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How Can We Continue to Keep Schools Relatively Safe from the Coronavirus? | In late March, New Yorks public high schools reopened for in-person instruction. Elementary schools have been offering some in-person instruction since December, middle schools since February. The countrys largest school district has managed to provide more in-school hours than many other districts that might have seemed better equipped for the task. But, nearly three months after vaccines became available to teachers, fewer than halfaround sixty-five thousand, out of approximately a hundred and forty-seven thousand Department of Education employeeshave received at least a first shot of the vaccine. For much of the past year, in-school transmission of the coronavirus has not been of particular concern to infectious-disease specialists. Data seemed to show that children become infected at a relatively low rate. That may be changing, however, with the advent of more infectious variants of the virus, as Peter Hotez, a pediatric microbiologist and vaccine specialist at the Baylor College of Medicine, told me. The B.1.1.7or U.K.variant, for example, appears to cause more severe illness in young people than the original version of the virus, and has an over-all higher risk of transmission. Not much age-based data exist on the more recent B.1.526 variant, which is now the single most widespread variant in New York. The positivity rate at schools stayed low through the fall, even as cases spiked citywide, and although it has been inching up it still remains below one per cent. (In mid-March, my nine-year-old son, my partner, and I all tested positive for the coronavirus, with my son the first to show symptoms.) One way to lower COVID-related risks in schools would be to insure that as many people as possible inside school buildings are vaccinated. With vaccines not yet approved for children and adolescents, its up to the grownups who work in school buildings to make them as safe as they can be. That needs to be transmitted to staff and teachersyour luck may run out, Hotez said. Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, told me that union representatives in New York City have been educating teachers about the vaccine and helping set up appointments since January. But the city, state, and federal governments have not undertaken a campaign to persuade school personnel to be vaccinated. Saad B. Omer, an epidemiologist who heads the Yale Institute for Global Health, told me that refusal rates among some of the groups that have had access to vaccines the longestsome health-care workers, members of the military, and nursing-home staffare high. They may be the canary in the coal mine, Omer said; vaccination rates in these groups may predict rates among others, including teachers. Apparent hesitancy among some health-care workers is especially troubling, as members of this group are the most trusted sources of vaccine-related information. Reluctance among their ranks, Omer said, signals a danger of a vaccination plateau. Schools occupy a peculiar place in the pandemic conversation. For many children and parents, the lack of in-person school has been one of the biggest losses of the pandemic. For those of us lucky enough to have access to some in-person instruction, its been a lifeline. Ive lost track of the number of times that my sons school partially or fully closed for ten or fourteen days, owing to a case in his classroom or two unrelated cases in the school, but the weeks that he has been able to attend in person have been the easiest and sanest of the past few months. (On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would end its policy mandating a ten-day closure of any school with two unrelated cases.) For many families, school has been their most frequent and sustained contact with people outside their households. Schools have also been safer than almost any other public space. But, if vaccination rates among school staff remain low compared with some other groups, and if more-infectious variants are circulating, schools may lose their status as a relatively safe harbor. And schools are different from other congregate settings, because, unlike nursing-home residents, hospital patients, or college students, young children cannot be vaccinated. They cannot contribute to protecting the group by choosing immunityonly the adults in the building can do that until pediatric vaccines for all age groups are approved. A possible solution is a vaccine mandate. Omer and other public-health specialists were working on vaccine-requirement frameworks before the pandemic, particularly in connection with outbreaks of measles. In July, 2019, Omer and two of his collaboratorsthe social scientists Cornelia Betsch, of the University of Erfurt, in Germany, and Julie Leask, of the University of Sydney, both of whom work on medical communicationpublished an article in Nature urging caution in introducing compulsory vaccination. The authors warned that overly punitive or restrictive vaccine mandates could backfire. For example, when California eliminated nonmedical exemptions from childhood-vaccination requirements, many parents either secured medical exemptions or opted to homeschool their children. Omer told me that he thinks vaccine mandates should be an option in the fight against COVID-19, but only following a concerted campaign for voluntary vaccination. Mandates dont get you from fifty-per-cent uptake to a hundred, he said. But they can be helpful in getting from seventy to ninety. Hotez is vaccine developer (he has a COVID-19 vaccine currently in clinical trials) and also a longtime activist against vaccine disinformation. Last year, research to which he contributed showed that two groups without much overlap exhibited the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy: Black Americans and conservative Republicans. (Hesitancy among Black Americans has since lowered.) In response to these findings, Hotez became a regular on radio talk shows that would reach people least likely to trust the vaccines. What he discovered, he told me, was that conservative callers assumed that the government would institute a vaccine mandatethey were already in battle with this straw man. Requiring vaccination, Hotez told me, would be, at this stage, poking the bear. Mandates may become necessary, but now Id say, Dont push too hard, he said. It may be counterproductive. A mandate, he believes, would affirm the anti-big-government expectations of some of most vocal vaccine resisters, rather than change their minds. Ultimately, it is the state Department of Health that would impose a vaccination mandate in schools. At present, it requires all children to provide proof of a raft of vaccinations, from polio to hepatitis Bno nonmedical exemptions allowedbut does not require any vaccinations of school-based personnel. Jill Montag, a spokesperson for the D.O.H., told me by e-mail that, as a matter of practice, the state required mainly children, not adults, to receive vaccines. In fact, the state imposes strict vaccination requirements on adult students at post-secondary institutions: anyone born in 1957 or later must show proof of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella. (Montag didnt respond to a follow-up e-mail; in response to a fact-checking query, she referred to her previous statement.) Hotez told me that he expected a plurality of colleges and universities to require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the fall; Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, announced such a requirement on March 25th. According to Omer, a major obstacle to effective vaccination is the failure of American state and city governments to use existing expertise on conducting vaccination campaigns. They dont realize that you need science for vaccine communication, he said. Researchers have accumulated a wealth of data on strategies that work, including guidance on messaging, organization, and regulation. A clear and effective campaign would involve creating vaccination locations that are accessible and welcoming. The convoluted online sign-up systems for New York City and the state are neither of those things, and neither are giant, out-of-the-way vaccination sites, such as the Javits Center. It also involves collaborative communication strategies. Studies show, for example, that a pediatrician who says Im going to vaccinate Johnny today or Its time for Johnnys vaccine is less likely to end up getting a shot into Johnnys arm than one who asks What do you think about vaccinating Johnny at this visit? Interestingly, the W.H.O. has been more receptive to adopting communications strategies recommended by researchers than American officials have been, Omer said. The haphazard approach to vaccination campaigns may be a product of what Omer generously called a robust public squarea conversation, largely playing out in the op-ed pages, that juxtaposes expert opinions with those of people who have little or no experience in the epidemiology of infectious diseases. These include Scott Atlas, a radiologist whose contrarian views on the pandemic earned him former President Donald Trumps ear, and Marty Makary, a surgeon who, less than two months ago, argued in the Wall Street Journal that the United States would attain herd immunity by April. | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-can-we-continue-to-keep-schools-relatively-safe-from-the-coronavirus |
Will Biden's Offshore Wind Plan Be Enough? | Susan Stewart, a Penn State engineering professor specializing in wind energy, waited more than 10 years to see an offshore wind turbine up close. A pregnancy caused her to miss a chance in 2005 to tour offshore turbines in Europe. There, offshore wind farms have produced clean energy since the early 1990s, but regulatory roadblocks and a lack of political will left plans for U.S. plants moldering in filing cabinets for years. Finally, in 2016, Stewart and a group of colleagues toured Americas first ocean wind farm, which had just been installed off Block Island, a popular Rhode Island vacation spot. I was so excited, Stewart says of seeing the turbines. Theyre majestic to me. While historic, that Block Island plant produces only about 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power about 20,000 average U.S. housesor about 4% of Rhode Islands homes. By comparison, a typical coal plant produces about 600 MW. In total, offshore wind farms currently generate just 42 MW in the U.S. But under an ambitious $3 billion Biden Administration plan unveiled last week, the U.S. is set to multiply that output to 30 gigawatts (GW)30,000 MWby the end of this decade. Among other things, the package includes federal loan guarantees for offshore wind development, a new priority wind energy area between Long Island and New Jersey, and funding for port improvements around the country to make it easier to build new offshore wind facilities. We are taking an all-of-government approach, says Amanda Lefton, director of the Interior Departments Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The program, she says, represents a sea change [from] how the United States had previously approached offshore wind. Experts say Bidens offshore wind plana prelude to the massive $2 trillion infrastructure proposal he announced two days lateris a long overdue step in the right direction. Indeed, the U.S. has plenty of work to do to catch up with other parts of the world. Europe, for instance, currently generates about 25 GW of electricity from offshore wind farms, while China generates nearly 9 GW. In Europehome to the worlds first offshore wind plant, which opened in Denmark in 1991energy companies have spent decades building up their offshore wind manufacturing and infrastructure capabilities, which means new plants can be developed at lower costs. Their proven track record also makes it easier for them to raise capital by issuing bonds. The result: cheaper renewable energy. Europes lead is likely to widen. Orsted, a Danish renewable energy giant, is currently developing about 3 GW in new offshore wind capacity via five projects along the U.S. East Coastbut the company built more capacity than that in Europe in just the past three years. Energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie projects Europe will add more than 85 GW in offshore turbine capacity over the next 10 yearsnearly three times the Biden Administrations goal. The U.K. alone is likely to reach 30 GW of offshore capacity by 2030, says David Toke, an energy policy researcher at the U.K.s University of Aberdeen. Thats a handy feat for a nation with less than 10% the electricity demand of the U.S. China, meanwhile, is projected to add 73 GW in new offshore capacity over the next decade. Offshore wind energy is only one solution in the renewables grab-bag. The U.S., which benefits from more wide open spaces and less population density compared to Europe, built 20 GW of new land-based wind power capacity in 2020, and is on track to build 12 GW more in 2021, while also adding 27 GW in new solar capacity in those two years. Overall, the U.S. currently generates about 20% of its electricity capacity from renewables, compared to 38% in the E.U. Regardless, experts say its essential for the U.S. to develop its offshore wind capacity, especially in eastern coastal states with low land availability and high energy needs, like New York. And though offshore wind power can be more expensive to install than equivalent onshore capabilities, sea-based wind turbines can be built much larger and capture stronger and more consistent ocean winds, generating a bigger bang for the buck. Many offshore turbines in use today generate roughly twice as much power as their land-based equivalents, while upcoming models could be four or even five times as large, further increasing their production capabilities. The U.S. has yet to embrace offshore wind in large part due to legal and political opposition. In 2016, the fishing industry of New Yorks Long Island moved to block a plan to build turbines 11 miles off the coast amid concerns about the impact on their livelihoods. Another wind farm planned near Cape Cod was scrapped in 2017 after nearly two decades of legal challenges led in part by William Koch, brother of conservative kingmakers Charles and David Koch, who decried the plans visual pollution of a beachfront long occupied by the most elite families of the Northeast (the late Edward Kennedy, a Democratic senator for Massachusetts for nearly 50 years, also opposed the project). And a Trump Administration order last year blocked new offshore leasing along the U.S. Southeast coast. This industry has been preparing and doing analysis and understands where the good sites are, says Stewart. Whats been needing to fall into place is definitely a bit of political support. Biden Administration officials argue the situation has changed. They say offshore wind enjoys more public support now than it did even a few years ago, prices have come down as the technology has improved (making it possible to build bigger, more efficient turbines), and U.S. states have begun developing wind energy on their own, both to meet renewable targets and to capture jobs in a potentially booming industry. Going forward, federal administrators say there will be a clearer and quicker review process for new projects. Were at a very different moment for offshore wind now than we were even a few years ago, says Lefton. The Biden plan represents only a slight acceleration for U.S. offshore projects already underway; New York and New Jersey were already planning to develop a combined 16.5 GW on their own, for instance. But the White Houses support may play ensure those and other projects actually get finished, rather than die on the vine like so many previous efforts. The American people are recognizing that we have to do something about climate right now, says Kelly Speakes-Backman, acting assistant secretary of the U.S. Department Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Government is being responsive to that and actually marshaling the resources to pull all of these agencies to work together. For those who have waited decades to see the U.S. take firmer initiative on renewable energy, the Biden plan comes, at the very least, as a long-awaited move forward. Ive been almost numb to the fact that were not going to see this big growth quite yet, says Stewart. But Im actually excited. In the next couple of years were going to see a lot of offshore wind constructed. Get our Space Newsletter. Sign up to receive the week's news in space. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Alejandro de la Garza at [email protected]. | https://time.com/5952586/biden-offshore-wind/ |
Why Have Arsenal Allowed Their Standards To Slip So Drastically Under Mikel Arteta? | ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session at London ... [+] Colney on March 20, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Arsenal FC via Getty Images Walk around the Emirates Stadium and youll come across several reminders of Arsenals illustrious past. There are statues in honour of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, two of the greatest forwards to have ever played in the Premier League PINC . On the exterior walls of the stadium itself are the images of club icons such as Charlie George and Ian Wright. However, such glories are a fading memory for the Gunners. Its been 17 years since Arsenal were last title winners. This will be the fifth consecutive season that the North London club has finished outside the Premier Leagues top four. In fact, Arsenal are on course to finish in mid-table, not even in the Europa League qualifying spots. Despite this clear erosion of standards at the Emirates Stadium, there is no apparent urgency to correct course. While other Premier League mangers, like Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have come under intense scrutiny this season, Mikel Arteta has seemingly been given a free pass despite his side sitting lower in the Premier League than any other Big Six team. LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: ( THE SUN OUT,THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT ) Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates ... [+] after scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on April 03, 2021 in London, 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 Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Arsenal fans have been told to trust the process. That all their club is currently going through will lead to something better. Arteta has been in charge since December 2019, nearly a year-and-a-half ago. Saturdays 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was not the performance of a team heading in the right direction. Arsenal werent just outclassed and outplayed, they had the look of a group of players unsure of their roles and responsibilities on the pitch. Arteta was hired on the basis of his reputation as a coach, but that reputation has yet to translate into anything meaningful. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, two of Arsenals most important players, were missing against Liverpool, while Kieran Tierney, another key figure, was forced off through injury at half time. With this trio on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, Arteta would have stood a better chance of implementing an effective game plan. Nonetheless, the lack of alarm at Arsenal, both in terms of the clubs hierarchy and its support, is peculiar. Contrast the Gunners contentment at sitting ninth in the Premier League with the growing disquiet at Tottenham Hotspur, who are still in the race to finish in the top four and have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to later this month. LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on following the Premier League ... [+] match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2021 in London, 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 Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Getty Images Many moments in recent years have been viewed as symbolic shifts in the North London soccer power balance, but the discourse around the two rival clubs at this very moment does a better job of highlighting this shift than any match or trophy win. It is Spurs, not Arsenal, who are restless having suffered a dip. It could be that Arsenal are now such an irrelevancy at the top end of the Premier League their struggles simply dont draw the sort of attention that of a more successful, ambitious rival does. There have been some signs of progress under Arteta, but they have been too few and far between to suggest Arsenal are going anywhere fast. An organisation that was once an English superpower, then Champions League regulars, has grown a little too comfortable with being a project club. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/2021/04/06/why-have-arsenal-allowed-their-standards-to-slip-so-drastically-under-mikel-arteta/ |
What's next for Baylor men's basketball after capturing program's first national title? | The first men's basketball national title is in the trophy case for Baylor. Asking for a repeat of a remarkable season that saw them finish 28-2 and run through both Houston and Gonzaga in the Final Four will be difficult. However, Baylor coach Scott Drew has consistently had his team near the top of the Big 12. So another run isn't completely out of the question. How deep that run goes depends on how many key contributors return. The NCAA rule allowing all players to retain a year of eligibility would give everyone the option to return. It's unlikely the entire band will stick together, however the Bears went eight deep with their regulars, so they're in better shape that some teams that typically need a complete overhaul after winning a title. Making the doubters look foolish:Baylor's Scott Drew is forever a national champion Analysis:Gonzaga showed cracks in semifinal, and Baylor capitalized in championship game Let's start with the seniors. Mark Vital just finished his fifth year in the program, so a stay for a sixth year is unlikely. A key role player and leader, his contributions on and off the court will be difficult to replace. MaCio Teague put his name in the NBA draft last offseason before deciding to return, so coming off 52 combined points in the team's last three victories, it's safe to assume his eyes are focused on professional basketball. Teague's departure will leave a void on the perimeter. His 3-point shooting and size was a perfect foil to backcourt mates Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell. Speaking of Butler and Mitchell, the juniors were first- and third-team All-Americans, respectively. There's not much more they can accomplish in their college careers. Butler was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. Mitchell boosted his stock with an impressive postseason. Drew might be holding out hope either return, but with each potentially a first-round pick, it's safe to assume their final day in a Baylor uniform was Monday night. Which brings us to who is returning. It's a better picture than it would seem with all that talent headed out the door. Flo Thamba, the lone starter expected back, provides size and athletic ability. Another season would serve him well in developing his all-around game. The same is true for reserve Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, a second inside presence who showed some offensive ability. Those two pieces are a nice foundation for the frontcourt. Adam Flagler won't be the equal of Butler, but he is more than capable of running the point guard spot next season. He scored in double figures in four tournament games off the bench and his offensive role should expand. Matthew Mayer is another offensive talent that will get more opportunities if he stays. A 6-9 forward, the senior could have a breakout season with a larger role that will highlight his outside shooting and ability to drive to the basket. With the eight regulars soaking up much of the playing time, there weren't many chances for a talented freshmen class to show itself, but guard L.J. Cryer can slide into a starting spot and has the potential to be great. Zach Loveday is another piece for the front line along with Dain Dainja, who redshirted. Then there's the incoming recruiting class that is ranked in the top 10. The jewel is five-star forward Kendall Brown, who Drew pried from Kansas. He projects to start immediately and can be something unique for the Bears lineup. Langston Love, a four-star shooting guard, can be another piece to the backcourt if he is ready to contribute. Another thing to consider: Drew is not one to stand pat. Expect to see Baylor exploring the transfer portal for some experience in the backcourt or on the wing. You have to think winning a national title would be an attractive recruiting pitch for a player who wants to win right away. When you add it together, the Bears don't look like a team that'll be going away anytime soon. While some of the names may be different, the results might not be far off from what they were in this historic season. Follow colleges reporter Erick Smith on Twitter @ericksmith | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2021/04/06/baylor-bears-national-champs-2021-22-lookahead/7102623002/ |
Who replaces Chris Duarte, Eugene Omoruyi for Oregon mens basketball in 2021-22? | EUGENE Oregon has to replace its top two scorers from this season, including the best shooting guard in the country. Chris Duarte and Eugene Omoruyi led the Ducks to their second straight Pac-12 regular season championship and an appearance in the Sweet 16. Both averaged 17.1 points and were all-Pac-12 honorees, with Duarte also earning AP Pac-12 player of the year and third team All-American recognition from the USBWA and AP and winning the Jerry West shooting guard of the year award. They also combined for 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, to say nothing of Omoruyis ability to draw charges roughly once per game. Oregon is also expected to lose fellow seniors LJ Figueroa and Amauri Hardy, though they havent personally made that official yet, and Chandler Lawson and Jalen Terry are each transferring, so the Ducks have a lot of roster churn again, though it was not unexpected. Strictly in terms of production, efficiency, shooting and defensive prowess, Will Richardson is going to be asked to shoulder a lot of the load. As long as he stays healthy, theres no reason Richardson isnt a preseason all-Pac-12 selection, potentially preseason All-American, and one of the best returning point guards in the country. Hes slated to be Oregons leading returning scorer (11.3 ppg. ), three-point shooter (40.3%) and distributor (3.9 apg.). The only question will be how much Richardsons numbers increase over a full season and thats not going to be clear until the full roster is settled. Its easy to project his assists to increase based on returning posts Eric Williams Jr., NFaly Dante and Franck Kepnang and the addition of Nathan Bittle, but projecting scoring is harder until the wings are known. As for Omoruyis presence, that may be done more in the aggregate. In terms of scoring and rebounding, Dante, Kepnang and Bittle should be able to replace Omoruyis points and even rebounds. Williams can further refine his three-point shooting and play as a true stretch four. But the most difficult aspect of Omoruyis game to replace is his willingness to draw charges. Its not a skill thats easily taught; a player either has that toughness and willingness to take contact on a regular basis or they dont. Other than Williams, Oregon doesnt have players made for drawing contact at this point. However, the Ducks are going to replenish via the transfer portal and surely that style of defender, which Dana Altman absolutely loves, will be a high priority. | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/04/who-replaces-chris-duarte-eugene-omoruyi-for-oregon-mens-basketball-in-2021-22.html |
How do Colorado voting laws compare to Georgias voting laws? | Contrary to what Georgias governor, Fox News, Newsweek and others have said since Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game out of the Atlanta area, Colorados voter access laws are not more restrictive than Georgias. By nearly all measures, Colorado makes it more convenient to vote and is consistently and widely hailed by Democratic and Republican officials alike as among the safest and most accessible states in the U.S. to cast a ballot. The two states are being compared because of MLB moving its annual All-Star Game from the Atlanta Braves stadium after Georgia passed a controversial new voting law. The game will be held instead at Coors Field. Here are a few ways Colorado and Georgias voting laws differ. Voter ID This is where Colorado and Georgia have been most often compared by conservatives. What Im being told, they also have a photo ID requirement, Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said Tuesday. So it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me. Georgia in-person voters must produce photo ID either when they vote or by following up with their counties within three days. Colorado has no such requirement (and only a sliver of the electorate votes in person). Voters in both states can use a wide range of identifying documents, from standard photo ID to a bank or utility statement. Colorado allows eligible voters who cannot produce ID documents to cast provisional ballots, and counties are required to attempt to verify those individuals identities. Early voting Georgia has 17 days of early voting. Colorado has just 15. The vast majority of voters in Colorado dont vote in-person. Mail-in ballots Colorado counties automatically mail ballots to registered voters, who can return those ballots at their leisure by mail or at a wide range of drop-off sites. Georgia voters must request mail ballots. And the state has tightened its laws to require people to vote at specifically designated precincts. Food and water In Georgia, it is illegal to provide food or water to people within 150 feet of the boundary of a polling place or within 25 feet of any voter standing in line. Colorados law allows for giving voters food or water unless theyre within 100 feet of a polling place or wearing campaign gear or accessories bearing the name or image of a candidate, party or issue. The rules are less significant in Colorado, as nearly all voters cast ballots by mail and long voting lines are seldom reported here. Registration deadline Georgia cuts off registration 28 days prior to Election Day, while Colorado permits registration up to and even on Election Day. Parolee voting Colorado lets all parolees vote as of 2019. Georgia does not. Neither state allows prisoners to vote. | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/06/colorado-georgia-voting-laws-fact-check-comparison-mlb-all-star-game/ |
Have the Democrats Begun a New Era of Big Government? | Judging from last years Democratic primaries, few would have believed that former Vice-President Joe Biden would be leading the Democratic Party out of the political wilderness armed with some of the most expensive bills in American history. In a crowded primary field, Biden was among the oldest contenders, but, more important, he was cast in the role of the establishment candidate. Bidens thirty-six years in the U.S. Senate and eight years as the Vice-President to Barack Obama made the charge hard to deny. His younger rivals, believing that Hillary Clintons disastrous loss in the Presidential race in 2016 was caused in part by a lack of enthusiasm among Black voters, made appeals to racial justice in their platforms and highlighted Bidens career of racial pandering on welfare and crime. Kamala Harris momentarily became one of the front-runners in the race after she torched Biden for romanticizing his working relationships with Southern segregationists in the Senate in the nineteen-seventies, saying that was a time when there was more civility in politics. Nearly a year after he pulled out a surprisingly decisive victory in the South Carolina primary, Biden has extinguished any fears that he would prioritize bipartisanship over the historic and multiplying needs of the public. The nearly two-trillion-dollar American Rescue Plan Act is, indisputably, one of the largest domestic-spending bills in U.S. history. (Consider that, from 1965 to 1968, during Lyndon Johnsons War on Poverty, the federal government increased aid to the poor by roughly six billion dollarsabout forty-six billion dollars in 2021.) Bidens bill includes the much discussed fourteen-hundred-dollar stimulus payments to individuals and three hundred dollars in supplemental weekly unemployment benefits. But it also includes tens of billions of dollars to help streamline vaccine-distribution effortswhich have been marred by infrastructural breakdowns and the same racial inequities that fostered the spread of COVID-19 in Black communitiesand more than thirty billion dollars in rental and homeowner assistance. It makes hundreds of billions of dollars available to state and local governments, after the Trump Administration starved the states of federal money in an attempt to coerce them to abandon public-health measures that were interfering with the economy but intended to preserve human life. And, after years of humiliating racist neglect of Puerto Rico and other U.S.-controlled territories, the bill grants them over three hundred million dollars in rental assistance. There are important changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit program, including raising the maximum credit to childless adults from roughly five hundred and thirty dollars to fifteen hundred dollars. But it is the modifications to the Child Tax Credit that have earned the A.R.P. comparisons to Roosevelts New Deal or Johnsons Great Society. The adjustments include raising the Child Tax Credit from two thousand dollars per child to three thousand per child age six and above, and thirty-six hundred dollars per child under six. Previously, the credit counterintuitively excluded the poorest families, who were disqualified because they were experiencing unemployment or simply because their wages were too low. The measure will expand fully refundable tax benefits to twenty-seven million children, helping to dramatically reduce child poverty in the U.S., and cutting Black and Latinx child poverty by an estimated fifty-two and forty-five per cent, respectively. Most important, the legislation allows the credit to be paid out in monthly cash installments instead of in a single payment at the end of the year. In doing so, it brings the U.S. in line with peer countries that provide an allowance for families with children, and opens the door to guaranteed income from the federal government. In 1995, Senator Joe Biden supported an amendment to the Constitution requiring the federal government to have a balanced budget. The changes to the C.T.C. alone will add a hundred and twenty billion dollars to the national deficit, marking a decisive shift in the political calculations of the Democratic Party. Democrats embrace of cash payments for the poor while ignoring the ballooning deficit is an outcome of four events: perhaps most important, the 2008 financial crisis, which exposed the fragility and the inequality of the U.S. market-based economy. Millions lost their homes, jobs, and seemingly their futures, while hundreds of billions of tax dollars were distributed upward to secure the assets of the wealthy. The economic crisis detonated a political crisis that continues to reverberate. For millions who had believed that the Obama Administration represented a break with the status quo, the federal governments use of public money to rescue the new robber barons was a political revelation. The Occupy Wall Street movement, in the fall of 2011, evidenced a political awakening to gross financial inequality and corruption, propelling the language of class into the public consciousness of the United States, with the paradigmatic one per cent and ninety-nine per cent. Occupy protests bled into renewed protests against police and state violence, first to oppose the execution of Troy Davis and then the murder of Trayvon Martin, events that showed how economic privation in Black communities makes African Americans particularly vulnerable to the surveillance and scrutiny of police and the misnamed criminal-justice system. The Occupy movement eventually subsided, but its ideas found a home, in 2015, in the Presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders, whose surprising challenge to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic Party primary brought the spirit of Occupys politics to the center of public debate. Sanders may have lost to Clinton, but in doing so he demonstrated that there was a vibrant audience in the Democratic Party for big reforms, including single-payer health care, a fifteen-dollar minimum wage, and free tuition at public colleges and universities. At the same time, the rising Black Lives Matter movement challenged the Party not only to respond to police shootings and violence directed at African Americans but also to attack the poverty and racial inequality that exposed African Americans to greater contact with law enforcement. Democrats, facing an election without Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, made new overtures to Black voters. Clinton expressed regret for invoking the term superpredators in 1996 to describe Black kids; she went on to use the phrase systemic racism as she made her case to be President. The Democratic Party never came to any clear consensus about the reasons for Clintons defeat, but depressed turnout among Black voters did not help. Trump, of course, went on to exacerbate the twin crises of economic and racial inequality with his tax giveaway to the richest Americans and corporations, his dalliances with white supremacists, and his xenophobic outbursts in policy and speech. In 2019, during the Democratic primary campaign, the candidates once again attempted to capture the votes of African Americans by focussing on race and inequality. Kamala Harris declared her run for President on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and modelled her campaign logo after buttons produced by Shirley Chisholms campaign, when she was the first Black woman to run for President, in the 1972 election. Cory Booker also invoked King when he held his first major campaign rally, in the Black-majority city of Newark, and focussed on criminal-justice reform, including the legalization of marijuana on the federal level. During the general election, COVID-19 kept the discussion of structural racism in the headlines, with reports of the disproportionate number of African-American deaths and stories of African Americans mistreatment by some health-care professionals. When African Americans exploded in anger and rebellion in June, in the aftermath of the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, the effect was to bring these varied discussions about structural inequality into a single, renewed observation that the United States suffers from systemic racism. Corporate titans and professional sports leagues began denouncing racism across the U.S. The rebellions gave way to a summer of protest and a focus on inequality, racial and otherwise, within the United States. Activists demanded that governments defund the policethe media and some elected officials pilloried the demand, but it compelled public officials to clarify their positions on police budgets and spending priorities. In early September, Joe Biden travelled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which had been embroiled in days of riots in response to police officers shooting Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back seven times at point-blank range. Biden met with Blakes family and spoke with Blake on the phone from his hospital bed. Biden angered demonstrators by making comments condemning the violence of the rebellion in Kenosha, but he also connected his vision of racial justice to a promise that his Presidency could deliver big economic changes, including taxing the rich and raising the minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour. I honest to God believe we have an enormous opportunity, now that the screen, the curtain, has been pulled back on just whats going on in the country, to do a lot of really positive things, Biden said. Its not that we cant do thiswe havent been willing to do this. But I think the public is ready. The size of the American Rescue Plan Act has opened a discussion as to whether it represents a pivot from the governing political logic of the past four decades, including an aversion to raising taxes or spending on anything resembling social welfare or public assistance. The Times hailed the changes to the Child Tax Credit as policy revolution. In her popular newsletter Letters from an American, the historian Heather Cox Richardson said, of the A.R.P., It is a return to the principles of the so-called liberal consensus that members of both parties embraced under the presidents from Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who took office in 1933, to Jimmy Carter, who left the White House in 1981. Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan, who told Americans in his Inaugural Address that government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. If Reagan initiated the demise of the nations thin safety net, then Bill Clinton sealed its fate with the passage of the patronizingly titled Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996, which ended welfare as an entitlement to poor families with children, instead decreasing public assistance by tying it to work requirements and imposing time limits. (It should be noted that, from Reagan on, opposition to government spending has mostly been limited to the regulatory and social-welfare state; lavish spending on the military, police, and prisons has been celebrated.) Joe Biden was a notable player, along with Bill Clinton, in adapting the Democratic Party to the Reaganesque retreat from public spending. This is precisely why his new role in deviating from this political orthodoxy is so noteworthy, but its still too early to know whether the recent spending spree by the Democratic Party represents a shift in ideology or a moment of political expedience, brought on by one of the worst crises in modern American history. The clearest indication of this is that the most far-reaching aspects of the billincluding changes to the Child Tax Creditare set to expire after one year. Of course, the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party wishes to make these changes permanent, but the political calculations have yet to be made. That the Democrats have delivered on this enormous spending package indicates that they have grasped the moment, but that, on its own, does not represent an ideological sea change. These reforms are necessary to staunch the suffering wrought by the shock of the pandemic. They are focussed on jump-starting demand, not necessarily on reconceiving the role of the state in the economy. If anything, the A.R.P. is defensive legislation, reacting to the crisis but lacking an offensive strategy to reverse the worsening inequality in the U.S. The federal government will help people pay for health care if they lose their jobs, but the system of for-profit health care is left untouched. Billions will be made available for rental assistance, but the unaffordability of housing remains the same. Millions of Americans will continue to struggle with debilitating debt, and to live on the federal minimum wage, which is still absurdly less than eight dollars an hour. This new spending is necessary but not nearly enough to dig ordinary Americans out of the hole created by decades of political neglect. Last week, Biden introduced his two-trillion-dollar American Jobs Plan, which would raise taxes on the wealthy by restoring some of the taxes on the rich that Trump cut in 2017. It proposes spending more than two hundred billion dollars on affordable housing, a hundred and eleven billion dollars on water infrastructure, a hundred and fifteen billion dollars to fix roads and bridges, and eighty-five billion dollars to modernize public transit. As important, Biden officials have promised to release a second package that would make new investments in what Democrats describe as human infrastructure, including universal pre-kindergarten, free community-college tuition, and a national paid health and family-leave program. But it remains to be seen if either of Bidens infrastructure bills can offer more permanent answers to deepening income inequality. The American Jobs Plan emphasizes the role of the private sector, with language proposing to leverage private investments to fulfill the goals of job-creation and development efforts. Such public-private initiatives almost always come at the expense of the purported public goals, as the private entities reap the benefits of tax relief and other perks intended to induce their participation. As welcome as increased spending on social provision is, it is also worth pointing out that the U.S. turn to neoliberalism was never only about government spending; it was also freighted with a tremendous ideological undertaking meant to undermine the idea of the social contract, even society itself. As Margaret Thatcher once said, in an interview, I think we have been through a period when too many people have been given to understand that when they have a problem, it is governments job to cope with it. I have a problem, Ill get a grant. Im homeless, the government must house me. They are casting their problems on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. In the U.S., this logic was racialized, as African Americans were painted as unworthy recipients of public aid created by the taxes of hardworking white people. After the tremendous struggles of Black people throughout the nineteen-sixties to assert racism as an explanation for Black inequality, it took an equally harsh struggle in the opposite direction to paint African Americans as undeserving and reassert that there was, in fact, no such thing as racial inequality. The retrenchment of the social-welfare state went hand in hand with the rise of the prison and policing state. Indeed, the resumption of pointing to Black biology or culture as the culprit behind Black poverty and unemployment was a necessary pretext for Black peoples imprisonment and constant surveillance by police. We still live with the legacy of this thinking and these practices that followed. The mountain of deaths caused by COVID-19 in Black communities and the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are evidence of it. A genuine retreat from the politics of small government must also include a reckoning with the damage done by police and the criminal-justice system in Black communities, as well as the abiding assumptions about poor and working-class African Americans that have justified their inferior health care, substandard and expensive housing, and low-paying jobs. Even now, as the national reckoning on systemic racism continues, policing in lieu of robust public assistance sets the stage for further conflicts. At last count, there were forty-one thousand homeless people in Los Angeles, and the city has no clear plan for how to house them. Instead, police are dispatched to surveil and control the movements of the citys unhoused population. In March, police removed about two hundred people from an encampment in Echo Park. (Many of them have been placed in temporary housing, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.) Repair of these conditions is possible by conceiving of a new social contract, in ways that Franklin Roosevelt imagined when he introduced an economic bill of rights, in 1944. It included the right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; the right of every family to a decent home; the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; the right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; and the right to a good education. If the Democrats are able to pass Bidens two-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, that would certainly be a welcome change; whether the legislation passes intact will be a test of the extent to which the Party has truly transformed. But we cannot just measure the size of these bills against the bipartisan inattention of the past forty or so years; they have to be weighed against the existing human need. On those terms, there is much damage to be undone and more work necessary to constitute progress. | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/have-the-democrats-begun-a-new-era-of-big-government |
