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What did we learn about the Cleveland Indians from their four-game series split in Chicago? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Indians escaped Chicago with a series split on Thursday after Jose Ramirez belted a clutch home run and Aaron Civale delivered a gutty performance on the mound. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break it down on Thursdays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/what-did-we-learn-about-the-cleveland-indians-from-their-four-game-series-split-in-chicago.html |
Did Kyle Shanahan already say who 49ers will draft? | The 49ers have kept their choice at No. 3 overall in this years draft a well-guarded secret. Heavy leanings toward Mac Jones appear mostly to be guesses from people in media and inside the league. While we furiously scramble to uncover and then connect dots that will eventually lead us to a premature answer on who San Francisco will pick, the answer mightve already been given by head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan said something interesting in his March 29 press conference when asked if Kirk Cousins was his archetype quarterback. That was long the assumption when Shanahan said his initial plan for the club was to sign Cousins in free agency following the 2017 season. Since then every quarterback conversation around the 49ers has begun with Cousins. It stands to reason thats where much of the Jones hype started as well based on the assumption a Cousins-type QB was what the 49ers head coach was after. Shanahan called that assumption ridiculous in his press conference. I think Kirk does a good job for whatever team he plays for every year, Shanahan said. Theres a number of quarterbacks like that, but thats the only one Ive been associated with because people thought I was trying to bring him here, which I was at the time. Its not because thats how you draw it up. If youre going to draw it up, youre going to draw the biggest, fastest, strongest and best quarterback in the pocket. Lets run down the list of attributes he described. Quality 1: Not Kirk Cousins Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Shanahan specifically says a Cousins-type player is not how he would draw up his ideal quarterback. Trading three first-round picks to move up seems an awful lot like the type of move a team would make if a quarterback is available that is what the coach would draw up. Advantage: Not Mac Jones. Story continues Quality 2: Size (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) This is an easy one. Shanahan said he's looking for the biggest quarterback in an ideal scenario. That makes sense, so let's look at the size of each of the three quarterbacks via the NFL.com scouting pages. Jones: 6-3, 217 pounds Fields: 6-3, 227 pounds Lance: 6-4, 224 pounds Advantage: Lance, barely Quality 3: Speed Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Finding the fastest quarterback in the group is a little bit tougher because Lance didn't run a 40-yard dash at his first Pro Day. Perhaps that changes at his second workout when Shanahan is in attendance. However, Lance's legs were a key piece of what made him a productive quarterback at North Dakota State University. Let's look at each player's 40-time since that's the only tangible indicator we have of speed. Jones: 4.83 Fields: 4.44 Lance: N/A Advantage: Fields, for now. Quality 4: Strongest Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network This one is essentially impossible to quantify since we don't have a combine with bench press reps to act as our stand-in for a strength measurement. What we can do is check out the tape to see how each player handled the athletes they were playing against. Fields and Lance have a bigger sample of dealing with defenders because of their rushing ability. Lance's games are full of plays where he railroads smaller FCS defenders. It looks like he should be playing a level higher. Fields has fewer plays where he's smashing into defenders the way Lance did, but he was playing against FBS teams. Arm strength also plays in here, and that probably goes to Fields, although Lance made a number of impressive tosses. Again, this one is hard to quantify so we'll call it mostly a wash. Advantage: Fields, for now Quality 5: Pocket presence Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports This is where things get sticky because preferences and Shanahan's priorities and evaluations come into play. His specific quote said he's looking for the "best quarterback in the pocket." The difference in the three quarterbacks throwing from the pocket is not particularly vast, and offensive scheme, roster talent and competition all play a role in making the job of playing from the pocket easier or more difficult. Jones does a great job navigating the pocket with his feet and making the right throws, but it's not as if Lance or Fields are bad at it. Even if Shanahan determines Jones gets the edge here, it would be easy to argue that Lance and Fields add an athletic element that makes any dip in productivity from the pocket more palatable. Shanahan's not looking for a quarterback that strictly stays in the pocket, but one who can throw from there when required. Advantage: Jones, barely Final assessment: Justin Fields ... maybe Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports It sure seems like Fields is the quarterback who most closely checks the boxes Shanahan laid out. He's big, fast, strong and can sit in the pocket and make throws. His athleticism is an additional asset, not the quality on which a majority of his success hinges on. Fields has a great arm and utilizes it from the pocket and on the move when plays break down. The ability to create off schedule when needed could pretty easily help outweigh any advantage another quarterback might have from the pocket. That added layer of speed would be a nightmare for defenses to worry about against a 49ers run game that's already difficult to defend. Putting one more number in the mix would allow Shanahan to draw up more actions that create mismatches for the 49ers' offensive line. One interesting wrinkle to watch will be how Lance winds up factoring into the discussion. He's the most experienced in play-action passes with his back to the defense. ESPN's Nick Wagoner tweeted a slew of numbers that indicate Lance's readiness to run a play-action game like Shanahan's is superior to the other signal callers expected to be available when the 49ers pick. Lance checks a lot of the same boxes Fields does, but his 17 starts at the FCS level make his pro readiness a significant question mark. Still, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he winds up becoming the third selection in this year's draft. While differentiating between Lance and Fields comes down to various nitpicks, what really stands out is where Jones lacks in the areas Shanahan laid out. He's neither the biggest, nor fastest, nor strongest, and his play from the pocket isn't so substantially better than the other two that it makes sense to put him ahead of the pack. Jones appears to fit into the Cousins mold Shanahan mentioned when he said he's a quarterback a team can win with. Jimmy Garoppolo is that as well. The 49ers are clearly looking for something more than that, and if they weren't, they might've sat at No. 12 to see if Jones fell, or found a prospect they liked in Round 2 to try and plug in. So, while Shanahan maybe didn't give enough to let us know who it will be, it sure seems like he laid out some qualities that tell us who it won't be. 1 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-kyle-shanahan-already-49ers-051935075.html?src=rss |
What's going on with volcanoes around the world? | Getty Images The Fagradalsfjall volcano, based in Iceland, erupted in March earlier this year You may have heard lots in the news about volcano eruptions in the last few months. March saw a volcano erupt near Iceland's capital Reykjavik and around 16,000 residents living on the Caribbean Island of St Vincent have had to leave their homes after the La Soufriere, which had lava flowing from it since December 2020, erupted on the 9 April. Newsround spoke to Jenni Barclay, who is a Professor of Volcanology at the University of East Anglia and Volcanology Data Researcher Kadie Bennis to find out more. Getty Images Incredible images of the Fagradalsfjall volcano were captured after it erupted It may seem like we're hearing more reports about volcanoes erupting, but this doesn't actually mean eruptions are becoming more common. "Generally, in and around the world, there are around 20 volcanoes erupting each day," said Professor Jenni Barclay. Most of the time, we don't see or hear about the majority of these eruptions because of where they happen and how big they are. "Many of these volcanoes are located in remote areas, so rarely are communities affected by their activity," said Volcanology Data Researcher Kadie Bennis. "One of the reasons why the eruptions at St Vincent and Iceland are intriguing is due to the ability to livestream the activity, receive information directly from scientists who are currently monitoring the volcanoes, and excellent communication of the events via social media," she added. The last month has also seen more large scale eruptions compared to normal, despite the actual frequency remaining the same, which is a another reason why we're hearing more about them. Therefore, although it it might seem like the number of eruptions has increased, this isn't actually the case, they are just bigger and nearer to humans so we are more aware of them. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Around the world, there are 15,000 volcanoes that could erupt. Volcanoes erupt when molten rock, which is known as magma, rises to the Earth's surface and this is caused by the movement of tectonic plates. These plates can either move apart from one another, or they can be pushed together. The movement of tectonic plates is happening all the time, but this takes place incredibly slowly, according to Professor Barclay "it occurs at roughly the speed it takes for our fingernails to grow". It means that most of the time we don't notice what's going on, but over time, this results in big shifts in the plates which then leads to volcanic activity. Reuters The La Soufriere erupted in St Vincent on 9 April Eruptions differ because different types of magma are generated depending on how the plates are moving. The volcanic eruption that recently took place in Iceland was the result of plates moving apart, and this usually produces the runny lava we often see in pictures which escapes through openings in the Earth's crust. "In Iceland, the eruption began with thousands of volcanic earthquakes," said Kadie Bennis. "Currently, lava is erupting from cracks in the surface of the Earth that are called fissures. This type of eruption is known as a 'fissure eruption'. Several of these fissures have opened up within the Geldingadalur valley, in addition to the formation of several small volcanic cones," she said. Reuters The eruption in St Vincent produced large ash plumes The magma produced from plates colliding is a little different. The eruption that took place in St Vincent is the result of tectonic plates moving together and in cases like this, the magma is stronger and flows in much more powerful way, this generally leads to bigger explosions. "The activity that is ongoing at St Vincent started with a lava dome (lava so sticky or viscous that it 'flows' like toothpaste), accompanied by volcanic earthquakes. Currently, explosions are ongoing, which produces large ash plumes. Another hazard known as 'pyroclastic flows' is being reported, which is a mixture of hot rocks, ash, and volcanic gases that can move down a slope very quickly," explained Bennis. These types of eruptions can often be more disruptive, particularly if people live nearby, affecting local populations and surrounding regions. Getty Images This scientist carried out research work on the gases emitted from the Soufriere Volcano which has been dormant for the past few hundred years There are lots of clues volcanologists can look out for which help them recognise when a volcano is about to erupt. One of the big ways they're able to do this is by looking at the activity taking place deep beneath the Earth's surface, specifically when magma starts to move. This is what prompted warnings given to locals living near the volcanoes in both St Vincent and Iceland. Volcanologists can try to detect magma underground. When it moves it often generates earthquakes. However, there are times when the movements in the ground are so tiny that they're not actually felt on the surface. Another way volcanologists can predict that a volcano is about to erupt involves measuring gases released both in and around them. EPA Satellites were used to measure the scale of the eruption in St Vincent Volcanologists use lots of different tools and instruments to help them monitor eruptions and measure their scale and impact. This includes seismometers which record movements in the ground, special instruments that detect and measure gas, satellites which circulate the Earth and can pick up tiny millimetric movements, and even drones! "Instruments are becoming more sophisticated and the more eruptions we observe, the better we become at observing them," said professor Barclay. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56752538 |
Whats afoot, politically? | Melania Trump's shoes are seen as she participates in the US Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots Drive at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, Dec. 8, 2020. It has not gone unnoticed certainly not in the pages of Footwear News that the Biden administration has ushered in a new era of womens footwear. The Trump ladies, according to journalist Nina Burleigh , favored the vertiginous spike-heel shoe. . . . [F]or Ivana, Ivanka, Melania, and the Trump daughters-in-law, Carrie Bradshaws shoe of choice never went out of style. By contrast, BidenWorld is relaxing and putting its feet up. Footwear News has been covering first lady Jill Bidens shoe choices with the avidity that Fox News reserves for the War on Christmas, noting her subtle transition from pumps and knee-high boots to round-toe loafers [that] featured a curved vamp with dipping edges and a subtle block heel in a silhouette also known as a smoking slipper. Marrying a loafer and a slipper, this design dates back to the 1800s and is . . . perfect for stepping into the parlor or on the porch for a smoke. Its not just the first lady. Vice President Kamala Harris is practically a paid spokesperson for the relaxed feel of Converse sneakers. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey seems to be a fellow sneakerhead. Advertisement Ella Emhoff, Harriss stepdaughter and Instagram sensation, recently graced the pages of yes, Footwear News, which noted that the fashion-forward Parsons School of Design graduate has posed in both low-heel slides and high-heeled strappy sandals. First lady Jill Biden wears shoes with a pirate skull and crossed swords embroidered design as she walks across the South Lawn upon return to the White House, on March 14. OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images That puts Emhoff, who has a contract with IMG Models, on the cusp of a fashion trend, because again, according to Footwear News (memo to self: renew subscription) high heels are coming back! Before I weigh in on this hinge moment in American culture, I should explain my interest. Andrea Mitchells recent letter to the Globe caught my eye: No one female or male should ever be required to wear high heels for any reason, Mitchell wrote. Its unhealthy and dangerous. Advertisement Mitchell reminded me of the long-simmering culture war over high heels, which isnt easily broken down by party affiliation or ideology. Feminists have argued convincingly that tall heels are not only physically unhealthy, pressuring the spine and shortening the Achilles tendon, but likewise objectify women. As Psychology Today primly explained: High heels may help exaggerate the particularly feminine aspects of gait. But some women favor heels for certain occasions. [L]ook. I still want to wear dresses and high heels, Summer Brennan, author of the book High Heel, wrote in The Guardian. I like my femininity, or what I have been acculturated to think of as my femininity, even if it is cultural. . . . If I want to run, Ill put on running shoes. Then-Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris in her Converse high-top sneakers as she speaks at a drive-in early voting event, Oct. 31, 2020, in Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press As someone who wont be voting with his feet, Im agnostic in this conflict. I know that people, including me, are enjoying the first fruits of post-vaccination socializing, which means off with the sweatpants and on with the glad rags. The Future of High Heels Looks Wobbly, The Wall Street Journal, the Footwear News of American capitalism, warned this week. 2020 stiletto sales spiked, but in the wrong direction. Now the Journal expects a rise in heel sales, but probably not back to pre-pandemic levels. Advertisement The newspaper invoked the plight of a 45-year-old marketing executive re-accustoming herself to high heels for the first time since the lockdowns. On cobblestone streets, she finds herself walking like a baby giraffe. Like the rest of us, she plans to readjust to her previous life gradually, starting with flats then go to a kitten heel and then higher. Its going to be like training wheels for stilettos. I feel your joy, and your pain. Alex Beams column appears regularly in the Globe. Follow him on Twitter @imalexbeamyrnot. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/16/opinion/whats-afoot-politically/ |
Will the British Gas sackings be a harbinger of doom for workers rights? | Back in the early months of the pandemic, the nationwide clap for carers, performed on Thursday evenings, was supposed to be an outpouring of solidarity and gratitude to frontline workers for their efforts in tackling the virus, not self-congratulatory hypocrisy. Now that British Gas workers have been sacked en masse for refusing to sign up to slashed terms and conditions, it is worth wondering how many of the companys senior executives on exorbitant salaries applauded their key workers last year. The fate of British Gas employees should disturb millions of other workers because it could prove a harbinger for their own futures. The Conservatives have laid so many obstacles to industrial action that it has become unthinkable for most workers: that a super majority of 89% of GMB union members who took part in the ballot at British Gas voted in favour of striking over its plans overcoming acute legal thresholds is indicative of the strength of feeling among the rank and file. At a time when many workers were suffering unprecedented stress because of the pandemic, British Gas sought to bully them into either accepting longer working hours or losing their jobs. Weve been treated like criminals, Paul Vowles, a 40-year-old striking worker from Cannock, tells me. Its been a horrific experience. Before fire and rehire was proposed, I didnt realise how bad it was for mental health. While most workers have been coerced into signing the new agreement they have families to feed and work is hardly abundant in Covid-era Britain hundreds who refuse are to have their employment unceremoniously terminated. It is a saga that tells many stories. British Gas was a jewel in the crown of Britains privatisation programme of the 1980s and 90s, a nationally respected institution. Today, it is a byword for rip-off services and now a poster boy for tawdry treatment of workers. The fact that British bosses see the countrys recent crises as opportunities to gut workers rights is a story largely left untold. During the financial crash, the Confederation of British Industry the bosses official federation boasted of using the disaster to establish a so-called flexiforce: an ever-diminishing core of permanent workers with rights and a larger ring of flexible workers lacking basic security. The pandemic provides a renewed opening for big business to shift power even further away from workers so it can boost long-term profits for shareholders. Covid-19 has proved a useful cover for British Gas: media outlets are hardly favourable to striking workers even in times of supposed normality, but the biggest strike of the year has attracted derisory coverage. It would be facile to write off these courageous strikers as just another inevitable glorious defeat for Britains beleaguered unionised workers. Our own Conservative government claims to be opposed to such fire and rehire tactics, where businesses sack workers only to re-employ them on reduced terms. Yet it is certainly true that several Tory cabinet ministers principally Liz Truss, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Kwasi Kwarteng once co-authored a leaflet calling British workers among the worst idlers in the world as justification for attacking their rights. While many workers voted for Brexit as a sign of displeasure with a broken status quo, for Tory politicians it provided an opportunity to scrap what they call red tape but which is more accurately described as hard-won rights and protections. British Gas strikers have succeeded in raising the profile of this grim means of undercutting rights, and if the Tories wish to prove fears about their intentions wrong, here is their opportunity. Indeed, Kwarteng the cabinet minister with the relevant brief now claims Brexit gives us the opportunity to have higher standards: he now has his chance to prove it. If anything comes from this strike in future, its to stop it happening to anyone else, Vowles tells me. That would be a massive victory for everybody. While Labour has commendably backed the strike, it should use this moment to pile pressure on a Tory party that extols its supposed blue-collar credentials. The danger, otherwise, is that other bosses see British Gas get away with it and take note and then a relentless race to the bottom truly beckons for Britains workforce. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/16/british-gas-sackings-workers-rights |
Is producer meddling ruining reality TV? | Channel 4s mind-bending social media-based reality show The Circle continues to go from strength to strength, with season threes closing episode airing last week and finding 1.24 million viewers its most-watched finale ever. Since 2018, the show has garnered a dedicated following, with a second US series screening at the end of the month. Like many of the best reality shows, it sounds ridiculous on paper and is utter genius on screen. The premise appears convoluted, yet its simple: it is a popularity contest in the most literal sense. Contestants battle it out for 100k, sucking up and scheming their way to the final. The cast live in the same apartment building but cant meet, and rate each other based on their carefully curated profiles. The most popular players come out on top as influencers, complete with blue ticks and the ability to block their rivals. Some players choose to play it straight, usually accompanied by a self-righteous speech about the importance of being yourself. Others fake it til they make it, such as season ones Freddie Bentley, a gay 20-year-old from Essex, for whom playing it straight had a more literal meaning. This gives way to a number of surreal set-ups, such as a woman, 43, using her 25-year-old sons pictures to chat up other women, or Richard Madeley masquerading as a 27-year-old PR girl called wait for it Judy. Theres a lot going on with this show already, which is why the incessant meddling of producers this year almost ruined it. From the outset, it was clear that the programme-makers would be taking a more hands-on approach to a show which is already, like any reality show, heavily produced. The first contestant blocked from the game was Yolanda, who had gone in as her husband, Chris. She was, however, immediately given the opportunity to re-enter the game, this time by cloning the profile of an existing contestant, Tally, and making the rest of the players decide who was the real one and who was the fake. While watching Yolanda scramble to try to convince the other players of the arbitrary meanings she had ascribed to Tallys tattoos was amusing, she ultimately failed and was sent home. The twist somewhat failed, too; the novelty wore off when it became clear that Yolanda wouldnt succeed in her mission. It wasnt as sly as producers thought either; Vithun, one of the sharper contestants, immediately twigged that Yolanda was behind the new account. Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer, whose Love Island relationship was tested by producer twists. Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock This twist was repeated later down the line when two other blocked players, catfish Femi (a Londoner named Joey, playing as a newly arrived immigrant from Nigeria) and Pippa, were given the chance to return by joining forces to impersonate a priest. The contestants ended up guessing that it was them, too. And since the show finished, it has been claimed that one of the most tense moments of the series was entirely orchestrated. James, former cast member Hunter on the 90s series Gladiators, entered The Circle as an NHS nurse named Gemma. After his departure he visited his on-screen nemesis Manrika, but in a recent Instagram live video, he revealed that he had actually wanted to see 85-year-old grandmother Dot (who was really her grandson, Scott, 30) instead. The producers had asked him to visit Manrika, he said, and had allegedly controlled who he had been able to speak with during the game. Producers poking about is part and parcel of every reality show; to say Im entirely against it would be to say Im against reality TV. If I didnt want it at all, Id be writing columns about documentaries. But its an art; the people behind the scenes should never be so obviously present that they feel like characters themselves. At its best they can foster some incredible TV moments, but at its worst their input can feel last-ditch and desperate. For instance, in series four of Love Island, producers seemed to do everything in their power to cause drama between eventual winners Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham. They roped in his ex-girlfriend Ellie Jones, and then sent a video of his shocked reaction to her entrance to a distraught Dyer. She was beside herself with worry and so was the public; it led to more than 2,500 Ofcom complaints. This kind of manipulation becomes more drastic as series progress, in the hopes of spicing up a long-running show. The producers of The Bachelor have long been accused of telling the bachelor who to save in the eliminations, while multiple, unnecessary gimmicks and challenges were the nail in Big Brothers coffin. Season 13 of Drag Race has been subject to criticism for its most recent twist, too, which saw queens introduced in pairs, and then immediately asked to lip sync for their life to avoid elimination. It was, however, instantly clear that these exits couldnt be real, or the series would progress with half the number of cast members. It was so clear in fact that you guessed it the contestants realised immediately. The latest series of The Circle might have felt like it was being masterminded by its makers, but, ultimately, it was saved by a shock orchestrated by the contestants themselves. In one of the biggest upsets in the shows history, military policewoman Natalya, posing as paratrooper Felix, won the show by faking a romantic relationship with resident villain Manrika. The outcome was entirely unexpected, unlike the dramas which had preceded it. It served as a reminder that reality TV is at its best when contestants are given the space to be their weird and wonderful selves even if theyre catfishing. | https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/16/producer-meddling-ruining-reality-tv-the-circle-love-island |
Can recycled glass help restore Louisianas eroding coastline? | Dave Clements, owner of Snake and Jakes Christmas Club Lounge, a beloved dive bar in New Orleans, has watched Louisianas coast shrink year after year. I used to go fishing quite a bit down in Delacroix area. Me and my buddy would go out in a flat boat, he says. Clements remembers finding a little spot, a little island where he and his friend would take breaks while fishing for redfish, sheepshead, speckled trout and flounder. When they went back to the same spot a month later, the patch of land was gone. I actually stopped fishing because it was so depressing. To date, the southern coast of Louisiana has lost land roughly the size of the state of Delaware from its eroding beaches and marshes. Environmentalists now fear that the coastal erosion in the state has passed the point of no return. Clements wondered if a solution to this problem has been hiding in plain sight, concealed in New Orleans drinking culture. Every day, the citys bars and restaurants produce tons of waste in the form of glass bottles, and because the citys waste management system does not offer curbside glass recycling, most of that trash ends up in landfills, unable to decay. Its infuriating the amount of stupidity and waste, says Clements. With this solution in mind, Franziska Trautmann and Max Steitz founded Glass Half Full, a grassroots recycling program meant to reduce waste and hopefully, one day help mitigate coastal erosion. When Clements found out about Glass Half Full, he was thrilled. He regularly loads his pickup truck with 16 40-gallon trash bags of bottles and drives to Glass Half Fulls collection site to donate them. Trautmann and Steitz first learned about similar glass recycling initiatives in Florida and New Zealand in February 2020, and decided to try to make a dent in [the] issue of coastal erosion in Trautmanns home state. They started by collecting recycled glass in a backyard uptown, before raising $20,000 for the start ups initial costs through a GoFundMe campaign, followed by an additional $65,000 a few months later. One of the projects aims is to remind community members that individuals are able to mitigate the compounding effects of climate change. We always hear, Oh, we cant do anything about climate change. We cant do anything about the environment. Its all the big companies [and] the government. Its up to them, Trautmann says. But when you collect glass over one year, youre like, Oh shit. Individuals can do something. All those little things add up to something much bigger. Bottles are then fed through a hammer mill and smashed against a grate, turning them into tiny particles of sand Trautmann recognizes that it would take an unimaginable number[s] worth of sand to restore marshland already lost, though she believes local leaders should still try, since the coast is Louisianas best defense against hurricanes and strong storms. Still, it is unlikely that any single effort will be successful in restoring the states coastline. Contractors working throughout the state have also struggled to acquire the volume of sand necessary to truly rectify the issue. The sad part is that oftentimes the work that we do is just washed away again, Trautmann says, due to the gradual encroachment of the Gulf. But Glass Half Full has already been successful in just reducing waste; in their first year, the pair helped divert over 650,000lb of glass from landfills. Its made a difference at Snake and Jakes, where Clements realized that, every week, his 55-gallon garbage cans were mostly filled with glass bottles. Trautmann and Steitz are still in the process of seeking city and state approval to deposit their recycled glass on New Orleanss beaches. Trautmann is currently conducting experiments to research the glasss toxicity, whether heavy metals are present, and whether it is at risk of leaching microplastics into Louisianas waterways. If the sand is deemed safe enough for environmental use, the group hopes they can use it to restore Lincoln Beach, a historically Black beach on Lake Pontchartrain that was initially founded as an amusement park during the Jim Crow era. After desegregation, it was abandoned, and now it sits in disrepair. During last years record-breaking hurricane season, Glass Half Full focused on creating tools for storm preparedness by repurposing their recycling glass into free sandbags for residents to use to protect their homes from floods. Individual donors currently make up the bulk of those contributing used glassware to the project, but the program is expanding to accommodate residential and commercial pickups. At their drop-off location in downtown New Orleans, volunteers help separate glass by color: clear, greens, blues and browns. Bottles are then fed through a hammer mill and smashed against a grate, turning them into tiny particles of sand. The resulting sand is then further sorted by size, ranging from a powdered consistency to larger cullets. The finer stuff can be made into sandbags and sand. Were looking into using the larger pieces for terrazzo flooring and other eco-construction avenues like stucco, Trautmann says. In the future, this undertaking may one day inspire residents like Dave Clements to start fishing again. And Trautmann hopes it will mobilize other residents to take climate action. She also dreams that one day, larger, more capable, and more powerful organizations like the army corps of engineers will take this work on, too. Weve done the legwork to show you that this works, she speculates. Now you get to implement it and make it happen. | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/16/recycled-glass-louisiana-eroding-coastline-dirty-divide |
What's different about Johnson & Johnson's vaccine that might explain its blood clot risk? | What differentiates the J&J vaccine is its use of an adenovirus, a type of virus that can cause cold-like symptoms. Scientists suspect its related to the way the vaccines are designed. All three of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration one from Pfizer and BioNTech, one from Moderna and one from Johnson & Johnson teach the immune system to recognize the coronavirus without exposing the body to the real thing. The vaccines pull this off by showing the immune system the spike proteins that stud the coronavirus surface. A spike protein on its own isnt dangerous. But since its foreign, the immune system will develop antibodies against it. Then, if a vaccinated person encounters an actual coronavirus, those antibodies will be ready to neutralize the spike proteins along with the rest of the virus particle theyre attached to. Instead of injecting a person with a real-life spike protein, the vaccines deliver a recipe for making spike proteins inside the body. Human cells follow that recipe after immunization a process that requires one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna offerings. What really differentiates the J&J vaccine from the others is the vehicle it uses to deliver its genetic cargo. That vehicle is an adenovirus a type of virus that can cause cold-like symptoms. The one J&J uses has been genetically modified so that it cant copy itself and make people sick. AstraZenecas two-dose COVID-19 vaccine which is not authorized for use in the U.S. also employs an adenovirus. And it also has been linked to a rare condition that causes blood clots. To some experts, that looks like more than a coincidence. Its plainly obvious to us already that what were seeing with [the Johnson & Johnson] vaccines is very similar to what were seeing with the AstraZeneca vaccine, said Dr. Peter Marks, the FDAs chief of drug evaluation. Story continues As scientists dig into the possible ways an adenovirus could trigger a biological process that ends in a life-threatening blood clot, they will study the patients who have wound up with a clot after receiving either vaccine, Marks added. So far, that unlucky group includes seven of the roughly 7.5 million people in the U.S. who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and several dozen people in Europe who received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Officials at the European Medicines Agency, the drug regulator there, strongly suspect the AstraZeneca vaccine is responsible for the blood clots. The EMA said, however, the benefits of the vaccine still outweighed the risks. (That assessment also applies to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which the agency authorized in March but hasnt yet put into widespread use.) Its too early for anyone to say with certainty that the blood clots experienced by those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were caused by the shots themselves. U.S. officials have recommended a pause in use of the vaccine while investigators dig into the problem. Scientists do have some clues about how a vaccine that uses an adenovirus could wind up triggering a rare blood clotting disorder. Some of them believe the seven women may have suffered a condition called autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Usually, it happens because the immune system mistakenly attacks a patients blood platelets, the cells the body uses to form clots. Paradoxically, patients with the condition also develop dangerous blood clots in the brain, lungs, legs or abdomen. A study of 11 patients in Europe who developed blood clots after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine found that all of them had high levels of antiplatelet factor 4 antibodies a sign that they, too, might have had autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Safety monitors have not turned up cases of these rare blood clots in people with low platelet counts after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, which use mRNA technology instead of adenoviruses. The instructions for making the spike protein are encoded in messenger RNA and protected by a tiny ball of fat. Times staff writer Melissa Healy contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-different-johnson-johnsons-vaccine-195125980.html |
Whats really the matter with Handforth? | Earlier this year, a video of a parish-council meeting in Cheshire went viral making Jackie Weaver a national celebrity. For 11 centuries between the unification of England in 927 AD and the present day, very little happened in Handforth. A hamlet near Manchester, it hosted a large prisoner-of-war camp during the first world war and a Royal Air Force depot during the second world war. This was the sum total of its imprint on the English national story. In the 1960s, several new housing estates transformed this tiny village into a small town. Then, in the 1990s, the government completed a bypass. As a result, even less happened than had been happening before. That is until a few months ago, when Handforth became the most talked-about place in Britain after a video of a chaotic meeting of the parish council went viral. The meeting, which you can watch in full on YouTube, is a calamitous pantomime of righteous fury and unmuted mics. It takes place in two acts. The first is purgatorial. Disembodied voices speak from beyond darkened screens. The conversation opens with a discussion about whether the meeting can actually begin. A voice of uncertain provenance can be heard whispering fuck off. Brian Tolver, the hoarse chairman, starts grilling someone called Jackie Weaver about her role in the meeting. She works for an organisation that advises parish councils and had been dispatched to broker peace between the warring parties in Handforth. Some question her authority. Another councillor tries to make a point of order, but Tolver tells him he cant because the meeting hasnt started. Tolver then begins proceedings, all the while insisting that the meeting is, in fact, illegal. When Weaver contradicts him, he and another councillor begin shouting at her. Weaver peremptorily ejects Tolver. Hellfire is unleashed. An ally of Tolver bellows at Weaver: Read the standing orders. READ THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEM!, referring to the rules that govern such meetings. Dear me, says a voice. Appalling behaviour! gasps another. A different ally of the exiled chairman is ejected from the meeting and several people burst into peals of feigned, malicious laughter. No one speaks as they cackle. The seconds pass and still the meeting has not technically begun. The man who shouted about standing orders can be heard shrieking to himself. Weaver removes him too and peace returns as another councillor is elected chairman. Act two begins. Welcome to Handforth, the new chairman says. May I start? The extraordinary meeting of Handforth Parish Council on December 10th 2020 was called over a dispute about whether a meeting in November had been held legitimately. This earlier meeting had been called to resolve a disagreement about the status of the meeting before that. For several months, in fact, Handforth Parish Council had met primarily for the purpose of disagreeing about whether it was lawfully meeting. This chain of procedural quarrels had begun in late 2019. The people arguing had loathed each other for far longer. For a long time, Handforth Parish Council had met primarily for the purpose of disagreeing about whether it was lawfully meeting Handforth went into meltdown just as Donald Trump was disputing the result of his second presidential campaign: the anger and division at the parish-council meeting represented the faintest echo of the roaring distrust and polarisation in parliaments and congresses around the world. The most striking thing about the parish-council meeting was not the disagreement between two sides but the unabashed personal hatred on display. Even this most localised form of government, which largely concerns itself with things like litter bins and public toilets, has fallen prey to the magnetising effects of partisanship. The meeting seemed to show a very old idea of Englishness being squeezed, with immense discomfort, into modern form. Handforth, a town of 6,000 people, seemed to be a place of barely restrained resentment, where curtains twitch, looks kill and the houses seethe like kettles under sheets of thin, continuous rain. So I went to Handforth to find out why it was so divided. Someone had to. The bypass changed Handforth. Fewer people passed through town and, in time, there were fewer reasons to visit. The butcher, the greengrocer and the toyshop closed. Customers flocked instead to a retail park just off the new road, which has acres of parking and a warehouse-sized Marks & Spencer. The bypass was first planned in 1966 and finally completed in 1995. By then, Margaret Thatchers right-to-buy initiative, which allowed tenants to purchase publicly owned housing at a discount, had dramatically changed the complexion of built-up areas. Handforth seemed to be a place where curtains twitch, looks kill and the houses seethe like kettles under sheets of thin, continuous rain Many inhabitants of Handforths estates were now able to sell their council houses and move to nicer ones. Property prices rose, prompting the building of more houses, and development filled the towns empty spaces. A building near the station owned by the Royal British Legion was knocked down to make way for more homes. Handforths residents grew rich as the sense of community shrunk: there was more money, but less there. When I asked locals what they needed, they said the same things that people say everywhere: more doctors, more schools and especially more housing. Handforth is a desirable, if not beautiful, place to live: safe, vaguely rural and on the up. One of its primary schools is rated outstanding by the national school inspectorate. But the town is being crunched from both sides: its proximity to Manchester makes it attractive both to commuters and to migrs priced out of Wilmslow, a wealthy town to the south. As you walk around Handforth you can feel the price of property rising the same way you can always feel a drop of north-western rain in the air. It takes ten minutes to stroll from a mottled 1960s estate, where the pub was shuttered well before the pandemic, to long streets of red-brick houses with double-glazed windows that glow blue at dusk with the light of TV s. Soon you reach a street where the brick becomes a distinguished pink, the windows and doors sprout Georgian trimmings, and the hedges grow so high that even the nosiest passers-by are unable to snoop. A back yard does not have defined dimensions. It can extend no farther than your gate or encompass an entire city More than 200 new houses are under construction at the end of Meriton Road, where lorries thunder up and down all day. The site was once part of the green belt, legally protected land on the outskirts of cities which is off limits to developers. This was one of the last stretches of countryside you could reach on foot from the town centre. It was attractive, unlike many green-belt sites. Now its a maze of scaffolding. As you approach a sign reads, CHANGED PRIORITIES AHEAD. At the viewings office, I saw a well-dressed couple step out of a black Range Rover. Residents are divided, to put it mildly, over whether these developments are a good thing. An elderly woman told me that her grandchildren could never afford to buy here and that the new arrivals made it impossible to get a doctors appointment. That belongs to Manchester, she said bitterly, gesturing north towards the Handforth surgery. On another road, I asked a woman walking a glossy dog how the town had changed over time. Its gone a bit better, she told me. Many locals feel that no one has consulted them about which sites, if any, should be developed. Everyone agrees that there should be more housing and everyone agrees about where it should be built: not in my back yard. A back yard does not have defined dimensions. It may extend no farther than your gate or it can encompass an entire city. In Handforth, individual community members have attached themselves to certain public spaces and objects with a proprietary zeal that does not derive from any deed of ownership. Whether its the war memorial, the playground in the park or the pavilion that houses miniature trains for children to ride on, no patch of Handforth is so small or unlovable that it cant be tended, manicured and, when necessary, fought over. In 2012, Cheshire East Council proposed a huge new development on the east side of Handforth bypass. This involved building several thousand new houses and increasing the population of Handforth by almost 50%. The plan in effect created an entirely new town. England sees itself as a green and pleasant land but worries that it is becoming increasingly grey England sees itself as a green and pleasant land but worries that it is becoming increasingly grey. The overwhelming majority of homes built after the second world war were bland, pitched-roof dwellings. Flats are easier to heat, quick to build and use land more efficiently, yet just 15% of Britains population live in apartments, compared with nearly half of the European Unions. Many Britons retain a horror of towering concrete monstrosities designed to suit the fancies of architects rather than the needs of humans. Despite the Utopian efforts of British urban planners, survey after survey shows that most people prefer to live in a house. The English want a moated sense of privacy, with a corner of mythic English green at the back. This has meant that the greedy spread of towns and cities has guzzled up land, enveloping swathes of the countryside in private gardens. Brian Tolver didnt like the plan. He felt Handforth had been developed quite enough in the decades hed lived there. So he helped found the Hands Off Handforth Green Belt campaign, which organised a petition and held a protest against the development. In photos of the demonstration you can see him: a small, square figure with two white puffs of hair. The protesters marched, the council listened and the development was scrapped before anyone so much as lay down in front of a bulldozer. Around this time, Tolver, newly politicised, was elected to the parish council which had just been established. Everyone agrees that there should be more housing and everyone agrees about where it should be built: not in my back yard England has one of the most byzantine systems of local government in the world. Rural areas often, though not always, operate under a two-tier system, in which a district council sits beneath a county council. Between them they divvy up a range of services, from social care and education to housing and waste collection (the last of these is immensely important in local elections), paid for by local taxes and a central-government grant. Over the past 30 years, central government has stripped these local authorities of both power and money. Parish councils, the lowest and most local form of local government, have expanded to fill some of the gaps. Though they have their origins in an ancient ecclesiastical system, parish councils have existed only since the late 19th century. Village government had been dominated by local magnates since medieval times; as the national franchise was widened, parish councils were created to give more locals a voice. For most of their history, parish councils could exercise only those powers explicitly granted to them by Parliament: the authority to provide public clocks, for example, was given in 1957. That changed in 2011, when the Localism Act granted parish councils the ominous-sounding General Power of Competence, which allowed them to do anything that an individual is legally permitted to do. But parish councils are not required by law to do much at all each one must decide how best to serve its community. Handforth sits within the jurisdiction of Cheshire East Council, which is responsible for the well-being of 380,000 people. The division between Cheshire Easts responsibilities and those Handforth Parish Council has taken on doesnt always seem logical: though Cheshire East maintains the roads in Handforth, the parish council tends the flower boxes beside them; if youre bed-ridden, Cheshire East can send a carer, but if you suddenly collapse on the main road, a wall-mounted defibrillator, paid for by Handforth Parish Council, is on hand to restart your heart. Crucially, higher authorities must consult parish councils, if not necessarily listen to them, about building projects. In small rural communities, this issue can be emotive. The combination of extreme parochialism and limited power means that parish councils attract two very different types of personality: the first organises ftes, picks up litter and raises money to revamp local amenities; the second calls the police if you touch their bins. Other volunteer-run bodies exist in Handforth. One group runs the miniature trains in the park, another oversees the parks upkeep, a third tends the station garden. There are parents groups, a Rotary Club and an active Church of England congregation. Napoleon called the English a nation of shopkeepers. In truth, it is a nation of committee members. Protesters marched and the development was scrapped before anyone so much as laid down in front of a bulldozer The large number of competing committees, personal fiefdoms and governmental organisations that operate in Handforth creates many opportunities for friction. Tight-lipped skirmishes are not uncommon as rivals dispute how far the boundaries of their back yards which may be purely conceptual extend. The parish council is the one body that will consider your proposal or strongly worded objection on all manner of questions. And if you want to have your say, you need to know how Handforth Parish Council works. In other words, you need to read the standing orders. You need to read them and understand them. Handforth Parish Council was established in 2011 by residents who believed that the town council of Wilmslow, their larger neighbour, was neglecting their needs. From the beginning, it was an unhappy organisation. Almost the first project it took on was the construction of a war memorial to bear the names of Handforth men who had died in the two world wars, as well as commemorating Jamie Webb, a local lad killed in Afghanistan in 2013. More than 1,000 people lined the streets of Handforth to pay their respects at his funeral. The idea for a memorial was touted by Anthony Harrison, a former soldier who remembered Webb from school. The project showed how quickly a strong consensus that something should be done can dissolve into fierce disagreement over how to do it. They were all on board with it, but it descended into carnage, remembers Harrison. One person wanted a glass memorial, another wanted a stone one. One of them wanted something interactive that you could mould. I said, Look, one day youre going to wake up to a giant willy. Napoleon called the English a nation of shopkeepers. In truth, it is a nation of committee members There was also a dispute over whose back yard the memorial would be situated in. Barry Burkhill, a councillor for Cheshire East, was a friend of Tolver and a supporter of Hands Off Handforth Green Belt. He objected to putting the memorial on a grassy verge by the main road. Harrison says Burkhill sent letters to local residents explaining that the location was inappropriate, as the site was green-belt land. The acrimony bred mistrust on the council. Proposals were often blocked for no good reason and accusations of personal interest were levelled. An atmosphere of suspicion prevailed any new plan was assumed to benefit the councillor who had introduced it. People objected to an after-school club, the creation of a parish-council Facebook page and the installation of security cameras on the main road. A majority bloc on the council managed to vote these proposals through, but only after prolonged attempts to frustrate them. The same people always seemed to be saying no. They are known as the Handforth ratepayers. Rates are an ancient form of local taxation: the word ratepayer is simply an old-fashioned way of saying taxpayer. The ratepayers focused on keeping down parish-council spending; they also vocally opposed the development of the Handforth green belt. Former councillors I spoke to looked visibly deflated when they recalled the long, often angry meetings at which they watched their ideas wither and die. One described the atmosphere as toxic and uncomfortable. Many felt quietly appalled at how much time they had wasted. The ratepayers rivals, a group called Improving Handforth, held a majority on the council from 2015 to 2019, when new elections were held. During that time, relations between the parties grew increasingly fractious. The monitoring officer at Cheshire East, who oversees the conduct of councillors, received formal complaints from both sides. There were accusations of corruption. Statements drafted by lawyers were read out at council meetings on a regular basis. The vicious behaviour that would later delight a nation became more common in this period. One member of the public, who backed the ratepayers, would sit in the front row of the meeting and look at you like he wanted to kill you, as one former councillor puts it. He made formal complaints against five councillors and the parish clerk. This year, he became famous for telling Jackie Weaver to read and understand the standing orders. His name is Aled Brewerton. In 2019, running against a divided field, he was narrowly elected. Councillors affiliated to the ratepayers gained a majority, sweeping to power with four seats on the seven-member council. The war-memorial project showed how a strong consensus dissolves quickly into fierce disagreement With no elections for another four years, the authority of the ratepayers looked secure. Yet within a year, two shocks sent the council into a tailspin. The first took place at a meeting in November 2019. During a motion about the circumstances in which councillors should undergo criminal-records checks, ratepayer Jean Thompson stood up and left the meeting. The next month, she didnt return. And the next one. If councillors fail to attend meetings for six months, they are automatically dismissed. This meant that, by early March 2020, only a few months were left before a swing vacancy opened up, potentially endangering the Ratepayers majority. The second shock, of course, was the coronavirus. Julie Smith knew which way the wind was blowing. As an employee of Handforths main pharmacy and councillor on Cheshire East Council, she saw early on that the government was going to ask vulnerable people to shield. Many would face the choice of going to the supermarket at a time when leaving the house felt increasingly like taking your life in your hands or starving at home. Using Facebook, Smith enlisted 80 volunteers to help deliver essential items to shielding residents. She contacted the clerk of the parish council, who agreed to co-ordinate the scheme, and printed 500 flyers with the parish councils phone number on them. Smith left these on the front desk of the local doctors surgery. Three days later, Smith received a call from the surgery. As Smith tells it, the caller said Tolver had complained that the volunteering scheme involved inappropriate use of the parish-council phone and demanded that the surgery stop distributing the leaflets. People who needed help, he said, should turn instead to Cheshire East, the body organising the local pandemic response. Smith was flabbergasted. (Tolver denies objecting to the leaflets and says he was worried the clerk would be overburdened with calls.) The local authorities had been caught off guard. Supermarket-delivery slots were booked up for weeks. Cheshire East Council scrambled desperately through the first month of lockdown to identify those in need. By the time it had established its own volunteering scheme and contacted Smith, she had been running her initiative for several weeks, albeit without using the parish-council phone. A body of community-minded individuals with strong local roots, a network of contacts and public money to spend could have done a lot of good in the early months of the pandemic. Unfortunately, Handforth Parish Council stopped meeting at this very moment. The clerk a trained, non-partisan official employed to administer the council tried to convene a meeting by video in April, pointing out that the Coronavirus Act made it legal to do so. Brewerton, one of the ratepayers and a non-practising solicitor, wrote back contending that it wasnt. The clerk made a second attempt in May. This time Tolver insisted that all council business be paused. Naturally, he said, this would apply to the automatic dismissal of Thompson as a councillor, which should now be postponed until three months after normal business resumed. By implication, that meant there was no immediate chance of a by-election that might jeopardise the ratepayers hegemony. In the meantime, while every other council in Britain held meetings remotely (as did both houses of Parliament), Handforth Parish Council did not sit in deliberation. In June the clerk announced that Thompson had been dismissed. (He had checked this decision with, among others, Jackie Weaver.) In response, Tolver and the ratepayers began to agitate for the clerks removal. Their position was complicated by the fact that Thompson seemed to have no desire to continue serving as a councillor. In emails seen by 1843, Tolver mentioned that he was worried she would be reinstated against her will and again refuse to attend meetings. (Thompson turned down my request for an interview.) In August 2020, Handforth Parish Council finally assembled for the first time in almost six months not long before all sitting councillors would, by the letter of the law, have been dismissed from their positions at an extraordinary meeting called by Tolver. From that point on, the council split down the middle: each faction called its own meetings and argued that those held by the other side were illegitimate. In November, the ratepayers used a sub-committee under their control to move to suspend the clerk, pending a full investigation. Tolver seized the clerks official email account. (This is why he appeared under the handle Handforth PC Clerk at the now-famous meeting clerked by Weaver.) One of them wanted something interactive that you could mould. I said, Look, one day youre going to wake up to a giant willy. After a week in Handforth trying to reconstruct the manoeuvring that led to the towns brief blaze of fame, I was left with two feelings. First, an irrational but pronounced hatred of the Handforth Premier Inn. Those in Handforth who follow parish-council politics have a theory. A vacant plot of land near the bypass has been earmarked as the future site of the North Cheshire Growth Village, a new development of 2,000 houses. This will transform Handforth, but whether it will rejuvenate the place or suck the life out of it is hard to predict. Only two things are certain: Handforth will never be the same again. And Handforth Parish Council will make a lot of money. At present, Handforth Parish Councils kitty contains roughly 170,000, on top of which the council receives 90,000 a year in taxes. If the North Cheshire Growth Village is built, the council will make a windfall of roughly 2.2m. Some in Handforth say that this is the reason why the ratepayers have been fighting so hard. Those in power will decide how the money is spent. Perhaps it does explain, in part, their desperate tactics to retain their majority, but it doesnt explain the previous five years of obstruction, bickering and obfuscation. And it sits uneasily with the fact that Tolver, the leading ratepayer, became involved in politics to prevent the development of that very same piece of green-belt land. I was eager to solve this mystery but none of the ratepayers would speak to me. Then, when Id almost given up hope, I received an email from Tolver. He gave me an unasked-for rundown of the parish councils annual budget and expenses: Income (council-tax precept): 90,000 Costs of existing (clerk, premises, expenses, annual fees, subscriptions): 50,000 Christmas lights: 20,000 Remaining disposal income: 20,000 The council, wrote Tolver, has absorbed just under 1m of taxpayer money since its inception in 2011. I emailed him back and asked: Do you believe that Handforth Parish Council should exist? Of course not, he replied. Most people tell you it should fix things, fund things, furnish the community with better public spaces and, in doing so, marginally improve the lives of the locals. One councillor took me to a park and showed me a path that trails off into the mud halfway around. The parish council could complete that path if it chose to. A former councillor talked about an after-school club that she used to run with parish-council funding. Almost everyone mentioned the Christmas lights and how happy they made the local children each year. Though they cant undertake large-scale projects, parish councils give small communities a voice of protest against the actions of distant, impersonal government bodies. They can remonstrate again decisions made miles away, which affect their own back yards. Sometimes they even offer a measure of redress. A current councillor told me she wanted the parish council to begin running the local library, which cash-strapped Cheshire East may not be able to afford to keep going much longer. The parish priest talked to me about a food bank he helps run. Though most funding comes from small donations from individuals, the parish council gives much larger sums on a semi-regular basis. A fierce idealism burns within such proposals. Parish councils should fix things, fund things, furnish the community with better public spaces and make the lives of locals marginally better Over Zoom I asked Tolver what makes a good parish council. He gave me a definitive answer: Proper adherence to laws and rules is a starting point. Proper use of taxpayers money. A parish council, unlike a local council, has no defined duties, he explained. We have no responsibilities. Only what we take upon ourselves. But that would have to be with the broad agreement of the residents of Handforth. I asked Tolver if he could think of any projects that the parish council would want to spend money on. He asked me the same question back. At which point, having first heard of the council less than a month before, and having left Handforth after just a few days with no plans ever to return, I found myself in the unusual journalistic position of suggesting how the parish council might profitably spend its money. Its already run by Cheshire East, explains Tolver. Theres no reason for the parish council to take it over. That would involve acquiring the liabilities of the building without owning the asset. It wouldnt make financial sense. I think it would cost a lot of money, and I'm not sure about the number of people who use the park, he replied. He said he would have to take a look at the numbers. Tolver has a breathy voice and large, wet eyes. He didnt answer my questions about his personal life, though at one point a Scottish woman could be heard entering the room before he hissed her away. Tolver has lived in Handforth for almost 50 years but doesnt believe the town has a strong sense of community. He cant say what makes him proudest about the place or put his finger on how it has changed. He doesnt mention the war memorial or the food bank. Handforth, as an actual place inhabited by real people, seems barely to exist for him. Instead Tolver tells me what matters: that the parish council is properly run, that its finances are properly maintained and its proceedings occur in accordance with the relevant rules. Since the running costs of Handforth Parish Council amount to just over half its income, he believes that taxpayers money is going to waste. For some years, Tolver has thought that the parish council should either be dissolved or re-absorbed into the town council of neighbouring Wilmslow. Throughout this time, he has felt obliged to run for a position on a representative body which he believes should not exist. Tolver is diabetic and frequently refers to his own poor health. He has spent much of the last year shielding. Yet when he mentions the crisis of 2020, as he does several times during our conversation, he is talking not about the impact of covid-19 but the dismissal of Councillor Thompson in June. I ask him why he didnt call a meeting when the largest national crisis since the second world war struck the country, and he tells me that it is the clerks job to call meetings. He says that there was nothing in his in-tray. Well did they all over the country? he replies sceptically. I dont know that they did. He claims to have been unaware of the desperate circumstances faced by some of his fellow townsfolk. The meeting, which you can watch in full on YouTube, is a calamitous pantomime of righteous fury and unmuted mics Tolver speaks about his work on the parish council with the same air of pained martyrdom that he uses to talk about his ailments. For a time, I thought that Tolver resented the council, with its infighting and absorption of public money. I have come to believe that the reverse is true. He sees its proper stewardship as a personal calling, and for ten years he has devoted himself diligently and methodically to his task. He showers it with the microscopic attention that the residents of towns all over the country give to their carefully maintained back yards. He does not consider it an instrument for the administration of the town, but as a town in itself, a little world. Handforth Parish Council is his private kingdom and he would rather see it destroyed than pass into someone elses hands. The whole of England is made up of similar private kingdoms. Their contested borders rub against each other in long streets packed tight with houses that seem to get more eye-wateringly expensive by the year. Tolver may get his wish. As part of wider boundary review Cheshire East Council is considering whether Handforth Parish Council should be re-integrated into Wilmslow Town Council, as Tolver desires. Officials at Cheshire East are embarrassed and angry at their dysfunctional child. The outcome, however it is resolved, will not stop the development of the 2,000 new homes. I asked Tolver what, in an ideal world, would be the future of Handforth Parish Council. He looked at me with an expression close to despair. We sat in silence for a moment as house prices rose around the country. Eventually he answered in a low, dead voice. There is no ideal world. John Phipps is a freelance writer PHOTOGRAPHS: DOUGIE WALLACE | https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/04/16/whats-really-the-matter-with-handforth |
