnesota to Buffalo. Rylan reached out to the Predators and found them receptive to bringing the all-star game to the South for the first time. "Nashville was on our short list," the commissioner said. "It actually didn't take much selling. The Predators have been amazing to work with and actually see the value in bringing the NWHL all-stars to town." Reach Tommy Deas at 615-259-8328 and on Twitter @tommydeas. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Predators news from The Tennessean on your mobile device OLYMPIC SPARK: It's not just Predators, girls hockey heats up in the South thanks to Olympians NAME GAME: Preds center Rocco Grimaldi names his hockey sticks, treats them with care | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/predators/2019/02/08/womens-hockey-nashville-nhwl-all-star-game-predators-attendance/2792955002/ |
Is RegTech The Answer To Corporate Governance And Risk Management Issues? | Financial technology, also known as FinTech, has changed the lives of billions by making financial services and products more accessible, and even integral, to their daily lives. For example, FinTech is what makes it possible for payments to be processed quickly across the globe for low fees, or for individuals to buy and sell online securities directly in the stock market without the advice of intermediaries. As an additional example, the sharing economythe market for consumption of unused assets, facilitated by social mediais often powered by FinTech companies as well. In light of the dramatic success of FinTech, the media, the private sector, and regulators have begun to focus their attention on understanding how to apply technology to regulate the financial sector, a field known as Regulation Technology, or simply RegTech. In fact, the global RegTech Market revenue is expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2023. The rise in the profitability of RegTech is primarily the result of the post-2008 financial world of increased government regulation, where compliance is a key governance function, and risk management is a critical regulatory strategy. RegTech tools have helped solve industry needs in a more effective and efficient way, automating corporate governance and compliance processes. RegTech solutions ensure that companies are up to date with the latest regulatory changes, minimize the likelihood of human error, and increase the overall governance process, while providing innovative risk management and cybersecurity tools. Among those are also the popular Bug Bounty programs, which invite people to hack into entities systems in order to find flaws in exchange for rewards. Although those programs initially were spearheaded by, and mainly relevant in, the private sector, the public sector has started to show interest too, with the House recently passing the Hack Your State Department Act to establish a State Department bug bounty program. RegTech is the answer to a real need. Learning, interpreting and complying with voluminous regulation requires the financial services industry to spend great resources. And RegTech has the promise of making that process more efficient and cost-effective. That potential has caused the invasion of entrepreneurs and innovators into the complicated world of RegTech, with some relying on the same technologies that fueled FinTechs disruption of the financial services industry, namely, machine learning, biometrics and big data. Just as the private sector is looking to RegTech to help with compliance, so too regulators are looking to RegTech to help with monitoring and enforcement. Regulators also hope that the increased use of technology within the financial services industry will give them the ability to more efficiently access and assess massive volumes of information that must be monitored and evaluated. But despite its advantages, RegTech is not the solution to all corporate governance and risk management issues. First, it is not easily accessiblethe significant barriers to access of RegTech include financial resources, access to data and talented manpower. Second, although RegTech certainly increases automation and efficiency in compliance for the businesses implementing it, regulators use some of the same tools to increase their efficiency, allowing them to continually increase the regulatory requirements they impose. Thus, RegTechs automation and efficiency gains may be offset by the costs of expanded regulatory requirements. So, the end result of using RegTech might not necessarily be financially profitable. Third, partnering with third party vendors can increase risk, as they might not be familiar with the same level of risks and dangers, particularly, because much of the work and risks are outsourced to third parties at the end of the day. Fourth, technology in governance and risk management decision processes uses opaque and often biased programmed reasoning and altered interpretations of the law, which can hinder good human judgment. This means that lawyers explain to programmers what needs to be coded into RegTech algorithms and tools, and the programmers create binary technological solutions to cover all possible scenarios based on their interpretation of the legal requirements. And, last but certainly not least, RegTech alone cannot extirpate undesired and unethical business practices, incentives, or culture. Moreover, just as technology can be used for good, it also can be used by businesses to evade regulations and frustrate regulators, a phenomenon referred to as anti-RegTech. For all these reasons, the recent RegTech trend of banks seeking to automatically calculate precise capital allocations required to pass the governments stress tests while maximizing returns, is a bit concerning. Sure, banks are under pressure to manage their capital and liquidity more effectively, and would rather not hold additional capital if they can determine the exact minimal required capital level, as holding more impacts their profitability and net margins. But one of the 2008 crisis lessons was that the Federal Reserve should constantly and carefully assess whether the biggest banks are strong enough to continue lending if the economy plunges into a severe downturn. And we must make sure that the banks understand the importance of this assessment, rather than try to use technology to get as close as possible to evade regulations and frustrate their purpose. Moreover, we should not let the biggest institutions solely rely on RegTech to precisely determine such critical, careful ratios, just to increase profitability as doing so clearly promotes an unethical business culture. Reaching a similar conclusion, the De Nederlandsche Bank ( DNB ), which has since 2011 studied the culture at financial institutions as a factor that influences their risk profile, included decisions made exclusively on the basis of models, as an example of risky behavior. Specifically, the DNB found that when such decisions are made without personal judgment they carry the risk of excessive risk taking and denial of dilemmas. RegTech has a crucial role in our technology-driven era. We can greatly benefit from RegTech, which is one of the very few answers to the risks and challenges existing in the financial industry. But, it requires a carefully tailored design of the technology, a joint effort of the regulators and the private sector, some shifts in corporate thinking, and acknowledging that we cannot blindly outsource governance and risk management to technology. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nizangpackin/2019/02/08/is-regtech-the-answer-to-corporate-governance-and-risk-management-issues/ |
Is Technology The Solution To Combating Internal Fraud? | Following the discovery of two secret overdrafts and potentially fraudulent accounting irregularities, Patisserie Valerie has collapsed into administration. The growing issue of internal fraud Almost every business is exposed to a wide-range of internal fraud and the illicit activity seen at Patisserie Valerie is just the tip of the iceberg. We have seen countless similar cases, from the bankruptcy of Enron almost overnight after misleading regulators with fake holdings, to the Bernie Madoff case, the biggest fraudulent scheme in U.S history. Without the right fraud detection in place, we will continue to see this kind of activity. The accountancy firm concerned with auditing Patisserie Valeries accounts is also under scrutiny for admitting that they didnt look for fraud when carrying out the audits. This brings about an entirely new argument that identifying fraudulent activity is a shared responsibility, both inside and outside an organization. Detecting and preventing fraud is a challenge for all businesses, but it is especially difficult if the threat stems from your own employees. PwCs Global Economic Crime and Fraud survey revealed a significant increase in the share of economic crime committed by internal actors, up from 46% in 2016 to 52% in 2018. From this survey, PwC concluded that companies are under prepared to face fraud, for both internal and external reasons. How we can prevent fraud with technology In todays tech-driven society, businesses need stringent fraud detection systems to keep track as the volume of data sources continues to grow. With more controls in place to detect potentially fraudulent activity and a great visibility of accounts, companies can identify anomalies at the time they occur, rather than after the damage has been done. To successfully prevent financial losses due to fraud, businesses need to implement more sophisticated and automated fraud detection systems. With the introduction of AI and machine learning, these systems can evolve alongside innovative criminal behavior. All businesses should be benefiting from advanced network analytics to gain a better understanding of their customers and their behaviors, relationships and connections. Cutting-edge technologies must be combined with stringent business controls to best detect illicit activity. There is a need for collaborative responsibility over financial accounting. In the case of Patisserie Valerie, the auditors had huge amounts of data that could have been leveraged to flag abnormal behaviors, exemplifying the need for shared accountability. Lending organizations, regulatory bodies and the government alike all have access to large data sets, positioning them in a prime spot to detect irregularities. The risk of fraud is continuously increasing KPMGs Fraud Barometer recorded 453 cases of alleged fraud with a value of more than 100,000 but the threat needs to be dealt with internally before dealing with external challenges. In addition to implementing the right technology to flag suspicious activity, companies also need to focus on their culture. Without a major shift in employee mindsets that encourage fraudulent activities, its unlikely the threat of internal fraud will subside, and businesses will continue to suffer both financial and reputational damages. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/vishalmarria/2019/02/08/is-technology-the-solution-to-combating-internal-fraud/ |
Did medics do enough to save dying Austin-area man? | Emergency officials are investigating whether paramedics who responded to a hit-and-run last fall did enough to help a dying man, raising the question of how far first responders should go to save a gravely injured patient. The issue arose after body camera video captured a roadside dispute between medics from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Travis County Fire Rescue, who pressed for permission to keep working on 73-year-old Joe McKoy after they discovered he was still breathing following the Sept. 27 crash. McKoy, who suffered a severe head injury, was not taken to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the scene near Texas 130 and Pearce Lane about 30 minutes after the crash. Records show medics called a doctor for consultation and, later, to declare him dead. There was a feeling that we could have more aggressively advocated for the patient, Travis County Fire Rescue Chief Ken Bailey said. This particular case was difficult for our crews to process. Its a failure on our part for what our mission is. The case highlights how medics must sometimes grapple with the extent to which they should continue care when training and experience indicate that survival chances are low or whether they should be empowered to deem a patient no longer viable for treatment, as officials say medics did with McKoy, and stop. Dr. Mark Escott, medical director for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, confirmed he and his office have been investigating whether first responders followed the agencys standards for care. He said he could not comment further because such clinical reviews are confidential under state law. He said the matter is also being referred to other EMS officials for an administrative review to determine whether the medics violated departmental policies. The medics have not been disciplined and remain on the job. The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigating the crash and trying to find the driver of the other car. Our citys first responders are committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical care and risk their lives on a daily basis to help others in need, Escott said in a statement to the American-Statesman. While our EMS and fire department strive for perfection, as with any other aspect of health care, the office of the medical director consistently reviews our clinical practices in order to continue to improve the care provided to our community. McKoys husband, Jesse Stewart, was dead when paramedics arrived at their mangled pickup. Body camera video taken by first responders from Travis County Fire Rescue (Emergency Services District 11) captured tense moments with medics from Austin-Travis County EMS during which they discussed McCoys injuries and debated whether to proceed with treatment. It shows some responders on the scene appeared stunned when a medic the one with the most credentials on at the scene instructed them to cease efforts to aide McCoy because of the dire nature of his injuries. The American-Statesman, KVUE-TV and McKoys family have sought copies of the video from Travis County Fire Rescue, but the agency's attorney has appealed to the Texas attorney general, seeking to prevent the public release of the video. The department argues that because the body-worn cameras are used for medical review purposes, the video is confidential. McKoys brother, Errol McKoy, who is handling his estate, declined to comment. Documents list all of the emergency responders at the scene, but officials would not identify who objected to further treatment of McKoy, a retired examiner from the Internal Revenue Service who lived in Southeast Travis County. The men's neighbors think they had been grocery shopping when the crash happened. According to EMS policy, resuscitation efforts should not be initiated or continued if a patient is pulseless or apneic meaning, isnt breathing. They also should not try to revive a patient if he has been underwater for more than 20 minutes or has obvious mortal wounds, which the policy describes as severe trauma with obvious signs of organ destruction. The video shows the senior EMS medic believed the nature of McKoys injuries were such that they met that criteria because of his head wound. Records also show he was bleeding from his head and suffered severe brain trauma. The policy also establishes an on-scene hierarchy and instructs medics on how to handle instances where they disagree about patient treatment. It says it is the responsibility of the on-scene credentialed providers to reach consensus as to the most appropriate care of the patient. It says if that doesnt happen, the senior on-scene provider has the final say. All significant or unresolved conflicts regarding on-scene management of patients should be reported via the chain of command and will be retrospectively reviewed, the policy states. In a memo to the staff Friday, Bailey, the Travis County Fire Rescue chief, said the final call about whether to take a person to the hospital remains with the transport provider, which was Austin-Travis County EMS in McKoy's death. However, Bailey pointed out that his department has other options, including arranging other transportation. "While the expectation is to be professional in our communication with others, this should not be a passive effort, but rather a clear communication of your concern," Bailey wrote. Dr. Pat Crocker, a former emergency room doctor in Austin who worked closely with EMS, said medics often contacted him for counsel about how to proceed with a patient in similar situations. In general, a patient who has signs of life a pulse, breathing should be transported, he said. A paramedic making that call in the field has a lot of challenges, in the midst of a lot of excitement. There have been a number of times in my career when I felt like this patient was a goner and a week later, those patients walk out of the hospital. Dr. James Kempema, the medical director for Travis County Fire Rescue who also reviewed the incident, said he agrees that McKoy would not have survived his injuries, even if the medics would have continued aggressive treatment. However, he said the incident shows the difficult decisions medics must make in an emergency situation about whether to rush a person with the most dire injuries to the hospital. Doing so can put the crew and public at risk by an ambulance racing to a hospital. It also comes with an extra financial cost to the agency, he said. However, he said taking them to the hospital can give a possible opportunity for organ donations and allow doctors and other medical experts a second chance to review a patients injuries. Kempema said he is aware of instances in which paramedics transported patients with injuries similar to McKoy, even though they were near-certain they would die enroute. He said he thinks it is usually proper to do so. Trying to determine when to stop resuscitation efforts is a challenge, Kempema said. My recommendation is that if there is evidence of vital signs and we have a trauma center that is fairly immediately accessible, my general recommendation would be to pursue transport. There are some things we might be able to do, with the full understanding that the likelihood of survival is very, very low." Bailey said his medics also have reviewed their actions that day. He said they also have repeatedly second-guessed whether to stop care on McKoy and whether they should have more aggressively insisted on doing more. We are uncomfortable trying to make those decisions, he said. We believe those decisions are best made in the emergency room. Ultimately, our job is to continue to provide care. | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190208/did-medics-do-enough-to-save-dying-austin-area-man |