Is a vaccine passport the same as a vaccine card? | The use of vaccine passports by Texas state agencies and political subdivisions has been banned by Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott's move makes no such distinction for the private sector, unlike a similar edict by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. "The government should not require any Texan to show proof of vaccination and reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives," Abbott said in a video released Tuesday morning. The move by Abbott follows the Biden administration signaling that it also will leave such a decision to private businesses instead of federal government entities. As of this writing, the state of New York is the only state that uses vaccine passports. Here's how that state uses them and why your vaccine card provides similar information. New York's vaccine passport uses an app Named the Excelsior Pass, New York's vaccine passport uses a code on a cellphone application to show if someone has been vaccinated or recently tested for COVID-19. The data comes from the state's vaccine registry using IBM technology. The app is funded by the state and available free to businesses and anyone with vaccination records or test results in New York. The purpose of the passports is to help businesses safely reopen by using a requirement for immunization much like preschools and international air carriers can. Eventually, New York hopes tickets to events at major venues can be tied to the app so opening multiple apps won't be a requirement for entry. Travis County vaccine:Track how much of Travis County COVID-19 have been vaccinated Several countries in the European Union, as well as Israel, are already using vaccine passports. In the U.S., airlines have been pushing the government to create a vaccine passport for Americans, saying verifiable testing of vaccination data is "critical to the return of travel." A vaccine card, which can be laminated, also notes your vaccination status By contrast, a vaccine card is a handwritten card that notes when and where an individual has received doses of the vaccine. It does not have a space for entering one's record of COVID-19 tests. If you do lose your vaccine card, you can get a new one at the vaccination station where you received the dose or through the state health department, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health department should have an internal record of your vaccination. Out of state, into state:Why 26,000 Texas vaccine shots went to people who don't live in Texas Companies like American Queen Steamboat Co. are requiring proof of vaccination in order to go on a cruise starting July 1. Paper cards are used by several countries when seeking to learn if an individual is vaccinated for yellow fever or other high-risk diseases. Companies like Office Depot and Staples are making lamination of the cards free as Americans look for ways to make their vaccination record look more official. But fake cards are being sold on sites like eBay and Craigslist. Currently, at least two competing sets of standards are being developed globally to allow secure access to information about vaccination status, particularly for international travel. Vaccine requirements facing legal challenges Having no streamlined approach to proof of vaccination for companies may be tied to future legal challenges over the requirement of private and public sector employees to be vaccinated. In New Mexico, a detention center officer filed a lawsuit against Doa Ana County over a directive to certain employees that they obtain COVID-19 vaccinations or face termination. | https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/04/06/vaccine-passport-travel-card-covid-restrisctions-requirements/7105284002/ |
What is a COVID vaccine passport and how would it work? | A "vaccine passport" is documentation affirming that a person has received the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine passports are typically an app with a code that verifies whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19. They are in use in Israel and under development in parts of Europe, seen as a way to safely help rebuild the pandemic-devastated travel industry. Those in favor of mandating vaccine certifications argue that the documentation could facilitate business reopenings, mass events and international travel. Although U.S. public schools in all 50 states have required students to receive their vaccines unless schools approve certain medical or religious exemptions, those against a COVID-19-specific vaccine passport say requiring documentation proving immunization in exchange for goods or services raise privacy questions. Republicans have largely condemned the idea of requiring documentation that proves a person has been inoculated in order for that person to participate in certain public activities -- an idea that some states and countries have floated or enacted. CORONAVIRUS VACCINE PASSPORTS WON'T BE MANDATED BY GOVERMENT, FAUCI SAYS Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have already issued executive orders restricting the use of such documentation in their respective states. DeSantis and Abbott also issued orders banning statewide mask mandates -- another hotly debated issue -- leaving such rules up to individual locales and businesses. On a federal level, the White House said Tuesday that it will not support a national vaccine passport requirement. U.K. leaders are weighing the option, according to the BBC, and EU officials have proposed "digital green certificates," which would certify whether an individual has been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from COVID-19. The Chinese government, as early as last April, required citizens to present a green symbol on their smartphones that says a user is symptom-free to board a subway, check into a hotel or enter Wuhan. In March, China launched travel certificates using QR codes that show an individual's test results, vaccine and other information, according to state media. The certification program meant to facilitate safe travel is available via the Chinese social media app WeChat and made possible by the Chinese public's almost universal adoption of smartphones, as well as the ruling Communist Party's embrace of "Big Data" to extend its surveillance and control over society. WHO AGAINST VACCINE PASSPORTS FOR THE TIME BEING, SPOKESPERSON SAYS The health codes add to a steadily growing matrix of high-tech monitoring that tracks what Chinas citizens do in public, online and at work: millions of video cameras blanket streets from major cities to small towns. Censors monitor activity on the internet and social media. State-owned telecom carriers can trace where mobile phone customers go. A vast, computerized system popularly known as social credit is intended to enforce obedience to official rules. People with too many demerits for violations ranging from committing felonies to littering can be blocked from buying plane tickets, getting loans, obtaining government jobs or leaving the country. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The ACLU in a March 31 blog post, argued that "a vaccine passport will encourage over-use ... as people get asked for credentials at every turn." "While there are legitimate circumstances in which people can be asked for proof of vaccination, we dont want to turn into a checkpoint society that outlasts the danger of COVID and that casually excludes people without credentials from facilities where vaccine mandates are not highly justified," Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst with the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/health/covid-vaccine-passport-how-it-works |
Will Biden's clean energy push lead to a jobs boom? | Good-paying jobs lots of them. Thats the promise around which President Joe Biden is proposing to transform the U.S. energy sector, with the goal of making it energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and a catalyst for long-term economic growth. As Biden portrays it, his plan to invest in infrastructure including a shift to renewable energy, electric vehicles and upgrades to the nation's power grid would produce jobs at least as good as the ones that might be lost in the process. His plans call for 100% renewable energy in the power sector by 2035. To people who have devoted careers to the the fossil fuel industries, those plans may look more like a dire threat. To the president, though, out-of-work oil workers could be shifted to other jobs plugging uncapped oil wells, for example and thousands more positions would be created to help string power lines and build electric vehicles and their components. "We think that's a lot of jobs to fill, and one of the key questions is: How do we build the right skill base that can help fill those jobs?" said Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, a labor market analytics firm. The outlook for the energy industry's coming decades, as Biden's plan would have it, includes good wages and good benefits, reinforced by a revival of labor unions. "I'm a union guy," he said at a union training center in Pittsburgh. "I support unions, unions built the middle class, and it's about time they started to get a piece of the action." But a speedier transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy would hardly be as simple as longtime wildcatters transforming themselves into solar installers. So many unknowns overhang the shift toward greener energy that no one knows how the industries and its jobs will evolve in the coming years. For one thing, many experts say the transition to electric vehicles will likely mean fewer factory workers than are now employed in producing internal combustion engines and complex transmissions. EVs have 30% to 40% fewer moving parts than vehicles that run on petroleum. Yet economists have warned that climate change poses such a grave threat that the United States must accelerate its transition to renewable energy to ensure its economic security. Even with favorable policies, it can take generations to create jobs in individual industries. During his presidency, for example, Barack Obama encouraged tax incentives for the development of solar and wind energy. That effort did achieve some progress. Yet solar and wind remain to this day small sectors of the overall energy industry. "If you're thinking about incentives and disincentives, it's easy to kill something; it's hard to create something," said Rob Sentz, chief innovation officer at Emsi, a data analytics firm. The renewable energy industry employed about 410,000 people in 2019, including those in the solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass and biofuels industries, according to Burning Glass. By comparison, employment for oil and gas alone in 2020 was 516,000 counting extraction, pipelines, refining and other elements of the industry. An additional 485,000 people were working at gas stations, though gas station jobs are technically classified as retail, according to Burning Glass. "It's a pipe dream to imagine that we're going to achieve full decarbonization in a short period of time," Sigelman said. "Jobs in the carbon economy will continue in great numbers for some time to come." That said, Sigelman estimates that the renewable energy industry could grow up to 22% over the next five years to a total of 465,000 jobs. More generally, economists say that investing in the nation's aging infrastructure, including its power grid, would significantly boost growth over the long term. It depends on the type of job, as well as whom you ask. Many in the oil and gas industry say they fear that their wages would shrink if they transitioned to a job in renewable energy. But many economists say incomes might be comparable, whether a worker is laboring in an oil field or a wind farm. The median annual pay of solar installers was about $44,650 in 2020, according to Emsi. For wind turbine service technicians it was about $52,100. In the oil industry, derrick operators, rotary drill operators, service unit operators and excavating and loading machine operators earned median annual pay ranging from $44,700 to $55,000, Emsi says. The median for roustabouts and extraction work helpers was $37,000 to $39,000. Oil and gas field service technicians earn a median of about $39,000 a year, Sigelman said. Those workers could, in theory, transition into such areas as electrical technician work, which pays roughly $25,000 more a year, or construction foreman jobs, whose median is about $27,000 more per year. Some jobs span the divide One point often missed in any debate over green energy versus fossil fuel jobs is that the line between the two can blur. To install wind turbines, for example, you need truckers, electricians and mechanics. "It's the same people doing the work," Sentz said. "You call it green, but it's still a trucker." Likewise, jobs involved in installing or repairing power and transmission lines are critical to both the renewable energy and fossil fuel industries. The renewables growth that Biden envisions will need a massive buildout of transmission and power lines to deliver electricity from the solar farms and wind farms on sunny plains to energy-gulping coasts. Whether for fossil fuel or renewable projects, electrical workers who string the lines are already in demand. The number of advertisements for job postings in the electric power distribution industry grew 35% in the past two years, Emsi says, and the number for jobs in power and communication line construction rose 63%. "They're having a hard time finding the people they need for the jobs they're doing," Sentz said. Power line installers, in demand everywhere, earn around $72,000 a year, higher than some others in the energy sector, according to Emsi. "Every county in the country needs them," Sentz said. An electrician who spent 20 years working on transmission lines for coal-fired power plants will be in high demand when building infrastructure for renewable energy projects, and those tend to be union jobs, said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2, a nonpartisan group that advocates for policies that serve the economy and the environment. Clean-energy projects are also construction projects, and can also support a range of high-paying trade jobs. Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, which advocates for expanding the trades in clean energy, points to the U.S.' first offshore wind farm, off the cost of Rhode Island, as an example. Despite being relatively small, with just five turbines, "that project alone supported more than 300 jobs across the building trades we're talking welders, pipefitters, iron drivers ... tugboat drivers," Walsh told CBS MoneyWatch. "To us, that's the illustration of just how much work is out there." "Stringing power lines is stringing power lines," Keefe said. "We're just doing it better and more efficiently and hooking them up to the right places that need it to move some of the renewable energy that we're producing now where it needs to be." The energy efficiency field, which encompasses a range of work from weatherizing buildings to changing out their cooling systems to building energy-efficient appliances, is another area environementalists see as common ground. Some 2.3 million Americans work in energy efficiency today, according to the BlueGreen Alliance, and the field has the potential to grow rapidly as more buildings need retrofits and upgrades to become less polluting. It's hard to say. The oil, gas and chemical industries lost 107,000 jobs from March to August last year, according to a Deloitte study. That occurred after the pandemic crushed demand for jet fuel and gasoline as tens of millions of people stayed home. And coal mining jobs have been declining for years, from a high of 92,000 workers in 2011 to roughly 53,000 in 2019, according to the Energy Information Administration. Biden wants to spend $16 billion to put hundreds of thousands of those people back to work capping unplugged oil wells and mines. Any such spending, though, would need congressional approval, so the number of jobs that might be created remains unclear. Offshore wind projects in the U.S. generated about 7,500 jobs in 2020. And projects developed off U.S. coasts are expected to produce 85,000 jobs over the next decade, though those jobs aren't necessarily filled within the United States, according to Rystad Energy, a consulting firm. Many construction and maintenance jobs are handled outside the U.S. despite the project sites off American shores. Meanwhile, demand grew for solar sales representatives by 70%, based on the number of job postings, and for solar installers by 56% from 2019 through 2020, according to Burning Glass. It's unclear, though, whether the number of workers employed in such jobs increased or declined because the pandemic delayed many solar installation projects. No one disputes, though, that it will take time for a majority of workers in the fossil fuel industries to be able to find work in renewables. "It's going to be incumbent on companies to help their existing workers adapt," Sigelman said. | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-clean-energy-fossil-fuels-jobs/ |
Does Arm Length Really Matter for NFL Offensive Tackles? | The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an interesting predicament when it comes to securing their future at offensive tackle. One of the most talked-about topics in Kansas City over the past few weeks has been the arm length of the offensive tackle prospects in this year's NFL Draft. Former NFL head coach Jim Mora Jr. joined me on today's Roughing the Kicker podcast as we had a conversation about the Chiefs' tackle situation and the crop of talent Kansas City could be choosing from in the 2021 NFL Draft. When it comes to arm length in this year's class, Mora said that it is something that matters on an offensive line, especially at tackle, and explained why this conversation has risen to the forefront. "It does make a difference," Mora said. "It sounds like something very trivial but it's very important because you've got to do a couple of things as an offensive tackle versus pass rush defensive ends. No. 1 is you've got to keep them away from the quarterback, obviously. In order to do that, you've got to be able to widen the edge. The way you widen the edge is with length. Length doesn't always come in the form of long arms. It comes in the form of long legs, long torso, but it is your arms that keep the pass rusher away from your body." According to Arrowhead Pride's Kent Swanson, the average arm length of a tackle for head coach Andy Reid is 34 1/4 inches. When comparing that to the top 20 tackles in this year's draft, only six meet or exceed that measurement. Arm length won't make or break a prospect, though, Mora said. While it's certainly an important trait, there are other qualities for offensive linemen that should be taken into consideration. "It's not the most important thing," Mora said. "If you said I could have a guy with 35-inch arms but he had average feet and average lateral quickness then I would say, 'Well, I don't know, what's my alternative?' Then say, 'OK, you can have a guy with 33 1/2-inch arms with great lateral quickness.' I'd take the 33 1/2-inch arms with lateral quickness every single day. But the thing about the NFL is we're always talking fractions of inches in a difference between a play being made and a play not being made." The Chiefs are known for having "types" when it comes to the players they draft, and there is a reason for that. Reid knows what he likes, and when they stick to those "prototypes" whether on offense or defense they know what to expect. As the draft inches closer and the Chiefs' time on the clock approaches, Mora said there will always be exceptions to certain "rules" teams have, but they have to be careful when it comes to allowing anomalies. "There's always going to be exceptions," Mora said. "Height exceptions, weight exceptions, speed exceptions, strength exceptions. There are going to be exceptions, but if you start building your team through exceptions, then you become a poor team very, very quick. So you've got to be careful how often you drop your standards. If you do drop your standards, then that player better have other traits so redeeming that there's no doubt he can overcome the exception." Read More: The Pros and Cons of One-Year Contracts | https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/podcasts/does-arm-length-really-matter-for-nfl-offensive-tackles |
Is the COVID Alert app a failure? | That depends on who you ask. Almost 6.5 million people, or 23 per cent of the people in provinces and territories that are using the app, have downloaded it. The app uses Bluetooth to anonymously record interactions with others and notifies users if they come into contact with someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19. But downloading it is just the first step. In order for the app to work, a number of factors need to be in play, said Teresa Scassa, the Canada research chair in information law and policy at the University of Ottawa. People need to get tested, and quickly; if they test positive they need to get a one-time code provided by health authorities and input it into the app to report a positive test result; and they need to know how to use the app. The problem is there are many people for whom one or more of those factors is a barrier, Scassa said. Of the roughly 6.5 million people who have downloaded the app, only 24,695 one-time codes representing positive results have been entered into the app as of Feb. 24, according to a February report on the apps adoption, retention and use by the COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council. Thats an even bigger story of failure, Scassa said, compared to the download numbers. The councils report calls upon public health authorities to do a better job providing and encouraging the use of these one-time keys. It calls on the government to provide public health officials with the support needed to distribute the keys and guide individuals on how to use them. Provincial and territorial governments that do not participate miss a significant opportunity to control the increase in COVID-19 cases that will be inevitable as the economy reopens, reads the opening message from the councils co-chairs, Jean-Franois Gagn and Carole Piovesan. The app has undergone a number of updates since its inception, some of them related to accessibility. For instance, when the app was first released, it only worked for Apple and Android phones released within the previous five years, and running at least iOS 13.5 or Android version 6. This was one criticism of the app, as it was inaccessible to anyone with an older phone. But since the beginning of 2021, the app is now available on iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus, allowing almost 98 per cent of phones to run COVID Alert, according to the report. The report also said that more than 80 per cent of app users who received a one-time key have entered it into the app. However, just five per cent of positive cases received a one-time key. The council report encourages the government to set a baseline number of downloads considered sufficient for the apps effectiveness. Experts baselines on this vary. Some interviewed by the Star earlier in the pandemic suggested that 60 per cent would be a good target. The Star was unable to obtain a full cost breakdown, but in August The Logic reported that the government planned to spend $10 million on an awareness campaign. In October, Global News reported the government has spent around $500,000 on staffing and other costs associated with the app. Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the app was obviously well-intentioned, and he knows the government would have undergone heavy criticism if it hadnt launched the app. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... But despite that, Wudrick categorizes the app as a failure. It was never going to be a silver bullet, he acknowledged, but he doesnt believe its had a major impact on the pandemic. And as Canada rolls out its vaccines, Wudrick thinks its too late for the app to make a comeback. Its hard to see how much more help it can be, he said. Wudrick who uses the app said the government needs to be accountable for the money spent on making and marketing the app. At this point, most people are aware of it, he said, so the issues in downloading and using the app cant be attributed to a lack of awareness. Regardless of the obstacles, Scassa still thinks the app could have a role to play. She thinks the government should continue its use and address any issues it can. She is also interested in the ways the apps capabilities could be expanded. The Star heard from a number of Canadians who had downloaded the app. Many have had no notifications, while others have had a few. Several said they felt the app was underutilized, and theorized that stigma about getting COVID-19 could prevent people from logging their results. Downtown Toronto resident Norman Di Pasquale downloaded the app shortly after it was available. So far, he has had zero notifications. Di Pasquale is concerned that people who test positive arent entering their one-time code, if they have the app. However, he thinks the app still has potential, and hopes more people will adopt it and increase its effectiveness. Karel Peters, a student in Toronto, is seeing more people her age using and posting about the app on social media. I think it was a very easy thing for young people to do, she said. | https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/04/06/is-the-covid-alert-app-a-failure.html |
Whats Happening to Inflation Expectations? | (spukkato/Getty Images) A few weeks ago I wrote here that some people are overestimating the risk of high inflation because they are misinterpreting one widely used indicator of market expectations. Theyre looking at the difference in yields between Treasury bonds that are indexed for inflation and those that are not, and treating that difference as the markets implied expectation for inflation. What that simple method misses is that bond purchases by the Federal Reserve can muffle the signal of these markets by affecting their liquidity. At the moment, the effect is to make expected inflation look higher than it is. And since the effect varies over time, it also distorts our understanding of trends in inflation expectations. Applying one method of correcting for the effect, inflation expectations at the end of February werent any higher than they were at the end of 2019. Advertisement I drew two narrow conclusions. First, if this method of adjustment gives us an accurate picture of market expectations of inflation and if the market expectation is as reliable a guide to future inflation as we have, then we didnt have any more reason for worrying about high inflation in late February than we did at the end of 2019 (when much less worry was being expressed). Second, even if we dont have confidence in this method of determining the markets expectation or in the expectation itself, the unadjusted difference in yields shouldnt worry us. To the extent were letting that unadjusted difference affect our view of inflation risks, its biasing us toward excessive worry. Jerry Bowyer explains today why my post did not persuade him. He makes several observations that, though valid, do not call these conclusions into question. Advertisement He points out that those who are worried about high inflation in our near future do not base their concern solely on the difference in yields between bonds that are and are not adjusted for inflation. Thats correct. But to the extent that difference factors into their thinking, the failure to adjust for liquidity is biasing them toward excessive worry. (And the other causes for concern are, to some extent, reflected in the yield difference, at least if we assume markets process information efficiently.) Bowyer notes that the liquidity premium often makes the yield differential misleading in the other direction: It often understates market expectations of inflation. Thats also correct. At the moment, though, it appears to be overstating it. That could certainly change in the future, in which case it would be worth pointing out that people looking at the unadjusted difference were too complacent about rising inflation. Thats not our problem right now. He suggests that common methods of accounting for liquidity are not foolproof. On this point, too, we agree. Thats why one of my conclusions (we didnt have more reason to worry about inflation at the end of February than we did in late 2019) was conditional on the soundness of the method. The other conclusion (the unadjusted difference doesnt itself give us a reason for worry) stands. The Fed has produced new estimates for inflation expectations, adjusting for liquidity, through the end of March. Those expectations rose a bit during March and are now a tick above where they were at the end of 2019. The late-March projection was for an average increase of 1.83 percent in the Consumer Price Index over the next five years. Thats still below the expectation on any day from the start of 2017 through the middle of 2019. Whatever other reasons we may have for worrying about high inflation in the next few years, the difference in yields between inflation-indexed and unindexed Treasury bonds isnt giving us one. | https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/whats-happening-to-inflation-expectations/ |
Will the Falcons hold a bidding war for the No. 4 overall pick? | After the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, it became clear that quarterbacks are going to be selected with each of this years first three selections. The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to take Clemsons Trevor Lawrence at No. 1, while BYUs Zach Wilson is the emerging favorite to at No. 2 to the New York Jets. At No. 3, the 49ers would then have their pick between Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance, while Alabamas Mac Jones could be the surprise pick. No matter who the 49ers take, the Atlanta Falcons will end up in an enviable position at No. 4 overall. Should they not wish to take one of the remaining quarterbacks for themselves, they could hold a bidding war for the pick, eliciting offers from other quarterback-needy teams picking later in the first round. It appears the Falcons are indeed fielding offers for the pick already, and are willing to make a move, per ESPNs Adam Schefter: With teams locked into the first three overall picks, the Atlanta Falcons now have received trade calls from multiple teams and are open to moving out of the No. 4 spot, per source. Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2021 If the Falcons dont want to go quarterback, Florida pass-catcher Kyle Pitts would be a worthy selection if they stick and pick at No. 4. As talented as Pitts is, though, it could easily be the best route for the Falcons to take a big package of additional picks to move down. With so many teams moving up for quarterbacks, theres still likely to be plenty of talented prospects at positions of need for the Falcons to pick from later in the first round. In terms of teams that could be calling the Falcons looking to move up to No. 4, the Denver Broncos (No. 9 overall), New England Patriots (No. 15 overall), Washington Football Team (No. 19 overall) and Chicago Bears (No. 20 overall) would all make sense. | https://sports.yahoo.com/falcons-hold-bidding-war-no-211426395.html?src=rss |
How Does Penei Sewell Stack Up Against the Top Offensive Linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft Class? | CINCINNATI The Bengals could take Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell with the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft later this month. The 20-year-old impressed scouts last week during his pro day. Sewell's size and athleticism was on full display. NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah put out a table comparing Sewell and Rashawn Slater to the best linemen in the 2020 draft class. Sewell's arm length and wingspan are a tad shorter than most of the other prospects, but he was near the top in a few categories including weight and bench press. It does give this year's rankings a bit more context. Sewell probably wouldn't have been the top tackle in the 2020 class. That doesn't mean the Bengals shouldn't take him with the fifth pick. Instead, it's a testament to how great the first four offensive tackles were as prospects last spring. The Bengals are weighing their options at No. 5. Sewell and LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are the two favorites to be the pick. If they're both available, then the organization will be faced with a tough decision. For the latest free agency news and NFL Draft coverage, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below. ----- You May Also Like: Former NFL General Manager Believes Bengals Have Easy Decision With No. 5 Pick Bengals Open to Potential Geno Atkins Return Duke Tobin Sheds Light on O-Line and Wide Receiver Depth in 2021 NFL Draft How Involved is Joe Burrow in the Bengals' Pre-Draft Process Here's How the Sam Darnold Trade Impacts the Bengals A Message to Bengals Fans: Thank You Bengals Legend Has Eyes on BIG Lineman to Protect Joe Burrow NFL Teams Expect Bengals to Pick Penei Sewell Former NFL Head Coach Weighs in on Great Debate Between Chase and Sewell "A Lot of Teams" Believe Bengals Should Take Penei Sewell at No. 5 Watch: Penei Sewell Goes Through Four Stage Workout Longtime Bengals Assistant Endorses Ja'Marr Chase Analysts Simplify Ja'Marr Chase Vs Penei Sewell Debate William Jackson III Takes Shot at Bengals Organization and Fan Base Scouts Rave About Ja'Marr Chase Following Pro Day Workout Another Big Board Has Sizable Gap Between Penei Sewell and Ja'Marr Chase This is a Great Film Breakdown of Penei Sewell Bengals Pass on Ja'Marr Chase in Latest Mock Draft NFL Draft Big Board: Big Gap Between Sewell and Chase This is a great film breakdown of Penei Sewell Penei Sewell vs Ja'Marr Chase: Team May Have Tipped Their Hand One NFL Team Believes Bengals Will Take Ja'Marr Chase at No. Grading the Bengals' Recent Signings in Free Agency Joe Burrow and the Bengals Big Winners After Blockbuster Trade Prospect Breakdown: Jaylen Waddle Has Exactly What Bengals Need at Receiver Joe Burrow Lobbying for Ja'Marr Chase at No. 5 Three Teams That Should Trade For Giovani Bernard Penn State Stars Have Huge Day Tee Higgins shoots his shot in-between offseason workouts Cincinnati showing interest in veteran offensive lineman Analyst Dismisses Idea of Kyle Pitts to the Bengals ----- Be sure to keep it locked on AllBengals all the time! Subscribe to the AllBengals YouTube channel Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals Like and follow AllBengals on Facebook | https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/gm-report/how-does-penei-sewell-stack-up-against-the-top-offensive-linemen-in-2020-nfl-draft-class |
Why is a mandatory levy on the UKs gambling industry still a roll of the dice? | That betting firms should contribute to funding treatment for gambling addiction is beyond dispute these days. Even the companies agree. Their trade body, the Betting and Gaming Council, often boasts about how its leading members volunteered to boost their joint funding of education and treatment services to 100m during the 2019-2023 period. The problem, though, is obvious: the promises are voluntary. While 100m, even when spread over several years, sounds a large sum, it seems plucked out of the air. Nobody would claim it comes close to covering the cost to the public purse of providing even the current patchy level of treatment for addiction. This is the context of the call by Claire Murdoch, national mental health director for NHS England, for a mandatory industry levy. She says the NHS is being left to pick up the pieces as the number of people seeking help to stop gambling has soared. Murdoch is not alone in lobbying for a mandatory levy. The Gambling Commission, the governments own regulator, is in favour. So is BeGambleAware, the charity that receives much of the funding from the industry. And MPs from all main parties support the mandatory route. The governments review of gambling laws, launched last December, is free to adopt the measure indeed, it is in the terms of reference for consideration. It is just that restrictions on advertising and marketing, and the spin-speeds of online roulette games, tend to grab most of the attention. The risk is that a mandatory levy, which could have been introduced years ago, continues to fall between the cracks. Start from first principles. The answer to the second question is surely more than token sums of 20m or so a year. Credit Suisse has done the easy bit: binned a few senior executives, axed top-level bonuses and told shareholders they will have to live with a lower dividend after the Archegos and Greensill disasters. None of it, though, amounts to a new strategy, which is probably what the Swiss bank requires after finding itself at the centre of the two most serious blow-ups in financial markets this year. For Archegos, Credit Suisse has the inadequate excuse that other big banks were also exposed to the collapse of the fund run by Bill Hwang. That factor, though, does not explain why Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, also acting as prime brokers, were able to flee the scene and liquidate their exposures while the Swiss bank, plus Nomura, were slow out of the blocks. A hefty $4.7bn hit to profits suggests a failure of the entire system of risk controls. The upfront financial pain with Greensill is smaller (though lets see what lawsuits from clients exposed to the affected funds brings) but the reputational damage is arguably larger. It is one thing for a greedy or gullible former UK prime minister to be caught up in Lex Greensills happy talk about reinventing supply-chain finance, but the default setting on a Swiss bank is meant to be prudence and scepticism. Credit Suisse seems to have been repackaging loans according to a playbook from the pre-2008 bad old days. Good luck to Antnio Horta-Osrio, incoming chairman, in sorting out the mess. The challenge looks at least as daunting as the one he faced at Lloyds, which at least had the comfort blanket of market leadership in UK retail banking. In investment banking it is not obvious why Credit Suisse is trying to compete internationally. Pouring oil on troubled waters BP has managed to flog a few assets and the price of oil has recovered. The mechanical result is that borrowings have fallen faster than expected to the target level of only $35bn. Thus corporate thoughts have turned to share buy-backs to cheer up shareholders after last years dividend cut. One can see the temptation, but oil companies are reliably terrible at judging when their shares are cheap. Ask Shell, which was buying merrily almost until the moment it cut its own dividend. Investors should not celebrate too soon. | https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2021/apr/07/why-is-a-mandatory-levy-on-the-uks-gambling-industry-still-a-roll-of-the-dice |