Why were Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups worst hit by the UKs second wave? | Some answers to this question come from a recent report by the ethnicity subgroup of Sage on the causes of the tragic loss of life among Bangladeshi and Pakistani British communities in the second wave of the pandemic. While all minority ethnic groups remained at greater risk of death from Covid-19 compared with white ethnic groups in the period from October 2020 to January 2021, Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups were at the greatest risk. The Sage advice, which I led on, uncovered the effects of inequality and policy on health outcomes and the urgent measures needed to support hard-hit communities and prevent future tragedies. The recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities reports that this was a result of risk of infection, as opposed to ethnicity alone being a risk factor. To the contrary, our findings show that multiple disadvantages faced by ethnic groups join together to produce infection and death from Covid-19. Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups experience more chronic, debilitating health conditions at a younger age due to health disparities. They mainly work in jobs in small-scale retail, transportation and hospitality, leading to greater exposure to Covid-19. Being precarious employees or business owners means that they are less able to negotiate paid sick leave or to stay home when unwell. They are more likely to live in crowded housing providing social support to older and younger family members under one roof. This increases risks of transmission within families from workplaces and schools, and prevents self-isolation of sick family members. Stigma and racism are common experiences, due to their ethnic and religious identity, causing physiological effects on health outcomes and creating a barrier to accessing services. These risks came together in a devastating way during the second wave. Hospitality and retail were kept open longer during the second wave at the time that the new Kent variant was spreading, and no central effort was made to enforce protections for employees in these workplaces. Furthermore, financial support was insufficient to support small family businesses and the self-employed in stopping work: Treasury schemes offered loans that small, precarious businesses did not want to risk taking, and the self-employed were only supported at a level linked to the previous years taxation, which may have failed to cover a familys needs. For those who needed to self-isolate, payments were difficult to apply for and too small to risk the loss of wages. When it came to families, no public health advice or support was provided to advise multigenerational households on how to keep relatives safe from transmission. The government interventions which did occur, around Eid and Ramadan, only served to intensify stigma and disempower groups from seeking help and services. They also threatened social cohesion, which as a recent study shows, supports uptake of Covid-19 measures in deprived areas. Taking lessons from the second wave for any future outbreaks is vital. The first instruction is that any delay in future interventions or rush to reopen society is likely to disproportionately affect ethnic minority groups. A cautious policy is also a fairer policy. Occupational risks could be reduced by legal requirements for Covid-safe workplaces. Alongside this, enforceable rights to sick leave for precarious employees, self-isolation payments in line with the minimum wage, and workplace vaccination schemes with paid time off for vaccination could help reduce transmission. The Treasury could offer grants instead of loans or tax-linked amounts to the lowest rated businesses and self-employed, to support any businesses too risky to remain open. Household risks could be reduced by offering advice on safe behaviours in caring and domestic work; along with practical support. Stigma and racism need to be acknowledged within our national and local public services as direct drivers of unequal health outcomes. When local interventions are carried out, central and local communications should not identify, and therefore stigmatise, specific communities and their households as risky. Finally, none of these measures can be achieved without greater community consultation and collaboration. This needs to be funded over the long term so that local authority outreach, community champion networks and third-sector organisations can flourish. After the unequal deaths of the pandemic, we need to rebuild through mutual recognition and equal provision of health for all. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/16/bangladeshi-pakistani-uk-second-wave-covid |
Could DE Arden Key Aid the Detroit Lions Defense in 2021? | On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders waived two of their younger defensive linemen on their roster -- defensive end Arden Key and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. Hurst seems to be a defensive player most Lions fans would be thrilled to add to the roster. First, a little background on the 24-year-old defensive end who played college football in the SEC. At one point, Key was considered to be a first-round selection. However, due to some off-field concerns -- a leave of absence from LSU in 2017 and an underwhelming athletic/weight profile at his pro day -- he fell to the third-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Raiders took a chance on Key, and it appears the gamble failed. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports There was always the assumption that Key would be a bit of a project. Of all the concerns of him coming into the NFL, perhaps injuries were the biggest part of his downfall. Throughout his three-year NFL career, Key amassed 68 total pressures on 795 pass-rushing snaps. But, he was only able to record three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Outside of a pretty average pass rush ability, his tackling has been downright disappointing. Overall, it makes Key only a pass rush specialist who isnt exactly great at the one facet of his game in which he is supposed to excel. Despite his mediocre play, general manager Brad Holmes and the Lions are currently in a position to give a second chance to younger talents. It is possible that a change of scenery or developing a chip on his shoulder could force Key to tap into some of his potential. Given the low expectations in 2021, it wouldnt hurt to bring Key in to see what he has to offer. In saying that, even with the Lions needing pass rushers, there would be a good chance Key is on the outside looking in for making the final 53-man roster. Make no mistake, Hurst should be the player the Lions target, but adding Key via waivers doesn't hurt either. Just don't get your hopes up for anything special on the field. At this point, Key is a much bigger name than he is compared to his performance. | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/arden-key-potential-detroit-lions-defense |
Who are todays Black films and TV shows really for? | Mainstream media is saturated with Black death and suffering. Between real-time images of Black people being killed by police and the violence that is enacted against them in subsequent protests, Black folk are exhausted. So when the two newest projects dedicated to depicting racial violence in America were first unveiled, Black audiences were, understandably, pissed. In both Netflixs Two Distant Strangers and the Prime Video original series Them, we are subjected to the same gratuitous use of violence that is quickly becoming the norm in Black film and television. Them, a suburban race horror about a Black family that is confronted with both supernatural resistance and good ol 50s racism when they move into an all-white Compton neighborhood, fits right in with other civil rights-era works like The Help and Green Book, but is much more violent. Aside from the obvious and hugely problematic connections to Jordan Peeles 2019 horror film Us, viewers will also have to contend with gruesome sexual assault, a drawn-out child murder scene, and a near-lynching that was so agonizing I had to skip through much of it. Two Distant Strangers offers up a different brand of Black trauma. Rapper Joey Bada$$ delivers an endearing debut as a young Black man just trying to get home to his dog after a one-night stand, but who keeps being interrupted by a white police officer determined to kill him, one way or another. A film debut for writer and director Travon Free, this film is a more contemporary rehashing of all the ways weve seen Black men die over the last several years. A shot in the back. A no-knock raid at the wrong address. A knee to the neck where the actor actually says the words I cant breathe (there are no words for the too soon-ness of this particular dramatization). The day repeats itself in a Groundhog Day style that for all of the films problems, is at least somewhat successful in highlighting the relentlessness of police harassment against Black people, and the futility of trying to play by the rules in order to avoid it. What these stories have in common is that they trade in tired, narrow renditions of racism that only manifest themselves through police brutality, Jim Crow and the KKK. And to put it simply, Black audiences are over it. Get Out, the directorial breakout for comedian Jordan Peele, ushered in a new era of Black film-making thats gotten more creative in how it comments on the realities of race in America, particularly through the horror genre. Unfortunately, the works that Get Out spawned dont have as much to say about the topic as the source material does, and what results is a constant reopening of the wounds of racial violence, for very little payoff. Much has been said about the psychological effects of reliving Black trauma in this way, and yet the most prominent depictions of Blackness we see in mainstream media always revert back to the same tropes. Whats worse, theres nothing profound that emerges from these painful, periodic undertakings other than the idea that racism is Very Real and Very Bad, a fact that most Black people are quite painfully aware of. Black death has become a commercial product over the last decade I think the answer to that lies in the fact of who is harmed and who is rewarded when these films are made. Black trauma porn allows white audiences (and film-makers for that matter) to say Im engaging with the tough and important stuff, while reasserting a status quo of racial violence and Black suffering under the guise of authenticity. These works reaffirm racism as a sad reality, without really engaging with the complexity of what anti-Blackness looks like in America beyond gunfire and lynch mobs. Whats clear now is that most contemporary race films (many of them written and/or directed by white people), arent in conversation with Black people at all, despite claims to the contrary. At their best, they speak more to white sensibilities (or lack thereof) about what Blackness and racial terror look like. And at their worst, they join a longstanding media culture of Black people being debased onscreen for money. Black death has become a commercial product over the last decade, from film and television to the blatant commodification of real victims like Breonna Taylor. And as movies like Antebellum and Queen and Slim continue to sweep award shows, Black creators are finding themselves increasingly implicated in recreating these cycles of exploitation. Many of their works aim to either teach white audiences something about the world theyre living in, or force them to see the ills of their people, Clockwork-Orange style. Either way, when films about Black people end up operating in service of whiteness, they inherently do a disservice to Blackness. Real people have to grapple with these stories, and the pain and trauma of Black audiences shouldnt be considered an unfortunate side-effect in the larger project of white education and absolution. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/16/them-two-distant-strangers-black-tv-film |
Are ESG Funds Really a Good Long-Term Investment? | Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is growing at an unprecedented rate. Recent financial results seem to indicate that ESG funds have a clear performance advantage relative to their non-ESG counterparts, which is encouraging advocates to claim that ESG funds offer investors a win-win opportunity to do well while doing good. Despite some positive short-term results, there are many reasons for caution. Before reviewing these, it is important to note that many investors may demand investment options that reflect their values, regardless of whether these funds outperform. ESG funds cater to this demand. However, even when individual investors are prepared to select an ESG investment option regardless of increased risks or potential underperformance, they deserve accurate information regarding the risk-return profile of their portfolio. Given the complexity of the ESG investment universe, the current statements about ESG outperformance may not be meeting this criterion. Lets start with the problems that arise due to the vagaries of ESG criteria. There is no single definition of an ESG-compliant investment. One organizations ESG star could be anothers laggard. An ESG fund that emphasizes social (the S in ESG) could rate such a company highly, whereas an ESG fund that emphasizes the impact from a companys operations on the environment (the E in ESG) could rate the company poorly. As a result, firms and organizations that rate companies based on their commitment to ESG are making judgments that are not only inherently subjective, but may also often contradict one another. There are some significant material differences between ESG strategies. Some ESG funds apply an exclusionary investment criterion that simply avoids companies engaged in specific business lines (e.g., fossil-fuel companies). Others will explicitly invest in companies that are meeting predefined ESG criteria (e.g., funds that specialize in investing in alternative-energy technologies). It makes little sense to compare the financial performance of a broad-based fund that simply excludes specific sectors (e.g., gun manufacturers and gambling firms) and is heavily reliant on the FAANG stocks [Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (Alphabet)] with a fund that exclusively invests in alternative-energy technologies. Story continues Blanket statements about the financial performance of ESG funds as a whole fail to account for these vastly different ESG investment strategies. Consequently, making broad pronouncements about the outperformance of ESG funds will provide little information about the financial performance of specific ESG investment strategies. There are also important long-term considerations. It is not surprising that, over the past several years, a manager for a broad-based ESG fund would have been able to abstain from investing in fossil-fuel firms and still build an investment portfolio that financially outperforms the market. After all, the FAANG stocks averaged a 58.0 percent total return (price plus dividends) in 2020, compared to an 18.4 percent return for the S&P 500. It is hard to argue that the FAANGs, which tend to score well against ESG benchmarks (not least because of their relatively low environmental impact) owe that return to their ESG scores: The investors who buy these shares tend to have other things in mind. This recent outperformance does not provide any information regarding how ESG funds will perform over the long term. In fact, the long-term performance does not match these short-term results. For example, a 2017 study in a top finance journal examined 2,000 funds engaging in social investing. Unlike past studies that bluntly classified funds as either socially responsible or conventional, the authors created a methodology to capture the varying degrees of social responsibility of these funds. Summarizing the results of this study, Kenneth Kim of EQIS Capital Management noted that the results conclusively showed that when investing in SRI [socially responsible investing] or CSR [corporate social responsibility] funds, one should expect some underperformance. ESG funds also contain unidentified risks that often go undiscussed. In a study I performed, ESG funds allocated 37 percent of their portfolio toward their top 10 holdings on average, compared with 21 percent for a broad-based S&P 500 index fund. The higher exposure to the top ten holdings means that the returns of ESG funds are more dependent on the performance of relatively fewer stocks. This concentration significantly reduces the benefits that ought to flow from diversification. For instance, broad-based ESG funds that shun fossil-fuel companies but have greater exposure to the FAANG stocks would have performed very well in 2020. In this case, shunning fossil-fuel investments improved financial returns. While excluding certain investments may have enhanced past results, these trends change. The caveat past performance is not indicative of future results is apropos. As of April 14, ExxonMobil is up around 39 percent year to date, whereas Apple is up a bit over 3 percent. Perhaps these trends indicate that shunning fossil-fuel investments will harm relative returns for ESG funds for all of 2021. Perhaps not. What this example definitively demonstrates, however, is that ESG funds are assuming specific investment risks, risks that may well not be clearly expressed to those looking to purchase them. Another problem that has arisen is whether ESG funds are actually executing what most investors assume will be their stated strategy. For instance, a 2019 Wall Street Journal article found that the portfolios of several ESG funds held a larger share of bonds issued by Saudi Arabia than did non-ESG funds. Not only does Saudi Arabia have large oil interests, which are typically eschewed by ESG investors, but the kingdom has a dismal human-rights record. Its hard to see how these features can be reconciled with the expectations of most ESG investors. To be fair, there were specific reasons why these funds ended up being overweight Saudi Arabia, many related to the lack of ESG-related opportunities in emerging markets, but, for all that, this case is a reminder that the reality of ESG may differ from the labeling. This example also raises concerns with respect to the measurement of ESG funds financial performance. If ESG funds pursue a strategy that is difficult to reconcile with what most people would understand as living up to ESG, claims that ESG funds outperform non-ESG investment strategies need to be treated with more skepticism. Without reliable answers to these questions, which have not been forthcoming, the actual impact from effective ESG criteria on investment returns is still unknown. The problem of faithfully executing an ESG strategy also raises the question of cost. Executing an ESG strategy adds another layer of administration, which is why ESG funds tend to have higher administrative costs relative to non-ESG funds. Since there is a problem of whether ESG funds are executing their strategies in a manner that their investors might reasonably expect, perhaps these already inflated costs are still insufficient. Basic finance theory consistently advises investors to avoid vehicles with large administrative costs due to the negative impact of costs on investment returns. A final concern not adequately addressed by advocates of ESG is its suitability to large public and private pensions. Pension funds have a fiduciary responsibility to workers and retirees, a diverse group of investors who cannot exit the relationship and may hold differing views about complex social issues. Public pension funds also have a responsibility to taxpayers who will ultimately bear the costs from any investment underperformance. Given the unclear long-term investment performance of ESG funds and the diversity of opinions on social issues, pension investment decisions should only be guided by the funds prime directive: to meet its financial obligations to current and future retirees. In recent years, ESG funds have been presented to investors as socially responsible investments that outperform their respective benchmarks. While this may be true for some funds in the short term, the long-term record suggests that investors risk higher costs, greater volatility, and lower returns from investing in ESG funds. These experiences warrant caution in the face of todays growing exuberance. More from National Review | https://news.yahoo.com/esg-funds-really-good-long-103015809.html |
Can The Afghan Army Hold Off The Taliban Without The U.S.? | Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP President Biden stood in the Roosevelt Room at the White House and declared the end of U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan. He spoke from the same spot where former President George W. Bush announced the beginning of the war 20 years ago with a bombing campaign. "It's time to end America's longest war," Biden said. "It's time for American troops to come home." The president said the U.S. will "keep providing assistance" to the Afghan security forces, and reposition counterterrorism forces "over the horizon," to make sure Afghanistan does not once again become a haven for terrorists planning to attack the U.S. That was the reason for invading Afghanistan in the first place after the 9/11 attacks, when the Taliban government refused to turn over the mastermind of those attacks, al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking this week from NATO headquarters in Brussels, pledged continued U.S. training and support for the Afghan security forces. "Thanks to the efforts of coalition and ally training," Austin said, "the Afghan security forces are better and more capable of securing their borders and protecting their fellow citizens. We will continue to support them in those efforts. We will look to continue funding key capabilities, such as the Afghan Air Force." Contractors needed Still, both those goals continued support for the Afghan military and a regional counterterrorism effort raise more questions. Right now the U.S. military and its NATO allies train the Afghan army and police, pay them and repair the American-supplied equipment. The only realistic answer is civilian contractors. "Now, it is well known that the Afghan security forces need these contractors to maintain their equipment, manage supply chains, and train their military and police to operate the advanced equipment that we have purchased for them," said John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction, during a presentation last month at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "What I see is everyone focusing on the troops withdrawal and not the loss of the contractors," said one U.S. official who's involved in the financial efforts, but was not authorized to speak publicly. "Also, no one's focusing on the financial assistance." Fred Kagan, a defense analyst who advised the U.S. military in Afghanistan, said the American-led training effort will likely come to an end. "I do not see how the U.S. can continue to support the Afghan military in any meaningful way, other than financial, once our forces departed the country," he said. As of last December, the U.S. had spent $88.3 billion to help the Afghan government provide security in Afghanistan. That's more than 60 percent of all U.S. reconstruction funding since 2002. Another $3 billion will be spent this year. Even with all that money spent and with ongoing training efforts, the Afghan forces are plagued by poor leadership, desertions and incompetence. One U.S. general who spent years in Afghanistan said this about U.S. training of the Afghan forces: "Sadly, that cake was not fully baked. We were impatient, we set arbitrary exit criteria, and our withdrawal from many areas created vacuums for the Taliban return with an Afghan Army that was not ready, not getting paid regularly, poorly led, and suffering massive casualties, creating a demoralizing and unstainable reality for the security forces." Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, and former Pentagon official, has questions of her own. "The two critical things I'll be looking to hear come directly from the original goals of this war," Slotkin said. "First, what will the security architecture look like to ensure that terrorists don't reconstitute and prepare attacks against us or our allies?" "Secondly, what is the diplomatic plan for maintaining some insight and leverage in Kabul?" she added. "If preventing international terrorist attacks is connected to the county living up to basic international norms and standards, we'll need a significant diplomatic plan to ensure Kabul isn't descending into chaos." 'Over the horizon' The counterterrorism mission, according to Biden, will take place outside Afghanistan. "Over the horizon" means either other countries perhaps Pakistan or Tajikistan or on ships in the Persian Gulf. The Taliban have yet to break with al-Qaida, a condition of the U.S.-Taliban agreement in February 2020. U.S. officials in the Afghan city of Jalalabad told NPR two years ago that the Taliban continue to work with al-Qaida in eastern Afghanistan, while both U.S. and Afghan airstrikes have targeted al-Qaida militants in southeastern Helmand Province. An expansion of such terrorist activity worries retired Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan and later ran the CIA. Petraeus said he worries the Taliban will continue to gain ground militarily and allow terrorist groups to operate. "Frankly, we're also going to lose that platform that Afghanistan provides for the kind of regional counterterrorism campaign," he said. "I'm really afraid that we're going to look back two years from now and regret the decision and just wonder if whether we might not have sought to manage it with a modest, sustainable, sustained commitment that could have ensured that al-Qaida and the Islamic State would not re-establish sanctuaries." Fred Kagan, the defense analyst, said it's not sufficient for U.S. personnel to be based outside Afghanistan and looking for threats inside the country. "We will not have the intelligence we need or the ability to act in a timely fashion on intelligence we do get to conduct periodic and very limited strikes on individual targets," Kagan said. "Few theories of war or counterterrorism have been more thoroughly discredited over the past three decades than the idea that such strikes can disrupt, let alone defeat, a major terrorist organization," he added. "Our withdrawal of forces therefore means the de facto end of serious counter-terror operations." Carter Malkasian, who spent years in Afghanistan working with Marines as a civilian adviser, said there should be more emphasis on working with neighboring countries Pakistan, Iran, Russia and China to prevent a rise in terrorist activity in Afghanistan. "It would be useful," Malkasian said, "if the United States can get a diplomatic agreement for continued statements by the region, to the Taliban, that terrorist activity is unacceptable, and that they commonly endorse military action and other sanctions if it occurs. The region has interests in Afghanistan that are much deeper than U.S. interests." In an interview with NPR, Roya Rahmani, the Afghan ambassador to the U.S., said of the White House decision, "So as they have decided to withdraw the troops, regardless of the conditions on the ground, we respect their decision. But then we are hoping that with their support, we would be able to continue to protect and defend ourselves." | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/987810008/can-the-afghan-army-hold-off-the-taliban-without-the-u-s |
Does Robert Kraft regret letting Tom Brady leave? | The Patriots continue their search to solidify the quarterback position a year after Tom Brady walked out the door. New England went 7-9 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008, while Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring, this one with the Buccaneers. Brady, whom the Patriots drafted in the sixth round in 2000, continues to cast a large shadow on the franchise he spent two decades leading to six championships. Look, I love Tom Brady and hes great, but hes moved on, Kraft said Wednesday. What happened here last year was not something to our liking. We had to make the corrections. Kraft was asked if he had any feelings of regret that Brady and the Patriots didnt stay together even longer. I would have loved for him to retire as a Patriot, Kraft said. Everybody knew that but in life things just happen in a way that you have to balance a lot of things. After 20 years, I thought he was entitled to make a decision that was what he thought was best for him and where he was at. We gave him the ability to do that. Its like marriages sometimes. No one knows on the outside everything going on and you try to balance a lot, and it is what it is. The Patriots gave Brady the option to leave as a free agent. He did, and he won big. That surely hurt Kraft and the Patriots organization as well as its fans even more than seeing him in another uniform. Well, after 20 years with any player, Ill make this commitment to any player in the future, Kraft said. Anyone who spends 20 years with us and helps us win six Super Bowls. . . . Look, we could have, contract-wise, kept him in our camp, but its just not the right thing. Naturally, we want to win, but who knows what would have happened if he stayed here. Look what happened at the end of his last season here. Brady returns to New England this season . . . when his Buccaneers play a road game against the Patriots. The Patriots will get a reminder both of what they had and what they might have had. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-robert-kraft-regret-letting-003939189.html?src=rss |
Should airports be allowed to expand? | Plane flies over a road sign for Heathrow Airport Airports around the UK want to expand and increase flights, despite a government commitment to cut emissions. Airports are privately run and they want to grow to increase profits. British airports also employ hundreds of thousands of people, and the owners say a strong aviation sector is vital for the UK's future as a trading nation. Many pension funds are invested in the industry. That's why councillors have approved a new terminal at Leeds Bradford Airport, and a runway extension at Southampton may be agreed later this month. In total, eight airports round the UK have plans to grow. Covid restrictions have hit aviation hard, with few people currently flying. But the industry hopes numbers will bounce back. Flying creates noise and local pollution - and it adds to greenhouse gases that are overheating the planet. British Airways' CO2 emissions alone were similar to those of all of the UK's vans put together, says the green group Transenv. BA doesn't deny the figure but says it's committed to reducing its impact. At the moment flying produces around 6% of the UK's emissions - but aviation has been allowed merely to stabilise its emissions while other sectors have to cut theirs. So the effects of flying will grow proportionately over time. Planes also damage the climate in other ways. They emit nitrogen oxide (NOx) gas, a pollutant. They also create contrails - ribbons of cloud that can warm the atmosphere. Scientists believe the overall effect of non-CO2 emissions at altitude is between two and four times that of the CO2 emissions alone. At the moment there is no government plan for reducing aviation emissions overall, although ministers are due to announce a strategy for cutting transport emissions in the coming months. Story continues A major infrastructure project such as the Heathrow third runway will automatically go to a public inquiry, but there's currently nothing in planning law to stop regional airports expanding. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) - which advises the government - says if any airport expands, another should contract. However, no airport is volunteering to shrink its operations. The Leeds Bradford Airport expansion proposal is on the desk of Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, who must make a decision by 6 April. He may judge that planning permission for regional airports should be dealt with locally because no UK-wide policy is in place. This was Mr Jenrick's response to the recent proposal for a coal mine in Cumbria, although the prime minister over-ruled him and decided to review the decision. The CCC says the only way for aviation to become more eco-friendly would be if planes became much more fuel-efficient, or used low-carbon fuels from plants or waste. However, these will not be available at scale for some time - nor is there any immediate prospect of battery-powered planes. What's more, even supposedly clean existing fuels, such as hydrogen, still produce NOx when they're burned, and the water vapour they emit is a powerful greenhouse gas. The simplest answer is not to fly at all. If you need to make a work journey - or can't bear a summer without guaranteed sunshine - don't fly business class because the bigger the seats, the fewer the travellers, and the higher the emissions per passenger. You might buy an offset - that's a way of calculating your flight emissions and counter-balancing them by, say, having trees planted. The Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) advises that the most trustworthy offset is through a method called direct air capture (DAC), which uses renewable energy to suck emissions directly from the atmosphere. However, using DAC for a guilt-free transatlantic flight would put an estimated 240 on to a London-New York return journey, AEF says. That, it says, is the true environmental cost of flying. Finance officers have been delighted to find that executives could do much of their work on Zoom during lockdown, thereby saving a small fortune on business-class seats. This trend looks likely to continue to an extent. As business-class flying contracts, aviation could shrink overall because the profit from business seats subsidises the cost of economy-class seats. Tackling frequent-flier programmes (FFPs) would also be effective. At the moment executives clock up air miles every time they fly. They then swap these for leisure flights with their families. So, basically, the more they fly, the more they're incentivised to fly. In Germany, air miles are taxed as a benefit in kind. However, environmental campaign group Greenpeace says they are so harmful they should be banned altogether. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin | https://news.yahoo.com/airports-allowed-expand-002542866.html |
Can a VR headset or pot plant boost productivity? | John Bevan enjoys rock climbing in virtual reality using a headset gifted by his employer Working from home through the pandemic has been a challenge, but some UK firms have tried to lessen the pain by sending out free perks. From Apple products to food hampers, gifts are being showered on some lucky staff as rewards for hard work. It's long been known that if you get a job with a global tech giant like Google or Facebook, you're likely to enjoy workplace benefits like free food, pool tables, video games and social events. Job seekers will even compare companies based on the perks they offer when choosing where to apply. The idea, which originated in the US, is that if staff spend more time in the workplace, even if they're having fun, they will be more likely to do more work. That Silicon Valley-style thinking spread to tech firms across the pond, but during the pandemic, other industries have started to look offering at non-monetary benefits too. To thank them for their hard work under difficult circumstances, employees at investment bank Jefferies were recently told they could choose from a reward of a Peloton exercise bike, or an "Apple package" consisting of an Apple Watch, and iPad Air and AirPods Plus. Others have offered everything from tea bags, biscuits and Easter eggs, to virtual reality headsets, takeaway app gift vouchers and subscriptions to meditation apps. 'It's definitely boosted my morale' John Bevan is a consultant at BrightCarbon, a Manchester-based design agency that specialises in creating e-learning content. Firms big and small have told the BBC they are sending staff food hampers Through the pandemic, the firm has sent out surveys every fortnight asking staff how they feel. One question asked was whether staff had an interest in virtual reality (VR) - a technology the agency was thinking about implementing in its work. Story continues All the staff who expressed an interest were sent Oculus Quest 2 headsets to play with, and today, almost all 80 employees at the company have one. BrightCarbon's staff have been holding virtual social events to help each other cope mentally through lockdowns, from VR rock climbing and archery to dancing games, fitness and fishing trips. "It's absolutely boosted my morale and my family's and all of my team's as well," Mr Bevan tells the BBC. "It really has connected people with others in the business they don't talk to." And as a bonus, the agency has been able to use what it has learned from employees' interactions to help design new offerings for its clients. 'The company really does care for me' Jordan Roe is a client manager at Cheshire-based financial planners Equilibrium, which has just under 100 staff. Jordan Roe, a client manager at financial planners Equilibrium Since the pandemic began, the company has been sending him potted plants, seeds for growing herbs, handwritten cards containing motivational messages, positivity pin badges and a variety of food, as well as putting on after work activities like pub quizzes and bingo on Zoom. Equilibrium even has an annual tradition of treating its staff to fish and chips on Blue Monday - a day in January reputed to be the most depressing of the year (although there is no scientific basis to this). Because staff were working from home this year, the firm sent over custom-made fish and chip boxes, with the meal wrapped in "The Equilibrium Times", a made-up company newspaper detailing staff achievements and jokes. "It made a difference - it reinforced the fact that the company really does care for you and you still feel connected to your team, even though you're by yourself," says Mr Roe, who has worked for Equilibrium for three years. Items in a fish and chips-themed goodie box from Equilibrium to their staff "It was a main driver for me in coming to work here - it was the company's culture, and its reputation with both staff and clients." But regardless of gifts big or small, new research shows that staff are often quite happy to motivate themselves. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says productivity increases, not decreases when working from home. The body, which represents HR professionals, surveyed 2,000 employers and found that two thirds believe remote working has either improved productivity, or hasn't negatively impacted it. "The evidence between productivity and gifts is patchy," Charles Cotton, the CIPD's senior reward and performance adviser tells the BBC. "Whilst there can be some short term boost to commitment and loyalty, over the medium to longer term, that feeling can dissipate, unless the gift is particularly memorable." Jefferies has been gifting staff peloton bikes as a pandemic "bonus" He points out that some of the perks are a "one size fits all" - food hampers might not be suitable for someone with a food intolerance, so employers need to make sure they cater to employees' needs when considering such gifts. But most of all, the CIPD says the research highlights the fact that there is no longer such a taboo around flexible working. The survey showed 63% of employers are planning to expand their use of flexible working arrangements going forward. Mr Cotton thinks that after the pandemic, a "win-win scenario" could emerge for both employers and employees. "It is unlikely that employers will be looking to flog off their buildings because they will still need them for some days of the week, but it's also unlikely that everyone will be working Monday to Friday in the office. "There's a balance to be struck between the two extremes - it's a case of allowing employees the flexibility and responsibility of managing themselves." | https://news.yahoo.com/vr-headset-pot-plant-boost-233706117.html |
Is Quebec's mixed messaging on COVID-19 leading to defiance of directives? | "People will expect you to make errors. They know you don't have a crystal ball. ... What they want to know is you are aware and you are keeping them informed." Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette Article content During the height of the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014, the Liberian government suddenly announced a sector of the capital city of Monrovia was being put under quarantine. Rioting immediately broke out among residents terrified they would not have access to food, water or their jobs. One teenager was shot by the military and died. We thought the city could burn down overnight, said Dr. Joanne Liu, past president of Doctors Without Borders, who has more than two decades of experience in fighting epidemics. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Liberias president calmed the situation by saying I have heard you, we are reassessing the situation and we will find out a way together, Liu recalls. But it was a harrowing lesson that one of the most important factors of epidemic management is maintaining the trust of the people. In times of uncertainty, you cannot afford to let distrust take hold, said Liu, who is also a Montreal pediatrician and professor at the Universit de Montral. What makes people trust a country is coherent communication. Its about being able to say in very, very clear communications, This is what we know, and this is what we dont know. Its about being able to admit if there were mistakes and to just say we are addressing them. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content People will expect you to make errors. They know you dont have a crystal ball. What they want to know is you are aware and you are keeping them informed. In Quebec, there have been numerous signs over the last week of a lack of trust leading to pushback against government directives. Several school boards are defying the governments decree that all high school students return to class full time this week, arguing it will needlessly endanger students and staff, and noting the government also announced the province is officially into a third wave of COVID-19. Students in the hundreds have staged protests outside their schools, saying they are afraid of returning full time and bearing signs with messages such as: Mr. Legault, stop toying with our mental health. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Quebecs order of doctors and order of nurses publicly asked the government to re-evaluate its decision to lift COVID-19 restrictions, considering the rise in variants, disruptions in vaccine deliveries and the international situation, with third waves erupting in multiple countries. Several studies have shown a populations willingness to comply with public health directives correlates directly with its faith in government measures, said Simon Bacon, assistant professor in Concordia Universitys department of health and co-director of the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre. That belief and faith is decreasing over time weve seen that consistently, Bacon said. The Quebec governments mixed messaging on public gatherings telling people they cant meet for family get-togethers but saying its OK to have 30 children in a classroom, or that religious gatherings of up to 250 people are acceptable leads to a loss of credibility, and allows people the latitude to make decisions around what they believe is the right thing to do. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content At the same time, telling people in red zones that theyre now in orange zones leads them to believe they dont have to be as cautious, and leads to the increase in cases seen in Quebecs regions and the return of restrictions, Bacon said. Countries that have done well at ensuring social compliance are those that have tied their COVID-19 shutdowns and reopenings to specific metrics, such as case counts per 100,000 people, he said. When the population is told up front, Heres the road map, under which if we hit these numbers we can either open things up or shut them down again, it puts more power in the hands of the people. And when you empower them, they feel more a part of the process, and they adhere to decisions better. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Inconsistency, on the other hand, leads to anxiety, frustration and anger. And that anger is expressed in rebellion, Bacon said. Quebec public health director Horacio Arrudas statement that the government is reopening things now but will monitor the situation as the number of daily cases reaches around 1,000 and variants spread is another cause for concern. The wait-and-see mode doesnt work in a pandemic, Liu said. If you want to fight a pandemic, you need to be faster than the virus if you wait for the virus to hit, you will be behind and youre always going to play catch-up. Canada has followed Europes lead throughout the pandemic, she noted. France announced Wednesday it is instituting a third national lockdown for four weeks following its latest COVID-19 surge. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The yo-yo effect of repeated lockdowns and reopenings that create false hope is ultimately more harmful on mental health and the economy, Liu said. The combination of exhausted health-care workers, variants that hit younger people and cause longer stays in ICU beds, problems with vaccine rollouts and the lingering effects of long-term COVID-19 symptoms for many represents a toxic cocktail that needs to be addressed, Liu said. Maybe its time to review our overall game strategy, she said. Can we still afford our wait-and-see mode? [email protected] More On This Topic Dr. Liu is preparing for the next pandemic Boards must resume in-class teaching, Roberge orders All our coronavirus-related news can always be found at montrealgazette.com/tag/coronavirus. Sign up for our email newsletter dedicated to local COVID-19 coverage at montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews. Help support our local journalism by subscribing to the Montreal Gazette here. Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Montreal Gazette Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/is-quebecs-mixed-messaging-on-covid-19-leading-to-defiance-of-directives |
Who takes over for Oregon Ducks on boundary side of secondary? | Were taking a look at each position group as Oregon prepares to open spring practice on April 1. The ninth of a 10-part series looks at the defensive backs. EUGENE The transformation of Oregons defensive backfield began earlier than expected and will now reach its conclusion. The Ducks were supposed to lose Thomas Graham Jr., Deommodore Lenoir, Jevon Holland, Brady Breeze and Nick Pickett after last season. Of course, they are but three opted out to prepare for the draft and two played. Thats all to say, Oregon was planning for this day and some of the players in line to take over as starters already did so and others got valuable reps last season. The starters on the field side, Mykael Wright, Verone McKinley III and Jamal Hill, are all back while the boundary side, Pickett and Lenoir, have to be replaced. Projected depth chart: Field cornerback: Mykael Wright, sophomore, 25 tackles with nine pass breakups Trikweze Bridges, redshirt-freshman, two tackles Jaylin Davies, true freshman Field safety: Verone McKinley III, redshirt-sophomore, 41 tackles with an interception, forced fumble and fumble return Jordan Happle, graduate-senior, 28 tackles with an interception return for touchdown Jared Greenfield, freshman, three tackles and a forced fumble OR Daymon David, true freshman Boundary safety: Bennett Williams, junior, 15 tackles with two for loss including a sack and two pass breakups Steve Stephens, redshirt-sophomore, eight tackles Jared Greenfield, freshman, three tackles and a forced fumble OR Daymon David, true freshman Boundary cornerback: DJ James, sophomore, 14 tackles and a pass breakup Dontae Manning, freshman, did not record a stat Bryan Addison, redshirt-sophomore, two tackles Jaylin Davies, true freshman Nickel: Jamal Hill, sophomore, 20 tackles with two interceptions and four pass breakups Jordan Happle, graduate-senior, 28 tackles with an interception return for touchdown Jeffrey Bassa, true freshman Dime: Bennett Williams, junior, 15 tackles with two for loss including a sack and two pass breakups Departed: Deommodore Lenoir, Nick Pickett, Daewood Davis (transferred to WKU) Due to arrive in the fall: Darren Barkins, Avante Dickerson Outlook: Bennett Williams and DJ James are in line to take over as starters at boundary safety and boundary corner, respectively, but will face some competition. Jordan Happle and Steve Stephens IV got meaningful playing time last season, Jared Greenfield got his feet wet on special teams and Dontae Manning is coming back off an injury. Much of the two deep appears penciled in but the No. 2 field corner spot could be a competition that plays out into fall camp. How defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter looks to play the nickel and dime spots and how quickly those personnel packages are installed will be on note this spring. Jeffrey Bassa and Daymon David enrolled early and will get important early reps this spring while signees Darren Barkins and Avante Dickerson are arriving over the summer | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/03/who-takes-over-for-oregon-ducks-on-boundary-side-of-secondary.html |
Is Canada turning the corner with Covid? | Despite months of lockdown measures, Covid-19 cases in Canada have continued to climb Canada has secured the largest vaccine portfolio in the world but has so far failed to get its inoculation programme off the ground, even as it faces the pandemic's third wave. In December, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a C$1bn (580m) investment in vaccine agreements. Ottawa had secured seven separate vaccine purchase contracts, she said, enough for each Canadian to receive 10 doses, free of charge. Four months later, Canada is still lagging behind most Western nations in vaccinations. It is currently ranked 44 in global rankings of vaccinations per capita, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. This week, the country welcomed an announcement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Pzifer-BioNTech had agreed to accelerate delivery of five million vaccine doses from late summer to June. But the country is now waging war with a surge of new Covid-19 variants which threaten to overwhelm an already strained hospital system. The country has recorded more than 980,080 infections and almost 23,000 deaths. Vaccine roadblocks Canada was criticised at the end of last year for buying up multiple times the supply it needs to cover its population. It had signed deals with seven vaccine suppliers - including Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson - for a total of over 400 million doses. But without the capacity to produce the vaccines domestically, Canada has been forced to rely on outside manufacturers, mainly in the EU and the US, where vaccine exports have been tied up with delays or cancelled altogether. Just over 12 out of every 100 Canadians have received at least one dose of vaccine, compared to about 30 in the US and 46 in the UK. Canada has purchased more vaccines per person than any other country Immunisation has been further frustrated by shifting guidance on the AstraZeneca vaccine. In late February, Health Canada authorised its use for all Canadians 18 and older. But this week, the government said that the vaccine should not be used in adults under age 55, citing questions over blood clots. Story continues Some 500,000 AstraZeneca doses have already been delivered to Canada and 1.5 million doses are to be shipped from the US this week. Another 4.4 million doses are expected by the end of June. 'Ramp-up phase' Some news this week suggests that Canada might be about to change its vaccine fortune. Prime Minister Trudeau on Tuesday announced Pfizer would speed up delivery of 5 million vaccine doses - getting them to Canada by June. This new timeline means Canada should receive some 17.8 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine between April and June - more than a million doses each week. The first doses of Johnson&Johnson's single-shot vaccine are expected by the end of April. Canada has pre-ordered 10 million doses of this vaccine, with the option to order 28 million more. "We now have handily exceeded our promised target of six million doses delivered before April," Mr Trudeau said. "And this week, we begin our ramp-up phase." And Canada is also working to stave off vaccine shortfalls in future. The federal government and the government of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, are expected to announce a nearly C$1bn investment in a vaccine production and distribution facility in the Toronto area, according to the Toronto Star newspaper. Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi SA will expand Canada's influenza vaccine production capacity, producing enough for the entire population in six months. The facility is expected to be completed by 2027. A third wave Some experts are warning that this vaccine catch-up may not be enough to halt the pandemic's third wave amid rising Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations. "The ongoing increase in infection rates is now playing out in our hospitals with rising trends in severe and critical illnesses, placing renewed strain on the health system," said Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health official. The Public Health Agency of Canada has projected that if Canadians increase or maintain current levels of social interaction, Covid-19 infection rates will spike to the highest levels the country has seen so far. Experts have linked the surge to a growing number of Covid-19 variants detected in Canada. Dr Tam said on Tuesday that there had been a 64% increase in new variants in Canada over the last week alone. The current variant spread is just the "tip of the iceberg", she said. Toronto's Sunnybrook hospital adds beds to field hospital in a parking lot in fear of a third wave The "new variants of concern" make up more than two-thirds of all new cases in Ontario, according to a report from the province scientific advisory panel. Compared with earlier strains, the new variants are associated with a 63% increased risk in hospitalisation and a 56% increase in death. And hospitals are bearing the added burden. According to the report, the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is now 21% higher than three months ago - when Ontario began its province-wide lockdown. Intensive-care occupancy is 28% higher. "Am I missing something here, or is this presentation actually predicting a disaster?" a journalist asked Dr Adalsteinn Brown, an author of the report, last month. "No," Dr Brown said. "I don't think you're missing anything." | https://news.yahoo.com/canada-turning-corner-covid-215825333.html |