What does the Seattle man who invented Pictionary think about its artificial-intelligence use? | Iconary, which pairs humans and software in a drawing-and-guessing game from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, was inspired by Pictionary, invented in Seattle more than three decades ago by a then-24-year-old Rob Angel and collaborators. Theres a bit of Seattle gaming history threaded through a new artificial intelligence training game unveiled on Tuesday. Iconary, which pairs humans and software in a drawing-and-guessing game from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, was inspired by Pictionary, invented in Seattle more than three decades ago by a then-24-year-old Rob Angel and collaborators. We asked Angel to check out Iconary, which differs in fundamental ways from other games like chess and Go where artificial intelligence can beat the best of humanity. I forgot it was A.I. because I got so engaged with it, and thats a positive, Angel said. A game based on the subtle linguistic and visual cues exchanged between drawer and guesser presents a much more realistic challenge for computer scientists building A.I. systems that they hope will one day interact and collaborate with humans naturally, the Allen Institute researchers said. Angel recalled making Pictionary to recreate the feeling he had playing board games growing up in the 1970s: the fun, the interaction, the collaboration, the camaraderie of what I remember playing games as a kid. The collaborative aspect its not me against you, its us as a team against another team, Angel said was a major attribute the A.I. researchers sought. Also, playing Pictionary relies on subtle, hard-to-define aspects of human communication. It wasnt knowledge-based. It wasnt the smartest who wins, or even the best artist, Angel said. The game taps into intangible attributes of communication that remain largely beyond the reach of A.I. systems today. Recreating that in a software system represents an enormous challenge. Pictionary was a huge hit, selling an estimated 38 million copies in 60 countries between its launch in 1985 and its purchase by Mattel in 2001, Angel said. He guessed that millions more have been sold since. Angel is finishing a book covering his experience creating Pictionary. Game Changer, to be published by an imprint of Mascot Books, is due out later this year, he said. Was he surprised to see Pictionary inspire this attempt to train A.I. Nothing is static, Angel said. Life and technology and the world progresses, and this is almost a natural progression a new way to communicate, a new way to feel some emotion. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/what-does-the-seattle-man-who-invented-pictionary-think-about-its-artificial-intelligence-use/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Could The Challenge's Johnny Bananas Be the Next Bachelor? | Citizens of Bachelor Nation take note: Johnny Bananas wants to be the next guy to hand out those roses. Johnny Devenanzio aka Johnny Bananas has spent the last 13 years on MTV, first with The Real World: Key West, now with his 18th appearance on The Challenge. MTV is currently airing The Challenge: War of the Worlds, a competition reality show featuring veterans from previous seasons as well as contestants from other reality shows, including The Bachelorette, Big Brother and Love Island. While Johnny, who is now the host of First Look on NBC, is quick to decry the merits of the newcomersand their showshe does have his sights set on one particular other reality show: The Bachelor. | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1012862/could-the-challenge-s-johnny-bananas-be-the-next-bachelor?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
Who bats leadoff, plays shortstop for the Cleveland Indians with Francisco Lindor on the shelf? | Francisco Lindor will miss 7 to 9 weeks with a calf injury. CLEVELAND, Ohio If the Cleveland Indians didnt think they had problems with their lineup before heading to spring training, they almost certainly do now. Fridays news that All-Star Francisco Lindor will miss seven to nine weeks and likely the beginning of the regular season while rehabbing a strained right calf muscle casts a pall on an already iffy lineup that was set to rely disproportionately on the 24-year-old shortstops production from the get-go. Lindor was one of the most reliable leadoff hitters in the game over the last two seasons, leading baseball with 123 runs scored in 2018 and blasting home runs at a franchise record pace for his position. With Lindor on the shelf, a lineup that was already set to have depth concerns beyond the No. 5 spot now has a gaping hole at the top. Below is a look at candidates on the Indians 40-man roster and spring invitees to take over the leadoff spot while Lindor is out. | https://www.cleveland.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/ed880b06c74040/who-bats-leadoff-plays-shortstop-for-the-cleveland-indians-with-francisco-lindor-on-the-shelf.html |
Do fish recognise themselves in the mirror? | A species of fish, the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), responds to its reflection and attempts to remove marks on its body during the mirror testa method held as the gold standard for determining if animals are self-aware. The finding, published this week in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, suggests that fish might possess far higher cognitive powers than previously thought, and ignites a high-stakes debate over how we assess the intelligence of animals that are so unlike ourselves. "The behaviours we observe leave little doubt that this fish behaviourally fulfils all criteria of the mirror test as originally laid out. What is less clear is whether these behaviours should be considered as evidence that fish are self-awareeven though in the past these same behaviours have been interpreted as self-awareness in so many other animals," said Dr Alex Jordan, senior author on the study. The ability to perceive and recognise a reflected mirror image as self (mirror self-recognition) is considered a hallmark of cognition across species. To test for this phenomenon in fish, the researchers applied the classic 'mark' test to the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)a marine fish best known for its behaviour of "cleaning" external parasites from client fishby placing a coloured mark on fish in a location that can only be seen in a mirror reflection. In order to gain a 'pass', the test requires that the animal must touch or investigate the mark, demonstrating that it perceives the reflected image as itself. This is clearly a challenge for animals such as fish that lack limbs and hands. The researchers observed that fish attempted to remove the marks by scraping their bodies on hard surfaces after viewing themselves in the mirror. Fish never attempted to remove transparent marks in the presence of a mirror, or coloured marks when no mirror was presentsuggesting that marked fish were responding to the visual cue of seeing the mark on themselves in the mirror. Further, unmarked fish did not attempt to remove marks from themselves when interacting with a marked fish across a clear divider, nor did they attempt to remove marks placed on the mirror itselfsuggesting that fish were not innately reacting to a mark resembling an ectoparasite anywhere in the environment, for instance due to hard-wired feeding responses. Jordan acknowledges the controversial nature of the study, saying: "Depending on your position, you might reject the interpretation that these behaviours in a fish satisfy passing the test at all. But on what objective basis can you do this when the behaviours they show are so functionally similar to those of other species that have passed the test?" The PLOS Biology editors also recognised the potential for controversy, and commissioned an accompanying commentary from Professor Frans de Waal, a leading primatologist at Emory University who has studied mirror self-recognition in mammals. While de Waal finds the fish study intriguing, he urges caution in interpreting it. In doing so, he calls for less black-and-white approach to animal self-awareness. "What if self-awareness develops like an onion, building layer upon layer, rather than appearing all at once?" asks de Waal. "To explore self-awareness further, we should stop looking at responses to the mirror as its litmus test. Only with a richer theory of the self and a larger test battery will we be able to determine all of the various levels of self-awareness, including where exactly fish fit in." | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12202060 |
Will Macron's 'Great National Debate' Help Defuse France's Yellow Vest Unrest? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images Stung by criticism, and with his government rocked by ongoing protests from yellow vest demonstrators, French President Emmanuel Macron last month launched a nationwide series of community conversations what his government calls a grand debat national or "great national debate." Since mid-January, groups of mayors, local leaders and ordinary citizens have been meeting to hear and respond to complaints, grievances and suggestions. The public forums are set to continue through March 15. More than 3,000 have been held already, in rural hamlets and big cities. The French president is hoping the meetings will help quell the yellow vest crisis by allowing citizens to express their anger and frustrations. He has promised to take all ideas and suggestions into account for the second half of his term. Macron has personally attended several of these gatherings, and on Monday, visited the town of vry-Courcouronnes, just south of Paris, for the first meeting in les banlieues, France's troubled suburbs. For more than six hours, the French president listened, took notes and responded to complaints and proposals on how to fix the problems people face in les banlieues. About 400 people attended, most of them mayors of small, suburban towns and the directors of local community associations. "I realize there is a rupture in the values of the French Republic when it comes to the suburbs, and the guarantee of equality doesn't always extend to these neighborhoods," Macron told them. He acknowledged the need for change. Enlarge this image toggle caption Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images Unlike in the American sense, where suburbs connote green lawns and ease of life, in France, the term is synonymous with high unemployment, poverty and discrimination. The banlieues that ring large French cities are generally home to immigrants and French citizens of immigrant descent. Removed from the wealth and jobs of the cities, and lacking in public transport, it might seem the suburbs would have grievances in common with the rural yellow-vesters. But the banlieues have not joined the yellow vest movement. Abdallah Abdourahim, who leads a conseil citoyen group that helps people in some of the poorest neighborhoods, says it's almost as if the yellow vest movement made France discover that people are suffering. But those in the suburbs have known it all along. "People in the suburbs have felt on the margins of society for a while and no one's helped them," he says. "So that's why they haven't felt concerned with the yellow vest cause. It's like people are just discovering things that we've been living with, such as police brutality. Now, suddenly the rest of the country is waking up to how the police act." Abdourahim is referring to the scenes of violence between riot police and yellow vest protesters that have played out weekly since the protests began in mid-November. Protesters throw stones and bottles. Police respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons. Though there is a debate over who is at fault, the demonstrations have shined a light on police brutality. Discrimination is one topic that comes up time and again in vry-Courcouronnes. People say their chances of finding a job or other opportunities are lower because of their address and their non-French sounding names. That has not been a complaint from the yellow vest movement. Enlarge this image toggle caption Eleanor Beardsley/NPR Eleanor Beardsley/NPR "When your name is Muhammed and you come from a poor neighborhood, you don't exactly have the same consideration as when your name is Pierre or Jacques," says Abdourahim. Franois Durovray, president of the Essonne region where vry-Courcouronnes is located, says although the rural yellow-vest world and the suburbs have some common problems, they're still very far apart. "It's simple," he says. "The yellow vesters have just started to realize that they've been downgraded that they don't live anymore as they once did. But the people in the suburbs were born downgraded." The problems of France's suburbs have persisted for decades and successive governments have promised to fix them, but floundered. "A lot of people have given up hope," says Bahran El Fakhar, who heads an association to help youth in the Paris suburb of Chanteloup-les-Vignes. In that suburb, "Forty percent of people under the age of 25 are unemployed," he says. "They don't believe anymore. And we have to fight against this resignation and mistrust." People don't care that Macron promised to raise the minimum wage by 100 euros a month, says Catherine Arenou, the mayor of Chanteloup-les-Vignes, because they don't even earn the minimum wage. In vry-Courcouronnes, the head of a women's association says there's another reason residents have stayed away from the yellow vest movement. "It's not that the suburbs disagree with the yellow vests' demands," Adol Ankrah says. "But we didn't want to be blamed for the violence." Ankrah says people from the banlieues are stigmatized and they would have surely been held responsible for shop looting and car burning. She says it's great the president has come to converse with residents of the suburbs, even if the debates weren't originally launched for them. "He's very open and interested," she says. "Macron answers our questions and is open to criticism and suggestions." Macron's popularity, which plummeted late last year as the yellow vest protests erupted, has seen a boost in recent weeks. But Ankrah, like many in France, is wondering if the great national debate will actually produce any results. | https://www.npr.org/2019/02/08/692307001/will-macrons-great-national-debate-help-defuse-frances-yellow-vest-unrest?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr |
Why Can't Neurons Regrow? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Paul King, Neuroscientist, on Quora: As with most things in biology, the reason is that that is just the way it is. If one goes a bit deeper and asks why bone and skin regrows but not neurons, there are reasons why bone and skin regrowth is useful enough to have been selected by evolution, and why neuron regrowth is so sufficiently hard that biology never developed it. Some species, for example, of salamander, can regrow whole limbs including the nerves, but in this case the neuron growth is replaying the embryological development process (adjusted for the fact that most of the organism is already grown), so the genetic program is already in place. Neurons normally grow during embryological development as part of a multistage process of cellular proliferation, expansion, folding, and reshaping. Nerves and brain wiring form in a way similar to ant highways with pioneer neurons forging an initial path of left and right turns, and then follower neurons turning that into a neural highway. This process of initial growth would be very different from a repair and regrowth process, so entirely new genetic machinery would be needed for this fairly rare occurrence. In contrast, skin gets damaged all the time, and skin regrowth is not unlike the the normal process of skin replacement, so the extra genetic machinery needed is more minimal and the utility far greater. 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/2019/02/08/why-cant-neurons-regrow/ |
Can Canada avoid a populist revolt? | In the age of Trump, those of us who are immigrants from the United States feel doubly blessed to live in Canada (even in winter). Canada is an island of sanity in a sea of craziness. Not for us the ethno-nationalist populism that has upset so much of Europe. Not for us the xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments that helped propel Donald Trump to power. Were proud of our Canadian exceptionalism. We are the nation that has kept its head. For now. The nations upended by right-wing populism all have one thing in common. They are all facing white demographic decline. And that is the breeding ground for populist revolts. These revolts are linked directly to immigration, as Eric Kaufmann argues in his deeply researched new book, Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities. In Canada, the demographic shift will be huge. Today about 20 per cent of Canadians are visible minorities. But in 90 years, only about 20 per cent of Canadians will be white; most will belong to a racially hybrid majority, according to Mr. Kaufmann. The political fault lines of the future will be drawn along ethnocultural, rather than class divisions. Story continues below advertisement Whiteshift argues that its time to open up room for a legitimate conversation about white anxiety over immigration and the rate of change, rather than treat the subject as automatically toxic. For too long, argues Mr. Kaufmann, the establishment left with the help of the establishment media has branded any challenge to immigration levels as illegitimate and racist. This is dangerous, he told me, because were giving ammunition and oxygen to the far right. The results of not giving a mainstream outlet to these views are all around us: Look at Sweden, or Germany, or the U.S. Mr. Kaufmann, a professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, was brought up in British Columbia. So hes well-acquainted with Canadas cosmopolitan vibe. Among the reigning classes including the media the coming demographic transformation is simply assumed to be a good thing, even proof of our superior virtue as a nation. Mr. Kaufmann argues that because of the peculiarities of Anglo-Canadian history, English-Canadian identity basically collapsed along with the Empire. As a result, white English Canadians dont really have a national identity. No ethnic founding myth or sense of peoplehood survived the fall of Britannic nationalism, he writes in his book. What moved into the void was a new religion the religion of multiculturalism and diversity. "The contemporary Anglo-defined Canadian identity is futuristic: a missionary nationalism centred on the left-modernist ideology of multiculturalism, he writes. (Hes quick to add that this analysis doesnt pertain to Quebec, whose brand of ethno-populism looks far more like Europes. ) Canada doesnt really have a right-wing party. On all major issues, including immigration, the Conservatives are almost indistinguishable from the Liberals. The parties views on immigration are virtually identical. Even though, according to EKOS, as many as 40 per cent of Canadians think there are too many visible minorities among those immigrating to Canada, this view gets no airing by any mainstream politician. Immigration opinion is similar in Canada and the U.S. But it has been politicized only by the American right, not the Canadian right. So long as a critical mass of opinion formers support or fail to challenge the rule that politicizing multiculturalism and immigration is racist, the system is stable, writes Mr. Kauffmann. Until recently Mr. Kaufmann was inclined to think so. But hes changed his mind. People argued that it would never come to Germany, Britain, Sweden, or Spain, he said. Now it has hit them all. We are not immune. He also believes that the Tories decision to skirt the immigration issue opens the door for a populist party on the right, or for a populist Conservative leader. That doesnt mean Maxime Berniers Peoples Party will be it. So far the media have done an effective job confining him to the margins. He has few visible followers, and is regarded as a mild threat to the Conservative vote rather than as a political force on his own. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Ironically, Mr. Kaufmann believes the most polarizing political figure in Canadian politics today is probably Justin Trudeau. He is the standard-bearer for the most out-there version of globalism, he told me. Mr, Trudeau speaks for millions of Canadians. But he doesnt speak for millions more people who arent sure theyre comfortable with the rate of change, folks who think globalism has gone too far, and others who say they dont recognize the place where they grew up any more. Those people arent going to go away. And sooner or later, they will find a voice. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-can-canada-avoid-a-populist-revolt/ |