Does Michigan Have A Transfer Problem? | Since January, somewhere between five and seven players who likely would've played in 2021 have decided to leave Michigan's football program. The number isn't set in stone because different people have different views on what each player's potential future could've been in Ann Arbor. For instance, Zach Carpenter almost certainly would've been in the mix at the center position, while defensive end Luiji Vilain battled injuries and never really found a role at U-M. There are others somewhere on that spectrum like running back Zach Charbonnet, wide receiver Giles Jackson and quarterbacks Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton who all, at some point, seemed to have a bright future at Michigan. Now they're all planning to suit up elsewhere. I would say yes. Over the last three years, 60 players from Michigan have entered their names into the transfer portal. That includes scholarship players and walk-ons, and also just counts the pure number on the surface. Some of those guys have withdrawn from the portal, some have already found new homes and some are still looking. However each unique situation started and played out, 60 is the number of names that are in the portal. Only Penn State and Maryland had more from the Big Ten over that stretch of time with 62. Here's how the entire conference fared: Maryland - 62 Penn State - 62 Michigan - 60 Rutgers - 59 Nebraska - 58 Illinois - 38 Iowa - 35 Indiana - 34 Purdue - 33 Michigan State - 31 Ohio State - 31 Minnesota - 31 Wisconsin - 21 Northwestern - 14 Some Michigan apologists would say, "Michigan has a lot of transfers because they recruit so well. If guys get passed on the depth chart and aren't going to play, they leave." Yet that issue doesn't seem to be present at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have recruited as well as any program in the entire country and have only had 31 transfers. Wisconsin, who doesn't recruit quite as well as Michigan on paper at least, but does develop talent and put guys in the league, has only had 21 entries. Recruiting powers Clemson (20), LSU (50), Georgia (36), Oklahoma (50), Oregon (33) and USC (31) all lose less players to the portal than Michigan. Alabama is the lone recruiting machine that loses more players to the portal than Michigan with 85 over the last three years. Of course no one is going to argue with how Alabama is doing things. Whatever formula Nick Saban has in place, it's obviously working. Another faction of U-M supporters might say, "It's because of Michigan's stringent academic requirements. Kids to get to U-M and just can't cut it." Northwestern is as good or better than Michigan academically, and they've had just 14 transfers. Other big time academic institutions like Vanderbilt, Cal and Stanford also don't seem to have the same issue with 33, 29 and 23 transfers respectively. Maybe Michigan is recruiting from a slightly bigger pool than those programs to start with, but the transfer numbers aren't even close. Not even the programs that consistently seem to deal with some level of dysfunction has transfer numbers as high as Michigan over the past three years. Teams like Auburn (47), Tennessee (58), Arizona (57), Texas (40), Kansas (43) and Florida State (50) all have lower numbers than Michigan. They're all close, but still not at the 60 mark. Some would say that these numbers don't mean much that it's just the nature of college football now but I'm not so sure. To me, the transfer numbers at Michigan indicate that something is off, and former UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. agrees in the video above. If U-M was in the middle of the pack, you could argue that it's just the way things are now, but being in "rare" and somewhat unexplained company when it comes to players leaving a program, suggests that there's an issue. In fact, only eight Power 5 programs have had more transfers than Michigan over the last three years Alabama, Maryland, Penn State, Louisville, Kansas State, West Virginia, Arizona State and Utah. Of those eight, five have gone through coaching changes within the last three seasons Maryland, Louisville, Kansas State, West Virginia and Arizona State which often leads to more transfers. Whatever Alabama is doing is working and no one will question the approaches in Tuscaloosa no matter how high the transfer numbers get. Transfers obviously happen during coaching changes so those five teams can explained on some level as well. However, the numbers at U-M, Penn State and Utah are a bit puzzling. James Franklin, Jim Harbaugh and Kyle Whittingham have all been running their shows for a while, and all three have had some decent levels of success. That makes the transfer numbers noteworthy, in my opinion. I don't know the ins and outs of Utah and Penn State football, and I don't talk to anyone currently within the programs or past members of the teams, so it's hard to speak on what's going on there. However, I cover U-M on a daily basis and feel like I have a good grasp on what's going on in Ann Arbor. I've been quite clear when giving my opinion on Michigan football and Harbaugh. By all accounts there has been and still is a culture issue, and I can't believe he was extended after last season. The transfer numbers seem to support that belief and it's quite hard to explain why the number is so high if everything is just fine under Harbaugh. Since the 2018-19 academic year, which is when the transfer portal was created, Kansas State leads all Power 5 programs with 90 names in the transfer portal. Alabama has 85 and West Virginia has 66 to round out the top three. Here's how the numbers look across the other four Power 5 conferences, keeping in mind that these are scholarship and walk-on players combined, and that these are names entered and not necessarily definitive departures: ACC Louisville - 65 Va. Tech - 53 Florida State - 50 NC State - 45 North Carolina - 41 Miami - 40 Georgia Tech - 34 Virginia - 33 Boston College - 32 Duke - 32 Syracuse - 31 Wake Forest - 31 Notre Dame - 29 Pitt - 26 Clemson - 20 Big 12 Kansas State - 90 West Virginia - 66 Texas Tech - 61 Oklahoma State - 58 Oklahoma - 50 TCU - 48 Kansas - 43 Texas - 40 Iowa State - 31 Baylor - 25 Pac 12 Arizona State - 65 Utah - 62 Washington State - 57 Arizona - 57 UCLA - 52 Colorado - 48 Oregon State - 38 Oregon - 33 USC - 31 Cal - 29 Washington - 27 Stanford - 23 SEC Alabama - 85 Arkansas - 59 Tennessee - 58 LSU - 50 Mississippi State - 48 Auburn - 47 Texas A&M - 43 South Carolina - 39 Georgia - 36 Ole Miss - 36 Kentucky - 35 Florida - 34 Vanderbilt - 33 Missouri - 31 | https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-transfer-portal-giles-jackson-zach-charbonnet-wolverines |
Which attractions will be open on Disneyland's opening day? | TipRanks Just because a negative outcome can be anticipated, it still hits hard when it becomes a reality. Accordingly, Acadia (ACAD) investors got the blues on Monday. Shares cratered by 17% after the company received the dreaded CRL (complete response letter) from the FDA. The rejection was for Nuplazid, Acadias treatment for patients with dementia-related psychosis (DRP) and follows on from last months notification letter which cited deficiencies in the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA). While J.P. Morgans Cory Kasimov says the CRL was expected, the reasoning appears confusing. What does come as a surprise, is the apparent shift in the regulator's stance on the adequacy of the clinical package given the agreed-upon Ph3 HARMONY design following the end of phase 2 meeting (and statistical significance observed in that study), the 5-star analyst said. Management will promptly ask for a Type A meeting with the regulators which will take place within 30 days of the request. As such, Kasimov notes, We await visibility on whether the CRL will result in a multi-month or multi-year delay to re-assess the mid-to long-term outlook for Nuplazid. In the meantime, until further clarity, Kasimov expects the weakness to persist, although the analyst believes not all hope is lost yet. Based on the compelling data to date, Kasimov says the indication is ultimately approvable. However, that has to be balanced against the opportunity cost of a potentially extended wait. All in all, however, Kasimov sticks to an Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating and $42 price target. ACAD stock is down ~60% year-to-date and the vote of confidence, despite the issues, suggests a 103% upside potential. (To watch Kasimovs track record, click here) Kasimov represents the bullish view Wall Street is somewhat divided on this stock. There are 20 recent reviews, 10 to Buy and 10 to Hold, making the consensus rating a Moderate Buy. While lower than Kasimov's forecast, the $32.41 average price target still suggests a potential upside of 57%. (See ACAD stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for healthcare stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. | https://news.yahoo.com/attractions-open-disneylands-opening-day-234934913.html |
Why Not Fewer Voters? | Much of the discussion about proposed changes to voting laws backed by many Republicans and generally opposed by Democrats begs the question and simply asserts that having more people vote is, ceteris paribus, a good thing. Many Americans, being devout egalitarians, recoil from the very notion of better voters as a matter of rhetoric, even as they accept qualifications as a matter of fact. Categorically disenfranchising felons has always been, in my view, the intelligent default position, with re-enfranchisement on a case-by-case basis. It is likely that under such a practice some people who ought to be considered rehabilitated would be unjustly excluded. But all eligibility requirements risk excluding somebody who might make a good voter, or a better voter than someone who is eligible. There are plenty of very smart and responsible 16-year-olds who would make better voters than their dim and irresponsible older siblings or their parents. That doesnt mean we should have 16-year-old voters Id be more inclined to raise the voting age to 30 it means only that categorical decision-making by its nature does not account for certain individual differences. Similarly, asking for government-issued photo ID at the polls seem to me obviously the right thing to do, even if it would result in some otherwise eligible voters not voting. Im not convinced that having more voters is a good thing in any case, but, even if I were, that would not be the only good, but only one good competing with other goods, one of which is seeing to it that the eligibility rules on the books are enforced so that elections may be honestly and credibly regulated. We could verify eligibility at the polls rigorously and easily, if we wanted to, just as we have the ability to verify who is eligible to enter the country or to drive a car. Of course that would put some burdens on voters. Story continues There would be more voters if we made it easier to vote, and there would be more doctors if we didnt require a license to practice medicine. The fact that we believe unqualified doctors to be a public menace but act as though unqualified voters were just stars in the splendid constellation of democracy indicates how little real esteem we actually have for the vote, in spite of our public pieties. There are tradeoffs in voting, as there are in all things. Democrats prefer to minimize attention paid to voting fraud and eligibility enforcement, but even a little bit of fraud or improper voting is something that should be discouraged and, if possible, prevented. It is spare me your sob stories something that should be prosecuted in most cases. It is a fact that many of the things that would be useful in discouraging and preventing voting fraud would also tend to make voting somewhat more difficult for at least some part of the population. Republicans generally think that tradeoff is worth it, and Democrats generally dont. Of course. But the mere presence of political self-interest does not tell us whether a policy is a good one or a bad one. One argument for encouraging bigger turnout is that if more eligible voters go to the polls then the outcome will more closely reflect what the average American voter wants. That sounds like a wonderful thing . . . if you havent met the average American voter. Voters individually and in majorities are as apt to be wrong about things as right about them, often vote from low motives such as bigotry and spite, and very often are contentedly ignorant. That is one of the reasons why the original constitutional architecture of this country gave voters a narrowly limited say in most things and took some things freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc. off the voters table entirely. It is easy to think of critical moments in American history when giving the majority its way would have produced horrifying results. If wed had a fair and open national plebiscite about slavery on December 6, 1865, slavery would have won in a landslide. If we held a plebiscite on abolishing the death penalty today, the death penalty would be sustained. If the question is the quality of policy outcomes, then both major camps have reasons to dread genuine majority rule. Conservatives ought to at the very least be mindful of the fact that if policy truly represented the preferences of the average American, then we would have fewer economic liberties and diminished Second Amendment rights; progressives should consider that if policy actually represented the preferences of the average American, then abortion rights would be limited and tax hikes would not fly, while wed be spending more money on the Border Patrol and less on welfare as work requirements reduced the rolls. Popular opinion does not break down along neat ideological lines. The real case generally unstated for encouraging more people to vote is a metaphysical one: that wider turnout in elections makes the government somehow more legitimate in a vague moral sense. But legitimacy is not popularity and popularity is not consent. The entire notion of representative government assumes that the actual business of governing requires fewer decision-makers rather than more. Representatives are people who act in other peoples interests, which is distinct from carrying out a groups stated demands as certified by majority vote. Legitimacy involves, among other interests, the governments responsibility to people who are not voters, such as children, mentally incapacitated people, incarcerated felons, and non-citizen permanent residents. Their interests matter, too, but we do not extend the vote to them. So we require a more sophisticated conception of legitimacy than one-man, one-vote, majority rule. To vote is only to register ones individual, personal preference, but democratic citizenship imposes broader duties and obligations. When we fail to meet that broader responsibility, the result is dysfunction: It is no accident that we are heaping debt upon our children, who cannot vote, in order to pay for benefits dear to the most active and reliable voters. Thats what you get from having lots of voting but relatively little responsible citizenship. Voting is, among other things, an analgesic. It soothes people with the illusion that they have more control over their lives and their public affairs than they actually do. Beyond naked political self-interest, it probably is the sedative effect of voting that makes expanding participation attractive to a certain kind of politician. The sedative effect is why the Philadelphia city council has not been drowned in the Schuylkill River and why the powers that be in California have not been exiled to North Waziristan. When people vote, they feel like theyve had their say, and they are, for some inexplicable reason, satisfied with that. We dont accept that in other areas of life: If Amazon fails to deliver your package, you expect Amazon to actually do something about it either get you what you ordered or give you a refund. You wouldnt be satisfied simply yelling at a customer-service representative and thus having had your say you expect your deliverables to be delivered. It is good to have your say, but that is not sufficient. That holds true almost everywhere, but not in politics. Thus the unspoken slogan of every incumbents campaign: Youve had your say, now shut the hell up. Progressives and populists like to blame lobbyists, special interests, the Swamp, insiders, the Establishment, vested interests, shadowy corporate titans, and sundry boogeymen for our current straits, but the fact is that voters got us into this mess. Maybe the answer isnt more voters. More from National Review | https://news.yahoo.com/why-not-fewer-voters-233852642.html |
Which attractions will be open on Disneylands opening day? | With Disneyland reopening April 30 and ticket sales starting next week, prospective park visitors are wondering what to expect there. COVID-19 safety protocols will represent the biggest changes, and not all rides and attractions will be available. Heres a list of rides and attractions that are scheduled to be offered at the Anaheim theme park when it opens its gates to visitors, alongside links to previous Times coverage for a peek into Disneylands history and lore. Alice in Wonderland Astro Orbitor Advertisement Riders on Disneylands retro Astro Orbitor ride. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Disneyland steps back to get ahead - March 22, 1996 Autopia Tomorrowland retools part of its past June 29, 2000 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Whats old is old again for Disneylands Big Thunder Mountain March 11, 2014 Advertisement Casey Jr. Why park history is headed to auction Aug. 16, 2018 Gadgets Go Coaster New attraction: Disney toons it down Jan. 27, 1993 Advertisement Haunted Mansion Disneylands Haunted Mansion. (Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times) Digging up the ghosts of Disneylands Haunted Mansion ride Oct. 16, 2015 Indiana Jones Adventure He built a temple of zoom: Tony Baxter is the mastermind behind Disneylands Indiana Jones Adventure Feb. 26, 1995 Advertisement Its a Small World Its a Small World after all; iconic ride celebrates 50 years Aug. 3, 2014 King Arthur Carrousel Riding in circles for children Nov. 14, 2013 Mad Tea Party Disneylands Mad Tea Party is one of the parks oldest rides. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Meet the legendary ride maker that invented the modern theme park Jan. 4, 2016 Main Street vehicles How Main Street, U.S.A. is rooted in Walt Disneys Missouri childhood July 10, 2015 Mark Twain Riverboat Draining of Disneyland waterway reveals items lost by guests May 4, 2010 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Advertisement Disneyland guests walk past Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a fully realized Star Wars toy May 29, 2019 Mr. Toads Wild Ride Disney voice-over actors bring theme park rides to life July 28, 2015 Peter Pans Flight Disneyland adding new special effects to classic rides May 4, 2015 Advertisement Pinocchios Daring Journey Pirates of the Caribbean The Pirates of the Caribbean ride has evolved over the decades. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Disneylands Pirates of the Caribbean: 50 years of change July 7, 2017 Advertisement Roger Rabbits Car Toon Spin Disneyland Previews Roger Rabbit Ride Nov. 19, 1993 Snow Whites Enchanted Wish Space Mountain Splash Mountain Disney to replace Splash Mountain Song of the South theme with Princess and the Frog June 25, 2020 Advertisement Star Tours The Adventures Continue Star Tours 2.0 journey started long ago at Skywalker Ranch May 20, 2011 Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance A Disneyland cast member dressed as a Resistance member at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance last year. Nah April 10, 2003 Walt Disneys Enchanted Tiki Room An early Disneyland designer won over Walt Disney with his rebel reputation Sept. 7, 2018 | https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-06/disneyland-opening-day-rides-attractions |
Did Jets GM officially put 49ers on clock at No. 3 in draft? | The uncertainty about the two picks ahead of the 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft is dwindling. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been a lock to go No. 1 since his freshman year in college. After that there was a little room for debate, but BYU signal caller Zach Wilson was the popular choice to go to New York. The Jets trade of former No. 3 pick Sam Darnold ensured the Jets would pick a quarterback, and then their general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday lent some credence to the rumors of Wilson being the pick for New York. In his press conference Tuesday with Jets reporters, Douglas was asked about former 49ers quarterback and BYU alum Steve Youngs report that the Jets were committed to selecting Wilson. The GM didnt do much to dispel the notion, offering Steves plugged in to BYU pretty well, with a slight smile before trying to deflect the question. It was good being out there at the pro day, Douglas said. And just had an opportunity to speak to his representatives. Say hello to a couple members of his family, quickly. And BYU put on a great pro day for the entire NFL first class, first class organization. It was a good day out there. Like I said, were excited about this class and were excited about this quarterback class. So, we still have a lot of our process left in these three-plus weeks leading up to the draft, and a lot of productive conversations in the future. Douglas didnt explicitly say Wilson will be the pick, but he didnt do anything to indicate either verbally or nonverbally that theyd be going another direction. The piece of his answer about a lot of process left and excitement for the whole class has the look of the required GM-speak from a person who doesnt want it to be explicitly clear who he intends to draft. Theres not much left to the imagination regardless. The Jets were expected to pick Wilson after he lit up his pro day, but there was enough uncertainty that it made it worth wondering if they might go a different direction. Perhaps they still will and something will change in the next three-plus weeks, but Douglas appeared to make the Jets intentions known whether he intended to or not. While its not officially official, it sure seems as though the 49ers are on the clock. Story continues List | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-jets-gm-officially-put-010852354.html?src=rss |
Did Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes meet again Tuesday in Tampa? | Two months after their one-sided encounter in Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes apparently converged in Tampa again. Albeit under far more furtive circumstances. A spokesperson for Carrollwood Day School would neither confirm nor deny speculation the quarterbacks were on the north Tampa campus shooting a commercial for EA Sports Madden NFL franchise. WFLAs Dan Lucas reported the taciturn meeting late Tuesday afternoon via Twitter, adding a bootleg photo with a faint image bearing a strong resemblance to Brady. Responding to an inquiry from the Tampa Bay Times, CDS marketing director Nicki Ragan offered this statement: Our response is that I cannot confirm or deny any of the rumors due to a non-disclosure agreement. There was not a school event on campus today. An organization rented our location and there is no story to be told. Mahomes and Brady are believed to have a solid friendship. Immediately following the Bucs 31-9 Super Bowl romp of the Chiefs, NFL Films cameras captured the pair shaking hands and embracing. Youre a legend, man. Congrats, man, Mahomes told Brady. Youre a stud, bro, the Bucs quarterback responded. Keep in touch. Sign up for the Bucs RedZone newsletter to get updates and analysis on the latest team and NFL news from Bucs beat writer Joey Knight. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-tom-brady-patrick-mahomes-000200239.html?src=rss |
Could Washington move inside the top five of the 2021 NFL draft? | When the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, it settled two quarterback situations for 2021. The New York Jets will likely select BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall, while the Panthers will see if offensive coordinator Joe Brady can turn Darnolds career around. The Jacksonville Jaguars appeared locked in with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall. The Jets are expected to select Wilson at No. 2, and the San Francisco 49ers come in at No. 3. After giving up multiple future assets, the 49ers are drafting a quarterback. While there is a lot of speculation that Jones could be Kyle Shanahans guy, Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance could also be the choice. For the first time since 1999, three quarterbacks will be selected among the top three picks. Could the Atlanta Falcons, who hold the No. The Falcons have veteran Matt Ryan under contract, but that doesnt mean they arent interested in one of the top passers in this draft. Atlanta is in a good position. It could sit at No. 4 and either pick its quarterback of the future or take Florida tight end Kyle Pitts to pair with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Or, the Falcons could auction the No. 4 pick to the highest bidder. With teams locked into the first three overall picks, the Atlanta Falcons now have received trade calls from multiple teams and are open to moving out of the No. 4 spot, per source. While head coach Ron Rivera didnt sound like someone willing to mortgage multiple future assets to move into the top five recently, he didnt rule out drafting a quarterback despite having Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke on the roster in 2021. Story continues Washington did an outstanding job in free agency. The team goes into the draft without a glaring need, except perhaps at linebacker. While Fitzpatrick is the starter for 2021, now could be the perfect time for the Football Team to find their quarterback of the future. Washingtons defensive players will eventually become expensive to re-sign. Drafting a rookie quarterback could help the team contend while also keeping some of its key defensive pieces like Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. In every draft, a talented quarterback seemingly slides down the draft board. While that could be the case in the 2021 NFL draft, Washington would be wise to move up and get its guy instead of waiting until day two or three to pick a developmental quarterback. Perhaps Rivera and his coaching staff dont see a player worth moving up for. However, if they do, this is the perfect time for Washington to be aggressive in landing its future quarterback. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-washington-move-inside-top-034110462.html?src=rss |
What does returning to normal' mean with a prime minister like Boris Johnson? | The pandemic has been going on long enough that it makes little sense to speak of a return to normal. We are grateful for small emancipations, counting the days to shopping and beer gardens. But the world where we took such things for granted is not the one into which we now gingerly emerge. Even Boris Johnson has learned to manage expectations, having spent 2020 promising liberty unfeasibly soon and allowing relaxation when it was unsafe. In his televised press conference on Monday, the prime minister declared himself reluctant to give hostages to fortune. There might be some semblance of normality in June, he said. One difference between semblance and the real thing could be a requirement to show proof of Covid negativity to access services a vaccine passport. Johnson confirmed that the concept was being developed, but was cagey on detail. Supporters of the idea see it as a minor bureaucratic intervention that can repopulate businesses with customers, reviving the nations economy and its spirits. Opponents see it as an affront to liberty and an engine of discrimination against the unvaccinated. With Labour and dozens of Tory MPs opposed, the scheme could struggle to clear a Commons vote. If Johnson were still a backbench MP, he would be with the rebellion. He would be mining Stasi analogies to denounce the scheme as impractical and immoral; biometric surveillance by the back door. Johnsons libertarian impulse can be numbed but not removed by the pressures of running a government. He could have used the press conference to make the case for vaccine certification. Instead, he stressed that the plan was provisional. His eyes flitted to the corners of the room, as they always do when he is mentally scoping emergency exits. Johnson doesnt really have a poker face. You can usually tell that he is bluffing because his lips are moving. But when he is confident he will get away with something, he looks brazenly into the camera. On vaccine passports, his shiftiness presaged retreat implementing a scheme for the sake of government vanity, but diluting it with enough exemptions to make it functionally worthless. The whole debate has an air of displacement activity. It is a rhetorical playground for politicians who like arguing from positions of ideological certainty, which has not been the best mode for pandemic management. Many MPs crave the restoration of normal politics as much as their constituents are itching to get down to the pub. But normality in the Westminster context describes something more profound than indoor dining or maskless shopping. It refers back to a time when the competition between parties was underpinned by commonly respected conventions. Combat in the political arena was fierce, but also constrained by unwritten codes of permissible conduct. There were rules. That consensus was unmade before the first coronavirus infection had happened in Britain. Not much of what was considered normal in UK politics before 2016 made it unscathed through the years of parliamentary trench warfare over Brexit. The ferocity of that combat cut across party lines. The corrosive and relentless ugliness of the rhetoric, the hysterical accusations of treason, the flagrant inversions of truth for campaign advantage it all combined to inflict a trauma on British democracy. And it has not been processed because another trauma swept in straight behind it. One casualty of that period was the notion that prime ministers are restrained from abusing their office by a sense of constitutional decorum. Johnson disproved that by illegally dissolving parliament in August 2019. The offence was reversed by the supreme court in September, but rewarded three months later in electoral triumph. Johnson proceeds through life operating on the belief that rules apply to lesser people. His career is built on the charismatic knack for persuading people to exempt him from ordinary standards of decent behaviour. It has become a self-reinforcing myth of resilience. The more he weathers exposure of flagrant dishonesty, the less impact anyone expects when he is accused of telling another untruth. If his supporters could be repelled by deficiencies in his character, his various grim libidinous adventures would have done the damage by now. Each time he bounces back from some display of negligence or incompetence, it gets harder to imagine the scale of misdeed required to finish him. He has survived failure and scandal that would once have incinerated prime ministers. Since fallibility is woven so deep into the Boris brand, it supplies its own exoneration. It is an impressively durable phenomenon, although that does not confer political immortality. The prime ministers luck will one day run out. But it still confounds most conventional expectation that he should have come this far, to be speaking from the dais in the new 2.6m Downing Street briefing room, designed to confer pseudo-presidential authority, a huge union flag at each shoulder, laying out the official government roadmap to normal. We can understand it in the context of the pandemic as the return to small pleasures and social proximities. It means familiarity. But in politics, what feels familiar can be misleading, and Johnson is the master of that deception. He is adept at the casual display of power, informal, unchecked, direct to camera; government by force of character. His gift is to make that seem natural, as if it has always been this way. But it is an accident of historical circumstance. It is the elision of Brexit aftermath and pandemic. And it is not normal. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/07/returning-to-normal-prime-minister-boris-johnson-covid-politics |
Was Life On Earth Brought Here From An Alien System? | The idea of panspermia is that life originated on another planet, which was then impacted to eject ... [+] material into space, which then migrated to planet Earth, seeding our world with the earliest life forms. Panspermia can be extended to the idea that Earth-based life has subsequently been spread elsewhere through the same type of process. (Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Future Publishing via Getty Images Today, on Earth, theres an enormous variety and diversity of life on our planet. Every single surviving lifeform appears, in some fundamental way, to be related to every other lifeform; life appears to have a universal common ancestor. As we go farther and farther back in time from the fossil record, for example we can see that life was: less complex, less differentiated, had smaller numbers of unique sequences in its genetic code, and, if we go back before a certain critical point, lacked many of the developments that we now perceive as critical in leading to human beings. Before a certain point, mammals didnt exist. Before that, life only existed in the water, not on land. Prior to that, sex hadnt evolved; prior to that, all organisms were merely single-celled. And yet, as far back as we can trace it on Earth, we have never yet come to an epoch where we can say with any degree of certainty that life did not exist. It raises a tremendous possibility: that the life that began on Earth originated elsewhere in the Universe, before even the formation of Earth. Not only is that possible, but its possible that life, as it evolved on Earth, is now providing the seeds life elsewhere in the galaxy and Universe. This idea, known as panspermia, was once ridiculed as pseudoscience, but is now firmly back in the scientific mainstream. Heres the science of why we have to keep this fascinating, speculative, but compelling possibility in mind. Green algae, shown here, is an example of a true multicellular organism, where a single specimen is ... [+] composed of multiple individual cells that all work together for the good of the organism as a whole. Multicellularity likely took approximately 2 billion years to evolve on Earth, although it clearly evolved multiple times independently. Frank Fox / www.mikro-foto.de Here on Earth, the surface, the oceans, the atmosphere, and even the submerged deep and the subterranean underground all teem with life. In addition to single-celled life forms, there are macroscopic fungi, plants, and animals pervading the planets biosphere. As we go farther back in time, we can learn that life has gotten more complex over time, but that we have yet to encounter an epoch on Earth where our planet was devoid of life. We typically think of the evidence for past life on Earth as coming from fossils, which get created when sediment typically in aqueous, underwater environments gets deposited atop living organisms. As the sediment solidifies into sedimentary rock, the organisms decompose, leaving their fossilized remains imprinted into the rock. For as far back as we have sedimentary rock in the geological history of Earth, we find that they contain fossils. While many such rocks routinely go back hundreds of millions of years, we have a few that go back a billion years or more. We find no epochs in our geological history where life was not also present. Trilobites fossilized in limestone, from the Field Museum in Chicago. All extant and fossilized ... [+] organisms can have their lineage traced back to a universal common ancestor that lived an estimated 3.5 billion years ago, and much of what's occurred in the past 550 million years is preserved in the fossil records found in Earth's sedimentary rocks. James St. John / flickr But over very long durations, particularly with many layers of rock atop it, that sedimentary rock will begin to metamorphose, or change its chemical makeup. If a rock is only partially metamorphosed, it might still contain fossils, but a completely metamorphosed rock wont have any at all. This might cause you to lose hope, concluding that once we go back beyond about ~2 billion years in Earths history, there wont be any way to tell whether our planet was inhabited or not. But there is a way. Youve heard of carbon-dating before, where we can use the ratios of different carbon isotopes in an to estimate how long its been since the remnants of organic matter have stopped undergoing biological processes. You measure the ratio of two different isotopes: carbon-12 and carbon-14. Carbon-12 is stable, but carbon-14 is created in the upper atmosphere from cosmic ray collisions. When you live, you breathe and ingest both forms of carbon; when you die, carbon-14 decays (with a half-life of around 5,700 years) and is not replaced. Thus, when you measure that ratio, you can tell how long ago a particular organism died, up to perhaps 100,000 years ago or so. Carbon comes in three different major isotopes: carbon-12, 13, and 14. Carbon-12 is stable and the ... [+] most common form of carbon, making up 98.9% of naturally occurring carbon. Carbon-13 is also stable, and has a global abundance of 1.1%, but is less common in organic matter. Carbon-14 is temporary: created in the upper atmosphere from cosmic rays, but taken up into biological material, where it decays upon the organism's death. Press & Siever But theres another form of carbon: carbon-13, which is stable like carbon-12, and makes up about 1.1% of the carbon found on Earth. Living organisms at least, to the best of our understanding preferentially uptake carbon-12 versus carbon-13, and we see a reason why when we look at the metabolic activity of enzymes: theyre more reactive with molecules that contain carbon-12 than carbon-13. When you look at an ancient source of carbon, you can be pretty sure that if it has the standard (1.1%) amount of carbon-13 in it, it probably arose from an inorganic process. but if it has less carbon-13 and a relative enhancement of carbon-12, thats a good indication that youve found the remnant of an organic life form. When scientists search for ancient remnants of life, they look for graphite deposited in highly metamorphosed rocks. This method led us to push the emergence of life, based on evidence from Earth-based rocks, back to 3.8 billion years ago, or just 750 million years after Earth formed. But looking at graphite deposits in zircons some of which are 4.1 billion years old or possibly even older shows this same carbon-12 enhancement at the expense of carbon-13. Hadean diamonds embedded in zircon/quartz. You can find the oldest deposits in panel d, which ... [+] indicate an age of 4.26 billion years, or nearly the age of Earth itself. M. Menneken, A. A. Nemchin, T. Geisler, R. T. Pidgeon & S. A. Wilde, Nature 448 7156 (2007) This tells us, at the very least, that life on Earth very likely goes back a very long time: to when Earth was less than 10% its current age. Most have assumed this implies that life arose very early on in Earths history, perhaps even during its most primordial stages. But theres another possibility thats even more fascinating: perhaps the life that we find on Earth didnt originate on Earth, but was formed prior to it. Perhaps, once Earth formed, there were extraordinarily primitive organisms that came to Earth, found they could survive and reproduce here, and thats how life began on our planet. As wacky and wild as this idea sounds, its a hypothesis that we not only cannot rule out, but one that has a wide variety of indirect support that bolsters its plausibility. The idea that Earth was born with life already on it really, truly could be the case. Heres why this is a scientifically interesting scenario to explore. In the material surrounding young stars, in the outflows from young stars themselves, in the gas ... [+] ejected from dying stars, and in otherwise unremarkable areas of the interstellar medium, copious abundances of organic molecules are found. These include carbon rings, long-chain molecules, sugars, amino acids, and ethyl formate, among others. ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/L. Calada (ESO) & NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team Reason #1: time and ingredients are abundant. Although Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, the Universe was around, doing its thing, for over 9 billion years before that. Stars lived, burned through their fuel, and died in both supernovae and planetary nebulae: recycling heavy elements into material that would form new stars. Neutron stars and white dwarfs merged, further enriching the interstellar medium. And when new stars form, they create enormous numbers of small fragments asteroids, planetesimals, and frozen, icy bodies many of which get ejected and travel throughout the galaxy, where their material can wind up on planets in other Solar Systems. Given the enormous amounts of cosmic time that have passed, and how many different stars and star systems have existed throughout our galaxys history, theres the tremendous potential for ingredients from one corner of the Milky Way to enrich (or infect, depending on your perspective) any other. All we needed was for life to have arisen once, somewhere, long ago, and that could provide for an origin to life on an innumerable number of subsequent worlds. Scores of amino acids not found in nature are found in the Murchison Meteorite, which fell to Earth ... [+] in Australia in the 20th century. The fact that 80+ unique types of amino acids exist in just a plain old space rock might indicate that the ingredients for life, or even life itself, might have formed differently elsewhere in the Universe, perhaps even on a planet that didn't have a parent star at all. Wikimedia Commons user Basilicofresco Reason #2: the precursors to life are everywhere. Its true: weve never yet demonstrated how life arose from non-life here on Earth. No laboratory experiment weve ever done has begun with completely non-living ingredients and ended with what we would unambiguously call life. And yet, the Universe gives us tremendous hints that life as we understand it definitively originated from non-living precursors. The clues come in many forms. Organic molecules sugars, amino acids, and complex carbon rings are found ubiquitously in interstellar space and in outflows around young stars. Dying stars exhibit many complex molecules, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ethyl formate: the molecule that gives raspberries their scent. Even meteorites that have fallen to Earth, like the Murchison meteorite that struck Australia in the 1960s, contain not only all 20 amino acids found in organic processes on Earth, but more than 60 others, including many with the opposite handedness to the ones we use. The precursor ingredients to life are literally everywhere; all they needed was the right set of conditions to create life. On this semilog plot, the complexity of organisms, as measured by the length of functional ... [+] non-redundant DNA/RNA per genome counted by nucleotide base pairs (bp), increases linearly with time. Time is counted backwards in billions of years before the present (time 0). Note how extrapolating back to the origin of Earth still requires a ~30,000 base-pair-length chain of nucleotides to get things started. Richard Gordon and Alexei Sharov, arXiv:1304.3381 Reason #3: the complexity of life on Earth indicates, via extrapolation, a much earlier origin than Earth alone can provide. Heres a fascinating and suggestive idea: take the most genetically complex organisms that exist today, and sequence their DNA. Take note of the length of their nucleic acid sequence, including the unique, non-overlapping genes, proteins, and other information thats encoded in them. Then, going back through the fossil record, try and trace how that complexity has evolved. (I promise, this isnt a creationist trick!) What youll find is that the most complex organism thought to exist at any point in our history follows the pattern of growth you see above. If you go back only to the origin of Earth, you have a complexity thats very hard to imagine from random chance: some ~30,000 base pairs in your genetic sequence. But if you go back a few billion years further i.e., to a pre-Earth origin of life random chance could easily account for such a seed. Perhaps we only need to investigate the interstellar medium to find evidence of the earliest life. A massive collision of large objects in space can cause the larger one to kick up large amounts of ... [+] debris, which can then coalesce into multiple large objects, such as moons, that remain close to the parent body. An early collision like this likely created the Moon, which has been slowing Earth's rotation and migrating away from our world ever since. NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (SSC) Reason #4: material on rocky planets doesnt stay sequestered. The Universe might be mostly empty space, but on long enough timescales, these finite-sized objects will inevitably experience collisions with one another. Asteroids, comets, planetesimals and more smash into major bodies like planets, and with enough energy, can kick enormous amounts of debris once part of the planets surface into space. This debris can form moons, rings, can fall back to the planet, or can travel throughout the Solar System and beyond. This isnt just conjecture; weve collected the evidence for meteorites from other worlds, including the Moon and Mars, that have made it to Earth. In fact, below, you can see the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite, discovered in 1984, which is now known to have originated from Mars. In fact, 3% of all meteorites on Earth are of Martian origin. Given that both Mars and Earth have been struck by large numbers of meteorites, its eminently plausible that there are chunks of planet Earth constant traveling through the Solar System, and many that have been ejected to travel the galaxy at large. Structures on ALH84001 meteorite, which has a Martian origin. Some argue that the structures shown ... [+] here may be ancient Martian life, while others argue for an inorganic, chemical-based process that gave rise to these inclusions. Despite much vitriol between researchers with various interpretations, the evidence remains inconclusive, and insufficient to conclude that past life existed on Mars. NASA, from 1996 At the same time that we consider this fascinating possibility, its important to rein ourselves in from succumbing to our wildest imaginings. Weve found meteorites of Martian origin with oddly-shaped inclusions in them. Although many initially jumped to the conclusion that these micron-sized shapes were fossilized Martian organisms, that was premature. Instead, weve found numerous inorganic processes that could lead to these inclusions. Life remains a possibility, but we need significantly stronger evidence than this dubious, ambiguous signal. We have every indication that once life began on Earth, it continued to survive, thrive, reproduce, mutate, and evolve in an unbroken chain spanning more than 4 billion years. But despite all that our scientific investigations have uncovered, we still dont know whether our terrestrial life originated on our planet, or in a different place at an earlier time. Furthermore, we strongly suspect that Earth life has since stowed away on collisional fragments that have journeyed throughout the Solar System, Milky Way, and possibly even beyond. We often say there is no planet B out there, but thats just for humans. Perhaps, if we could trace out the cosmic chain of life, Earth is just one link: not the first, and not the last, but an incubator of a story that began billions of years before. As with most open questions in science, until we have the decisive evidence in hand, we have no option but to keep all the viable possibilities in mind while we continue the search for the answers. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/04/07/was-life-on-earth-brought-here-from-an-alien-system/ |