Who are the Iowa Ag Summit favorites? | Sign Up For Newsletters N.Y. opens up COVID vaccine to all adults starting April 6 Why questions still linger on the origin of the coronavirus Fauci warns against potential new COVID-19 surge as cases remain high 90% of all U.S. adults eligible for COVID vaccine by April 19 Pentagon announces new policies on transgender troops NCAA and college athletes face off in Supreme Court matchup Military families turning to food banks receive outpouring of support Investigation into cause of Tiger Woods car crash concludes Billionaires got 54% richer during pandemic year. CBS News Senior Political Editor Steve Chaggaris discusses the Republican darlings attending this weekend's Iowa Ag Summit Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On | https://www.cbsnews.com/video/who-are-the-iowa-ag-summit-favorites/ |
What on Earth Is Amazon Doing? | Recode reported that the directive to attack aggressively came from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos himself. (Amazon doesnt appear to have commented on Bezoss role in the hubub, but it does insist that its warehouse workers are well treated. The company did not respond to a request for comment for this story.) Amazons bravado was startling for its message, but also because it represents a departure from expected online corporate behavior. On social media, brands have been evolving from public-relations automatons to your cool friends. When Walmart posts about a moment of zen brought to you by our spring stock up essentials, its just doing vanilla-flavored marketing. But when Slim Jim, the beef-stick company, sasses Steak-umm, the frozen-beef-sheet seller, over supposedly subliminal 69s in a post, it is striving to embody a personality that might resonate with customers. Amazons straight-up aggression broke so much from these two common patterns that one Amazon engineer even submitted a support ticket, concerned that the Amazon News Twitter account had been hacked. Its shocking to see a company act like an online troll instead. It shouldnt be. In fact, its long past time that citizens stop construing online brands, and the companies their messages represent, as clever human interlocutors, be they catty or chatty. Which brings me back to my theory: In a backwards way, and certainly unintentionally, Amazons weird behavior is liberating us from the affliction of building affable relationships with corporations. Its a reminder that although companies have basically become people in our lives, those people might very well be assholes. The law has preserved their right to be so for some time. Over the past century, companies have been transformed into private individuals, deserving protection from the state. The Supreme Courts 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allowed corporations to spend unlimited funds on elections. The Courts opinion justified the decision on the grounds that limiting political spending violates the First Amendment right to free speech. Citizens United is the most recent victory for corporate personhood in the United States, but that history goes back much further. In particular, the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed all citizens equal protection under the law, became a mechanism for corporations to argue for their rights as individuals. (Corporations had previously been treated as institutions chartered by a state for the public good.) Its a convenient accident that the Citizens United decision corresponded with the arrival of the consumer internet. By 2010, everyone was online, and in public too, on social-media services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Previously, companies could speak only through formal messages on billboards; by mail, radio, or television; or via media coverage of their actions. The web had shifted that control a bit, but websites were still mostly marketing and service portals. Social media and smartphones changed everything. They made corporate speech functionally identical to human speech. Case law might have given companies legal personhood, but the internet made corporations feel like people. | https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/03/amazon-twitter-aggression/618477/?utm_source=feed |
Was the Grey's Anatomy Musical Ep Really That Bad? | Watch : The "Grey's Anatomy" Reunion We're DYING To See On a show with over 370 episodes, there are bound to be some duds. There are also bound to be some experiments gone wrong, which is how we might describe the season seven episode of Grey's Anatomy, "Song Beneath the Song." You might know that episode better by its unofficial title, The Musical Episode. The episode begins with Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) waking up with her face in an airbag. She and Callie (Sara Ramirez) have just been in a car accident, and the pregnant Callie is half in the car, half through the windshield. For the rest of the episode, she's comatose and imagining that she and everyone else in the hospital are singing. It is, to say the least, an experience. Today, March 31, 2021, happens to be the 10 year anniversary of that episode, and show creator Shonda Rhimes celebrated the milestone with a tweet and a behind-the-scenes video of Ramirez performing one of the songs. "Today is the anniversary of one of my most memorable moments on Grey's Anatomy," she wrote. "Easily in my top 10. This musical episode reminds me of all the fun we used to have on set. Such a great experience. So grateful." | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1254625/revisiting-the-polarizing-grey-s-anatomy-musical-ep-on-its-10-year-anniversary |
How can we better protect the countryside? | To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. "We've all got to protect the environment" With the introduction of various lockdown restrictions across the UK over the last year, spending time in the countryside has given lots of people with a chance to embrace the fresh air, keep active and for many, it's also had a positive impact on mental health. Despite the many benefits of being outside in nature, not all visitors have taken proper care of the green spaces around them, and some places have been badly damaged as a result. Last summer saw lots of litter left on the ground at some of the UK's beauty spots, flowers and plants were trampled on, dogs were left to freely roam across farmland and lots of dog owners failed to pick up their pet's poo. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Natural England has updated the Countryside Code. A survey from the charity Keep Britain Tidy found that more than half of the parks in the UK had to rely on extra resources to deal with issues like littering and anti-social behaviour, after the easing of the first lockdown last year. Of the parks affected, 81% had to spend more on clearing up litter, 79% on bin emptying and 72% on maintaining public order or enforcing lockdown rules. Getty Images With Easter fast-approaching and lockdown rules around the UK easing, Natural England, which advises the government on the natural environment in the country, wants more people to think about ways in which they can help look after the environment while still enjoying it. It's now updated the Countryside Code, it's guide for people visiting rural spaces across England. "The Countryside Code was first published 70 years ago. Of course, a lot has changed since then, including how much we now know that being outside in natural areas is really good for people's health and wellbeing. "One of the changes that we're trying to achieve with this new Countryside Code is to encourage more people to go outside and enjoy the outdoors," said Tony Juniper who is the chair of Natural England. "This is less like it was before which was a set of rules and really is an encouraging set of guidelines to get people to want to go outside and enjoy natural areas so that they can benefit from it, but also to do it in a way that protects those places for other people." Getty Images Natural England spoke to over 4,000 people and organisations who love the countryside to help them make changes to the Code. The latest code covers all green spaces, waterways, the coast and parks in towns and cities. It promotes the idea that we can get more enjoyment from our environment by looking after it. It advises people to be nice, say hello and to share green spaces with the people around them. It reminds visitors to the countryside not to feed livestock, horses or wild animals, as this can harm them, and to stay on marked footpaths to help protect crops and wildlife. It says that dog walkers should bag up dog poo and take it home if they can't find a public waste bin. It's encourages people to get permission where needed before taking part in certain outdoor activities like freshwater swimming. A big focus is all about making the countryside an inclusive place which everyone can enjoy. "The research that we've done reveals that not everybody goes outside to enjoy the countryside and the outdoors with the same level of confidence," Tony said. "People from lower incomes, people from ethnic minorities, they're amongst the groups that use the countryside much less. One of the reasons for that is because they're not used to going outside there, they've never really felt as though it's part of their world. "Making everybody feel welcome is an incredibly important part of the country side code to encourage more people to get the benefits of being outside in natural areas." | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56579545 |
Can I still spread the coronavirus after I'm vaccinated? | Its possible. Experts say the risk is low, but are still studying how well the shots blunt the spread of the virus. The current vaccines are highly effective at preventing people from getting seriously sick with COVID-19. But even if vaccinated people dont get sick, they might still get infected without showing any symptoms. Experts think the vaccine would also curb the chances of those people spreading the virus. A vaccinated person controls the virus better, so the chances of transmitting will be greatly reduced, said Dr. Robert Gallo a virus expert at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Among the evidence so far: Studies suggesting if people do get infected despite vaccination, they harbor less coronavirus in the nose than the unvaccinated. That makes it harder to spread. Trying to settle the question, the U.S. is starting a study of college students willing to undergo daily nasal swab testing. Given the uncertainty and the arrival of more contagious variants, experts say fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks and social distance in public and when visiting with unvaccinated people at high risk for severe illness if infected. We still have to be cautious, Gallo said. The vaccine is essential. But it is not a cure-all that ends the epidemic tomorrow. Other factors can also affect the likelihood of a vaccinated person spreading the virus, including vaccination rates in the community and whether theres an ongoing surge in cases locally. We want to think its all or none, but its very situation-specific, said Dr. Laraine Lynn Washer, an infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. __ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: [email protected]. Read previous Viral Questions: I got the COVID-19 vaccine. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Can-I-still-spread-the-coronavirus-after-I-m-16068753.php |
Can I still spread the coronavirus after Im vaccinated? | Its possible. Experts say the risk is low, but are still studying how well the shots blunt the spread of the virus. The current vaccines are highly effective at preventing people from getting seriously sick with COVID-19. But even if vaccinated people dont get sick, they might still get infected without showing any symptoms. Experts think the vaccine would also curb the chances of those people spreading the virus. A vaccinated person controls the virus better, so the chances of transmitting will be greatly reduced, said Dr. Robert Gallo a virus expert at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Among the evidence so far: Studies suggesting if people do get infected despite vaccination, they harbor less coronavirus in the nose than the unvaccinated. That makes it harder to spread. Advertising Trying to settle the question, the U.S. is starting a study of college students willing to undergo daily nasal swab testing. Given the uncertainty and the arrival of more contagious variants, experts say fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks and social distance in public and when visiting with unvaccinated people at high risk for severe illness if infected. We still have to be cautious, Gallo said. The vaccine is essential. But it is not a cure-all that ends the epidemic tomorrow. Other factors can also affect the likelihood of a vaccinated person spreading the virus, including vaccination rates in the community and whether theres an ongoing surge in cases locally. We want to think its all or none, but its very situation-specific, said Dr. Laraine Lynn Washer, an infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan. __ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: [email protected]. Read previous Viral Questions: I got the COVID-19 vaccine. | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/can-i-still-spread-the-coronavirus-after-im-vaccinated/ |
How do we fix the UK housing crisis? | Unsurprisingly, there is not one answer. The issues of high house prices illustrated by the large swathes of Great Britain in which key workers are priced out as well as a lack of affordable rented homes and homelessness will need a wide range of measures to tackle. We asked experts for their ideas. Build differently The UKs housing affordability crisis has been building for decades, with younger generations locked out of home ownership and spending long periods of time living in often high-cost, poor-quality private rented accommodation, says Lindsay Judge, research director at the Resolution Foundation thinktank. Sadly, if anything, the pandemic has made housing even less affordable for young people. Judge says a fresh approach is needed that includes building more homes in high-demand areas of the UK, such as the major cities. The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations across England, suggests new skills and methods of construction could help in future. This includes building homes in factories out of materials such as timber frames, and then assembling them on site over only a few days, the NHF says. Such methods enable homes to be built more cheaply, to a higher standard and more quickly. The NHF says research from the National Audit Office has suggested that if modern methods of construction are used instead of traditional bricks and mortar, it could be possible to build up to four times as many homes with the same amount of on-site labour. Improve the private rented sector Judge describes the private rental sector as the wild west of Britains housing stock, and the Resolution Foundation says it should be professionalised. The thinktank suggests policy should be moving to indefinite tenancies, and creating a tenants loans system to tackle the mounting arrears crisis without causing mass evictions. The campaign group Generation Rent says private tenancies should be reformed. Dan Wilson Craw, the groups deputy director, says this will give renters the certainty that they can live in their home long-term, and can plan their lives whether or not they have a decent shot at home ownership. Many tenancy agreements last six months, or a year, and after that households can be asked to move on. This makes it difficult for people to put down roots and for families to plan for schooling, and generally means an extra cost for renters who have to arrange a move. Growing numbers of renters are reaching their 40s having been unable to save enough for a deposit, with little prospect of a bank lending a mortgage if it wont be paid off until retirement age, says Wilson Craw. They therefore face renting in insecure tenancies for the rest of their lives, and no proposed home ownership initiatives will overcome this. There are also problems around rental deposits, with tenants asked to find a downpayment before they have money back from their existing landlords. The National Residential Landlords Association says as part of the forthcoming renters reform bill the government should develop either a financial bridging facility or a deposit builder Isa to make it easier for tenants to move home without needing to find money for a fresh deposit each time. The NRLA is also calling for tenants to get more help to use existing rules that allow them to challenge rent increases they believe to be unfair in tribunals. Overhaul property taxes and mortgages Despite changes in recent years to rein-in buy-to-let through tax changes, Generation Rent says the system still encourages speculation in property, to the detriment of aspiring owner-occupiers. Landlords can get interest-only mortgages, which puts them at an advantage over owner-occupiers, says Wilson Craw. Council tax bears little relation to a propertys value, so a wealthy household can pay the same tax on a home with three spare bedrooms as a family of four crammed into a two-bedroom flat. These policies incentivise investors to put as much money into property as they can get their hands on, pushing up prices. Help struggling renters The economic fallout from the pandemic has left millions of families worried about paying rent, says Darren Baxter, housing policy and partnerships manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation thinktank. The government should immediately introduce a targeted package of grants to support renters in arrears, ensuring that they can stay in their homes. In March 2020 the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was increased to cover the bottom 30% of rents, but from April this year it will be frozen again in cash terms, meaning the gap between rental costs and support available will start to widen again. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation wants the government to reverse its decision to freeze LHA so that it is recoupled to the real cost of renting. The NRLA says housing support in the benefits system needs to reflect the average cost of renting in any given area. Sort out pay High housing costs is one part of the equation, but the other is pay. In recent years wage increases have lagged behind house price rises. Many of the key workers the Guardian has included in its analysis have jobs in the public sector jobs, where pay rises have been frozen for years. Baxter says: Many key workers are employed in sectors with higher levels of insecurity, low levels of pay and few opportunities to progress, such as care workers and delivery drivers. Alongside increasing the supply of genuinely affordable housing and better support for renters on low incomes, we need to see the social security system strengthened, employment rights improved and continued commitment to increase the national living wage. And of course, build more affordable housing Everyone we asked agrees that more affordable housing is needed. Currently, about half is provided by developers through section 106 agreements on new private estates and blocks. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says plans to replace that system with a national infrastructure levy, the details of which are unclear, need to ensure that there is not even less social housing built in future. Several of the groups which responded to us cited research for the National Housing Federation and Crisis that was carried out by Heriot-Watt University. The research says 145,000 affordable homes should be built annually for the next five years, of which 90,000 a year should be for social rent. This is the lowest-cost housing that councils and housing associations provide, with rents tied to local incomes. In recent times fewer than 7,000 new homes a year have been created in this category in England. The bottom line is, you cannot solve affordability without genuinely affordable homes, says the housing charity Shelter. That means we need to address the chronic shortage of social homes in this country. This shortage is at the heart our housing emergency. Shelter points out that building social housing will be an investment, as it will cut the housing benefits being paid to private landlords. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says the rules around the right to buy should be changed, so that councils get to keep all of the money raised from sales. The proportion that can be reinvested to build more social housing should also be increased, Baxter says. | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/apr/01/how-do-we-fix-the-uk-housing-crisis-experts |
Could Cisco and/or Melifonwu Go in the First Round of the NFL Draft? | Former Syracuse defensive backs Andre Cisco and Ifeatu Melifonwu are among the best pro prospects at their respective positions entering the 2021 NFL Draft. Both have received first round buzz at various points in the evaluation process. We spoke with former Atlanta Falcons and UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr. to see how realistic it is for each to go in the first round. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX! ANDRE CISCO "I was able to do a couple games at Syracuse over the last couple years as an analyst at ESPN, and the guy who always jumped off the tape to me as Andre Cisco," Mora Jr. said. "I loved the way he played football. He plays football the way you're supposed to play football, and that's coming downhill and trying to annihilate people. He's quick to trigger. I think that he is incredibly productive. You look at his interception totals for his career, that's really good. And that's taken into account that he was injured a lot of this year. Had he had a healthy 2020 season, who knows what those numbers would have been. "Frenzied in his run support. I think he has the athletic ability to play some man defense on a slot receiver or a tight end. But he lacks some instincts and feel for routes. He has the measurables. If you're a wide receiver and you're coming across the middle, you better have your head on a swivel because Andre Cisco's going to try to get you. "If there's a weakness to his game, it's that he can be a little bit too aggressive in the run game. Sometimes his angles aren't good and that leads to missed tackles. I think he's a probably a second, early third round guy." IFEATU MELIFONWU "I think Iffy has a shot because of his traits," Mora Jr. said. "He's got elite traits. You're talking about a 6-foot-3, 214, 215 pound man who plays corner. Those are safety, close to outside linebacker measurables, yet you're putting him on the outside. You look at this guy, he's long, he's rangy, he's athletic and he's got fluid hips. Those aren't always things you say. You'd say long and rangy but you wouldn't always say fluid hips for a guy that size, but he's got fluid hips. He can run. I'll tell you what I love, besides the obvious things with the size and the traits. He's a violent run defender. I think that adds a lot. This is a man that seeks it out. He wants to put his body on you. You don't see a lot of corners doing that. I think he's got versatility where he can play zone coverage with his eyes back inside, be a great cover two corner getting jams. Good three deep corner. But he can also line up and play press man. He's going to have to learn not to be grabby, but he's got the chance to do those things. "I think the things he has to work on are consistency in his play, route identification, being disciplined with his eyes so he doesn't get caught looking in the backfield and give up double moves, things like that. His change of direction is ordinary, but for a 6-foot-3 guy, it's extraordinary. So there's a give and a get. If he was a 5-foot-10 guy and changed direction like he does you'd say 'boy it's awful.' But a 6-foot-3 guy changing direction the way he does is pretty dang good. "So I really like him. I think he's got, as I said, elite traits. If he doesn't go in the first round, he's going to be an early second round pick because people value this kind of guy. You look at teams like the Raiders or the Patriots. Specifically the Raiders. You go back and think about Lester Hayes. Lester Hayes was a 6-foot-3, 220 pound corner who Al Davis turned into a Pro Bowler. So I think Iffy's got some of those things." | https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/football/jim-mora-jr-andre-cisco-ifeatu-melifonwu-first-round |
What is allowed under Covid lockdown rules around the UK? | The lockdown is being gradually eased in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the details of how and when this is happening vary in the four constituent parts of the UK. On Monday 29 March the rules were eased to allow groups of up to six people, from any number of households, or a group of any size from up to two households, to gather in parks and gardens. The stay at home order was also replaced with an encouragement to stay local. Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and outdoor swimming pools courts have reopened, with organised adult and childrens sport including grassroots football able to return. People are asked to continue to work from home where possible. Overseas travel remains banned. Non-essential shops, hairdressers, libraries and beer gardens and theme parks will stay shut until 12 April at the earliest. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools also due to remain shut until 12 April. Indoor gathering remains banned until at least 17 May, when groups of up to six people will be allowed to meet inside. From Saturday 27 March the stay local rules were lifted by the Welsh government and and replaced with an interim all-Wales travel area. It allows residents of Wales to go as far as they like around the country. Four people from two households have been allowed meet outdoors since 13 March. Outdoor sports facilities including basketball courts, tennis courts and golf courses have also been open since then. Hairdressers and barbers have been allowed to open since 15 March. Non-essential shops are still shut, but are due to reopen from 12 April. Outdoor hospitality, which includes cafes, pubs and restaurants, is due to stay shut until 26 April. From 3 May, organised outdoor activities and outdoor wedding receptions for up to 30 people can take place. By 10 May, gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen for individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes. From the same date rules will also allow two households to meet and have contact indoors. Outdoor mixing between four people from up to two households is already allowed, along with outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise. Communal worship was permitted from 26 March, with a maximum congregation of 50 people, after a judge ruled coronavirus regulations that forced their closure were unlawful. From Friday 2 April Scotlands stay at home order is to be replaced with stay local guidance. Garden centres, car dealerships, homeware stores and barbers and hairdressers, are sill closed but will reopen on 5 April. Libraries, museums and galleries, gyms and pools will remain shut until 26 April at the earliest. From Thursday 1 April up to six people from no more than two households can meet outdoors in a private garden. Ten people, from no more than two households, are able to participate in outdoor sporting activities. Golf courses can also reopen, although clubhouses must remain closed. Cick-and-collect purchases are also now allowed from garden centres and plant nurseries. Other restrictions including the closure of non-essential shops, indoor gyms and pools remain in place. The current regulations will be reviewed on 15 April. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/01/what-is-now-allowed-under-covid-rules-breakdown-across-uk |
Which airlines hold themselves to a higher safety standard? Who puts oxygen masks back after deployment? | Jon, Delaware If the masks are used in the event of an passenger oxygen mask deployment, the oxygen generator in each passenger service unit must be replaced. A maintenance technician replaces them, repacks the masks and closes the door following the manufacturers job task card instructions. The maintenance record is then signed by a licensed Airframe and Powerplant mechanic in the U.S. or the overseas equivalent, attesting that the procedure has been done in accordance with the instructions. Im terrified to fly mostly because of crashing. I dont need to hear how safe it is. I can read a stat sheet. I dont speed, wear a seatbelt, dont smoke, etc. Im a safe person. Thank you. Dave, Ohio Lets start with your comment about how safe it is. You are right: Flying is the safest form of public transportation. And you've correctly identified the underlying issue: control. Not being in control is very often the root of a persons fear of flying. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce that anxiety. There are counselors that can help you talk your way through your concerns. Look on the internet for a list of people you can talk to. One of the most effective things you can do is talk to the pilots when boarding. This will put a face to the voice you hear on the PA system. We welcome visitors to the flight deck, especially if they are anxious about the flight. The men and women in the pilot seats have demonstrated their skills to evaluators many, many times and are highly skilled aviators. You are in good hands. You ask if there are airlines that have committed to a higher level of standards than the FAA regulations. Yes, airlines that have passed an IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) are operating to an internationally recognized higher standard. An IOSA audit includes evaluation of an operator on their organizational structure, flight operations and training, maintenance, cabin safety, ground handling, security, and dispatch. A list of IOSA-registered airlines can be found on the IATA website, which has certified the following U.S.-flagged airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Sun Country and United. However, the website noted that renewal audits for Delta and United could not be completed on time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/cox/2021/04/01/which-airlines-hold-themselves-higher-safety-standards/4822652001/ |
How old is too old in electronics? | I had an online exchange with a friend this week about her MacBook Pro, which is a 2011 model with an i7 processor, 16 gigabytes of RAM and a fast solid-state drive. It has been a really good machine for a decade. I should know, because I sold it to her a few years back, and it was my personal laptop. She wanted to upgrade Microsoft Word, but that couldnt happen until she upgraded the Mac OS to the current version. The only problem is that Apple stopped supporting the current Mac OS on laptops older than 2013. She was also having issues with the battery, which refused to charge, so she had to keep it plugged in all the time. She was hoping there was a way around the operating system issue (there isnt), and wondered whether it was worth it to replace the battery (probably not). I told her she can keep using the MacBook Pro as it is, with the older versions of the Mac operating system and Microsoft Word, but she (wisely) decided it was time to invest in a newer laptop. A replacement battery would cost $90, which is a lot for a computer thats 10 years old. She wasnt ready to shell out the cash for a new 16-inch MacBook Pro, but she really didnt want a 13-inch screen, which is the only other choice for Mac laptops. She liked the 15-inch size, so she asked where she might find a reliable used one. Apple has a refurbished store on its website, but there were no 15-inch models to be found, and the cheapest refurbished 16-inch model was just over $2,000. I pointed her to Gazelle.com, which is a buyer and seller of used phones, tablets and laptops. She found a 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro for around $1,650, which should be a viable laptop for at least the next five years. I dont want this to be a commercial for Gazelle there are other places to buy used laptops. You can try OWC (macsales.com), Mac Of All Trades (macofalltrades.com) or Best Buy (bestbuy.com). | https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2021/04/01/how-old-is-too-old-in-electronics/ |
Will Injuries Affect Wide Receiver Usage at G-Day? | Injuries to multiple wide receivers will change how Georgia football handles the position in the G-Day Game. Injuries have decimated Georgia's receiving corps this spring. Dominick Blaylock and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint still aren't cleared from their 2020 injuries, George Pickens tire his ACL in the second week of practice, and Jermaine Burton will miss the rest of spring with a knee injury he suffered Tuesday. With two weeks left in spring practice, the question becomes how will these injuries affect the G-Day Game. Going into the spring, there was a clear distinction between the first-team and second-team receivers. That is no longer the case. Most likely, Georgia will have receivers switch teams throughout the G-Day Game. That's something that was probably already going to happen with the offensive lineman and the backup quarterbacks. Kearis Jackson, Demetris Robertson and Arian Smith should be the only receivers who stay on one sideline. They're the closest things Georgia has to star wideouts right now. Jackson and Robertson are veterans, the former is coming off his best season as a Bulldog. Besides those three, expect to see a lot of Justin Robinson, Ladd McConky, Adonai Mitchell, Jackson Meeks and Jaylen Johnson on April 17. Without Pickens or Burton available, Robinson is being groomed as the next physical receiver. He's shown the ability to tough catches while being tightly covered. He's an impressive athlete at 6-4 and 220 lbs. and he certainly knows how to use his body to his advantage. The other receivers are relative unknowns, though Mitchell is reportedly impressing coaches in practice. McConkey is one of the fastest players on the team, but it's not yet clear how well he's translating that speed to the football field. Join the community Follow Brooks Austin on Twitter: @BrooksAustinSI Follow Kyle Funderburk on Twitter: @DKFunderburk Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @BulldogsSI. | https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/georgia-football-injuries-affect-wide-receiver-usage-gday |
Are Jahlani Tavai's Days Numbered with Detroit Lions? | At this point, not many supporters believe that Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai will be sticking around in Motown that much longer. There simply aren't many NFL defenses that covet big and slow, yet somewhat versatile linebackers. Athleticism is en vogue right now -- and especially with Detroit's new coaching staff, led by head coach Dan Campbell. Michael Chow via Imagn Content Services, LLC When you add (Alex) Anzalone to that, we know what he is. Hes an athletic, big, long linebacker that can run. Hes a smart guy, hes a steady guy, Campbell said. Even Jalen Reeves-Maybin has started to earn some extra attention from Detroit's new head coach. And then, just the addition of Jalen Reeves-Maybin. We were excited to get him back, because we know what he can do on special teams for us," Campbell said. "Hes really a four-quarter guy. He plays hard, hes smart. You can watch him on tape." Shaun Dion Hamilton, thats another one that was claimed off waivers when I got here," Campbell added. "I mean, that was done before we even got here. But, I think hes a pleasant surprise to have on this roster. I know he can play special teams, but let him get in there and mix it up. When it came down to Tavai, the review was short and sweet. Obviously, weve got Jahlani Tavai, hes another one that was a part of this draft class (a) couple of years ago," Campbell said. That was the extent of the review given by Campbell. No. But, the glaring issue is that he is simply not a fit in most NFL teams' defenses. His style was tailor made for Matt Patricia's defensive scheme, and he failed to shine in two seasons in that system, however. Soon enough, it will become apparent to all what should happen next. His flaws are too apparent and difficult to mask. It looks like the Lions were a little too smart for their own good with the selection of him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. More from SI All Lions: Lions Hope To Be 'Serious Contenders' To Host 2024 NFL Draft Tight End Kyle Pitts Embraces 'Unicorn' Label Wideout Ja'Marr Chase 'Can't Wait To Get Into NFL How Lions Can Best Use DL Michael Brockers | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jahlani-tavai-future-with-detroit-lions |
How can all schools safely reopen? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Brandon Guthrie, University of Washington (THE CONVERSATION) The question of when and how to open schools for full in-person learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most consequential the U.S. currently faces. A wealth of evidence suggests that schools can provide in-person instruction with a very low level of risk when safety protocols are successfully implemented. As an infectious disease epidemiologist with more than 15 years of research experience and as co-editor of the COVID-19 Literature Situation Report, which produces a daily summary of the most relevant newly published and pre-print literature related to COVID-19 - I offer answers to some of the most urgent questions about how schools can safely resume in-person instruction. Some of this evidence is gleaned from preprint studies that may change after they are peer-reviewed. Infection with the COVID-19 virus has been less common in school-age children, especially those in elementary school, than among other age groups. Evidence from Florida, Utah, Missouri and elsewhere indicates that less than 1% of school-age children have had COVID-19, despite most being in school in person. Most cases have not been linked to school exposures. While school outbreaks have occurred, most have been small in scale. Transmission from an infected student to others in the household or community has been rare. While not definitively proved by scientific studies, indications are that elementary school-age children are less likely than older children and adults to transmit the COVID-19 virus to others. Spread of COVID-19 through in-person K-12 schooling has been limited, even without vaccinations. Teachers are now eligible to be vaccinated in all states in the U.S., which means that the risk to teachers and staff who are vaccinated, as well as to students and others who may not be willing or able to be vaccinated, is greatly reduced. No studies give us a magic number for the proportion of teachers and staff who need to be vaccinated before in-person learning can be implemented. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that in-person learning can start safely as long as other mitigation protocols like mask-wearing and adequate ventilation are in place. Vaccines offer an added level of protection. The vaccines currently approved for use in the U.S. under emergency use authorization are all highly effective at preventing mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 disease, and they also prevent infections. This means that these vaccines both protect the vaccinated person and reduce the risk of transmission from a vaccinated to an unvaccinated person. This is critical, because at this time there are no vaccines approved for use in those under the age of 16 in the U.S. Pfizer and Moderna have trials underway in adolescents and hope to have results by late spring or early summer. In the meantime, to protect students from infection, it will help to vaccinate as many adults as possible in schools. Transmission is far more common from teacher to student and teacher to teacher than from student to teacher. So far, research that has not yet been peer-reviewed shows that the vaccines approved for use in the U.S. have similar efficacy against the newly emerging variants of concern, especially in terms of preventing severe disease. So long as people are wearing masks, there is no evidence that 6-foot physical distancing between students is more effective than 3-foot distancing. This led the CDC to shift its guidance to recommend a physical distancing of only 3 feet in classrooms. Three-foot distancing allows for much more flexibility in terms of classroom size and layout. Face masks are highly effective in reducing infection and transmission risk and are therefore a critical mitigation measure. In addition, early research suggests that keeping students in groups, or cohorts, and limiting contact among cohorts may reduce the potential for widespread transmission if a case occurs in a school. Cohorting can also minimize the number of students who would need to be quarantined. On the bus or other transportation Just as in the classroom, masks work when transporting students to and from school. Double-masking is probably best, especially in indoor spaces, including cars and buses. Ventilation with outside air either by opening windows or avoiding ventilation that recirculates air may help to reduce the risk of transmission in buses. Students should space out as much as possible, given the elevated risk of transmission seen among passengers sitting close to an infected individual on airplanes, although universal mask usage is likely to reduce the importance of physical spacing. While droplet and airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus appear to be the dominant modes of transmission, hand-washing and using hand sanitizers before entering buses and upon exit may help reduce the risk of transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces. The gym, recess and after-school sports Growing evidence shows that kids can play sports and have recess if they are outdoors and players have no or low contact. Based on studies, including some that have not yet been peer-reviewed, activities such as soccer, tennis and cross-country are fine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that athletes participating in indoor sports wear masks, except those participating in swimming and diving, cheerleading, gymnastics and wrestling, to prevent choking or suffocation. Some indoor sports, particularly wrestling and hockey, have been associated with large outbreaks. Also, outbreaks of COVID-19 have been associated with football teams. An important finding from a number of investigations is that many of the cases of transmission, including on football teams, appear to be linked to activities not directly related to the sport itself, such as meetings in enclosed spaces without masks, eating together and parties and social events. Masks are likely to be a critical part of protocols to prevent COVID-19 in schools, at least until vaccines are universally available, including for children. Even then, the potential emergence of new variants that are resistant to existing vaccines may make mask usage a necessity for some time. Schools that have provided in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, including during periods of high community transmission, have experienced few widespread outbreaks directly related to school transmission when masks are used. This has been true in Florida, Massachusetts, Salt Lake City, England and elsewhere. In contrast, not wearing masks was a problem in schools in Sweden. In this Scandinavian country, younger secondary-school students returned to full-time, in-person learning without masks and with few other mitigation measures. Older secondary-school students continued with remote learning. Students and staff who went to school in person and without masks or other safety measures had a somewhat higher likelihood of having COVID-19 compared with those learning remotely, although the absolute risk was still quite low. While the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been detected on surfaces, touching those surfaces doesnt appear to be the dominant route of transmission. Even so, hand-washing and using hand sanitizers are still good ideas. Face masks and physical distancing are more important, though. [Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.] This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-can-all-schools-safely-reopen-157475. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/How-can-all-schools-safely-reopen-16069112.php |
What side effects might I expect from the COVID-19 vaccines? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Matthew Woodruff, Emory University (THE CONVERSATION) Takeaways - You might experience redness and soreness in the arm where you got the shot, tiredness, muscle aches, chills and nausea, but these symptoms wont last long. - You will be monitored for 15-30 minutes after you get your shot for more serious side effects, which are rare. - Side effects do not mean that you have contracted COVID-19. Vaccines work by training your immune system to recognize and remember a pathogen in a safe way. - Talk to your doctor about over-the-counter pain relievers in case you do experience flu-like symptoms after the shot, but do not take pain relievers before you get the shot. If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccination yet, chances are that your number is coming up soon. Its not a day at the park for many, but others feel nothing. Its impossible for experts to predict whos going to feel fine and whos not. In the vast majority of cases, any side effect you feel will be over within a few days, and there is no reason for concern. But it is important that the medical and scientific communities talk about the temporary side effects from these vaccines and that the public know that there is a very small percentage of adverse reactions. I am an immunologist who studies the fundamentals of immune responses to vaccination, so part of that responsibility falls on me. Receiving these vaccines will likely make a lot of people feel crappy for a few days. Thats a far better prospect than long-term illness or death. In case you may wonder why it makes anyone feel bad at all, Ill explain. Immunologys dirty little secret In 1989, immunologist Charles Janewaypublished an article summarizing the state of the field of immunology. Until that point, immunologists had proposed that immune responses were initiated when the immune system encountered anything foreign bacteria, viruses, and parasites that it determined to be non-self. Janeway suspected that there was more to the story and famously laid out what he referred to as the immunologists dirty little secret: Your immune system doesnt respond just to all foreign things. It responds to foreign things that it perceives to be dangerous. Now, 30 years later, immunologists know that your immune system uses a complex set of sensors to understand not only whether or not something is foreign, but also what kind of threat, if any, a microbe might pose. It can tell the difference between viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and parasites, like tapeworms, and activate specialized arms of your immune system to deal with those specific threats accordingly. It can even monitor the level of tissue damage caused by an invader and ramp up your immune response to match. Sensing the type of threat posed by a microbe, and the level of intensity of that threat, allows your immune system to select the right set of responses, wield them precisely, and avoid the very real danger of immune overreaction. Vaccine adjuvants bring the danger we need Vaccines work by introducing a safe version of a pathogen to a patients immune system. Your immune system remembers its past encounters and responds more efficiently if it sees the same pathogen again. However, it generates memory only if the vaccine packs enough danger signals to kick off a solid immune response. As a result, your immune systems need to sense danger before responding is at once extremely important and highly problematic. The requirement for danger means that your immune system is programmed not to respond unless a clear threat is identified. It also means that if Im developing a vaccine, I have to convince your immune system that the vaccine itself is a threat worth taking seriously. Scientists can accomplish this in a number of ways. One is to inject a weakened what immunologists call attenuated or even killed version of a pathogen. This approach has the benefit of presenting a pathogen almost identical to the real pathogen, triggering many of the same danger signals and often resulting in strong long-term immunity, as is seen in polio vaccination. It can also be risky if you havent weakened the pathogen enough and roll out the vaccine too fast, there is a possibility of unintentionally infecting a large number of vaccine recipients. A safer approach is to use individual components of the pathogen, harmless by themselves but capable of training your immune system to recognize the real thing. However, these pieces of the pathogen dont often contain the danger signals necessary to stimulate a strong memory response. As a result, they need to be supplemented with synthetic danger signals, which immunologists refer to as adjuvants. Adjuvants are safe, but designed to inflame To make vaccines more effective, entire labs have been dedicated to the testing and development of new adjuvants. All are designed with the same basic purpose to kick the immune system into action in a way that maximizes the effectiveness and longevity of the response. To do this, we take advantage of the same sensors that your immune system uses to sense damage in an active infection. That means that while they will stimulate an effective immune response, they will do so by producing temporary inflammatory effects. At a cellular level, the vaccine triggers inflammation at the injection site. Blood vessels in the area become a little more leaky to help recruit immune cells into the muscle tissue, causing the area to become red and swell. All of this kicks off a full-blown immune response in a lymph node somewhere nearby that will play out over the course of weeks. In terms of symptoms, this can result in redness and swelling at the injection site, stiffness and soreness in the muscle, tenderness and swelling of the local lymph nodes and, if the vaccine is potent enough, even fever (and that associated generally crappy feeling). This is the balance of vaccine design maximizing protection and benefits while minimizing the uncomfortable, but necessary, side effects. Thats not to say that serious side effects dont occur they do but they are exceedingly rare. Two of the most discussed serious side effects, anaphalaxis (a severe allergic reaction) and Guillain-Barr Syndrome (nerve damage due to inflammation), occur at a frequency of less than 1 in 500,000 doses. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 Early data suggest that the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are highly effective upwards of 90%. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also highly effective, although it was not developed using mRNA technology. All three are capable of stimulating robust immune responses, complete with sufficient danger signaling, to prevent severe COVID-19 in greater than 9 out of 10 patients. Thats a high number under any circumstances, and suggests that these vaccines are potent. In an early release of the phase 3 trial data, more than 2% of the Moderna vaccine recipients experienced what they categorized as severe temporary side effects, such as fatigue and headache. However, more mild side effects are common particularly after the second dose. These are signs that the vaccine is doing what it was designed to do train your immune system to respond against something it might otherwise ignore so that youll be protected later. It does not mean that the vaccine gave you COVID-19. [Research into coronavirus and other news from science Subscribe to The Conversations new science newsletter.] It all comes down to this: By getting vaccinated, you protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from a highly transmissible and deadly disease. It may cost you a few days of feeling sick. Editors Note: This article is updated from a previous version, which was published originally Dec. 3, 2020. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/what-side-effects-might-i-expect-from-the-covid-19-vaccines-158278. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/What-side-effects-might-I-expect-from-the-16069113.php |
Will late roster upgrades add enough fuel to propel the Angels to the playoffs? | Year after year, for six seasons straight, the Angels have sputtered across the finish line, always trailing the pack in their unsuccessful attempts to return to the playoffs. Like a flawed sports car, their problems have varied. In some cases, it was as though they had a faulty ignition, doomed by slow starts from which they couldnt recover. In others, they would spring a leak in the bullpen, or stall out at the plate. This year, new general manager Perry Minasian didnt reengineer the entire team. In many ways, the Angels enter 2021 built in a familiar way: a strong top half of the batting order, a pitching staff lacking a true ace and a team badly needing reliable depth from the bottom of the roster. The biggest difference, the Angels are hoping, is that the front office has found enough spare parts to finally make a postseason push that their string of subtle offseason moves and late flurry of acquisitions will keep the club competitive all the way to this years final stretch. Advertisement Ahead of Thursday nights season opener, here are three observations about how they might stack up. Big changes in the bullpen The alterations came slowly at first an offseason trade for closer Raisel Iglesias and a one-year contract with left-hander lex Claudio. Right before the start of camp, more new faces arrived in Junior Guerra and Aaron Slegers. But it wasnt until the final week of spring training that Minasian fully took a sledgehammer to the bullpen, optioning Ty Buttrey to the minors and acquiring five veteran arms (two of which, Steve Cishek and Tony Watson, will start the season on the MLB roster). The #Angels opening day bullpen: Raisel Iglesias, Mike Mayers, Alex Claudio, Junior Guerra, Chris Rodriguez, Steve Cishek, Tony Watson, Aaron Slegers https://t.co/YsrLNfkDh7 Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) March 31, 2021 Advertisement Of the eight relievers on the 26-man roster, only one (Mike Mayers) was on the team last year, when the Angels blew an MLB-high 14 save opportunities. Buttrey and the injured Flix Pea are expected to eventually play a role on the back end Pea likely sooner, as hes set to return from a hamstring injury in the middle of April and Chris Rodriguez, who made the team at age 22, is one of the Angels top prospects. But Minasian and Co. decided that new blood was needed. We wanted to be active, Minasian said. We wanted to add to this bullpen. The reconfigured group is projected to be 15th-best among MLB bullpens by Fangraphs. It stills lack an abundance of top-tier options. But for a team that last year had four relievers (with a minimum of 10 appearances) pitch below replacement level (as calculated by Fangraphs win-above-replacement statistic), a deeper collection of simply average to above-average arms could be enough to represent improvement. Advertisement The Angels Jos Quintana pitches against the Kansas City Royals on March 24 in Tempe, Ariz. (Matt York / Associated Press) Solidifying the starting rotation In 2019, the last full-length MLB season, the Angels had eight pitchers make 10 or more starts. Five finished with a negative number of wins above replacement. It was the ultimate example of the franchises most consistent problem the last half-decade: starting pitching, where the team ranked last in total WAR the past six seasons. Theyve tried to rectify that problem in a couple of ways. In the offseason, they acquired Jos Quintana and Alex Cobb, pending free agents projected to have unspectacular but serviceable seasons. Also, Andrew Heaney and Griffin Canning have focused on better sequencing their pitches and maximizing their arsenals (similar to how Dylan Bundy produced a breakthrough 2020 season by leaning more on his off-speed pitches). Advertisement Shohei Ohtani is the wild card, trying to return to a full-time pitching role after elbow and forearm injuries. But on the whole, its not hard to envision a group that ranked 29th in rotation ERA last season taking a step forward even if its only a small one. This seems like the overriding question for the Angels in 2021. After suffering so often from underperformance at the bottom of the roster negating even Mike Trouts historic production the Angels stockpiling of established depth options (both on the pitching staff and among position players such as outfielder Juan Lagares, utility man Jose Rojas and others who are beginning the season at the alternate training site) should give them more stability. Maybe it wont matter. After all, they still lack proven high-end starting pitchers. Theyre still relying on aging veterans such as outfielders Justin Upton and Dexter Fowler to produce. And theyll likely need others such as Bundy, first baseman Jared Walsh and new shortstop Jos Iglesias to replicate career-best 2020 campaigns. Advertisement In other words, it remains an imperfect group, continuing to narrow the distance between superstar leaders Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon and everyone else. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2021-04-01/will-late-roster-upgrades-add-enough-fuel-to-propel-angels-playoffs |