Is the Tide Turning on Gun Reform? | This week, the House held hearings on gun violence, the first in eight years. In the 2018 elections, gun-reform groups outspent the N.R.A.which appears to be in financial trouble. In this special episode, David Remnick talks with Lucy McBath, who ran for Congress as a gun reformer and won in the conservative district once represented by Newt Gingrich. Well hear from the reporter Mike Spies, the criminal-justice professor April Zeoli, the Navy veteran Will Mackin, and the gun-violence survivor Sarah Engle. And, in a dangerous neighborhood of Chicago, Lupe Cruz, a mediator, explains that, when illegal guns are ubiquitous, the only way to prevent shooting is to get between the people who want to shoot. Lucy McBath and the Shifting Politics of Gun Reform in Congress McBath won the Georgia congressional seat once held by Newt Gingrich by running on a platform of gun reform. Shes treading lightly. Will Mackin on the Use and Misuse of an AR-15 A Navy veteran who was deployed in Afghanistan talks about the appeal of the firearm, and how the cavalier attitude of some civilian gun enthusiasts angers him. Guns and Domestic Abuse, a Tragic Combination Lawmakers have tried to get firearms away from intimate-partner abusers. A researcher analyzed what was achieved, and what went wrong. To Stop the Shooting, Lupe Cruz Gets Between the People with the Guns For a conflict mediator in a dangerous Chicago neighborhood, violence prevention is a job that never ends. And when it fails, somebody gets shot. | https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/is-the-tide-turning-on-gun-reform |
What Is Keeping Oil Prices Subdued? | Oil prices failed to break out on Friday, as traders showed themselves cautious, voicing concerns about global economic growth. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Friday, February 8th, 2019 Oil prices have been flat for several days, weighed down by concerns about the health of the global economy, plus the potential return of supply from Libya. Growing economic concerns, falling stock markets and emerging doubts that the trade conflict between the US and China will be resolved are putting oil prices under pressure, Commerzbank wrote in a note on Friday. Russia throws a lifeline to Venezuela. U.S. sanctions on Venezuela threaten to shut in a major portion of the countrys oil production. Not only do sanctions bar Venezuelan oil from flowing to the U.S., but crucially, it also prohibits U.S. diluents from heading to Venezuela. Without diluents, Venezuela cannot process its heavy crude and would be forced to shut down output. However, Russias Rosneft is reportedly sending some oil products to Venezuela to keep production from collapsing, according to the New York Times. As a result, Venezuelas oil production may not utterly collapse, which could keep Maduro in power a little while longer. However, U.S. sanctions could still lead to mass starvation, exploding the already terrible humanitarian crisis. Venezuelan oil stranded. More than 20 tankers loaded with 9.6 million barrels of oil from Venezuela are sitting idle in the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to Reuters, unable to make the delivery because of sanctions. There are other cargoes sitting off the coast in Europe and in the Caribbean. Related: How Washington Could Spoil The OPEC+ Alliance Trump rules out Xi meeting, raising trade concerns. President Trump said he would not meet Chinese President Xi Jingping before the March 1 trade deadline. A meeting of the two, experts suggest, would be an indication that the U.S. and China were close to reaching a sweeping trade deal. Trump has promised to hike tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports from 10 to 25 percent. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that there is a pretty sizable distance to go on the trade talks. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. business titans are urging Trump to make a deal. U.S. Congress considers NOPEC bill; oil companies warn against it. Legislation that would give the U.S. Justice Department authority to sue OPEC members over antitrust violations is progressing through the U.S. Congress. However, major international oil companies are lobbying against it, fearing blowback on their operations. The legislation has bipartisan support in the Congress, although its not clear where President Trump stands. We are just a tweet away from Nopec becoming law, Bob McNally at consultancy Rapidan Energy told the FT. | https://news.yahoo.com/keeping-oil-prices-subdued-200000837.html |
Why are arrest rates for rape in Washington state so underwhelming? | Improving the law enforcement and prosecutorial response to sexual assault cases in Washington state via external annual reviews will provide the necessary tools to advance justice for survivors of sexual violence. A national investigation by ProPublica, Newsy and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting reveals how police departments are misrepresenting rape-clearance rates to indicate that police are solving far more rape cases than the actual number of arrests in these cases. The recent ProPublica national study reviewed rape data from three police jurisdictions in Washington state, including the Seattle Police Department, and Snohomish and Pierce counties. Rape arrest rates were calculated from the data provided by each police jurisdiction for 2014, 2015 and 2016. The most recent surprising data from 2016 indicates that the percentage of rape arrests by Pierce County and SPD were only 7 percent and 8 percent, respectively. By contrast, Snohomish County had a 44 percent rape-arrest rate in 2016. Out of the 64 police jurisdictions evaluated by ProPublica , each jurisdiction serving a population of at least 300,000 people, only four other police jurisdictions (Suffolk County; St. Louis County; Greenville County, South Carolina; and Indianapolis) had a higher arrest rate than Snohomish County. In reporting rape-clearance rates to the federal government, police jurisdictions are permitted to report rape cases as cleared or closed even when no arrests have been made. In the national federal reporting of this data for 2016, Seattle reported a 13 percent clearance rate while Pierce County reported a clearance rate of 42 percent. Snohomish County reported a clearance rate of 49 percent. Law enforcement agencies can designate cases as closed or cleared through what is known as exceptional clearance. Federal guidelines authorize the exceptional clearance classification for use by police departments to clear cases when they have enough evidence to make an arrest and know who and where the suspect is, but cant make an arrest for reasons outside their control. Even though criminal-justice experts have said that the use of the exceptional clearance designation should be very limited, many departments rely heavily on exceptional clearance, which can make it appear that they are better at solving rape cases than they actually are, according to the ProPublica study. Furthermore, the public cannot freely access exceptional clearance data. Both the Seattle and the Snohomish County police departments reported 5 percent of rape cases as closed or cleared when those cases were in fact exceptionally cleared and no arrest had been made. By contrast, the Pierce County police department reported 35 percent of rape cases as closed or cleared when those cases were in reality exceptionally cleared and no arrest had been made. In classifying rape cases as exceptionally cleared , police departments most often indicate that arrests were not made in those cases because the victim was no longer cooperating with the investigation or the prosecutors office declined to prosecute. In both instances, further investigation and review is warranted to determine why victims are dropping out of investigations and why prosecutors are declining to prosecute these rape cases. Moreover, these findings clearly identify an imperative for the Washington state Legislature to enact legislation establishing an annual statewide external review of police practices in the investigation of reported rapes and sexual assaults. The national Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) recently determined that the external review of sexual-assault cases should be routine in law enforcement. In its May 2018 report on improving police practices for sexual-assault investigations, PERF determined that the external review of sexual-assault cases should be routine in law enforcement: [to] ensure that cases are properly classified throughout the police process; that investigators are conducting thorough, victim-centered investigations; and that police actions are appropriate based on the evidence collected. These reviews can help strengthen department policies and practices, and foster stronger partnerships and mutual understanding among all involved. The Womens Law Project established the groundbreaking external review of police investigatory practices in sexual assault cases in Philadelphia. This external-review process is now known as the Philadelphia Model and is recognized as a national best practice. External annual reviews of police investigatory practices in sexual-assault cases are ongoing in Philadelphia and New York City, as well as in seven Canadian police agencies. Pursuant to a Washington state law enacted in 2018, the Washington State Sexual Assault Forensic Examination ( SAFE ) Best Practices Task Force is developing victim-centered and trauma-informed training practices for law enforcement investigating sexual assault cases. The 2018 statute requires law-enforcement training as part of the ongoing rape kit reform campaign spearheaded by the SAFE Task Force and state Reps. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, and Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale. The SAFE Task Force would be better informed of specific law enforcement training needs with added input from an external review of law enforcement practices. Furthermore, an equal level of external review and accountability is needed for Washington state prosecutors to examine and evaluate why so few rape cases are prosecuted, and why so few rape cases result in convictions and prison time. Improving the law enforcement and prosecutorial response to sexual-assault cases in Washington state via external annual reviews will provide the necessary tools to advance justice for survivors of sexual violence. That advancement will promote trust in the criminal-justice system and thereby encourage the increased reporting of sexual assaults. Public safety will also be advanced by helping to identify and prevent serial offenders. Ultimately, a statewide external-review model will help establish a foundation for increased public awareness and understanding of the prevalence of sexual assaults in Washington state. | https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/why-are-arrest-rates-for-rape-in-washington-state-so-underwhelming/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
What was Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan paid for 2018? | Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihans compensation is increasing by 15 percent to $26.5 million, the Charlotte-based bank disclosed Friday. The banks board has awarded Moynihan $25 million in stock and an unchanged base salary of $1.5 million for his performance in 2018, according to a securities filing. As in previous years, Moynihan did not receive a cash bonus. His pay for 2017 included $21.5 million in stock. In explaining the increase in compensation, the filing pointed to the banks record earnings of $28.1 billion last year. The filing also noted disciplined risk and expense management under Moynihan. Moynihan, 59, is in his 10th year as CEO of the second-largest U.S. bank by assets. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer Of Moynihans stock awards, half are performance-based shares that will be paid only if the bank meets certain financial goals. A portion of the remaining stock awards are shares that he will receive over the next three years. Moynihan becomes the latest Wall Street chief executive whose new compensation figures are being disclosed. Last month, New York-based JPMorgan Chase reported that it increased CEO Jamie Dimons total compensation by more than 5 percent to $31 million. The figure includes a base salary of $1.5 million. Also last month, New Yorks Morgan Stanley disclosed giving $29 million in compensation to CEO James Gorman. Thats up 7.4 percent from the year before, Bloomberg reported. Goldman Sachs Group this month disclosed CEO David Solomon received $23 million in compensation for 2018, including a base salary of $1.8 million. Last year, Solomon replaced CEO Lloyd Blankfein, who stepped down in October. Brian Moynihan, president and chief executive officer of Bank of America San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, which has its largest employment hub in Charlotte, has not yet announced 2018 compensation for CEO Tim Sloan. New Yorks Citigroup also has not yet disclosed its latest compensation for CEO Michael Corbat. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article225942300.html |
Are Liverpool feeling the pressure of Premier League title race? | Steve McManaman, Liverpool 1990-99 I think its nonsense, I really do. These players have played in World Cups and Champions Leagues. Mo Salah carries his country on his own shoulders. I think youd probably find more pressure on a scouser because of the history of the club but the front three are from different parts of the world. When you have a history as long and varied as Liverpool youre going to get this. Liverpool will be scrutinised more than Tottenham. Man United will be scrutinised more than another opponent because of their marvellous history. Until Liverpool win something it will continue. Everybody knows that. The manager knows it and all the players probably know it. Jrgen Klopp denies title nerves and tells Liverpool fans to fasten seatbelts Read more Michael Owen, Liverpool 1996-2004 You dont think about pressure. I certainly didnt. When I look back on my career, I think: Wow, I was the goalscorer for Liverpool and England, playing in World Cups and FA Cup finals. The prime minister is probably under most pressure but after that, there is not much more pressure than being a top player at a top club going for the title or in a final. Half the bloody world are watching. When you look back then of course there is pressure, and there is pressure from the outside looking in, but not when you are playing. This is what you do, this is what you are brilliant at. If you look at all the great sportsmen, Tiger Woods with a six-footer on the last green, you know they are enjoying it and are thriving on the pressure. That is their life. Its not a choice and it is not just happening for a day. They live like this. It works the other way round, too. When you retire and you dont have that pressure any more you can go a bit doolally, because you almost feel you have no purpose in life any more. That was what everything was about when you were a player. They wont be feeling pressure or losing any sleep. Alan Kennedy, Liverpool 1978-86 One of the West Ham players said Liverpool were showing a few nerves on Monday. This team has been at the top very early and, in my day, we used to make a surge around Easter. We built up a head of steam then. I think todays players have a good attitude. Maybe we havent done as well in the last couple of games but Bournemouth is the next game now. Win that. Dont look too far ahead. If Liverpool win every game they win the league. That is what their mindset should be. Robbie Fowler, Liverpool 1993-2001 and 2006-07 I really dont get what people are talking about. Liverpool are level on points at the top of the league with a game in hand. You would have taken this all day long at the start of the season. There are loads of positives. Of course there is pressure but there is pressure on players from the first game of the season. When you want to win the league and you havent won it before, it might be a different pressure but pressure is always there. The lads at Manchester City know they are under pressure to deliver, too. The pressure isnt different on Tottenham and Manchester City compared to Liverpool. It will be there all the way until the end of the season. Liverpool report world-record 125m profit for 2017-18 financial year Read more You were part of the Liverpool team that were top with 10 games to go in 1996-97 (following the 4-3 win over Newcastle) but finished fourth. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Liverpools Mark Wright (left) and Steve McManaman oversee a narrow miss in the costly 2-1 defeat at Wimbledon in May 1997. Photograph: Andy Hooper/Daily Mail/Rex/Shutterstock McManaman It certainly wasnt pressure on my part, and when I looked around the dressing room I dont think it was pressure. I just think we had a little less quality than the opposition at times in big games. I made my debut in 1990 with everybody who had won it [previously]. At 16, 17 I was with them all the time in the dressing room, seeing them win titles, not being a part of it but being the 15th or 16th man. I felt as if it was just the norm. It didnt bother me, the pressure of tense games or needing to get over the line, because I was used to it. I was used to speaking to John Barnes, to Alan Hansen, to Kenny Dalglish, to Roy Evans and Ronnie Moran, who had been through it loads of times. It was easy for me. This is a different group of players 29 years later. They seem fine and are saying all the right things. They need to win on Saturday and as soon as they win it banishes all the talk for another week, and puts pressure on the opposition. Jason McAteer, Liverpool 1995-99 It is similar to what I went through. There is a way of doing it and once you have done it you know what to expect. The last 10 games of the season the pressure is hyped up and it is like in any sport if you are a golfer trying to win your first major, going down the stretch with three holes to play with a two-shot lead, all kind of thoughts creep into their heads. It is human nature. It is elite sport. Leading from the front is very difficult. For me, Coventry and Wimbledon [2-1 defeats during the run-in] stick in my mind 22 years later. It is a very difficult time and these days with social media it is very difficult to escape the pressure. A side of former Liverpool players will play a Milan legends team at Anfield on 23 March. Proceeds go to the LFC Foundation and Fondazione Milan. Tickets can be purchased here. | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/08/liverpool-feeling-pressure-premier-league-title-race-manchester-city |