Which football teams have played in kits inspired by musicians? | Recently, the Seattle Sounders released a Jimi Hendrix-inspired kit, writes Rashaad Jorden. Have any other clubs released kits inspired by or paying tribute to musicians? A number have been sponsored by musicians; we looked at those last year and in 2009. But there are also a handful who did it for love rather than money, usually with the heritage of the town or city in mind. One that immediately springs to mind is Bohemians FC, who had a beautiful away shirt with an image of Bob Marley on it, writes Kirk Burton. Sadly, it was pulled because the club didnt have the image rights to use it. This season Bohemians have the logo of the band Fontaines DC on their shirt, a partnership with the band. Fifteen per cent of the profits go towards a homeless charity so there is an extra incentive to buy one. Introducing Bohemians new away shirt! Its in tribute to Bob Marley after his final outdoor concert took place at their home ground pic.twitter.com/tdl9KKhffy Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) October 24, 2018 Coventry was the spiritual home of 2 Tone in the late 1970s, thanks to bands like the Specials and the Selecter. Citys brilliant third kit last season was inspired by the entire 2 Tone scene, notes Chris Oakley. Aside from that, on my Kitbliss website I once illustrated a set of kits that channelled various rock and pop performers. If readers would like to suggest more, Id be happy to add them. Jrg Michner points out that German punk band Die Toten Hosen helped hometown club Fortuna Dsseldorf several times during their career. It started out with one D-Mark from each ticket sold going to the club and, at one point, they designed special kits that were worn against Bayern Munich and eventually auctioned off to raise money. Finally to Manchester, where musical inspiration is plentiful. Uniteds current away kit bears resemblance to the iconic cover of Joy Divisions debut album Unknown Pleasures, though as far as were aware they have never confirmed the kit is a tribute. City were more open about their 2019-20 away shirt, which copied homaged the famous yellow and black stripes of the Haienda nightclub. Ben Kelly, who designed the stripes, was not thrilled. Formula One has a concept of pay drivers drivers in F1 teams who not only drive for free, but also bring funding or sponsorships to their teams, tweets Ben Janseson. Have there ever been pay footballers in top-division professional teams? A number of you mentioned the story of Al-Saadi Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Perugia were encouraged to sign him by the Italian government to help trade relations with Libya. He played one game as substitute against Juventus in 2003-04, making Ali Dia look like an accomplished baller by comparison. Al-Saadi Gaddafi takes on Alessandro Del Piero during Perugias 1-0 win over Juventus. Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters A variation on the theme occurred on Merseyside. In terms of sponsors footing the bill, surely the best example of this is Li Tie, who signed for a frugal David Moyes-run Everton on loan in a deal sorted by their sponsors, Kejian, in 2002-03, writes Matt Beaumont. He made a permanent move in 2003, with 66% of the funds stumped up by Kejian. The less successful Li Weifeng arrived in 2002 with Li Tie, making one appearance before shuffling off again. The biggest win by 10 men (2) Recently we looked at the biggest wins and comebacks by teams with 10 men. We missed a couple of beauties In late 2018, I witnessed a 10-man side claim a big victory matching that of Bayerns 4-0, begins Jack Tanner. In the final match day of the Chinese Super League season, Guangzhou Evergrande were a goal and a man down against Tianjin Teda at half-time. However, manager Fabio Cannavaro worked his magic at half-time and the home side hit four unanswered goals in the second half three coming in the last 10 minutes. Tianjin possibly had their minds elsewhere near the end as other results meant they stayed up on goal difference. And for the numerous Charlton fans who rightly wrote in, theres a Knowledge classic to mention too. The biggest international upsets (redux) Is the Republic of Ireland (42nd) losing to Luxembourg (98th), the biggest difference in Fifa rankings for an international upset? asks Jon McGuckin. No, says this 2014 edition of a familiar column: its the Faroe Islands 169-place shock of Greece in 2014. That result inadvertently led to an even more seismic event: Greece sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, who took over at Leicester the following sumner and, well, you know the rest. Since then, Andorra dropped a 153-place shock on Hungary, but thats as close as anything has come. Going by a different metric, Guam (population: 165,000) beating India (1.3bn) in 2016 was quite something. Greece lose 1-0 to the Faroe Islands back in 2014. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Knowledge archive In the dying stages of a final, the camera often pans to the sideline showing an engraver putting the team name on the trophy, wrote Richard Smith. Has this ever backfired due to late goals or some other reason? According to Peter Harthan, this happened in 1991 on the last day of the Second Division season. He recalled a story told to him by Oldhams former commercial manager, Alan Hardy: The title was to be decided between Oldham and West Ham. The Hammers had the advantage. If they beat Notts County at Upton Park, the title was theirs. If West Ham slipped up then Oldham could take the title by beating Sheffield Wednesday at home. Although the Hammers were losing to Notts County, Oldham were also 2-0 down to Wednesday. On the final whistle at West Ham the latest news was that Oldham were losing 2-1, and it was felt safe to engrave the trophy for post-match presentation. However, an equaliser from Paul Bernard led to a frenetic end at Oldham, and deep into injury-time the Latics were awarded a penalty. Neil Redfearn stepped up to win the league for Oldham with the last kick of the season. Jos Luis Chilavert has scored in the top flight of four different leagues (Paraguay, Spain, Argentina and Uruguay). Has any other keeper scored in so many different leagues? asks Michael Gatt. Not including Rogerio Ceni who was always a goalkeeper but just one that scored. Murray Rankin (@murray_rankin) April 6, 2021 With Ireland drawing 1-1 with Qatar, Stephen Kenny is now winless in his first 11 matches as boss, notes Phil Kent. Or survived a longer winless run in general? Brora Rangers have just been declared Highland League champions, having played just three games, writes Jim Love. Frank (@fhodg9) April 6, 2021 Which player has been sent off for the most different teams (including internationals)? asks Masai Graham. Andy Carswell (@_AndyCarswell) April 6, 2021 What is the shortest time between the final whistle of a match and its appearance on Match of the Day? wonders Feargal Ross. | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/07/which-football-teams-have-played-in-kits-inspired-by-musicians-knowledge |
Should I worry about stale gasoline in a plug-in hybrid? | Im considering replacing my older Toyota RAV4 with a RAV4 Prime. With hybrids, if Im primarily making short trips in the city and running in EV mode. Melanie Gasoline doesnt come with a best-before date, but its still got a shelf life. Story continues below advertisement Gas can start to break down after three to six months and that could cause your car to break down. We see it in our fleet vehicles that get used for four months and then sit parked for eight months, said Steve Elder, an automotive instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). All the high-end additives evaporate out of the fuel and leave behind a varnish on the valves. As gas gets old and evaporates, it becomes thicker and less combustible. In your car, that might mean rough idling, a check-engine light or even a total failure to start. Weve had the valves seize up in some of our vehicles, although that shouldnt be a problem in an engine with bigger valves, like a Chevy V8 theyll run on anything, Elder said. If you bought gas from a station that doesnt see a lot of business, it might have already been sitting in their storage tank for a month or longer before you put it in your car. It depends. Some hybrids, such as the $199,700 Karma Revero GT, which has a reported 98 km of electric range, let you drive without using gasoline at all. Story continues below advertisement But on most others, including the RAV4 Prime, which has 68 km of electric range, the gas engine will kick in if you press hard on the accelerator or if youre going up a hill. Most people will use at least some gasoline in a PHEV, Elder said. With the RAV4 Prime, I dont think thats a problem for most people because youll end up running the engine anyway, said Steve Elder, an automotive instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). If you only ever go back and forth to the grocery store, its possible that the engine may not start. Some PHEVs including the Chevy Volt, which GM stopped making in 2019 sense when gas is stale and will run the engine instead of the battery to burn gas, Elder said. The RAV4 Prime doesnt do this. The RAV4 Primes drivers manual states fuel may remain in the tank for a long time and undergo changes in quality depending on how the vehicle is used. Toyota recommends adding at least 20 litres of gasoline every 12 months. If fresh gasoline hasnt been added in a while, the main display will flash a message telling you to add fuel. Story continues below advertisement Toyota said stale gasoline isnt usually an issue in regular hybrids, such as the Prius or RAV4 Hybrid, because they can only be driven in EV-only modes for short distances sometimes for less than a block. Ethanol dilemma Filling up the tank adds fresh gasoline to the stale gasoline, but it also leaves less room for water condensation, which can make gas break down even faster, Consumer Reports said. You can also add fuel stabilizer, which makes gas last longer, to a tank of fresh gas. It cant reverse the degradation process, but it can slow it down. We use one called Sta-Bil, Elder said. Use a premium gasoline that doesnt contain ethanol. We found one from Chevron here that has no ethanol, Elder said. When we put that in our fleet vehicles, we dont have a problem, Story continues below advertisement While Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) said all gasoline can degrade over time, whether or not it has ethanol, Elder finds that gasoline containing ethanol degrades faster. Although diesel can last up to a year before going stale, pure ethanol evaporates faster and can get stale in less than a month, J.D. Power said. Chances are the gas youre buying contains ethanol. Its added to make the gas greener. Thats because ethanol is renewable unlike fossil fuels, which well run out of eventually and the crops grown to make it absorb CO2. Since 2010, Ottawa has required that companies sell gasoline with at least 5 per cent ethanol, on average. Theres an exemption in the Atlantic provinces, the territories and Northern Quebec. Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have their own rules and require gas to be anywhere from 5 to 10 per cent ethanol. While the maximum amount of ethanol allowed in regular gasoline is 15 per cent, the average gasoline blend contains 6 to 7 per cent, NRCAN said. Several companies, including Shell and Canadian Tire, advertise ethanol-free premium gasoline. Story continues below advertisement Its usually their top-tier gasoline, so youll have to pay anywhere from 20 to 30 cents a litre extra for it. Send it to [email protected] and put Driving Concerns in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canadas a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-should-i-worry-about-stale-gasoline-in-a-plug-in-hybrid/ |
Will Governor McKee take over the Providence school takeover? | But as McKee gets his head around running an entire state, Education Commissioner Anglica Infante-Green and Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro are busy treating him like a substitute teacher who cant quite control the warring kids in the back of the classroom. Its a surprisingly effective tactic when dealing with reporters. Every time he gets knocked off his talking points, he offers a subtle reminder that he became governor during a once-in-a-century health crisis, as if to say, Cut me some slack. If you want to know how long Governor Dan McKee has been in office, you dont even need to ask him. In nearly every interview he does these days, he finds a way to explain that hes on day 20 and day 30 of his new job. Advertisement The education leaders have spent the last few weeks launching spitballs at one another in public, including Calabro calling for an end to the states takeover of Providence schools. Infante-Green has been operating under playground rules too, so she has punched back by criticizing Calabros grammar and suggesting that teachers unions are a little more logical in New York, where she came from two years ago. Their dispute revolves around the teachers union contract negotiations, with Infante-Green specifically wanting more control of the hiring and firing process. Thats a non-starter for the teachers, which tend to view changes to seniority as an attempt to bust the union. The existing contract expired on Aug. 31, 2020, but remains in effect. Theyve reached more than 300 hours of negotiations and Providence schools Superintendent Harrison Peters said last week, Were just not anywhere. The discussions devolved to the point where the two sides cant sit in the same room together to discuss the agreement. Former state Supreme Court Justice Frank Flaherty is functioning as a mediator who passes notes to each side while Infante-Green and Calabro check their mentions on Twitter. Advertisement No one is looking especially good here. Infante-Green came to Rhode Island as a truth-telling change agent who wanted to fix a school system where 12 percent of students are proficient in math and 17 percent of kids are reading at grade level. She was embraced by parents, whose children look more like her than they do the overwhelmingly white teachers union leadership. Now that negotiations have stalled and relationships have soured, she now finds herself at risk of becoming another reformer who over-promises and under-delivers. Calabro and other members of the union say all the right things about wanting to improve the lives of children and recruit a more diverse cohort of teachers, but they want to do it on their own terms. Theyve shown no interest altering seniority and theyre busy doing everything they can to convince lawmakers to block an expansion of charter schools despite overwhelming public demand for additional seats. Supporters of the takeover, like Mayor Jorge Elorza, believe the answer is simple: Rip the Band-Aid off and break the contract. He believes the law that allowed the state to take control of Providence schools gives Infante-Green the power to change anything she wants, but he concedes that the union will challenge her in court. The only reason we went down this road was to change the contract, Elorza said in an interview last week. Ive been there, done that, and what I came to realize is you just cant do it through the negotiation process. Advertisement Infante-Green and Peters spent several months laying the groundwork to change the hiring process and begin the inevitable legal battle, but their plans were stalled when Governor Gina Raimondo joined President Joe Bidens administration. So now everyone is waiting for McKee to make the next move. Like a lot of elected officials, he passively supported the takeover because it wasnt his problem as lieutenant governor. He didnt really have any problems as lieutenant governor. Hes always been known as a school reformer, but hes also a politician. And fighting the teachers union a year before he runs in a Democratic primary for governor isnt exactly part of the playbook for success. So far, McKee has been content with sitting on the sidelines. Hes had private conversations with Infante-Green and Calabro, and he has made it clear that he opposes ending the takeover. But hes adamant that the contract can be resolved through a mediator, as though more billable hours are the answer to anything. Its entirely reasonable that McKee would rather talk about COVID-19 vaccines and reopening the economy, but this fight has no end in sight. The union and Infante-Green are going to push every boundary until he steps in and brokers (or forces) a deal. For those keeping score, Wednesday marks McKees 36th day as governor and the 523rd day of the state takeover of Providence schools. Every day that ticks by without a resolution is a profound waste of time. Advertisement Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @danmcgowan. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/07/metro/will-governor-mckee-take-over-providence-school-takeover/ |
What Type of NFL Players Could Cisco, Melifonwu Become? | Syracuse has two former defensive backs in the NFL Draft that are expected to go within the first three rounds at worst in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Andre Cisco. We spoke to former NFL head coach Jim Mora Jr. to find out. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE ALL SYRACUSE NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST ORANGE UPDATES SENT TO YOUR INBOX! IFEATU MELIFONWU "I think Iffy can become an elite defender," Mora Jr. said. "If he can learn route recognition, if he can figure out his eye discipline, if he can figure out that down the field they're not going to let him grab like they did in college, if he can keep that aggression he plays the run game with, I think, it's a tough one, but I think he can be an All Pro player. I really do. He's got elite traits, now he's just got to hone those traits. He's got to hone those things in. He'll get with an elite defensive back coach, and if he dedicates himself to working hard, to listening, to learning from other players, working on his weaknesses, he can be a great one in my opinion with the elite traits that he has." ANDRE CISCO "With Andre, I think he's going to have a really productive NFL career," Mora Jr. said. "He does everything well. Tackling concerns me but you can figure that out. He's not a bad tackler because he lacks courage. It's just his angles aren't always good. So the more he plays, the more he comes to understand the NFL game that's more of a passing league, the fact that he's a fearless run defender, a heat seeking missile. A guy that can make people hesitate when they try to catch the ball over the middle. Those are all great traits to have. So I think he's going to have a really solid career. He might start out as a special teams player, where he can have a tremendous impact. But he's a guy who I think will start in the league as a safety for sure." | https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/football/melifonwu-cisco-nfl-upside-mora-jr |
What Does The Biden Presidency Mean For Investors In The Meat Industry? | Jeremy Coller Foundation, Chairman and CIO of Coller Capital, Founder of the FAIRR Initiative. getty As we approach President Bidens 100th day in office, investors are watching closely to see whether his administration will embrace bold and progressive policies or ultimately be governed by caution and conservatism. Theres a key battleground where that question will play out: the meat sector. Ultimately, Biden has an opportunity to demand better from the meat industry. Better working conditions, better health and safety standards and better management of climate risks, which means a more resilient food system for those exposed to it, from consumers to investors. In his inaugural address, Biden spoke of a "climate in crisis." So far, he has re-joined the Paris Agreement, launched a plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and committed to conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030. A succession of executive orders sent a clear message that climate is a priority for the new president. But there was a crucial ingredient missing from Bidens plan: animal agriculture. Currently, meat and dairy production make up 14.5% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, and animal agriculture uses up to 80% of the worlds agricultural land. Put simply, it will be impossible for the world to stay below 1.5 to 2 degrees without looking at factory farming. To avoid the worst material impacts of a warming planet, ESG-conscious investors will be looking to Biden to provide economic incentives and a regulatory road map for a low-carbon agricultural revolution. For instance, Biden has offered support for carbon taxation during the primaries and pledged to hold polluters accountable for the damage they have caused. Research by the $30 trillion FAIRR investor network, of which I am the founder, has found that some kind of carbon tax on meat could cost the industry $11.6 billion in EBITDA by 2050. Investors should be preparing for this potential outcome by conducting climate scenario analyses, integrating ESG data into their portfolio decisions and diversifying away from an over-reliance on animal protein. The possibility of carbon taxation and other climate regulation will it make even clearer to investors that sustainable business is not just good for the planet but for their profits, too. The Great Protein Transition That said, exactly how Biden will achieve his net-zero pledge remains unclear. The likes of Michael Regan as EPA administrator and John Kerry as special presidential envoy for climate show positive intent, as did his request for Sanah Baig, current chief of staff at the Good Food Institute (which promotes climate-friendly food production), to take a role in his transition team last year. The appointment of these key voices on protein transition shows Biden is taking an interest in alternative proteins. Markets are already embracing alternative proteins as a sustainable way to meet soaring global protein demand, with the plant-based and lab-grown "meat" market expected to grow to $17.9 billion by 2025. FAIRR has found that the number of major meat firms diversifying into sustainable protein sources has soared from five in 2018 to 22 last year. Plant-based proteins are growing in popularity, but a sustainable protein transition relies on global leadership, too. Other major governments already have a headstart. The EUs farm to fork strategy includes a framework to promote plant-based diets and cut antimicrobial use in food chains. If Biden were to include an equally progressive approach at the heart of his climate policy, meat companies would be wise to diversify their protein sources to include more sustainable options like plant-based meat alternatives. Labor Risks And Line Speeds On the campaign trail, Biden told Yahoo News, No workers life is worth my getting a cheaper hamburger, and he urged measures to enforce social distancing and better protect workers from Covid-19. Since coming into office, Biden has signed an executive order mandating that workers have a federal right to refuse employment that will jeopardize their health. This move is in stark contrast to President Trumps executive order that kept meat plants open, placing the health of workers around the country at risk. Whats more, Biden has withdrawn a Trump administration request to raise the maximum speed at which chicken plants can operate, from 140 birds per minute to 170 birds per minute a win for meatpacking worker advocates who highlight the link between higher line speeds and worker injury and Covid-19 spread. So far, the administration is signaling an awareness of the importance of better working conditions in the meat industry. Poor working conditions arent just a problem for workforces, theyre a material risk for investors, too. Labor breaches come with costly regulatory, reputational and operational risks for companies and their stakeholders. More robust labor standards build long-term resilience that could prove priceless for a sector already under fire for its grave mismanagement of pandemic risks. Its Simply Good Business To Be Sustainable The Biden presidency is signaling a change of course on animal agriculture. Bidens nominee for SEC chairman recently indicated that the SEC has a role to play to help bring some consistency and comparability to disclosures, given the rising demand for climate risk data. This points to a prioritization of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure and regulation and an administration that will build investor accountability around climate and labor risks in the meat industry. I had a lightbulb moment several years ago and decided to harness my professional and personal experience to focus on ESG issues and factory farming. So far, Bidens approach to the meat industry seems to be placing these issues high on the agenda, so investors should prepare for increased regulation within a sector that I believe is in urgent need of reform. Its never been clearer for investors: Its simply good business to be sustainable. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/04/07/what-does-the-biden-presidency-mean-for-investors-in-the-meat-industry/ |
Does Quinton Dunbar Have Anything Left to Offer Lions' Defense? | Corbin Smith of Seahawk Maven answers five questions regarding new Detroit Lions cornerback Quinton Dunbar Corbin Smith of Seahawk Maven answers five questions regarding new Detroit Lions cornerback Quinton Dunbar. 1.) Corbin Smith: When healthy, Dunbar is a long and physical, athletic cornerback with plus-ball skills, stemming from his background as a receiver at Florida. Despite playing in only 18 combined games in 2018 and 2019, he amassed six interceptions and 17 passes defensed during that span. He's also a willing run defender, and prior to the 2020 season, he had emerged as one of the most reliable tacklers at the position. 2.) Smith: Unfortunately for the Seahawks, the decision to trade a fifth-round pick to Washington for him will be viewed as nothing but a disaster. The organization believed he would provide an immediate upgrade over incumbent starter Tre Flowers. But, his brief tenure in Seattle got off to a horrific start when he was arrested for alleged involvement in an armed robbery last May. By the time he arrived for training camp and had been removed from the commissioner's exempt list, he wasn't in football shape, and needed time to get up to speed. He started the first two games of the season, and intercepted Cam Newton in Week 2. So, it looked like things were turning the corner. Then, he missed a pair of games with a knee issue. And, when he returned, he struggled mightily, playing at well below 100 percent. Four weeks later, he was on injured reserve, and didn't play in another game the rest of the season. 3.) Smith: If he isn't sidelined -- which unfortunately hasn't been very often -- Dunbar has the tools to be a top-10 cornerback in the league. He played at that level in 2019, when he picked off four passes in just 11 games and earned the second-highest overall grade from Pro Football Focus for cornerbacks. He has a nose for the football, and his past experience as a receiver shows up while reading routes and making plays at the catch point. Billy Hardiman, USA TODAY Sports He has no issues sticking his head into the fight against the run, either, although he wasn't nearly as effective in that regard while playing hurt last year. In terms of weaknesses, his fragility is a huge red flag. He's ended each of the past three seasons on injured reserve, and has not played in more than 11 games since 2017. He's also proven to be vulnerable at times against double moves, due to his aggressive nature in jumping routes. 4.) Smith: The nice thing about Dunbar is that he has the athletic traits and football skills to perform well in any system. He can smother receivers at the line in press coverage, he can man up on bigger receivers, as well as shiftier ones, and he has the awareness and fluidity to excel off the ball. The Lions shouldn't have any scheme-related issues with him, as long as they don't try to play him in the slot too much. He's far more effective playing on the outside when he can use the sideline to his advantage. 5.) Smith: Ultimately, any team taking a risk on Dunbar has to be prepared for him to miss time at some point. He just has not been able to stay healthy for the majority of his NFL career, particularly when it comes to knee and hamstring issues. From my understanding, he's fully recovered now from his knee surgery, which should mean he's 100 percent when camp opens. The Lions just have to keep their fingers crossed that he can avoid getting nipped by the injury bug once again, and the past suggests that will be difficult to avoid. Lamorandier: Detroit Lions Mock Draft 2.0 Roundtable: Which Team Is Most Likely to Call the Lions to Trade Up for No. | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-quinton-dunbar-expectations |
Will the Oscars be a `who cares' moment as ratings dive? | NEW YORK (AP) George Bradley used to love watching the Academy Awards. The 28-year-old Brit now living in San Diego would stay up late back home just to tune in. Though he's now in the right time zone, he's just not interested, and that's due primarily to the pandemic. The rising dominance of the streaming services has taken the gloss off the Oscars for me, he said. You just don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling from when you recognize a movie from the silver screen. Whether you watch out of love, because you love to hate or have given up like Bradley, awards shows have suffered since the coronavirus shuttered theaters and shut down live performances. But the ratings slide for awards nights began well before Covid-19 took over. For much of this century, the Oscars drew 35 million to 45 million viewers, often just behind the Super Bowl. Last year, just before the pandemic was declared, the hostless telecast on ABC was seen by its smallest audience ever, 23.6 million viewers, down 20 percent from the year before. The pandemic-era Golden Globes a little more than a year later plummeted to 6.9 million viewers, down 64% from last year and barely besting 2008, the year a writers strike forced NBC to air a news conference announcing winners. Last year, pre-lockdown, the show had 18.4 million viewers, according to the Nielsen company. In March, Grammy producers avoided the Zoom awkwardness of other awards shows and staged performances by some of the industrys biggest stars to no avail. The CBS telecast reached 9.2 million viewers, both television and streaming, the lowest number on record and a 51% drop from 2020, Nielsen said. John Bennardo, 52, in Boca Raton, Florida, is a film buff, film school graduate and screenwriter, and runs a videography business for mostly corporate clients. This year is a no-go for the Oscars. I love the movies and aspire to be on that very Oscars stage receiving my own award some day, he said. I watch each year and take it in, enter contests where I try to pick winners and try to see all the films. But something has changed for this year. For starters, he hasn't seen a single film nominated in any category. Maybe Ill watch `Zach Snyders Justice League' instead. It might be shorter, Bennardo joked about the Oscars show. Like other awards shows, the Oscars telecast was pushed back due to pandemic restrictions and safety concerns. The show had been postponed three times before in history, but never so far in advance. Organizers last June scheduled it for April 25, as opposed to its usual slot in February or early March. Count that among other driving forces behind Oscars fatigue. Another, according to former fans of the show, is having to watch nominated movies on small screens and keeping up with when and where they are available on streaming and on-demand services. It's been one big blur to some. Priscilla Visintine, 62, in St. Louis, Missouri, used to live for watching the Academy Awards. She attended watch parties every year, usually dressed all the way up for the occasion. Definitely the shuttering of the theaters created my lack of interest this year," she said. "I didnt get any sense of Oscar buzz. Not all diehards have given up their favorite awards show. In Knoxville, Tennessee, 50-year-old Jennifer Rice and her 22-year-old son, Jordan, have for years raced to watch as many nominated films as possible. In years past, it was their February Madness, she said, and they kept charts to document their predictions. She even got to attend the Oscars in 2019 through her work for a beauty company at the time. My other two children, ages 25 and 19, have no interest in the Oscars. It's just something special for Jordan and I, Rice said. The Oscars actually push us to watch movies that we may have never picked. I'm not as excited this year, but we're still trying to watch everything before the awards ceremony. As real-life hardship has intensified for many viewers, from food insecurity and job disruption to the isolation of lockdowns and parenting struggles, awards shows offer less escapism and razzle-dazzle than in the past, often relying on pre-taped performances and Zoom boxes for nominees. In addition, data shows little interest among younger generations for appointment television in general. Lifelong lover of movies and a filmmaker himself, 22-year-old Pierre Subeh of Orlando, Florida, stopped watching the Oscars in 2019. We can barely stay put for a 15-second TikTok. We're living in the time of content curation. We need algorithms to figure out what we want to watch and to show us the best of the best, he said. As a Muslim, Middle Eastern immigrant, Subeh also sees little inclusion of his culture in mainstream film, let alone on the Oscars stage. We're only mentioned when Aladdin is brought up. I dont feel motivated to gather up my family on a Sunday to sit through a four-hour award ceremony that never has any sort of mention about our culture and religion. Yet as Muslims, we make up roughly 25% of the world population, he said. Jon Niccum, 55, in Lawrence, Kansas, teaches screenwriting at Kansas State University. He's a filmmaker, went to film school and has worked as a film critic. He and his wife host an annual Oscar party, with 30 guests at its heyday, including a betting pool on winners for money and prizes. It will be family-only this year due to the pandemic, but the betting is on. I haven't missed an Oscars since 45 years ago. I'll watch every single minute of it, Niccum said. In Medford, New Jersey, 65-year-old Deb Madison will also be watching, as she has since she was a kid and her mom first took her to the movies. In 2018, while on an RV road trip with her husband, she made him bike into town with her in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to find a spot to watch. The ride back was in pitch darkness. Another year, when she was working reception at a huge party in Philadelphia on Oscars night, the coordinators laid cable and provided her with a tiny TV hidden under the welcome desk so she could tune in. This year, trying to keep up with nominees from home has stifled her excitement, Madison said. I'm a sucker for the red carpet and the gowns and, `Oh my god, I can't believe she wore that.' Another thing is, I don't particularly need to see these actors in their home environments," she said with a laugh. "This year, if I missed it, it wouldn't be tragic. Nobody would need to lay cable this year. But I still love the movies. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Will-the-Oscars-be-a-who-cares-moment-as-16082710.php |