Why are side effects more intense with the second COVID-19 vaccine dose? | You may experience mild to moderate side effects with the COVID-19 vaccine, and if you get a two-dose shot, side effects after the second jab may be more intense than those after the first one. This is normal and shouldn't deter people from completing their vaccines series, experts say. In trials of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, more people experienced side effects after the second dose. "The early advice we gave people who were getting vaccinated was that when youre getting your second shot, you can tell your employer, 'Hey Im getting my second shot, it may be that I call in sick,' so then you anticipate it and you're not afraid of it," said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. About twice as many participants in Pfizer's clinical trial developed chills and joint pain after their second dose than after the initial one. With Moderna, roughly five times as many second-dose recipients experienced chills compared to first-dose recipients. Redness and swelling at the infection site and fevers were also more common with the second dose versus the first for both vaccines. Dr. Melanie Swift, co-chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Distribution Work Group at the Mayo Clinic, said the side effects are the body developing immunity against the virus. Swift said with the first dose, your immune system is getting into gear and recognizing the spike protein that the COVID-19 vaccines produce for the first time. "Your body builds this immune memory," she said. "Its like your body is going, 'COVID, now Ive got your number, now Im ready for you.'" With the second dose, your body makes the spike protein and releases antibodies. "Your immune memory cells havent forgotten, theyre ready to mount a robust immune response," she said. Chin-Hong likened the experience of getting a two-dose COVID vaccine to turning on a computer. "With the first dose, youre turning on the computer, but then it goes on standby," Chin-Hong explained. "Then with the second shot, its immediately activated and its ready to fight that invader and it thinks the spike protein is the invader. You get this big boost of the effect, which is a good thing in general, because its just means your immune system is working." It's normal for the body to react to vaccines. With the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson, the most common reaction among recipients in trials was pain at the injection site. Throughout the rest of your body you may experience tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea with all the vaccines. "Side effects are a good sign," said Swift. "But it confuses people because a lot of these symptoms are COVID symptoms, but the difference is there are no respiratory systems as you can get with COVID. With the vaccine, youre not coughing, you dont have a runny nose, you dont lose your sense of taste or smell." Side effects usually subside on their own after one to two days. Trials for all the vaccines showed that side effects are more common in women and younger people according to research, said Chin-Hong. | https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Why-is-the-second-dose-of-the-COVID-19-vaccine-16063502.php |
When Black men are killed in Seattles South End, why does society shrug? | Listening to Lynda Wolff, I want to roar at the world to remember her murdered sons life. Four years ago, Latrel Williams was shot multiple times while returning to his Lakeridge home. In the aftermath of his death, I spotted no signs at marches acknowledging his life, no public speeches given in his honor, and no politicians furiously spouting his name to earn social justice merits. But Lynda still lost a son. Latrel Jr. (LJ) lost a father. And I lost a friend. It hits me probably every day, but I have to stay strong, Lynda told me during a recent meetup. Strength has come hard in recent weeks. Like most, I still struggle to process the mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado, that robbed 18 people and their loved ones of their lives, and in the Atlanta case perpetuated the xenophobic violence menacing Asian Americans. Rage and disgust should be our collective reflex in a nation where residents have slaughtered each other in record numbers, pandemic be damned. Advertising But I struggle just as mightily with deaths over that period that took place mere miles from my home in South Seattle. The same day as the Atlanta shooting, a young man walked into the offices of Community Passageways, a gang prevention nonprofit operating out of Emerald City Bible Fellowship in Rainier Beach, and shot and killed Omari Wallace in front of staff. Four days later, Avery Wilcox Jr., a beloved barber who occasionally served as a substitute hair cutter for me and my brother, was found in Kent, dead of a gunshot wound in the drivers seat of his car. I never met Omari and I had not seen Avery in more than a year, but I wept at the news of their deaths. Thoughts of Latrel immediately seized my mind. I flashed back to my high school friend persuading my scrawny and confidence-starved 17-year-old self to try out for the football team. I only ended playing eight minutes that entire season, but it boosted my self-esteem. What tugged at me most, though, was that these two people, their families and their communities would endure what inevitably greets the deaths of people killed in any American working-class area populated by Black people: indifference. Advertising What would rightly be treated as a tragedy in an affluent area is viewed as a way of life elsewhere. I dont know why people dont value our lives. Weve contributed so much and weve always bent over backwards to help this country, but its never recognized, Lynda said. No it is not. And even after a summer of unrest, protests, autonomous zones and pronouncements, I have to wonder what it will take for this recognition to take hold. Advertising Research continues to reveal that poverty blended with the consequences of discriminatory policies such as redlining and disinvestment is what concentrates gun violence in an area. Four of the five homicides in Seattle this year have taken place in its South End, an area historically subject to prejudicial discrimination and underinvestment. People didnt trip and fall into these poor neighborhoods. How do we have a conversation that acknowledges how the war on drugs, redlining, and lack of resources impacted these communities, said Derrick Wheeler-Smith, the director of the Zero Youth Detention program at King County Public Health. That discussion must also emphasize social mobility for our youth. Lets say theres a young person whose identity is defined through their ability to hold and use a gun. That gun becomes their identity and their status. We cant say put the gun down without giving them a different identity, said Chevonna Gaylor, a trauma therapist who counseled Community Passageways staff. If there is no career, educational opportunity or support, it doesnt matter how many times you tell someone they are brilliant and worthy. You have betrayed your disbelief in them. Theres a saying, Put the gun down and pick up a plan, said Gaylor, adding that that plan has to be built by and for communities. Sponsored But it must also be funded adequately and sustainably more than the meager, targeted programs that exist now. Black lives are lost because we fail to sustainably invest in the communities that house them. Collectively, we can either choose to tolerate these deaths or we can try to reduce them with targeted resources that truly benefit the entire community. As we deliberate, more and more die because of this inaction in our city and in our country. The apathy we have shown our Averys and Latrels in death cannot persist in life. | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/when-black-men-are-killed-in-seattles-south-end-why-does-society-shrug/ |
Could the Raiders trade up for Oregon LT Penei Sewell? | A few weeks ago, it seemed like a lock that Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell would be a top-five pick. Once thought of as a generational talent, Sewell is a plug-and-play starter at left or right tackle and is just 20-years old. But if you have followed the mock drafts over the last few weeks, you have noticed quite the change in Sewells draft stock. With less than a month to go until the draft, it appears that Sewell will fall outside of the top-five and maybe even the top-10. In a recent mock draft by ESPNs Todd McShay, Sewell fell all the way to No. 13, landing with the Los Angeles Chargers. That is easily the furthest hes fallen in any national mock draft. Hypothetically, the cost wouldnt be too much. The No. 17 and No. 48 pick could easily get them to No. 10 or No. 11 and they might even be able to get an additional Day 3 pick back. The biggest problem with a trade-up is that the Raiders would have failed to address the defense in any significant way. However, they will have solved their offensive line issues with an elite prospect. Keep an eye on Sewell falling in the draft as the Raiders could be a team that slides up to snag him. Should he get outside the top-eight picks, expect the Raiders to have some interest. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-raiders-trade-oregon-lt-131829370.html?src=rss |
Is there a point to Dave Yosts recent spurt of lawsuits? | Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has an odd relationship with constitutions. First, Yost declined to counsel Secretary of State Frank LaRose to allow more ballot drop boxes in each county. LaRose then refused to allow drop boxes, supposedly on constitutional grounds, despite court rulings he had that authority. Second, Yost is now suing the federal government, saying the American Rescue Plans policy prohibiting states from using its funds to reduce taxes, instead of spending on pandemic-related expenses, is unconstitutional. Nowhere in the Constitution are there statutes that prevent the government from establishing terms for spending allocations to states. Yost now sues the U.S. Census Bureau, demanding that it release 2020 data by April. The bureau explained that it cannot provide reliable information before August, because of the pandemic (and Donald Trumps illegal efforts to interfere with the Census). Courts have ruled on that. Yost is demanding flawed data for Ohios congressional and state redistricting. A federal court has rejected the lawsuit; Yost is appealing. Paxton sued over other states 2020 presidential elections to overturn their results. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his claim as without merit. At least Yost declined to join that unconstitutional lawsuit. Harvey J. Graff, Columbus | https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2021/04/is-there-a-point-to-dave-yosts-recent-spurt-of-lawsuits.html |
What happens when (if) Oklahoma finally loses? | Preparing for the inevitable loss isn't foremost on anyone's minds, but the 25-0 Sooners say they expect to be able to move past it pretty quickly when it happens Oklahoma will eventually lose a softball game. Somewhere, sometime, some team is going to make some plays at the right time and the Sooners wont be on their A-game and OUs perfect record will pick up a blemish. Probably. It's funny, Gasso said. No, I haven't. Because it will (happen) eventually. No. 1-ranked OU goes into this weeks Big 12 Conference series against Kansas with a flawless 25-0 record. More than just flawless, the Sooners are dominating almost every team they face. Last weeks Big 12 opener at Iowa State produced wins of 9-7, 10-2 and 22-2. OU-KANSAS SCHEDULE Marita Hynes Field, Norman Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. WATCH: SoonerSports.tv (subscription required) LISTEN: The Franchise 2 (103.3 FM, 1650 AM) in OKC, or the TuneIn app There might be pressure building. The womens gymnastics team, for instance, won its first 20 competitions this year before inexplicably losing to Denver in the Big 12 Championships. It was the first time in nine years OU failed to win the conference trophy. Coach K.J. Kindler said Wednesday morning that now her team can refocus on its real goal: this weekends NCAA Regional action in Alabama. Kindler said losing can actually be turned into a good thing a kick start into the postseason. Gasso said much the same thing Wednesday evening. Sometimes you're almost like, Im glad it's happening now, you know, before we get into postseason, Gasso told SI Sooners on a video press conference. So I'm not even thinking about that. Im sure it's coming. Shannon Saile Ty Russell / OU Athletics Gasso said she attended a roundtable of OU head coaches Wednesday and of course her teams perfect record came up. One of my questions was almost exactly what you asked, she said. And the response is it's something that I'm really hanging on to is don't. Don't ever think you're No. 1. Always know you're at least No. 2, if not lower, because No. 1s can get complacent. Gassos point is clear. She noted that OUs current Ratings Percentage Index RPI, a measure of who youve played as much as how youve played, and a metric the NCAA uses is only No. 16 in the nation. Gasso has hammered that message home to her players. Its only March. Winning these regular-season games is nice, but its hardly the goal for a program like Oklahoma. Coach is really big on us not thinking we're ranked No. 1, said junior utility player Grace Green. So like, right now, she always tells us that doesn't matter right now. It only matters when the World Series is over. Like, that's when it's all said and done. Like, that's who's No. 1. It doesn't really matter what our rankings are right now. It doesn't really matter how many wins we have. In case of emergency an Oklahoma loss, in this case there will be no breaking of glass or anything else. Dont expect any players-only meetings or shouting matches or tears. A loss is a loss. Its a natural part of the baseball/softball dynamic. Even the most dominant Major League teams lose 60 games every year. In NCAA softball history, UCLA holds the best winning percentage of all time. The Bruins went 54-2 in 1992, a winning percentage of .964. Arizona went 64-3 two years later, a winning percentage of .955. OU won it all in 2013 when Gassos Sooners went 57-4, a .934 winning percentage. For Oklahoma to become the first team to win 100 percent of its games, miracles will have to happen. This game is crazy, Green said. Like, it might just not go your way one day and like, sometimes that happens. Grace Green OU Athletics Anyway, at its most basic, losing is a part of life. Setbacks happen. We fall down. What counts is how you respond, what you do after getting up. When the time comes, Gasso will be eager to see how her team responds. I like to think of it as opportunities, said senior pitcher Shannon Saile. When you fail, I think it shows what you need to work on, and ultimately what we want is to be holding the trophy up at the end of the season. And we know that one failure, multiple failures along the way to get to that road is what we're going to need in order to see where we are lacking. It's important to feel those moments so you can learn from it. Gasso need look no further than Wednesdays practice. That's what our practice looked like today, she said. Really aggravated me. But the message is, You're not good enough. You're not good enough, we are not No. 1. We are No. 16, according to RPI. So we've got to keep working to get better. And that's the message that will continue throughout the season, whether we go 45-0, or we lose five games in the near future. Thats keeping them humbled and understanding, You're not who you think you are. Said Green, Obviously we want to keep winning and keep getting better. But if we do lose, we're just going to come back the next week and work like we have been. Because it's been working for us. | https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/other-sooners/what-happens-when-if-oklahoma-loses |
What does the blue in blue cheese do and how does it get there? | In blue cheese, the mould and the enzymes it produces are responsible for the colour, flavour and texture of the cheese Mould is everywhere. Anyone who has seen the little black spores cling to their bathroom ceiling or smelled spoilt food in their fridge will be familiar with this fact of life. While theres reason to feel squeamish about some of these microorganisms, if you can get past your squeamishness youll discover that moulds and other fungi are fascinating. They are crucial in maintaining ecosystems where they help plants to grow and even to communicate with one another. Humans have been harnessing the power of fungi for medical purposes for thousands of years, and nowadays they play a role in anything from antibiotics to drugs such as cyclosporine, developed from the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum, which can be used as an immunosuppressant to help prevent donated organs being rejected. Another area where fungi, particularly moulds, are important is in the production of popular foods. Soy sauce, fermented meats and cheeses are just some of the foods that owe their existence to mould. But it is in cheese, especially blue cheese, that mould plays its most recognised and, arguably, delicious role. The origins of blue cheese are vague, but the story goes that, in the seventh century, a shepherd in the southern French village of Roquefort (literally meaning strong rock) left his lunch of bread and sheeps cheese in a cave when distracted by a local girl he saw in the distance. Many months later, the same shepherd apparently stumbled on his abandoned meal only to find it contaminated with Penicillium roqueforti, a mould that grew within the caves soil. It is not clear why the shepherd decided to consume his rediscovered meal, but since then Penicillium roqueforti has become a mould typically used in many blue cheese varieties, especially Saint Agur. The origins of blue cheese may be a myth, but the science of how Penicillium roqueforti is responsible for the flavour of Saint Agur and all other blue cheeses is just as fascinating as any legend. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Penicillium roqueforti, the mould responsible for blue cheeses distinctive veins. As with other fungi, mould is found in natural environments that are damp and rich in nutrients (forest soil, wood and, of course, caves). Moulds are decomposers, which means they break down organic materials that other species, such as invertebrates, struggle to digest. In doing so, they release into the soil soluble nutrients that plants and trees use to grow. Unlike plants, mould does not reproduce through seeds but rather spores, the dusty stuff that appears on top of mould, which floats through the air when released and begins to germinate when the microscopic particles land in hospitable environments. The spores then produce interwoven, thread-like structures known as hyphae, which become what are called mycelium when massed together. Mycelia are considered single organisms, but they can stretch underground for considerable distances. In fact, recent research has shown that the mycelia of some fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant and tree roots, resulting in underground networks where the host plants can exchange nutrients, water and information. These networks are called mycorrhizae and are often likened to the internet and have been called the wood wide web. Their existence is forcing the scientific world to rethink their understanding of plants more generally. Penicillium roqueforti is part of the same genus (Penicillium) as the key mould species used in many modern antibiotics. First identified by the Scottish bacteriologist Sir Alexander Fleming as a potential agent in the fight against infection in 1928, it took another 10 years for a team of scientists at the University of Oxford to develop the worlds first antibiotic compounds from moulds such as Penicillium chrysogenum (sometimes known as Penicillium notatum) and Penicillium rubens. The mould itself does not kill bacteria but produces penicillin as a natural product, which attacks the cell walls of a wide range of bacteria. To create blue cheese, there are a variety of methods used by cheesemakers for different cheese types. Some still rely on mother nature and simply age their cheese in clement environments where the mould will naturally infect the wheels. Saint Agur, for instance, matures for 10 weeks in caves to allow for the mould to grow and give Saint Agur its unique taste and texture. Most manufactures, however, introduce powdered Penicillium roqueforti cultures to the cheese milk before the milk is coagulated and the curd is separated from the whey. Once the cheese has been moulded into shape, it is left to mature. It is at this point, in the early stages of the maturing process, that stainless steel rods are forced into the cheese to permit exchange between oxygen from the air and carbon dioxide produced by the mould in the cheeses interior. This encourages the growth of mould and gives rise to the characteristic blue-green veins that run through this type of cheese. It is the presence of the mould and the enzymes it produces that are responsible for the colour, flavour and texture of the cheese. The mould raises the acidity (pH level) of the cheese, which changes its texture and flavour, while also breaking down proteins in the cheese to give it a softer, creamier consistency. The moulds also have a strong lipolytic action that breaks down fats, producing fatty acids, known as ketones, that give the cheese its rich flavour and powerful aroma. So next time you reach for some Saint Agur, remember that the mould has put a lot of work into making it the ideal companion for your crackers. Discover delicious ways to enjoy Saint Agur every day | https://www.theguardian.com/blue-cheese-every-day/2021/mar/31/what-does-the-blue-in-blue-cheese-do-and-how-does-it-get-there |
Which Prospects Could Be Targets if the Jaguars Trade Back in the 1st round? | If the Jaguars want to move back from No. Few things are as valuable to a rebuilding team as draft picks, especially in the case of the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the Jaguars added 12 new players in free agency and drafted 12 rookies last year, there are countless holes on the 1-15 roster that have to be addressed to rebuild the organization from scratch. We have already gone over who the Jaguars could potentially take a look at if they wanted to move up from No. If the Jaguars do opt to move back from No. 25, they will have quite a few options. While an offensive playmaker makes the most sense for the Jaguars' second first-round pick, moving back would give them extra draft ammunition and more flexibility with their first-round pick. We break down a few names here. TCU S Trevon Moehrig It is tough to peg where TCU's Trevon Moehrig will land in April's draft. For many analysts, he is considered the draft's top safety, but that doesn't always mean a first-round selection is impending. The first safety drafted in 2020 wasn't until pick No. 36 when the Giants took Xavier McKinney. McKinney was the seventh defensive back drafted. With that said, the previous eight drafts each had at least one safety drafted in the first round. It is truly a difficult position to judge stock and value unless the player is seen as a top-tier prospect like Jamal Adams, Minkah Fitzpatrick, or Derwin James. If the NFL thinks this year's safety class is better in terms of depth than it is in terms of talent at the top, that could push a player like Moehrig down the board. He is an immensely talented player who is more likely than not going to be the first safety drafted (UCF's Richie Grant could surprise and be taken first), but there is always a chance he is on the board after pick No. 25. While the Jaguars addressed their safety position in free agency by signing Rayshawn Jenkins and re-signing Josh Jones, but each of those players project as strong safeties. The Jaguars need a playmaker with range, and that is Moehrig. If safeties are forced to wait to hear their names called later this month, then Moehrig is likely the best option in a hypothetical trade back. Tulsa LB Zaven Collins There may not have been a more decorated defender in 2020 than Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. He has terrific physical tools that allow him to be scheme versatile and give him the value to impact a defense in multiple ways. And while the Jaguars are set at all four linebacker positions in their 3-4 defense, there aren't any schemes that Collins' versatile skill set fits better than Baltimore's and Jacksonville's. This would be about adding playmaking talent to a defense that badly needs it, even if linebacker isn't a top need. Collins' draft stock is a bit hard to get a feel for since he is such a unique linebacker, but he was truly an elite defender in 2020. He recorded 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), and two pass breakups. As a result, the athletic and hulking linebacker won the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Awards. He was also recognized as a first-team Associated Press All-American and as the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. If the Jaguars want to trade back and take the best player still available, there is a good chance it could be Collins standing above the rest. Florida WR Kadarius Toney Taking a Florida Gator in the first round would seem like the 100th rendition of dj vu for the Jaguars' fan base, but there are lots of reasons to think Kadarius Toney and the Jaguars are a fit in the first round -- especially in the event of a trade back. Not only is Toney a favorite of longtime Urban Meyer lieutenant and current Gators head coach Dan Mullen, but Toney is a logical fit for a Jaguars offense that needs to add juice to its roster. The only current burner on the Jaguars' offense who has made a big impact at the NFL level before is DJ Chark. The Jaguars have a bit of a crowded receiver room after free agency additions of Marvin Jones, Phillip Dorsett, and Jamal Agnew, but Jones is the only one who should play a prominent role. Toney's combination of agility, explosiveness, and ability to create after the catch is something the Jaguars otherwise don't have on the offense. Add in the fact Tony has already played different roles (a slot-heavy one and as a gadget player) that the Jaguars need help at, and his projection to the Jaguars' offense is relatively easy. Clemson RB Travis Etienne Before the pitchforks come out, let me preface this by saying I personally wouldn't remotely consider the idea of a rebuilding team coming off a 1-15 season to take a running back in the first round. With that said, it seems like a move this regime would at least give some thought to considering what they have said in the past and how both Meyer and Trent Baalke have built teams in college and the NFL. Both men have placed a strong emphasis on having top to bottom depth at running back, but the Jaguars were a one-man show at the position entering the season. The Jaguars addressed that depth to an extent in free agency by adding veteran running back Carlos Hyde, but the Jaguars have already said they want to add more explosiveness to the running back room. As good as James Robinson is -- and he is really good -- it can't be argued that there are other options out there that could add more speed to the offense. Clemson's Travis Etienne is an elite pass-catching back who creates highlight plays at will when the ball is in his hands, and he just so happens to have a great dynamic with future Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. LSU WR Terrace Marshall Terrace Marshall may not fit the mold of a shifty and smaller slot receiver, but he showed in 2020 that he can excel out of the slot, an area the Jaguars can still add to. With him proving to be able to play both outside and inside, and having legitimate 4.38 40-yard dash speed, Terrace Marshall is a logical option for the Jaguars to consider if they move back from No. 25. If the Jaguars want to set Lawrence up for success, they would be smart to load him up with playmakers, even if at excessive levels. Marshall is only 20-years-old, is nearly 6-foot-3, and just posted one of the truly elite pro day exhibits of any receiver in recent memory. He is a bit forgotten due to Justin Jefferson's and Ja'Marr Chase's places in LSU's offense in 2019, but he is a high-ceiling talent who can take the top off the defense and grow in multiple roles in the offense. | https://www.si.com/nfl/jaguars/draft/which-prospects-could-be-targets-if-the-jaguars-trade-back-in-the-1st-round |
Would the Carolina Panthers Make a Good Baseball Team? | The smell of peanuts and Cracker Jacks fill the air as we inch closer to Major League Baseball's Opening Day. The Carolinas do not currently have an MLB team to call their own, although they do host quite a few minor league teams. Maybe one day David Tepper will bring a pro baseball team to the Queen City but for now we will just have to field our own starting nine using our talented Carolina Panthers' roster. Here's a look at who we would start on our baseball team: Teddy Bridgewater, SP QB Teddy Bridgewater as our Opening Day starting pitcher was the clear choice. Teddy might not hit 100 MPH on the gun but we think he could get some outs. He excels on the football field in the short passing game and a pitcher's mound is just 20 yards away from home plate. Perhaps the most consistent attribute about Teddy is his accuracy, so he should be able to throw a lot of strikes. Expect opposing hitters to put the ball in play but that's okay because we've got athletes all over the field. Brian Burns, C The logical choice would probably be to put a WR at catcher but I think DE Brian Burns is versatile enough to play behind the plate. He is used to being in the squat because he lines up in a three-point stance more often than not on the football field. I also think he wouldn't be afraid to get dirty should he have to block some pitches just incase Teddy throws some in the dirt. Catcher is arguably the toughest position in baseball and Burns is as tough as they come. As for the lineup, I would bat him fourth in the order. He just looks like he'd be a great power hitter batting cleanup. Robby Anderson, 1B At 6-foot-3, WR Robby Anderson has the perfect body type for first base. He is athletic enough to come off the bag and make tough catches if the infield makes an errant throw. I'd bat him in the two spot because he has the skillset of a good contact hitter that could steal some bases if he gets on. Donte Jackson, 2B CB Donte Jackson is exactly the kind of athlete I want in my middle infield. He's used to back peddling and being quick on his feet. The throw from second to first is a short one so I'm not too concerned about his lack of practice passing the ball. I'd bat him eighth in the order. Christian McCaffrey, SS Shortstop should feature your most athletic player and that's RB Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey can cover some ground, which is exactly what you need in the middle of the diamond. CMC also has a 50-yard touchdown pass to his name so we know he can make the difficult throw from short. I think he is the ideal lead-off hitter because once he gets on he is a lock to wreak havoc on the base paths. Will Grier, 3B We need a strong arm to make the throw from third to first which is the main reason I put QB Will Grier here. Also, he just has a baseball look to him with the beard and long hair. Kind of like a Brandon Crawford. I'd bat him ninth in the order to try to get things going for CMC in the leadoff spot. Jeremy Chinn, LF If there's one player that could play anywhere on the field it's LB Jeremy Chinn. I'd put him in left field to start the game because he can track the ball and cover some ground. He'd be great in the five spot following Burns batting cleanup. DJ Moore, CF WR DJ Moore looks like he was born to play center field. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he chose football. He has the speed and athleticism to make all the tough catches. I'd bat him third in the order to drive in CMC and Robby Anderson. David Moore, RF We fill out the last outfield spot with another solid pass-catcher in WR David Moore. Moore spent the past four seasons catching bombs from Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson giving him practice tracking pop ups. He'd fill in the seventh spot in the order. Derrick Brown, DH DT Derrick Brown would strike fear in opposing pitchers. At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds he'd easily be the biggest player on the diamond. He'd be our version of Frank Thomas, the man they called "the Big Hurt". Brown is used to hurting players on the football field so the nickname would suit him as well. He'd bat sixth. You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook & Twitter: Facebook - @PanthersOnSI Twitter - @SI_Panthers and Josh Altorfer at @jaltorfer1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/would-the-carolina-panthers-make-a-good-baseball-team |
Could high-tech farming be the future of food? | Robots, blockchain, and high-tech plankton might soon be producing food for British Columbians. The B.C. government last week announced $7.5 million in funding to support 21 agritech companies in the province. Agritech a suite of technologies that includes robotics, artificial intelligence, and vertical farms is a fast-growing sector, with analysts expecting it to reach about US$18 billion globally by 2022. The provinces so-called concierge program will help connect these businesses to investment capital, navigate government funding programs, and find land including protected agricultural land. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of food security and the role of the B.C. agricultural sector, said B.C.s Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation Minister Ravi Kahlon. The food system was feeling extreme pressure, and for us as a government, we want to ensure were pandemic-proof (and) able to produce the food we need to shorten the supply chain, so we dont need to feel that pressure again. The recent announcement follows a controversial January 2020 report written by a provincial food security task force that argued B.C.s future food security lies in agritech. Food advocates and academics in the province were unconvinced: By March 2020, they had issued a rebuttal noting social, economic, and sustainability issues with the approach. Many B.C. farmers already struggle to make ends meet, in part because of the high costs of farmland. Few farmers have affordable access to arable land, and the rebuttals authors noted that allowing labs, manufacturing facilities, or other agritech infrastructure on the provinces limited and legally protected farmland could further push up these prices, making farmland primarily accessible to companies or wealthy individuals. Beyond the farmland issue, the authors said that prioritizing expensive, energy-intensive agritech projects without offering equivalent supports for farmers using less tech-heavy sustainable farming techniques like agroecology would do little for B.C. food security or sustainability. Its a debate that goes beyond B.C. Food is responsible for between 21 per cent and 37 per cent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and is driving biodiversity loss. With the global population expected to exceed 10 billion by 2100, change is needed; whether agritech, agroecology or a combination of both is the solution remains unclear. There are places we can create more sustainable agriculture and food systems using new technologies. We just want to approach them with caution and not assume they are solutions in and of themselves, said Michael Bomford, professor of sustainable agriculture and food systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and co-author on the March 2020 rebuttal. I would far rather identify the problems and look at the best way to solve those problems then critically evaluate our success I think its a mistake to identify a particular (agritech) solution and then get excited about that rather than figuring out whats the best way to solve that problem. It might be new tech, it might be old tech, it might be ancient knowledge. For instance, some farming practices can boost carbon sequestration and biodiversity, he noted, while new research suggests smaller farms with a diversity of crops have higher yields per acre than industrial agriculture. Technology that can bolster these approaches instead of inventing new ones would have more benefits for less cost, he said. As we start to explore growing things in shipping containers, or in vertical farms situations that a lot of people seem to get very excited about (we need to) look at the full cost of supporting those systems, he said. Its important that we consider the entire picture of all the inputs going into a system rather than allowing ourselves to be blinded by what appears to be a massive increase in one type of efficiency. Others doubt a lower-tech approach can work. The technologies were developing will be able to drastically cut climate change (and) the impact on the sector I think the future is going to be high-tech, fairly local, and plant-based, (and) I have no doubt agritech is the future, said Lenore Newman, director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley and one of the authors of the January 2020 report in support of agritech. While she acknowledged many of the technological leaps in agriculture that define our industrialized food system artificial fertilizers and pesticides, or monocropping, for instance have driven GHG emissions and biodiversity loss, developing new technologies isnt the issue. Until recently, new agricultural technologies hadnt been evaluated for their overall environmental impacts but that is changing, she said. You have to look at what technologies make sense when you put sustainability into the mix I think theres a fear (of technology) from people who have never done hard labour (and) who romanticize a past that never existed, where people had long-lasting and healthy lives on farms. That wasnt the case, she said, with farm labour often brutal on peoples bodies. Any future that says a great portion of the population must go back on the farm, Im not down for that. The rapid technological developments in agriculture over the past 50 years that have greatly contributed to the sectors sustainability issues were created by bad policy, she said. Not bad technology. Looking at (agritech) as someone who studies futures, technology always wins, she said. The question then is we must build sustainability in at every stage, because thats what we did wrong over the last 50 years. It wasnt the technology its the lack of policies to guide outcomes. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Still, Bomford remains unconvinced that policy safeguards to ensure new technologies reduce their environmental harm will do much. They may help to safely implement technological approaches to specific problems, but the agritech approach isnt a silver bullet to our food system woes, he said. Its (a question of) approaching problems with a variety of possible solutions as opposed to simply targeting new and exciting agritech, he said. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson / Local Journalism Initiative / Canadas National Observer | https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/04/01/could-high-tech-farming-be-the-future-of-food.html |
Will SC politicians change the law after investigator paid for sex acts at Horry spas? | Human trafficking is happening South Carolina, and were going to talk about it. Join our live discussion on Wednesday, April 7 at noon, with panelists Jane Anderson of AEquitas and South Carolina State Senator Stephen Goldfinch. RSVP and submit your questions here. Numerous South Carolina lawmakers are now favoring new laws to restrict law enforcement from engaging in sexual activities while on the job. Attention to this issue comes in response to a recent Sun News investigation revealing that a private investigator, hired on behalf of Horry County law enforcement in 2019 to help shut down illicit massage parlors, participated in sex acts with potential human trafficking victims as part of his investigation. Angry and disappointed were the first two words that came to mind for state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Murrells Inlet, after reading the story. In these cases, many of these women or girls could, in fact, and probably are victims of sex trafficking, and here we are, paying for them to be victimized again, he said. I find that abhorrent, and we should do something about it. The investigation, which led to more than 20 spas closing via nuisance laws, cost more than $65,000, split among police agencies in Horry County, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach, according to invoices that were provided to the paper through open records requests. The Columbia-area investigator, who died last year, went undercover into the massage businesses posing as a customer, soliciting sex acts in exchange for money and detailed his interactions in a 126-page report. Law enforcement experts and advocates who reviewed portions of the report at a reporters request balked at the improper and unnecessary investigation and noted clear signs of human trafficking that should have been investigated further. Other states, including Arizona and Michigan, have specifically outlawed law enforcement officers from engaging in sexual conduct with subjects of an investigation, a move that Goldfinch said seems pretty commonsensical. Maybe we ought to do that or maybe we ought to go a little further than that, he said. ... I dont have ownership of an idea right now, but my thoughts are that we should do something. S.C. Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach, shared a similar desire to prevent this type of investigation from happening again. Fry, who has sponsored numerous bills aimed at diminishing human trafficking in recent years, said he believes the Legislature should consider legislation to better aid potential victims and put traffickers behind bars. I appreciate the work of shutting down illicit operations within Horry County, (but) I think that the process matters, he said. ... Taxpayer dollars shouldnt be going to fund sexual services for an individual who is performing an investigation. Shealy, who chairs the Senate Family and Veterans Services Committee, is the primary sponsor of a bill that would require massage businesses to be licensed through the state, authorizing the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls to inspect each location. She said her interest in sponsoring the bill, which recently passed the Senate, was as a way to combat potential human trafficking in illicit spas which are named one of the top locations for trafficking in South Carolina, according to the state Attorney Generals latest annual report. Under current law, only individual massage therapists are required to be licensed through the state, not the businesses, and Shealy hopes the prospect of inspections will deter or spot and stop these illicit activities. Shealy described the investigation in Horry County as unethical, and she said shed likely consult with the Attorney Generals Office on legislation to restrict similar behavior in the future, though it will have to wait until next session. Almost every state, except Alabama, has statutes prohibiting law enforcement or Department of Corrections employees from engaging in sexual conduct with persons who have been placed in custody, detained, incarcerated or placed on probation. Shared Hope International, an anti-trafficking organization that has helped craft legislation in South Carolina aimed at saving and protecting victims, compiled a list of state laws that address law enforcement engaging in sexual conduct on the job after being sent The Sun News investigation. South Carolina is one of 19 states that only prohibits Department of Corrections or Department of Juvenile Justice employees from engaging in that behavior. Legislators introduced a bill last session to add an arresting law enforcement officer to that statute as is the case in 22 other states but it never made it out of committee. Sarah Bendtsen, Shared Hopes director of state legislative advocacy, said that those laws, which are meant to address the power dynamic between an officer and incarcerated individual, wouldnt have prevented or criminalized the private investigators actions in Horry County. Law enforcement, especially one acting in an undercover capacity, are not perceived as being in a position of authority and therefore the statute wouldnt apply, she said. Even in the few states that prohibit law enforcement from engaging in sexual conduct with subjects of an investigation, Bendtsen said there are loopholes because a case could be made with regard to the spa investigation that the employees werent specifically the subject of the investigation. Michigan is the only state currently prohibiting law enforcement from engaging in sexual conduct while on duty, which Bendtsen said she believes is the only way states can prevent law enforcement from using sex acts as an investigative tool. Former solicitor weighs in Not every lawmaker was critical of the investigators actions or in favor of restricting law enforcement from engaging in similar behavior. Sen. Greg Hembree, R-North Myrtle Beach, said he understands that the nature of undercover work sometimes requires an officer to engage in criminal behaviors to avoid detection. I am okay with the investigation just kind of knowing how these things go, but it is unsettling, he said. Its not pretty, but I understand the need to, when youre trying to catch a criminal, sometimes you need to act like a criminal. Hembree is the former 15th Circuit Solicitor, preceding current Solicitor Jimmy Richardson, who filed the nuisance cases against the massage parlors and previously defended the investigation. Attorney James Battle, who served as special prosecutor for the investigation, is also Hembrees son-in-law. Hembree said preventing law enforcement from engaging in sexual conduct as part of an investigation could lead to police just avoiding prostitution of sex trafficking investigations altogether, which would ultimately result in criminal enterprises expanding and more people being trafficked. He said internal police policies typically encourage officers from not going any further than needed to make the case. Surfside Beach Police Chief Kenneth previously told The Sun News he wouldnt permit his officers to engage in sex acts as part of an undercover operation. The North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department Code of Conduct also prohibits on-duty employees from soliciting or engaging in sexual activities, according to city spokesman Pat Dowling. Myrtle Beach Police Cpl. Tom Vest referred a reporter to the departments online policy manual, but nothing specifically references an officer engaging in sexual activities. Horry County Police spokeswoman Mikayla Moskov declined to comment, citing a county policy not to offer commentary on matters related to pending litigation. Hembree said he believes there has to be an overt act to prove the criminal activity. Its not like (an officer is) doing this so they can have some sexual experience, Hembree said. Thats not the goal; the goal is to catch the person, but youve got to get sufficient evidence to make that case. He said he would consider supporting an effort to redefine prostitution in a way that would lessen the amount of evidence needed to ensure a successful prosecution. S.C. laws currently define prostitution as engaging or offering to engage in sexual activity with or for another in exchange for anything of value. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/south-carolina/article250356441.html |
How does Roy Williams retirement affect the incoming class of UNC basketball players? | More from the series Roy Williams Retires Read more coverage about Roy Williams retirement Expand All Fayetteville Westovers dynamic guard DMarco Dunn woke up to an alarming phone call Thursday morning. Not too long before the rest of the world got the news, Dunn found himself talking to UNC assistant basketball coach Steve Robinson. Dunn couldnt believe what he was hearing from Robinson on the other end. Robinson told Dunn that Roy Williams, the man who recruited, offered and eventually signed Dunn, was retiring after 33 years on the sidelines. Not the news Dunn expected to hear on April Fools Day. It was crazy, Dunn said. I woke up to Coach Robinsons phone call so I knew it a little bit before I didnt see it coming at all. Dunn, a 6-4 shooting guard, committed to UNC in September and signed his National Letter of Intent in November. Dunn and Kinston small forward Dontrez Styles, make up the two-man 2021 recruiting class for the Tar Heels. During his conversations with Williams over the last few months, the 70-year-old coach never hinted at retirement. As of this morning, Dunn said he hadnt spoken to Styles or any members of the UNC basketball team. Dunn moved to the Fayetteville area from Arizona before the 2019-20 season. His stock quickly began to rise in the Tar Heel State. One of the first coaches in North Carolina to take notice was Williams at UNC. I spoke to Coach (Steve) Robinson (UNC assistant) weeks ago about him and then as time went on, Coach (Roy) Williams called and talked with me and they watched some film, they have plenty of game tape, Dunns high school coach George Stackhouse said over the summer Roy was very impressed with what he saw for sure. For more news about Roy Williams and other college sports updates, sign up for our free ACC Now email newsletter. Dunn committed a few months later, Styles committed in April of 2020. The head coach opening doesnt change any plans for Dunn right now. I think Carolina is still Carolina, Dunn said. Obviously, you want to have a good relationship with the coach before you get there and we dont know who that is. I still built a good relationship with the assistant coaches and I still think theres a spot on the roster and a great opportunity there for me. Im not going to start running around right now. I dont think too much is going to change. Follow more of our reporting on North Carolina UNC basketball coach Roy Williams to retire April 01, 2021 10:32 AM | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article250362496.html |
Whos to blame for Abram and Woodsons failure to communicate? | Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Charles Woodson says current Raiders safety Johnathan Abram has never reached out for advice. Abrams rep says otherwise. Charles Woodson, left, and Johnathan Abram disagree about whether Abram has reached out to Woodson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Former Raiders defensive back and Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is interviewed at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Raiders Tavern and Grill at M Resort on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Henderson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang Raiders strong safety Johnathan Abram (24) warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Heidi Fang What weve got here is failure to communicate. Johnathan Abram, the player currently wearing No. 24 for the Raiders, disagrees with a claim made by Charles Woodson, one of the teams greats of the past, who wore the same number. Woodson created a minor stir on social media Wednesday when he told the Review-Journal at the opening of The Raiders Tavern & Grill that safety Johnathan Abram had yet to reach out for advice from the soon-to-be Hall of Famer. No, he hasnt reached out, Woodson said. Of course, thats his prerogative. If he ever does, Im here. But I leave it up to the young guys. The thing about this game is sometimes you feel like you have to figure it out for yourself and thats fine. It didnt take long before a representative for Abram took exception to the comment. And he brought receipts. Hey (Woodson), (Abram) has been trying to get ahold of you, wrote Abrams agent, Trey Robinson. Hes striving to be great like you. The post included screenshots from Abrams Instagram account that appeared to confirm several messages went unanswered. Robinson did not respond to a request for further comment. Abram has mentioned Woodson several times on social media, including when he was first introduced by the team and given the No. 24 jersey. Real legends wore this number, @charleswoodson, Abram posted on April 26, 2019. The next day, he thanked Woodson for a video welcome message he recorded through the team and mentioned he would like to get together for dinner and football talk. There was no response. Abram posted a Happy Birthday message to Woodson on Oct. 7, then shared a photo of specially designed cleats with Woodsons image. I had to for you, Abram wrote with the Dec. 26 message. I appreciate you paving the way. Again, no answer. Its unclear if Woodson, 44, runs his own account or has a social media person. He said one of his favorite parts of being a part of the Raiders was the franchises connection with and affinity for its past. When I got to the Raiders, we were always surrounded by the Raiders greats, the old Raiders, the guys all the old films were about, he said. Willie Brown was in our defensive backs meetings helping us out, Fred Biletnikoff was there for the receivers. Jim Otto and Cliff Branch were always around. We got to see walking greatness every time we went to work. I think that was pretty special. I dont know how many teams have their former players always around at practice. So that made it a lot of fun. Woodson hasnt made it a habit to insert himself into the lives of the current roster, but does have some advice. Everybody has to go through their growing pains as a player, he said. So for all those young guys, the best thing you can do as an athlete is to make sure youre prepared when the season comes around, make sure you know what to do and do it fast. As long as they do that, theyll be fine. Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter. | https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/whos-to-blame-for-abram-and-woodsons-failure-to-communicate-2319933/ |
What is institutional racism and why is it being talked about? | Getty Images There's an argument about racism in the UK right now. It's because of a report that said Britain is better at dealing with racism than other similar countries. The report, set up by the government to look at inequality in the UK, found no evidence of institutional racism and said there is "no longer" a system that puts people from ethnic minorities at a disadvantage. But anti-racism campaigners are unhappy with the findings, and some have called it "divisive" and a missed opportunity for change in Britain. Racism can take many forms. Sometimes racism can be seen through verbal or even physical abuse towards someone because they come from a certain ethnic or cultural background. Other elements of racism are harder to see but do still happen. For example schools or workplaces operating in a way that discriminate against people, including children because of their race. It means people from certain backgrounds are at a disadvantage or treated differently to white people and this is what is described as systemic, structural or institutional racism. For example school rules that discriminate against black and brown pupils by banning natural hairstyles like afros is often an example used to explain institutional racism in education. The criminal justice system, the term used to describe law enforcement and punishment for crime is another example that is talked about. Stats show that black children were more likely to be arrested than white children in 2018/2019 and black adults were nearly 10 times more likely to be stopped and searched. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Useful words to know: Ethnic minority: A group within a community which has different national or cultural traditions from the main population. BAME: This stands for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic and is used to refer to members of non-white communities in the UK. The report suggested the word BAME is no longer used because differences between groups are important. The report The Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities following last summer's Black Lives Matter protests which happened following the death of George Floyd, a black man stopped by police in America. The commission looked at the difference in how people are treated because of ethnicity and race within education, employment, the criminal justice system and health. They published a 258-page report on their findings. The commission's report said that the UK is not yet a "post-racial country" - meaning there is still racism in Britain, but added that there has been success in removing things like race-related barriers in things like education. It said children from minority ethnic communities were not disadvantaged by race at school and did as well or better than white pupils. Getty Images The report added that other countries similar to Britain that also have a majority white population should copy the UK when it comes to racial equality in education and the workplace. The commission also claimed that there was a "reluctance to acknowledge that the UK had become open and fairer" from some groups. And suggested that the well-meaning "idealism" of many young people who claim the country is still institutionally racist is not backed by the evidence. Getty Images The reaction The government has been accused of trying to downplay institutional racism in the UK. Dr Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, a race equality organisation, said she felt "massively let down" by the report, and that the government did not have the confidence of black and minority ethnic communities. "Institutionally, we are still racist, and for a government-appointed commission to look into [institutional] racism, to deny its existence is deeply, deeply worrying." Institutionally, we are still racist, and for a government-appointed commission to look into [institutional] racism, to deny its existence is deeply, deeply worrying. Dr Halima Begum , Runnymede Trust Speaking to Newsround, Professor Kalwant Bhopal, Director of the Centre for Research in Race & Education at the University of Birmingham, says the report is "dangerous" because it has completely "missed the point" and doesn't reflect the lived-in experiences of children in Britain. "I think children will feel let down," she said. "What the report fails to do is represent the day-to-day reality of racism in schools. "Young people need to be able to call it out, tell an adult, tell a teacher, do something about it." No, that wasn't there, we didn't find that." Newsround has contacted Dr Sewell for a further comment in relation to the experiences of children at school, but has had no response so far. Patrick Lewis Dr Tony Sewell was in charge of the report on equality and racism in Britain No-one denies and no-one is saying racism doesn't exist. No, that wasn't there, we didn't find that. Dr Tony Sewell , The head of the report The Prime Minister described the report as an "important piece of work", adding: "It is now right that the government considers their recommendations in detail, and assesses the implications for future government policy. "The entirety of government remains fully committed to building a fairer Britain." | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56591022 |
What type of receiver should Packers target in 2021 NFL draft? | The Green Bay Packers created the NFLs No. 1 scoring offense in 2020 without making a significant addition at the wide receiver position. Although the Packers will return every receiver from last season, and veteran Devin Funchess is back after opting out of 2020, the position will remain in focus as the 2021 draft approaches. There probably isnt a wrong answer. While every receiver from last year will return, the Packers do not currently have a player at the position signed past 2021. So long-term depth here is a legitimate concern, even if an extension for Davante Adams is likely and Allen Lazard will be easier to retain 2022 as a restricted free agent. Funchess, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown will both be unrestricted free agents after next season, and there is no prospect waiting in the wings behind them. Adding a receiver who can play most of the wide receiver positions on the field will soon become a priority, creating an argument for targeting a traditional style receiver in this years draft. But there is also an intriguing argument for a gadget type. The Matt LaFleur offense is begging for an explosive and versatile receiver who can handle all the gadget responsibilities of the scheme, play snaps in the slot and create easy yards on staple plays. Ben Fennell of NFL Network makes a strong case for injecting the LaFleur offense with a new element at receiver: LaFleur's Horizontal Pass Game/RPO offense makes life for WRs so easy! Meshes, Drives, Rubs, RPO Slants Open % = 3yds Nearest Defender Wide Open % = 5yds Nearest Defender#Packers were #1 in BOTH categories in 2020 via @NextGenStats. Now add a YAC nightmare to this scheme pic.twitter.com/pJTuwBuh09 Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 31, 2021 The Packers dont currently have a player of this type on the roster. Tyler Ervin, a running back by trade, moonlighted as the gadget receiver to start last season. His explosiveness and elusiveness provided tangible impact, even as a pre-snap decoy. Defenses had to respect his horizontal speed on jet motions. He rarely got the ball, but even his presence on the field opened up space for others. Story continues When Ervin went down with multiple injuries, the Packers signed Tavon Austin, an original gadget type, to handle the role to finish the season. The idea here is that giving this job to a legitimate receiver could both enhance the pre-snap effect and provide new and easy ways for LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers to get the ball into the hands of playmakers. Quick throws. Opportunities in space. Easy yards. As Fennell mentioned above, the Packers offense is loaded with concepts that could be perfect for this type of receiver. This draft looks strong in gadget types. Kadarius Toney, Rondale Moore, Elijah Moore, Amari Rodgers, Dyami Brown, Jaelon Darden, Demetric Felton and Ihmir Smith-Marsette all fit the profile. They all provide the explosive athletic profile and strong run after the catch abilities required of maximizing the production value of the gadget spot, especially in an offense like LaFleurs. Of course, a gadget type might not be a full-time player. And most of the gadget types could struggle in a fully diversified role, limiting their overall value. Drafting a player for a very specific role could create more long-term building plans at the position. But its certainly interesting to imagine the Packers adding a gadget type, providing another element to an already dominant offense and giving LaFleur the exact type of weapon his scheme might need to operate at full capacity. Despite not taking a receiver in last years draft, the Packers are almost certain to take at least one in 2021. Maybe general manager Brian Gutekunst can find developmental options that fit both profiles. It will be fascinating to see which type traditional or gadget the Packers target if they use a high pick at receiver. A strong argument can be made for both styles. List | https://sports.yahoo.com/type-receiver-packers-target-2021-160417716.html?src=rss |