Is Corning a Buy? | Neither is fragile. Indeed, after a monster quarter in which the glass specialist beat analysts' expectations, Wall Street boosted the company's stock to near its all-time high. But, of course, when a company's share price starts hitting record highs, it's natural for investors to wonder if they've already missed out on the big gains. Let's take a closer look to see if Corning is a buy now. Broken glass shards fly from a shattered smartphone screen More Corning's lightweight, shatterproof Gorilla Glass is just one way the top glassmaker is revolutionizing the industry. Image source: Getty Images. Not your grandma's Corningware Corning's business model has changed a lot since it started manufacturing the famous "cornflower" Corningware baking pans in the 1950s. Heck, it's even changed quite a bit from where it was a year ago. And that's a very good thing. For years, the bread and butter of Corning's operations has been its display technologies segment, which is primarily a manufacturer of screens for big-screen TVs. In 2017, display technologies only accounted for about 30% of Corning's revenue but 60% of earnings. And while TV screens had been trending larger -- good for Corning, because it meant higher demand -- prices for display glasses were falling, in some cases by double-digit percentages each year, which isn't good at all when it's your biggest profit driver. In 2018, the year-over-year declines in display glass prices had slowed to the mid-single digits, but the segment was still underperforming. Revenue was up a mere 4% year over year, while segment net income fell by 6%. Luckily, growth in the company's other businesses started to accelerate. This was especially helpful in the optical communications segment, its largest unit by revenue. Sales for optical communications, which manufactures high-tech fiber-optic cable, rose 18% and profits soared 26% year over year. Corning's smaller divisions, which include environmental technologies (primarily industrial filters), life sciences (lab equipment), and specialty materials (home of the damage-resistant Gorilla Glass), all grew, with the result that display technologies accounted for 29% of revenue in 2018 -- almost unchanged from the prior year -- but only 40% of segment net income. In other words, Corning is moving in the right direction: away from TV screens and toward cutting-edge glass applications. Look into the glass to see the future Corning has been able to grow its businesses by inventing superior new products and offering substantial upgrades to existing ones. For example, in third-quarter 2018, it not only rolled out its sixth-generation Gorilla Glass for smartphones but also Gorilla Glass DX and DX+ for wearables. The company is also actively pursuing automotive applications for Gorilla Glass, to tap into the multibillion-dollar auto glass market, which -- thanks to the amount of glass required for a single vehicle -- is much larger than the glass market for devices, a dominant share of which Corning already commands. Meanwhile, the fiber-optic cable market is growing quickly as video makes up an ever larger share of internet traffic, and Corning boasts that it offers the only "end-to-end" solutions in the industry. | https://news.yahoo.com/corning-buy-221100280.html |
Will Healthy Economy & Job Market Drive UDR's Q4 Earnings? | UDR Inc. UDR is slated to report fourth-quarter 2018 and full-year results on Feb 12, after market close. The companys performance is expected to reflect year-over-year growth in revenues and funds from operations (FFO) per share. In the last reported quarter, this Denver, CO-based residential real estate investment trust (REIT) delivered an in-line performance in terms of FFO per share. The results reflected a growth in revenues from operating and lease-up communities. In the trailing four quarters, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one occasion and matched the same in the remaining three quarters, with average positive surprise of 0.52%. United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. Quote For fourth-quarter 2018, UDR projects FFO as adjusted per share to be in the 49-50 cents range. For full-year 2018, the company guides FFO as adjusted per share in the band of $1.95-$1.96. Lets see how things are shaping up, prior to this announcement. Factors to Consider The U.S. apartment market witnessed an encouraging fourth quarter in 2018, with accelerated rent growth and elevated occupancy level amid robust demand for rental units. Per a study by the real estate technology and analytics firm RealPage, Inc. the annual pace of apartment rent growth in the United States picked up and reached 3.3% in the quarter, ahead of the 2.5% recorded in 2017. Also, occupancy came in at 95.4%, up from 95% reported at year-end 2017. Reflecting the strongest demand realized since 2010, occupied apartment tally moved up by 323,290 units in 2018, and demand surpassed annual completions that aggregated 287,007 units. Amid these, UDR is expected to benefit from its high-quality properties located in targeted U.S. markets. The company has a vast experience in the residential real estate market and has a superior product-mix as well. In the to-be-reported quarter, it is likely to benefit from favorable demographics, household formation, improving economy and job market gains which are expected to accelerate demand for rental housing in its markets. UDR continues to focus on its strategic priorities such as disciplined capital allocation, strong balance-sheet position, as well as cash-flows enhancement to support operational efficiency and dividend growth. These are likely to support its results in the fourth quarter. Occupancy is likely to be higher. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter revenues is currently pegged at $263.5 million, indicating 4.2% year-over-year growth. However, the companys activities during the quarter were not adequate to gain analysts confidence. Consequently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged at 49 cents over the last 30 days. Nevertheless, the figure indicates a 2.08% increase year over year. Nonetheless, apartment deliveries remained elevated in the fourth quarter in a number of the companys markets. Therefore, we remain apprehensive about UDRs performance as the company is likely to continue to deal with high deliveries in a number of its markets. This remains a concern as elevated levels of supply limits a landlords ability to demand more rents, results in lesser absorption and leads to increased concession activity. Here is what our quantitative model predicts: UDR does not have the right combination of two key ingredients a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or higher for increasing the odds of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Earnings ESP: UDRs Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Zacks Rank: UDR has a Zacks Rank of 3, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we also need a positive ESP to be confident of a positive surprise. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are a few stocks in the REIT sector that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to report a positive surprise this quarter: Hersha Hospitality Trust HT, scheduled to release earnings on Feb 25, has an Earnings ESP of +3.81% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. CyrusOne Inc. CONE, slated to release fourth-quarter results on Feb 20, has an Earnings ESP of +3.07% and a Zacks Rank of 3. Federal Realty Investment Trust FRT, set to report quarterly numbers on Feb 13, has an Earnings ESP of +1.53% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. (UDR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | https://news.yahoo.com/healthy-economy-job-market-drive-214109398.html |
Will Carrizo Plain CA get a wildflower superbloom after rain? | Experts said its too early to tell whether theres potential for a superbloom, which painted the Carrizo Plain National Monument vivid shades of gold and purple in 2017. The bountiful native flowers created such a spectacle they could even been seen from space. It should be a good bloom out there, said David Keil, a Cal Poly emeritus botany professor. Im not sure whether itll be a superbloom or not. Two years ago, San Luis Obispo County had its rainiest January in 20 years, following a five-year drought. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee Although its unclear which conditions lead to a wildflower superbloom, there are some factors that may help, Keil said. In the case of the 2017 superbloom, winter rain began falling in the area in December 2016 and continued into early 2017, which gave some wildflower species a boost, he said. Wildflowers fill a field next to Soda Lake Road in the Carrizo Plain National Monument in March 2017. A wildflower superbloom could be coming to San Luis Obispo County in the spring of 2019. David Middlecamp [email protected] Due to the drought, there also wasnt much grass, so the flowers werent choked out, Keil said. The entire Carrizo Plain was just bursting with flowers, he said. In 2018, little rain fell until the spring, when the county had a Minor Miracle March. That meant the wildflower display wasnt very exciting, especially in comparison to the previous years bloom. The temperature will also play a role. Cold weather could slow growth, and hot weather might roast the plants, Keil said. Some species of flowers only make an appearance in San Luis Obispo County if the area gets a solid amount of precipitation in November and December, said David Chipping, president of Friends of the Carrizo Plain, a nonprofit that supports conservation efforts in the area. Chipping and Keil said the first wildflowers will likely begin to show up on the Carrizo Plain in March and continue blooming into April. It has good enough rain that it might be a good bloom, Chipping said. We certainly would not promise anything. | https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article225982915.html |
Is Oak Park Brewing Co. getting ready to reopen? | Oak Park Brewing Co.s taps might not be dried up yet. Broderick Roadhouse co-owner Chris Jarosz filed a California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control permit Tuesday for the building at 3514 Broadway along with partners Dana Huie and Gwen Scott. Their partnerships name: Oak Park Brewing Company LLC. The story was originally reported by the Sacramento Business Journal. The original Oak Park Brewing Co. opened the 89-year-old Broadway building in 2014. Co-founder Tom Karvonen described its beers as largely British and Belgian ales with a West Coast edge, while dishes such as Irish fries in beer-braised rabbit gravy earned three stars from then-Bee food critic Carla Meyer in a 2015 review. But Sacramento County health inspectors shut Oak Park Brewing Co. down in May 2018 after finding mice, weevils and cockroaches in its kitchen. Though the brewpub reopened four days later, business never recovered and it closed for good in July. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee Jarosz started Broderick as a food truck in 2012 and quickly expanded to locations in midtown Sacramento, West Sacramento, Carmichael, Roseville and Walnut Creek. He has also owned Localis, Saddle Rock, and Wicked Wich food truck at various points in time. Jarosz secured a deal to manage food service at the Capitol in 2016 after health inspectors found a cockroach infestation in the buildings basement cafe. He could not be reached for comment Friday. Huie is a partner in Broderick as well as local Mels Diner and The Cheese Steak Shop franchises, according to his LinkedIn profile. Scott is an attorney, per the state bar. | https://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/restaurants/article226010920.html |
Will Bezos Dust-Up Cause Trouble For National Enquirer's Publisher? | American Media Inc. has gotten into one legal scrap after another over the decades from its bogus National Enquirer stories on celebrities that triggered libel lawsuits. Nothing, though, quite prepared the company for Jeff Bezos. The founder of Amazon.com, who also owns the Washington Post, took the highly unusual step Thursday of releasing emails executives from AMI demanding that Bezos call off an investigation he launched to determine how his personal emails to his mistress wound up in the tabloid. AMI threatened to release incriminating photos of the tycoon unless he cooperated with the company. Quid-pro-quos between the AMI and the Hollywood celebrities that it covers are common, which is why Bezos decision to fight back is so unusual. Golfer Tiger Woods, for instance, agreed to pose for the cover for AMIs Mens Fitness magazine in exchange for the Enquirer canceling a story about an affair it discovered he was having. Woods extramarital relationships, however, later became public knowledge, ending his marriage. Hes the only one who seems to have the balls to stand up to them, said Stu Zakim, a former AMI spokesman, in an interview, referring to Bezos. They outed him. They exposed him, so took the right approach because he had nothing else to lose. The leverage that they always had is that if you dont cooperate with us, we are going to publish. According to Joshua Kroon, a vice president at Levick, a crisis communications public relations firm, high-profile people caught in a similar predicament to Bezos tend to hunker down and say as little as possible. We advise clients to run to the light, tell your story first, tell it completely, Kroon said. Leave no room for that other proverbial shoe to drop. For its part, AMI denied blackmailing Bezos but nonetheless said it was going to investigate the claims. A spokesman for the New York-based publisher didnt respond to a request for comment for this story. Bezos has raised the possibility that AMI colluded with the government of Saudi Arabia, which has been furious of the Post's coverage of the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. According to Bloomberg, the Saudi government denies any link with AMI. The publisher wanted Bezos to release a statement indicating that its reporting was free of political considerations. Bezos claims may land AMI in hot water with federal prosecutors who agreed not last year not to prosecute the company for its role in paying off former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claims that she had an affair with President Donald Trump, ahead of the Presidential election. Trump denies the claim. According to the Wall Street Journal, American Media could be subject to federal prosecution if it commits any crimes in the three years after the deal though it isnt clear whether AMI committed a crime in its dealings with Bezos. Otherwise, Bezos may find it difficult to pursue further legal action against AMI. Since the claims made in the Enquirer story are true, he would have to pursue a claim of invasion of privacy rather than libel, which is difficult for public figures to prove. The $64 dollar question is whether AMI could make that claim go away on the basis of newsworthiness, said Charles Glasser, a media attorney who also is an adjunct professor at New York University and the City University of New York, in an interview. (Bezos) would have an uphill fight there is no question about that. People who think he has no recourse at all need to be reminded that Gawker thought the same thing. Gawker was forced into bankruptcy and shut down after losing a lawsuit against former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan that was settled in 2016 for $31 million for an invasion of privacy. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanberr/2019/02/08/will-bezos-dust-up-invite-trouble-for-national-enquirers-publisher/ |
Can Hawaiian Airlines Survive Southwest's Entry Into The Hawaii Market? | Its coming. Originally set to start late last year, Southwest Airlines flights to Hawaii from the US mainland should begin soon. This week Southwest completed two validation flights to Hawaii, part of the FAA authorization process. Southwest intends to begin flying to Hawaii with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and later include the 737 MAX-8. (Full disclosure: I own stock in Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue.) While United, American, Delta, Alaska and Hawaiian already fly to the islands, there is high anticipation for Southwests entry, due to the Southwest effect, the tendency for fares to fall when the airline enters a market. And while other US airlines typically charge $30 per bag for flights to Hawaii, Southwest has said it will continue its policy of not charging for up to two checked bags. A 2017 study found the Southwest Effect provides an additional market fare reduction of 15% and a corresponding traffic increase of 28% to 30%, from the introduction of nonstop service by SouthwestOne-way average market fares are $45 lower when Southwest serves a market nonstop than when it does not." But Hawaii, a leisure market with a resident population of only 1.4 million, has not proven a pot of gold for every airline. Budget carrier Allegiant Air, whose Hawaiian service once included ten routes from nine mainland cities, stopped flying to Hawaii in October 2017. While airlines constantly enter and exit the Hawaiian market, there is concern that Southwests entry may impact Hawaiian Airlines like the aviation equivalent of a Walmart (Always Low Prices) landing at Oahus airport. Nonetheless, Hawaiian Airlines, which has been flying t around the islands since 1929, is used to competition. Hawaiian is used to having people come in and out of their market all the time, says Helane Becker, Managing Director, Industrials/Consumer-Airlines with Cowen. "They do a good job of responding. They have a strong balance sheet and theyre continuing to grow their operations, build out what they do, replace older aircraft with new, and deliver a really good product to their customers. Hawaiian is known for its service, such as providing a meal and drink to passengers heading to the islands. The airline has won numerous awards, including recognition from the U.S. Department of Transportation for #1 On-Time Performance, 2004 2017. The airline has three major market segments: flights from the mainland, interisland flights, and international flights to and from Asia, Oceania and the South Pacific. Hawaiian has been purchasing new aircraft and will have 18 fuel-efficient Airbus A321neos by next year for its West Coast to Hawaii routes. For long-haul and international flights, Hawaiian operates 24 Airbus A330s and has ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order. A significant portion of revenues comes from Asian tourists. The company recently signed a Joint Venture application with Japan Airlines. Domestically, Hawaiian has set codeshare partnerships with Jet Blue from the latters Boston and New York gateways. Southwest has not yet announced its plans for competitive inter-island service, but it may find it difficult to replicate the well-oiled machinery of Hawaiians inter-island network. Hawaiian flies 202 flights each day between the six populated islands, including 178 Boeing 717 lights between Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii and Kaua'i, and 24 departures with ATR-42 aircraft serving Molokai, Lanai, and Kapalua in West Maui. Southwests [inter-island] service appears to be more related to increasing utilization of their aircraft flying between the mainland and Hawaii rather than a dedicated fleet that provides the shuttle service Hawaiian does, notes Savanthi Syth, Managing Director of the Global Airlines practice at Raymond James. Southwests 737-800 and MAX are too big to serve inter-island with the necessary frequency for commuters. Hawaiian is the tenth-largest American carrier, with only 1.6% of US domestic market share, while Southwest is second with 17.9% US market share. Hawaiian currently has about 18% of the Hawaiian market. They serve a niche, which is why they are so small, says Ms. Syth. However, it helps to be bigger and to have a larger and more diverse network. Over time the industry needs to consolidate more and Hawaiian is likely to be a part of it. Asked if she thought Alaska Airlines or JetBlue might make a potential merger partner for Hawaiian, Ms. Syth said, JetBlue seems like a good fit given the Airbus fleet and JetBlues smaller West Coast presence. But this is not something I expect in the next few years. Despite its relatively small size, Hawaiian flies to the islands from 12 cities on the mainland, more than any other carrier. Southwest says initially it will start with four initial gateways in California, including Oakland (OAK), San Diego (SAN), San Jose (SJC), and Sacramento (SMF). Conspicuously absent are LAX, Burbank, John Wayne and other airports serving populous Los Angeles and Orange County. Southwests Hawaiian destinations will include Honolulu (HNL) Kahului Airport on Maui (OGG) Lihue Airport on Kauai (LIH), and Kona (KOA). Pricing, date of ticket sales and the timing for initial flights have not been disclosed yet by Southwest. Cowens Becker notes that while Hawaiian and other competitors offer first or business class seating, Southwest, with its all-coach class seating, is a different product. We dont know what the Southwest offering will look like. People expect more than a bag of pretzels on a six-hour flight. Southwest, however, will certainly be aggressive with price, says Becker. No one knows the Hawaiian market better than them, says Ms. Becker. Southwest will expand the market, but not necessarily damage Hawaiians market share. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/02/08/can-hawaiian-airlines-survive-southwests-entry-into-the-hawaii-market/ |