Will the Saints fill their need at cornerback in the 1st round of the NFL draft? | Every year the New Orleans Saints go into the offseason armed with areas theyve identified as wants and others theyve identified as needs. They dont usually tip their hand and publicly identify those areas, but it is probably safe to say cornerback is one of their top priorities as they continue to fill out their roster before the 2021 season. Janoris Jenkins, who tied for the team lead with three interceptions while starting opposite Marshon Lattimore, is now a Tennessee Titan after the Saints released him in a salary cap saving maneuver. Lattimore is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the only players with legitimate NFL experience behind him are Patrick Robinson, who has missed 22 games the last three seasons, and P.J. Williams, whose value is mostly tied to his versatility. Considering the position they are still in with relation to the salary cap (as of this writing, NFLPA records have them with just $1.4 million in cap space, the least in the NFL), the Saints will almost surely use some of their draft capital on cornerbacks. The question is when. For the last several seasons, New Orleans has fortified a deep roster by drafting the best player available, not worrying about reaching for a player to address a need. They could take a slightly altered version of the same approach this year, as they have a few more soft spots than usual on their current roster after making a flurry of moves to become compliant with the salary cap. But it could just work where some of the best available prospects when the Saints turn comes around at No. 28 are cornerbacks. Only two Alabamas Patrick Surtain II and South Carolinas Jaycee Horn are locks to be drafted before the Saints are on the clock. Here are a few potential options for the Saints at the back end of the first round. Greg Newsome II, Northwestern Opposing offenses didnt have much success when throwing against Newsome last season. On plays in which he was targeted in coverage, Newsome posted the best passer rating allowed of any cornerback in the 2021 draft class, allowing just 12 completions on 34 targets for 93 yards (a 31.7 NFL passer rating). Just one of those completions came 10 or more yards downfield, and he did not allow a single completion of 20-plus yards. Starts with the mentality, Newsome said at his pro day. I'm a very confident player and I think if I eliminate those deep routes nobody is gonna beat us. Just knowing where my help is coming from and my teammates are doing their jobs, I don't want to let the team down. He only recorded one career interception at Northwestern (against Wisconsin last season), but was credited with 20 pass breakups in his final 15 collegiate games. The 6-foot, 192-pound Newsome would fit the Saints man coverage scheme well. The main concern with Newsome is his durability: He missed parts of his first two seasons at Northwestern with injury, then sat out the Wildcats bowl game last season to focus on the NFL draft after injuring his groin in the Big-10 championship. Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State There is a lot to like about Samuel. Start with the name, which should sound familiar if youve been watching the NFL for a while. His father, Asante Samuel Sr., made four Pro Bowls in an NFL career that spanned more than a decade. Then go to the game. He picked off four passes and broke up 20 in his final 20 college football games (he opted out midway through his junior season), showing a knack for finding the football and making a play on it. Samuel is an aggressive player who is not afraid to stick his nose in the mix as a run defender, the type of mentality the Saints covet in their defenders. Saints news in your inbox If you're a Saints fan you won't want to miss this newsletter. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The main concern about him as a prospect is his size. He stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 180 pounds, both of which fall on the smaller side. Still, Samuel frequently lined up against players bigger than him during his time at Florida State and after a rough stretch in his freshman season, mostly held his own. When Samuel spoke about his physical proportions, he brought up Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl corner Jaire Alexander, who entered the NFL roughly the same size as Alexander and has since become one of the NFLs better man-coverage corners. And if the Alexander comparison doesnt do it for you, his father was about the same size too, and he finished with 51 interceptions in an 11-year NFL career. I feel like size doesn't matter; it's about the heart, and the dog mentality you have on that field, Samuel said. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech Farley is a bit of a wild card for a couple reasons. He wouldve never appeared in this article if it was written a month ago, because the assumption was hed be long gone before the Saints picked. Most considered Farley neck and neck with Surtain as the best corner prospect in the draft, and he figured to be gone within the first 15 picks. But then Farley had back surgery last month, forcing him to sit out his pro day workout which was a bigger deal than usual, because Farley opted out of the 2020 season and has just 23 games of college film for NFL scouts to analyze. Farley was eager to discuss his discectomy surgery at his pro day. He said it was a result of an injury he suffered while deadlifting last year. In a previous surgery after the original injury, the doctor fixed one herniated disc and chose to leave a bulging disc to heal on its own. It was something I was informed in and trusting that it was just post-operating surgery and would go away over time, Farley said at his pro day. I did a great job managing over a year but that bulge is still in my S1 (disc) and unfortunately I irritated it a month ago, which caused me to pull back on my training. I was trying to cut back and manage the inflammation to come out here on Pro Day and put up some crazy numbers but ... we were advised it would be best to go ahead and fix this problem so I will be ready for training camp and ready for the season. The combination of Farley having not played live football since 2019 and the uncertainty brought on by his recent surgery could push him down draft boards if not all the way to No. 28, maybe far back enough for the Saints to make an aggressive move for him. Farley has everything the Saints like in their corners. He is big (6-2, 205), physical, confident, excels in man coverage and has a nose for the ball. The converted wide receiver and prolific high school quarterback broke up 19 passes and intercepted six in his 23 college football games. He has the longest odds of these three to make it to New Orleans, but if he did he would be an outstanding complement to Lattimore to combat the receiver-rich NFC South. Day 2-3 options Syracuse CB Trill Williams: Williams did a little bit of everything for Syracuse, playing on the boundary, in the slot and at safety in his three years there. He opted out midway through the 2020 season after trying to play through a torn ligament in his ankle. After offseason surgery, Williams ran an unofficial 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds. Oregon CB Thomas Graham: Graham is a former top recruit who flashed a lot of play-making ability with the Ducks (32 passes defended, 8 interceptions) before opting out of the 2020 season. He had a nice week at the Senior Bowl, his first game action since 2019, which probably helped his stock. Michigan CB Ambry Thomas: After a breakout junior season in which he recorded three interceptions, Thomas opted out of the 2020 campaign. He showed off excellent athleticism at Michigans pro day, with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and a 37-inch vertical leap. Wade mightve been a first-rounder if he left for the NFL after his redshirt sophomore season, but his play dipped in 2020 when the Buckeyes asked him to play on the boundary. | https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_6f735d00-9727-11eb-ab1f-5330e6f1a2af.html |
How will Braves handle tomahawk chop as fans return? | The tomahawk chop has been a part of Braves home games since 1991, spreading to the teams fans from Florida State when FSU alum Deion Sanders played for the Braves. It has drawn criticism through the decades, including during the Braves 2019 National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryan Helsley, a Cardinals relief pitcher and a member of the Cherokee Nation, called the Braves fans arm motion and chant disrespectful. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: I think its a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general. Just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who arent intellectual. Before the series final game on Oct. 9, 2019, the Braves decided not to distribute 40,000 red foam tomahawks to fans, as had been planned, and decided not to play the musical prompt and graphics for the chop when Helsley was in the game. He didnt get into the game, which the Cardinals won 13-1 after scoring 10 runs in the first inning, and the chop broke out several times. The Braves said in a written statement at that game that they looked forward to continued dialogue with those in the Native American community after this postseason concludes. The Braves were able to defer a decision on the future of the tomahawk chop last year because no fans attended games at Truist Park in a season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. Significantly, Fridays game against the Philadelphia Phillies will be the first game played at Truist (formerly named SunTrust Park) with fans in attendance since the 2019 NLDS. During a joint interview with the AJC last July, Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk and Schiller said unequivocally that the Braves would keep their team name, but left open the question of whether the organization would keep the tomahawk chop as part of its in-game fan experience. Be assured we are spending a lot of time thinking about it, McGuirk said then, and Schiller added: Its a topic that deserves a lot of debate and a lot of discussion and a lot of thoughtfulness, and thats exactly what we are doing. Schiller also said in the July interview: No matter what the decision is from our vantage point, this started as a fan initiative, and the fans are likely going to keep doing it anyway. When asked about the chop in other interviews over the past 18 months, the Braves generally have said they were continuing to get input from various groups, including the teams Native American Working Group, the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In a letter sent to season-ticket holders last year, the Braves wrote that they were continuing to listen to the Native American community, as well as our fans, players and alumni, to ensure we are making an informed decision on this part of our fan experience. In some ways, the Braves have backed away from their tomahawk chop tradition over the past year-plus. They replaced Chop On as a marketing slogan with For the A. They removed a large wooden Chop On sign from the stadium last year. The NFLs Kansas City Chiefs also have made the tomahawk chop a tradition, and the chant greeted the team as it took the field for the Super Bowl in Tampa in February. An in-depth report by the AJC last year found that within the Native American community, there are strong and varied opinions on the Braves name and associated imagery. Some Native American groups called for the Braves to change their name and end the use of the chop. Some individuals took issue with the chop but not the name. Some werent offended by either. In that report, the National Congress of American Indians objected to the tomahawk chop, saying in a statement: A ritual that is still widely practiced and consumed on television by sports fans across the country, it is a painful perpetuation of the warrior savage myth. Cherokee Nation also supports ending the use of Native American mascots and stereotypes such as the chop, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard Sneed said in the same AJC report that the Braves organization wants to make sure everything theyre doing is honoring and is presented in a way that honors Native Americans. Speaking on a personal level and not in his professional capacity, Sneed said he isnt offended by the Braves name or tomahawk chop cheer but respects the opinion of those who feel differently. Staff writer Sarah K. Spencer contributed to this report. | https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/how-will-braves-handle-tomahawk-chop-as-fans-return/LVLWUQVIWBBO3GIFAJASJWJD7E/ |
Will the Oscars be a who cares moment as ratings dive? | NEW YORK (AP) George Bradley used to love watching the Academy Awards. The 28-year-old Brit now living in San Diego would stay up late back home just to tune in. Though hes now in the right time zone, hes just not interested, and thats due primarily to the pandemic. The rising dominance of the streaming services has taken the gloss off the Oscars for me, he said. You just dont get the same warm fuzzy feeling from when you recognize a movie from the silver screen. Whether you watch out of love, because you love to hate or have given up like Bradley, awards shows have suffered since the coronavirus shuttered theaters and shut down live performances. But the ratings slide for awards nights began well before Covid-19 took over. For much of this century, the Oscars drew 35 million to 45 million viewers, often just behind the Super Bowl. Last year, just before the pandemic was declared, the hostless telecast on ABC was seen by its smallest audience ever, 23.6 million viewers, down 20 percent from the year before. The pandemic-era Golden Globes a little more than a year later plummeted to 6.9 million viewers, down 64% from last year and barely besting 2008, the year a writers strike forced NBC to air a news conference announcing winners. Last year, pre-lockdown, the show had 18.4 million viewers, according to the Nielsen company. Advertising In March, Grammy producers avoided the Zoom awkwardness of other awards shows and staged performances by some of the industrys biggest stars to no avail. The CBS telecast reached 9.2 million viewers, both television and streaming, the lowest number on record and a 51% drop from 2020, Nielsen said. John Bennardo, 52, in Boca Raton, Florida, is a film buff, film school graduate and screenwriter, and runs a videography business for mostly corporate clients. This year is a no-go for the Oscars. I love the movies and aspire to be on that very Oscars stage receiving my own award some day, he said. I watch each year and take it in, enter contests where I try to pick winners and try to see all the films. But something has changed for this year. For starters, he hasnt seen a single film nominated in any category. Maybe Ill watch `Zach Snyders Justice League instead. It might be shorter, Bennardo joked about the Oscars show. Like other awards shows, the Oscars telecast was pushed back due to pandemic restrictions and safety concerns. The show had been postponed three times before in history, but never so far in advance. Organizers last June scheduled it for April 25, as opposed to its usual slot in February or early March. Advertising Count that among other driving forces behind Oscars fatigue. Another, according to former fans of the show, is having to watch nominated movies on small screens and keeping up with when and where they are available on streaming and on-demand services. Its been one big blur to some. Priscilla Visintine, 62, in St. Louis, Missouri, used to live for watching the Academy Awards. She attended watch parties every year, usually dressed all the way up for the occasion. Definitely the shuttering of the theaters created my lack of interest this year, she said. I didnt get any sense of Oscar buzz. Not all diehards have given up their favorite awards show. In Knoxville, Tennessee, 50-year-old Jennifer Rice and her 22-year-old son, Jordan, have for years raced to watch as many nominated films as possible. In years past, it was their February Madness, she said, and they kept charts to document their predictions. She even got to attend the Oscars in 2019 through her work for a beauty company at the time. My other two children, ages 25 and 19, have no interest in the Oscars. Its just something special for Jordan and I, Rice said. The Oscars actually push us to watch movies that we may have never picked. Im not as excited this year, but were still trying to watch everything before the awards ceremony. As real-life hardship has intensified for many viewers, from food insecurity and job disruption to the isolation of lockdowns and parenting struggles, awards shows offer less escapism and razzle-dazzle than in the past, often relying on pre-taped performances and Zoom boxes for nominees. In addition, data shows little interest among younger generations for appointment television in general. Advertising Lifelong lover of movies and a filmmaker himself, 22-year-old Pierre Subeh of Orlando, Florida, stopped watching the Oscars in 2019. We can barely stay put for a 15-second TikTok. Were living in the time of content curation. We need algorithms to figure out what we want to watch and to show us the best of the best, he said. As a Muslim, Middle Eastern immigrant, Subeh also sees little inclusion of his culture in mainstream film, let alone on the Oscars stage. Were only mentioned when Aladdin is brought up. I dont feel motivated to gather up my family on a Sunday to sit through a four-hour award ceremony that never has any sort of mention about our culture and religion. Yet as Muslims, we make up roughly 25% of the world population, he said. Jon Niccum, 55, in Lawrence, Kansas, teaches screenwriting at Kansas State University. Hes a filmmaker, went to film school and has worked as a film critic. He and his wife host an annual Oscar party, with 30 guests at its heyday, including a betting pool on winners for money and prizes. It will be family-only this year due to the pandemic, but the betting is on. Sponsored I havent missed an Oscars since 45 years ago. Ill watch every single minute of it, Niccum said. In Medford, New Jersey, 65-year-old Deb Madison will also be watching, as she has since she was a kid and her mom first took her to the movies. In 2018, while on an RV road trip with her husband, she made him bike into town with her in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to find a spot to watch. The ride back was in pitch darkness. Another year, when she was working reception at a huge party in Philadelphia on Oscars night, the coordinators laid cable and provided her with a tiny TV hidden under the welcome desk so she could tune in. This year, trying to keep up with nominees from home has stifled her excitement, Madison said. Im a sucker for the red carpet and the gowns and, `Oh my god, I cant believe she wore that. Another thing is, I dont particularly need to see these actors in their home environments, she said with a laugh. This year, if I missed it, it wouldnt be tragic. Nobody would need to lay cable this year. But I still love the movies. | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/will-the-oscars-be-a-who-cares-moment-as-ratings-dive/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Will the Oscars be a 'who cares' moment as ratings dive? | NEW YORK (AP) George Bradley used to love watching the Academy Awards. The 28-year-old Brit now living in San Diego would stay up late back home just to tune in. Though he's now in the right time zone, he's just not interested, and that's due primarily to the pandemic. The rising dominance of the streaming services has taken the gloss off the Oscars for me, he said. You just don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling from when you recognize a movie from the silver screen. Whether you watch out of love, because you love to hate or have given up like Bradley, awards shows have suffered since the coronavirus shuttered theaters and shut down live performances. But the ratings slide for awards nights began well before Covid-19 took over. For much of this century, the Oscars drew 35 million to 45 million viewers, often just behind the Super Bowl. Last year, just before the pandemic was declared, the hostless telecast on ABC was seen by its smallest audience ever, 23.6 million viewers, down 20 percent from the year before. The pandemic-era Golden Globes a little more than a year later plummeted to 6.9 million viewers, down 64% from last year and barely besting 2008, the year a writers strike forced NBC to air a news conference announcing winners. Last year, pre-lockdown, the show had 18.4 million viewers, according to the Nielsen company. In March, Grammy producers avoided the Zoom awkwardness of other awards shows and staged performances by some of the industrys biggest stars to no avail. The CBS telecast reached 9.2 million viewers, both television and streaming, the lowest number on record and a 51% drop from 2020, Nielsen said. John Bennardo, 52, in Boca Raton, Florida, is a film buff, film school graduate and screenwriter, and runs a videography business for mostly corporate clients. This year is a no-go for the Oscars. I love the movies and aspire to be on that very Oscars stage receiving my own award some day, he said. I watch each year and take it in, enter contests where I try to pick winners and try to see all the films. But something has changed for this year. For starters, he hasn't seen a single film nominated in any category. Maybe Ill watch `Zach Snyders Justice League' instead. It might be shorter, Bennardo joked about the Oscars show. Like other awards shows, the Oscars telecast was pushed back due to pandemic restrictions and safety concerns. The show had been postponed three times before in history, but never so far in advance. Organizers last June scheduled it for April 25, as opposed to its usual slot in February or early March. Count that among other driving forces behind Oscars fatigue. Another, according to former fans of the show, is having to watch nominated movies on small screens and keeping up with when and where they are available on streaming and on-demand services. It's been one big blur to some. Priscilla Visintine, 62, in St. Louis, Missouri, used to live for watching the Academy Awards. She attended watch parties every year, usually dressed all the way up for the occasion. Definitely the shuttering of the theaters created my lack of interest this year," she said. "I didnt get any sense of Oscar buzz. Not all diehards have given up their favorite awards show. In Knoxville, Tennessee, 50-year-old Jennifer Rice and her 22-year-old son, Jordan, have for years raced to watch as many nominated films as possible. In years past, it was their February Madness, she said, and they kept charts to document their predictions. She even got to attend the Oscars in 2019 through her work for a beauty company at the time. My other two children, ages 25 and 19, have no interest in the Oscars. It's just something special for Jordan and I, Rice said. The Oscars actually push us to watch movies that we may have never picked. I'm not as excited this year, but we're still trying to watch everything before the awards ceremony. As real-life hardship has intensified for many viewers, from food insecurity and job disruption to the isolation of lockdowns and parenting struggles, awards shows offer less escapism and razzle-dazzle than in the past, often relying on pre-taped performances and Zoom boxes for nominees. In addition, data shows little interest among younger generations for appointment television in general. Lifelong lover of movies and a filmmaker himself, 22-year-old Pierre Subeh of Orlando, Florida, stopped watching the Oscars in 2019. We can barely stay put for a 15-second TikTok. We're living in the time of content curation. We need algorithms to figure out what we want to watch and to show us the best of the best, he said. As a Muslim, Middle Eastern immigrant, Subeh also sees little inclusion of his culture in mainstream film, let alone on the Oscars stage. We're only mentioned when Aladdin is brought up. I dont feel motivated to gather up my family on a Sunday to sit through a four-hour award ceremony that never has any sort of mention about our culture and religion. Yet as Muslims, we make up roughly 25% of the world population, he said. Jon Niccum, 55, in Lawrence, Kansas, teaches screenwriting at Kansas State University. He's a filmmaker, went to film school and has worked as a film critic. He and his wife host an annual Oscar party, with 30 guests at its heyday, including a betting pool on winners for money and prizes. It will be family-only this year due to the pandemic, but the betting is on. I haven't missed an Oscars since 45 years ago. I'll watch every single minute of it, Niccum said. In Medford, New Jersey, 65-year-old Deb Madison will also be watching, as she has since she was a kid and her mom first took her to the movies. In 2018, while on an RV road trip with her husband, she made him bike into town with her in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to find a spot to watch. The ride back was in pitch darkness. Another year, when she was working reception at a huge party in Philadelphia on Oscars night, the coordinators laid cable and provided her with a tiny TV hidden under the welcome desk so she could tune in. This year, trying to keep up with nominees from home has stifled her excitement, Madison said. I'm a sucker for the red carpet and the gowns and, `Oh my god, I can't believe she wore that.' Another thing is, I don't particularly need to see these actors in their home environments," she said with a laugh. "This year, if I missed it, it wouldn't be tragic. Nobody would need to lay cable this year. But I still love the movies. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Will-the-Oscars-be-a-who-cares-moment-as-16082710.php |
Would Covid passports be damaging to public health? | Melinda Mills: Covid passports could be workable, but theyll need to meet certain criteria Many have argued that Covid passports certificates showing whether someone has had the vaccine or a negative test, or has Covid immunity wouldnt work. In our recent Royal Society report, we concluded that they could be feasible in some cases, but only if they meet certain criteria. The crux is how and where these passports would be used. For international travel, where testing infrastructure and a yellow card system are already in place, Covid passports seem a reasonable move. The UK government is also trialling Covid passports at large gatherings such as sports events. Earlier this month, when the Texas Rangers played in front of a sold-out baseball stadium, we got a glimpse of what can happen when the floodgates open without restrictions: there was no social distancing in place and few people wore masks all in a context of rising infections and when only a fraction of the population had received their second jabs. When used alongside other measures such as ventilation, social distancing and an effective test-and-trace system, Covid passports could offer added certainty at large events. But they need to meet certain immunity and infection benchmarks. There are four ways to show whether someone has Covid: proof of vaccination or the results from a PCR, lateral flow or viral antibody test. In our report, we concluded that only proof of vaccination or a PCR test result would be viable benchmarks for Covid passports. This is because antibody tests arent a reliable measure of infection, and lateral flow tests arent as effective at identifying people who have Covid but only have a low viral load. The latter can be unreliable, particularly when theyre not administered by an expert. The government has correctly drawn some red lines. Certification would never be required for essential services, such as supermarkets or transport. But entry into nonessential outlets, such as pubs and restaurants, will be a battleground for this measure. The prime minister noted on Monday that a number of fences will have to be jumped before its clear where Covid passports would be required, but business owners may feel that the government is sitting on the fence rather than jumping it. Ministers may want to shift some of the responsibility for administering Covid passports on to individual businesses, but this would be mired in legal and ethical issues. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for instance, recently informed businesses that if employees cannot get vaccinated because of a disability or religious belief and businesses are unable to take additional measures, it would be legal to exclude them from workplaces. These are only some of the issues that Covid passports will face. It will be crucial to ensure they dont discriminate or exacerbate inequalities, particularly among those who may be hesitant about getting tested or receiving a vaccine. There are also questions about the technology they would use and the extent of data collection. The government also needs to be clear about whether it intends Covid passports to be the birth of a digital healthcare system, or whether this policy will have a sundown clause, like Denmarks Covid certification, where data is soon deleted. These are all questions that require detailed attention. Covid certificates could provide added certainty but only if they meet these criteria. Prof Melinda Mills is director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science at the University of Oxford, a member of Royal Society SET-C committee and participant of the Sage behavioural subcommittee. She writes here in a personal capacity Stephen Reicher: Making people prove theyre vaccinated will harm everyones health The government has flown so many kites about Covid passports and vaccine passports that we have ended up with a hopelessly confused debate where people are disagreeing over entirely different things. Certificates that allow people entry to potentially crowded spaces could take one of two forms: a Covid passport would show the results of a recent Covid test, whereas a vaccine passport would show whether people had been vaccinated. So lets focus on vaccine passports. First, a crucial distinction: there is a world of difference between requiring a vaccine to undertake activities that are seen as nonessential and applying this requirement to activities that are basic to our everyday lives. In the former case, vaccination is perceived as a choice, whereas in the latter it becomes effectively compulsory. Once people begin to see vaccines as compulsory for everyday social participation (going to the pub, even going to work), two things follow. Those who arent vaccinated are, in effect, excluded from society. They will view the threat of such exclusion as a means of controlling them and forcing them to get a jab. Vaccination would cease to be something that is done with and for people. It would instead be something imposed by an external agency and hence both political and medical authorities would be repositioned as the other. All this would do is generate anger, and lead people to reassert their autonomy by refusing the vaccine. This is bad enough in itself, but it is raised to a whole new level of significance when you consider the divisions between those who are and those who arent vaccinated. These divisions arent random: they map precisely on to existing social cleavages. In the UK, those who have a more troubled relationship with authority have lower vaccination rates. Increased deprivation is closely related to decreased vaccination. Ethnic minorities, particularly black people, also have greater concerns about Covid vaccines. Based on painful historical experience, they need to be convinced that vaccines are being rolled out for them, rather than being done to control them. Passports would undermine the take-up of vaccines and feed the very concerns that fuel hesitation among minority communities. They would also nurture the narratives of anti-vaxxers, whose mantra is that vaccines are about control rather than health. Compulsion fosters alienation among the very people who are most likely to feel hesitant about getting the vaccine at the very point where this reassurance is most urgently needed. Vaccine inequity plus vaccine passports will translate into vaccine apartheid. That is why we must immediately take down these vaccine passport kites and instead focus on what public health practitioners have long known: good health depends on sustained community engagement. Vaccine passports threaten both our physical health and the health of our society. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/07/covid-passports-good-idea-government-damaging |
Do Californians really need to wear masks after June 15? | California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that on June 15, the state will "fully reopen" its economy and abandon the current color-coded tier reopening system as long as COVID-19 vaccines are widely available to all who want them and hospitalizations remain low. However, the state's mask mandate will remain intact, precluding a true return to a pre-pandemic normal. Every Californian over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the vaccine by April 15, making it highly likely everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be by June 15. Two infectious disease experts from UCSF agree on the science that once an individual is fully vaccinated, they face minimal risk of serious disease but disagree on whether the mask mandate should continue beyond June 15. "There's a really simple answer to when mask mandates should be lifted, and it's when everyone in a given locality can get access to the vaccine," said Dr. Monica Gandhi. "There's no justification for a mask mandate once everyone who wants the shot has gotten the shot and they have immunity. If people choose not to get the vaccine, thats their right, but for all of us to have to wear masks when we have the much more powerful intervention of vaccination is not necessary." Conversely, her colleague Dr. George Rutherford predicted compulsory mask-wearing into perhaps 2022. "Itll be a long time," he said. "Maybe mandates will be dropped by this time next year, or maybe it'll be earlier. The fourth surge has already started, and just because it's not here doesn't mean it's not everywhere else. ICU capacity is already running out in Michigan, so that should weigh heavily on our decisions here. Whether what's happening there is a harbinger of a summer surge that will come to the west later is still to be determined." Michigan is currently undergoing a surge in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, largely fueled by variants that are more contagious. The state's Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has declined to reimplement any restrictions, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's most visible pandemic expert, stated that while cases may increase again, he does not believe the country will see a fourth "surge" akin to the previous three "as long as we keep vaccinating people efficiently and effectively." Regardless, Rutherford predicted that vaccine hesitancy coupled with variants could keep mask mandates in place for the foreseeable future. "Whats concerning is we may have a lot of people who choose to be unvaccinated," he said. "If 30% of the population is unvaccinated, that's enough to sustain transmission which could create a big winter surge, so I can see health officials wanting to be cautious." Even if there is sustained transmission among the willingly unvaccinated, it may be a tough sell both practically and politically to compel the vaccinated to wear masks for another year if it remains the case that there are no known variants that easily elude vaccination. Newsom is already facing a recall largely driven by those who believe his pandemic measures were too strict, and may find himself in a politically untenable position if most other states drop their respective mask mandates. Some blue states including Colorado have already floated the possibility of ending mask mandates once everyone who wants a vaccine has gotten one. "I actually wrote to the California Department of Public Health and urged them to lift their mask mandate on June 18, which is one year after they first issued it," Gandhi said. "I believe this topic is an important one because it can be motivating in getting more people to take the vaccine and it gives people something to look forward to." | https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-mask-mandate-COVID-19-when-plan-vaccine-16081053.php |
How Rich Are Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and 43 More of the Wealthiest Golfers of All Time? | Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com 2021 is looking up for golf. With vaccines becoming more readily available and the country slowly reopening, the worlds best golfers are also back on the green. With the Masters tournament returning on April 8th, nows a great time to look back on the sports big winners. Take a Look: Tiger Woods Net Worth Throughout golfs history, 45 golfers have won at least one major PGA tournament and also amassed a fortune of at least $10 million, making them some of the richest golfers of all time. See which golfers have made history and major money. Last updated: Apr. 7, 2021 Ben Hogan, of Fort Worth, Texas, holds his trophy after winning the British Open Golf Championship to achieve the Triple Crown at Carnoustie, Scotland, on . Ben Hogan: $10 Million Ben Hogans legendary career began when he joined the PGA Tour in 1931. A giant of golf remembered for his technically flawless swing, Hogan earned an incredible 64 PGA Tour victories 13 in 1946 alone including nine majors. He won the Triple Crown of golf in 1953 when he won three majors in one year, a feat that would only be matched by Tiger Woods in 2000. Hogan died in 1997. See: The 35 PGA Tour Tournaments That Pay the Most Money Sluman Jeff Sluman kisses his trophy cup after winning the PGA golf championship at Oak Tree Club in Edmond, Okla. Jeff Sluman: $10 Million Jeff Sluman turned pro in 1980 and earned nearly $12.13 million on the course over the next 40 years. He won six PGA Tour victories, including one major the PGA Championship in 1988. He continues to play on the PGA Tour Champions circuit and has racked up four non-Tour wins and one international victory. Find Out: Best (and Worst) Sports Deals in History Ballesteros Zoeller Severiano Ballesteros, winner of the 1980 Masters title at the Augusta National Golf Club, receives the Green Coat from last year's winner, Fuzzy ZoellerMASTERS BALLESTEROS 1980, AUGUSTA, USA. Fuzzy Zoeller: $10 Million Fuzzy Zoeller turned pro in 1973 and was still playing on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, which he joined in 2002, all the way through 2017. He racked up 10 PGA Tour victories in his time, including two majors the Masters in 1979 and the U.S. Open in 1984. He earned more than $4.65 million on the course. Big Winners: Todays Richest Athletes in the World MARK O'MEARA LIFTS THE OPEN GOLF TROPHY THE BRITISH OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ROYAL BIRKDALE DAY 4 19/07/1998 GOLF 1998 Great Britain SouthportSport. Mark OMeara: $11 Million Mark OMeara turned pro in 1980 and joined the PGA Tour just one year later. Two of his 16 Tour victories were major wins, both of which came in the same year he won the Masters and the Open Championship in 1998. He continues to play in the PGA Tour Champions league, where hes won three victories. Story continues Ouch: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune PAVIN Corey Pavin holds the trophy on the 18th green after winning the 95th U. Corey Pavin: $12 Million One of Corey Pavins 15 PGA Tour victories was a major win, which he earned when he won the U.S. Open in 1995. He turned pro in 1982, joined the PGA Tour in 1984 and moved on to the PGA Tour Champions in 2000, where he plays to this day. His career earnings total nearly $6.53 million. Final Day Of Open Golf At Turnberry. Nick Price: $12 Million Nick Price amassed 18 PGA Tour victories over the course of his career, which began when he turned pro in 1977 he joined the PGA Tour in 1983. He moved onto the Champions circuit in 2007, where he played through 2015. Two of his victories were majors, both PGA Championships, in 1992 and 1994. Mark Calcavecchia golfer Mark Calcavecchia: $13 Million Mark Calcavecchia has played at the Champions level since 2010, which he joined after he turned pro in 1981 and joined the PGA Tour the following year. One of his 13 Tour victories was a major win. Over the course of his career, hes earned more than $31.35 million in total winnings. Tom Lehman golfer Tom Lehman: $13 Million Tom Lehman went pro in 1982, joined the Tour one year later, moved on to the Champions in 2009 and continues to play today. He earned more than $12.72 million during that time and racked up five PGA Tour victories. One of them was a major, the 1996 Open Championship. Jason Dufner golfer Jason Dufner: $14 Million Jason Dufner joined the PGA Tour in 2004 after going pro in 2000. Among his five tour victories is a major win in the form of a first place finish at the 2013 PGA Championship. Hes had 47 top 10 victories and picked up more than $27 million in total money in a career that continues today. Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship Pro-Am held at Baltimore Country Club/Five Farms (East Course) on September 30, 2009 in Timonium, Maryland. Ben Crenshaw: $15 Million Ben Crenshaw turned pro in 1973 and joined the PGA Tour that very same year. He amassed an impressive 19 Tour victories along the way, including two Masters wins, one in 1984 and his final Tour victory in 1995. He joined the Tour Champions in 2002 and continued playing all the way through 2018. Read: The True Heirs to Air: Athletes Earnings Most of Their Cash From Endorsements Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock (10779967ao)Webb Simpson, of the United States, plays his shot from the ninth tee during the first round of the US Open Golf Championship, in Mamaroneck, N. Webb Simpson: $16 Million Webb Simpson has earned $38.07 million during the course of his career, including more than $2.75 million in 2020 alone. He turned pro in 2008, joined the PGA Tour the following year and has won seven Tour victories along the way. One of them was a major, the U.S. Open in 2012. Brooks Koepka golfer Brooks Koepka: $18 Million Brooks Koepka has earned nearly $30.4 million during a career that began when he turned pro in 2012. Hes piled up a string of impressive titles, including eight PGA Tour victories. He earned three of them in 2019 alone among them was a major, the PGA Championship. It was his fourth major win. He won both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 2018 after winning the U.S. Open in 2017. BRITISH OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 2001 LYTHAM DAVID DUVAL PUTTS ON THE 17TH GREEN ON HIS WAY TO WINNING THE TOURNAMENT SURROUNDED BY FANSBRITISH OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 2001 LYTHAM DAVID DUVAL PUTTS ON THE 17TH GREEN ON HIS WAY TO WINNING THE TOURNAMENT SURROUNDED BY FANS. David Duval: $20 Million A pro since 1993, David Duval joined the PGA Tour in 1995. He won 13 Tour victories, including one major, the Open Championship in 2001. Over the course of his career, the Jacksonville, Florida, native earned just shy of $19 million. He also won one international victory and picked up three non-Tour wins. Ray Floyd Jack Nicklaus, right, assists Raymond Floyd in putting on his green jacket after Floyd won the Masters Championship at Augusta, Ga. Raymond Floyd: $20 Million Raymond Floyd turned pro in 1961, joined the PGA Tour in 1963 and then moved onto the Champions in 1992. Among his 22 Tour victories were four major wins: the 1969 PGA Championship, the 1976 Masters, the 1982 PGA Championship and the 1986 U.S. Open. Golf - The Open Championship Johnny Miller (USA) celebrates with the trophy winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Birkdale 1976 10/07/1976 1976 Birkdale Open: Final DaySport. Johnny Miller: $20 Million Johnny Miller turned pro in 1969, joined the PGA Tour that same year and played all the way through 1997. He has a remarkable 25 Tour victories to his name, including two majors. The best year of his career was 1974 when he won eight tour victories in a single year. Justin Rose golfer Justin Leonard: $25 Million Justin Leonard joined the PGA Tour in 1994, the same year he turned pro, and he played his last year in 2017. He won the Open Championship, his only major tournament, in 1997, but that was just one of 12 PGA Tour victories. Over the course of his career, he earned nearly $34 million. Geoff Ogilvy golfer Geoff Ogilvy: $25 Million Australian Geoff Ogilvy has been a pro since 1998, three years before he joined the Tour in 2001. The 2006 U.S. Open is the one major victory among his eight PGA Tour wins. Over the course of his career, which ended in 2018, he won more than $30.45 million. Henrik Stenson golfer Henrik Stenson: $25 Million A pro since 1999, Henrik Stenson joined the PGA Tour in 2007. Among his six Tour victories was one major win, the 2016 Open Championship. He also racked up 13 international victories, and in 2013, he was named the FedEx Cup champion. In total, hes won $31.5 million. Tom Watson golfer Tom Watson: $25 Million One of the most accomplished golfers in history, Tom Watson has 39 PGA Tour victories to his name, including eight major wins. He turned pro in 1971, the same year he joined the PGA Tour, and entered the Champions circuit in 1999. After nearly a half-century in the sport, his career continues today. Check Out: Lessons To Live By From These 13 Rags-to-Riches Athletes Mike Weir golfer Mike Weir: $25 Million Canadian Mike Weir turned pro in 1992, he joined the PGA Tour in 1998, and his career continues today. His only major win was a victory at the Masters in 2003, but that was just one of eight Tour victories. Hes earned nearly $28 million in winnings over the course of his career. Justin Thomas golfer Justin Thomas: $30 Million Justin Thomas has been a pro since 2013 and a PGA Tour member since 2015. Hes amassed 14 Tour victories in that time, including one major tournament, the 2017 PGA Championship. He won two tournaments in 2020 alone and has been a part of seven national teams. Bubba Watson: $30 Million A pro since 2002, Bubba Watson remains one of the biggest names in golf. He has 12 career Tour wins to his name, including two majors he won the Masters in both 2012 and 2014. The best year of his career was 2018 when he won three tournaments. He joined the PGA Tour in 2006. Zach Johnson golfer Zach Johnson: $35 Million A pro since 1998, Zach Johnson has been part of the PGA Tour since 2004. He racked up 12 Tour victories between that year and 2015. Two of them, the 2007 Masters and the 2015 Open Championship, were major wins. Over the course of his career, hes earned more than $45.44 million. David Toms at World golf championship David Toms: $35 Million David Toms remains a force on the PGA Champions circuit, which he joined in 2017. He originally turned pro in 1989, joined the PGA Tour in 1991 and won 13 Tour tournaments during his tenure. One of them, the 2001 PGA Championship, was a major win. In 2018, he won the U.S. Senior Open Championship. Jason Day golfer Jason Day: $40 Million Australian Jason Day has been a pro since 2006 and a PGA Tour member since 2008. Of his 12 Tour victories, nearly half came during the best year of his career when he won five tournaments in 2015. Among the pile of victories he racked up that year was his only major win, the PGA Championship. Padraig Harrington golfer Pdraig Harrington: $40 Million Irish golfer Pdraig Harrington turned pro in 1995 but didnt join the PGA Tour until a full decade later in 2005. Hes won six Tour victories, exactly half of which were majors. He won the Open Championship in 2007. The next year in 2008, he won it again and also won the PGA Championship. Justin Rose golfer Justin Rose: $40 Million South African Justin Rose turned pro in 1998, joined the PGA Tour in 2004 and continues to play professionally today. Of his 10 Tour victories, one was a major he won the U.S. Open in 2013. Hes also piled up 12 international victories and was named the 2018 FedEx Cup champion. Golf Lee Trevino (USA) with the trophy British Open Golf Championships at Muirfield 15/07/1972 Muirfield Open 1972: Final DaySport. Lee Trevino: $40 Million Eighty-year-old Lee Trevino was still playing on the Champions Tour as recently as 2011. A household name even for people who dont care about golf, Trevino turned pro in 1960 and didnt move onto the Tour Champions until 1989. He racked up a remarkable 29 Tour victories, including six majors, and another 29 Champions wins. Davis Love III golfer Davis Love III: $50 Million A pro since 1985, Davis Love III began his standout career on the PGA Tour in 1986 and played all the way to 2014. That year, he joined the Tour Champions, where he continues to play to this day. His only major victory was the PGA Championship in 1997, but in total, he won an impressive 21 PGA Tour tournaments. Dustin Johnson golfer Dustin Johnson: $50 Million Dustin Johnson went pro in 2007, joined the Tour the very next year and has won an impressive 24 PGA tour victories in the ensuing years. One of them, the 2016 U.S. Open, was a major. Adam Scott golfer Adam Scott: $50 Million Australian Adam Scott became a pro in 2000 and has won 14 PGA Tour victories since joining the Tour in 2003. Among those victories was a win at the Masters in 2013. He tallied another 14 international victories and won three non-Tour tournaments. Along the way, he earned $55.26 million. Nick Faldo Britain's Nick Faldo kisses the trophy after he won the British Open golf tournament at Muirfield in Scotland. Nick Faldo: $60 Million Nick Faldo turned pro in 1976 and played on the PGA Tour until 2007. That year, he joined the Tour Champions, where he played through 2015. He won nine Tour victories and remarkably, two-thirds of them were major tournaments. He also won an impressive 33 international victories and 34 non-Tour wins. Jim Furyk golfer Jim Furyk: $60 Million Jim Furyk joined the PGA Tour two years after turning pro in 1992. Not only was he the 2010 FedEx Cup champion, but he won 17 Tour victories over the course of his career, including one major tournament the 2003 U.S. Open. In total, hes won $71.23 million in prize money. Find Out: Famous Athletes Who Got Rich for Something Other Than Sports Sergio Garcia, of Spain, celebrates at the green jacket ceremony after the Masters golf tournament, in Augusta, GaMasters Golf, Augusta, USA - 09 Apr 2017. Sergio Garca: $70 Million One of Spanish golfer Sergio Garcias 10 PGA Tour tournament wins was a major, the 2017 Masters. It was a long time coming. Garcia turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1999 and won many international victories on top of his 11 Tour wins. His efforts earned him more than $50 million on the course. Vijay Singh golfer Vijay Singh: $75 Million Fiji native Vijay Singh turned pro in 1982 but didnt join the PGA Tour until 1993. He still plays on the PGA Tour as well as the Tour Champions, which he joined in 2013. He left his mark on the sport with 34 Tour victories, three of which were majors, as well as numerous international victories. ELS Ernie Els, of South Africa, reacts after finishing the U. Ernie Els: $85 Million Ernie Els turned pro in 1989, joined the PGA Tour in 1994 and played on the Tour until 2019. Today, he plays on the Tour Champions circuit. He tallied 19 Tour victories during his standout career, including four major wins. Hes also had international victories and played on national teams throughout the 90s and 2000s. Jordan Spieth Players golfer Jordan Spieth: $110 Million Jordan Spieth is one of nine golfers with a nine-figure net worth and at least one major win three, in his case. He turned pro in 2012, joined the PGA Tour in 2013 and has already amassed 12 Tour victories, including three majors, two of which he won in 2015 alone as part of a single year with five tournament wins. Fred Couples Fred Couples: $120 Million Fred Couples began his standout career when he turned pro in 1980 and joined the PGA Tour in 1981. He won 15 Tour victories, including the Masters in 1992, as well as 25 non-Tour victories, five international victories and 13 wins in the Tour Champions series, which he joined in 2010 and continues playing in today. Rory McIlroy golfer Rory McIlroy: $150 Million Northern Ireland native Rory McIlroy is one of the most successful, dynamic and marketable golfers in the modern era. After going pro in 2007 and joining the PGA Tour in 2010, he piled up 18 Tour victories, including four majors, in just one decade. He also picked up nine international victories and was the FedEx Cup champion twice. Player Gary Player reacts after he birdies the seventh hole in the final round of the 65th U. Gary Player: $250 Million With an impressive 24 PGA Tour victories with nine major wins, Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. He turned pro in 1953, joined the Tour in 1957 and, remarkably, he played on the PGA Tour all the way through 2009. He also tallied 22 Tour Champions wins and an astounding 118 international victories. Jack Nicklaus, who was the youngest player to win the Masters golf tournament at 23 in 1963, gets off a practice shot at Augusta National Golf ClubMASTERS NICKLAUS, AUGUSTA, USA. Jack Nicklaus: $400 Million If golf had a Mount Rushmore, Jack Nicklaus face along with those of Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods would have to be on it. He joined the PGA Tour in 1962 and the Tour Champions in 1990, playing all the way into the mid-2000s. His legendary career included 73 Tour victories and 18 major wins. Phil MIckelson golfer- Phil Mickelson: $400 Million Phil Mickelson amassed 44 PGA Tour victories, including five majors, over the course of his career, which started when he turned pro and joined the Tour in 1992 and that continues today. Hes known almost as much for his many lucrative endorsement deals as he is for his play on the course and hes got a massive fortune to show for both. Greg Norman golfer Greg Norman: $400 Million Greg Norman joined the PGA Tour in 1983 after turning pro in 1976. He scored 20 Tour victories, including two majors, 57 international victories and 70 non-Tour wins. He joined the Tour Champions in 2005 and continued playing all the way through 2012. Golfer Arnold Palmer Pictured In Action In The Ryder Cup At Lythamst Annes. Arnold Palmer: $700 Million Few people have had more of an impact on the sport of golf than Arnold Palmer, a legend who loomed large over the sport both during his career and after. When he died in 2016, Palmer left behind a legacy that includes tournaments, equipment, courses and even an iced tea drink that he designed not to mention he had an incredible 62 PGA Tour victories and seven major wins. Tiger Woods tees off on the 12th hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los AngelesGenesis Invitational Golf, Los Angeles, USA - 16 Feb 2020. Tiger Woods: $800 Million Tiger Woods is the greatest, richest and most famous golfer of all time a household-name celebrity even among people who have never watched a round or swung a club. No golfer in history has won more than Woods 82 PGA Tour victories, which include 15 major wins and nine victories in one year during his miraculous 2000 season. His massive endorsement deals have helped make him one of the richest athletes ever as he approaches a three-comma net worth. More From GOBankingRates All net worth information comes from Celebrity Net Worth, and all golfer career and biography information comes from the PGA. | https://sports.yahoo.com/rich-tiger-woods-jordan-spieth-110059157.html?src=rss |
Should Washington Trade Up To Falcons No. 4 Pick? | A trade up in the first round is certainly possible for the Washington Football Team. A trade to No. ASHBURN, Va. - Should the Washington Football Team trade up from No. My immediate - maybe even knee-jerk - answer is "no.'' Adam Schefter of ESPN lit the first match - which makes sense. Atlanta wanting to trade out of No. 4 should not be a surprise. They are looking to rebuild their roster with new general manager Terry Fontenot in charge (and with a former Washington Football executive, Kyle Smith, alongside.) If the Falcons are not going to draft QB Matt Ryan's eventual replacement (which they could do), they have plenty of reasons to move down. Even if it's just a couple of spots. They could - having put down some of the groundwork in advance, of course - wait until they are on the clock so that a desperate team knows what is left. ... and can come calling. Here's the part that Washington fans should keep an eye on. Peter Schrager of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" offered this scenario for the fourth pick. In my opinion, it makes no sense that Washington would trade all the way up to No. 4, because they do not need to be desperate for a quarterback ... and because of the cost. READ MORE: NFL Draft Tracker To climb 15 spots in the draft is going to cost multiple picks including a likely 2022 first-round choice and something more this year. The WFT still has too many holes to fill to be - I'll use this word again, as I often do - "reckless.'' I agree with colleague Cole Thompson about still wanting to keep an eye out for the future and for "Our Guy'' at QB ... but I would not want the WFT to put its present and future at risk by being over aggressive. Maybe there is a more conservative way to do that. There isn't one player that's worth 15 picks of compensation. Not Kyle Pitts, not anybody. READ MORE: Quinton Dunbar off to Detroit Washington and Ron Rivera have talked about being patient over and over again. Hopefully, even as the tantalizing No. 4 overall pick is dangled, they remember their own expressed philosophy. | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/should-washington-trade-up-to-falcons-no-4-pick-football-team-nfl-draft |
Are the Jets a QB away from being competitive in 2021? | MMA Weekly Former UFC flyweight champion and winner of the ONE Championship flyweight grand prix, Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson, spoke at virtual media day for ONE on TNT ahead of challenging Adriano Moraes for the ONE flyweight championship. Despite holding the flyweight belt for over six years over the course of two title reigns in the promotion along with a five-inch height advantage, Moraes is an underdog against Mighty Mouse. While Johnson will not underestimate Moraes in any capacity, he is particularly complimentary of Moraes ability in the grappling department. I think his greatest strength is his grappling. I think hes very long for the division, very tall and he has those long legs, said Johnson. Phenomenal grappler. He likes to get on peoples backs, lock up the body triangle. Johnson referenced his fight against Tatsumitsu Wada in August 2019. Wada got Johnsons back and maintained control in that position for roughly three minutes. Mighty Mouse is cognizant of the fact that he must avoid similar circumstances with Moraes, a BJJ black belt. I didnt really take any damage from Tatsumitsu Wada being on my back, but thats three minutes of me that I couldve been working trying to finish a fight, Johnson said. Passing guard. Throwing elbows. Anything. So thats the biggest strength that I believe Adriano has. Johnson also spoke of Moraes approach to talk trash ahead of the fight. Mighty Mouse is frequently recognized by many as one of if not the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. Some fighters, like John Dodson, took a similar route ahead of their fight, yet a significant amount of Johnsons opponents were solely focused on how to beat him let alone attempt to get in his head. I havent really followed his career, so I dont know how he approaches his fights. So this is I guess new to me, Johnson said. But Ive had trash talk before in my fights, fighting John Dodson. I think John Dodson is the only one who really talked crap. But yeah, its just the way [Moraes] likes to take it if he wants it. Despite Moraes trash talk, Johnson holds Moraes in high regard when it comes to his talent compared to past opponents. Hes up there. Hes my next biggest fight, hes my next challenge, Johnson said. Johnson also provided reasoning for why Moraes might not necessarily be a household name in MMA. I believe the only reason my name is big on the U.S. soil and in Asia as well is for what Ive done on American soil and how I've gone about my career, Johnson said. I think thats what kind of elevated my name, essentially. Perhaps Johnsons most notable response during media day was when a journalist asked what it would mean to his legacy to show UFC president Dana White that he was still at the top of the heap with a victory over Moraes. Mighty Mouse burst out laughing. Its not important at all. I think the world knows where my skill set is, Johnson said in between laughter. Im not worried about showing anything to Dana White. Regardless, Johnson will show the world what he has in store for Adriano Moraes at ONE on TNT I on Wednesday, April 7. Bellator 255 Highlights: Patricio Pitbull chokes out Emmanuel Sanchez! Check out highlights from Demetrious Johnson winning the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) | https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-qb-away-being-competitive-133545348.html?src=rss |
Do Gig Platform Workers Need New Tax Rules Now That Reporting To IRS Is Expanding? | An Uber Eats worker wait in front of a McDonalds for his order. Food delivery industry has boomed in ... [+] the past year as the pandemic forced people to stay at home and shop online as in France where this industry is considered as an 'essential services'. But yesterday Milano prosecutors order food delivery groups to hire riders, pay 733 million euros in fines after an investigation showed their working conditions were inadequate. The European Commission took a step towards improving the rights of gig economy workers with the launch of a public consultation to determine their legal employment status and how to improve their working conditions. The CLAP (a french riders union) says that the proposal has been written by Uber's European head. Toulouse, France. February 25th 2021. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Non-employee platform-based work seems like a sufficiently distinct phenomenon to require changes to either tax forms or the tax code to accommodate the new work arrangements that have arisen over the past decade or so, but the only truly novel element in platform work might be the online platform. The IRS maintains that platform work is essentially an internet-fueled spin on the well-established concept of self-employed workers running small businesses. While those gig economy taxpayers may require increased outreach because they may not have a complete understanding of their tax obligations, the rise of platform work probably doesnt require any new rules, particularly once information reporting gets underway in its expanded format. Because of the changes in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, that expansion is coming. Increased tax information reporting for participants in platform work is step 1 in increasing compliance, even if compliance isn't lower than typical for taxpayers with self-employment earnings. Educating taxpayers on their obligations will be the second step, as noted in a previous post. To that point, there has been a dearth of information about platform workers tax compliance in part because its hard to identify which taxpayers are doing platform-based work. But the deficiencies in the data the IRS has about platform workers will be dramatically shored up once the information reporting begins. The IRS explained, in response to a Government Accountability Office report in May 2020, that there's no evidence that taxpayers who use platforms to find work are at any greater risk of noncompliance with their tax obligations than any other self-employed taxpayer. Perhaps the unique challenge for taxpayers who begin platform work is that they often seem to be turning to it to supplement other income or as a bridge between non-platform jobs. Given the ease of signing up with a platform, taxpayers may not initially consider their tax obligations when opting to do platform work. The IRS already does outreach to self-employed platform workers, including through its year-old Gig Economy Tax Center, which provides basic instructions on recordkeeping, paying quarterly estimated taxes, and tax return filing. The principal message is that taxpayers performing platform work who arent employees are self-employed and have the same filing obligations as any other self-employed taxpayers. Other options that have been floated for helping platform workers comply with their tax obligations might not be as attractive in the wake of information reporting. Check-the-Box The May 2020 GAO report said the IRS could add a question to Form 1040, Schedule C, "Profit or Loss From Business," or Form 1099-NEC, "Nonemployee Compensation," asking whether a taxpayer had performed platform work. That would probably take the form of a checkbox, much like the ones that already ask whether a taxpayer has foreign bank accounts or bought or sold cryptocurrency. The IRS disagreed with the recommendation to change the forms on the grounds that it already had a communication strategy in place for helping to educate platform workers, and changing the forms would require added costs. The IRS said that while a form change "could provide a count of self-reported platform workers, it is not expected to serve a benefit to improve tax administration, nor does the IRS see a clear jeopardy to tax compliance without implementation of this recommendation. The foreign bank account and cryptocurrency questions on Form 1040 have a slightly different role in administering the tax laws than a hypothetical platform work question would. Because every taxpayer must answer them, they serve as a speed bump for taxpayers, reminding them of their obligations, but the IRS also uses them in the enforcement context. Before the UBS investigation, which prompted legislation that effectively dismantled bank secrecy across the globe, some taxpayers were unaware of their obligation to report their foreign bank accounts, and there was no reporting from foreign financial institutions before the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Rear view of independent gig delivery van and male driver inside managing packages for eventual ... [+] transport. getty The dynamic at play in the platform work space is sufficiently distinct from foreign bank account and cryptocurrency ownership that the IRSs position here makes sense. Standard Business Deduction An option to streamline the tax compliance of platform workers that would require action by Congress is a simplified deduction for business expenses. A standard deduction would be calculated as a percentage of gross earnings for specific types of platform work. It would reduce the complexity platform workers face in filing their tax returns, while also simplifying administration, particularly the examination function, for the IRS. It could be enacted with an option to deduct actual business expenses instead. Kathleen DeLaney Thomas of the University of North Carolina proposed a standard business deduction to replace the current requirement for self-employed taxpayers to track and report their business expenses, with a deduction of 60% of gross receipts. Congress isnt terribly likely to consider a standard business deduction anytime soon because of the American Rescue Plans increase in information reporting and the likely negative revenue estimate that a standard deduction would have. If, once information reporting is in full effect, it becomes apparent that platform workers have particularly high compliance challenges, the standard business deduction might reemerge as a way to help the IRS and taxpayers. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/taxnotes/2021/04/07/do-platform-workers-need-new-tax-rules-after-information-reporting/ |
Is the Pentagon taking vaccines seriously enough? | Presented by With Connor OBrien Editors Note: Morning Defense is a free version of POLITICO Pro Defense's morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the days biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. Quick Fix Concerns are rising that the vaccination effort for military personnel and their families overseas is lagging. The nations top intelligence officials will finally appear before Congress in public to discuss global threats. The Biden administrations brief record suggests a higher bar for arms sales going forward, a new report says. HAPPY WEDNESDAY AND WELCOME TO MORNING DEFENSE, where this ransom demand caught our attention. Seems a bit radical, but it is an innovative way to symbolically flush a soiled chapter of our history. And at least a little fitting given that Confederate leader Jefferson Davis refused to take the oath of allegiance to regain his citizenship after the Civil War (though Congress and President Jimmy Carter restored it in 1978). We're always on the lookout for tips, pitches and feedback. Email us at [email protected], and follow on Twitter @bryandbender, @morningdefense and @politicopro. A message from Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin Provides Air Power SolutionsWin From Every Angle Lockheed Martin has decades of experience providing the most innovative, affordable and integrated air power solutions to maximize connectivity across the total force. Learn More On the Hill 'LEFT BEHIND': Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, is pressing the Pentagon for details on how U.S. personnel and their families abroad are able to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, expressing concern the effort is lagging. "As you well know, these installations are home to not only servicemembers but also their dependents, foreign nationals, civilian employees of the Department and other U.S. government personnel," Peters wrote in a letter Tuesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. "While the vaccination effort is well underway domestically, I am concerned that those Americans serving abroad will be left behind on vaccination efforts. "Many of these installations are located in areas which continue to suffer from high rates of COVID-19 infections, he added, and are struggling with their own vaccine distribution efforts." Related: One-third of U.S. troops opted out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Here's why that is dangerous for national security, via Time. Plus: Depot Maintenance: DoD Should Improve Pandemic Plans, via the Government Accountability Office. MORAL IMPERATIVE: More than 75 House Democrats on Tuesday signed a letter to President Joe Biden demanding he publicly pressure Saudi Arabia to lift its blockade on Yemen. The Saudi blockade has long been a leading driver of Yemens humanitarian catastrophe, triggering recent fuel shortages, inflation and greatly reducing access to food, water, electricity, and transportation, they wrote. The blockade also threatens to imminently close down hospitals reliant on power generators to care for famine victims, making emergency travel to hospitals prohibitively expensive, condemning untold numbers of children to die at home. They add that a U.S. demand for its Middle East ally to end the blockade must be independent of any negotiations to reach a political settlement to end the Yemeni civil war, which has become a proxy war between Iran and the Gulf Arab states. Star power: In a separate letter, more than 70 progressive groups and Hollywood celebrities also told Biden that this moral imperative requires the United States to pressure Saudi Arabia to lift this blockade immediately, unilaterally, and comprehensively. For Your Radar TALKING THREATS: The Senate and House Intelligence Committees will finally resume open hearings on worldwide threats on April 14 and 15, featuring testimony from the director of national intelligence and the heads of the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency. The sessions mark the end of a stand-off between Capitol Hill and the spy community that lasted throughout 2020 as intel officials begged to not appear publicly for fear of angering President Donald Trump, our colleague Martin Matishak reports for Pros. The impasse persisted so long that Congress eventually enshrined the session into law. It is imperative that the Intelligence Communitys leadership come before the committee and the American people periodically, and provide their candid assessments about the threats that face our nation, House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement. Plus: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to visit Israel next week, via Axios. Happening Today The Air Force unveils the official name for the new Boeing F-15EX fighter jet at 10 a.m. The Atlantic Council holds an online discussion, Preventing nuclear proliferation and reassuring Americas allies, with former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at 11 a.m. And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosts a discussion between Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and former Defense Secretary Ash Carter at 4 p.m. Pentagon A VITAL TOOL: The Biden administration says it is maintaining for now a Trump-era policy that loosened the restrictions on the militarys use of landmines. But its not ruling out reviewing the rules at some point, our colleague Jacqueline Feldscher reports for Pros. In a statement Tuesday, the Pentagon called landmines a vital tool in conventional warfare that the United States military cannot responsibly forgo." But Pentagon press secretary John Kirby later clarified that the Defense Department is also assessing whether modifications are needed. "We're analyzing the process by which that decision was made to continue to espouse conventional landmine use, Kirby told reporters. When we complete that analysis of that decision, then we'll be able to have a better idea of whether or not further review of our landmine policy is warranted. Human rights groups have called on Biden to rescind the Trump policy, which allowed the use of landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula after President Barack Obama banned their use in other parts of the world. Arms Sales FIRST LOOK CHANGE OF COURSE: The early months of the Biden administration suggest a change of course is underway when it comes to who gets approved to buy U.S. weaponry, according to a new report out today from the left-leaning Center for International Policy. After an unprecedented increase in Foreign Military Sales in the final year of the Trump administration, the early months of the Biden administration suggest a change of course may be underway in deciding which nations receive U.S. weaponry a change that could elevate human rights, observation of international humanitarian law, and long term strategic concerns over narrow economic considerations, states U.S. Arms Sales Trends: 2020 and Beyond from Trump to Biden. The jobs question: The report also takes on what it considers a myth about how many jobs are created by foreign arms sales. Overall, arms transfers account for less than one-tenth of one percent of U.S. employment, it says. Notably, this figure does not fully account for overseas production of components of U.S. systems under offset and co-production agreements, which further reduce the domestic jobs tied to overseas sales. The biggest winners: The recent expansion of arms sales has also largely benefited a few major defense companies, the report concludes. A handful of companies Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon Technologies were the main beneficiaries of U.S. arms deals in 2020, it says. The three firms taken together were the primary suppliers in deals worth $87 billion, more than three-quarters of the value of U.S. arms offers for 2020. The think tank calls on the Biden administration to review pending arms sales, including the overwhelming number of newly approved sales and transfers over the last year. And it also advocates for a new conventional arms sales policy directive that prioritizes human rights and international humanitarian law and alignment with broader foreign policy goals, and de-emphasizes industry concerns. Speed Read Petty officer shoots 2 sailors; is stopped, killed on MD base: The Associated Press Special report: Microchip security continues to confound Pentagon: Roll Call AUSA fires back at Air Force: Long-range missiles arent stupid: Breaking Defense U.S. Armys not stupid for weighing long-range fires but more analysis needed, Hyten says: Defense One Marines launch new investigation after disaster that killed nine troops: The Washington Post New book on Navy reading list prompts senator to introduce bill banning racial bias training: Military.com Cross-partisan groups urge Biden to stick with May 1 Afghanistan withdrawal: The Hill U.S., Iran move closer but stay apart in nuclear talks: POLITICO Europe Russia stages mass military drills as Ukraine tensions climb: Bloomberg Russia, India non-committal on missile system delivery timeline: Bloomberg Chinese aircraft carrier conducts combat drills near Taiwan as tensions escalate: Newsweek First flight test for US Air Forces hypersonic booster didnt go as planned: Defense News A message from Lockheed Martin: Legion Pod: Versatile, Transportable, and Affordable Legion Pod is a long-range, multi-function infrared sensor system supporting collaborative detection and targeting operations in radar-denied situations. It has growth capacity to connect the battlefield and support Multi-Domain Operations. Learn More Follow us on Twitter Dave Brown @dave_brown24 Bryan Bender @bryandbender Connor O'Brien @connorobriennh Jacqueline Feldscher @jacqklimas Lara Seligman @laraseligman | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-defense/2021/04/07/is-the-pentagon-taking-vaccines-seriously-enough-794514 |
Is CB Richard Sherman still an option for the Raiders? | Sherman is 33 years old but is still a quality cornerback in the right scheme. The idea of adding Sherman has been an intriguing one for Raiders fans as he has played most of his career in a Cover-3 defense. And as we know, arguably the best year of his career came under Gus Bradley in 2012. In a recent article by Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report, he predicted that Sherman will ultimately land with the Raiders. Here is a quick snippet of his thoughts on the potential pairing: He could help groom upstart cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen, who are heading into their second and third seasons, respectively. Also of note, Sherman played under Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for two seasons in 2011 and 2012. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. According to OverTheCap.com, the Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to a contract extension. While there are ways to free up space, the Raiders will need money to pay their draft class and find a veteran safety before the start of camp. The Raiders could restructure or extend Derek Carr and that could free up nearly $10 million in cap space. They could also restructure Darren Waller, saving around $4 million, as well. So they have options, but it will be interesting just how much space they create over the next few weeks. Sherman to the Raiders remains a possibility, but it is unlikely to happen before the 2021 NFL draft. Dont be surprised if Sherman signs a deal in May or June, once the draft has played out and depth charts are more complete. If the Raiders dont add a cornerback high in the 2021 NFL draft, dont be surprised if Sherman does join the team at some point in the summer. While we certainly arent reporting that it will happen, it just makes too much sense for both sides. | https://sports.yahoo.com/cb-richard-sherman-still-option-150145890.html?src=rss |
Have Fermilab Scientists Broken Modern Physics? | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink ... [+] their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab The past half century has been relatively uneventful for scientists understanding of the subatomic world. Theories developed in the 1960s and early 1970s have been combined into what is now called the standard model of particle physics. While there are a few unexplained phenomena (for example dark matter and dark energy), scientists have tested predictions of the standard model against measurements and the theory has passed with flying colors. Well, except for a few loose ends, including a decade-old disagreement between data and theory pertaining to the magnetic properties of a subatomic particle called the muon. Scientists have waited for two decades to see if this discrepancy is real. And today, the wait is over. A new measurement has been announced that goes a long way towards telling us if the venerable theory will need revising. Muons are ephemeral subatomic particles, much like the more familiar electron. Like their electron brethren, muons have electric charge and spin. They also decay in about a millionth of a second, which makes them challenging to study. Objects that are both electrically charged and spin are also magnets, and muons are no exception. Physicists call the magnetic strength of a magnet made in this way the magnetic moment of a particle. One can predict the magnetic moment of both electrons and muons using the conventional quantum mechanics of the 1930s. However, when the first measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron was accomplished in 1948, it was 0.1% too high. The cause of this tiny discrepancy was traced to some truly odd quantum behavior. At the very smallest size scales, space is not quiescent. Instead, its a writhing mess, with pairs of particles and antimatter particles appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. We cant see this frenetic sea of objects appearing and disappearing, but if you accept that it is true and calculate its effect on the magnetic moment of both muon and electron, it is in exact agreement with the tiny, 0.1%, excess, first reported back in 1948. In the intervening 70 years, scientists have both predicted and measured the magnetic moment of the both the muon and electron to a staggering precision of twelve digits of accuracy. And measurement and prediction agree, digit for digit, for the first ten digits. But they disagree for the last two. Furthermore, the disagreement is larger than can be explained by the uncertainty on either the prediction or measurement. It appears that the two disagree. If data and theory disagree, one (or both) is wrong. Its possible that the measurement was inaccurate in some way. Its also possible that the calculation has an error, or the calculation doesnt include all relevant effects. If that last option is true overlooked effects it means that the standard model of particle physics is incomplete. There is at least something new and unexpected. For the past two decades, the best measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon is one made by the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, on Long Island, New York. (The experiment is pronounced muon gee minus two.) The g-2 is historical and refers specifically only to the 0.1% excess over the prediction of standard quantum mechanics. Standard quantum mechanics predicts that the magnetic moment of the electron or muon is g. The discrepancy between theory and measurement was pretty large. If you divided the difference by the combined experimental and theoretical uncertainty, the result was 3.7. Scientists call that ratio sigma, and use sigma to rate how important a measurement is. If a sigma is under 3, scientists say it is not interesting. If sigma is between 3 and 5, scientists start to get interested and call that state of affairs to be evidence of a discovery. If sigma is above 5, scientists are confident that the discrepancy is real and meaningful. For sigmas above 5, scientists usually title their papers as Observation of Five sigma is a big deal. So, the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven reported a 3.7 sigma result, which is a big deal, but not big enough to be super excited. Another measurement was needed. However, the accelerator facility at Brookhaven had done all it could do. A more powerful source of muons was needed. Enter Fermilab, Americas flagship particle physics laboratory, located just west of Chicago. Fermilab could make more muons than Brookhaven could. Ominous clouds welcome the Muon g-2 experiment as it arrives at Fermilab. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab So, researchers bundled up the g-2 apparatus and sent it to Fermilab. Because the g-2 apparatus is shaped like a plate, but 50 across and 6 thick, it couldnt easily be shipped on roads. So, the equipment was put on a barge that went down the east coast of the U.S., up the Mississippi and some of its tributaries, until it was at a debarkation point near Fermilab in northeast Illinois. Then the equipment was put on a flatbed truck and driven in the dead of night to Fermilab. It took two nights, but on July 26, 2013, the g-2 experiment was located at Fermilab. Scientists then set to work, building the buildings, accelerator, and infrastructure necessary to perform an improved measurement. In the spring of 2018, the scientists began taking data. Each year, the experiment operates for many months, collecting data. Each year is called a run and the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment is expected to make five runs, including a few in the future. The measurement is incredibly precise. They are measuring something with twelve digits of accuracy. That is like measuring the distance around the Earth to a precision a little smaller than the thickness of a sheet of computer printer paper. This recent measurement using the g-2 equipment at Fermilab confirmed the earlier measurement at Brookhaven. When the data from the two laboratories are combined, the discrepancy between data and theory is now 4.2 sigma, tantalizingly close to the desired Observation of standard, but not quite there. On the other hand, the measurement reported today is based on a single run. Given improvements to the accelerator and facilities, researchers expect to record sixteen times more data than has been reported so far. If the measurement involving all of the data is consistent with the measurement reported today, and the precision of the measurement improves as expected, it is very likely that the g-2 experiment will definitively prove that the standard model is not a complete theory. That conclusion is premature, but it is looking likely. The most robust conclusion one can draw is that if future measurements tell the same story, the standard model needs modification. It appears that there is something going on in the subatomic realm that is giving the muon a different magnetic moment than the standard model predicts. Well, it is unlikely that the standard model will need to be completely discarded. It simply works too well on other measurements that arent quite as precise. What is more likely is that there exist an unknown class of subatomic particles that have not yet been discovered. One possibility is that an extension of the standard model, called supersymmetry, is true. If supersymmetry is real, it predicts twice as many subatomic particles as the standard model. In a pure supersymmetric theory, these new particles would have the same mass as the known ones, but this is ruled out by many measurements. However, there could be a modified version of supersymmetry, which makes the undiscovered cousin particles heavier than the known ones. If true, it would modify the prediction of the magnetic moment of the muon in just the right way to make data and theory agree. Particle physics supersymmetry. Conceptual illustration showing the standard model particles with ... [+] their heavier superpartners introduced by the supersymmetry (SUSY) principle. In supersymmetry force and matter are treated identically. Using supersymmetry, physicists may find solutions for problems such as the weakness of gravity, the low mass of the Higgs boson and the unification of forces or even dark matter. getty But supersymmetry is just one possible explanation. The simple fact is that there could be many different kinds of subatomic particles that havent been discovered. Perhaps some new theory that explains dark matter might be relevant. Or something entirely unimagined by anyone at this point. We just dont know. But not knowing isnt bad. It just means that there are new things to learn, problems to solve. Theoretical physicists are already thinking through what might be the implications of the new measurement and what sorts of theories might explain it. The important thing is to accept that a venerable and long-accepted theory is incomplete, and that we need to rethink things. Thats how science is done. But Im getting ahead of myself. The researchers need to analyze the other runs and verify that the more precise results validate todays measurement. But things are definitely beginning to look interesting. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/drdonlincoln/2021/04/07/have-fermilab-scientists-broken-modern-physics/ |