What's in Biden's massive plan to upgrade US infrastructure? | President Joe Biden outlined a huge, $2.3 trillion plan Wednesday to reengineer the nations infrastructure in what he billed as a once-in-a-generation investment in America that would also undo his predecessors signature legislative achievement giant tax cuts for corporations in the process. Speaking at a carpenters union training center in Pittsburgh, Mr. Biden drew comparisons between his hard-hatted proposed transformation of the U.S. economy and the space race and promised results as grand in scale as the New Deal or Great Society programs that shaped the 20th century. Its not a plan that tinkers around the edges, Mr. Biden said. Its a once-in-a-generation investment in America unlike anything weve seen or done since we built the interstate highway system and the space race decades ago. In fact, its the largest American jobs investment since World War II. It will create millions of jobs, good-paying jobs. White House officials say the spending would generate those jobs as the country shifts away from fossil fuels and combats the perils of climate change. It is also an effort to compete with the technology and public investments made by China, which has the worlds second-largest economy and is fast gaining on the United States dominant position. Im convinced that if we act now, in 50 years people are going to look back and say this is the moment when America won the future, Mr. Biden said. The Democratic presidents infrastructure projects would be financed by higher corporate taxes a trade-off that could lead to fierce resistance from the business community and thwart attempts to work with Republican lawmakers. Mr. Biden hopes to pass an infrastructure plan by summer, which could mean relying solely on the slim Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. The higher corporate taxes would aim to raise the necessary piles of money over 15 years and then reduce the deficit going forward. In doing so, Mr. Biden would undo the 2017 tax overhaul by former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans and lift the corporate tax rate to 28% from the 21% rate. Ninety-one Fortune 500 Companies, including Amazon, pay not a single, solitary penny in income tax, Mr. Biden said. Wednesdays announcement will be followed in coming weeks by Mr. Biden pushing a companion bill of roughly equal size for investments in child care, family tax credits, and other domestic programs. That nearly $2 trillion package would be paid for by tax hikes on wealthy individuals and families. Wall Street didnt build this country, Mr. Biden said. You, the great middle class, built this country. And unions built the middle class. Mr. Bidens choice of Pittsburgh for unveiling the plan carried important economic and political resonance. He not only won Pittsburgh and its surrounding county to help secure the presidency, but he launched his campaign there in 2019. The city famed for steel mills that powered Americas industrial rise has steadily pivoted toward technology and health care, drawing in college graduates in a sign of how economies can change. The White House says the largest chunk of the proposal includes $621 billion for roads, bridges, public transit, electric vehicle charging stations, and other transportation infrastructure. The spending would push the country away from internal combustion engines that the auto industry views as increasingly antiquated technology. An additional $111 billion would go to replace lead water pipes and upgrade sewers. Broadband internet would blanket the country for $100 billion. Separately, $100 billion would upgrade the power grid to deliver clean electricity. Homes would get retrofitted, schools modernized, workers trained, and hospitals renovated under the plan, which also seeks to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. The new construction could keep the economy running hot, coming on the heels of Mr. Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Economists already estimate it could push growth above 6% this year. To keep companies from shifting profits overseas to avoid taxation, a 21% global minimum tax would be imposed. The tax code would also be updated so that companies could not merge with foreign businesses and avoid taxes by moving their headquarters to a tax haven. And among other provisions, it would increase IRS audits of corporations. Mr. Biden appealed for Republicans and the business community to join him in negotiations on the bill, but the legislative prospects for Mr. Bidens twin proposals already appear to hinge on Democrats coming up with the votes on their own through the budget reconciliation process, which requires just a simple majority in the 50-50 Senate. Im going to bring Republicans into the Oval Office, listen to them, what they have to say and be open to other ideas, Mr. Biden said. Well have a good faith negotiation. Any Republican who wants to help get this done. But we have to get it done. Democratic leaders embraced Mr. Bidens plan Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said it would create millions of jobs. I look forward to working with President Biden to pass a big, bold plan that will drive America forward for decades to come, Mr. Schumer said at an event in Buffalo. But Republican opposition to Mr. Bidens ambitious proposal came swiftly, and with resolve for the long brawl ahead. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the package as nothing more than a Trojan horse for tax hikes. Republicans on Capitol Hill view the fight as a defining moment for the parties, framing it as a choice between Democrats intent on relying on government to solve the nations problems and a GOP that believes the private sector can best unleash the nations potential. Smarting over Mr. Bidens intent to undo the 2017 tax cuts has only solidified what could amount to a wall of GOP opposition. The business community favors updating U.S. infrastructure but dislikes higher tax rates. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley said in a statement that we applaud the Biden administration for making infrastructure a top priority. However, we believe the proposal is dangerously misguided when it comes to how to pay for infrastructure. The Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs, would rather have infrastructure funded with user fees such as tolls. Mr. Trump, in a statement, blasted his successors proposal, claiming it would be among the largest self-inflicted economic wounds in history. Infrastructure spending usually holds the promise of juicing economic growth, but by how much remains a subject of political debate. Commutes and shipping times could be shortened, while public health would be improved, and construction jobs would bolster consumer spending. Standard & Poors chief U.S. economist, Beth Ann Bovino, estimated last year that a $2.1 trillion boost in infrastructure spending could add as much as $5.7 trillion in income to the entire economy over a decade. Those kinds of analyses have led liberal Democrats in Congress such as Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal to conclude, The economic consensus is that infrastructure pays for itself over time. But the Biden administration is taking a more cautious approach than some Democrats might like. After $1.9 trillion in pandemic aid and $4 trillion in relief last year, the administration is trying to avoid raising the national debt to levels that would trigger higher interest rates and make it harder to repay. Mr. Bidens efforts may also be complicated by demands from a handful of Democratic lawmakers who say they cannot support the bill unless it addresses the $10,000 cap on individuals state and local tax deductions put in place under Mr. Trump and a Republican-led Congress. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy With a narrow majority in the House, those Democrats could conceivably quash any bill that doesnt significantly lift the cap or repeal it entirely. This story was reported by The Associated Press. Zeke Miller and Kevin Freking reported from Washington. AP writers Lisa Mascaro, Josh Boak, and Padmananda Rama also contributed from Washington. | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0401/What-s-in-Biden-s-massive-plan-to-upgrade-US-infrastructure?icid=rss |
Can I reach out for a second chance? | Its been a long time since someone challenged me in a healthy way or asked questions that made me think about something differently. Its also rare for me to find someone as attractive lately as I found her to be. Basically, I think she was a great match for me but I wasnt ready to open up yet. I have been working on myself, processing my new reality, and am ready to start dating. I recently heard that she might be single now. Its been almost six months since we met, but we have only exchanged a couple of short texts. Q. I met someone last fall just after ending a long-term relationship. She was dating someone at the time, so it seemed harmless to meet up as friends. We hung out for a few drinks and some get-to-know-you conversation. It came with a little awkwardness, but I also continued to think about things we discussed for weeks afterward. I even made some changes to my routine, and my life, as a result. This is exactly what I would like to find in a partner. A. Ask for a second chance! Tell her youre single and hope she is too! Dont drop hints or talk around your desires. If you want to get to know her and spend more time with her, make that clear. I keep telling people that I hope this year of isolation, confusion, and boundaries will lead to more honesty and clarity, whenever its safe to move around. I hope people say what they mean, even if its a simple I would like to see you again. Really, taking six months off from conversation makes some sense, if you think about the limitations of the past year. Many people are coming out of their small pods and saying, You still there? Also, if youre looking for a romantic relationship this time around, make sure she knows. You met as friends first, so she might not be sure about your intentions. Advertisement I want you to know because it seems to be a priority that you can continue to work on yourself, impress yourself, and test yourself, no matter what happens. You can also rest a bit during that process. The work never ends in a good way. MEREDITH READERS RESPOND: Is it too late to ask for a second chance? I wouldnt phrase it that way to her. Just ask directly if shed like to go out and propose a specific day. BKLYNMOM Ask her out! I dont think you have to come on really strong ... that might be off-putting, but you have nothing to lose. You should be able to sense whether shes into you or not. Good luck. HOLLYIVY Ask her out. If she says yes, great. If not, youll have your answer and can move on and take what you learned from the experience. Good luck. SELDOMSOBERBAND Call her. Id love to take you out, how about meeting at _____ for a drink? If she says she is dating someone, tell her the offer will still stand if that ever changes, and then move on and date others. Maybe she will reach out at some point. Advertisement THENURSE ^Solid advice. THATGUYINRI ^Not solid. Its just another way a desperate person says, Ill wait for you. Ill wait for you is never an appropriate response, especially if you proceed to date others. BIGSIGH How about just a simple Hi _________. Ive been thinking about you and wanted to reach out to say hello. If youre interested, I would enjoy getting together for a cup of coffee and catching up on the last few months. Direct, to the point, honest. Her response (or possible lack of response) will tell you all you need to know. One way or the other, you will know if you need to move on. I wish you all the best! BIPPITYBOPPITYBOO Send your own relationship and dating questions to [email protected]. Catch new episodes of Meredith Goldsteins Love Letters podcast at loveletters.show or wherever you listen to podcasts. Column and comments are edited and reprinted from boston.com/loveletters. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/01/lifestyle/can-i-reach-out-second-chance/ |
Is Mason City Schools superintendent moving to Colorado? | Maybe. Cooper, whose four-year contract with Mason schools ends in July 2022, is one of three finalists in Poudre School District's superintendent search, according to a Monday announcement from the Fort Collins, Colorado school district. Poudre School District serves 30,000 students in 52 schools and five charter schools, and is the ninth-largest school district in Colorado, according to the website. The district serves students in Fort Collins, Laporte, Timnath, Wellington, Red Feather, Livermore, Stove Prairie and parts of Windsor. The other finalists are Brian Kingsley, current chief academic officer of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Heather Snchez, current executive director of schools for the Bellevue School District in Bellevue, Washington, the district's website states. Poudre's most recent superintendent, Sandra Smyser, served from July 2013 through January when she took a $560,000 early retirement package. The Poudre district would like its new superintendent to start this July. Mason City Schools board president Charles Galvin said in a Wednesday statement that Cooper is expected to have "a tough decision" to make. "Make no mistake: we want what is best for the Cooper family, and believe thats for them to stay here in Mason. But our district is more than just one person, and more than just a destination," Galvin said. Mason City Schools one of Ohio's 15 largest school districts, according to Niche.com, with more than 10,000 students and about 1,250 faculty and staff members is "always engaged in long-term planning," Galvin said, and will address a superintendent vacancy should Cooper leave Ohio. Galvin's full statement is provided at the end of this story. Contract through July 2022 The Mason Board of Education approved a four-year, $163,000 superintendent contract for Cooper in December 2017. At the time, he was serving as the district's chief innovation officer, and that year received the 2017 Excellence in Education Award and the 2017 Rising Star Award from the Mason-Deerfield Chamber of Commerce. Before that he served as an elementary school principal and teacher. Cooper's superintendent contract with Mason City Schools, provided on the district's website, states his term ends July 31, 2022. The contract may be terminated by mutual agreement of both Cooper and the board, by the board, or if Cooper retires or leaves due to disability or death. Cooper and his wife, Michelle, currently live in Mason with their four children: Henry, 15; Wyatt, 13; Myles, 10; and Tessa, 8. He received a bachelor's degree from Ball State University, a master's in education leadership from the University of Dayton and is currently enrolled in the Ed.D. program at Miami University. Cooper will participate in a meet-the-finalists Poudre School District Zoom event Thursday and Friday evenings. The Colorado school district intends to interview the finalists during a public livestream next month and select its new leader to start in July, according to the district's website. Full statement from Mason City Schools board president Charles Galvin: | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/04/01/mason-city-schools-superintendent-entertaining-move-colorado/4833851001/ |
Is Amazon stock silly cheap? | The time is ripe to pounce on Amazon's stock, argues Guggenheim analyst Robert Drbul. "Over the past six months, Amazon shares have declined ~2% vs. a 19% increase for the S&P 500. While the company will be up against difficult top-line comparisons in coming quarters, we see a favorable backdrop for shares through the balance of 2021 as 1) top-line growth rates are likely to remain robust (in the 20% range, by our estimates), 2) AWS and cloud computing trends remain strong, and 3) profitability gains materialize as high-margin business segments scale further and as Amazon laps heavy investment made in 2020 (including COVID-related spend and fulfillment center expansion)," Drbul writes in a new research note. Drbul sees fair value on Amazon (AMZN) to $4,000 a share, up about 30% from current levels. To be sure, Amazon's usually hot stock has been stuck in the mud of late. Year-to-date, Amazon shares are down 4% versus a 7% gain on the S&P 500 and 4.4% pop on the Nasdaq Composite. It's the second worst-performing component of the closely watched FAANG index (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) of tech giants Apple shares have shed 7% this year. NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 31: An exterior view shows an Amazon fulfillment center on March 31, 2021 in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The company is offering employees COVID-19 vaccinations at the facility for eight days. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Most Wall Street analysts point to the potential for slowing sales and earnings growth this year as Amazon cycles a major pickup in business at the start of the pandemic in 2020 for the stock's weakness. Others have voiced some concern about Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos preparing to step aside as CEO in the third quarter. Drbul thinks the concerns on the fundamentals of Amazon's business are overblown, however. "In our view, Amazon's retail business appears as strong as it ever has. Our 2021E full year growth forecast incorporates a return to the pre-COVID trajectory in the low-20% range, which we believe is achievable despite the challenging year-over-year compare given our expectation for continued elevated rates of growth in 1H21, particularly 1Q (+42%). Our model incorporates a more normalized level of growth in 2Q-4Q (+high-teens growth), which could prove conservative (2Q in particular) given ongoing COVID-related restrictive measures. In addition, we would highlight the expansion and rollout of free one-day delivery with Prime and robust rates of membership growth as additional supportive factors that should help Amazon "comp the COVID comp," contends Drbul. Story continues Adds Drbul, "We believe AWS remains in the early innings of its growth potential and should benefit in coming quarters/years as companies accelerate their shift to the cloud, in part driven by COVID." Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Whats hot from Sozzi: Watch Yahoo Finances live programming on Verizon FIOS channel 604, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Pluto TV, and YouTube. Online catch Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, and LinkedIn. | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/is-amazon-stock-silly-cheap-164238564.html |
Who Should Raptors Fans Be Cheering for This Season? | With the Toronto Raptors falling out of it this season, Raptors fans can start cheering for the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, and Cleveland Cavaliers OK, so this Toronto Raptors season hasn't gone as you had hoped. You're still going to watch Raptors games, I mean, what else is there to do these days, but your rooting interests may have begun to waiver. So let's take a look at who you can and maybe should be rooting for over the final quarter of the season. 1. Well, the Portland Trail Blazers are 4-0 since adding Powell at last week's trade deadline. They boast one of the NBA's best offences and superstar point guard Damian Lillard is always primed to do something astonishing. Portland is 29-18 this season and has some very exciting games coming up on the schedule against the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and L.A. Clippers. If you want to cheer for a former Raptor who could make a major impact on a playoff team this season, the Trail Blazers are certainly your team. 2. Washington Wizards If you're more concerned about the future of the Raptors, it might be a good idea to start keeping an eye on the Washington Wizards. Toronto and Washington are currently tied with the sixth-worst record in the NBA but by virtue of having played virtue games this season, the Wizards are ahead of the Raptors in the lottery standings. Lottery Odds tankathon.com/pick_odds If the season ended today the Raptors would have a 32% chance at landing a top-four pick in this year's draft. If the Wizards, however, win a few games, like their game Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons, they'd jump Toronto, giving the Raptors are 37.2% chance at a top-four pick. There's a pretty good chance this actually happens considering the Wizards have the easiest remaining schedule this season, per Tankathon. They have two games remaining against the Pistons and three against the Cleveland Cavaliers this year. 3. Cleveland Cavaliers If you liked that last idea, you might like this one too. The Cavaliers are just 0.5 games worse than the Raptors this season and if Toronto can find a way to lose more games than the Cavaliers the rest of the way Toronto could jump into the top five in lottery odds. That would give the Raptors a 42% chance at a top-four pick and a 44% chance at a top-five pick. Much like the Wizards, the Cavaliers have the seventh-easiest remaining schedule this year. They have games against the Pistons, Orlando Magic, and the aforementioned Wizards still on the schedule. Considering Toronto has the sixth-hardest remaining schedule this season, it's quite possible the Raptors jump into that top five. Further Reading Frustrations mounting for the Raptors as losses continue to pile up Gary Trent Jr. is beginning to earn his stripes with the Raptors Report: Only an 'overwhelming offer' could lure Masai Ujiri away from Toronto | https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-fans-cheering-trail-blazers-wizards-cavaliers-this-year |
Would North Carolina consider Vanderbilt's Jerry Stackhouse to succeed Roy Williams as basketball coach? | When former Tar Heel great Jerry Stackhouse was coaching in the NBA, it seemed North Carolina was the only job that could lure him to college. Even after taking the Vanderbilt job, he said that list probably only included two schools. Before coaching his first Vanderbilt game in 2019, Stackhouse said North Carolina had been his ideal dream job, and Vanderbilt only made sense because of then-athletics director Malcolm Turner, a former NBA G-League president, was hiring him. Turner, incidentally, was a North Carolina alumnus. And North Carolina coach Roy Williams was among the biggest cheerleaders of Stackhouses hiring. On Thursday, Williams retired. The Tar Heels are looking for a new coach who wants the job, values the culture and can compete for national titles. Well, his 20-38 record (6-28 SEC) in two Vanderbilt seasons suggests an enormous question mark on that final prerequisite. ESTES:Finally, Vanderbilt athletics is starting to resemble that of an SEC school But other intangibles could bring his name to the surface. How much North Carolina values those traits will determine if Stackhouse is considered a legitimate candidate. Here are a few points of conversation. Its become more common recently. Michigan hired Fab Five member and former NBA All-Star player Juwan Howard, who had been an NBA assistant coach for a six years. He just took the Wolverines to the Elite Eight in his second season. Memphis hired former Tigers star Penny Hardaway, who had only coached middle school, high school and AAU teams. The Memphis icon immediately got big wins in recruiting, but the jury is still out on his coaching ability. The Tigers just won an NIT title, but Hardaway needs NCAA Tournament runs soon. And Indiana just hired Mike Woodson, who played for the Hoosiers under Bobby Knight. Woodson, however, is a much more experienced coach. The 63-year-old coached in the NBA for the past 25 years, including head coaching stints with the Hawks and Knicks, but never had a college job. Stackhouse, a Kinston, N.C. native, was an All-American at North Carolina under Dean Smith. After playing 18 seasons in the NBA, he was an AAU coach, a G-League coach of the year and an NBA assistant for the Raptors and Grizzlies for one season each. His resume is a combination of Howard and Hardaway, except for the poor record at Vanderbilt. But Stackhouse hasnt won in college Poll opposing coaches, and most will say Stackhouse knows how to coach. He creates effective game plans, understands matchups and knows how to communicate with players. Stackhouse also guided Aaron Nesmith and Saban Lee, who started their careers under Bryce Drew, into the NBA Draft and on active rosters. And he's developed Scotty Pippen Jr. from a three-star prospect to an NBA prospect in two seasons. Stackhouse inherited a team coming off the worst season in Vanderbilt history, including a 0-18 SEC mark and 20-game losing streak under Drew. So an 11-21 record (3-15 SEC) in Stackhouses debut season drew praise. But the applause died down when he went 9-16 (3-13 SEC) in his second season. North Carolina would have to be convinced that Stackhouse is a good coach whos hindered by the poor circumstances of the team he inherited. It would take a keen basketball eye to make that distinction maybe someone like Williams. Jerry Stackhouse isnt Coach K If North Carolina wants a contrast on Tobacco Road and thats a big if Stackhouse would certainly provide that. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history, is 74 years old and, presumably, near retirement. Stackhouse is 46. Krzyzewski has recruited countless McDonalds All-Americans and coached several first-round draft picks. Stackhouse was a McDonalds All-American and the No. 3 pick. Krzyzewski coached Kobe Bryant on Team USA. Stackhouse played against Bryant, and they competed in the Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back years. Krzyzewski has said having a public Twitter account would conflict with his upbringing as an Army officer, functioning on a need-to-know basis. Stackhouse is very active on social media. He sings and grills on Instagram. And Twitter cant get enough of his tailored suits and sneakers as perhaps the best-dressed coach in college basketball. Only if Stackhouse checks the other boxes, and thats a decision for North Carolina to make. Reach Adam Sparks at [email protected] and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/04/01/jerry-stackhouse-north-carolina-basketball-coach-candidate/4838799001/ |
Is Notre Dame Going Through A Real Quarterback Battle? | When Notre Dame landed Wisconsin grad transfer quarterback Jack Coan many assumed he would be anointed as the next starting quarterback for the Fighting Irish. We discuss that very topic in the latest Irish Breakdown podcast. The show begins with us setting the stage, is there really an actual quarterback battle going on at Notre Dame. That is followed by a discussion about whether or not a quarterback battle is good or bad for Notre Dame. We wrap things up by giving our thoughts from what we've seen in the first three spring practices. Spring Practice #1 Highlights Spring Practice #2 Highlights Spring Practice #3 Highlights Related Content Notre Dame 2021 Spring Football Roster Notre Dame Announces Spring Football Schedule Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game Announced To comment below be sure to sign up for a FREE Disqus account, which you can get HERE. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content, our premium message board and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community! Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel Follow Bryan on Twitter: @CoachD178 Follow Vince on Twitter: @CoachDeDario Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter | https://www.si.com/college/notredame/football/notre-dame-football-podcast-is-there-a-real-quarterback-battle |
Should Jimmy Garoppolo Demand the 49ers to Trade him? | Garoppolo could potentially see his tenure going forward with the 49ers as pointless. Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer the franchise quarterback for the 49ers. The very moment the 49ers traded up from No. 12 to No. 3, Garoppolo's fate was sealed. All that is left to figure out for the 49ers is what do with Garoppolo. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch remained adamant at their presser on Monday that Garoppolo isn't going anywhere. The only way for Garoppolo to be sent off is if a team gives the 49ers an offer they cannot refuse. If that offer does not come through, then Garoppolo is supposedly set to remain as the starter while their rookie quarterback learns and develops behind him. He knows that his replacement is already in the ranks and that his time as the 49ers' starter, and perhaps NFL starter, is on the fence. Garoppolo could potentially see his tenure going forward with the 49ers as pointless. Absolutely. Garoppolo should have told Lynch and Shanahan to trade him right then and there when he was informed about the 49ers' move up to the third pick. What incentive does Garoppolo have to aid the rookie a.k.a. There is no incentive. In fact, I bet Garoppolo is wishing to get traded to the Patriots because everything in their offense is tailored to his strengths. Plus, he knows Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels would welcome him back with open arms. Maybe he is actually willing to teach a rookie like what Tom Brady kind of did for him. My hunch is that Lynch and Shanahan told him to keep hush hush so that they can squeeze more draft capital out of the Patriots. I think Garoppolo is as good as gone come draft day. I just do not envision a scenario where Garoppolo and a rookie can coexist. It is just not possible to me. Besides, it is not like Garoppolo has much to offer to a rookie anyways since he struggles to run a simplified Shanahan offense to begin with. For Garoppolo to demand a trade, he would need to still be on the team after the draft when it would appear the 49ers didn't settle on a deal. At that point, he could go public like how a handful of quarterbacks have done this offseason. He would essentially be forcing the 49ers hand to do so since it would not be a smooth working environment for a rookie with Garoppolo who wants out. Garoppolo, in a way, holds all the cards. If he is not traded come the draft, then he can easily make it tough on the 49ers. | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-jimmy-garoppolo-demand-49ers-to-trade-him |
Why Would Anyone Pay Andrew Cuomo $4 Million for a Book? | Seven years ago, on the eve of being elected to a second term as governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo completed a rite of passage familiar to all presidential aspirants: He published a memoir, All Things Possible. It is overlong at more than 550 pages, clich-ridden, and hopelessly dull, which is to say a standard-issue political tome. Cuomo was paid a more than $700,000 advance by HarperCollins, and the book had an announced initial print run of 200,000. But five months after it was published, it had sold just over 3,000 copies in hardcover and 13 audiobooks. Even by the dismal standards of the subgenre of books by politicians, this was a flopbased on a conservative estimate of the governors advance, Cuomo earned about $200 for every hardcover sold. For most authors, a sales track record like this would be the kiss of death. Disastrous debuts are rarely rewarded with lucrative follow-up book deals. But despite the abysmal failure of All Things Possible, Cuomo published a follow-up, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic last fall. According to The New York Times, the bidding process for that book ended with a high offer of more than $4 million, a figure in line with earlier reporting suggesting that Cuomo had been paid an advance in the low-to-mid seven figures. Though more successful than its predecessorit has sold about 45,000 copiesit, too, is a disaster from a sales standpoint, and that was before Cuomo was hit with a cascade of scandals; its publisher, Crown, stopped promoting it earlier this year. American Crisis even plays a supporting role in one of those scandalswhile Cuomo and his aides were at work on the book, they were simultaneously working to undercount nursing home deaths early in the pandemic, according to the Times. The book was clearly intended to bolster Cuomos reputation as Americas governor, a competent executive who had steered his state through a crisis and who, potentially, could be a Democratic presidential frontrunner in 2024 or 2028. | https://newrepublic.com/article/161907/andrew-cuomo-got-4-million-book-deal-scandal |
Should the Seattle Seahawks trade Jamal Adams this offseason? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest NFL free agency has come and gone and while some notable names are still on the market, K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman being two, the Seahawks have likely completed most of their work during this period. Now the spotlight shifts squarely onto Jamal Adams and what Seattle plans to do with their star strong safety. The Seahawks invested two first-round picks and a third-rounder in order to acquire Adams from the Jets last summer, and he now has one year left on his rookie contract. Seattle has three options: enter a standoff that potentially leads to a holdout with Adams unlikely to play on his fifth-year option, give him $18-20 million in a record-breaking extension or trade him. (Theres a fourth option that would include Adams signing for much less than anticipated on a team-friendly deal, but that route feels highly unlikely.) On the latest Talkin Seahawks Podcast, Rob Staton of BBC Sports and seahawksdraftblog.com provided a compelling case as to why Seattle should move Adams as soon as possible. Such a decision would be as polarizing as the blockbuster trade that brought Adams to Seattle. It would be an admission, at least to some degree, that investing so much into acquiring Adams was a mistake in the first place. That isnt a reason in and of itself not to trade Adams, of course. There is power in admitting to a misstep rather than doubling down. Its also worth clarifying that this conversation is only in regard to whether Seattle should pay Adams record-setting money or move him. Adams deciding hes willing to play on his fifth-year option would drastically change the equation. I would never pay any safety $18-20 million a year, it doesnt matter if youre Troy Polamalu, Earl Thomas or Jamal Adams, Staton said. For me, that kind of money needs to go to elite pass rushers, left tackles, quarterbacks and maybe, in a pinch, a corner as good as Jalen Ramsey. Story continues Not for a blitzing box safety. Im just going to be really honest, thats what Jamal Adams is. When you take that cost, $18-20 million, youre talking two players the quality of Gabe Jackson. Youre talking four players who are worth $4-5 million for a roster that is not particularly deep and is lacking in certain areas. Staton pointed out that Duane Brown, Brandon Shell, Ethan Pocic, Gerald Everett, Quandre Diggs, Tre Flowers, Ahkello Witherspoon and D.J. Reed are all free agents after this season. That freed up cap space down the road, in addition to the $9.86 million Seattle would save immediately by trading Adams, would give the Seahawks invaluable flexibility. It may even help them land K.J. Wright and/or Richard Sherman this offseason. Then you get to the draft capital Seattle would acquire by trading Adams. The Seahawks have just three picks in this years draft and dont have a first-rounder the next two years. Seattle would take a net loss, potentially a significant one, as no team is likely to give the Seahawks back the two first-round picks they spent on Adams. That doesnt matter to Staton. Personally, I would get what I can. If its a second- and a third-round pick. Im (making the deal), he said. Staton added that it behooves Seattle to move Adams prior to the 2021 NFL Draft that begins on April 29 in order to take advantage of a loaded class of receivers, offensive linemen and defensive linemen. You could get a tackle for the future in this draft in Round 2, Staton said. Thats usually unheard of. You could get a center as well. To summarize Statons message, its more advantageous to have a handful of rookies and a few notable veterans than Adams at $18-20 million per year. And if Seattle is going to invest that sort of money in one player, Staton explained, it should be on Browns replacement should the veteran left tackle decide to retire after 2021. Then theres the matter of Marquise Blair. Seattle invested a second-round pick in Blair and even drafted him before DK Metcalf. Ugo Amadi played well enough last season to earn reps at nickel moving forward. That means Blair is left without a full-time role as long as Adams is on the roster. Adams registered 9.5 sacks in 12 games last season, an NFL single-season record for a safety. But Staton thinks its reasonable to suggest Blair could have similar production in such a role. I think if you ask any safety to blitz 8.2 times a game, theres a chance they get .8 sacks per game, which is what Jamal Adams got, Staton said. Blair is fast. Hes quick. He could do some of that role. Statons final point was that he doesnt believe Seattles Super Bowl hopes would be markedly different with or without Adams. Personally, my expectations would be unchanged if they traded Jamal Adams, he said. The Seahawks blitzed between 30-36% all last season because they couldnt rush with four. Theyve made the investment in the defensive line this year to where I think they have a better chance of rushing with four in 2021. I dont think the roster is really that close to winning a Super Bowl right now. The Seahawks are probably going to have to go through somewhat of a reset down this line. Theyre going to have to draft better for a couple of years to put themselves in a situation to get there. Most of Statons logic is airtight, if not irrefutable. The Seahawks would be in an objectively better place by trading Adams in regard to cap relief and draft capital. I would disagree with how Staton trivialized Adams production, though. I do think the safety is one of the brightest and most versatile young defensive stars in football. At just 25, he could be a franchise cornerstone with an All-Pro ceiling for the next five years. Theres also an attitude to Adams that is vital to a locker room, and his on-field persona, while impossible to qualify, has value. I also believe Seattles ceiling in 2021 would be lower without Adams. Its a difficult topic to mull over, no doubt, but if your answer is no, then it becomes harder to justify keeping Adams and paying him a record contract. Trading Adams would allow Seattle to reload without rebuilding altogether. Paying him would likely make the latter inevitable at some point. Whichever route the Seahawks opt to take with Adams, that decision is now unequivocally the top item remaining on the teams offseason to-do list. Be sure to listen to this weeks Talkin Seahawks Podcast to hear all of Statons thoughts. You can then decide for yourself which side of the fence youre on. | https://sports.yahoo.com/seattle-seahawks-trade-jamal-adams-190556874.html?src=rss |
What type of running back could Javonte Williams be in the NFL? | MMA Weekly Despite the ill will between them, Daniel Cormier does not doubt rival Jon Jones when it comes to him wanting to fight newly minted UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. On the most recent episode of the DC & Helwani podcast, Cormier gave his thoughts on the potential of a heavyweight title matchup between Jones and Ngannou. At the UFC 260 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White cast doubt on whether Jones actually wanted the fight after posting a tweet saying Show me the money, believing he said that as a potential scapegoat to avoid a fight with the heavyweight champion. Jones fired back with several tweets denying that claim, saying he just wants to be paid what he believes he is worth. Despite their bitter rivalry, Cormier came to Jones defense. Jon Jones, for everything thats between us, is not afraid of Francis Ngannou, Cormier said. Hes not afraid bro. I understand that most people would be afraid. Stipe Miocic, and Derrick Lewis, and Cyril Gane. Those guys arent afraid. Jon Jones and Dana White are conducting a public negotiation DC instead believes that these are negotiation tactics between the UFC and Jones. Heres where you start to play the game if youre Dana and Jones. Jones wants his money, Dana has to show that he has options, Cormier said. High level negotiations is whats going on right now. Cormier also discussed whether the pound for pound king truly believes that he is capable of defeating the new UFC heavyweight champ. Make no mistake about it, Jones believes that he will beat Francis Ngannou. As any great champion would believe that they would beat him, Cormier said. I dont know. But Jon Jones is one of the most talented guys that Ive ever seen inside the octagon. And if you have to find someone that can piece together a way to solve that puzzle, its Jon Jones. Lets not be crazy here. Cormier also referred to prior instances where other high-profile fighters negotiated with the UFC in the public eye. Jon Jones feels hes defending himself against his name. The reality is theyre just negotiating in public, Cormier said. Weve seen this with Conor [McGregor], weve seen this with other fighters in the past. I believe [the fight] happens. I really do. Cormier also understands Jones desire to make more money. Jones has defended his title so many times. So I would imagine that hes had pay bumps. Hats off to him. Go get paid, because this is gonna be a massive fight for him and the UFC. If the UFC doesnt want to pay him, theyll just move on to the next guy. Jon Jones Daniel Cormier believes Jones can beat Ngannou Looking more toward the potential matchup rather than the negotiation fallout of this potential superfight, Cormier thinks that Jones has a significant chance to defeat Ngannou. If Jones can fight his fight, he could potentially pick Francis apart from the outside. Hes that type of guy, Cormier said. Hes a smart fighter. He knows how to maneuver and manage fights. Although Cormier thinks Jones has a solid chance, DC also referred to the power disparity between Bones and Ngannou. I dont know if hell be able to hit Francis hard enough to keep Francis off of him for five rounds in terms of Francis trying to find the knockout, Cormier said. The one thing we all forget about with Francis, dudes got a granite chin. He can take a shot. That right hand that Stipe hit him with was hard, and he got stunned. But then he, five seconds later, lands a knockout to end the fight. While it may be fun for fans and pundits alike to ponder the potential matchup from a technical standpoint, the MMA community may be a bit ahead of themselves. In his most recent tweets, Jones has requested his release. The no. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world is considerably disgruntled with the UFCs valuation of his worth. Hopefully this potential superfight can be made with both sides happy with the financial aspect of the bout. But until that is figured out, it may be a little too early to assume Jones will unquestionably be Ngannous opponent for his first title defense. Jon Jones fires back at Dana White doubting his desire to fight Francis Ngannou UFC 260 highlights & recap: Francis Ngannou blasts Stipe Miocic! (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) | https://sports.yahoo.com/type-running-back-could-javonte-205048639.html?src=rss |
Should Massachusetts require auto insurers to refund premiums with people driving less during the pandemic? | Barry R. Finegold The number of car accidents has fallen substantially during the pandemic. Your monthly auto insurance premium should fall too. Drivers are being punished for following public health guidelines and limiting their travel. As bills pile up, residents deserve additional relief. The state Commissioner of Insurance should order auto insurers to provide premium refunds that reflect the ongoing decline in traffic and crashes. There were 40,000 fewer accidents in 2020 than in 2019 in Massachusetts. The number of crashes fell by over 58 percent in April and 47 percent in May, respectively, compared to those months in 2019. Although travel has rebounded slightly since, traffic volume and accidents have remained well below historical averages: There were approximately 27 percent fewer accidents from June through December relative to that time period in 2019. Advertisement Auto insurers have failed to provide commensurate relief. Last spring, nearly all insurers in the Massachusetts market provided limited premium rebates, typically about 15 percent discounts for two months. These discounts were an important first step, but insurance companies have avoided issuing further refunds despite the sustained reduction in accidents. The failure to lower premiums disproportionately hurts communities hardest hit by COVID-19. Auto insurers vary rates by ZIP code, and tend to charge higher premiums in low-income urban areas and communities of color. This disparity is an insidious manifestation of systemic racism. Issuing additional premium discounts would help communities that need the most help right now. The insurance industry might point out that with emptier roads, there have been more severe accidents this year, and that vehicle theft and fraud have risen. Nonetheless, data provided by the state shows insurers claim payouts in Massachusetts decreased by more than 35 percent for liability coverage and 80 percent for collision coverage in the second quarter of 2020. And last September the Consumer Federation of America said auto insurers were reporting windfall profits even after providing rebates. Advertisement To date, the Division of Insurance has ordered insurers to be flexible with customers who are experiencing financial distress but the companies have not been required to reduce auto premium amounts. The commissioner should now intervene to protect consumers and order these premium refunds. NO Christopher S. Stark Executive director, Massachusetts Insurance Federation Christopher Stark COVID-19 tested economic resiliency unlike anything in modern times. Americans rallied to help and protect one another and auto insurers did their part by providing significant relief to policyholders. Companies suspended policy cancellations and non-renewals; waived fees; and offered payment accommodations to policyholders experiencing financial hardship. Insurers also adjusted policyholders mileage and/or vehicle usage to address driving decreases due to the pandemic. Additionally, more than 98 percent of private passenger auto insurers in the Commonwealth provided premium relief to policyholders through discounts, rate decreases, premium returns, or dividends. Understanding that pricing insurance is fundamentally a prospective exercise and that insurers do not retroactively increase premiums for years when mileage or losses outsized the calculated risk, mandating arbitrary across-the-board premium refunds is not appropriate. All drivers today do not maintain the same driving patterns as they did during the early days of the pandemic. Registry of Motor Vehicles data analyzed by several insurance companies showed a significant percentage of drivers increased their miles driven in 2020. Additionally, an analysis of MassDOT traffic statistics by WBUR shows that across the Commonwealth roadway congestion is now only down 10 to 35 percent compared to the 60 percent reduction in April 2020. Advertisement Similarly, while the number of crashes remains down, crash severity (more personal injuries and physical damage) has significantly spiked. Without the Commonwealths typical congestion, the number of low-impact crashes diminished significantly in 2020. Over the past year, more crashes involved higher speeds and impacts, increasing the cost of each crash. As noted by the Globes article on 2020 roadway fatalities, the sad reality is there were only three fewer fatalities in 2020 than in 2019. Moreover, the article also notes the number of violations involving speeds over 100 miles per hour increased by about 40 percent last year the numbers also represent a higher percentage of all citations, compared to 2019. This further illustrates that targeting relief through future ratemaking and/or individual adjustments will direct assistance to those policyholders whose risk profiles warrant it. Most importantly, consumers facing financial hardship due to the pandemic should contact their insurer or their agent to discuss available relief options. As told to Globe correspondent John Laidler. To suggest a topic, please contact [email protected]. This is not a scientific survey. Please only vote once. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/01/metro/should-massachusetts-require-auto-insurers-refund-premiums-with-people-driving-less-during-pandemic/ |
What message did Raimondo leave for McKee? | Dan, Raimondo wrote on stationery bearing the state seal. Congratulations! You will be great at the job and love it. Not every day will be great but every day matters. Keep the needs of the people front and center in all that you do. I am here for you and always happy to provide support. Best, Gina Raimondo. But Raimondo, who is now President Joe Bidens US Secretary of Commerce, did leave a hand-written note for McKee on the desk in the governors office at the State House. PROVIDENCE Former governor Gina M. Raimondo did not work closely with Daniel J. McKee when he was lieutenant governor, and she did not attend the inauguration ceremony when McKee, a fellow Democrat, succeeded her as governor. Advertisement Through his spokeswoman, McKee said, I appreciate Secretary Raimondos note, her words of support, and offer for assistance. I agree with her sentiment that every day truly does matter. Former governor Lincoln D. Chafee said he left a handwritten letter for Raimondo in the center drawer of the governors desk when she succeeded him in January 2015. I like to respect tradition, he said. Chafee said he could not remember the specifics of his letter to Raimondo but he said his message had an upbeat tone. Chafee, a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat who joined the Libertarian Party in 2019, said his predecessor, Republican Donald L. Carcieri, did not leave him a note, but he said someone from his staff stepped up and put a nice note in the desk drawer. Chafee said he and Carcieri had really split over his ramming 38 Studios through right before the election. Chafee had opposed the $75-million loan guarantee that the state provided, under Carcieri, for former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schillings now-bankrupt video-game company, 38 Studios. Advertisement At the White House, outgoing presidents have a tradition of leaving a note in the Oval Office for the incoming president. The tradition reaches back to at least 1989, when outgoing president Ronald Reagan left a message for incoming president George H.W. Bush. Reagan wrote on stationery that contained a cartoon depiction of an elephant (the symbol of the Republican Party) covered in turkeys and the caption, Dont let the turkeys get you down. Perhaps the most famous letter by an outgoing president was the gracious note that George H.W. Bush left for Bill Clinton, even though the two had clashed in the 1992 presidential campaign. You will be our President when you read this note, Bush wrote, underlining the word our. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our countrys success. I am rooting hard for you. When he was leaving office, Barack Obama left Donald J. Trump a letter, wishing him well and urging him to endeavor to leave the instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them. Once in office, Trump shattered a variety of norms and traditions, and after losing to President Joe Biden, he did not concede with a congratulatory phone call or attend Bidens inauguration. But Trump did leave Biden a note. Biden has described the note as a very generous letter but has said he wont share it until he has a chance to speak with Trump. Advertisement Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @FitzProv. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/01/metro/what-message-did-raimondo-leave-mckee/ |
What bills from Georgias 2021 session will Brian Kemp sign into law? | Heres a closer look at the top measures that passed the General Assembly: Citizens arrest Kemp turned heads in January when he devoted a portion of his State of the State address to call for the rewrite of a state citizens arrest law dating to the 1860s that was cited by a prosecutor to justify not charging three white men in the deadly shooting of Ahmaud Arbery. Calling it an archaic rule, Kemp endorsed House Bill 479 to overhaul the citizens arrest law that allows most residents to arrest someone they suspect of committing a crime. The new version, which passed with only one no vote in the Legislature, would no longer let most residents arrest someone they suspect of committing a crime. Instead, only security guards, store employees and certain others would be able to detain someone they believe has violated the law. Kemp has promised to quickly sign the measure into law, saying it would send a clear message that the Peach State will not tolerate sinister acts of vigilantism in our communities. Defund the police In a backlash to last years protests for social justice, Georgia lawmakers approved a bill that would ban local governments from significantly cutting funding for law enforcement. House Bill 286 was filed after some social justice advocates demanded that local officials shift money from police forces toward mental heath treatment and community programming. Critics say the bill violates an oft-stated Republican principle of allowing local governments to have control over local issues and that its an unnecessary new restriction. While Athens-Clarke County and Atlanta officials considered drastically cutting police budgets, both wound up not doing so. The final version would ban cities and counties from reducing their law enforcement budgets by more than 5% in one year or cumulatively across five years and also give Kemp a base-pleasing talking point headed into a tough reelection campaign. The budget Worried the pandemic would send tax collections plummeting, lawmakers in June cut 10% from the budget. Instead, Georgias revenue has improved along with the economy, and the federal COVID-19 stimulus will send the state $4.6 billion or so that Kemp and lawmakers must still decide how to use. When he signs it into law, expect Kemp to promote the budget as a vindication of his aggressive approach to reopening the states economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Tax breaks Just about every year lawmakers pin one measure with so many special-interest tax breaks that it becomes known as the Christmas tree bill for all of its ornamentation. This year, Senate Bill 6 included a host of incentives for short-line railroads, medical device makers, concrete suppliers and mega-site corporate projects. But it also includes a provision that would clear the way for a regular review to determine whether some tax breaks actually do what lawmakers were told they would do. Georgia doesnt require an audit of industry spending and has seldom conducted a review of whether the states subsidies are effective. Kemp vetoed a different version of a tax credit review measure because he wanted the examinations to be conducted by an outside auditor, and this years measure includes that change. Campaign finance After record-breaking campaign spending in 2020, state lawmakers moved to loosen the spigots even more. Senate Bill 221 would let powerful officials such as Kemp, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston create new leadership committees that could take money from lobbyists and special interests during the legislative session. And a late effort to restrict how those new groups could rake in campaign cash was scuttled on the sessions final day. Cocktails to go Georgia restaurants took a beating during the coronavirus pandemic. Now the state is on the cusp of letting them sell cocktails to go. Georgia law already allows the sale of beer and wine to go, but Senate Bill 236 would extend that to mixed alcoholic drinks. Under the changes, the restaurants would be able to sell up to two mixed drinks in sealed containers to customers who order food. | https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/what-bills-from-the-2021-session-will-brian-kemp-sign-into-law/VPHWDSNV4JEI5KHALB7JKF3XAM/ |