Does Jeff Bezos' behaviour put Amazon at risk? | COMMENT: Jeff Bezos' explicit selfies and public attack on the National Enquirer make him part of the club of tech executives behaving badly. But his troubles aren't likely to roil Amazon - at least for now. On Thursday afternoon, Bezos posted a lengthy letter on the online blogging platform Medium that accused the Enquirer of trying to blackmail him over the publication of intimate details about his extramarital affair with former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez. The letter - which included intimations about the Enquirer's parent company's relationship with the Saudi government and with President Donald Trump - sent shock waves through the business world and across Washington, escalating a drama that had previously been confined to the tabloids. Advertisement The letter was highly unusual for any business leader, particularly one like Bezos, who has fiercely guarded his privacy and largely avoided the limelight even as he rose to become the richest person in the world. (Bezos owns the Washington Post.) But the news didn't appear to impact Amazon's stock price. It was down roughly two per cent on Friday, a dip that largely mirrored the broader market. Last week - at the same time that Bezos' personal life was already embroiled in controversy - the company posted record profits for the third quarter in a row. Overall, the company's stock has fallen five per cent since the Amazon founder announced his divorce from his wife MacKenzie on January 9. While the choice to take a below-the-waist selfie in the first place was "unhinged," the decision "to retaliate with guns ablaze" was more strategic and calculated, said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies at the Yale School of Management. "They were trying to blackmail him in secret and this obliterates the issue. He is doing what some presidents call shock and awe, and he is doing it right." "I bet he feels quite gratified," he added. Amazon did not respond to immediate request for comment. Bezos' behavior differs from that of other prominent tech executives that have caused trouble for their companies, Sonnenfeld said. Tesla's Elon Musk took drugs during a media interview and made a sudden announcement about taking his company private on Twitter, which led to an action by federal authorities. Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick fostered an anything-goes environment where sexual harassment proliferated, while other rule-breaking put Uber in the crosshairs of local authorities. He lashed out at an Uber driver on video. Still, other experts pointed out that if the fight between Bezos and the National Enquirer drags on, either legally or publicly, it will become a distraction for the Amazon founder. "For a sitting CEO of a public company, it wasn't the wisest move," said Charles Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. "By taking that step, you only call more attention to the allegations. It was a mistake, and Pecker will come back at him, and it will come to come to occupy a significant amount of his time." Reaction among some Amazon employees has also been telling. Bezos' blog was quickly republished across the company's many internal corporate chat rooms shortly after it came out, according to two employees who wished to remain anonymous to discuss internal corporate matters. Discussion turned immediately to the potential impact on the stock price. People in Bezos' orbit appeared unfazed or rallied around him. A former Amazon executive, Charlie Kindel, who led the company's Alexa product line until last year, tweeted an almost jovial attitude about the letter. He recirculated a limerick about it along with another tweet by a person who said they couldn't wait to pre-order the book about the feud between his former boss and National Enquirer editor David Pecker. Roger McNamee, a Silicon Valley investor who has worked with Bezos and is a vocal critic of Facebook and Google, said he hoped Bezos' efforts would help force tabloids and the political establishment to stop using dirty tricks. By contrast, Bezos is deliberately defending his private life. He is not misusing company funds or taking actions that specifically impact Amazon's business. Unlike Google and Facebook, where the personal behaviour of executives has garnered huge protests from the rank-and-file, Amazon's culture is more pragmatic and less oriented around values that executives are perceived as needing to uphold, the employee said. "I think Jeff made the point best in the letter, he'll let Amazon's results speak for themselves," said Ted Maidenberg, a Silicon Valley investor. "It has zero impact [on the business]." | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12202289&ref=rss |
Will Aurora Cannabis Earnings Live Up to the Hype? | After a tough end to 2018, marijuana stocks have produced huge gains to start the new year. Even with a gain of 55% in the first five weeks of 2019, Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) isn't the top performer in the cannabis market, but many see it as having one of the best opportunities to become the leader of the budding marijuana industry. Aurora Cannabis will release its fiscal second-quarter financial results after the market closes on Monday, Feb. 11, and investors are hoping that the cannabis company will be able to show an impressive run-up in revenue. Yet the company has already weighed in with some preliminary results, and they weren't entirely positive -- casting some doubt on just how well Aurora will do in standing up to the marijuana investing hype. Stats on Aurora Cannabis Metric Current Stat EPS estimate (CA$0.06) Last quarter's EPS CA$0.12 Revenue estimate CA$51.8 million Change from last quarter's revenue 75% Data source: S&P Global Market Intelligence. Last quarter refers to fiscal first quarter of 2019. Investors have high hopes that Aurora Cannabis can keep up its positive momentum from recent periods. In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, Aurora managed to produce sequential revenue growth of 55%, coming in at CA$29.7 million. That number was more than triple what Aurora had in sales during the year-earlier quarter, showing the steep growth trajectory that the cannabis company has been able to produce in a short period. More importantly for many investors, the fact that Aurora was able to show a profit was a good sign for the emerging industry -- although there were numerous ways in which the company was able to produce bottom-line gains that partially hid the extensive costs that it continues to incur in its growth efforts. Yet Aurora Cannabis has already given investors some cause for concern coming into its February report, releasing preliminary numbers for the fiscal second quarter that suggest weaker performance than some had hoped to see. Back in January, Aurora said that revenue would come in between CA$50 million and CA$55 million for the quarter, which was far less than more optimistic shareholders had been looking to see. At the time, consensus forecasts had projections of anywhere from CA$60 million to CA$75 million. Aurora borealis with the Aurora logo and slogan superimposed. More Image source: Aurora Cannabis. The primary problem is a major disconnect between the expectations that investors have for developments in the Canadian recreational cannabis market and the reality of the situation. Despite having had advance notice of the size of the opportunity in Canada, Aurora and other producers weren't able to line up capacity increases quickly enough to be ready for the rollout. At the same time, the market infrastructure for actually making sales of recreational cannabis products wasn't entirely in place, especially in some key provincial markets within Canada. Meanwhile, regulators have been overwhelmed with the number of companies seeking to get into the marijuana business, and issuance of required permits and licenses has slowed to a crawl, holding up key projects for expansion across the industry. A big question Aurora Cannabis will have to answer is whether it can come up with a stronger strategy for expansion. Many investors are drawing uncomfortable comparisons between Aurora and Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC), as Canopy has chosen to make organic investments in capacity expansion that have generated considerable excitement within its investor base. In particular, the decision to spend $150 million on a hemp production facility in upstate New York could pave the way for Canopy to gain a foothold in the U.S. market. If legalization efforts go forward across the U.S., then that move could prove prescient for Canopy. | https://news.yahoo.com/aurora-cannabis-earnings-live-hype-005100183.html |
Who will Warriors target on buyout market? | PHOENIX After they let the NBA trade deadline pass Thursday afternoon without making a move, the Warriors turned their focus to the buyout market. Golden State is open to filling its final roster spot with a wing or a big man. Though a couple of potential options are already reportedly off the board, the Warriors will choose between a number of players who could help in the playoffs. Here are five pieces Golden State might consider: Michael Beasley, SF, Los Angeles Clippers Beasley, who is expected to be waived by the Clippers, would offer the Warriors a scoring punch off the bench that theyve been lacking. The problem: What he provides in offense is often overshadowed by locker-room concerns and suspect defense. Perhaps the biggest reason Golden State should consider Beasley, however, has little to do with basketball. Beasley is close childhood friends with Kevin Durant, whom the Warriors would be well-served to keep happy. Marcin Gortat, C, Los Angeles Clippers Yahoo Sports reported Thursday that Gortat who is also expected to be waived by the Clippers is interested in joining Golden State, but the Warriors plan to see how the buyout market unfolds before making a decision on him. The odds of Golden State signing Gortat seem slim. Though he would give the Warriors a physical low-post presence, Gortat is well past his prime at 34. It also doesnt help that he has an ongoing feud with DeMarcus Cousins. Robin Lopez, C, Chicago Bulls Lopez has been linked to the Warriors for months for good reason. A defense-oriented center, he could match up with some of the leagues top big men in the playoffs should Cousins get into foul trouble. Little Lopez does wows, but he is a savvy elder statesman who makes few mistakes. And when it comes to the games that matter most, thats exactly what Golden State needs from a backup center. It remains to be seen, however, whether Chicago will buy him out. Shelvin Mack, PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks Mack, who was waived Friday by the Hawks, is a combo guard who could provide the Warriors versatility on both sides of the court. Though he isnt necessarily elite at anything, Mack is a solider shooter who can get Golden State into its offense and find the open man. Hed be a decent option if the Warriors decide theyre not comfortable playing Quinn Cook meaningful minutes in the playoffs. Greg Monroe, C, Brooklyn Nets Monroe, who has been waived by the Nets, is an intriguing possibility. Though he is a below-average NBA defender, he possesses as much natural talent as any big man available. Perhaps all Monroe needs to resuscitate his career is to share a locker room with a handful of All-Stars. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @Con_Chron | https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Who-will-Warriors-target-on-buyout-market-13602880.php |
Will It Be A Night For 'The Favourite' At Sunday's BAFTAs? | The 72nd annual British Academy Film Awards, better known to the world as the BAFTAs, take place this coming Sunday night in London. Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley hosts the evening which celebrates the best of British cinema in 2018. As with the Oscars, most of the major races are fairly up for grabs. The Favourite is, well, the favorite to take home many of the major awards as the film nabbed 12 nominations, five more than Bohemian Rhapsody, First Man, Roma, and A Star Is Born. But as is the case with the BAFTAs, nothing is a sure thing. The 6,500 voting members of the Academy have sent their final ballots. Now it's time to project who the winners will be at the Royal Albert Hall Sunday evening. Best Picture The Nominees Are: Beast, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, McQueen, Stan and Ollie, You Were Never Really Here. The Winner is: The Favourite isn't your typical British period piece and that will undoubtedly work in its favor as the Academy tries to show it can reward a historical drama that is played mostly for laughs rather than with Dickensian or Downton Abbey accents. Outside shot: Bohemian Rhapsody. Best Actor The Nominees Are: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody; Christian Bale, Vice; Steve Coogan, Stan and Ollie; Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born; Viggo Mortensen, Green Book. The Winner is: This would be Bale's first win after three prior nominations so he's due but don't think this is as close as many odds makers are predicting. If the film isn't going to win Best Picture then Bohemian Rhapsody's Malek should take home the Best Actor trophy. ; Viola Davis, Widows. The Winner is: Olivia Colman has never been nominated for a BAFTA and her main competition, Glenn Close, has only received a nod for Dangerous Liasons, over 25 years ago. If they don't go the body-of-work route then Colman figures to win here but Close is making things, umm, close. ; Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy; Sam Rockwell, Vice; Adam Driver, BlackKklansman. The Winner is: Ali is the slight favorite here but Grant is the type of actor that the BAFTAs love to reward. This is his first nomination after a staggering 127 acting credits. Look for a surprise win for Grant here. Best Supporting Actress The Nominees are: Rachel Weisz, The Favourite; Amy Adams, Vice; Emma Stone, The Favourite; Claire Foy, First Man; Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots. The Winner is: Stone won a BAFTA already for 2017's La La Land but here she may end up splitting The Favourite vote with Weisz. That leaves Amy Adams, who has amassed a rather astonishing six prior BAFTA awards without having landed a trophy. Her time is due and it's this year. Other probable winners: Alfonso Cuaron, Best Director; Roma Best Film Not in the English Language; They Shall Not Grow Old, Best Documentary; and 73 Cows Best British Short Film. The BAFTAs can be seen on BBC1 in the UK and BBC America in the U.S. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamos/2019/02/09/will-it-be-a-night-for-the-favourite-at-sundays-baftas/ |
What is the Great Commission and why is it so controversial? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross (THE CONVERSATION) A majority of church-going American Christians are unfamiliar with the term, the Great Commission, a recent survey found. Even among those familiar with it, 25 percent recognized the phrase but could not explain what it was. Only 17 percent were familiar with the phrase and its meaning. A Christian obligation Briefly, the Great Commission is a concept that has been used to support the missionary activities of many Christian denominations. The Great Commission refers to several passages in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus Christ urges his apostles to make disciples of all the nations and baptize them. The word disciple, which is mathetes in Greek, literally means pupil but also follower, as in follower of Jesus. Baptize refers to the Christian practice of using water to remove the original sin, an inherent fault that Christians believe marks all human beings at birth. Baptism is an important sign of entrance into the Christian faith. The Great Commission, therefore, is usually interpreted to mean spreading the Christian message and converting others to Christianity. The Gospel of Matthew does not specifically use such a term. In fact, the phrase Great Commission does not appear until late in Christian history. Some scholars argue that it was coined by Baron Justinian von Welz, a 17th-century Lutheran nobleman, who argued that the words in Matthew 28 meant that all Christians were required to spread the faith, not just Jesus closest disciples. Von Welz proposed a missionary organization called the Jesus-Loving Society to spread Protestant Christianity throughout the world. It is thought that the term Great Commission, or certainly the basic concept, was central to von Welzs argument for bringing Christianity to foreign lands. Two centuries later, the Englishman Hudson Taylor is believed to have used the idea of the Great Commission to justify Christian missionary efforts, particularly the China Inland Mission that he founded in 1866. Taylors mission attempted to bring Christianity to Chinas inland provinces. This was dangerous work and 79 China Inland missionaries were killed later, in what is referred to as the Boxer Rebellion. Hudson is often cited by Protestant missionaries, in the quote: The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, but it is a command to be obeyed. There does not appear to actual evidence, however, that he actually spoke these words. A controversial idea Christian missionary activities predate the use of the term Great Commission. The Apostle Paul was influential in establishing Christian churches throughout the Mediterranean after the death of Jesus. Much later, Catholic religious orders, such as the Society of Jesus, attempted to spread Christianity throughout the world, usually with the help of powerful nations such as Portugal and Spain. The Great Commission certainly motivated Protestant efforts to convert nations and peoples in Africa and Asia in the 19th century. It also fueled more recent efforts by evangelical Christians to missionize Catholic Latin America. Indeed, Latin America would not have become so Catholic without indigenous peoples being dominated by European imperialism and colonialism. Missionary efforts sometimes served economic interests relating to trade and resources as well religious ones. Additionally, converting conquered peoples was a powerful way of extending political control. Converting others to Christianity raises a fundamental question about whether religious diversity is a reality to be celebrated or an obstacle to be overcome. Given the complex history of missionary activity, the meaning of the Great Commission will continue to be a subject of debate as Christianity confronts a rapidly changing world. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/what-is-the-great-commission-and-why-is-it-so-controversial-111138. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/What-is-the-Great-Commission-and-why-is-it-so-13600687.php |