Can We Have Difference As Well As Community? | LGBTQ activists take part in the Pride Parade in Bangkok on November 7, 2020. Even more daunting, perhaps, is the question of how leaders will deal with people who reject the idea that there are only two genders to begin withwho are, in the current parlance, nonbinary. This challenge became more apparent to me as I read an op-ed in last Sundays New York Times by Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, an assistant professor of English at Bowdoin College. The author posed the question, arising from months of Covid-induced isolation, Who are we, when no one is looking? The dilemma arose for Marzano-Lesnevich because, they (I dont know his/her/their gender, so I will default to they) asked, Where did my own gender reside, if not in sending signals of difference? It took a couple of reads for me to understand what the writer of this op-ed was after. They indicated that being who they are revolves in normal (non-pandemic) life around the problem of others acknowledgment of their self-understanding as nonbinary. This concern with recognition is in some sense a natural progression from the gay liberation movement that prized the freedom to come out of the closeti.e., to no longer feel the need to hide ones love for people of the same sex/gender. After coming out, gay men and lesbians were concerned that others not merely accept them, but that those people acknowledge their otherness as well. Although I teach sociology at the graduate level, I felt ill-positioned to understand what was at stake in Marzano-Lesnevichs article. Yet I thought I should try to do so, both as a scholar and as a citizen. Accordingly, I tried to reason by analogy and by comparison. The first possible analogy that came to mind as I thought about what Marzano-Lesnevich regards as liberation was the civil rights movement, our national template for modern progressive social change. The problem for the Black freedom movement, of course, was not recognition, at least not in the same sense. African-Americans were all too recognizable in American society, and were discriminated against precisely for standing out from the white norm. They suffered job exclusion, housing discrimination, wage disparities, the denial of their voting rights, and violence merely because of what they looked likethat is, on the grounds of their difference. The goal of the civil rights movement was thus anti-discrimination, equal treatment, fair housing, inclusionin short, racial equality. That is why the prominent (and gay) civil rights activist Bayard Rustin opposed the Black studies courses being proposed by some in the late 1960s; in his view, the whole point of racial equality was to be able to do the same things that white people did and, especially, to have the same skills and opportunities that white people had. To be sure, gays, lesbians, and trans people have been discriminated against on account of their difference. Still, Marzano-Lesnevichs ideas about difference reminded me of what used to happen in the 1960s when someone who had special culinary needs would come over for dinner. In those days, one brought ones own food; one would not have expected the host to prepare a separate meal that met the needs of the guest. That has changed, of course; it now seems to go without saying that hosts must accommodate the difference of guests who may need to eat other food than that being served to the rest of the group. In this sense, society has clearly changed in the direction of the acknowledgment and accommodation of difference. Yet its notable that this change is not a matter of public policy, but of social norms. Against that background, Marzano-Lesnevichs hope for acknowledgment of their nonbinariness might not seem so unusual, but neither is it obvious that there is that much we can do about it as a society. As a liberal society, we must support the idea that everyone should be able to be who they want to be. Its hard enough to adopt policies such as universal health insurance that address large numbers of people; the exceptions obviously complicate matters. Marzano-Lesnevich did mention that many trans youth had lost access to gender-affirming health care during the pandemic, the one point in the piece that seems remediable by laws and policies. But aside from health care concerns, the author is mainly describing the sense of disorientation occasioned by pandemic isolation and the way that confused their quest to be nonbinary. Without other people to affirm the choice, the question lost meaning; they simply became part of the ordinary non-crowd. Yet, much as we all want affirmation, I can see no way to require that people acknowledge ones difference in ordinary social intercourse. To someone not engaged in or connected to a desire to be nonbinary, the quest may begin to seem like a search for extreme individuality that must somehow be recognized by others. Such quests are of course deeply rooted in American libertarian thinking, which enjoins above all: Be yourself! Which inevitably means: Be different (somehow)! Those two things seem to be, at the very least, in tension with each other. If we are not to dissolve into isolated islands of selves, we need to find a balance where those two aimsdifference and communitygo hand-in-hand. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johntorpey/2021/04/07/can-we-have-difference-as-well-as-community/ |
Is Indias mammoth vaccine campaign fast enough to reach villages before COVID-19 does? | Open this photo in gallery Health worker Reena Jani, foreground, speaks with a pregnant patient in Pendajam village in Koraput, India, this past January before travelling to a health centre to get vaccinated. Ms. Jani works as an accredited social health activist (ASHA), a lynchpin of India's rural health-care system. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters One of the greatest challenges facing Indias vaccination drive, the largest in the world, lies in reaching the remotest corners of the country before the pandemic does. India is now seeing more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, up from 10,000 in February, and is hurriedly mobilizing rural communities in an immunization push expanding medical facilities, deploying mobile vaccination camps and getting local health care workers to tout the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But rural residents are often scattered across the countryside, working as day labourers, making it hard to track them down. Vaccine hesitancy is more prevalent than in urban centres. And people in small, remote villages often believe they are safe by virtue of geography or the local deity. Story continues below advertisement India is a vaccine manufacturing hub with a record of delivering large-scale immunization ... so everybody had a high expectation from the COVID-19 vaccination drive, and it hasnt yet lived up to the potential, as the daily vaccination rate is far lower than it should be. It is slowly picking up, said epidemiologist and public-health expert Chandrakant Lahariya. Open this photo in gallery A health worker displays an AstraZeneca dose, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, before administering it to an elderly person in Gauhati last month. Anupam Nath/The Associated Press On a recent weekday morning, a dozen women gathered at the child-care centre in Dongra, a village about three hours from Delhi. A large white banner on the wall announced that a COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Campaign was under way. Reach out to your community, coax your neighbours, tell them about the benefits of getting vaccinated and how it will help their immunity, exhorted Shyam Lal, a program officer at the Society for Public Education, Cultural Training and Rural Action (SPECTRA), a local organization. Low turnout at vaccination camps in rural areas has prompted Mr. Lals team to hold frequent awareness drives in villages across Rajasthan states Alwar district. Such initiatives are now being employed across the country, with millions of rural health-care workers enlisted to spread the word and exhort people to get the jab. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed all states to step up vaccinations in remote rural and tribal areas as the country was gripped by a severe second wave. Public-health officials worry that this time the virus is sweeping across smaller cities, inching closer to rural areas that lack health care infrastructure robust enough to manage an outbreak. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani got a lift from Koraput to the health centre from a neighbour with a motorcycle. When she first learned she was to be vaccinated, she says she wasn't worried, but then she heard a rumour: 'Someone told me that people are fainting, they are developing fever and some are dying after taking the injection.' Nevertheless, she went to get her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters After a staggered approach earlier in the crisis, the Health Ministry plans to vaccinate 300 million people by July. Almost 80 million doses have been administered so far, and on April 1 the drive was expanded to include everyone above the age of 45. But it is unfolding differently in urban and rural areas, with a clear class divide. In cities, the affluent have been relatively enthusiastic to register for vaccination appointments on a centralized, government-run portal. In rural areas in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, however, even with on-the-spot registration and walk-ins, some news reports peg turnout at just 8 per cent to 13 per cent, compared with more than 40 per cent in urban areas. In some states, such as Gujarat, superstition has gotten in the way. In one case, 50 villages reportedly refused entry to public-health officials because the villagers believed the local god would protect them from the disease. Access is a significant issue, too. Mobile vaccination camps are trying to address this problem, but the day in early March that a camp was held in her village, Ismailpur in Alwar district, 84-year-old Phoolpati Devi couldnt make it. My son was away at work, as we didnt know about it in advance, and I cant get there on my own as my eyes are too weak, she said. Her other option was to get the jab at the community health centre about 10 kilometres away. Thats too far, she said, so she will wait for the next mobile vaccination camp to come to her village, which could take another month. Open this photo in gallery People wait in line for vaccinations at a medical college in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, on April 6. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images In the neighbouring village of Tehtra, meanwhile, a vaccination camp was in progress at the local primary school, which is surrounded by sweeping fields of mustard and wheat. Last evening, we received a notification on our phones from the health supervisor that the camp will be held tomorrow. We didnt have much time to prepare, so we immediately began going door to door informing everyone in our village that the elderly can avail of the free vaccine between 10 and 5 p.m. Many were not willing to get it done due to vaccine hesitancy, said community health worker Resham Yadav. Announcements were also made on loudspeakers. It took a fair bit of counselling and coaxing to get 70 of 200 eligible residents to turn up for the jab. One of them, farmer Sundar Lal, 74, said many of his neighbours were afraid to get vaccinated. They are suspicious, so would rather not take the risk, especially when there are hardly any cases of infection in the village, he said. Rahaman Khan, 62, said his friends refused to come along because they believe COVID-19 is a city disease. Its also harvest season, and people are busy working in the fields. They cant afford to miss even one days earnings. There may be more enthusiasm once farm work slows down in a few weeks. As states employ a variety of strategies to increase vaccination coverage in remote areas, timely communication is key, said Dr. Lahariya. Large-scale vaccination programs have to factor in such obstacles, and misinformation campaigns are challenging. Informing people of the benefits, the side effects and that there is still a chance of being infected after vaccination is important, while addressing rumours and managing expectations through front-line workers and mass media. We need to speed up vaccination everywhere. Two-thirds of India is in rural areas, so unless we vaccinate that population, we will never be out of the woods. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani leaves Mathalput Community Health Centre after getting her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the days most important headlines. Sign up today. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-is-indias-mammoth-vaccine-campaign-fast-enough-to-reach-villages/ |
Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pursue Free Agent RB Giovani Bernard? | Tampa Bay has scanned the market for a pass-catching running back this offseason to no avail. The discourse regarding the Buccaneers team needs - rather, their lack of pressing team needs at this point in the offseason - has focused on adding luxuries and making a strong team stronger. Although the Bucs have Ronald Jones II on his rookie contract for another season, and second-punch rusher Leonard Fournette has also signed a new one-year deal with the team, one of Tampa Bay's luxurious needs is at the running back position. Some have even wondered if the Buccaneers could key in on an elusive, proven pass-catching tailback with the No. 32 pick in the upcoming draft to complement Jones and Fournette's power-rushing, early-down roles. Tampa Bay may be better suited to add defensive or offensive line help with their first-round pick, or even an outside cornerback to push Jamel Dean and add depth if the value is right, instead of targeting a No. 3 running back. In a year where the Buccaneers are chasing a consecutive Super Bowl title, spending such an asset on a player who might spend the season as the third guy on the depth chart probably isn't in their best interest. So, the Buccaneers might be better off by targeting free-agent running back Giovani Bernard, who was released on Wednesday morning after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tampa Bay has not been linked to Bernard since his release, but the Bucs immediately stand out as a fit for the 29-year-old's services. Bernard is far past his peak as an NFL player and certainly isn't a threat to take on the lead role at running back in his next offense. He has served as the No. 2 to Joe Mixon for four years now, and has posted more receiving yards than rushing yards in half of those seasons. But that's okay with Jones and Fournette in-house - Bernard would not be depended on as a rusher primarily should he end up with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay reportedly explored signing New England receiving/running back James White in March before he re-signed with the Patriots, indicating an interest in change-of-pace role player at the position. White caught 320 passes in six seasons with now-Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leading New England's offense. Bernard, meanwhile, has tallied 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 scores through the air in his career. He caught 47 passes this past year while averaging 7.8 yards per reception, which is the third-highest mark of his career and suggests Bernard still has some juice to offer his next team in the passing game. Bernard's last contract carried a yearly average value of $4.85 million, with $5.5 million at signing. The Bengals reportedly asked Bernard to take a pay cut this offseason, which led to him asking for his release. It's unlikely that we'll see Bernard earn similar figures on the market, considering his age and how salary cap space is down universally. However, a chance to contend for a championship at this stage in Bernard's career could be enough for him to take a pay cut after all. The Bengals can't offer that right now. The Bucs are about $50,000 over the 2021 salary cap at this point per Over the Cap, so any contract for Bernard would require a cap-saving move to balance the signing out or a creatively structured deal to move his cap hits into the 2022 season and beyond. Tampa Bay has utilized a similar structuring method to retain linebacker Lavonte David and extend Brady this offseason. Reports indicate that Bernard should quickly find a new team. It remains to be seen if the Bucs will be in contention to sign him, but such a move could end up being a sneaky-good transaction for Tampa Bay. | https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-free-agency-giovani-bernard-released-bengals |
Did the Panthers Give Up Too Much For Sam Darnold? | For months, the NFL world speculated about just how much the Jets would be able to get in return for Sam Darnold. It wasn't a first-rounder, but the Jets did reel in a solid package in exchange for the 23-year-old. The Carolina Panthers agreed to send New York a sixth-round pick in 2021 along with a second- and fourth-round selection in next year's draft. We checked in with Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated's All Panthers. Here's what Callhan had to say about the asking price for Darnold, who could be Carolina's answer at quarterback for years to come: Carolina needed to make its move at quarterback and did so by acquiring Sam Darnold. The talent and potential for Darnold to be a solid NFL starting quarterback are there, he just needs to be in the right situation with a coaching staff that harps on attention to detail and develops his game. Personally, I think this is the best fit for Darnold. All of a sudden, he's got the best running back in the league, a dynamic duo at wide receiver, and a young but promising defense to help him out. Matt Rhule has a track record of developing players and offensive coordinator Joe Brady has an innovative offense that was missing a true dual-threat quarterback. I think the asking price for Darnold was about spot on and although Darnold's ability to be "the guy" is still a question mark, I don't think they gave up too much for him. You keep essentially all your picks in this year's draft and more importantly, didn't have to give up anything but a 2nd rounder. If he works out, this deal will be a major win for the Panthers. That's the big if. Darnold has the potential to blossom into a star in Carolina, contending in the postseason and excelling in a new environment. If that's the case, the price the Panthers paid may very well be a steal down the road. That said, if Darnold continues to struggle and fails to access that untapped potential we've been talking about since he left USC, then New York got the better side of the deal, moving forward with three quality draft picks as they transition to a new era at quarterback. Either way, for the time being, it sure seems like everyone involved got what they needed. Carolina has a new quarterback with plenty of upside, New York got something in return for Darnold as they move forward in preparation to pick a QB at No. 2 and Sam Darnold has a fresh start. MORE: Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), on Facebook (also @MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Jets Country and check back daily for news, analysis and more. | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/did-the-carolina-panthers-give-up-too-much-to-trade-for-new-york-jets-quarterback-sam-darnold |
Is Arizona the next Georgia? Or are we already? | Arizona was Georgia before Georgia was Georgia. At least in one sense. And we may be back at it again, having failed to learn our lesson the first time. Major League Baseball has moved the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Colorados Coors Field in response to a voter suppression law passed by the Georgia legislature. Republican lawmakers in Arizona are pushing the same kind of legislation here, a toxic rot on the democratic process that will leave a stench smellable all across the nation. It has happened before. We fumbled the Super Bowl over MLK In 1990, Arizona voters were asked to vote on a paid state holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It had been a long, ugly fight. It began in the 1980s when then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt declared a state holiday. A successor, Evan Mecham (the local Trump of his day, who was later impeached and removed from office) rescinded that holiday. Organizers worked hard to put the question of an MLK day on the ballot. A group supported by Mecham, however, got a second King holiday proposition on the ballot. In the confusion over the two, both failed. And Arizona was a pariah. Businesses suffered. Tourism suffered. Reputation suffered. I recall at the time there was a headline in USA Today that read, NFL: Ariz. fumbled Super Bowl. The worst loss isn't to businesses Were hearing the same thing about Georgia these days. Executives with businesses headquartered there, like Coca-Cola, are speaking out, not only because the new law is corrosive to democracy but because it could hurt their bottom line. Its important for them to do so. Sometimes the only language politicians understand is money. But its even more important to remember what the loss of an All-Star game or a Super Bowl is really about. We didnt vote on a Super Bowl in Arizona, but on a paid state holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. When the holiday was defeated, I felt a loss, but it was not the loss of a mega-media event. It was a loss of dignity. It was a loss of humanity. And while the vote against the holiday like the current voter suppression legislation in Georgia and here will damage a states reputation and potentially its economy, the individuals most affected are not business people, but children. Business people can lose only profits. Children, if we arent careful, can lose a legacy, their future voting rights. After the loss in 1990, Arizonas business and community leaders came together to set things right. They organized a new campaign that included registering tens of thousands of new voters. And in November 1992, voters approved a King holiday, making Arizona the only state to have created the holiday by popular vote. A new legacy. All these years later, it would be a shame to squander it. Reach Montini at [email protected]. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/07/all-star-game-arizona-next-georgia-super-bowl-voter-suppression/7124464002/ |
Will Joe Biden's heavy spending lead to a second tea party movement? | President Joe Biden is charting a spend-and-elect course for the Democrats. The first tea party movement was triggered by sticker shock over President Barack Obamas spending spree, when Biden was VP. Obama inherited the bank bailouts. But he also bailed out the auto industry. And got enacted a nearly trillion dollar stimulus spending package, also under the infrastructure camouflage. Coverage at the time and since has focused on the tea party activists, a fringe element of the Republican Party. But tea party sentiment sticker shock and a feeling that there needed to be some brakes applied was broad and had a huge influence on the 2010 election. First tea party had big consequences During that election, Republicans picked up 63 seats in the U.S. House and took over control. That year, they also picked up seven Senate seats, although Democrats remained in charge. The reverberations were profound here in Arizona. The GOP, already a strong majority, picked up additional seats in both chambers of the Legislature. For the first and only time since one-man, one-vote in the 1960s, a single political party controlled both chambers with a two-thirds majority. The effect of tea party sentiment was most clearly illustrated in Arizonas fifth congressional district. Although the district was heavily Republican, Harry Mitchell, a moderate Democrat and former mayor of Tempe, ousted J.D. Hayworth in 2006. That was part of a Democratic national wave generated by fatigue with both the Iraq war and George W. Bushs presidency in general. Mitchell retained the seat against a challenge by David Schweikert in 2008, with 27,000 more votes. Even though the party registration split hadnt changed materially, Schweikert, riding the tea party wave, took the seat in 2010, with 19,000 more votes than Mitchell. Thats a powerful swing. Biden is spending even more than Obama Biden is proposing even more of a spending blowout than Obama, even though the economy is in considerably better shape. And his infrastructure camouflage is even thinner. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget pegs the cost of Bidens American Jobs Plan at $2.6 trillion over 10 years. Of that, only $157 billion is earmarked for what is traditionally regarded as infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Thats just 6% of the total. The number can be run up to $522 billion if the definition of infrastructure is expanded to include the internet, public transit, Amtrak and grid improvements to accommodate more wind and solar. Thats still less than a fifth of the total. Biden proposes spending more than twice as much on long-term care under Medicaid as on traditional infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Biden also proposes taking trillions of investment capital out of the private sector economy through higher taxes. Substituting public investment for private investment isnt the way to expand economic opportunity, particularly when the spending is mostly on social equity projects rather than anything that could remotely be characterized as infrastructure improvements that boost private sector productivity. If voters revolt, GOP may not benefit as much All that said, if Bidens spending binge provokes a second tea party movement, the Republican Party is far less positioned to benefit from it than in 2010. The GOP is suffering from a Trump hangover, and cant decide whether to take another swig from the bottle or try to sober up. When governing, Republicans never practice the fiscal rectitude they profess while in the minority. But Trump never even went through the motions. Deficits didnt concern him a whit. He liked debt. He left office bitterly complaining that congressional Republicans wouldnt join him in a bidding war with Democrats over how much money to give in tax rebates to people who hadnt suffered any income loss during the pandemic. If there is a second tea party movement, and Republicans remain mired in Trump loyalty tests, it may pass them by. It used to be that the only thing that saved Republicans from their ineptitude was the Democrats. It may be that Bidens big spending spree is well timed to benefit from a reversal of that equation. Reach Robb at [email protected]. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/04/07/biden-infrastructure-bill-spawn-second-tea-party-movement/7110805002/ |
Is Wells Fargo and Company (WFC) A Good Investment Choice? | Davis Funds, an investment management firm, published its Davis Global Fund fourth quarter 2020 investor letter a copy of which can be downloaded here. A return of 23.06% was recorded by the fund for the Q4 of 2020, outperforming its MSCI ACWI benchmark that delivered a 16.25% return in the same period. You can view the funds top 5 holdings to have a peek at their top bets for 2021. Davis Global Fund, in their Q4 2020 investor letter, mentioned Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and shared their insights on the company. Wells Fargo & Company is a San Francisco, California-based financial services company that currently has a $164.7 billion market capitalization. Since the beginning of the year, WFC delivered a 32.04% return, impressively extending its 12-month gains to 38.51%. As of April 06, 2021, the stock closed at $39.85 per share. Here is what Davis Global Fund has to say about Wells Fargo & Company in their Q4 2020 investor letter: "Detractors to performance relative to the index include financial services holdings such as Wells Fargo. While banks in general have suffered due to the recession and experienced credit losses, Wells Fargo also suffered from operational missteps. It is our expectation, however, that our bank holdings in general will benefit from stronger economic growth as the pandemic recedes; and we believe Wells Fargo in particular, will, over time, lower their costs and successfully grow their businesses." fargo, new, bank, york, banking, business, finance, wells, manhattan, city, industry Northfoto / Shutterstock.com Our calculations show that Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) ranks 23rd in our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, Wells Fargo & Company was in 99 hedge fund portfolios, compared to 90 funds in the third quarter. WFC delivered a 30.53% return in the past 3 months. The top 10 stocks among hedge funds returned 231.2% between 2015 and 2020, and outperformed the S&P 500 Index ETFs by more than 126 percentage points. We know it sounds unbelievable. You have been dismissing our articles about top hedge fund stocks mostly because you were fed biased information by other media outlets about hedge funds poor performance. You could have doubled the size of your nest egg by investing in the top hedge fund stocks instead of dumb S&P 500 ETFs. Here you can watch our video about the top 5 hedge fund stocks right now. All of these stocks had positive returns in 2020. At Insider Monkey, we scour multiple sources to uncover the next great investment idea. For example, Federal Reserve has been creating trillions of dollars electronically to keep the interest rates near zero. We believe this will lead to inflation and boost real estate prices. So, we recommended this real estate stock to our monthly premium newsletter subscribers. We go through lists like the 15 best innovative stocks to buy to pick the next Tesla that will deliver a 10x return. Even though we recommend positions in only a tiny fraction of the companies we analyze, we check out as many stocks as we can. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. You can subscribe to our free daily newsletter on our website: Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. | https://news.yahoo.com/wells-fargo-company-wfc-good-165736402.html |
Would the Falcons take a tight end at No. 4? | Ryan Tannehill of Tennessee did, as tutored by A. Smith. Weve written this before, but its entirely possible that the new coach has said to Terry Fontenot, the new general manager: Give me two years with Matt Ryan before we worry about his replacement. If thats the case, theres no reason to spend the No. 4 pick and the millions that go with it for a player who, assuming Ryan stays healthy, wont see serious action until 2023, if then. But would the Falcons dare to invest in a tight end at No. If they stay put, the field should be clear for any non-quarterback on the board, given that the Jaguars, Jets and 49ers, holders of Picks 1-3, have indicated theyre in the QB market. No designated tight end has gone higher than No. 5 overall, unless you count Ron Kramer, taken No. 4 by Green Bay in 1957, though his position was listed simply as end. (He also played defensive end at Michigan. Those were the days.) Having an All-Pro tight end has become a calling card of Super Bowl champs. Your past four champions and their TEs: Eagles, Zach Ertz; Patriots, Rob Gronkowski; Chiefs, Travis Kelce; Buccaneers, Gronk again. Lets not forget George Kittle, whose 49ers lost to Kelces Chiefs. Now heres Pitts, whom ESPNs Mel Kiper has anointed my highest-graded tight end EVER. We have no idea how the Smith/Fontenot tandem will treat the draft, seeing as how neither has run one before. (Most payrolls do, FYI.) (This years is now $26.9 million; next years is $48.6 million.) That adjustment was an indication that the Falcons are in no hurry to move beyond Ryan, which leads us to the next question: Do they spend a No. Thomas Dimitroffs 13 years as GM were devoted to bolstering Ryan. Thats not a criticism: Every team builds around its quarterback. Under Smith/Fontenot, the Falcons might choose the same course, either by taking Oregon tackle Penei Sewell to block or Pitts to lend the Falcons a size/speed dimension not many teams have had. That would again put a defensive upgrade on the back burner, but Pitts just ran a 4.44 40. Hes a burner himself. | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/would-the-falcons-take-a-tight-end-at-no-4/RTVC3IYAWRCJNG3KNLMV4R5OJA/ |
What is the Antiquities Act? | DEB HAALAND, Joe Bidens interior secretary, will lace up her hiking boots for a visit to Utahs canyon country this week. Spectacular scenery aside, the trip is all business. Just hours after taking the oath of office on January 20th, Mr Biden directed his Interior Department to review Donald Trumps changes to Americas national monuments with an eye to reversing them. Ms Haalands meetings with local officials on April 8th are a part of that review. Mr Trumps decision in 2017 to dramatically shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in southern Utah amounted to the biggest reduction of federal land protections in American history. The rollback cheered conservative lawmakers from western states who are ideologically opposed to the idea that edicts from the White House can dictate how land some 2,000 miles away is used. The presidential power to declare national monuments is set out in the Antiquities Act, a little-known law passed by Congress in 1906. In the late 19th century museums and fairs, such as the Worlds Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, began increasingly to display Native American artefacts. This exposure and the rise of American archaeological studies led to a surge in demand for antiquities from the countrys western states. Looting, vandalism and grave-robbing became common. Historic sitesespecially around the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meetwere plundered, sometimes by archaeologists themselves. In response, Congress passed the Antiquities Act, which gave the president the discretion to declare historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments. In practice that means any new extractive activities are banned, including drilling, mining, logging and grazing. In modern times, monument designations may also limit the use of off-road vehicles. The vagueness of the acts wording made it a powerful tool for environmental conservation. Theodore Roosevelt, who signed the bill into law, made immediate use of his new executive power. An avowed conservationist, he created 18 national monumentsas well as 150 national forests and five national parksduring his tenure in the White House. Roosevelts successors followed suit. Every president since except Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush declared or enlarged national monuments (see chart). After gutting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, Mr Trump protected 380 acres in Kentucky that had served as a training ground for African-American troops during the civil war. The law has long been controversial, hardening battle lines between the legislative and executive branches, federal and state governments, tribes, scientists and industry. Individual states viewed it as a land grab by the feds; tribes were often not consulted when monuments were declared, enlarged or diminished; miners, ranchers, loggers and oilmen complained that the protections were bad for business. Liberty-loving Wyomingites objected so much to the practice that in 1950 a section was added barring the extension or establishment of national monuments in the state unless authorised by Congress. Mike Lee, Utahs senior senator, is also pushing for an exemption for his state. These competing interests still define the debate around Americas public lands. But even among westerners, national monuments are popular. A recent Colorado College poll found that 74% of Utahns support restoring protections for them. That is good news for the Biden administration, which hopes to protect 30% of American lands and waters by 2030. As of 2018 only 12% of the countrys lands and 26% of its territorial waters were protected, according to the Centre for American Progress, a think-tank. Declaring and enlarging national monuments will help Mr Biden meet that goal. Conservation by executive fiat has its drawbacks, however, in that it may be undone by future presidents. The tug-of-war over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase is proof of that precarity. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/07/what-is-the-antiquities-act |
Does China's 'one-child generation' want more kids? | China's one-child policy started in the 1980s to slow population growth, with some exemptions eventually coming about. In recent years it's been relaxed to allow families' to have two children. But, faced with an ageing population, the north-east could be the first region to drop restrictions all together. However, it's uncertain if this will encourage young families to have more babies, as China Correspondent Stephen McDonell has been finding out. Digital edit by Joyce Liu, produced by Ellen Jin and filmed by Alex Shaw This video has been optimised for mobile viewing on the BBC News app. The BBC News app is available from the Apple App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-56651587 |
Is equity a winning issue in a Boston mayoral race? | A city that has never elected a mayor of color is about to find out. Acting Mayor Kim Janey made equity the cornerstone of her announcement to run for a full, four-year term. At a press conference on Tuesday, she spoke about the challenges faced from COVID and racial inequities that have been inherited from centuries of structural racism. In a campaign video released in conjunction with her announcement, she referenced a 2015 report that the median net worth of Black households is $8, compared to $247,500 for white households, and said, This recovery is our chance to build a more equitable city for every resident. Advertisement On her website, mayorjaney.com, Janeys slogan is Recovery. Equity. History. As acting mayor, she has a unique perch to show what equity means to her. Boston voters will have a chance to decide whether her definition is what they want from City Hall. Given Bostons tumultuous history on race and equity, its on us as voters, said Jeffrey Sanchez, a political consultant and former state representative from Jamaica Plain. The five other candidates in the mayoral race also will have to decide whether Janeys emphasis on equity is the key to victory, or if theres political benefit in another approach. Campaign slogans are just that, slogans. But they do frame the first message that a candidate tries to sell to voters. For John Barros, the pitch is Rooted in Community. Driven by Hope. Ready to Meet the Moment. For Andrea Campbell: Our Moment. Our Future. Our Boston. For Anissa Essaibi George: Bold Vision. Hard Work. Real Progress. For Jon Santiago: ...a grassroots movement to bring our city together and lead us to a stronger and more equitable future. For Michelle Wu: Together, lets build a Boston for everyone. Advertisement All these candidates are also talking about equity. But they are also using words that reflect traditional thinking some would say cautious thinking about what it takes to win a Boston mayoral election, which, of course, has never been won by anyone who is not a white man. Recent mayors talked about creating a more equitable city, but no one did anything to really shake up the status quo. Deep inequities in housing, education, and other quality of life issues persist, as Janey rightly pointed out in her announcement. Janeys ascension to acting mayor attracted national attention because she was the first person of color in Boston to get there. But it happened by accident, because she was City Council president when Mayor Marty Walsh left to become US labor secretary. All the declared candidates so far identify as Black, Latino, Asian, or Arab American. A Black person or a person of color will win this race if a white person doesnt run, Byron Rushing, a former state representative who endorsed Wu, told the Globe. That if from Rushing reveals the depth of skepticism about how much Boston has really changed. Whether the field stays the same or changes, all the candidates, including Janey, will have to look at ways to broaden their appeal. Advertisement From a public relations perspective, Janey has made the most of her first weeks on the job, from her swearing-in to throwing out the first pitch on Opening Day at Fenway. From now until election day, she will have all the benefits and risks associated with being an acting mayor whose primary focus is equity. She has already started to show what that focus means to her. For example, she recently announced that the city is offering free MBTA and Bluebikes passes to 1,000 workers in business districts that include Nubian Square, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, East Boston, and Fields Corner. On Wednesday, she announced initiatives to address equity in city contracting. On Thursday, shes scheduled to join Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot on a panel hosted by MIT on the topic of Going Local: Building More Equitable Cities. Janey is staking out bold ground. Now she has to get voters from across the city to follow her there. Joan Vennochi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @joan_vennochi. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/07/opinion/is-equity-winning-issue-boston-mayoral-race/ |
Will Coronavirus Close The Open Concept Kitchen? | A kitchen that is part of living space has been the favored layout. That may change getty For the past few decades, the sledgehammer has begun most remodeling projects. Countless design shows depict, early in the program, gleeful homeowners and builders knocking down walls as they transform yet another traditional home design into the open concept floor plan we are all said to favor. An open concept layout combines living, family and dining rooms with the kitchen, and the resulting space is often called a great room. We are said to want this configuration because it brings us together; the days of kitchens as separate work spaces are over, and now we cook, entertain, work, dine, do homework, watch TV and relax in the same space The past year of Covid-enforced togetherness may have us looking at the open concept layout of homes in a new light. Nicholas Potts, an architect working in Washington, DC, says he is rebuilding the kitchen wall removed years ago. When you have an open concept, you have to clean up all the time, he says. You dont want to leave the dirty dishes because then you have to look at them. Nothing is more luxurious than not seeing everything. Kitchens used to be work spaces with doors. getty "As people continue to work from home and focus on their home as a safe sanctuary, there will be a renewed focus on rooms to serve a specific purpose, says Keren Richter, co-founder of White Arrow, a New York-based design studio. I don't think we'll necessarily head back to the land of galley kitchens. Still, I believe lofted interiors, where all entertaining and eating happens in one room, will be less desirable. Open-plan spaces are problematic for noise mitigation the more things happen remotely, the more we want to close doors and have a sense of privacy." Janice Costa, president and founder of KB Designers Network, agrees. Layout wise, consumers are much more cognizant of the need for privacy within shared spaces. That means those open-floorplan kitchen spaces, while still popular, are seeing some refining, with niches added in to provide a bit of separation, allowing multiple family members to use the space at the same time without intruding on each other. Some designers dont see us putting the walls back just yet. The open concept is not going away because our lifestyles have changed, says Richard Anuskiewicz of Nashville, a member of the Consentino Design Alliance. However, as kitchens are more exposed to other rooms, it spurs secondary spaces like pantries. Young Huh of New York points out that, when kitchens are open to the rest of the house, People feel that they should eat all the time. When the kitchen was a closed room, it was customary to eat three meals a day, with maybe one snack. Where open kitchen plans work really well, adds the interior designer, Is in vacation homes. Life is more communal, more relaxed, and being together in one space does not interfere with someones ability to work. Walls not only provide privacy, they also provide storage getty Nicholas Potts says here is another important reason for the wall. Walls are wonderful for storage. When you take down that wall to open things up, youre going to have to find places to store whatever was in the shelves or cabinets that were built against that wall. Now that we all see each other 24-7, we want less togetherness. We need walls, and to be able to get some privacy from each other. The kitchen may be more than a functional workspace, but we still need privacy and quiet. And even live-in kitchens need lots of storage. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/reginacole/2021/04/07/will-coronavirus-close-the-open-concept-kitchen/ |