How are Ottawa's small businesses feeling about new "emergency-brake" restrictions? | "That restriction is disappointing. We feel that we can provide a safe environment outdoors." Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Article content Ottawas beleaguered small businesses are accepting the latest toughening of provincial pandemic restrictions with a mix of fatalism and frustration. Among the most disappointed entrepreneurs were restaurateurs who as of Saturday must shut their patios as well as their dining rooms. The eateries had been expecting a shift from red zone restrictions to tougher grey zone measures, which would have halted indoor dining but allowed outdoor dining. But Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Thursday that the province-wide emergency brake shutdown, which is to begin Saturday and last at least 28 days prohibits patio dining. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video That restriction is disappointing. We feel that we can provide a safe environment outdoors, said Sarah Chown, managing partner of Metropolitan Brasserie and Ottawa board chair of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association. Chowns Sussex Drive restaurant has one of the citys largest patios it seats 80 and it did steady business last December and since the mid-February reopening, attracting customers even when temperatures had plummeted, Chown said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content That patio was our pivot, said Chown, adding that her takeout business had been miniscule. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia She asserted that while the province is allowing people to gather outdoors in groups of up to five, those gatherings could be less safe than restaurant outings that have staff monitoring customers for COVID-19 regulation compliance. Making matters more frustrating, Chown added, is the fact that the City of Ottawa encouraged restaurants to open their patios when Ottawa moved into the red zone two weeks ago. It was go time for people to try and get some of that (patio) business, said Chown. Now, those restaurants wont see a return on their investment for at least a month, she said. I think the people that suffer the most are staff, said Joe Princiotta, a co-owner of the Joes Italian Kitchen restaurants in Almonte and on Wellington Street West. Both relied on patio business and Princiotta said news of the latest restrictions left a server and cook in tears, wondering how they would feed their families. Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Restaurateurs say they will be forced once more to lay off staff in response to a provincial order. Princiotta said he will do everything he can to keep his staff working, including giving them responsibilities at the retirement home he runs in Almonte. There is going to be collateral damage in the whole province on servers and cooks, Princiotta said. Under the shutdown, gyms and fitness facilities and personal care services must close, while the capacities in retail stores must drop by an additional 25 per cent compared to their limitations under red-zone restrictions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Its really hard for me. But we dont have a choice, said Jocelyn Guy, the barber and owner of J-All Nations Barber Shop who must close his tiny business in Vanier. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Before the pandemic hit, Guy employed one other barber. But for almost the last 13 months, he has been doing everything at his shop. He has also lost a lot of clients in the last year, he added. During the pandemic I dont really make money, said Guy. Its hard to tell you how much money I lost. Guy said he is several months behind on his rent and has not received any governmental financial support. He asked a visitor for information on subsidies and grants that he could apply for. Other small businesses said they are surviving thanks to pivots they have made during the duration of the pandemic. At the Record Centre in Hintonburg, owner John Thompson has had to reduce his capacity from as many as 40 customers to five, pare back staffing and forego live concerts. But at the outset of the pandemic, he upgraded his stores website to foster online sales of vinyl recordings and audio components and was pleased with the results. E-commerce has been very busy for us, Thompson said. We survived because we adjusted. I pay the bills and havent really fallen behind, said Thompson, who added that last summer, staff on their bicycles delivered albums to customers. Photo by Jean Levac / Jean Levac Thompson, who is in his 60s and went to Kingston recently to get vaccinated, said he supports increased restrictions. Im all for seeing people toe the line and get this over with, he said. I dont mind a little pain now if it means that we can have a wonderful summer or fall. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content A few doors down from Thompsons business, Stphane Lavoie, owner of Wellington Wholesale Seafood, said his sales have grown slightly during the pandemic. Im a little busier, said Lavoie, explaining that his boutique business continued to attract customers who avoided restaurants. Sylvie Brub said her brand new Wellington Street West business, the Aesthetic Lounge, will open nonetheless next Tuesday. Photo by Jean Levac / Jean Levac Brubs business offers cosmetic injections, esthetic laser treatments and other procedures. She said she has a plastic surgeon and two nurse practitioners on staff and that they should be able to work as they are considered medical workers. However, laser treatments will have to wait until pandemic restrictions are relaxed, she said. Until then, she expects her business will likely be cut in half. Brub had few qualms about opening her business during a prolonged pandemic. After all, it was the COVID-related loss of her sales job last June that prompted her to open her own business, sooner rather than later, she said. However, she said she had hoped the virus would have been on its way out when the Aesthetic Lounge opened. I was expecting to open with no more COVID, but we didnt know. [email protected] More On This Topic COVID-19: Ontario on lockdown as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday; 'COVID is killing faster and younger' provincial adviser warns What the province's 'emergency brake' means for Ottawa Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ottawa Citizen Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. 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Can California's Legislature, next AG do anything to halt anti-Asian violence? | Rob Bonta stood before reporters in San Franciscos International Hotel last week and drew a breath. The nominee for state attorney general had just been asked what he would do to address a stunning rise in violence against Asian Americans. The setting was freighted with history. Behind Bonta, a painting on the wall depicted an elder Filipino tenant evicted from the hotel in 1977 a symbolic forebear to the 48-year-old Filipino American assemblyman now in line to be Californias top prosecutor. If confirmed, Bonta may steer a statewide effort to quell crimes against Asians by potentially running a domestic terrorism task force and hate incident hot line, overseeing law enforcement training and releasing monthly reports. With a faint smile, Bonta turned to the scrum of journalists. One of the most painful things about the hate crimes against the AAPI community is that they had seemed to be swept under the rug. That no one cared. That those lives and those people werent valued, he said March 24. I value them. I see them. Ill say that. Ill say it loud, and Ill say it clear. And will take action too. It wont just stop with denunciations and condemnation. The statement reflected the quandary in which legislators now find themselves, under pressure to act and searching for an effective strategy. Bonta is among several lawmakers who introduced a flurry of bills and resolutions this session. His proposal, which would make victims eligible for compensation even if they dont cooperate with law enforcement, represents an unusual stance for a politician seeking the highest law enforcement office in the state: It acknowledges that many immigrants might not trust police or courts to help them. Traditionally, a high-profile crime wave such as this one would prompt bills for harsher sentencing. Yet the state has steadily departed from the aggressive policies of the 1990s, as policymakers carefully weigh the consequences of their decisions. They also have to confront the raw emotions unleashed by a mass shooting near Atlanta that left eight people dead including six women of Asian descent and by videos of robberies and assaults that ricocheted around social media. Looming over everything is the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man pinned beneath the knee of a former police officer whose trial began this week. It set off a national uprising and forced lawmakers to rethink every aspect of the justice system. Many politicians are taking a more nuanced approach than in past decades, emphasizing the need to improve the reporting and investigation of attacks that may target a particular group. Some are still pressing for tougher penalties. Others have a clear-eyed view of the constraints. They note that hate crimes are difficult to charge and prosecute in a justice system that generally punishes behavior rather than thoughts. The incidents that have received recent attention have been difficult for the criminal justice system to grapple with, said Assemblymember David Chiu, who has coauthored two bills intended to make it easier for people to report hate crimes. The onus should not be on a few Asian American nonprofits to track this information, Chiu, a San Francisco Democrat, said. It should be on the state. He added that the statistics published by organizations, though illuminating, still reflect a massive undercount of whats actually happening throughout America. Even those numbers are stark. In a year of pandemic-induced stress and radioactive coronavirus rhetoric, the national coalition Stop AAPI Hate documented 3,785 anti-Asian hate incidents from the onset of the shutdown through Feb. 28, including 1,691 in California alone. Records from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found six anti-Asian hate incidents reported to San Francisco police in 2019, out of a total of 65 hate incidents. In 2020, the number of anti-Asian incidents rose to nine while total hate incidents fell to 52. State lawmakers have overwhelmingly decried hateful rhetoric and violence. A February resolution to condemn attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, by Democratic Assemblymember Evan Low of San Jose, drew 66 co-authors out of 80 assemblymembers. Nonetheless, legislators appear divided on how to tackle crimes that incite so much public outcry in an era of racial reconciliation. Of the 13 bills and resolutions introduced this session, only one proposes expanding the definition of a hate crime, by adding a victims actual or perceived immigration status to the scope of criteria. Three bills would pursue stiffer penalties for the accused. One of them would enable prosecutors to charge a felony any time someone makes terrorist threats against a protected group. Under current law, a person convicted of a felony that is also deemed a hate crime could receive a sentencing enhancement of up to three years. It certainly makes the crime more likely to be punished by prison, and if the person does go to prison, hes likely to go prison for longer, said Daniel Barton, a criminal defense attorney in Palo Alto. Assemblymember Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Elk Grove, is pushing one of the bills that could increase punishment for people convicted of hate crimes. His proposal, AB 266, would reclassify certain felony hate crimes as violent hate crimes, making early release from prison more difficult. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. Its one of two bills that hark back to a more hard-line era of law enforcement: AB 282, by Palmdale Republican Assemblymember Tom Lackey, would bar judges from offering diversion programs if someone is charged with a misdemeanor hate crime. Cooper said he has attracted little support from fellow Democrats, and doubts his bill will get a hearing. He accused his colleagues of promoting fluff rather than substance. Everybody is saying theyre upset, theyre angry, they want to fight back, they want to stand up but what does that mean? Cooper asked. With some people in the California Legislature right now, that means sitting on your hands. Nikki Jones, a professor of African American Studies at UC Berkeley, said that whenever crime becomes a pressing political issue, she worries about how policymakers will react. Punitive ideas, like harsher sentencing, can seem like a response, Jones said, though they fail to address the root causes of abuse and discrimination. Jones believes it will take more than legislation to undo a troubling legacy of violence against Asian Americans, who throughout history have become scapegoats during periods of social or economic upheaval. As bills churn through Sacramentos legislative chambers, residents of San Francisco have become more galvanized. Activist Leanna Louie saw enthusiasm grow between the two rallies she organized outside the Hall of Justice last month, to show solidarity with family members of an 84-year-old Thai homicide victim. The first event, held March 4, lured a small crowd and coverage from the Chinese-language media. The second, on March 22, was so large that hundreds of people spilled down the courthouse steps, along the sidewalk and into the street. Louie and other community organizers spoke before a throng of television news cameras. I was pleasantly shocked and surprised, Louie said. Later that week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the nomination of Bonta. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @rachelswan | https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Can-California-s-new-AG-lawmakers-do-anything-16070737.php |
How Can Corporate Upskilling Be Reimagined? | getty The impact of Covid-19 on the labor market has been undoubtedly profound, but the furloughing measures introduced by governments around the world have unquestionably kept a lid on what would otherwise have been catastrophic unemployment. What is clear, however, is that the transformation of the economy, especially in terms of the digital technologies used, will require changes, not only in the skills required from workers but also from organizations in the way they recruit, retain, and manage talent. Recent data from LinkedIn and Microsoft illustrates this shift, as they found that around a third of all new jobs started in the U.K. in the past year involved a move to either a new industry or a new function (or both). The pair believes that for organizations to thrive, they need to move away from the traditional, credentials-based approach to talent management that sees candidates assessed on their direct work experience and formal qualifications and towards one that is based upon the skills and potential of each individual. Hidden talent It's an approach that is ably illustrated by a recent pilot project undertaken by Accenture, Unilever, Walmart, SkyHive, and the World Economic Forum that aims to use artificial intelligence to both better appreciate the skills people may have and also to better map those onto potential roles. A core hypothesis tested by the project was to understand how many skills people possess, and indeed how many we're aware of. The project revealed that when we are asked to self-assess the skills we possess, we typically name in the region of 11 skills that are regularly used in our current role. When SkyHive performed their analysis, however, this number jumps to around 34. Equally importantly, it found that after mapping the skills required in a wide range of different roles, many of us only require a few additional skills in order to transition successfully into new roles. This kind of awareness building can be a crucial first step in helping people to transition to a new role. Support on the journey This is vital, as while there has been much written about the potential disruptions to livelihoods from technology and from the economic fallout from Covid, it is less clear-cut just what options are available to people, which can create a sense of paralysis and hopelessness that prevents transitions from working. This was evident in research I wrote about a few years ago looking at the difficulties people have in moving from one career to another, and many of these hurdles are mental hurdles that while not insurmountable are nonetheless easier grappled with a degree of support. This is something the U.K. government aims to provide with their recent announcement that 13,500 work coaches will be helping people across the country as they adapt to the changes facing them in their careers. While the initial announcement focused on areas such as CV development and finding jobs rather than utilizing a data-driven approach such as that outlined in the Accenture project, the potential is clear. "Data sharing is key to strengthening connections among learners, employers, learning providers, funders, and policymakers in any given community," says Michelle Weise in her recent book Long Life Learning. "An improved data infrastructure will not only create a shared language; it will also empower groups to move forward toward a common vision and integrate resources, solutions, and services to make each step along the working learner's journey a seamless and more easily navigable experience." getty Transferrable credentials There remains much to be done in order for this kind of data architecture to exist. For instance, while there has been considerable innovation in terms of flexible and adaptable learning, whether the explosion in MOOCs or the emergence of coding schools around the world, there has been much less progress in the development of valuable credentials that truly reflect the skills an individual has. Indeed, research conducted prior to the pandemic found roughly 71 million low-wage workers who had been skilled through alternative routes. These people were perfectly capable of performing higher-skilled work but were largely frozen out because they lacked the credentials to access such roles. The former Guardian Life Insurance Company of America CEO Deanna Mulligan argues in her recent book Hire Purpose that the skills gap so often spoken about in business may not be as much due to a lack of skills as it is a lack of awareness of the skills we have. "Over the course of our lifetimes, we can accumulate an impressive array of skills that would qualify us for an impressive array of jobs," she says. "Still, only a few of these skills appear on diplomas and the resumes that land on the desks of potential employers." The European Union's Skills Passport attempted to provide a transferrable repository of one's skills that could be applied throughout Europe, but even they focus more on the skills we have certification for rather than anything learned in a more tacit way. Broader competencies The Spelling Commission outlined a more experiential approach several years ago with its Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). The aim of the CLA was to measure a much broader range of competencies, including problem-solving and critical thinking, which have been rated as among the most desirable skills required in the future of work. "If you want to know what a person knows and can do," says former Dean of Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, Richard Shavelson, "sample tasks from the domain in which the person is to act, observe her performance, and infer competence and learning." This also needs to then feed into new recruitment processes that take account of a more skills-based assessment. It's an area that the tech startup Skillist aims to address via a matchmaking platform that uses skills rather than credentials. In a recent paper, they highlight that there are more than 70 million American workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) rather than a four-year degree. What's more, the upward mobility of these people is far less than that of their peers with degrees. "Our analysis of job transitions demonstrates that the skills distance between jobs predicts movement in the labor market and that workers make job transitions based on their skills. However, we see that STARs travel shorter skills distances for less wage gain than workers with four-year degrees," they explain. getty On the move The paper reveals that of those STARs who have managed to achieve mobility, they appeared to do so in a specific set of jobs. In total, there were 51 of these so-called "Gateway" jobs that were accessible from a wide range of entry-level jobs. They argue that these pathways from an entry-level job to a Gateway job to a higher wage destination job offers a promising template for upward mobility. It's clear, however, that for mobility to work, we need to provide people with better ways of not only developing their skills but of understanding the skills they have and of sending clear signals to recruiters about all they can do. Of course, credentials provide a shortcut for employers to use when gauging the skills of individuals, so it's vital that new and simpler ways are developed to tease out insights about the skills candidates possess and the learning we do regardless of where and how we do it. Relying on degrees and other credentials to gauge our ability is a blunt instrument for truly understanding what people are capable of, of course, so there are clear benefits for employers of focusing more on skills rather than credentials. A skills-based approach to recruitment not only promises to be faster and more effective but also fairer as resumes no longer need names, years of experience, or the various other things that may bias our decisions. The Body Shop has experimented with so-called "open hiring" and found that employee turnover in their distribution center fell by 60%. Each of these innovations promises to make the future of work fairer while empowering learners, regardless of their starting point in life, to make the most of their talents and adapt smoothly to the needs of their location. There's clearly a long way to go, especially in making these innovations scalable, but they're clear markers as to the direction of travel we're heading in. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/04/01/how-can-corporate-upskilling-be-reimagined/ |
What Matters Most To VCs At Series A? | Asheem Chandna at Greylock led the series A in Sumo Logic in 2009. Ramin Sayar, president and chief ... [+] executive officer at Sumo Logic Inc., smiles at the company's headquarters during the initial public offering (IPO) in Redwood City, California, U.S., on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. Sumo Logic. Everyone on the panel quickly agreed there is no simple metric. But in the weeks since, Ive further reflected on the question and believe that there is a misunderstanding about the criteria for raising a Series A financing. Entrepreneurs are sometimes unclear about whether they are too early to have a conversation with us at Greylock or other leading VCs, just because they are at a concept stage or dont have customers or revenue. Yet early financial metrics are not a reliable signal for the ability to build a large or valuable company. I have sat through many presentations by founders who shared initial evidence of revenue or customer interest. Let me expand on each of these questions by drawing on past experience. The Mission-Driven Entrepreneur. A mission-driven entrepreneur is someone who wants to solve a real customer problem and then pursues it with extreme focus, grit, and a learning mindset. Mission-driven also requires delivering results in the near-term, while not compromising long-term thinking and vision. Success requires building a culture of excellence, having self-awareness and attracting highly talented people. In 2005, Palo Alto Networks founder Nir Zuk set out on a mission: disrupt the network security status quo and re-invent the firewall. Nir was methodical about picking a large market. Initially few customers were willing to listen to yet another vendor in an already crowded space. He persisted and eventually talked with 40+ customers while still formulating the concept. Although trained in mathematics, he wrote a detailed marketing data sheet with features/benefits for the 1.0 product to convince himself that someone would have interest. Most founders dont have this level of intellectual rigor or grit. Greylock teamed up with Sequoia to seed Nir with $250,000, and subsequently the companys Series A funding. We had great confidence in Nirs ability to analyze the market. Equally important, however, was that Nir already had won the confidence of an array of engineers at Juniper, Cisco, McAfee and elsewhere. The moment he began building a team, there was a line of high-caliber people who wanted to follow him an indispensable quality that one always looks for. In 2012, Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW) went public. Superior Product, Large Demand. A superior product solves a real customer problem and use cases with a differentiated approach. Additionally, VCs are always on the lookout for a product that not only creates immediate demand, but also offers the potential of upside over multiple years as a true platform. In almost every initial meeting with an entrepreneur or founding team, I ask: why now? Contrary to conventional wisdom, timing is usually not a product of good luck, but rather a function of trying to understand when a market is ready for something different. An emerging market that has clear potential to grow is always attractive to investors who see first-mover advantage. Yet it is also true that the large, proven market that might appear to be filled with incumbents may actually be ideal for a new company to insert itself artfully and seize market share. In 2009, I was fortunate to meet with Christian Beedgen, chief architect at ArcSight. When we met, on-premise log management and analytics were the industry standard. Together, we began to sketch out what the implications might be if that market were to shift to the cloud. We estimated that the current market was at least $2.5 billion, yet the existing on-premise products had high total ownership costs and were not built to scale. There was a quick realization that a cloud-based solution delivered at massive scale could be a better path forward. We subsequently led a Series A financing along with Shlomo Kramer. At the time, the company had only a few slides and had zero code, zero revenue, no customers, and was still without a name. Those facts were immaterial to our decision. This was a case where the primary considerations were the prevailing market dynamics and the fact that we could see a superior product developing that would solve customer problems with differentiated architecture. Equally important, we could imagine a platform company that would address multiple use cases. Last year, a decade after our initial meeting with Christian, Sumo Logic (Nasdaq: SUMO) launched their IPO as the leader in continuous intelligence with more than 2,000 customers. Attractive Metrics at Scale. Early-stage companies are typically funded at concept, pre-revenue, or initial revenue stages. Often they do not even have any financial metrics or projections and when they do, they are of limited value. The more important question is what might be achievable at scale, specifically: top-line growth, gross margin, sales efficiency, net dollar retention, and operating leverage. I recently met with an ambitious entrepreneur whose new company had a solid roster of customers. Their billings during the first few quarters were impressive. But I passed on the investment because, while I admired the individuals and liked their idea, I couldnt envision a path beyond $20 million in revenue. The truth is that many successful venture capital-backed companies start slow, not fast. The real question for investors is whether there can be a roadmap and sustained path to grow a products value with scalable pricing. A VC makes a judgement call on whether the future company can have strong margins, matched with an efficient go-to-market model. Great engineers may know how to develop pioneering products, but they rarely come to an initial meeting with answers to these questions. Nor should they. Avi Networks had three technical founders who had worked together at Cisco over many years. In 2012, they pitched me on a Sunday morning with a plan to reinvent the existing multi-billion dollar load balancing appliance market through a new software-based approach. Despite the fact that the company had no code developed and no financial metrics, we nevertheless committed to a large Series A financing in partnership with Lightspeed a few days after the initial meeting. Our decision was based on backing an exceptional technical team combined with a view of what the nascent company could look like at scale. We knew the industry segment well, and knew that F5 and Citrix were the leading incumbents. Our enthusiasm was premised on the idea that if customers were already willing to pay for the incumbents hardware-software combinations, they would be open to subscribing to a software-only solution in a subscription model. That meant high margins and the ability to multiply accounts with high net dollar retention. The market was not only established, but open to disruption, and easily extended. Avi developed and brought their software approach to market, and established a beachhead with enterprise customers, with attractive land-and-expand dynamics. In 2019, the company was acquired by VMware (NYSE:VMW). These anecdotes are a reminder that the metric for what wins Series A funding isnt a pat formula. So much depends on the mindset of the founder, the right combination of product and market, and whether the business can achieve attractive metrics at scale. Entrepreneurs that come to the table with the right mix of these elements will find an investor who wants both to write a check and be a strong partner for the road ahead. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/asheemchandna/2021/03/31/what-matters-most-to-vcs-at-series-a/ |
Is It Still Better To Save Or Borrow For College In 2021? | Cant I just wait until the government pays for college? said one of my clients. They were agitated because we were talking about saving for their newborn after they had just finished paying off their own student debts. The idea of saving for college on top of their budgeting, protection planning, retirement savings, and everything else that pulls a person in a hundred directions in life was leaving them exasperated. Especially with the transition from the Trump to Biden administration, and with one billion dollars of loans being forgiven , Americans are increasingly wondering if they should save for college. However, there are many reasons both qualitative and quantitative, why it makes more sense to save than to borrow. The question of whether to save or borrow for college has never been more difficult to answer. getty The Cost Of Borrowing Versus Saving There is a significantly higher cost to borrowing to pay for college versus using savings. To understand the cost of saving versus borrowing we have to make some assumptions. Studies have shown many families do not start saving for college until their child is somewhere around 9 to 11 years old. Lets assume that they will attend a typical four-year public school, which today costs about $26,820 according to the College Board. Assume college inflation is about 3.7%, that the average investor receives a return of about 6%, and that the cost of borrowing averages 5.3% with a 10-year payback term. On average, it is less expensive mathematically to pay for college out of pocket than planning to ... [+] borrow Savingforcollege.com This relatively modest assumption, to pay for college at an in-state public four-year school, would require contributions of $814 per month to fully-fund for total contributions of $117,220. However, were you to rely on borrowing, it would cost $202,907, or 58% more, according to Savingforcollege.coms Savings vs. Loans calculator . The sooner you start investing for higher education the greater the benefit in terms of reducing the cost of debt. Start when the child is a newborn and that cost of borrow balloons to $162,505 more than saving. What Borrowing Looks Like Most American need some form of financial aid to pay for higher education, be it scholarships, grants, student loans, etc. The bulk of college is still paid for by parent income and savings, according to Sallie Mae , accounting for about 44% of funding. Still, 34% of students borrow to help cover their shortfall. Student loans are not inherently bad, allowing people who might otherwise not be able to get a higher education to pursue better careers. However, the types of loans available and their rates vary dramatically. A federal loan typically ranges between 2.75% to 5.3%, according to Nerdwallet . But private loans can balloon up to 15% depending on the borrower and their circumstances, with some studies suggesting as many as 7% of students resort to credit cards to pay for expenses. As a result, student loans need to be carefully evaluated and managed for repayment by the borrower, something many young adults fresh out of high school may or may not fully understand. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education , of the 227,382 unique borrowers who submitted Public Student Loan Forgiveness applications as of November 2020, oinly 3,776 were processed, or less than 2%. Almost twice that number still only 4% of total applications were deemed eligible. Therefore, while it is possible that your loans may be forgiven, it is not a good idea to build loan forgiveness into a higher education funding strategy. College Costs Are Unlikely To Fall Here lies the problem: Since 1971 the cost of college including tuition, fees, room and board has increased by over 17 times at private 4-year schools and nearly 16 times at public 4-year schools. When adjusted for inflation, its still 2.7 and 2.5 times more expensive, respectively, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, College Board, and FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). The average cost of a year of college at a four-year institution for the 2020-21 academic year was over $50,000 at a private and over $22,000 at a public college, according to the College Board . Paying for college outright is nearly impossible for most Americans without assistance, be it financial aid or debt. Even after accounting for inflation college costs have become prohibitively expenses for the average ... [+] American NCES, College Board There is also evidence to suggest that government subsidies in the forms of grants, scholarships, preferred loans, and other aid results in increased higher education costs, perpetuating higher inflation. With increased forgiveness programs which addresses the symptom rather than the cause tuition inflation is likely to continue to rise. Further, even if tuition were to be eliminated altogether, tuition only accounts for a fraction of college costs once account for fees, room, board, travel, and supplies. Savings Is A Guarantee In Uncertainty Johnny Carson once said, The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds. Every dollar that is saved is a dollar you know you have when you need it. Whether the government increases or decreases higher education funding, whether the interest rate to borrow rises or falls, money youve saved gives you more versatility to make decisions in the future, rather than being beholden to lenders. Brian Boswell is a registered representative of and offers securities through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. www.sipc.org, 101 Federal St, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 617-439-4389. CRN202303-280748. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianboswell/2021/04/01/is-it-still-better-to-save-or-borrow-for-college-in-2021/ |
Is Virtru The Answer To A Secure Vaccine Passport? | Vaccine passports are in the news of late. The Washington Post recently broke the story of how the Biden administration has been gathering information from the tech community and policy makers as it seeks to provide guidance on the development and rollout of a government sanctioned vaccine passport or certificate. While many agree that such a document could speed commerce and accelerate business recovery from the Pandemic, the concept is controversial and has unfortunately become politicised. Virtru CEO John Ackerly believes his companys encryption platform could be the answer to a privacy compliant solution predicated on personal ownership of the data. The vaccination passport concept is not new, there have been immunisation passports for decades, and there have always been concerns, even back when the US passport was first put in place at the turn of the century, around National IDs and privacy. I think ultimately these are very helpful tools to get the wheels of commerce moving, says Ackerly. Virtru CEO John Ackerly Virtru His idea is to have a passport just like those currently issued by governments using the same system, with the big difference being the ability for the individual to have control over the vaccine data. Few people have problems with Passports as they exist now, nor would they become an equity issue for those without access to a digital version through a smart phone as long as there was a paper alternative. That is possible today and Virtru is enabling it in the intelligence community and at the Department of Defence where data can be shared, audited and controlled in a very simple way. And these kinds of approaches can be super useful in giving the public the confidence to embrace these tools, states Ackerly. In this way, the government only authorises entities for a specific period of time to have access for the specific purpose. After the specific purpose has been realised, then the government can't access it. It is all based on the choice of the person using it, rather controlled by government or a third-party. We have a couple of partners in the space that have purchased our SDKs to basically enable the privacy through their work flow, though they have not fully implemented it yet. So, we are encouraging them to move faster, says Ackerly. Co-founded by CEO John Ackerly and his brother and CTO, Will Ackerly, in 2012, Virtru positions itself as providing the technology that empowers organisations to easily unlock the power of data while maintaining control, everywhere its stored and shared. While working in national security, the co-founders experienced the unmet necessity for secure sharing first hand. As a White House policy advisor during 9/11, John saw how secure data sharing and collaboration could have helped connect the dots and save lives. Johns younger brother Will spent eight years at the National Security Agency (NSA) where he specialised in cloud analytic and security architecture and experienced similar frustrations with data silos in the intelligence community. During Wills time at the NSA, he created the Trusted Data Format (TDF) encryption program so analysts and operators could confidently share data and collaborate across organisations. John and Will built the business based off of the TDF encryption protocol with the belief that privacy is both an economic and national security imperative. Today, the business touts over 6,000 paying enterprise customers and another 15 million consumers who have downloaded their free browser extension. Of its freemium strategy to give their basic encryption API away for free, Ackerly says, Its the right thing to do. Will and I are very mission focused on this based on why we started the business. And it just makes sense from a business standpoint, you want to build awareness, you want people to use the technology. Some of those free users end up being administrators within companies. While the company is growing fast in a fast growing market (data encryption currently represents a $4 billion global market and is expected to grow 16.8% annually to reach nearly $9 billion by 2025, according to Grandview Research) John wants the company to remain independent. We want Virtru to be the trusted provider of encryption technology helping enterprises and government agencies use the tech at scale, says Ackerly. With the backing of nearly $80 million in venture capital from ICONIQ, Bessemer, New Enterprise and others, John envisions the company going public in the next five years in order to fully realise his and his brothers vision. The people adopting us want that trusted provider that allows them to focus on the key management and policy framework and the TDF implementation to make all this happen, concludes Ackerly. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2021/03/30/is-virtru-the-answer-to-a-secure-vaccine-passport/ |
Who Can Visit Scandinavia In April 2021? | The Norwegian fjords are a major tourist draw to Norway, but things will be different in 2021. getty Travel to Denmark, Norway and Sweden for the purposes of tourism remains difficult as the Scandinavian countries continue to struggle with their vaccination programs. At the time of writing, all citizens of non-EU/EEA countries cannot visit the region for the purposes of tourism. Sweden is open for EU/EEA citizens, but a negative Covid-19 test is required and some tourist infrastructure remains closed. Despite this, some young travelers have made the trip, taking advantage of cheaper prices and quieter streets. A word of warning, though. Before considering a trip to Sweden, make sure you understand the rules for returning to your home country. For example, a resident of Norway taking a leisure trip to Sweden would face a 10-day stay in a quarantine hotel upon their return. Vaccine problems in Scandinavia The justification for the continual closure of the borders appears to be related to the regions vaccination difficulties. All three nations paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fears. Denmark and Norway have extended the suspension, while Sweden now only uses it for its most elderly citizens. Sweden has announced delays in its vaccination program, while Norways prime minister hinted that Norwegian society wouldn't reopen until most of the adult population have been vaccinated. Here are the rules and regulations currently in place for anyone entering Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Denmark Latest coronavirus situation: As of March 30, a total of 228,692 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 2,415 people have died. Vaccination progress: As of March 30, 6.40% of Denmarks population is fully vaccinated, with 12.15% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: Foreign citizens not resident in Denmark can only enter the country with a "worthy purpose" and a negative Covid-19 test result, taken no more than 24 hours before crossing the border. A worthy purpose includes employment, critical business travel, and visiting family or a partner. It does not include tourism or any form of leisure travel. Anyone entering Denmark will be required to test and then self-isolate for 10 days. Norway Latest coronavirus situation: As of March 30, a total of 95,208 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 661 people have died. Recent weeks have seen the highest daily number of positive tests results and hospitalization numbers almost as high as when the pandemic first struck. Vaccination progress: As of March 30, 5.04% of Norway's population is fully vaccinated, with 11.52% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: Against a backdrop of record daily positive test numbers, the Norwegian government has clamped down hard. From March 29, only Norwegian citizens and foreign nationals with documented residence in Norway are allowed to enter the country. Among the very few exemption groups are journalists, seafarers, and commercial transport operators. Measures including mandatory testing upon arrival, entry registration, and the quarantine period continue to apply. Sweden Latest coronavirus situation: As of March 30, a total of 796,445 positive test results have been recorded since the pandemic began. 13,430 people have died. Vaccination progress: As of March 30, 5.9% of Swedens population is fully vaccinated, with 13.5% having received at least one dose. Entry rules and restrictions: The ban on non-essential travel to Sweden from countries outside the EU has been extended to May 31. Foreign nationals able to enter the country must provide a negative Covid-19 test result taken no more than 48 hours before crossing the border. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2021/03/31/who-can-visit-scandinavia-in-april-2021/ |
What Time Does Outriders Go Live For PC, PlayStation, Xbox And Game Pass? | Outriders Credit: People Can Fly Its nearly time. Outriders is the latest game to show up and try to take on the highly competitive field of looter shooters, where Destiny 2 has been sitting on top of the mountain for some time and other large-scale projects have struggled to gain a foothold. The game is actually live right now for influencers and the press, but everyone else is going to get a chance to play tomorrow, April 1, which is always sort of a weird day to do anything. Serious things do happen on that day, too! For players on console, the game goes live at midnight local time, wherever you are. So you can either stay up late to check things out, or go to bed assured that it will be live in the morning. PC is a little different, where were seeing a coordinated global launch that will happen at a different clock time, or even a different date, depending on where you are. For those of us in the US, thats 12:00 PM Eastern on April 1, 9:00 AM Pacific and the times in between are easy enough to fill in. Heres a map for all global times: Outriders Credit: People Can Fly The most interesting aspect of this launch is definitely Game Pass: weve seen multiplayer games launch free on PlayStation Plus to great effect in the past, and this is essentially the same principle, just with a somewhat different service. Launching like this ensures a certain player population at launch, and that can work wonders if the game is there to support it. And from what weve seen from Outriders so far, it looks like it could well be up to the task. Its far from certain, but this one just seems like its in much better shape than other contenders. The true test of any game like this is always 3-4 months down the line, when people have burned through the introductory content and are either contentedly grinding away or, as happens from time to time, are just sort of playing Destiny 2 again. Its a tough challenge: youve got to get people to commit their time and money. Well see what happens. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2021/03/31/what-time-does-outriders-go-live-for-pc-playstation-xbox-and-game-pass/ |
Will The Leading Edge Of VC Combine Private-Equity And Unicorn-Entrepreneurship? | getty The venture capital (VC) industry takes high risks for high returns. Now, a new type of VC fund, Juxtapose, expects to earn high returns like VCs but take low risks like private-equity (PE) funds. Timing of the investment. VCs invest after Aha. They wait for evidence of home-run potential in the opportunity, the strategy, or the leadership. If they see potential in the opportunity or strategy but not in the leadership, VCs replace the leader. Juxtapose expects to invest at the idea stage. Definitely not lower risk. Unicorn opportunities. VCs invest in emerging industries or emerging trends. Nearly every one of the unicorn-entrepreneurs (UE) built their ventures in emerging or fragmented industries by developing dominant companies examples include Fastenal and Waste Management. Juxtapose seems to be following the same strategy as UEs. Venture risk. Most investors and analysts think of risk based on the stage of the venture. Early-stage ventures, especially before Aha, are considered to have higher risk of failure than later-stage companies with established businesses and cash flow. Early-stage VCs take high risks by investing at the earlier stage. PE funds take low risks by investing in later-stage companies with established businesses and cash flow patterns. They acquire these companies at a multiple of cash flow and try to grow the cash flow through improvements and acquisitions. Juxtapose expects to take low risks in startups by combining the roles of the founding entrepreneur and the VC fund. All entrepreneurs have confidence in their abilities otherwise they would not start their ventures. But just because a VC fund has confidence in its own analysis of the industry and ability to build a unicorn does not mean that it has changed the stage. Maybe the Juxtapose people are more talented than the average VC. The odds. VCs fail on 80 out of 100 investments even though they invest after Aha. Only one out of 100 is a home-run unicorn that pays for the 80 failures. That remains to be seen, but it is worth noting that there are very few entrepreneurs who have built more than one unicorn. Thats why unicorn-entrepreneurs like Jobs and Musk are so unique. If Juxtapose succeeds, it would suggest a new way to build unicorns. Real unicorn businesses or unicorn-valued ventures. If the former, the frothiness of the market will have a huge impact on their success. As Warren Buffett suggested, lets wait for the tide to recede. Time frame. Unicorn-entrepreneurs often pace their ventures at the start to gain traction with limited capital, and to grow with emerging industries. Normally emerging industries take 3 to 11 years to emerge. VCs like to invest after Aha and then pour coal on a fire to hasten the growth, especially since VC limited partnerships usually have a lifespan of 10 years. The suggestion is that, on the one hand Juxtapose is not seeking profits for its ventures, and on the other, that it does not want to lose money. This was the strategy of most of the finance-smart unicorn entrepreneurs I interviewed or studied. But to achieve that, the unicorn-entrepreneurs needed to combine the right business and finance skills to grow more with less. Unicorn-entrepreneurs grew at the rate where they did not lose money until Aha. After Aha, they could attract more financing at lower cost and without demands for VC control. Thats when a few unicorn-entrepreneurs accepted VC but stayed in control. Most continued to grow without VC. It is unclear if Juxtapose is following the Unicorn-Entrepreneur strategy, the VC strategy, or the PE strategy. Direct competitors. An important fact to note is that unicorn-entrepreneurs who faced VC-funded direct competitors usually had great entrepreneurial leaders combined with VC. Or they had great business models, such as Dells, combined with great entrepreneurial leaders. It is unclear whether Juxtaposes strategy is to compete against VC-funded ventures with unicorn-entrepreneurs, or against obsolete corporations, or in fragmented industries. Nearly all the VC-funded unicorns have been in emerging industries created by revolutionary innovations. This includes unicorns in emerging industries from personal computers to the Internet. These emerging industries allowed unicorn-entrepreneurs to use these new business models. Juxtaposes strategy of building a large company by acquiring dental practices sounds like the venture is seeking a competitive edge in fragmented industries through consolidation, which seems like a PE strategy. One or two failures will not kill a regular VC fund. In fact, VCs can succeed with 80% failures if they have a single home run. According to Patrick Chun of Juxtapose, the fund is taking risks like a VC fund and will be handicapped with one or two failures. PE funds seldom have a home run with annual returns of 90-100% so they cannot afford too many failures. Juxtaposes profile seems more like a VC fund and not a PE fund. It seems to be taking the risks of a VC fund and expecting the returns of a VC fund. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, perhaps it is one. VC funds and their ventures, from Apple and Microsoft to Amazon and Airbnb, have been trying to do the same for the last 50 years. This strategy is quite common. The article asks if there have been any great exits from the fund. If yes, then this fund has done something unique and its strategy is worth noting. At the end of the day, the key question is whether this fund is competing: In an emerging industry created by revolutionary innovations: If so, will it need unicorn-entrepreneurial skills and strategies. Can VC plus a hired gun beat the skills, smarts and secrets of the worlds great entrepreneurs who have gone down this path. In a mature industry to compete against slow-moving corporations when they dont move fast enough, and then sell the company to a corporation. If so, many VCs have done this but not where they are the entrepreneur and the VC rolled into one. In a fragmented industry to roll up small businesses. Been there. Done that. MY TAKE: Juxtapose seems to be an Entrepreneur-VC fund, not a VC-private-equity fund. It is an interesting mixture, but most financiers have not started ventures. Attracting a CEO who has built a growth venture is a smart move, but it is still picking a hired gun. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/dileeprao/2021/04/01/will-the-leading-edge-of-vc-combine-private-equity-and-unicorn-entrepreneurship/ |
Is The Golden Age Of Remote Freelancers On Its Way? | As companies emerge from the pandemic, hybrid teamsmade up partly of traditional employees and partly of freelancersare catching on quickly. The trend is likely to continue as companies ramp up their operations in 2021, with 36.1% of hiring managers saying they plan to increase their reliance on independent talent somewhat or significantly over the next six months, according to Upwork's recent "One Year Remote" report. That trend is coinciding with others that bode well for freelancers who like to work remotely, with the report projecting that 20-25% of professionals will work remotely in the next five years. As the report notes, historically the same companies that tend to hire freelancers also are the ones that have been comfortable with remote work. Upwork Chief Economist Adam Ozimek Upwork Its a great time to be a remote freelancer, says Adam Ozimek, chief economist at Upwork. For those who havent taken that step, now is a great timethere are so many people looking for freelancers right now, its a great opportunity. Many freelancers will find companies that are familiar with remote work putting out the welcoming mat. Upwork reported it had 6,400 new core clients in the fourth quarter, compared to 4,000 in 2019. When managers personally enjoy working remotely, they are 10-16% more likely to work with freelancers, the report found. Perhaps it is not surprising that 58% of professionals who are not currently freelancing said they were considering freelancing in the future As the report points out, the pandemic provided more evidence that both workers and employers feel working remotely increases productivity. All told, 61% of workers said productivity had gone up as a result of working remotely, and, as of late April, 32.2% of hiring managers did. And hiring managers' comfort with remote work increased over time, with 68% saying working remotely was going better than at the beginning of the pandemic in a second survey in November. Greater adoption of remote work seemed to bring many professionalsboth freelancers and employeesa greater sense of geographic freedom, the report found. An estimated 23 million people planned to relocate due to an increased ability to work virtually. Many also find that remote work brings them more freedom, saving them time and money on commuting, the report found. Against this backdrop, Upwork in January introduced the Project catalog, where employers can shop on the platform for a curated collection of predefined projects with fixed prices. Someone who, for instance, wants to build a website would be able to browse thousands of projects and find the freelancers they needed, whether or not they knew exactly what roles they needed to fill. The Project Catalog identifies the types of professionals they need and offer them access to suitable candidates. "We want to make sure that anyone who comes to the platform can work with freelancers how they want to work with them," says Ozimek. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/elainepofeldt/2021/03/31/is-the-golden-age-of-remote-freelancers-on-its-way/ |
Can Shipping Alcohol Save The Post Office? | getty Online alcohol sales, during the pandemic, have surged. The U.S. Postal Services fortunes, during the same time, cratered. A Nov. 2020 report by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis found that online alcohol shopping spiked that year, with nearly half (44%) of consumers new to booze e-commerce. As a result, IWSR forecast that the American booze e-commerce markets value grew by 80% in 2020, with sales across ten major markets predicted to top $24 billion. Stay-at-home lockdown orders last spring opened up a new shift in post-Prohibition legislation. For the first time in decades, states relaxed liquor board rules preventing both in-state and out-of-state booze delivery. Before the pandemic, for example, wine companies couldnt ship cases out of state, or microbreweries could only ship to state liquor shops where consumers then went to pick up orders. Laws vary by state, but one can generalize and say, pre-pandemic, it was difficult to ship booze, while one year later, a majority of states have loosened restrictions to help ride the wave of at-home drinking. Alcohol delivery spiked during the pandemic. getty That said, even when states allow alcohol to be mailed, only private carriers, such as FedEx or UPS, are allowed to handle the packages. The U.S. Postal Service does not handle alcohol deliveries. Allowing the post office to handle alcohol deliveries could bring in an additional $50 million per year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It would allow the USPS to compete with private carriers and offer low-cost options. Alcohol delivery could bring in an estimated $50 million per year for the U.S. Postal Service. Getty Images The idea isnt new. In 2015, and again in 2019, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) introduced bills to end the ban on shipping alcohol by mail. It makes no sense to create a competitive disadvantage for the USPS by barring them from these kinds of shipments, especially given the Postal Services dire financial condition, Rep. Speier said in a May 2019 statement. Congress needs to lift this ban for the benefit of beverage manufacturers, consumers, and our struggling postal service. In 2018, well before the documented boom in pandemic at-home drinking, the direct-to-consumer shipping market reached $3 billion. Speiers bipartisan USPS Shipping Equity Act would level the alcohol-shipping playing field and establish a new source of revenue for USPS, according to the press release. The bill was endorsed by the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, the National Association of Letter Carriers, the United Postmasters and Managers of America, the National Association of Postal Supervisors, WineAmerica, the Wine Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association, the United States Association of Cider Makers, the Kentucky Distillers Association, and the Distilled Spirits Council. Allowing alcohol delivery could bring in much needed revenue for the U.S. post office. Getty Images According to Congress.gov, H.R. 2517 was introduced May 2019 and referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, where no actions have since been taken. The idea of a new service that could potentially be a lifeline has the support of the American Postal Workers Union. The union told NBC News that allowing USPS to ship beer and wine is a common-sense step that allows customers better access to this growing trend Theres no good reason why beer and wine couldnt be included with other mail and packages. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2021/03/30/can-shipping-alcohol-save-the-post-office/ |
What Are Collin Sexton, Jarrett Allen Worth In A Contract Extension With The Cleveland Cavaliers? | CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 24: Collin Sexton #2 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers ... [+] celebrate during the final seconds of the game against the Houston Rockets at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 24, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Rockets 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images With the annual trade deadline now in the rearview mirror for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they can now look ahead to the remainder of their season. But, in the distance, Cleveland is focused on what the future holds as well. As of today, the Cavaliers are 17-30 which has them sitting with the fifth-worst record in the NBA but are only six games back from the Eastern Conferences eighth seed and four games back from the play-in tournament. With 25 games to go, the Cavaliers need to decide whether or not they need to continue embracing their rebuild or try and make a push for the playoffs.The Cavaliers are also is focused on the future of who is currently on their roster as well. Collin Sexton and Jarrett Allen, two key pieces in Clevelands young core, are both eligible for an extension this offseason. With, $33.7 million coming off the books for the Cavaliers, which becomes $35.4 million if Isaiah Hartenstein doesnt pick up his player option, the team has some money to play around with as well this offseason. With the luxury tax threshold set to $136.6 million next year, that means Cleveland will have approximately $42.3 million to use on improving their roster this upcoming offseason. This figure will be important for the Cavaliers when they try to sign Allen, who will be a restricted free agent, to a long-term extension. With Sexton, meanwhile, Cleveland has one year left on his rookie deal, worth $6.3 million, before his extension kicks in. But, the Cavaliers would probably prefer to sign Sexton and Allen both to an extension in the same offseason just to prevent their future cap sheet from getting messy. Today, well break down what kind of contract offers both Sexton and Allen should expect from Cleveland. This will be based on the seasons theyre having respectively and also compare them to players in similar archetypes as them. In the end, we should have a clear idea how much itll cost the Cavaliers to maintain their young core. When it comes to Sexton, things can be a bit polarizing when figuring how much he should get in a contract extension. On one hand, advanced metrics say Sexton is comparable to the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, and Jamal Murray. By that logic, it means Sexton should qualify for a five-year, $140 million extension with Cleveland that could go as high as $168 million based on if whether or not Sexton reaches certain criteria. Basing his statistical output is also where the problem in itself also lies with extending Sexton. Sure, he compares nicely to Mitchell, Booker and Murray statistically, but, Sexton isnt the same player. If you were to take Sexton and replace him with any of the aforementioned players, Utah, Phoenix or Denver may not be having the same season they are right now. Sure, Sexton is a young rising star in todays league, and will likely be an All-Star one day, but he doesnt impact winning like the players he is compared to. It took Murray three seasons to help his team reach the playoffs. Mitchell got there his rookie season. Booker will finally make it this season and it took him six. Even if it took all of them time, there was tangible data to prove that all three of these players were key factors in their teams taking steps towards the playoffs. With Sexton, meanwhile, he has compiled an overall record of 55-139 during his time with Cleveland. Granted, things are starting to trend upward for both Sexton and the Cavaliers but the playoffs still might be a few seasons away. Thats why signing Sexton to a maximum rookie-scale extension can give you pause. If Cleveland were to become a serious playoff-caliber team, and Sexton isnt able to produce at the same level like he does when the team is bad, then a maximum-level extension becomes a problem. If Sexton grows with the team to a higher level, especially when the cap increases, then a maximum-level extension seems like a steal. That uncertainty is what makes it tough to commit so much money to Sexton outright. So maybe the Cavaliers let Sexton explore restricted free agency next offseason. But, instead of letting that happen, the organization might look to how the Sacramento Kings handled DeAaron Foxs five-year, $163 million extension. Fox, much like Sexton, had a few uncertainties when it came to winning with the Kings. But since Sacramento, like Cleveland, isnt a glamor destination like Los Angeles or New York, the Kings probably felt the need to lock Fox up instead of risking possibly losing him in free agency. The Cavaliers should take the same approach with Sexton. Theres a good chance hell only get better from here, and it would be remiss of Cleveland to let homegrown star like Sexton leave. Thankfully, according to league sources, Sexton wants to be in Cleveland and be a part of whatever this rebuild holds. Maybe that means Sexton and his camp will give the Cavaliers a bit of a hometown discount. Either way, hes probably going to get top dollar from Cleveland and will be a member of the Cavaliers for years to come. For Allen, meanwhile, there isnt nearly as much uncertainty when it comes to signing him to an extension. High energy rim running and protecting big men like Allen are a dying breed. With the league prioritizing the perimeter instead of the paint, there is a limit to how much Allen can get on the market. But, Allen is also one of the most elite players at his position. So with that in mind, it probably means Allen will get top dollar for the Cavaliers. To figure out what exactly that contract should look like, Cleveland should look at the extension Clint Capela signed with the Houston Rockets in 2018 for $90 million over five years. The former Rocket and current Hawk is a player in a similar vein as Allen and can serve as a baseline as a possible extension for the Cavaliers. Due to the rise in the salary cap since 2018, coupled with the fact Cleveland can spend upwards of nearly $35 million this summer, an extension for Allen can be a bit more than what Capela got with Houston. Cleveland could offer Capela a five-year, $100 million contract to lock him up as a cornerstone and their center of the future. While it does seem like a steep price tag to pay, especially at whats considered a diminishing position to some, its well worth it for Allen. Hes known as a no-maintenance, ascending big who fits the modern era because of the vertical spacing he creates and a willingness to thrive without having plays run for him. More importantly, hes a winning player on both ends of the floor. Locking up Allen should be Clevelands top priority this offseason, especially if they can get him at the value mentioned above. If he were to enter restricted free agency, the Cavaliers would have competition from the Washington Wizards, the San Antonio Spurs, the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors, according to league sources. Opposing teams in this scenario could sign Allen to an offer sheet thats above what Cleveland is comfortable with paying him. That then leaves the team with the dilemma of either overpaying their big man or losing him to the highest bidder. After that, the Cavaliers can use their remaining cap space to sign their 2021 draft pick and some depth in free agency. In the end, Cleveland will have to make a few decisions this upcoming offseason regarding the future of their franchise. While Sexton they could worry about next offseason, its for the best to lock him and Allen both up for the foreseeable future. Both are vital to the teams success going forward and will be instrumental in making it back to the playoffs. While it may be expensive, thats the cost of trying to remain competitive when trying to build out from the shadow of LeBron James. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/evandammarell/2021/04/01/what-are-collin-sexton-jarrett-allen-worth-in-a-contract-extension-with-the-cleveland-cavaliers/ |