Do New York prosecutors pose the greatest threat to Donald Trump? | Separate from the Mueller inquiry, the southern district of New Yorks pursuit of the inauguration committee could herald more pain for the president For almost two years, Donald Trump has laid down fire at Robert Mueller, calling the special counsels work a witch-hunt, a partisan charade and now presidential harassment. Rosenstein did not want to write memo justifying Comey firing new book Read more The bigger threat to Trump, however, may have just walked up and tapped him on the shoulder. Trump did not tweet about or otherwise acknowledge the revelation on Monday night that prosecutors from the US attorneys office for the southern district of New York (SDNY) had issued a subpoena seeking a mountain of documents from his inaugural committee. But former prosecutors and others familiar with the Manhattan-based prosecutors work allowed their jaws to drop at the news of the subpoena or in the case of former SDNY chief Preet Bharara, whom Trump fired early on their virtual eyes to bulge. On Friday, ProPublica and WNYC reported further eye-popping news: that the inaugural committee paid the Trump International hotel in Washington a rate of $175,000 a day for event space. The implications of the subpoena and what followed were clear,and they were all bad for Trump, worse even than the threat posed by the special counsels investigation of ties between his campaign and Russia, said the former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, an erstwhile member of Trumps inner circle, once in charge of transition planning, and a former US attorney himself. Ive always thought that was the much more problematic thing, Christie told MSNBC of SDNY. People are focused on Mueller and thats appropriate. But people should not take their eye off the ball. The southern district has long prided itself on the firepower it brings to its cases Daniel Richman, Columbia University In interviews with the Guardian, former SDNY prosecutors spelled out why investigations run out of New York of Trump-linked interests could dog the president, his family and his associates for years, including after his departure from office. Unlike Mueller, Trump cannot as a practical matter fire the entire southern district, which comprises about 150 career prosecutors, as distinguishable from political appointees. Unlike Mueller, the southern district is not constrained in what it might investigate by a narrow authorization. And unlike Mueller, the southern district does not report, on most matters, directly to the attorney general, who is appointed by the president and who might act at the presidents bidding, though norms of justice department independence proscribe that. The SDNY is also full of lawyers who are known for being talented, independent and feisty. Alumni regularly go on to judicial appointments, top corporate posts, top justice department jobs (for example, FBI directors James Comey and Louis Freeh, attorney general Michael Mukasey) and other prominent work (Rudy Giuliani, once New York mayor, now the presidents lawyer). Wags refer to the office as the sovereign district of New York and joke that its the only US attorneys office, of 93 nationwide, to have its own foreign policy. Both in terms of courtroom skill and particularly with respect to investigative and legal acumen, the southern district has long prided itself on the firepower it brings to its cases, said the Columbia University law professor Daniel Richman, a former assistant attorney in the district. Elie Honig, who helped dismantle the Sicilian mafia as a prosecutor with the district, echoed the observation. The southern district has a long history, he said, and a reputation, I think well deserved, of being tenacious and always seeking to take an investigation wherever it goes, including to the top of an organization. The inaugural investigation seems important Owing to its location in Manhattan a global intersection for business, finance, terrorist plots and organized crime the SDNY, which celebrated its 225th birthday in 2014, has deep experience in prosecuting the most complicated and significant cases. Those include the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, work related to the 9/11 attacks of 2001, the 1988 bombings of US embassies in Africa, organized crime and mafia cases, the Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff and major financial crimes and public corruption cases. The Manhattan location also makes the SDNY a prime venue for prosecuting entities tied to Trump, potentially including his business, his campaign, his inaugural committee and more, said Harry Sandick, a former assistant US attorney in the district. People have long wondered why they raised more than $100m, which is twice what was raised for prior inaugurations Harry Sandick, former SDNY Since the Trump Organization is located in New York, since many of Trumps advisers and business partners are also located in New York and took actions in New York, he said, they have the ability in the US attorneys office to look at essentially any crime that they believe may have been committed. And they can just move from one subject to another to another as they find connections. So far as is publicly known, the SDNY was first brought in on a Trump-related prosecution with a referral from Mueller of evidence of crimes committed by Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer. The SDNY directed a raid on Cohens apartment and office last April, seizing documents and devices. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to violating campaign finance laws, bank fraud and criminal tax evasion, and is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence next month. The Cohen case may have given rise to the investigation of the Trump inaugural committee, which prosecutors are investigating for alleged conspiracy against the US, false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, inaugural committee disclosure violations, and laws prohibiting contributions by foreign countries. The inaugural investigation seems important, said Sandick. People have long wondered why they raised more than $100m, which is twice what was raised for prior inaugurations. Chris Christie accuses Jared Kushner of political 'hit job' in explosive new book Read more But in a sign of how extensively prosecutors have penetrated Trumps network and of how saturated that network is with alleged criminal conduct the inaugural committee investigation may have a different primary source: the testimony of the former Trump aide Rick Gates, who is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy and lying to the FBI. Gates was deputy chairman of Trumps inaugural committee. Theyre gathering large amounts of data, said Richman of the SDNY team. They are speaking to a broad array of witnesses, some who have already been implicated, some who are just witnesses. And I would suspect they have adequate people on the case, both at the agent and the prosecutor level, to pursue all directions. Prosecutors will have to make a judgment call about what potential cases to bring, said Sandick, adding: When I was in that office, we were always taught that sometimes the most important cases you have are the ones you dont indict. Because you made a decision that the evidence wasnt there. These are professional prosecutors, its not an inquisition. The threat of a presidential move against the district, or a similar move out of the justice department, is not likely to deter SDNY, Honig said. I know southern district is not afraid to have a real dispute, a real disagreement with the Department of Justice and at times prevail, said Honig. I think the fact that southern district issued this subpoena tells you that they are able to carry on in a fairly aggressive manner. | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/09/new-york-southern-district-donald-trump-inauguration-prosecutors |
Could Amazon's Bezos wreck AMI, owner of National Enquirer, with blackmail charges? | CLOSE Here's why Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and The National Enquirer's parent company are in a public feud over allegations of blackmail and extortion. USA TODAY A salacious tabloid newspaper with a conservative owner and a history of unscrupulous methods finds itself under the microscope, forcing a national reckoning about the intersection of journalism, politics, celebrity and sleaze. That's what happened seven years ago at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World in London. The paper folded in 2012 amid a phone hacking scandal that turned U.K.'s media and political establishment upside down. But it could also describe minus the phone hacking the controversy engulfing the National Enquirer. The Florida-based supermarket tabloid has mixed celebrity gossip, true crime and conspiracy theories for decades. But its association with President Donald Trump and its new attacks on Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos is shining a harsh light on the underbelly of tabloid journalism. And now a legal fight with the worlds richest person could prove devastating for a company that has faced financial challenges, including substantial debt and the loss of revenue from print sales confronting even mainstream newspapers. In a blog post Thursday, Bezos alleged that lawyers for the National Enquirer's parent company American Media Inc. tried to blackmail him into getting the Washington Post to drop its investigation into the company's ties to Trump. A copy of the National Enquirer is seen at a newspaper vendor's shop on Third Avenue in midtown New York City Friday alongside other titles by AMI, the tabloid publisher at the heart of growing scandals involving President Donald Trump and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/Getty Images) More: National Enquirer owner responds to Bezos post, says it 'acted lawfully' in its reporting Jeff Bezos is taking on the National Enquirer. Here's a look at the key players Feds investigating Jeff Bezos' claims, examining agreement that shielded AMI from criminal charges Last month, the National Enquirer published photos showing Bezos involved in an extramarital affair with a former news anchor. Prior to that, Bezos had announced that he and his wife were divorcing. In emails released by Bezos, the National Enquirer told him that it had even more compromising photos, including what it euphemistically described as a "below-the-belt selfie." It threatened to publish the photos unless Bezos publicly stated that he has "no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMs coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces." AMI has denied any wrongdoing, saying it "believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr. Bezos." In a statement Friday, the company said its board of directors would open an investigation into the allegations. The company could have criminal or civil liability if it was complicit in illegally obtaining the photos, said Michael Conway, a lawyer who has represented media organizations such as the New York Times and ABC, and now teaches at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. The key question here is, did American Media in any way encourage, facilitate or otherwise make an effort to get Bezos pictures and emails, which we dont know, Conway said. If they did, then theyre complicit in the crime and the First Amendment doesnt protect them from publishing it. But if the material was obtained by someone else and then given to American Media, the company may be able to publish it, Conway said. Its the same reason that news organizations were not liable for publishing the Democratic National Committees hacked emails during the 2016 campaign. The National Enquirer is only one of AMI's brands, but is its oldest and most iconic. The Associated Press reported that the National Enquirer's circulation fell 18 percent last year, to 265,000 weekly. But that's just a small fraction of the 2.3 million circulation AMI claims. Other publications include lifestyle titles like Men's Journal and Muscle and Fitness. along with celebrity fare like In Touch, Us Weekly and Soap Opera Digest. Last year, it bought up even more publications to form a near-monopoly of the supermarket aisle. Those included Life & Style, Closer. J-14 and GirlsWorld. The company is privately owned and not traded publicly, so its financials are closely held. But just last month, the company announced that it refinanced $460 million worth of debt. For example, Gawker declared bankruptcy in 2016 after former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan sued the online gossip site for invasion of privacy after it published a sex tape. Hogan won a $115 million judgment. Murdoch, whose media empire includes the Wall Street Journal and Fox News, closed the News of the World in 2011 after multiple newspapers staffers were arrested in the phone hacking scandal. While the newspaper illegally obtained voicemails of athletes, celebrities and thousands of others, it was the hacking of a 13-year-old murder victim that most inflamed the British public. The front page of the Jan. 28, 2019, edition of the National Enquirer featuring a story about Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' divorce. (Photo: AP) The Bezos battle is just one of the controversies surrounding the tabloid group: The National Enquirer's editor, Dylan Howard, reportedly colluded with movie producer Harvey Weinstein to discredit women accusing Weinstein of sexual harassment and rape. In the run-up to the 2016 election, the National Enquirer published a string of dubious stories about Hillary Clinton's health, sex life and involvement in various conspiracies. AMI admitted paying a $150,000 to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal as part of a "catch-and-kill" operation to silence her claims to have had an affair with Trump. Last year, AMI agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, who were investigating Trump's payments to women through long-time personal attorney Michael Cohen, who is also cooperating. As part of that agreement, AMI agreed not to commit further crimes, heightening the stakes for the company if it's found to have acted illegally in the Bezos affair. AMI Chairman and CEO David Pecker has close ties to Trump, and the New York Times and the Associated Press have reported that Pecker has used that access to leverage business deals in Saudi Arabia. Bezos said it's the Saudi connection that "seems to hit a particularly sensitive nerve." Reporter Christal Hayes contributed from Washington. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/09/jeff-bezos-blackmail-ami-national-enquirer-parent-go-under/2811938002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/09/jeff-bezos-blackmail-ami-national-enquirer-parent-go-under/2811938002/ |
What rims are best for winter tires? | Nancy There are two popular ways to adorn winter tires to your car. The first is to just buy 17-inch winter tires and alternate between sets, mounting and balancing each season. The second option, which is what I usually recommend, is to purchase a wheel-and-tire package in either the 16- or 17-inch variety. Story continues below advertisement Your stock tire size is P215/55R17, and the common downsized tire is P215/60R16. In your case, I would also suggest going with the smaller wheel size as there is a larger variety of products and costs are generally cheaper. I have also found that the taller 16-inch tire will perform slightly better in deep snow. When you purchase the package, you will also need to think about Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors (TPMS). While not mandated in Canada, I do recommend installing a set of sensors in your winter wheels. I personally do not like any warning lights illuminated on my dash and find the convenience of having the tire pressure available to me at any time worth the added expense. I recently got a 2015 Jetta 2.0, and unfortunately, I didnt realize that it has no air conditioning. I want to know if its possible to add it to the car now. Tim Interestingly enough, I also bought a Volkswagen Golf from an auction a few years ago, and a week after taking possession of it, one of my staff members pointed out that it didnt have AC. In a panic, I searched through the original listing and was extremely relieved when I saw it listed as having AC. Fortunately, I was able to return it and extricate myself from a costly, embarrassing situation. In the past, AC was commonly installed at the dealer level, and complete kits were available for purchase. I checked with my local dealer, and unfortunately, they do no list a complete kit for your vehicle. As such, every piece has to be purchased separately, which would certainly be an exercise in futility. There are aftermarket universal kits available. However, theyre mostly used in the custom and hot rod markets, and not really sophisticated enough for use in a contemporary car like yours. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement In my opinion, if you do not have to ability to rescind the purchase, then you must decide whether you can live without AC. Sell the car, take your losses and move on if you cannot. Lou Trottier is owner-operator of All About Imports in Mississauga. E-mail [email protected], placing Lous Garage in the subject line. Check out the new Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price. Stay on top of all our Drive stories. We have a Drive newsletter covering car reviews, innovative new cars and the ups and downs of everyday driving. Sign up for the weekly Drive newsletter, delivered to your inbox for free. Follow us on Instagram, @globedrive. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-what-rims-are-best-for-winter-tires/ |