Where Is The Future Of Govtech Heading? | CEO at Pacifico, a technology, management, and consulting company focus on helping organizations through their path towards the digital era. getty Let's start with a simple question: What is "govtech?" Government technology, known as govtech, refers to the digitalization and adaptation of cutting-edge technology into government entities. The goal is to promote government efficiency, higher-quality public services and transparency. Govtech is also a way to study and understand the effects and the impact of technology on public institutions. Govtech's mission is to use technology as the spearhead to transform the public sector and improve service delivery for citizens and businesses in a more cost-effective, innovative way. Technology has transformed and become engrained in our lives in many ways. In the outside world, we move quickly with the pace of technology. In government-related situations, however, things tend to slow down, so not all government services are up to date with the solutions technology is currently providing. Govtech seeks to take these types of government services into the 21st century by boosting institutions' capabilities and improving performance. To help governments embrace new solutions, it is paramount for tech leaders and companies to continue innovating. I have had the opportunity to help governmental institutions adopt digital solutions that relate to disaster recovery automation, services and goods procurement processes, civic-engaging systems, process optimization and many others. I know firsthand how important it is to promote creativity and hands-on system improvement to keep pace with the development of new tech strategies and civilian behavior. Covid-19's Impact And Current Govtech Adaptations The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the need for governments worldwide to adopt technological measures to optimize processes and, sooner than expected, embrace the digitization of services. Both citizens and institutions share the urgency of promoting efforts that promise to expand and improve access to government services through technology. According to Gartner, a leading technology market research company, global government information technology spending worldwide has been projected to grow to $483 billion in 2021. This spending could include investing in better IT services, telecommunication services, software development and implementation, etc. Gartner reported that this increased spending is due to the public safety measures that must be taken to continue fighting the coronavirus. After all, the pandemic forced institutions to implement changes that were expected to happen in years in just a few months. The digital transformation of government services has been one of the most popular trends I've observed over the past five years. Globally, I've found many government systems have been focused on implementing digital citizen interaction systems and enabling data-processing systems to provide better services. I've seen that some other governments are implementing more sophisticated strategies with artificial intelligence, such as machine learning. The key is to improve service while reducing the public fund's operating expenses. Many large companies understand the importance and the opportunity to modernize government services and operations through govtech adaptations. Amazon, for example, recently announced the launch of its AWS GovTechStart program, which seeks to help with initial investments to companies with innovative ideas aimed at improving the functionality and services aspects of the public sector. From a business point of view, this shows me that Amazon understands the present void and the need created by the pandemic. This also represents an opportunity to foster innovation and adaptation of digital process optimization platforms for the public sector. The Future Of Govtech Govtech adoption has faced many challenges throughout the years. The reasons vary: Some government officials might not have been open to the idea of certain tech, while other solutions might have simply been too expensive at the time. However, I believe times are changing. It does not require a great deal of thought to conclude that the adoption of digital platforms and high-performance information systems into governments, regardless of the pace they are incorporated, is imminent. Technology has changed our lives, and sometimes, we have no other choice but to adjust to the trends. The digital era is making it easier to deal with banking, purchasing, accountability and many other daily routine situations. At its core, a government is a representation of the society it intends to govern. It is paramount to have a governmental operation that keeps up to speed with how fast the world is moving. The govtech revolution is currently influencing the way governments look at their budgets. Governments are including large budget amounts exclusively for the implementation and maintenance of digital information systems. This will unquestionably have considerable repercussions in the political and macroeconomic landscapes, as well. What This Means For Business Leaders The paradigm has shifted. From my perspective, governments are not viewing tech and digital adaptation as a luxury investment; now, it is a necessity. This represents a huge opportunity for established and emerging tech businesses. Tech leaders should focus and aim resources in areas related to financial process optimization, human resources management, cybersecurity and data protection solutions, and any other areas that citizens are obligated to physically attend to a governmental office to resolve an issue. I believe govtech is here to stay and will continue to grow. As taxpayers and as citizens, we should all look closely to govtech adaptations in our respective jurisdictions to prepare our lives and routines for these new ways of government interaction. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/03/31/where-is-the-future-of-govtech-heading/ |
How Do Financial Advisors Get Paid? | Kyle is the bestselling author of The Personal CFO, Founder of Atlas Wealth Advisors, and Co-Founder of L&H CPAs. getty One of the trademarks of a good relationship with your financial advisor is trust. For you to commit to investing your savings and your financial future with someone, its important to understand how they get paid, how much they get paid and why. Your financial advisor probably knows exactly how you make your money. When choosing a financial advisor, its important to consider their fee structure, costs and possibly their incentive for making recommendations. Depending on what types of services you need, different types of payment may work best for you. Knowing how an advisor is paid, in addition to the services they offer, is crucial to choosing the best one for your needs. Three Ways Financial Advisors Get Paid Commission: Commission-based payments are typically associated with buying a product, such as a term life insurance policy or a specific annuity. Its a transactional payment for your advisor, who earns a percentage commission from your purchase. Sometimes, a commission is the only option for these types of services. But, dont hesitate to ask. Often, there are options that dont include commissions. Hourly or project-based: These rates work in the same way youd pay your certified public accountant (CPA) or your attorney. When you work with a CPA to help you with your taxes, you can pay hourly for time spent. If youd like a lawyer to help you create a business entity, you might pay a rate for that specific project. When working with a financial advisor, consider hourly or project-based payments if you have a specific, one-time project (as opposed to wanting consistent, long-term advice). For example, you may pay $200 per hour for financial planning. Or, you might pay $2,500 to complete one project. Advisory fees: These can either be a percentage of assets managed or a flat, ongoing cost. These are best for long-term, comprehensive financial planning relationships, and its a common fee structure for advisors. The benefit of advisory fees is having ongoing access to an advisor. As you build a long-term relationship with your advisor, you dont have to worry about being charged for each phone call, question or project. Fee percentages can vary by advisory firm, but paying 1% to 2% of your assets managed isnt uncommon. Fees may also differ based on how much you have invested with an advisor. For example, many firms will lower the fee percentage for larger account balances. Advisory fees are typically taken from your account monthly or quarterly. Why Your Financial Advisors Fee Structure Is Important Keep in mind that commission costs, hourly rates and advisory fees will vary depending on the advisor. As with any industry, its likely the best financial advisor will not be the cheapest. No fee structure is better than another, but knowing both your options and your needs can help you make an informed decision when choosing an advisor. Whats most important to keep in mind as a savvy consumer is who is getting paid, how much are they getting paid and why. And remember: Youre not just paying an advisor to manage your investments. In most cases, youre paying them to create a comprehensive financial plan based on their knowledge, experience and understanding of finance. Youre also paying them to help you make sound financial decisions during emotional life transitions, market downturns and other curveballs life throws your way. Thats why its important to have an understanding of their fees upfront. A great financial advisor wont dodge your questions about fees. They should be transparent about where all of your money is going and why. This kind of clarity and trust is what allows you to save time, energy and money from handling your investments on your own. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2021/03/31/how-do-financial-advisors-get-paid/ |
Should Businesses 'Hire USA' When It Comes To Technology? | Chief Digital Technology Officer at Tential getty For decades, workforce leaders, labor unions and politicians have bemoaned the loss of American factories and manufacturing jobs to lower-cost overseas markets such as China, Malaysia, Mexico and Brazil. "Buy USA" became and has remained a rally cry for those determined to revive American manufacturing and bring back the 5 million-plus jobs and 91,000 plants that have migrated offshore since 1997, according to the Economic Policy Institute. In more recent years, some of those same fears around the loss of manufacturing jobs have echoed across the tech sector. The answer is both yes and no. Yes, many more business leaders have now had their eyes opened to the sustainability of long-term, distributed tech teams and offshoring and outsourcing remain on the table. However, the demand for on-site and local tech talent has not faded. In fact, the unrelenting demand for local tech talent has made "hire USA" a close-to-impossible goal and offshoring a near necessity for two key reasons: Strong Demand For IT Talent Persists While millions of people were laid off at the height of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, businesses were still hiring IT talent, and they have not stopped. According to TechServe Alliance, unemployment for the overall workforce stood at 6.7% in Q4 of 2020 while it was only 2.9% for the tech sector. Technology, the underpinning of modern work, has been a global lifeline of connection and productivity for businesses and communities throughout the pandemic. From cybersecurity experts to systems administration professionals, businesses have seen surging demand for infrastructure and network specialists who can secure IP and data while supporting an enormous contingent of remote workers and the tools they rely on. The diminutive pool of unemployed IT professionals in the U.S., which rarely rises above 3%, remains too small to meet today's tremendous demand. We Simply Do Not Have All the Skills Hire USA is also a tough IT talent goal because the United States comes up short in many of the technology skillsets that are driving digital transformation today. Take for example the talented professionals who are graduating with advanced AI-related degrees right here in the U.S. According to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service, "two-thirds of graduate students in AI-related programs are international students, and the number of domestic graduate students in these programs has not increased since 1990." At the same time, stricter immigration rules and work authorization programs have made it harder for international students to work in the U.S. after completing their degrees. U.S. tech hubs like Silicon Valley where 71% of tech workers are foreign-born rely on international talent. If the American heart of tech innovation requires massive foreign talent infusions, it's not surprising that everyday businesses across the U.S. are looking to offshore experts to support their technology needs. Good News: Tech Offshoring Creates Onshore Jobs Just as a business cannot outsource its company culture, the vision and ingenuity to drive bold business strategies and build better products cannot be offshored. Innovation comes from the people who know the business and its market. That's why studies have found that outsourcing actually creates jobs and opportunities domestically. As this London School of Economics paper reveals, there is a "productivity effect" with outsourcing. The cost and labor efficiencies gained by outsourcing allow businesses to create new, more strategic jobs back home. When businesses leverage lower-cost, offshore tech talent to support day-to-day work, they gain resources to employ more strategic knowledge workers onshore. Jobs are gained. By being thoughtful about the roles that stay at home and in-house versus those that go offshore. Keep architects and analysts the strategists who are mapping the digital path forward onshore and close to the heart of the company. Open implementation work that can be easily managed by distributed Agile teams to offshore possibilities, such as software development, programming, testing and monitoring. Maintain Agile best practices across distributed teams, from scrums and group standups to daily sprints. The remote engagement skills and comfort levels tech teams gained in the pandemic only enhance what Agile does best: gives businesses the ability to pivot quickly and adapt with innovation and business opportunities. As technology continues its starring role in how we work and live, sharing tech workloads will continue to be essential for businesses. Even if "Hire USA" is not a likely near-term goal, "Innovate USA" can certainly remain a true and achievable one if businesses continue to leverage the right outsourced tech resources while concentrating ingenuity and thought leadership resources at home. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/03/31/should-businesses-hire-usa-when-it-comes-to-technology/ |
Is The Online Alcohol Sales Boom Here To Stay? | Shopping Online for Alcohol AdobeStock_364396650 The Covid-19 pandemic brought the widespread adoption of eCommerce to unprecedented levels as consumers stayed home and shopped online. With more people shopping online, legacy beverage brands have had to shift to digital marketing strategies to reach consumers. To understand the impact this digital shift has had on beverage sales, I spoke with Girish Ramachandra, CEO and Co-founder of Shopalyst, the AI-driven Discovery Commerce platform optimizing digital advertising for marketers worldwide. Shopalyst has the unique distinction of powering over one billion ad-activated shopping trips for 400+ brands in 30 countries. Gary Drenik: Alcohol sales saw triple-digit growth in online retail sales with a 234% jump since the start of the pandemic. Girish Ramachandra: Given the rapid rise of eCommerce last yearMcKinsey & Company reported that the segment saw more growth in the first quarter of 2020 than it had in the previous decade combinedwe can expect growth across all categories to continue this year. Alcohol is no exception. Shopalyst works with the worlds top beverage companies and has seen a significant rise in digital activations over the past year, and our platforms data indicates a surge in ad-activated shopping missions - particularly for alcoholic beverages. Although many Americans miss drinking in their favorite bars and restaurants, consumers have become used to ordering alcohol online for home consumption. According to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics Survey, ~24% more of adults adopted online shopping since the start of the pandemic. Beverage brands have responded creatively to this trend. For example, PepsiCo. transformed the campaign for its new mango-flavored cola into a personal ad for singles seeking dates. Many brands are expected to use similar social media tactics to drive sales as consumer behavior continues to shift during the pandemic. Ramachandra: Alcohol ad spend in 2020 grew steadily throughout the year, outpacing the average of most industries. Facebook, Instagram, Google search, and YouTube are the leading platforms where alcohol brands spend their marketing dollars. They also allocate ad spend to other channels including display ads, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, and regional OTT video platforms. Brands must be creative when marketing to consumers searching and scrolling. For example, Jameson Irish Whiskey recently encouraged people to take PTO for St. Patricks Day with the chance to win money. Beyond creative marketing, brands should include eCommerce platforms in their strategies. 2020 was a huge year for alcohol eCommerce marketplaces Minibar Delivery, which saw a 139% increase in sales from March to April, and Drizly, which Uber acquired for $1.1 billion and enjoyed a sales boost of 750% from March to May. Customers buying more beverages through these channels, and brands should create strategic partnerships with them for increased visibility. Drenik: Smaller, D2C beverage brands have found success bypassing standard regulations that legacy alcohol makers have adhered to for years. Ramachandra: The key lesson of 2020 for heritage brands is that digital avenues should be front and center for both advertising and commerce. Several legacy brands already effectively sell online - including six of the top 10 global alcohol beverage companies that utilize Shopalyst for Discovery Commerce. Alcohol companies quickly pivoted their marketing last March to encourage people to drink at home. Top performers on social media included Absolut, Jgermeister, and Jack Daniels, which all shared recipes and lifestyle content to millions of followers. Given that social media users are up to five times more likely to have ordered alcohol online, these efforts lead to increased sales. Ramachandra: CPG and beverage brands need optimized creative content, personalization, and shoppable experiences to maximize value to digital consumers. In a post-pandemic world, consumers expect digital experiential commerce to be a better alternative to shopping offline. It could be a QR code on the bottle that leads to related cocktail recipes, or a food blogger creating shoppable IG stories to help consumers discover and buy products they love. Digitally native alcohol brand Haus has focused their digital strategy on incorporating Instagram influencers whose behaviorwhen put in social, boozy situations significantly influences their audience. They also feature ingredients and suggested recipes across their website to establish personalization. On Shopalyst, top alcohol brands activate content like recipes, health, fitness, nutritional tips, and influencer marketing. These features integrate within customers lifestyles and feel less like traditional advertising. To turn browsing into actual buying, brands must cut through the clutter by utilizing precision targeting, good timing, and the best creatives to craft a brand experience. Many brands have already broken through crowded markets by using Shopalyst to deploy hyper-personalized, shoppable experiences activated from their digital ads. Drenik: In what ways has the shift to selling across social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Ramachandra: With consumers spending more time online, heritage brands are shifting their advertising dollars online while experiencing a boost in digital channels. Prosper noted that overall alcohol spending online saw a growth of +4% between March and October of 2020. With platforms like Shopalyst, brands can merge their advertising and commerce efforts making instant shopping available on all their digital touchpoints with consumers. Ramachandra: Absolutely! This trend will likely stay long after the pandemic. The convenience of shopping online will be a habit that consumers will continue to crave, and as these trends continue, everything online will become shoppable. Product discovery will no longer be limited to traditional advertising as shoppable video ads allow brands to own the shopping experience. YouTubes BrandConnect campaign that relies on shoppable video ads have helped legacy retailers see a 200% increase in Google search results and several products sold out. Click-and-buy has already become a huge success for platforms like Instagram, where products are directly shoppable through tags on users stories, and brands should prioritize leveraging these platforms to reach consumers. Social media usage continued to spike in 2020, and solutions like ours help brands serve content in a way that drives sales while engaging customers. In fact, brands using Shopalyst see a 3X increase in targeting relevance, a 5X increase in audience attention and engagement, and 8X increase in ad-activated shopping trips. Drenik: Thanks, Girish, for your insights on how brands and their digital marketing strategies are evolving in 2021 and beyond. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/garydrenik/2021/04/01/is-the-online-alcohol-sales-boom-here-to-stay/ |
Have Manchester City Already Replaced Sergio Aguero? | BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - MARCH 16: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City looks on during the UEFA Champions ... [+] League Round of 16 match between Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Puskas Arena on March 16, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. Manchester City face Borussia Moenchengladbach at a neutral venue in Budapest behind closed doors to prevent the spread of Covid-19 variants. (Photo by Manchester City FC/Manchester City FC via Getty Images) Manchester City FC via Getty Images Sergio Aguero announced this week that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. If the 32-year-old departs the Premier League, as is likely, he does so as one of the greatest players to ever grace the English leagues and arguably the best striker of the Premier League era. His goal record certainly backs this up. Only Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, and Michael Owen have scored more than Agueros 181 Premier League goals, and only Thierry Henry and Harry Kane (both 0.68) have a better goals-per-game ratio than Agueros 0.67. Hes also Man Citys all-time record goalscorer by some distance, with 257. Aguero hasnt always been judged by goals alone, though, especially by Citys most recent manager, Pep Guardiola. Pep asked me to try a new way of playing and I had to adapt. It wasnt easy but I had no choice, Aguero said in the 2019 book, Peps City: The Making of a Superteam. My game is totally different now from what I was doing five years ago at City. A total transformation. Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) briefs Manchester City's Argentinian striker ... [+] Sergio Aguero during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on March 10, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images It sometimes feels like Guardiola uses strikers begrudgingly, but just as the City manager encouraged Aguero to adapt his game, Aguero also made it near-impossible for Guardiola to leave him out. But Aguero also proved he could adapt, he learned to press from the front and often played in the style of the No.10 on the back of his shirt, with Guardiola asking him to maintain a central position where possible. He also has 73 assists for the club, per Transfermarkt, which sees him fourth among Citys top assist makers since this stat has been counted. The thing I've found the hardest has been getting into my head the fact that I have to press the centre-back and the goalkeeper in matches," Aguero said on Sky Sports TV in 2018. "I've been gradually learning and adapting to that style of pressing over the last few months. The first thing he taught me was how to press and how to do it well. Last season was the first since Aguero arrived at City that he was not the clubs top scorer in all competitions, with Raheem Sterling topping the charts. Aguero has only featured sporadically this season due to injury, but there have also been occasions when he has been available but unused. Despite this, City have been the outstanding team in Europe this season. Theyre still on course to win domestic trophy in England and are also favourites to win the Champions League suggesting that, at least in some ways, they have already replaced Aguero. Due to his limited game time this season, Aguero only has one Premier League goal, a penalty against Fulham, and just three in all competitions. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City react during ... [+] the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on January 18, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Getty Images Gabriel Jesus has been the obvious backup player for Aguero in recent seasons, but even with Jesus available Guardiola has used a number of other players in the central attacking position. Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Ferran Torres have all done a job in the role, with Guardiola sometimes choosing one of them over one of a recognised striker. This isnt to say City wont sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer window, and they have already been linked with a number of names. This player will be an Aguero replacement in as much as they are a centre-forward coming in to replace a centre-forward, but Guardiola has already adapted his team for life without Aguero, regardless of who comes in this summer. Any new arrival will be an upgrade to the current system which has already learned to replace the goals scored by the prolific Argentine. In terms of this player being an upgrade to the existing system, rather than merely complimenting it, Erling Haaland is the obvious choice, and the Norwegians name has regularly been linked with the club. His arrival would make the task of taking the title from City next season all the more daunting for the other challengers in the Premier League. Aguero is Citys greatest goalscorer, arguably their greatest ever player, and undoubtedly contributed to their most memorable moment when he scored to win the Premier League title for the club in the final game of the 2011/12 seasontheir first league title since 1968. But the way City operate means he can and will be replaced, and in many ways he already has been. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesnalton/2021/03/31/have-manchester-city-already-replaced-sergio-aguero/ |
Will CME's New Micro Bitcoin Futures Contracts Leapfrog Bitcoin ETF Efforts? | BRAZIL - 2019/07/24: In this photo illustration a CME Group logo seen displayed on a smartphone. ... [+] (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Leading derivatives exchange CME Group CME announced this week the planned launch of micro bitcoin futures (ticker MBT) on May 3, pending regulatory approval, that will represent 10% of one bitcoin. This new offering is designed to appeal to a wider audience than its current contract, which covers 5 bitcoins. Given this dramatically reduced size, the initial margin requirements for an MBT contract, the minimum amount that a trader needs to post to buy or sell a contract, will drop by a factor of 50. Settling on a monthly basis just like its larger counterpart and eligible to be settled in cash or rolled over at months-end, the MBT would make bitcoin futures trading accessible to accounts with a minimum of $5,000. Thus, this new product can open the futures-trading door to the day trading and retail market. Additionally, the algorithmic trading community appears poised to utilize MBT contracts for better price discovery and more granular risk management. Together, this adoption could deepen CMEs positioning as the most widely-used and regulated bitcoin liquidity marketplace. For more in-depth analysis subscribe to Forbes CryptoAsset and Blockchain Advisor here. MBT Contracts May Accelerate Already Strong Retail Demand for BTC Futures. This new product is designed to take advantage of already strong demand from the retail community for its bitcoin futures products. According to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) open interest data, the total value of all outstanding futures contracts, retail investors hold the largest share of long BTC open contracts of any customer group. So far this year the group is averaging 3,133 long/buy and 766 short/sell BTC contracts in open interest between January 5 to March 23. Furthermore, this net-buyer demand contrasts sharply with hedge funds that are the largest market participants in CME BTC futures and are net sellers of the cryptocurrency, averaging 7,794 short contracts to 2,983 long contracts. CME bitcoin futures holdings retail investors open interest CFTC, Forbes Now with the initial margin requirementswhich the CME sets as the minimum capital to start a tradedropping from $123,400 for the current 5 bitcoin futures contract to $2,468 for the MBT this trend could grow. MBT Contracts Offer Hidden Value For Institutions Additionally, MBT contracts may be appealing to institutions as a price discovery tool to refine their programmatic and algorithmic trading approaches, where fractions of a cent can make a major difference. When taking this approach, institutions will place high numbers of low-value trades fired rapidly by automated systems to independently discover the price of a security. Without such opportunities, institutions must rely on price quotes from banks, exchanges, or broker firms that may not always be accurate. Historically, the users of small futures contracts for price discovery have been hedge funds, brokerage firms, commodity trading advisor (CTA) firms, banks, and even corporate treasuries. During my interview with Tim McCourt, global head of equity index products and alternative investment products at the CME, he confirmed that some of the MBT demand they expect will come from institutions seeking a more optimal price discovery and risk management. McCourt said the market is witnessing the real maturation of the bitcoin ecosystem and noted that there's a lot of interdependencies between the various liquidity pools. He expounded further to say we are seeing the velocity, the inter-relatedness of the various liquidity pools increase over time and that the CME anticipates that the introduction of MBT futures will further boost the velocity of price discovery and the ability to transfer risk. Who Stands to Win/Lose if MBT Contracts Gain Traction If the MBT contracts take off, and they have a much higher likelihood of approval than a bitcoin ETF at this point, the potential winners are the financial intermediaries authorized to offer it to firms and individuals. They are known as futures commodities merchants (FCMs) and include traditional retail brokerage firms such as TD Ameritrade and E*Trade, as well as futures specialist firms such as StoneX and ADM. The CME publishes a list of FCMs that have consented to their identification on the exchanges website (here), although this list is not exhaustive. There are likely no less than 50 million individuals in the U.S. who opened an account to own or trade cryptocurrencies at crypto exchanges. Based on my experience researching the retail trader market for over a decade, the individuals most prone to make the switch from where they are at today (a crypto exchange) to a bitcoin FCM are the more sophisticated, wealthier millennials. This group of traders looks for convenience managing their cryptocurrency exposure through the same brokerage firm that handles their stock and ETF portfolios, with the added safety provisions of trading bitcoin at a regulated marketplace. That said, it is worth noting that despite the appeal of these contracts hurdles remain. For instance, education on the nuances of futures trading is a barrier for many retail traders and a big portion of traders at large are still learning how to lower the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies. Additionally, we will likely need to wait until the contracts are approved before we see to what extent FCMs promote the new contract. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierpaz/2021/04/01/will-cmes-new-micro-bitcoin-futures-contracts-leapfrog-bitcoin-etf-efforts/ |
Are Innings Eaters Like Gio Gonzalez Going Extinct? | MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch against the ... [+] Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 12, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) Getty Images Gio Gonzalezs Hall of Fame candidacy is not one that will likely generate a lot of good-natured virtual barroom arguments. Gonzalez, who announced his retirement last week, finished 131-101 with a 3.70 ERA and 1,860 strikeouts over 328 starts and 1,933 innings during a career in which he posted a 20-win season and made a pair of All-Star teams. He finishes 106th in strikeouts, tied for 261st in starts, 361st in wins, tied for 479th in innings and 603rd in ERA a terrific career by any standard, but one that leaves him shy of the one-half of one percent who end up enshrined in Cooperstown. Yet his retirement serves as a reminder the innings-eating starting pitcher is turning into a museum-worthy rarity of its own. Gonzalez is the 18th pitcher with at least 100 wins to stop pitching retire is not a universally applicable word since the end of the 2016 season. Some of these hurlers just broke down (Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Jered Weaver) or pitched as long as their bodies would allow (Bronson Arroyo, Kyle Lohse, CC Sabathia). Some retired even though they probably could have pitched another year or two (R.A. Dickey, John Lackey). Mike Leake opted out prior to last season due to the pandemic. Some might never actually stop pitching (looking at you, Bartolo Colon). And some clearly had something left in the tank yet could not find a job. James Shields was one of 13 pitchers to throw 200 innings in 2018 but received no known offers following the season. Rick Porcello posted a 5.64 ERA for the Mets last season, but he just turned 32 and made at least 27 starts in each of the previous 11 seasons. Leake, who has reportedly said hes interested in returning this spring or summer, could join Shields and Porcello in unplanned exile. Gonzalez is a hybrid of his recently inactive peers. After going 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA between the Nationals and Brewers in 2018, Gonzalez was among the dozens of middle-class veterans who remained unsigned through the winter. Gonzalez finally signed a minor league deal with the Yankees in March 2019 before opting out and signing with the Brewers in April. Yet despite spending nine seasons as one of the games most durable and reliable pitchers Gonzalez was one of only four pitchers to make at least 27 starts every season from 2010-18, a span in which just 14 pitchers had more six-inning outings than Gonzalezs 185 he pitched more than five innings just four times in his 19 appearances (17 starts) for the Brewers in 2019 and didnt reach five innings in any of his dozen outings (four starts) for the White Sox last year. Sometimes, even being near the class of a Cole/deGrom/Scherzer isnt enough: The Rays dealt Blake Snell, fewer than 18 months removed from winning the Cy Young and with three years left on a team-friendly deal, to the Padres in December. Gonzalez was one of 57 pitchers to throw at least 162 innings the minimum required to qualify for the ERA title in 2018. Twenty years earlier, 86 pitchers threw at least 162 innings. The trickle-down effect to round-figured counting numbers is well underway. Prior to his retirement, Gonzalez was among 22 active pitchers with at least 100 wins and one of 13 with at least 1,900 innings pitched. (Active, in this case, includes the unsigned likes of Porcello, Felix Hernandez and Cole Hamels as well as Ervin Santana, who didnt pitch last season and went to spring training on a minor league deal with the Royals). As the 2000 season began there were 41 pitchers with at least 100 wins and 30 with at least 1,900 innings thrown. And those figures were down from 20 years earlier: As 1980 dawned, there were 46 pitchers with at least 100 wins and 34 with at least 1,900 innings pitched. Like any sport, baseball is one filled with copycats, so the innings-eater is not likely to come off the endangered species list anytime soon. Not only have the defending pennant-winning Dodgers and Rays found plenty of success deploying starters in shorter bursts, but teams will be doubly cautious coming off a historically shortened 2020. And with a work stoppage looming in 2022, theres the possibility of more abbreviated seasons and accompanying caution thereafter. Gonzalez isnt going to the Hall of Fame in 2026, but there may as well be a museum built in his honor by then anyway. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerrybeach/2021/03/30/are-gio-gonzalez-and-other-innings-eaters-growing-extinct/ |
Has The Public Grown Tired Of Cable News? | Watching TV and using remote controller. Hand with remote controller changing channels or opening ... [+] apps on smart tv getty Between the Coronavirus Pandemic and the nastiest presidential election ever, the American public has had enough of cable news; at least, that was the case this month. Data from Nielsen released by Fox News shows that the three most-watched cable news channels (Fox, CNN, and MSNBC) saw double-digit declines in prime time and total day viewers in March compared with the same period a year earlier. The networks also saw steep drop-offs among viewers aged 25 to 54, the demographic targeted by cable news advertisers. For decades, viewership for cable news has followed a boom or bust pattern, with people tuning in during significant news stories and changing the channel when they are over. For instance, The Pew Research Center shows that the numbers of primetime viewers for Fox News. MSNBC and CNN surged from 1.62 million to 4.58 million between August 2001 and September 2001 when the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred. "The Trump presidency, which culminated in the January 6th insurrection on Capitol Hill - live on all networks - was the ultimate crisis," writes Frank Sesno, a former CNN Washington Bureau Chief, in an email. "It built over time, was amplified by Donald Trump's constant tweetstorms and, ultimately, by a life-threatening pandemic. Audience attention to the news and the ratings that followed reflected that sense of national emergency. It is not surprising that as the country exhales and as the new president deliberately tries to turn down the temperature that ratings are down. I'd be astonished if were otherwise." Indeed, the contentious relationship between Donald Trump and the press continues to reverberate. Fewer than half of Americans told Edelman's annual trust barometer that they trust the mainstream media. The poll also found that 56 percent of Americans said they agreed with the following statement: "Journalists and reporters are purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations." Fox attracted 1.27 million total viewers in March, topping MSNBC'S 1.02 million and CNN's 812,000. It also led in prime time and among viewers aged 25 to 54, averaging 207,000 and 375,000. The conservative-leaning network rebounded after finishing third in January in total daytime and overall viewers behind first place CNN and second place MSNBC. Because of its poor showing in January, Fox News came in third place in the first quarter of 2021, averaging 1.32 million, trailing MSNBC's 1.35 million and CNN's 1.37 million. Fox's audience fell 31 percent on a year-over-year basis. MSNBC's viewership jumped 25 percent and CNN rose 50 percent. Fox edged out MSNBC in primetime, averaging 2.48 million viewers in the quarter to 2.24 million. CNNs audience was 1.94 million. According to Nielsen, Foxs viewership fell 27 percent compared with a year ago and MSNC rose 16 percent. Newsmax, a small right-wing network, gained traction with Trump supporters when it refused to acknowledge that Biden would be the free world leader. Viewership has since dropped off, averaging 140,000 over the day in March. Following the presidential election, Fox overhauled its programming schedule. According to two defamation lawsuits filed by election technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, Fox gave voice to baseless conspiracy theories claiming that the election was rigged. The companies are seeking billions in damages. Fox has denied wrongdoing and has vowed to defend itself against the lawsuits vigorously. It has filed motions to dismiss the cases. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanberr/2021/03/31/has-the-public-grown-tired-of-cable-news/ |
Who will replace Giants' Tyler Beede in the starting rotation? | Baseball has faced a serious crisis in recent years when it comes to protecting pitchers arms, so heres an up-to-date status report on the progress made: None. An alarming aspect of this years spring training has been pitchers showing up in apparently good health, then quickly going down with arm problems. This has been the case with the Cardinals Andrew Miller (shoulder), the Red Sox Chris Sale (elbow), the As A.J. Puk (shoulder) and most recently the Giants Tyler Beede, whose elbow injury may lead to Tommy John surgery. At best, Beede will be sidelined for an extended period, and as we examine the candidates to replace him as the No. 5 starter in the Giants rotation, three names stand out to this columnist. Dereck Rodriguez had a difficult 2019 season, bouncing back and forth between San Francisco and Sacramento and feeling frustrated over the uncertainty. But the Giants havent given up on the son of Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez, and with good reason: At his best, he has the physical and emotional tools to be a respected big-league starter. One game in particular stands out from 2018, when Rodriguez emerged from relative obscurity to force his way into the rotation. Facing the powerful Houston Astros, a team cited in MLBs recent investigation for illegal sign-stealing during that season, Rodriguez pitched seven three-hit innings at AT&T Park (as it was then known) with seven strikeouts, just one run allowed and no walks. He was absolutely cruising. After retiring the 3-4-5 hitters in order in the seventh, Rodriguez looked ready to just finish the job but he had thrown 94 pitches and manager Bruce Bochy went to the bullpen (Reyes Moronta) for the eighth inning as a precaution. Still, the point was made: This man can pitch. Much like Rodriguez, Shaun Anderson is a pitcher who catches someones eye merely by his competitive nature. Its something you love to see in any athlete. Anderson lost his starting job in mid-August last year and may well be best suited for the bullpen, but with Beede out, he might have a better chance at making a fresh impression. Standout games from his time as a starter: five innings, eight strikeouts at Minnesota on July 12, and a five-inning, seven-strikeout outing at San Diego two weeks later. Then theres Logan Webb, who was called up to the Giants last August after a rapid progression through Augusta, Richmond and Sacramento in the minor-league system. Watching video clips from those locales, his stuff looked phenomenal, as good as it gets. His big-league numbers werent great (5.22 ERA, 1.462 WHIP), but he did strike out 37 batters in 39 innings and had a couple of impressive starts, notably Sept. 22 in Atlanta, where he allowed just one run and struck out seven in six innings. In short, Beede is gone, but theres no shortage of intrigue. Among prospects who seem to be on the verge of the big show, right-hander Sean Hjelle and lefty Seth Corry look especially promising. In todays climate unhittable one day, doctors office the next you cant have too many good young arms. Bruce Jenkins is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1 | https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Who-will-replace-Giants-Tyler-Beede-in-the-15108757.php |
Is It Time For Business To Embrace Realistic Environmentalism? | "We now live in a world where companies big and small, are afraid to tell us what they are doing to ... [+] save the environment for fear that its never going to be enough." Sir David Attenborough (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images In recent days significant awareness events have taken place to prick our collective conscience and remind us of the immediacy of the climate crisis. Landmarks around the world have turned off their lights to highlight the issue during Earth Hour. The fashion and beauty magazine Marie Claire has hosted a sustainability festival to challenge the throw-away fashion culture. This week also marks the start of the worldwide #EarthOptimism movement, a 10-day event backed by Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin, with the aim of celebrating those working to protect the future of our planet. During 2020, there was an increased awareness of environment and sustainable living amongst consumers, and with less people traveling for work and pleasure - social media seemed to be alive with more appreciation for nature and the planet. The cessation of travel helped cause a sharp reduction in air pollution but in stark contrast there was a dramatic increase in one-use products such as masks and plastic gloves and in many places a slowing down of recycling programmes, due to the practicalities and safety measures driven by the Covid-19 pandemic At the start of 2021, English broadcaster, writer, naturalist and campaigner, Sir David Attenborough called for further action to be taken to help save the planet, with a key message of its not too late!. We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what were doing to the planet and never before have we had the power to do something about that. Surely we all have a responsibility to care for our planet. The future of humanity and indeed all life on earth now depends on us. We now live in a world where companies big and small, are afraid to tell us what they are doing to save the environment for fear that its never going to be enough. It is imperative that we are all working together towards promoting realistic environmentalism and celebrating ALL that we are doing, no matter how small. And 39% of shoppers say they will have a more environmentally friendly mindset when out shopping as a result of Covid-19 (YouGov). Here are three businesses that understand the importance of the growing consumer focus on buying with care. A growing trend is that of clothes rental and recycling, which has now progressed to the children's market too. Laura Roso Vidrequin, a London-based mother of one was determined to revolutionise the way parents across the world shop by providing a circular-economy solution around childrens clothing. In creating Kids Oclock, which is a platform focussed on recycling clothing for babies from birth up to 10 years old, consumers are encouraged to list their own pieces, rent, or buy clothes from others at a fraction of the retail price. With 80% of a child's wardrobe worn only a handful of times and approximately 8-10 sizes that take a child through from birth until 3 years old - it could arguably be a sector that accounts for a large proportion of clothing and textile waste. Another sector beginning to feel energetic change of consumer environmentalism is the fresh flower market. In the UK alone, demand for cut flowers and ornamental plants in 2018 was worth 1.3 billion, according to government statistics. Approximately 90% of that total are imported flowers, with the majority coming from the Netherlands, grown in heated greenhouses which release large amounts of CO2. Florist Shannon Thomas from Jennies Floral Designs based in Wales, works to highlight the "devastating impact" that buying cut flowers imported from abroad can have on the environment. The 27-year-old, was recognised at this year's Young Innovators Awards, as part of a growing movement of sustainable florists striving to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. With food waste and packaging being hot-spots in consumer consciousness, Yoghurt brand YEO Valley has launched a new campaign Small wins to help put nature first to highlight its sustainable packaging. Understandably consumer expectations when it comes to responsible food packaging are high, and many brands may shy away from revealing smaller milestones for fear that it may not be enough or steps should have been taken sooner. This campaign to highlight that some change is in progress and that small steps are indeed still positive is an approach we may start to see more businesses adopting. After all - we are in this together - business owners and consumers of the world. We must all contribute to our planet in our own way. To make big changes, often we must start small. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/katehardcastle/2021/03/30/is-it-time-for-business-to-embrace-realistic-environmentalism/ |
Can Offshore Wind Energy Deliver Power To Millions Of Americans? | New Shoreham, Block Island, R.I.: Photo of the Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm at Block Island on ... [+] August 14, 2016. (Photo by Mark Harrington/Newsday RM via Getty Images) Newsday via Getty Images Offshore wind energy could deliver. And President Biden says that it could produce 30 gigawatts of electricity by 2030 enough to power 10 million homes. Indeed, the political, technological, and environmental gales are converging. But the high costs and the concerns over marine ecology remain an impediment. As the United States charts its course to become carbon neutral by 2050, it must make massive investments in low-carbon technologies. The projections show, in 2030 and beyond, an increase in electricity usage, says Neil Wilmshurst, a senior vice president for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), during a talk with this reporter. Offshore wind turbines are closer to the electricity demand because most Americans live near the coasts. The Biden administration has made clear its climate goals. This is long-term infrastructure play. And if done right, it could be a huge win for the United States. It could be a tremendous economic engine for the Northeast with massive investments in infrastructure, shipping, and maintenance. The Department of Energy has previously estimated that wind energy could provide 20% of the nations energy by 2030 up from 8% today. Much of the potential rests in federal waters. To help it get there, the Energy Department will offer $3 billion in loan-guarantees to those projects. Wood MacKenzie says that $211 billion will get invested in offshore wind within five years. It says that 2 million acres of federal waters near New York, California, North Carolina, and South Carolina could be auctioned. That would create 28 gigawatts of offshore wind development and generate $1.2 billion for the U.S. Treasury. And that means jobs too: 31,000 a year tied to turbine manufacturing and 4,000 more annually linked to improvements in transportation and ports. In 2016, a 30-megawatt wind farm off the shores of Rhode Island started up. New York State, meantime, now has a smaller wind project under review and it hopes to generate 2,400 megawatts by 2030. Massachusetts and New Jersey have larger projects under study that each expects to be completed by 2024. The U.S. Department of Interior will lease areas of the Atlantic for wind energy development a move that could possibly spawn more than a dozen new projects. Political and Regulatory Winds Shifting 16 September 2020, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Vierow: A crane lifts a model of a plant with ... [+] floating wind turbines into the water in the harbour. (Aerial view with a drone) The test facility is anchored in the Greifswald Bodden. The energy company EnBW and the Schleswig-Holstein wind turbine manufacturer Aerodyn Engineering now want to test Nezzy2 in the sea with waves. The research project involves a new offshore technology in which the wind turbines float on the water. Until now, offshore turbines have been firmly anchored on steel frames in the seabed. The model plant is equipped with two rotors and is 18 meters high. In later regular operation at sea, the wind turbines are to be 180 meters high. Photo: Jens Bttner/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Jens Bttner/picture alliance via Getty Images) dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Along the West Coast, interestingly, floating wind turbines that are not mounted to the seabed floor are under consideration. Oil companies use floating platforms and the industry understands the ocean topography while such ventures would allow them to diversify their holdings. Norways Equinor is actively pursing offshore wind. Providing new offshore wind opportunities, establishing permitting milestones, and boosting critical investments into the supply chain, ports, and workers will provide a foundation for exceptional offshore wind growth, says Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. To be sure, offshore wind energy has stumbled out of the gate in this country: Cape Wind, which would have been built off the Massachusetts coast, pulled the plug after years of regulatory hassles. NRG Energy NRG , meantime, has indefinitely delayed its wind deal off the Delaware coast. And Spanish wind developer Siemens Gamesa has also suspended its plans to build off the Virginia coastline. The big thing is cost: land-based wind facilities cost at least 50% less to build than offshore wind units. That is because developers must build under-seas cables before hooking those up with transmission wires that are onshore. There is also the Jones Act that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on U.S.- owned and operated ships. The law could possibly be disruptive, according to the law firm Winston & Strawn, because European firms with foreign vessels have the skillset to build out offshore wind farms. There are ecological issues as well the impact such development would have on marine life and the migratory patterns of whales. And then theres the effect that hurricanes sweeping up the Atlantic Coast shoreline would have on reliability and whether the wind farms could withstand such a pounding. But the political winds are shifting. Now, it is a matter of making a business case: the ocean gales are much strong and more reliable than onshore, says EPRIs Wilmshurst. The technology is fundamentally the same no matter where the turbines are placed, he adds. But those designed for offshore are much bigger and thus, can generate more electricity. They also have built-in redundancy to minimize maintenance costs. Some of the biggest wind turbine manufacturers include General Electric GE , Iberdrola, Orsted, Siemens, and Vestas. They are expanding in Europe, which now has 116 offshore wind farms across 12 countries, says Wind Europe. Poland, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and the three Baltic States also have plans to build offshore wind farms. The United States, though, may ultimately choose to spread its risks. While the oceans have great prospects for wind energy, says Wilmshurst, the people may not want their coastlines dotted with turbines. We will ramp-up non-CO2 emitting resources but it will be an optimal solution: nuclear, wind, solar, and hydro. It will be a mixture of it all. Given the nations newly-set carbon goals, the case for building offshore wind energy just got stronger. It works in Europe. For it to compete in the United States, however, Americans must be convinced that the investment will pay off that the job creation and environmental benefits will outweigh the added costs. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2021/04/01/can-offshore-wind-energy-deliver-power-to-millions-of-americans/ |