Is Jeff Bezos untouchable now that he's taking on National Enquirer? | CLOSE Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said Thursday he was the target of "extortion and blackmail" by the publisher of the National Enquirer, which he said threatened to publish revealing personal photos. (Feb 7) AP Before his bombshell accusation that American Media Inc. (AMI) was trying to extort and blackmail him, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was cast in some corners as a villain. With Bezos counterpunching hard against the National Enquirer publisher, the richest guy in the world may not only come off as hero of sorts to anyone who has ever confronted a bully but as an advocate for traditional journalism. Perhaps even someone who may emerge as more of a regular person, at least to the degree that anyone who sits atop the Forbes 400 can be portrayed that way. Consider Bezos somewhat negative standing prior to his post on the Medium blog website where he accused AMI. The billionaire founder of Amazon, the Blue Origin space flight company, and owner of the Washington Post in the midst of a divorce from his novelist wife MacKenzie found himself in tabloid purgatory after the National Enquirer published intimate text exchanges between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, the former Los Angeles television news anchor with whom he was having an extra-marital affair. More: Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer parent of 'extortion and blackmail' attempt But thats not all. Through the years Bezos, a demanding boss, has been accused of creating a brutally cutthroat workforce culture at Amazon. Whats more, despite his enormous wealth, he has also been labeled stingy. At the same time, Amazon has grown so big that concerns are often raised about its powerful and disruptive tentacles, which reach the cloud via Amazon Web Services, store shelves at Whole Foods, and kitchen countertops through the familiar voice of Alexa. Lauren Sanchez arrives for the 67th Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6, 2019. She is reportedly dating Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY) Most recently, Amazon has encountered criticism for its drawn out and controversial sweepstakes to decide which municipality would be granted its second corporate headquarters, an award that eventually went to Northern Virginia and Long Island City, New York, though the saga may not be over. The Washington Post on Friday published a report that Amazon may be reconsidering the New York location, over a political and community backlash. His reputation hasnt been stellar before for these other reasons, not to say these claims are true, says Ari Ginsberg, a professor of entrepreneurship and management at the New York University's Stern School of Business. Bezos, of course, would probably be the first to admit that his Medium post, and the events surrounding it, wouldnt be the preferred approach to bolster his reputation. Of course I dont want personal photos published, but I also wont participate in their (AMIs) well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out, Bezos wrote. Its sort of an interesting way to achieve a positive benefit, says brand strategist Bob Killian of Killian Branding, adding that its a very low bar to rise above the National Enquirer. David Pecker runs National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. (Photo: Marion Curtis, AP) For the most part, Bezos has been a reclusive leader with a profile that, until recently, hadnt matched that of Teslas Elon Musk or Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, both of whom have run into their own problems, though different. My inkling is if he were thrown in a lineup, most people couldnt pick him out, branding expert Rob Frankel says of Bezos. Topping the Forbes list and running the Post, even as hes left day-to-day management to the journalists, has surely raised Bezos visibility, of course. He has also been a frequent target of President Trump. But it took the Sanchez-National Enquirer affair to plaster Bezos mug on the front pages of the tabloids. Taking down rich and famous The risk to Bezos reputation comes with the three things Frankel claims Americans cant get enough of: a rags-to-riches story, the lives of the rich and famous, and seeing the rich and famous get taken down. For better or worse, hes going to get pummeled. This is going to be a very bad year for the man, Frankel says. But Killian takes the opposite view: Its such a ho-hum, rich-guy-has-a-mistress-and-P.S.-so-what (story). But now, this sort of evil enterprise tries to blackmail him and he fights back by doing something very bold thats a much better story, Killian says. The impact on Amazon Bezos may himself be tarnished, but experts dont expect Amazon to take a hit. Bill George himself a former CEO at Medtronic and now a professor at Harvard Business School thinks Bezos made a terrible mistake when he got into this situation in the first place since he should know better that anything you say, write, or post can be too easily shared. "CEOs are public figures and Bezos is one of the most public figures there is, even though he's a private person," George says. "I think he wasn't thinking clearly when he did these things. He is the reputation of Amazon and rapidly becoming the reputation of the Washington Post. Does this harm (them), you bet." But George believes the harm he caused is minor, because Bezos ultimately did the right thing by being transparent and not giving into the blackmail. I dont believe its going to have any influence on Amazon at all, Frankel insists. As long as (consumers) can get free shipping on a pair of slippers over $25, theyre going to (shop there). Ginsberg agrees: I dont think this is going to worry the shareholders and impact the stock. Whats more important is what the company is doing strategically in terms of technological advancements, and growth into new areas.I dont think customers are going to stop using Amazon because of whats happened over the last week, (and) I dont think this puts a cloud over the company or the companys leadership. Email: [email protected]; Follow @edbaig on Twitter Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/02/09/jeff-bezos-fights-back-against-national-enquirer-help-his-rep/2812515002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/02/09/jeff-bezos-fights-back-against-national-enquirer-help-his-rep/2812515002/ |
Is the golden age of online dating over? | Pay Chen remembers the moment she soured on dating apps. She was standing in a grocery store checkout line when she saw a man open up a dating app and start frantically swiping through profiles. Chen, a single woman in her 30s living in Toronto, was appalled. But shes since seen this happen again and again, in other grocery store lines, at the gym and elsewhere. Ive thought, oh my God, I hope I dont come up! Its that mindless and easy. Shes just one of many dating app users whove grown dissatisfied with the mechanical exercise of swiping for love an act that now feels as dispassionate as scrolling through Netflix. For these disillusioned daters, it feels as though the golden age of online dating has ended even though the sector appears to be booming. The US$3-billion American dating industry has seen a 140-per-cent increase in revenue since 2009, according to IBISWorld. The market research firm counts approximately 55 million mobile dating app users in North America alone, and estimates that number will grow by 25 per cent next year. Story continues below advertisement Chen, for example, still uses dating apps, but does so begrudgingly. She and her girlfriends regularly send each other outrageous texts they receive from men and laugh about them. Others, such as Anna Heissler, a 26-year-old executive assistant also living in Toronto, describe the apps as a necessary evil. And others still are looking to slower forms of finding a mate online or throwing in the towel entirely, preferring instead to revert back to the old-fashioned ways of meeting someone: introductions from family and friends, chance meetings at a gym, or at singles events. At events such as Lifts of Love, in Banff, Alta., for example, people are paired on ski chairs, do a few runs, aprs-ski together and hope there are sparks. Weve had amazing luck with this program, says a spokeswoman for Mount Norquay which is hosting the event Saturday. Last year two couples met and are still together. Most people here dont really online date. They prefer to meet face-to-face. Its that kind of interaction that Tracey Albrecht, 56, craves. For the past five years since she got divorced Albrechts experience with online dating has been the same: phony, superficial and disappointing. After wasting many, many hours I have decided that I cant do this to myself any more. Ive decided if Im not going to meet someone organically then Im better off by myself instead of always wondering What is wrong with me? says the Toronto executive who has tried eHarmony, Tinder, Plenty of Fish and Bumble. When in fact, there is nothing wrong with me. You cannot detect chemistry via an app. You cant get to know someone via text message. This craving to interface literally instead of madly swiping to vet who might be a good match or not is referred to as IRL dating, or dating in real life." Its part of a nostalgia for the way people used to meet. Two strangers in a room. Their eyes meet. And the age-old dance begins. Dating app haters says the impersonal and laissez-faire approach to connecting and communicating combined with the ghosting, catfishing, fake profiles and no-shows have made more and more people anxious and incredibly stressed about searching for love online. A growing number of millennials are also part of this trend, with multiple studies showing most hate hookup culture and online dating which have become synonymous. They want stability and a relationship built on trust and loyalty. Substance instead of swipes. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement A study by Pew Research Center in 2015 found 70 per cent of online daters believe these services help people to find a better romantic match because it widens the playing field, but 40 per cent of millennials also think that dating now is harder than it was for previous generations. According to Pew, millennials want lasting relationships. Sixty-one per cent of millennials who have never married say they would like to someday a number that hasnt changed since the 1970s. Similarly, eight in 10 millennials say that true romance is very important. Torontos Everett Delorme says he gets fed up with online dating but stays on the apps out of necessity. I go online because its a way for me to meet like-minded people, says Delorme, a 27-year-old who owns a small digital media company. But for me and all my friends, online dating is a love-hate thing. We cant live with it sometimes, but we cant live without it either. Ive had my fair share of horror stories, but my female friends are the ones who get the real zingers. There are men who dont know how to communicate with women whatsoever. There is a massive disconnect. [My male friends will] ask me why they cant get any matches and more often than not, I tell them, Maybe saying something crass in the first five messages isnt such a good idea. ' New York-based relationship expert Andrea Syrtash, disagrees with the hard distinction between dating apps and real life. I often hear people say they want to meet people IRL, but the reality is we are living digital lives today and meeting through the internet is part of the real world," she says. Before digital dating, people had fewer opportunities to meet new people and hook up on dates, says Syrtash, author of Hes Just Not Your Type (And Thats a Good Thing). Today, more people meet through an online dating platform than off of one." Story continues below advertisement But she says, that doesnt mean its the only way to meet someone. Ultimately, I dont think we should have an all-or-nothing approach when it comes to meeting new people. When were single and looking for a partner, we have to cast a wide net. If you feel dating fatigue from going on too many blind dates, I suggest taking a break and re-engaging in activities you enjoy." Some online dating companies are responding to the pushback by creating and marketing slow dating apps. Once, The League, Coffee Meets Bagel are just some of the apps designed to dole out matches in a more selective manner, where users have a chance to actually consider the suitability of a date. Id been on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble for four years and I didnt have any luck, says Jill Cimorelli, a social media influencer who lives in Los Angeles. Eight months ago I tried Hinge, which limits the number of matches because it connects you with people you have mutual connections with [from Facebook and other social media platforms.]" This guy named Conor came up. My best friend grew up in the same neighbourhood as him in Toronto. Hes a lawyer who lives in Los Angeles and weve been together for the last eight months. Once I eliminated so many random choices it gave me time to think, Cimorelli adds. And in Colorado, some daters are doing things even slower and taking things into their own hands. Shannon McDonald has spurned the apps shes been on since her divorce and joined forces with a group of women to bring back the good old-fashioned dinner party, with a twist. Were going to rent space in a restaurant in Denver and invite 10 women and 10 men. The 10 men will be a tall order," the mom of three chuckles, the women will be easy. Story continues below advertisement Were going to ask that interested parties have certain criteria be fit, non-smokers et cetera. Were going to have it catered and then were going to see if the magic happens, McDonald says. My friends and I just want to slow things down. Were sick of the swiping, of the flakiness and the fake profiles. We want to meet people face-to-face, share a meal, enjoy some wine and see if anything clicks. Syrtash says most people still have the idea or dream of locking eyes with a potential mate and having immediate chemistry. However, it should be noted that meeting someone through a dating site or app doesnt mean the connection you have when you meet in person wont be organic or real," she says. The things we are looking for in a potential mate remain the same, but the ways in which we meet people today are certainly different." Too different for people such as Albrecht. I keep hearing of friends of friends who have found their soulmates on these online sites. And Im glad for them, she says. Im not sure who my Prince Charming is, but hes definitely not a man behind a profile on an app. A brief history of dating apps By Dave McGinn Online dating has given rise to so many sites and apps, that it can be hard to keep up. Each one promises to find users that special someone, whatever the niche. Heres a roundup of some of the ways you can look for love on the internet. Story continues below advertisement Match.com Launched 1994 (app launched in 2010) Matches you with singles who are looking for a relationship, not hook-ups. eHarmony Launched 2000 (app launched in 2010) Matches you with individuals you might have chemistry with based on a compatibility questionnaire. Christian Mingle Launched 2001 (app launched in 2014) Matches you with Christians seeking a God-centred relationship. PlentyOfFish Launched 2003 (app launched in 2010) Matches you with People based on your answers to its chemistry test. OKCupid Launched 2004 (app launched in 2009) Matches you with people with similar personalities and interests, based on questions about your passions and deal-breakers. Badoo Story continues below advertisement Launched 2006 Matches you with people youve indicated youve liked via a heart icon in response to name, age and how many interests you have in common, among other features. Grindr Launched 2009 Matches you with gay, bi, trans and queer people in the area. Hinge Launched 2012 Matches you with people the app suggests based on profiles youve liked, among other features. Tinder Launched 2012 Matches you with anyone you find attractive enough. Coffee Meets Bagel Launched 2012 Matches you with people the apps algorithm thinks you might be interested in. Her Launched 2013 Matches you with lesbian, queer, bisexual and bi-curious women. Down Launched 2013 Matches you with people looking for casual relationships. Happn Launched 2014 Matches you with people youve crossed paths with using geolocation data. Bumble Launched 2014 Matches you with people in the area. For heterosexual matches, women have to make the first move. Feeld Launched 2014 Matches you with people interested in kink, polyamory and alternative sexual preferences. Clover Launched 2014 Matches you with people who give attractive answers to a game of 20 Questions based on personality traits. Pure Launched 2014 Matches you with anyone who is interested in you, but you only have an hour to communicate before the users profile and all communication vanishes from your inbox. The League Launched 2015 Matches you with other members based on career status, but the app only accepts 10 to 20 per cent of people who sign up. Tastebuds Launched 2015 Matches you with people who share your tastes in music. Hater Launched 2016 Matches you with people who despise the same things you do. Sapio Launched 2016 Matches you with people with your desired level of intelligence. Wingman Launched 2017 Matches you with people your friends have vetted. Zoe Launched 2017 Matches you with lesbian, queer and bisexual women. Dig Launched 2018 Matches you with fellow dog lovers. Live your best. We have a daily Life & Arts newsletter, providing you with our latest stories on health, travel, food and culture. Sign up today. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-is-the-golden-age-of-online-dating-over/ |