Should Manchester United Extend Uruguay International Edinson Cavanis Contract? | MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Edinson Cavani of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal to ... [+] make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on February 06, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images Crunch talks are said to be happening between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Edinson Cavani as to whether the Uruguay international will be extending his contract until June 2022. Cavani arrived at Old Trafford in October 2020 and after some time in climbing up to match speed, has shown his worth in front of goal as well as his tenacious approach when pressing. In his 18 Premier League PINC matches, Cavani has returned six goals and two assists, knocking up an attractive tally which includes 11 substitute appearances. When Cavani is on the pitch for the Red Devils, they look a better team for it. His drive, determination and steely reserve puts the team on the front foot, with his teammates following his every step to pin the opposition in their own half. It is clear to see why he has been adored by every set of supporters he has played for just by his sheer work ethic. Even as an elder player into his thirties, Cavani has the same energy and exuberance as he did 10 years ago a highly important trait when playing in the Premier League. When comparing Cavanis involvement to that of Anthony Martials, it is chalk and cheese. While the France international can come up with the spectacular now and again, Martial should look to Cavanis relentlessness and start adopting it to his own game. The only slight issue that has occurred is Cavanis susceptibility to pick up niggles and knocks which prevents him from starting week in, week out. While Solskjaer and the fans do not expect him to be playing 38 Premier League matches a season, there needs to be a level of reliability that Cavani can offer, especially when it comes to the business end of the campaign. PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO - MARCH 30: Erling Haaland of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar ... [+] qualifying match between Montenegro and Norway on March 30, 2021 in Podgorica, Montenegro. (Photo by Filip Filipovic/Getty Images) Getty Images With Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in the spotlight amid news of Manchester City releasing a statement to state Sergio Agueros time at the club is up, the Red Devils might feel pressured to join the race for the Norwegian superstar or face missing out altogether. Haaland is not going to be an easy acquisition, just as it wasnt 12 months ago, but Dortmund know that this is the summer to cash in on him if they want an extortionate transfer fee in the region of 100 million. Cavani, likewise, is not going to sit around and pave the way for a new centre forward. At 34, it is clear that he wants to play football, body permitting, and can quite easily do that anywhere else with what he has shown this season in England. Manchester United should leave it as late as possible to make a decision on the Uruguayan, while seeing if Haaland is likely to stay or go. If there is categorically no opportunity to convince the Norwegian to join, there should be no doubt to keep Cavani around for another 12 months. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/liamcanning/2021/03/31/should-manchester-united-extend-uruguay-international-edinson-cavanis-contract/ |
What Is A Successful End To The Season For Manchester United? | MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: The United Trinity statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby ... [+] Charlton outside the East Stand at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United FC on March 30, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) Visionhaus/Getty Images Amid the world pandemic, it has not been an easy season to navigate for any team and Manchester United have certainly felt the tumultuous aspect of fixtures piling up every three days. The Red Devils have been lucky in avoiding serious injuries other clubs have endured, but even without that hampering them down, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has found the turnover in games to be extremely difficult to maintain the correct level of intensity. Their Champions League campaign was the first major disappointment of the season, after two emphatic results against Paris Saint-Germain away and RasenBallsport Leipzig at Old Trafford. Two wins was quickly followed by a humbling 2-1 defeat in Istanbul against Basaksehir, in a game which will be burned into the memories of the fans. It was after this game that the wheels started to come off and Manchester United lost their way in Europe, having then lost to PSG in the return game and when needing to turn up and perform away in Germany, the Red Devils went missing. In the EFL Cup, Manchester United fell to Manchester City in the semi-finals, which is no shame given the disparity between the clubs right now, which is further highlighted by the Premier League PINC standings. It is likely that Pep Guardiolas team will defend their Cup against Tottenham on April 25. Solskjaers team currently sit second in the Premier League, which is arguably their best-performing campaign for a number of years when taking in the variables associated with this season. Other teams have arguably had it tougher with injuries, but the Red Devils have shown they are a hard team to beat. The gap of 14 points does not aid Man Uniteds case in trying to close the gap between themselves and their across-town rivals, but it certainly is a step in the right direction with their league performances. Fans will want to see a more proactive and engaged game plan when taking on the big six in the future, however. Another disappointing Cup exit came to the hands of Leicester City, who sit one point behind them in the league. Not just the result, but the overall performance was horrific with the players failing to bring the right energy and cohesion to overcome the Foxes. By no means are Brendan Rodgers side easy to beat, but Solskjaer will be extremely disappointed with how they fared. Due to the Red Devils third-place finish in the Champions League group stages, they dropped down into the Europa League. Two brilliant results against Real Sociedad and AC Milan propelled them into the quarterfinals where they take on another LaLiga side in Granada CF. Anything but a second-place finish in the Premier League would be a huge disappointment given they have spent the majority of the season there. Manchester United have to find a way back into the Champions League places and these next nine games are absolutely crucial in doing so. And while no one should underplay the match coming up against Granada, the Red Devils will be expected to make the semi-finals of the European competition. Solskjaer is on the hunt for his first taste of silverware as manager of the club, with this opportunity presenting itself favourably. Time will tell whether the Red Devils can end the season strongly, but a Cup win and second-place finish in the Premier League is needed. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/liamcanning/2021/03/31/what-is-a-successful-end-to-the-season-for-manchester-united/ |
Should Businesses Insist Their Employees Have A Covid Status Certificate? | Post written by Dr Edgar Whitley, Associate Professor (Reader) of Information Systems at LSEs Department of Management and co-chair of the UK Cabinet Office Privacy and Consumer Advisory Group. Businesses must consider the wider impact of employees having to prove their Covid status. Credit: getty In late February, the British government announced that it was to review whether to introduce Covid certificates as a way of re-opening the economy. Countries across the world are mulling over Covid certification, particularly beyond keeping track of the number of vaccines that have been administered, so there will be considerable interest when the British government concludes its review, in late June at the earliest. The thinking behind Covid status certificates is relatively simple: Any employee with one would be able to prove that they have had the Covid vaccine or a recent negative Covid test. As such, they would supposedly be less likely to catch or transmit the virus and be ready to work, perhaps without social distancing measures in place. Certainly a few are. The founder of Pimlico Plumbers, Charlie Mullins, is reported to have said that when vaccinations are readily available, all of his new workers will need to have one - although he has been clear that he wouldnt force anyone to get the jab. He has said that lawyers at his company, which employs about 400, are drafting new contracts for workers to reflect this new policy. Barchester Healthcare, which runs more than 200 care homes across the UK, is said to have announced that all new workers must be vaccinated unless they fall into certain exempt health categories. We know that those who have been vaccinated are much less at risk of becoming ill from Covid, but its still unclear whether being vaccinated means were less likely to pass on the virus. At present, vaccination status doesnt offer clear or conclusive evidence that an individual wont transmit the virus so it cant then be used as a robust basis for making Covid certificates mandatory. No jab, no job policies might incentivize staff to get the vaccine, but in terms of scientific rigor, they risk being little more than pure Covid theatre. Besides this, there are several other considerations businesses need to be aware of when it comes to Covid certificates. Discrimination cases Businesses need to seriously consider whether they could be discriminating against employees if they insist on a Covid certificate. Take for example an employee who is pregnant or who is immuno-compromised. They will have been warned not to have the vaccine. Businesses must be careful not to inadvertently state that they cant employ these workers because they havent been vaccinated. In the UK, we are offered the vaccine based on our age, as well as our health history. Businesses should be careful not to discriminate against younger employees, who may not have been offered the vaccine yet, or minority ethnic groups, where survey evidence suggests they may be less likely to take up vaccines Fake certificates No-one needs reminding that unemployment rates are rising. Sadly, there will be those who need jobs so desperately that if asked to provide a Covid certificate, they will produce a fake. While theres much talk of digital apps using on-device authentication, such as a fingerprint or a facial recognition, not everyone has these devices and low-tech solutions will also be needed. More than a simple yes or no Covid certificates are unlikely to be based on a simple yes/no over whether someone has received a vaccine in their arm or had a negative Covid test. Different vaccines have different levels of effectiveness and different responses to different genetic variants of the virus. A certificate might need to state how long ago the vaccine was administered, whether a second jab has been given and which country it was given in. Despite their intuitive appeal, there is little certainty yet over how Covid certificates can re-open our economy. Businesses in the UK should wait at least until the British government concludes its review on this summer to make any decisions on whether to insist employees have a Covid certificate. Businesses in mainland Europe may have even longer to wait. Covid certificates may be a complete distraction in the end if they are rolled out after most people have been offered the vaccine. In any case, at present, vaccination status does not offer clear or conclusive evidence about how likely someone is to transmit Covid to someone else. Businesses, just like everyone else, will need to wait and see. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/londonschoolofeconomics/2021/03/31/should-businesses-insist-their-employees-have-a-covid-status-certificate/ |
Why Did My Student Financial Aid Decrease? | If a familys financial circumstances remain the same, the financial aid should remain the same. But, sometimes the financial aid will decrease. The causes of a change in the student financial aid award can be mystifying for students and their families, in part because of the lack of transparency in financial aid formulas. Eligibility for need-based financial aid for college depends on the students expected family contribution (EFC). When the EFC increases, financial aid decreases. There are several reasons why a students EFC might increase from one year to the next, causing a decrease in eligibility for need-based financial aid. Common reasons for a change in the EFC include changes in income, assets, the number of children in college and non-financial information. Changes in the financial aid formula can also cause changes in the EFC. Errors on the financial aid application forms can also affect the EFC. There are many possible reasons why a student's financial aid package might decrease. getty Changes in Income Changes in income can contribute to big changes in the EFC. The EFC will increase by up to $5,000 for each $10,000 increase in student income and by about $3,000 for each $10,000 increase in parent income. Income can increase because of a raise, bonus, retirement plan distribution, capital gains distribution or exercising stock options. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is based on prior-prior year federal income tax returns, so the change in income would have occurred two years ago. If income has significantly decreased since then, contact the college financial aid office to ask for a professional judgment review, also known as a financial aid appeal. Income can also increase because of gifts to the student and distributions from grandparent-owned 529 plans, which are currently reported on the FAFSA as untaxed income to the student. (The question about money received, or paid on your behalf will be dropped on the 2023-24 FAFSA.) There are threshold effects in the federal financial aid formula that can cause a big change in the EFC if income increases above certain thresholds. Auto-zero EFC sets the students EFC automatically to zero if parent income is less than or equal to $27,000. The simplified needs test causes assets to be ignored when parent income is less than $50,000. (The $50,000 threshold will be increased to $60,000 starting with the 2023-24 FAFSA.) Some colleges have income thresholds that affect the generosity of their own financial aid policies. For example, some colleges have no loans financial aid policies or caps on the parent contribution for families with income below a specific threshold. If the parent income increases beyond this threshold, it can lead to a big decrease in grants and other financial aid. Retirement plan rollovers may sometimes be incorrectly reported as income on the FAFSA. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool may occasionally treat a rollover from one retirement plan to another as through it is a distribution. A distribution is counted in income on the FAFSA, but rollovers are supposed to be excluded from income. If you suspect that this may have occurred, contact the colleges financial aid office. (A Roth IRA conversion, on the other hand, is correctly reported as income, but the family can appeal to the college to get it excluded.) Changes in Assets If the student or parent assets increase, it can lead to an increase in the EFC. Changes in student assets generally have a bigger impact than changes in parent assets. Common reasons for a change in assets include stock market appreciation, gifts and inheritances. Also, if the student saves income from a summer job, it can increase their assets. Changes in the Number of Children in College The parent contribution portion of the EFC is divided by the number of children enrolled in college at the same time. Thus, when the number of children in college increases, it can cause the EFC to decrease. When the number of children in college decreases, it can cause the EFC to increase. So, when a child graduates from college or drops out, it can cause a big decrease in financial aid for the remaining children. This will be changing on the 2023-24 FAFSA, when the parent contribution will no longer be divided by the number of children in college. Changes in the Financial Aid Formula Changes in the financial aid formula can cause changes in the EFC. There are several tables in the financial aid formula that are adjusted annually. Sometimes, these adjustments can yield an increase in the EFC. For example, the asset protection allowance (APA), which shelters a portion of parent assets, has been gradually disappearing since it peaked in 2009-10. Congress periodically changes the federal financial aid formula. For example, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 simplified the FAFSA, starting with the 2023-24 FAFSA. These changes may cause increases in the EFC for middle- and high-income families, especially families who have two or more children in college at the same time, or who own a small family business or family farm. Some colleges have less generous financial aid policies after the first year. For example, about half of colleges practice front-loading of grants, where the mix of grants vs. loans is more favorable for freshmen than for upperclassmen. Also, college costs tend to increase each year, but the amount of grants might not increase. Change in Non-Financial Information Sometimes, a change in non-financial information can cause a change in the EFC. If the student transfers to another college, this can affect the amount of financial aid received by the student. Generally, a lower-cost college will provide less financial aid because the students financial need will be lower. If the students dependency status changes, this can affect the EFC. Parent information is not required on the FAFSA of an independent student. However, if the student is married, their spouses financial information must be reported. The most common reasons for a change in the students dependency status include the student reaches age 24, the student gets married or divorced (or widowed), the student enrolls in graduate or professional school, the student has a child, the students parents die and the student qualifies for a dependency override. The students parents get divorced or separated. Since the FAFSA requires financial information from just one parent, called the custodial parent, this can cause a decrease in the EFC. However, if the custodial parent remarries, the stepparents financial information must be reported on the FAFSA, regardless of any prenuptial agreements. This can cause the EFC to increase because of the additional income and assets. It can also cause the EFC to decrease if the stepparent provides more than half support to children from a previous marriage and these children are enrolled in college. Moving to another state can cause a small increase in the EFC if the other state is a low-tax state. (This will no longer be an issue starting with the 2023-24 FAFSA because the state and other tax allowance will no longer be part of the financial aid formula.) If the student is enrolled in a college that uses the CSS Profile form and the parents move to a new home, a change in net home equity can affect the students EFC under the institutional methodology. Changes Due to Errors on Financial Aid Application Forms Sometimes, a change in the EFC can be caused by errors on the FAFSA or other financial aid application forms. Most of these errors involve income and asset information. Errors that can have a big impact on the EFC include: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/markkantrowitz/2021/04/01/why-did-my-student-financial-aid-decrease/ |
Will Ethereum Miners Engage In A 51% Attack To Maintain High Profits? | A proposed modification of how Ethereum miners are being compensated will result in a profit ... [+] decrease as high as 60%. Miners started to organise online forums to oppose the change, with minor effects so far. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Lowering of increasing blockchain transaction fees, which could be as high as $60 USD per transaction, called contract execution is currently a matter of concern for the Ethereum Foundation. The proposed changes for the upcoming London hard fork, scheduled for July, will lead to short-term profit loss within the miner community. This is why the Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit, dedicated ecosystem of organizations and companies that support the Ethereum blockchain, is trying to de-escalate some miners attempts to display the show of force of a possible 51% attack on the network. A sudden drop in mining rewards as the platform moves away from the proof of work (PoW) consensus algorithm could result in a steep drop in mining profitability and thus incentivize miners to auction off their hash rate to the highest bidders. If the amount of hardware that is made available becomes accessible to a hostile pool of miners, there is the potential for a 51% attack of the Ethereum network. After miners began coordinating their disapproval by creating the website to stop the proposed change the Foundation decided to add software updates that will help offset expected profit losses. Traditionally, Ethereum has priced transactional cost, called gas price via an auction mechanism where users send transactions to the blockchain for verification and specify the range that they are willing to pay. Once the miners have electronically selected a transaction, the user offering the highest fee will be processed first. Such processes have resulted in two types of issues: a mismatch between the volatility of transaction fee levels and the increased social cost of transactions in the Ethereum network. Subscribe to Forbes CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor to learn more about the Ethereum ecosystem The upcoming Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP) 1559, scheduled for July 2021 during the London hard fork, has led to a divide between the miners and the Ethereum foundation. Given the vast increase of DeFi projects, transaction costs have sky-rocketed, allowing ether miners to engage in high-profit mining. Additionally, because the blocks are filled so rapidly, there is not enough space for all transactions to be confirmed immediately, thus leading to block congestion and ultimately resulting in transactions competing based on confirmation speed. As a means to prioritize, higher-paid fees are verified first. As of today, every user who desires to process a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain has to pay a fee to complete a so called gas fee. Contrary to the first come first served basis, the transactions on Ethereum are executed based on an action method in which the highest bidder gets their transaction processed the quickest. As Ethereum has been traditionally associated with low fees, there has been a low standard fee that has been guaranteed to miners for each transaction (base fee). Currently, transaction demand is very high and has outperformed validation availability, hence Ethereum users had to increase their tolerance of the transaction price (max fee). In edge cases, the costs of conducting a transaction on Ethereum increase dramatically depending on when the transaction is executed during the day. Due to such continued transaction fee volatility, users who conduct an extensive transaction on Ethereum might opt for alternative lower-priced blockchains such as Cardano, Polkadot, or Algorand, which are also now ramping up their smart-contract capabilities. As a means to mitigate the risk of losing to competing blockchain solutions providers, the EIP 1559 could be seen as the Ethereum Foundation's attempt to introduce a mechanism that will improve the predictability of the transaction fees while ensuring that miners are not merely motivated by profit maximization. The planned software release will allow the partial so-called burning of the transaction fee rather than providing those funds for the miners, thus lowering their gross profit margin. In practice, burning means the removal of some of the coins from circulation, which is usually done to impose a deflationary mechanism such as utility tokens like BNB (Binance Coin). In the case of ether, however, it would be used to improve the transparency and predictability of the transaction fees, lowering overall cryptocurrency volatility and, if successfully deployed, could also potentially transform ether into a store of value similar to Bitcoin. Currently, the following scenarios are feasible: 1.The Ethereum Foundation could dismiss the EIP 1559 to seek consensus in the mining community. This is, however, unlikely. 2.The miners could collude, rent out hash rate, and enable a 51% attack to stop the EIP 1559 proposal. Gina Pari, founder of the Swedish not-for-profit organization- SweBlocks Marcin Pluta Although the 51% attack might be theoretically possible, in practice, the risk is limited. Such an attack would not be a good move long term for the miners as it would speed up the transition to Ethereum 2:0, meaning that the miners would go from half-fee rewards to none, given the change in consensus algorithm. In addition, if they would contribute to the undermining of the Ethereum blockchain merely for profit maximization, such a hostile show of force could potentially result in unfavorable, long-lasting effects for the Ethereum community and, thus, also have a negative impact on the value of ether. Its, however, a fair assumption, given the initial high investment cost for mining ether, that the likelihood of the miners abandoning Ethereum be marginal as the profit margins will continue to remain relatively high until the change it implemented. - Gina Pari, founder of the not-for-profit organization, SweBlocks 3. The Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 3368 introduces the idea of increasing block rewards from two to three ether with a gradual decay to one ether over two years, which could further incentivize the miners to accept the proposed burning. As of today, despite ongoings protests on website like stopeip1559 the majority of miners seem to peacefully accept the node updates lead by Ethereum Developers, that after the upcoming hardfork and introduction of 2.0 will result in elimination of ETH mining all together. Unless the community unites, what it has not done yet in full. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michalgromek/2021/03/31/will-ethereum-miners-engage-in-a-51-attack-to-maintain-high-profits/ |
What Can We Expect From OPEC+? | POLAND - 2021/01/05: In this photo illustration, an OPEC logo seen displayed on a smartphone with ... [+] stock market prices in the background. (Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images OPEC+, which is comprised of oil-producing countries, ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, including Russia and Kazakhstan, will be making another landmark decision about oil supply today. Market players are watching the situation very closely, and hoping that the cartel acknowledges the coronavirus vaccine-related challenges. The hope is that OPEC+ wont increase the oil supply prematurely. OPEC+ introduced oil production cuts in order to restore oil prices which crashed after coronavirus and brought the global economy to a standstill last year. Oil futures dropped into negative territory for the first time in history. As a result, collective action was taken by OPEC+ to cut oil production. The cartel is keeping nearly 7 million barrels per day (bpd) out of the market in order to support prices and prevent an oil supply glut. However, the recovery in oil prices during the past few quarters has made US crude oil producers ramp up their oil production. Having said that, Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer in OPEC+, hasnt shown any concerns about this for the time being. We are certainly not out of the woods yet. It is true that phenomenal progress has been made on the coronavirus vaccine front, and lawmakers are trying their best to get their nations coronavirus vaccine shots rolled out at the earliest chance. However, there have been several hurdles in relation to coronavirus. Efficacy issues and new strains of coronavirus have made the vaccine process more of challenge. Yesterday, France, the second-biggest economy of the Eurozone, went back into lockdown as coronavirus numbers have started to spike again. This is the third time that we have witnessed this in France. Emanuel Macron, the French President, has made it absolutely clear that he is serious about the lockdown measures, as even schools will not open for another three weeks. All of this undermines the coronavirus-related economic recovery, and it adversely influences oil demand. Curbing of Oil Demand OPEC+ recently curbed its oil demand for this year by 300K bpd as the cartel knows that the recovery isnt as smooth as they previously anticipated. Bringing the demand curve lower gives us a reasonable indication of OPEC+s thinking and their upcoming decision, which is that the cartel isnt likely to move a muscle. Clues About OPEC+s Decision The Joint Technical Committee, which advises the group of oil-producing countries, did not make any formal recommendation to OPEC+ yesterday. So, although OPEC+ has lowered its oil demand, the jury is still out regarding the decision. Usually, under stressful times, the committee makes a formal recommendation before the event, and market players take a note of this. But, this time, we do not have such clues. The only hint regarding this meeting can be taken from Saudi Arabias stance, which is in no rush to increase oil production anytime soon. The likely chances are that we may not see any significant change in the OPEC+ decision. Oil Reaction Expectation If OPEC+ doesnt increase the oil supply significantly, and the changes remain in line with the previous meeting, where only a small increment was allowed, then we could see the oil price moving higher. Crude and Brent could see their prices soar by approximately $3 dollars. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/naeemaslam/2021/04/01/what-can-we-expect-from-opec/ |
Whats In Store For Wall Streets Second Quarter? | People walk past the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) and 'Fearless Girl' statue at Wall Street after ... [+] heavy rainfall on November 30, 2020 in New York City. - Credit ratings giant S&P Global reached an all-stock deal to buy IHS Markit for $44 billion, creating a massive enterprise to produce data and analytics used by Wall Street, the companies announced Monday. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Wall Street has seen a crazy first quarter fueled by stimulus checks, meme stocks, leverage blowout, SPAC frenzy, and Bitcoin. Traders need to brace themselves for another equally irrational quarter, at the least. The Main Themes Meme Stocks Meme stocks such as GameStop experienced massive volatility over the last quarter. Retail investors gave severe nose bleeds to hedge funds which built short positions in GameStop. A lot of this was chiefly due to the fact that retail traders took opposite bets against hedge funds. The so called-smart money institutions and money managers can no longer ignore retail traders. Stocks such as AMC, American Airlines AAL , PLTR, AMD and NIO moved significantly higher, but some of them lost their steam. Most of these names were not top picks among institutional investors, but retail traders backed them up. Tesla TSLA And Bitcoin Another major theme during the first quarter, and possibly the biggest event, was Tesla's investment in Bitcoin. This has opened the conversation that other S&P 500 companies could also diversify their treasury system by allocating some portion of their capital in Bitcoin. Of course, Tesla is one-of-a-kind. The company's almost cultish belief in Bitcoin is entirely different because its customers can also buy its cars using Bitcoin. Nevertheless, it will not be changing that digital currency back into fiat. SPACs Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), also known as blank-check companies, became increasingly popular during the first quarter of 2021. We have had 250+ SPACs so far this year, and celebrities and sports personalities are backing them up as sponsors. Investors like Cathie Wood, from ARK Investment Management LLC PZN , also bought a SPAC with tennis star Serena Williams on the board. Sector Rotation Soaring Treasury yields and concerns about rising inflation made investors sell tech stocks during the first quarter. The Nasdaq Composite index is certainly the laggard among the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. We have seen money flowing into cyclical and value stocks during the first quarter. Archegos Capital Management The Security Exchange Commission (SEC) isn't only concerned about leverage-related issues concerning retail traders. Archegos Capital Management was given excessive leverage by major banks such as Credit Suisse CS , Deutsche Bank and many more. The family office was forced to sell its tech positions in media companies such as Tencent Music, ViacomCBS, Discovery and Baidu BIDU . Shares of these companies plunged, and this also made banks like Credit Suisse issue grave profit warnings. Moving Forward The Battle May Continue U.S. President Joe Biden signed another coronavirus-related stimulus package of $1.9 trillion, which has armed traders with fresh capital. We haven't so far seen much evidence that this money is coming into the market, despite several banks producing their estimates of how much of the stimulus check money could be heading towards the stock market. It has been stated that nearly $190 billion of the stimulus money could boost the stock market. One thing that is clear from this is that U.S. stock indices have closed the quarter, and the month of March, at an all-time high. The key point to keep in mind is that we can no longer discount the strength of retail money. We may likely see the social forums such as Wallstreetbets picking up momentum. After all, retail traders do have money, and they will invest it somewhere. Regulations The SEC is likely to adopt a tougher stance on family offices to avoid any systematic risk to the financial system. Governance around leverage is going to remain the main focal point. Another Round of Stimulus President Biden revealed his new infrastructure stimulus plan of $2 trillion yesterday. Although Democrats control both chambers of Congress, their majority is only by a narrow margin. So, it is essential to keep in mind that while Democrats may support all the infrastructure spending such as building new bridges, airports and upgrading the internet infrastructure, Republicans aren't likely to nod their heads for a tax hike. Lawmakers know that the economy needs infrastructure upgrades, so we are likely to see more money pumped into the system. As for the market, traders are addicted to stimulus-related news, resulting in markets moving much higher. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/naeemaslam/2021/04/01/whats-in-store-for-wall-streets-second-quarter/ |
Was B.J. Finney the worst free-agent signing in Seahawks history? | Was B.J. originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest The Seattle Seahawks have had some rough free-agent signings over the course of their franchise's history. Every NFL team does. One writer thinks so. In a recent piece for The Athletic outlining each NFL team's worst signing in franchise history, Michael-Shawn Dugar argued that center B.J. Finney was the Seahawks' worst free-agent addition. Finney signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Seahawks last offseason. He played a grand total of zero snaps for the team before being offloaded in the Carlos Dunlap trade. As Dugar detailed, Finney's season was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a clause in his contract. Finney was reportedly afraid of suffering an injury during his offseason workouts Seattle had a clause in his contract a failed physical would result in signing bonus forfeiture, according to ESPN so he didnt properly train prior to training camp and reported to the team overweight and out of shape. Still, it was a bad signing. Playing poorly is one thing; not being ready to play at all is far more disappointing. Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic As Dugar points out, the Seahawks did get no value in return for this signing. Finney literally played no snaps despite being expected to fight for a starting spot at center or elsewhere on the offensive line. So, the return on investment was nothing. That said, there are some other signings that the Seahawks have made that may outweigh Finney's deal. Notably, Seattle signed QB Matt Flynn to a three-year deal worth $20.5 million and $9 million guaranteed. He lost the starting job to Russell Wilson and threw just nine passes, so he effectively got $1 million guaranteed per pass he threw in a Seahawks uniform. The Flynn and Finney signings were relatively similar. both players failed to live up to their contracts, provided almost no on-field value to their respective teams, and found themselves on new teams less than halfway through their contracts. At the end of the day, so it's understandable that both would be viewed unfavorably by Seahawks fans. Trying to pick the worse of the two is just splitting hairs. Hopefully, Seattle avoided any signings of this nature this offseason. | https://sports.yahoo.com/b-j-finney-worst-free-220902945.html?src=rss |
What Do We Mean by Automation? | BROOKLINE - DECEMBER 14: There are numerous self-checkout aisles available at the Brookline Stop and ... [+] Shop. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Boston Globe via Getty Images I suspect Im not alone in having less-than-satisfactory experiences with self-checkout machines at grocery stores. Many of us have dealt with the frustration of the machine blaring at us to remove a mysterious item from the bagging area, only to then wait for a human employee to assist us anyway. Im not just put off by the technology as a customer but also as a professor who specializes in the field of automation, and for one particular reason: even though self-checkouts are labeled as automation, theyre actually not. According to Merriam-Webster, automation is the automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system by mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human labor. Increasingly, there is a tendency to label any new technology as such, especially if it appears to do the job of a human, but perceptions can be deceiving. In the case of self-checkout machines, a robot hasnt replaced the cashiers job of scanning or bagging groceries; a human is still performing those tasks but its now the customer rather than the cashier. In other words, nothing has actually been automated. Self-checkouts have not only lowered the customer experience, making it more inconvenient and less enjoyable, but also displaced jobs, many of which are incorrectly blamed on automation. In order to improve public understanding, as well as guide how we utilize automated technologies moving forward, engineers and other stakeholders need to consider the following. First, we must find ways to better communicate what automated technologies are and what they arent and highlight how they improve peoples lives. Secondly, it is incumbent on us to determine why we are designing these technologies. If automation is going to continue permeating society, its crucial that we, both those creating it and those affected by it, have a fuller, more thoughtful approach to how we think and talk about automation. So-so automation While our lives may seem more automated, which is cause for alarm for some, the reality is that weve been living with automation for decades without fully appreciating it. For instance, an appliance many people use daily provides an understated example: your oven. You set the temperature you want to cook at, and the oven maintains that temperature on its own. Its a simple directive, with the oven performing its functionality without user involvement. But other forms of automation arent always as helpful or productive. A recent New York Times article about changes to corporate workplaces due to COVID-19 addressed so-so automation technology that is just barely good enough to replace human workers, but not good enough to create new jobs or make companies significantly more productive, according to the article. At best, its a neutral addition and at worst, a negative one; the output is the same, and little to nothing new comes out of it. The article cites self-checkouts as an example, but also notes white-collar jobs are increasingly at risk, and at a faster pace than ever before. If automation is simply displacing humans, rather than improving what they can do, its no surprise that it will be met with hesitation, if not opposition. In other cases, true automation is deployed without full consideration of its impact on individual human populations. The New York Police Department recently began using a dog robot called Digidog during patrols. On one hand, Digidog can help police surveil dangerous situations and cover more ground. But Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union, raised concerns to the Times about bias, surveillance and privacy over using a robot for this type of work. Technology like Digidog can have an adverse effect on the communities it is being used in, particularly if those communities are not educated about the technology, and its capabilities and limits. This can further alienate people from automation. The case for automation I conduct research and teach courses in the field of control systems which are at the heart of automated technologies, and was driven to this field because of the positive impact it has had, and can continue to have on society. Nonetheless, I acknowledge why automation is resisted by those who are most negatively affected by it, whether in the workplace or in their daily lives. The solution is to move away from so-so automation and towards innovation that actually pushes the ball forward for people, workers, business, and society more holistically. There are already plenty of examples of automated technologies that we engage with regularly, such as autofill text on your mobile devices, robot vacuums, smart thermostats, adaptive cruise control in passenger vehicles, and plenty more on the way. We intrinsically understand how all of these types of automation make our lives easier, just as we fundamentally recognize when a technology is not. If both users of automation and its creators have a clear-eyed view of what the technology is and how they can use it, we will be able to leverage it more effectively. This may require improving how we educate students, and the general public, about technology and its impact on humanity. Automation is sure to have a significant impact on our lives, so lets make sure its a positive one. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/neerajain/2021/03/31/what-do-we-mean-by-automation/ |
What is open and closed under the new shutdown restrictions? | Article content New COVID-19 restrictions The Ontario-wide shutdown begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. Heres what you need to know. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Businesses not permitted to open include: museums, personal care services day camps, casinos and bingo halls, concert venues and more. Capacity limits of 50 per cent for stores that primarily sell food (including farmers markets) and pharmacies. The limit is 25 per cent for all other retail, including discount and big box retailers, liquor stores, hardware stores and more. No dining indoors or outdoors at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments. Take out, drive through and delivery is permitted. Indoor organized public events and social gatherings are not allowed except for members of the same household. Outdoor recreational amenities, such as baseball diamonds, batting cages, tennis courts, basketball courts, horse riding facilities, golf courses and driving ranges and more are permitted to open with conditions. | https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/what-is-open-and-closed-under-the-new-shutdown-restrictions |
How Significant Is Greeces Growing Military Cooperation With The UAE And Saudi Arabia? | Greeces military relations with the Persian Gulf monarchies of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have grown substantively over the past year and continue to grow. In March, F-15 fighter jets of the Royal Saudi Air Force and their crew and supporting technicians arrived on the Greek island of Crete for the Eye of Falcon 1 exercises over the Mediterranean Sea. This deployment is the latest example of the growing defense cooperation and relations between the two countries. Athens has also planned, since early 2020, to deploy some of its MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile systems to Saudi Arabia with around 130 personnel to help defend that kingdoms energy infrastructure, which is repeatedly targeted by ongoing ballistic missile and drone attacks carried out by the Houthis in Yemen. On March 19, Greece unequivocally condemned one such drone strike targeting oil facilities in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Defense relations between Greece and the UAE have grown even closer. In August 2020, the UAE deployed four of its air forces F-16s to Crete amidst growing tensions between Greece and Turkey over their disputes concerning maritime boundaries and offshore resource rights in the East Mediterranean. That was a clear demonstration of solidarity between the two countries, which share strong opposition toward Turkeys foreign policy. Greek Prime Minister kyriakos Mitsotakis (L), speaks with Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi, Emirati Minister ... [+] of State for International Cooperation (R) and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud (C) on February 11, 2021, in Athens, during the Greek-hosted Philia Forum (Friendship Forum), with representatives from several Persian Gulf and East Mediterranean countries. - Greece is hosting Foreign ministers and senior officials from Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, and France for a meeting in Athens focused on a range of issues. (Photo by PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PETROS GIANNAKOURIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images The following November, the two countries signed a strategic partnership which, among other things, calls for each country to come to the aid of the other in the event their territorial integrity is threatened. Greece hailed the agreement, even going so far as to say its the most significant agreement it has entered since the end of the Second World War. In February, Saudi, Emirati, and Bahraini officials congregated for a meeting in Athens, the Philia Forum, which was also attended by Cypriot and Egyptian officials, in, among other things, another show of support for Greece in the East Mediterranean dispute. The development of regional partnerships is a key pillar of Greek foreign policy, George Tzogopoulos, a senior fellow at the Centre International de Formation Europenne and research associate at the Begin Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (BESA) told me. It is within this context that the improvement of relations between Greece and the UAE or Greece and Saudi Arabia can be better understood. The February 2021 Athens Philia Forum, for instance, where Greece, Cyprus, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain participated, is placed in this context. Greece has traditionally taken a balanced approach toward foreign affairs. As part of this approach, it seeks to preserve warm relations with the Palestinians while simultaneously elevating its partnership with Israel. Similarly, it aims to work with Saudi Arabia in a manner that doesn't harm its cordial relations with Iran. The task is difficult, Tzogopoulos said. Tehran, for example, has noticed Greeces decision to send Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia and verbally complained. In a February 2021 speech, Greeces Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias once again sought to emphasize the defensive nature of the planned Patriot deployment. The government will sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia on the Patriot missiles, he said. But the Patriot missiles are not offensive weapons; they are defensive weapons. They are not directed against anyone. They defend ones airspace. Just to be clear, he added. Greece does not project aggressive power anywhere. New geopolitical developments in the Middle East in particular make it harder for Greece to maintain balance in its foreign relations. In its effort to better position itself in a new regional environment - as exhibited with the Abraham Accords [the 2020 peace and normalization agreements between Israel, the UAE, and other Arab states] - and empower its defense partnership with the USA, Greece has taken some initiatives that cannot always satisfy all Middle East countries, Tzogopoulos said. Despite this, Greece is unlikely to become deeply involved in obscure military conflicts that go far beyond its national interests. As far as the relationship between Greece and UAE are concerned, ties in the military field are strong and can be further strengthened, Tzogopoulos said. Numerous agreements signed between Greeces Ministry of Defense and the General Command of the UAE armed forces point in this direction. Additionally, more joint exercises are on the agenda. The Hellenic Navy frigate Hydra recently docked in the UAEs Zayed Port. There is also the prospect of arms sales between the two allies in the foreseeable future. Despite these undoubtedly significant developments, Tzogopoulos sincerely doubts that the Greek-UAE cooperation scheme included a mutual defense clause due to different interests. Although both countries criticize the behavior of Turkey, Greece would be naive to believe that other actors would come to its support in the case of a new crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said. Accordingly, there are clear limits to this growing military cooperation, which is more of a partnership motivated by mutual self-interest and objectives rather than a formal alliance. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/03/31/how-significant-is-greeces-growing-military-cooperation-with-the-uae-and-saudi-arabia/ |
Can Belgium Win Euro 2020? | Czech Republic's defender Jan Boril and Belgium's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne vie for the ball during ... [+] the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football match Czech Republic v Belgium in Prague on March 27, 2021. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) (Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was unequivocal after Belgiums disappointing 1-1 with the Czech Republic: there was no need to dramatize just yet; Belgium can still win the European Championship. Even if coach Roberto Martinez keeps downplaying his teams title credentials, the world number will be one of the favorites at the continental finals this summer, but a recent draw in Prague provided a timely reality check. At the Sinobo Stadium, Belgium was lethargic in its marking, build-up play and passing. The three-man defense didnt contain Czech reserve striker Michael Krmenk and struggled to play out from the back. In midfield, Leicester Citys Youri Tielemans and Wolves Leander Dendoncker were less than imposing. Fresher and fitter, the Czechs pressed all over the field and it left Martinezs team uncomfortable. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku came to the rescue once again, but even the ever-optimistic Martinez admitted this hadnt been a satisfying performance. In its last eleven matches, Belgium fell behind five times. The Red Devils are no longer the swashbuckling team that stormed to bronze at the last World Cup in 2018, performing miracles against both Japan and Brazil en route. A testimony to its maturity, the teams modus operandi is much more business-like, but at times it leads to complacency. The defense is the Achilles heel and Martinezs main concern. Jan Vertonghen, who exited Tottenham Hotspur for Benfica, is no longer the unyielding defender of old. Against the Czechs, he left too much space in behind. Olympique Lyons Jason Denayer was untidy in both his marking and passing. He deputized for Vissel Kobes Thomas Vermaelen, whose match fitness at 35 is questionable. Toby Alderweireld is struggling for first-team action at his club. Martinez has injury worries as well. In January, Axel Witsel tore his Achilles tendon with Borussia Dortmund. The 32-year-old midfielder, sometimes perceived as slowing down the game, is key to the sides balance. His replacement Dendoncker hasnt convinced yet. For Eden Hazard, there is however no like-for-like replacement. Struggling with a series of persistent injuries and other niggles, the Real Madrid star has never rekindled the form of his hey days at Chelsea. The last European championship in France is a stark reminder that tournament football can be unforgiving. One bad game and you are out of the competition. In the round of sixteen, Belgium and a magnificent Hazard cruised past Hungary 4-0, but the team of coach Mar Wilmots exited Euro 2016 against a clinical Wales. Under the Spaniard, Belgium has improved and matured. All the players are in tune with the demands of his 3-4-3 formation, resulting in a unit that concedes few goals and is devastating up front. They breeze past smaller opponents. In the recent World Cup qualifying triple header, they cruised past Wales 3-1 and hammered Belarus 8-0 with a second-string team. Its a stark contrast with the Netherlands and Spain, other European powerhouses, who struggled in their matches. On the road to Euro 2020, Belgium won all its 10 qualifiers, smashing 40 goals past its opponents. Belgium is on course for the World Cup in Qatar with seven points from three matches, but the draw with the Czech Republic serves as a wake-up call ahead of Euro 2020. This summer, its do or die for Belgium and Martinez knows that too much complacency and too many hiccups against Italy and France, potential opponents in the knockout phase, will be deadly. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/samindrakunti/2021/03/30/can-belgium-win-euro-2020/ |
What Does It Take To Be The Kind Of Company Employees Wish They Could Work For? | By Carolyn Judge Phillip, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, SAP SuccessFactors After facing an array of challenges over the past year, many HR leaders are reflecting about whether their organizations succeeded as a result of business strategies or merely survived in spite of them. HXM enables empowerment and engagement by focusing on what employees need to be their best. It focuses on individualized experiences designed to keep employees happy, productive, and improving. getty As a start, a growing community of HR experts advocate for an evolved approach to Human Capital Management (HCM) that changes the focus to the employee experience. Its called Human Experience Management (HXM), which shifts from focusing on HR processes to putting employees and their experiences first. It isnt just the right thing to do. Its necessary for driving better business outcomes. HXM enables empowerment and engagement by focusing on what employees need to be their best. It focuses on individualized experiences designed to keep employees happy, productive, and improving. We dont spend enough time as HR professionals helping our employees understand the best conditions and tools they need to be productive, said Sharlyn Lauby, president of ITM Group. And we need to understand that this isnt just a wish list its what they need to be successful. And further to that point, Amplify founder and HR Open Source cofounder, Lars Schmidt, said, Financial compensation will not make an existing employee super motivated. What they need is the ability to make a contribution one that is recognized. It goes beyond policy. HR leaders must find an opportunity in every interaction or process to communicate that employees and their experiences are valued. Heres what some HR experts are advising organizations to do to create better experiences for everyone candidates, individual contributors, and all the way to the C-suite. Because the business results are sure to follow. Create meaningful experiences before a new hires first day Its critical to focus on all aspects of the employee life cycle, including recruitment, promotions, or even exiting the company and everything in between. Starting with the candidate experience, employees are forming their views of the organization and its culture. To choose a company even in an unstable labor market, employees are looking at more than the salary offer. Now people are not asking Can I belong in this company?, said Jumpstart HR CEO Joey Price. They are asking, Can the company belong with me? After recruitment, the new-hire experience should continue through immersive onboarding that includes social integration and acculturation. People need tailored guidance and connections to be successful even before their first day. And when that day comes, these new employees will be engaged, because they know where to go, whom to talk to, and how to work with mentors, peers, and teammates. Theyll know how to navigate the job and theyll feel connected, comfortable, and confident and ready to make an immediate impact. Thats the power of HXM. Elevate continuous learning and growth Learning and development is no longer an afterthought. Companies cant view it as a one-sided transaction that trains employees for the employers benefit. Job seekers today evaluate your job posting to see if you offer learning, growth, and development as part of the job description, saidPrice. This means companies must embrace new ways of learning and mentoring. As an experience, learning is about more than learning management systems. Its about coaching, feedback, performance goals, development plans, mentoring, fellowships, and stretch assignments. And of course, technology is providing increasingly more opportunities for highly individualized learning. If you connect people to the things they want and need to learn in the most effective way for them, they will feel understood and become more engaged and productive. We have to think about a more bespoke approach to talent development, said Price. The more intentional we are about training and development, the more valuable our results will be. Build a culture of inclusion and trust While customers and employees are looking for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) where they shop and work, many companies are still trying to rework their talent strategy. There is a lot of work to be done, according to HR experts. Ive heard some CEOs say, Weve talked about race enough, said Minda Harts, Founder and CEO of The Memo, LLC. Im sorry to disappoint you, but you cant solve all systemic racism problems in a 60-minute Zoom call. It has to be baked into your strategy. Harts said companies still have to dismantle some systems to make sure diversity is part of every business case going forward. When its there, its embedded in everything we do, and the metrics bear that out. Companies need to create open lines of communication, earn trust, and ask the right questions. That starts with empathy. Empathy and humility are two sides of the same coin, said Laurie Ruettimann, HR leader and author. And you cant be empathetic without first admitting that you dont know what you dont know. Ruettimann encourages employers to be humble enough to ask, What do you need? and also understand that some people arent going to be comfortable answering that question. Technology can play a role to create continuous dialogue and ask employees for their feedback about their experiences. The hard truth is, A lot of people dont trust HR, said Harts. And to gain that trust and empathy, you have to build relationships in a psychologically safe environment. Companies that dont see individualized work experiences as the norm are not only doing a disservice to their employees, but to the business overall. Weve moved to a consumer market that tailors experiences based on the individuals needs, said Katie Augsburger, founding partner of Future Work Design. "Candidates are expecting to see organizations that care for their unique employee experience, which includes the type of training they need to be successful, and benefits that work for their lifestyle. Traditional HR approaches and HCM systems were not built with employees needs in mind. Thats why HXM is all about transforming how companies engage with their people. We humans are complex and ever changing. HXM helps you understand your employees so you can create engaging, individualized experiences around how people work and what motivates them, and adapt with them as they change. It puts people in charge of their careers and makes each days work more meaningful. When companies embrace this approach for every employee, their entire organization will experience wins. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2021/04/01/what-does-it-take-to-be-the-kind-of-company-employees-wish-they-could-work-for/ |
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