Is Physicians Realty Trust a Buy? | Investing in real estate investment trusts, or REITs, can be a great way to achieve both income and growth in your stock portfolio. Healthcare REITs can also be excellent defensive investments, as healthcare isn't nearly as recession prone as most other industries, and properties tend to be leased on a long-term basis. One interesting healthcare REIT is Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE: DOC), a relatively small but fast-growing REIT that focuses on medical office properties leased to major health systems. Here's a rundown of why medical offices can be smart investments, as well as Physicians Realty Trust's value as an investment right now. Group of doctors in white lab coats. More Image source: Getty Images. Physicians Realty Trust owns 250 properties with 13.5 million leasable square feet located in 30 different states. And 93% of the portfolio's income comes from medical office buildings, the majority of which are located on major health campuses or are affiliated with leading health systems. I mentioned that healthcare real estate is a recession-resistant form of property. Well, this is especially true with medical offices. In short, the businesses that lease these spaces provide services people need, no matter what the economy is doing. What's more, most of Physicians Realty Trust's medical offices are leased on a long-term triple-net basis, meaning that tenants are locked in for long periods and are responsible for costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Healthcare real estate is set to be a growing market over the coming decades as the U.S. population ages. Seniors use healthcare more than the general population and spend more when they do. With the U.S. senior citizen population expected to roughly double within the next 40 years, it's fair to say that the demand for medical offices should continue to grow. Physicians Realty Trust is a rather young REIT (IPO in 2013), but it has grown rapidly. Not only has the property portfolio expanded tremendously, but the company has done a great job of translating its growth into returns for investors. Since 2016, Physicians Realty Trust's FFO per share (the REIT version of earnings) has increased by 27%, well above peer growth rates. Dividends and valuation Physicians Realty Trust pays a 5.1% dividend yield based on the current share price, and while the company is too young to speak to its dividend track record, I can say that the current dividend represents an FFO payout ratio of about 82%. This is typical of an REIT, so it's fair to say that the payout is sustainable and that there should be ample room for future growth. From a valuation perspective, Physicians Realty Trust trades at about 16.3 times FFO. This isn't exactly cheap, but it seems more than fair considering the company's recent growth history and the defensive nature of its assets. If you couldn't already tell, I'm a fan of Physicians Realty Trust. With a defensive business model, excellent income, an attractive valuation, and lots of room to grow, there's little to dislike. However, I'll say that Physicians Realty Trust is a buy with the caveat that it only works well as a long-term investment. The company, as well as most other REITs, is designed to deliver excellent total returns over long periods of time (think a minimum of five years). There are simply too many factors that could move REIT prices in the short run that have nothing to do with the business itself. With that in mind, if you have a long time horizon and are looking for reliable income and strong growth potential, you may want to give Physicians Realty Trust a closer look. More From The Motley Fool Matthew Frankel, CFP has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Physicians Realty Trust. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/physicians-realty-trust-buy-132300665.html |
Is Honeywell a Good Value Stock for 2019? | Another year, another good performance from Honeywell International (NYSE: HON). But as ever, investors will focus on the outlook for 2019. The company accelerated organic sales growth to 6% in 2018 from 4% in 2017, and guidance for 2019 is calling for growth of 2% to 5% and for EPS to increase 6% to 10% on an adjusted basis. Let's try to answer these questions. Honeywell's valuation Looking at Honeywell's guidance quantitatively, the midpoint of the EPS guidance range of $7.80 to $8.10 puts the stock on a forward P/E of 18.2 times earnings. And the midpoint of guidance for free cash flow gives a forward price-to-FCF ratio of 18.8 times FCF -- or a FCF yield of 5.3%, if you prefer looking at it that way. Either way, it's a favorable valuation and suggests that the stock is a decent value with upside potential at the top end of the guidance range. A fortune teller with buy, sell or hold options showing. More Image source: Getty Images. But Honeywell's valuation isn't cheap enough to make the stock a good value if the company only hits the bottom end of its guidance range. So the question turns to a qualitative assessment of its earnings guidance for 2019. HON Price to Free Cash Flow (TTM) Chart More HON Price to Free Cash Flow (TTM) data by YCharts How Honeywell International makes money Starting by looking back at 2018, you can see below that the largest segment (Aerospace) and the smallest (Safety and Productivity Solutions) contributed the most to earnings growth in the year. And it's notable that management expects them to grow sales in mid-single digits in 2019. Furthermore, Honeywell spun off Garrett Motion (NYSE: GTX) (automotive turbochargers) and Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI) (home products and security products distribution) from the Aerospace and Building Technologies segments, respectively. That reduced earnings growth in 2018, but will lead to margin expansion in 2019 as both businesses were lower margin than their respective segments' margin. Honeywell International Segment 2019 Sales Growth Outlook 2018 Organic Sales Growth 2018 Segment Profit Change in 2018 Aerospace Mid-single digit 9% $3.503 billion $215 million Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) Low single digit 3% $1.608 billion ($42 million) Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) Low single digit 2% $2.328 billion $122 million Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS) Mid-single digit 11% $1.032 billion $180 million Data source: Honeywell International presentations. Digging into the assumptions behind Honeywell's guidance, CFO Gregory Lewis outlined that the low end of the 2% to 5% organic sales growth guidance "reflects the possibility of some economic slowing, but not a recession in 2019." However, he went on to argue that, "Based on what we can see today, we expect to be at the upper end of our sales guidance range for organic growth." | https://news.yahoo.com/honeywell-good-value-stock-2019-123700328.html |
How Are S&P 500 Stocks Chosen? | Though the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) may include only a fraction of publicly traded companies by number, it is undoubtedly the most important index for U.S. stocks. Together, the roughly 500 companies that make up the S&P 500 comprise more than 80% of the total value of all stocks on U.S. exchanges, making the index a go-to barometer for the performance of domestic stocks. It all boils down to meeting a few rules, and, most importantly, winning the favor of a committee of investors. Here's how it all works, item by item. 1. Market capitalization is an important filter The S&P 500 is supposed to represent the largest U.S. companies, so naturally size is an important component. Size, in this case, is determined by the company's stock market value, or market capitalization, which is the total value of all its shares outstanding. For example, Coca-Cola has roughly 4.3 billion shares of stock outstanding. As I write this, each share trades for $49. Therefore, its market cap stands at approximately $210 billion. The cutoff for the S&P 500 moves up and down over time, but the current number to top is $6.1 billion. Of course, 20 years ago, that figure was much lower, and you'd expect that 20 years from now, that number will be much higher. Looking up at the NYSE and surrounding buildings. More Image source: Getty Images. 2. Profitability matters...kind of With few exceptions, companies must be profitable to get into the S&P 500 index. Profitability is measured in two ways: over the last four quarters and in the most recent quarter. In theory, a company could lose $300 million in each of the first three quarters ($900 million total) and then post a $950 million profit in the final quarter, thus qualifying for the profitability test. Quarter Profit or Loss 1 ($300 million) 2 ($300 million) 3 ($300 million) 4 $950 million Sum of four quarters $50 million This is an extreme example to show how the profitability test isn't particularly demanding, since one quarter of profit could be good enough to meet the criteria. Companies that have recently gone public in an IPO must have at least 12 months of trading history on a large exchange, so a profitable company that goes public can't immediately hop into the S&P 500 based on its earnings before its IPO. 3. Float and liquidity requirements are easy to check off The purpose of the S&P 500 is to track large-cap stocks that you can actually invest in. To that end, it has some rules that disqualify companies that are closely held (majority owned by only a few shareholders) as well as companies that are thinly traded (companies whose shares have very little trading volume). To get into the S&P 500, a company needs to have at least 50% of its stock "floating" on stock exchanges. Logically, it makes sense. A company that is 60% owned by its founder, for example, is arguably more "private" than "public" from an ownership perspective, given that only 40% of shares are in the hands of the investing public. In addition to being majority owned by the public, a company's stock must be liquid. Each year, trading volume must exceed 100% of its float, and a minimum of 250,000 shares must trade in the six months leading up to the evaluation date. So if a company has 2 billion shares in the float, at least 2 billion shares must trade hands each year. Frankly, most large companies check all these boxes without trying. There aren't many thinly traded, multibillion-dollar companies in which directors, officers, and other major shareholders own more than 50% of the company. And any company that is majority owned by the public will almost certainly pass the test for having ample trading volume. | https://news.yahoo.com/p-500-stocks-chosen-123000102.html |
Can Matt LaFleur Help Rescue Green Bay's Laughable Special Teams Units? | This is the eighth story in a series examining Green Bays positional groups. If the Green Packers special teams were gunning for laughs in 2018, they could have won an Emmy Award for a Comedy Series. Odds are, that would have made them repeat winners. Thats because for the majority of the Mike McCarthy-era, Green Bays special teams were downright laughable. If something could go wrong for the Packers in 2018, they did. Green Bay finished the year ranked 32nd in a statistical comparison of special teams performance compiled by the Dallas Morning News. During McCarthys 13 years, Green Bay ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in special teams rankings seven times and they were dead last three times. The Packers average rank under McCarthy was 23rd and only Carolina graded out worse over the last 13 years. We dont get second down and we dont get third down, said Ron Zook, who was fired as Green Bays special teams coordinator at the end of the year. What happens is I tell them all the time, Guys, were judged strictly on our worst play. There were plenty of worst plays to pick from. And new head coach Matt LaFleur must find a way to eliminate the stench of failure that has lingered in this area for more than a decade. LaFleur hired Shawn Mennenga as his coordinator and gave him two assistants Maurice Drayton and Rayna Stewart which is one more than Zook had. The way things went for Green Bay in 2018, there cant be enough cooks in the kitchen. Mennenga was a special teams assistant from 2011-17 in Cleveland before becoming the special teams coordinator at Vanderbilt in 2018. While in Cleveland, Mennenga worked under highly-regarded coordinator Chris Tabor, who is now with the Chicago Bears. I think on special teams I want to be sound, LaFleur said during his introductory press conference last month. I want to attack matchups on special teams. The Packers were the ones attacked throughout 2018. Green Bay fumbled the ball 11 times and lost five. The Packers had a turnover differential of minus-4. Three different teams executed fake punts against the Packers. Detroit kicker Matt Prater threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal. Jets return ace Andre Roberts had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Ty Montgomery became an all-time Packer goat. Green Bay had 26 special teams penalties, its most since 2009. Even typically reliable kicker Mason Crosby slipped to 23rd in field goal accuracy (81.1%) and rookie punter JK Scott tied for 26th in net punting average (38.8). Just like every year, theres going to be changes, and were just going to have flow with it and take em as they come, Crosby said at the end of the season. Green Bays special teams were actually serviceable the first month of the season. After that, though, they could have been weekly contributors to ESPNs Not Top 10. Heres a few that standout: In a 31-23 loss to Detroit in Week 5, Crosby missed four field goals and an extra point. In that same game, a punt hit the leg of cornerback Kevin King, the Lions recovered and immediately scored a touchdown. Green Bays special teams also had five accepted penalties that day, their most in nearly eight years. In a Week 6 win over San Francisco, Green Bays special teams were called for five penalties once again. Green Bay trailed the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams, 29-27, in Week 8 when Montgomery fielded a kickoff two yards deep with just 2:05 left. Instead of taking a knee and allowing Aaron Rodgers & Co. to start at the 25, Montgomery elected to come out despite being told to stay put. Montgomery fumbled, the Rams recovered, and two days later Montgomery was traded to Baltimore. In a Week 9 loss in New England, tight end Robert Tonyan roughed punter Ryan Allen on a fourth-and-22 giving the Patriots a first down. And somehow, safety Josh Jones was offsides on the opening kickoff. In a Week 10 win over Miami, Tramon Williams lost a fumble, JK Scott had a punt blocked and the Dolphins ran for 14 yards and a first down on a fake punt. In a Week 12 loss in Minnesota, Williams elected to let a punt hit the ground. Williams didnt vacate the area, the ball hit his upper body and the Vikings recovered. Mason Crosby had a potential 49-yard field goal to force overtime against Arizona in Week 13. Crosby missed wide right, though, making him 1-for-3 on game-winners in 2018. Hours later, McCarthy was fired. In a Week 14 win over Atlanta, Jaire Alexander fumbled a pair of punts. In a Week 16 win over the Jets, Roberts had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and another 51-yard return. Packers return man JMon Moore lost a fumble late in the third quarter that led to a New York touchdown. And with the Jets leading, 35-30, with just 4:34 left, New York successfully executed a fake punt. Finally in Week 17, Lions kicker Matt Prater executed a fake field goal in which he caught Packers cornerback Josh Jackson out of position and threw a touchdown to tight end Levine Toilolo. When television cameras showed Green Bays sideline, both Zook and Drayton seemed oblivious that Toilolo was lined up by himself. We want to make sure that we are playing aggressive, but weve got to be smart, LaFleur said. We dont want to put ourselves in negative situations. The 2018 season was one giant negative and an endless array of comical blunders for Green Bay. Now, one of LaFleurs tallest tasks is making sure the Packers arent a punch line in 2019. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2019/02/09/can-matt-lafleur-help-rescue-green-bays-laughable-special-teams-units/ |
Do Bryan Singer allegations hurt Bohemians Oscar chances? | Bohemian Rhapsody has had a lifetimes worth of trials and setbacks on its 10-year journey to the big screen. And yet despite everything working against it from Singers surprise firing mid-production for absences and clashes with the cast, to the negative reviews right before its release it seems to have come out of the fires unscathed. The $50 million production became a global box-office phenomenon, grossing over $209 million in North America alone and over $834 million worldwide to become the most successful musical biopic of all time. It developed into a top awards contender too, winning the best drama and best actor for Rami Malek at the Golden Globes, while also receiving two key Screen Actors Guild nominations, a Producers Guild nod and five Oscar nominations, including best actor and best picture. But then on Jan. 23, almost exactly a month before the Oscars and one day after its nominations, The Atlantic magazine published an article in which four men claim they were sexually abused by Singer while underage. Singer has denied the allegations. A representative for Singer declined to comment further for this article. The next day, the advocacy group GLAAD removed the film from its Media Awards nominees, and four days later, Bohemian Rhapsody lost the coveted SAG ensemble award to Black Panther. I think that it would have won SAG ensemble if it hadnt been embroiled in controversy, said Sasha Stone, founder of the blog Awards Daily. The SAG voting period ended on Jan. 25, two days after The Atlantic article published. As if a precursor to what might happen at the Academy Awards, Malek walked away with his own acting prize. This week, just days before the British Academy film awards, BAFTA announced that Singers nomination suspension because the alleged behavior was completely unacceptable and incompatible with its values. The film, however, will still compete Sunday for the Outstanding British film award, among others. Those involved with the film have, in general, opted not to talk about their ousted director. Singer was kept far away from the publicity tour but retained his directing credit and could stand to make $40 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Producer Graham King became the public face of the production along with Malek. And their messaging stayed laser-focused on Freddie Mercury and doing right by him and the band. Malek, on the day of his Oscar nomination, said that he was not aware of the allegations against Singer. Hes since presented a more informed stance and said that his heart goes out to anyone who has to live through anything like what Ive heard and what is out there. When pressed, hes has often gone back to the refrain that audiences can take solace in the fact that Singer was fired. The Atlantic article didnt exactly light Hollywood on fire, either. Singer is still lined up to direct another movie for a $10 million payday . And people still like Bohemian Rhapsody. I dont see too many people even upset about the controversy. That Atlantic piece came out after nominations. I still think the movie would be nominated if it had run before. Its not like it contained anything surprising. Everybody has heard these whispers and these stories, said Glenn Whipp, the awards columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Its just a movie that people really enjoy and theyre not going to let anyone get in the way of their enjoyment. With just a few weeks to go before the Academy Awards, hardly anyone is predicting a Bohemian Rhapsody best picture win. New York Times Carpetbagger columnist Kyle Buchanan called it, practically inconceivable. But the general sentiment is that a loss wont be because of Singer. Malek, on the other hand, seems to be a lock for best actor in spite of everything. Theres a real divide between what academy members seem to think about the movie and what they think about Rami Malek and his work in the movie, Whipp said. People praise him for his commitment, his transformative turn. People are overlooking the films flaws and still voting for Malek. And theyre able to separate any qualms about Bryan Singer and this latest investigation from his work. Its complete compartmentalization. An actor told me that if Bohemian Rhapsody won best picture he would quit the academy, Whipp added. But hes voting for Rami Malek for best actor. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/is-bryan-singer-a-problem-for-bohemians-oscars-chances/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
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