Can Trey Sermon build off his big flashes in the NFL? | MMA Weekly Former UFC flyweight champion and winner of the ONE Championship flyweight grand prix, Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson, spoke at virtual media day for ONE on TNT ahead of challenging Adriano Moraes for the ONE flyweight championship. Despite holding the flyweight belt for over six years over the course of two title reigns in the promotion along with a five-inch height advantage, Moraes is an underdog against Mighty Mouse. While Johnson will not underestimate Moraes in any capacity, he is particularly complimentary of Moraes ability in the grappling department. I think his greatest strength is his grappling. I think hes very long for the division, very tall and he has those long legs, said Johnson. Phenomenal grappler. He likes to get on peoples backs, lock up the body triangle. Johnson referenced his fight against Tatsumitsu Wada in August 2019. Wada got Johnsons back and maintained control in that position for roughly three minutes. Mighty Mouse is cognizant of the fact that he must avoid similar circumstances with Moraes, a BJJ black belt. I didnt really take any damage from Tatsumitsu Wada being on my back, but thats three minutes of me that I couldve been working trying to finish a fight, Johnson said. Passing guard. Throwing elbows. Anything. So thats the biggest strength that I believe Adriano has. Johnson also spoke of Moraes approach to talk trash ahead of the fight. Mighty Mouse is frequently recognized by many as one of if not the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. Some fighters, like John Dodson, took a similar route ahead of their fight, yet a significant amount of Johnsons opponents were solely focused on how to beat him let alone attempt to get in his head. I havent really followed his career, so I dont know how he approaches his fights. So this is I guess new to me, Johnson said. But Ive had trash talk before in my fights, fighting John Dodson. I think John Dodson is the only one who really talked crap. But yeah, its just the way [Moraes] likes to take it if he wants it. Despite Moraes trash talk, Johnson holds Moraes in high regard when it comes to his talent compared to past opponents. Hes up there. Hes my next biggest fight, hes my next challenge, Johnson said. Johnson also provided reasoning for why Moraes might not necessarily be a household name in MMA. I believe the only reason my name is big on the U.S. soil and in Asia as well is for what Ive done on American soil and how I've gone about my career, Johnson said. I think thats what kind of elevated my name, essentially. Perhaps Johnsons most notable response during media day was when a journalist asked what it would mean to his legacy to show UFC president Dana White that he was still at the top of the heap with a victory over Moraes. Mighty Mouse burst out laughing. Its not important at all. I think the world knows where my skill set is, Johnson said in between laughter. Im not worried about showing anything to Dana White. Regardless, Johnson will show the world what he has in store for Adriano Moraes at ONE on TNT I on Wednesday, April 7. Bellator 255 Highlights: Patricio Pitbull chokes out Emmanuel Sanchez! Check out highlights from Demetrious Johnson winning the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix (Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube) | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-sermon-build-off-big-181606570.html?src=rss |
Can Green Party recover from racist-tinged charges? | By any measure, the revelation this week of bitter, racist-tinged internal trouble at its highest internal levels is devastating for the federal Green Party. Indeed, the Green Party today is facing one of the most critical moments in its history one that could seal its fate for years to come after allegations surfaced suggesting some senior party officials may be deliberately sabotaging the work of new party leader Annamie Paul. In an exclusive story by Alex Ballingall of the Toronto Stars Ottawa bureau, Green Party organizer Sean Yo and other party insiders say Paul, the first Black woman to lead a federal political party, has faced significant resistance from high-ranking party officials since she became leader on Oct. 3. They say that among other things Paul was ordered to refund $50,000 to the party headquarters in the midst of her unsuccessful 2020 Toronto-area byelection campaign and also was forced to work as leader for nearly three months without pay before she finally was given an employment contract. Its very hard not to see this process through the lens of race, gender and religion, Yo told Ballingall, adding that while he wasnt trying to portray the party as overly racist, he did observe that the leadership level of this organization is primarily white. In 2021, that means something. Paul says she wont discuss internal party issues. Meanwhile, former leader Elizabeth May dismisses as ridiculous suggestions that a top-level faction loyal to her is working against Paul. This is a turning point for the Greens in more ways than one. Unless the party can quickly get on top of this publicity nightmare, it may be doomed to be a fringe party forever, with few friends, little money and no power. Simply stated, no party can thrive in todays Canada if its tainted by suggestions that its white-dominated internal leadership is racist. Although it has been a formal party for nearly a quarter of a century, the Greens have failed to gain much traction with voters. Under May, who resigned as leader in late 2019 but remains an MP, the party won three seats in the last election, its most ever. But its candidates were trounced in virtually every other riding across Canada. Under Paul, the party has been nudging up in the polls. But the revelations this week will likely damage the partys image with voters, except for its small hard-core base, and worsen the short-term dream of the Greens become a true player on the national political scene. Despite her defeat in last Octobers byelection in Toronto Centre, the riding in which she lives, Paul boasted the Greens would be a very competitive option in the next election for voters disillusioned with the Liberals and NDP. That prediction now seems wildly outdated. If Paul and the Greens really hope to recover from these damaging revelations, they need to take several major actions: First, Paul needs to take command of the partys federal council, which is the key internal decision-making body. She can do that by convincing May loyalists, including Mays husband John Kidder, who is council vice-president, to voluntary step aside, clearing the way for party members to elect Paul loyalists to the vacated positions. Second, Paul should scrap her well-intentioned, but foolhardy, plan to run again in Toronto Centre, a traditional Liberal stronghold where she likely would be soundly defeated once again. Paul needs to find a riding in which she can win because she wont be treated as a true party leader until she has a seat in Parliament. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Third, Elizabeth May should scrap her plan to run again in the B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, clearing the way for Paul to run in what is likely the only safe Green seat in the country. Mays continued high-profile presence in Ottawa will always be a hindrance to Paul gaining full control of the party and the loyalty of its headquarters staff. Unless it works to get its act together and moves swiftly to seal the cracks in its ranks, the Green Party will remain where voters have put them for decades on the political fringe. Bob Hepburn is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @BobHepburn Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2021/04/07/can-green-party-recover-from-racist-tinged-charges.html |
What do I need to know about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine? | Concerns have been mounting over reports of rare but serious blood clots in a small number of recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, leading to a UK recommendation on Wednesday that healthy adults under 30 should have an alternative jab if they can. We take a look at the latest information and guidance. All medications including vaccines have some side-effects. The most common with the Covid jabs are mild and short-lived, including localised soreness, fatigue or aches and headaches. However the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab has been linked to a small but concerning number of reports of blood clots combined with low platelet counts (platelets are cell fragments in our blood that help it to clot). These include a rare clot in the brain called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). In an unvaccinated population, upper estimates suggest there may be 15 to 16 cases per million people per year. But also highly uncommon is the combination of CVST or other rare clots with low platelets, and sometimes unusual antibodies and that combination is at the centre of current concerns. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab should look out for new headaches, blurred vision, confusion or seizures that occur four days or more after vaccination. While headaches are very common post-vaccine, Dr Josh Wright, vice-president of the British Society for Haematology, stressed that those linked to CVST are unusually severe and persistent and progressively worsen over a period of days. Most cases are reported within two weeks of someone having the jab. The MHRA also flagged shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, leg swelling and unusual skin bruising as reasons to seek medical advice. Once identified, the symptoms can be treated. Beverley Hunt, professor of thrombosis and haemostasis at Kings College London and a representative of Thrombosis UK, said the first step would be to give a dose of intravenous gamma globulin essentially giving concentrated antibodies which block the effect of the antibodies that could be causing the clotting problems. Once the patient is stable this is then followed by giving them anticoagulation agents, but which are not heparins. Up to and including 31 March, the MHRA said it received 79 reports of cases of blood clots combined with low platelets, including 19 deaths, following more than 20m doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab. That equates to about four cases for every million vaccinated individuals. The MHRA added that 44 of the reports and 14 of the deaths related to CVST with a low platelet count. Of the 19 deaths, 11 were in people under the age of 50 and three were in people under the age of 30. Two cases of blood clots with a low platelet count have also been reported among recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. This is a particularly rare and very unique form of abnormal clotting, said Wright. The European Medicines Agency is also examining three cases of venous thromboembolism blood clots involving the Johnson & Johnson jab. The MHRA says blood clots combined with low platelets can occur naturally in unvaccinated people as well as in those who have caught Covid, and that while evidence of a link with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has become stronger, more research is needed. At present the mechanism by which the jab could cause clotting problems remains unclear. But experts have noticed a similarity to a clotting event sometimes seen among people given the blood-thinning drug heparin, whereby antibodies are generated that result in platelets becoming activated. In very rare situations heparin can actually cause this platelet activation problem and lead to blood clots in unusual places. So there are some similarities between these two conditions, said Wright. According to Hunt, one possibility is that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may also trigger the production of antibodies that activate platelets, causing them to form clots. In the process, platelets are used up, resulting in a fall in the platelet count. The MHRA, along with the EMA and the World Health Organization (WHO), have all repeatedly said people should continue taking the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot because its benefits in preventing Covid infection far outweigh any risks. However on Wednesday the MHRA acknowledged a possible link between the jab and the clots, adding that careful consideration should be given to those who may be at higher risk of certain types of blood clots. In addition, the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said it was recommending that people aged 18-29 should be offered other Covid vaccines if available provided they are healthy and at low risk of Covid. There are about 10m 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK. Although the chance of any person receiving the vaccine experiencing a blood clot with low platelets is extremely small, because the risk of severe Covid in the under-30s with no underlying illness is also small, JCVI feel as a precautionary measure it is appropriate for those in this age group to be offered an alternative Covid vaccine when their turn comes for their first dose of a vaccine, said Prof Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the JCVI. Pregnant women should discuss with their doctors whether to have the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab as pregnancy can increase the risk of blood clots, the MHRA said. Meanwhile on Wednesday the EMA said the rare clotting syndrome should be listed as a very rare side-effect of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab after reviewing 62 cases of CVST and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis, largely from Europe and the UK where 25m doses of the jab have been given. Of these cases, 18 were fatal. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of vaccination, the EMA said, although specific risk factors have not yet been confirmed. According to data from the MHRA, 51 of the 79 clotting cases and 13 of the deaths were in women, although women were more likely to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab than men. There has been no advice that anyone should take medication to prevent rare clotting events. Hunt cautioned against taking aspirin, stressing it is thought the clotting problems are down to an immune response. So taking aspirin is not going to be helpful. Taking an anticoagulant probably isnt going to be helpful, especially if you are going to get a low platelet count, it will increase your risk of bleeding, she said. Combined hormonal contraceptives, which contain oestrogen, have been associated with an increased risk of blood clots including CVST, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. According to an EMA review in 2014, the risk of blood clots ranged from five to 12 cases per 10,000 women who take combined hormonal contraceptives for a year, compared with two cases each year per 10,000 women who are not using such contraceptives. The combined oral contraceptive pill is probably the commonest cause of cerebral sinus thrombosis, so it is a very good comparison, said Hunt. Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol and a member of the JCVI, said other risk-benefit comparisons can also be made. Weve seen data that the annual risk of dying in a car crash if you regularly travel in a car is about 1 in 20,000, with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 240, he said. We take those risks for granted. The faculty for sexual and reproductive health stressed the risk of blood clots from the pill was also low much smaller than the risk of having a blood clot if they were pregnant. The vast majority of people who had a first dose of the jab, including under-30s, should get their second dose, with some exceptions. Anyone who experienced cerebral or other major blood clots occurring with low levels of platelets after their first vaccine dose of Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca should not have their second dose, the MHRA said. Anyone who did not have these side-effects should come forward for their second dose when invited. All 79 cases detailed by the MHRA occurred after the first dose, but that could be because far more people have received their first dose than their second. Harnden said at present this is unclear. Because we dont know what the causal mechanism is yet and although there is a strong possibility that this is caused by the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, we are not 100% certain we cant really postulate [about] other [vaccine] types at the moment, he said. But the occurrence of only two cases of blood clots and low platelets among those vaccinated with the Pfizer jab suggests the problem is linked to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, he said. One possibility is that it is linked to the type of vaccine, with the EMA examining whether other vaccines using similar technology to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine posed any risk. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine also uses a modified cold virus to introduce the instructions for the spike protein into our cells but whereas the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine uses a chimp adenovirus, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a human cold virus. Dr Peter Arlett, head of data analytics and methods taskforce, said so far there had been three cases of venous thromboembolism blood clots involving the Johnson & Johnson jab. However the numbers are extremely small compared to the 5 million patients that have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine worldwide. Norway and Denmark were the first to temporarily halt the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot on 11 March after reporting several cases of CVST combined with a low count of blood platelets. Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, along with non EU-members Iceland and Norway, subsequently either paused the vaccine or banned the use of particular batches. Germanys health ministry in particular said it had a legal obligation to pause the jab pending investigation by the EMA. It said the incidence rate of the events in Oxford/AstraZeneca recipients appeared three or four times higher than would normally be expected, with young women seeming to be over-represented, and it had a duty of care. Not all countries followed suit: Belgiums health agency said it would keep using Oxford/AstraZeneca as to stop vaccinating people in the face of rising cases would be irresponsible. On Wednesday, Belgium announced it would restrict the jab to over-55s. Share your story Share your stories If you have been affected or have any information, we'd like to hear from you. You can get in touch by filling in the form below, anonymously if you wish or contact us via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7867825056. Only the Guardian can see your contributions and one of our journalists may contact you to discuss further. Yes, entirely Yes, but please keep me anonymous Yes, but please contact me first No, this is information only Email address Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Phone number Optional Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Most countries have already resumed innoculations with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, although often with restrictions. But Denmark and Norway have prolonged their initial suspension of the shot until mid-April pending further investigations. Countries that have resumed use without restrictions include: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Italy has said people who do not want Oxford/AstraZeneca may have another vaccine later. Countries that have imposed restrictions on the shots use include Canada (limited to people aged 55 and over); Finland (65 and over); France (55 and over); the Netherlands (60 and over); and Sweden (65 and over). Germany is offering the shot only to people aged 60 and over and in high-priority groups, with under-60s who have had a first shot recommended to get a different one, and Spain is giving it to only to those aged 55-65, plus essential workers over 65. Belgium is limiting it to over-55s. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/07/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-the-oxfordastrazeneca-vaccine |
What If Andrew Yang Wins? | The campaign worked, in its way. The media loved Yang and his colorful notions (it helped that he said yes to just about every interview request). He won a few prominent supporters, and as his netroots developed, thousands of people (mostly young men) added Yang Gang to their Twitter bio. On the trail, he played up his tech-dad personaawkward, self-deprecating, enthusiastic. Although Yang dropped out of the race in February, a week after the Iowa caucus (in which he failed to secure a single delegate), he outlasted many better-known candidates. He had gone from no-name nonprofit executive to political celebrity. And his singular, popular message had contributed to a swift change in Washingtons attitude toward cash benefitssee, for example, the UBI-for-kids program in the latest stimulus package, which will send hundreds of dollars a month per child to most parents. From the moment he dropped out, Yang says, he wanted to get back into politics, with a goal of accumulating as much personal influence as possible. (This is the first time a politician has ever admitted as much in my presence.) He started tailoring his blue-sky presidential ideas down to city-executive size. He hired a team of political heavyweights, including a former adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to steer his campaign, and he restarted his funding apparatus. And in January, despite the COVID19 lockdown, he launched an aggressive schedule of in-person campaign events. His sudden dominance of the race confounded many local political hands. Not only did the guy lack relevant experience, but he wasnt even really known as a New Yorker. He also made a number of gaffes, such as saying that hed spent much of the pandemic shutdown in his country house and describing what appeared to be a gleaming, wide-aisled supermarket as a bodega. But Yang says that such complaints dont matter much to voters. What matters are ideas. New Yorkers like hisand other politicians keep failing to deliver their own. A lot of the people were going to be helping, frankly, are not that plugged in to the political process, he says. Yangs campaign is almost certainly helped by the fact that, plugged in or not, many people have growing hopes for what the government can achieve. The left has moved dramatically leftward since the Obama years. Democratic socialists are getting elected; Congress is shrugging off concerns about deficits; once-moderate politicians are talking about New Dealscale policy solutions. The pandemic recession has accelerated this trend almost everywhere, but it has been particularly conspicuous in the countrys brashest, most populous city. New York has always seen itself as a laboratory for civic innovation. (Tellingly, one of the most popular things the deeply unpopular de Blasio has done is implement universal prekindergarten.) But the appetite for big solutions to big problems feels especially acute right now. Even before the coronavirus catastrophe hit, New York was losing 2,600 residents a week thanks to its affordability crisis. Post-pandemic, many New Yorkers are desperate for the city to reassert its indispensability and verve. | https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/05/andrew-yang-nyc-mayor/618391/?utm_source=feed |
Is BTS About To Replace Themselves At No. 1 On The Sales Chart With New Single Film Out? | NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop band BTS are ... [+] seen on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by JNI/Star Max/GC Images) GC Images BTS are steady at No. 1 on the latest edition of the Digital Song Sales chart, Billboards weekly ranking of the singles that actually sold the most copies in the U.S. (which differs from other lists, like the Hot 100, which incorporates streaming numbers and radio play) with their unbeatable smash Dynamite. The tune has been going strong on the tally for a historically long time, and even some of the most exciting new cuts from major stars havent been able to best the Grammy-nominated tune...though it looks like a just-released track might end up winning the week, and it comes from a very familiar source. The South Korean septets new single Film Out could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart, according to music industry and chart projectors. BTS released the tune, performed in Japanese, a little over a week ago, and so far its been performing very well since its arrival. Film Out initially opened at No. 11 on iTunes, hurt by its release mid-day on Thursday, April 1. After a full 24 hours had passed, the cut vaulted to the top spot, where it held for two days...and then it began to fall. While it is still selling, the Japanese cut has been drifting down the iTunes sales chart, though its still living inside the top 10. Depending on how the next few days play out before the current tracking period wraps this Thursday (April 8), Film Out could conceivably sell enough copies on platforms like iTunes, Amazon and others to wind up launching atop next weeks Digital Song Sales chart. If that ends up taking place, BTS will score the relatively rare back-to-back leaders on the tally, replacing themselves on the throne. Currently, Film Out is facing tough competition from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paaks (otherwise known as Silk Sonic) debut single as a duo, Leave The Door Open, which has been selling thousands of copies per week since it was released over a month ago. A new version of that tune may help it in hitting No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart next frame. Also vying for the highest rung on the sales-only list are Masked Wolfs Astronaut in the Ocean and Taylor Swifts Mr. Perfectly Fine, which was released just today (April 7), though that latter title is severely handicapped, as it has less than two full days in which to rack up sales. Whether Film Out wins the week or not, its bound to open high on the next published Digital Song Sales chart, perhaps giving BTS another top 10, if not one more No. 1. All those purchases could also help the tune find its way to the Hot 100, though where it may rank is difficult to predict. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/07/is-bts-about-to-replace-themselves-at-no-1-on-the-sales-chart-with-new-single-film-out/ |
How concerned should the Falcons be about QB success rate? | The Falcons have an aging veteran at quarterback, a top-five pick, and both a new general manger and head coach. Generally, these are signs that a team is on the verge of a rebuild and probably looking for a new franchise quarterback. After two pre-draft trades, the first three selections are now locks to be quarterbacks. The San Francisco 49ers, who traded up to No. 3, publicly confirmed their intentions, and New York, who traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers, have revealed their draft plans as well. This means the Falcons pick at No. 4 is the true start of the 2021 NFL draft. And while Atlanta could very well select a quarterback, this would mean taking the fourth-best player at a position that isnt high on the teams priority list. Success for a quarterback is defined by performance, consistency level, and longevity with the team the player was selected by. Some people like to throw in team wins, but this involves outside variables and therefore, is something I will leave out. These numbers represent the quarterbacks selected in the top 10 of each draft from the years of 2000 to 2018. In total, there were 32 quarterbacks selected, 13 were No. 1 overall picks. These numbers reflect each quarterbacks tenure with the initial team they were drafted by. For context, I am looking past the Chargers drafting Eli Manning and only associating him with the Giants, same goes for Philip Rivers. NOTE: Patrick Mahomes, John Allen and Baker Mayfield were disregarded in average seasons due to them still playing on their rookie contracts with their initial teams. Draft Range 3200 Yards 4000 Yards 4800 Yards 24 TDs 32 TDs 40 TDs AVG amount of seasons with team Top 10 65% 43% 16% 56% 37% 9% 6 years* Something you may notice is the steady decline in production and the low amount of time spent with the initial drafted team. Of the 32 quarterbacks in question, 19 of them failed to last beyond their rookie contracts. Jared Goff and Carson Wentz both signed extensions but were traded away before they fully kicked in. Their fifth years were exercised prior to the 2019 season and kept them with their drafted teams through the 2020 NFL season. Story continues As you see, a majority of quarterbacks do hit the 3,200-yard benchmark. In fact, 21 of the 32 top-10 picks do. However, only 28 percent of those quarterbacks replicate this same success more than five times in their careers. Only Eli Manning (14), Philip Rivers (14), and Matt Ryan (12) have replicated this success 10 or more times. To go a step further, of the 14 QBs who passed for 4,000 yards or more, only 28 percent of these quarterbacks passed for this many yards more than five times. Once again, Philip Rivers (11) and Matt Ryan (10) are the only two players who did this 10 or more times. Like the ones who passed for more than 3,200 yards, this feat was also accomplished an average of four times. 4,000 Yard Seasons 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 8+ Individual Seasons 43% 31% 21% 15% 12% Consecutive Seasons 43% 31% 15% 9% 6% 4,500 Yard Seasons 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 7+ Individual 28% 18% 9% 6% 3% By using the same data, only two QBs have posted over 4,800 yards more than once, Matt Ryan (2) and Matthew Stafford (2). Eli Manning, Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes have all done it just once. Albeit, Mahomes still has plenty of career left to expand on this. To average out, this feat has only been accomplished one time. Its also important to note that these benchmarks set with the NFLs former 16-game schedule. Now that the NFL added an extra game, the benchmark for success would be pushed even further. Guys like Carson Wentz, Eli Manning, and Baker Mayfield would average over 4,000 yards per season, something they failed to do in 16-game seasons. Yards Per Game average Draft Range 210+ 230+ 250+ 270+ Top 10 56% 43% 21% 15% The hardest area of production to achieve is getting over 40 touchdowns in a season. Of the 32 quarterbacks, only three players got over this mark and only did so once. Matt Ryan is not one of them, but he was only two touchdowns away in 2016, and five away in 2018 from joining the 40-touchdown club. So when assessing which quarterback to bring in, the Falcons have to make sure they can replicate the current production of Matt Ryan. During his 13-year NFL career, Ryan has averaged 4,353 yards passing through a 16-game schedule. When taking into account the last five seasons and the additional 17th game this year, Ryan is projected to pass for nearly 5,000 passing yards in 2021. Season Yards YPG 2016 4,944 309 2017 4,095 255.9 2018 4,924 307.8 2019 4,466 297.7 2020 4,581 286.3 AVG 4,660 291.3 Projected 2021 Yards 4,951 Another 4,000 yard season in 2021 and Ryan will have passed Peyton Manning for the record for most consecutive seasons. Additionally, Ryan has the most seasons in which he has passed for 4,500 yards or more, with seven. By looking at the data on hand, it is unlikely the Falcons get that same kind of production from any rookie. It is also important to note that the No. 6 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft did shatter the rookie passing record with 4,336 yards. However, until Justin Herbert gets more experience under his belt, we dont know if this level of production will be sustained. Obviously, the deeper in the draft you go, the less likely you are to hit on a consistent starter that gives you high production value. Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott are the only quarterbacks not drafted in top 40 to start all 16 games in their rookie seasons since 1978. This isnt necessarily to deter the idea of selecting a quarterback altogether, as each has to start their career off somehow. This is just to show that for every Mitchell Trubisky, there is a Patrick Mahomes, and for every Matt Ryan, there is a Joe Flacco. Related | https://sports.yahoo.com/concerned-falcons-qb-success-rate-183028512.html?src=rss |
Why wasnt Tiger Woods cited for speeding after he crashed his SUV going 87 mph? | An investigation into the February crash that seriously injured Tiger Woods found that the golfing great was traveling at almost double the posted speed limit on Hawthorne Boulevard on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. But officials said they will not cite Woods with speeding even though the investigation concluded he was going more than 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. Investigators examined the SUVs advanced data systems to determine Woods reached speeds of up to 87 mph around the time of the crash in Rolling Hills Estates. Authorities said Woods was accelerating down the steep grade on the northbound side, which sometimes catches drivers unaware of their growing momentum. Woods hit the median, then a Rolling Hills sign, and then the west curb before striking a tree 71 feet off the roadway. When the airbags were triggered, the SUVs event data recorder captured speeds prior to and after the initial impact of between from 82.02 mph to 86.99 mph. James C. Powers, captain of the Lomita sheriffs station, said data from Woods SUV is not enough to cite Woods with speeding. He said the act has to be witnessed by a law enforcement officer, which is required for a citation. It is a solo traffic collision ... we are not going to issue a citation for an infraction not in a peace officers presence. That would apply to everybody, added L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, adding that any suggestion that Woods was getting special treatment is false. Advertisement Dmitry Gorin, a former deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County, said that the data from the SUVs black box which officials said showed the speeding could be used as evidence to generate a ticket. But as a practical matter, he said law enforcement agencies require a witness of some kind to issue a speeding ticket. The Sheriffs Department said its now done with its work. Advertisement The department concluded there was not probable cause to get a search warrant for Woods blood draws at the hospital. Powers said there was no evidence alcohol, drug or prescription medication usage by Woods occurred. There was no evidence of any impairment. There was no odor of alcohol. There are no open containers in the vehicle and no narcotics or any evidence of medication in the vehicle or on his person, Powers said. He added that during a subsequent interview in the emergency room, Woods indicated he had not consumed any drugs or medications at the time of the crash. | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-07/why-wasnt-tiger-woods-cited-speeding-after-crash |
Did Washington Football Team Almost Deal For Now-Panther Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold should New York have pulled the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-deal-for-now-panther-darnold |
What comes next for Cincinnati Reds' fourth outfielder Tyler Naquin? | Heading into the season, the Cincinnati Reds had four starting outfielders and three spots to play them. But so far, the fourth outfielder hasnt been the one the Reds were expecting. Through the first homestand of the season, outfielder Tyler Naquin leads the National League with 13 RBI in only 19 at-bats. He hit his second lead-off homer in two days in Wednesdays 11-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Naquin has a .316 batting average and a 1.382 OPS filling in for left fielder Jesse Winker at the top of the lineup. Its a good problem to have when guys are playing well, but also guys understand, manager David Bell said. Well be able to figure that out, and were going to need everyone. Entering spring training, Naquin was a non-roster invitee competing for the last outfield spot. He had a strong spring training to make the team, and Naquin entered the regular season as the Reds fourth outfielder after Shogo Akiyama injured his hamstring. Naquin came off the bench on Opening Day and was 0-for-1 at the plate. He had his first extended opportunity two days later. Winker left in the top of the sixth inning of the second game of the season, and he hasnt appeared in a game since then. In 2020, Winker was the Reds best hitter with a team-high in batting average and OPS. In August, Winker was one of the best hitters in MLB with a .369 batting average and a 1.257 OPS. In spring training, Winker demonstrated his continued improvement against left-handed pitching, and he opened the season as the Reds lead-off hitter. In eight at-bats in 2021, he has three hits, one walk and a double. Winker has been on track to get everyday playing time, and Bell said Winker should be fully ready to start on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. We cant wait to get (Winker) back, Bell said. With Winker starting in left field, there are two spots left in the outfield, and those two players are having some of the best stretches of their career. Right fielder Nick Castellanos has been the biggest threat in the Reds lineup with a .435 batting average and seven extra-base hits. And center fielder Nick Senzel has a .357 batting average, scored each of the first eight times he has reached base and been a standout defender. While Naquin has a lower batting average than the other outfielders, he became the first Reds lead-off hitter since 1984 to hit lead-off homers in consecutive games. He loves being here, and he loves playing on this team, Bell said. Hes getting some opportunities here early, and hes absolutely made the most of it and has been a big part of our first week and getting some wins. The Diamondbacks havent announced a starting pitcher for Saturdays game, but their other two scheduled starters are right-handed. The Reds play a series against the San Francisco Giants after that, and all five of their starting pitchers throw right-handed. Naquin, a left-handed hitter, has a .282 career batting average against right-handed pitchers and a .234 batting average against left-handed pitchers. This season, Naquin is 1-for-2 against left-handed pitchers and 4-for-12 with two homers against right-handed pitchers. Whether or not Naquin stays in the starting lineup, the Reds will find a way to get him at-bats. If you know his personality, if you get to know him, it's pretty cool to watch what he does and how even-keeled he is in the batter's box, shortstop Kyle Farmer said. Seeing him put good swings on the ball, it just trickles down the lineup. He's a great leadoff hitter and he's a heck of a player. | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/04/07/what-cincinnati-reds-do-outfielder-tyler-naquin/7126494002/ |
Will the Seahawks take a QB in the 2nd round, and what will it mean for the Russell Wilson relationship? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest The Seattle Seahawks dont have much to work on when it comes to the 2021 NFL draft. Seattle only has three total picks for the entire draft-- the fewest of any NFL team heading to the draft. And although they do not have a first-round draft pick this year, one sports analyst believes that wont stop Seattle from picking up a quarterback in April. Subscribe to the Talkin' Seahawks podcast In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports Chris Trapasso has Seattle snagging Florida QB Kyle Trask with the No. 56 overall pick. Here is what Trapasso has to say about the pick: Even with hanging onto Russell Wilson for now, this is too good of a value to pass up. Chris Trapasso Trapasso also has Trask as the sixth-best quarterback available in the 2021 draft. Things have been relatively quiet since Wilson gave the organization a list of potential destinations and all of those reported teams have moved on since NFL free agency began and the new league year began. The Seahawks picked up a lot of great pieces this offseason (Gabe Jackson, Gerald Everett) in response of Wilson sharing his displeasure to the world. Those picks could be used for, you know, more offensive linemen to protect Wilson. Finding a replacement for Wilson is valid, but this might be a bit to soon for all this right now. The Seahawks will have a lot to think about with those three picks they have in the draft. It would be smart to not upset Wilson as the season inches closer. | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-qb-2nd-round-mean-205125450.html?src=rss |
Can Jos Ramrez carry the Cleveland Indians offense all by himself? | 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 Jos Ramrez was the hero Wedesday for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Ramrez hit a pair of two-run home runs to boost an offense that had been pretty listless until his heroics in the sixth inning. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down all the action in Wednesdays 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. Buy Indians gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, Lids More Indians coverage Carlos Santanas tip of the cap and three other things on the Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians rally for 4-2 win against Kansas City behind two home runs from Jos Ramrez Cleveland Indians James Karinchak takes anti-vaccine stance on social media Cleveland Indians players, staff members get COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Thursday Cleveland Indians attendance not expected to show impact of Gov. DeWines decision until May Triston McKenzie adding relief experience to resume for Cleveland Indians | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/can-jose-ramirez-carry-the-cleveland-indians-offense-all-by-himself.html |
Can DT Da'Shawn Hand Be an Impact Defender in 2021? | Read more on whether Da'Shawn Hand can be an impact defender for the Detroit Lions in 2021 After Detroit Lions defensive tackle DaShawn Hands impressive rookie season, he appeared to be a long-term staple on the interior. Unfortunately, that hasnt been the case for the past couple of years. Important to note, injuries have definitely played a role in Hands regression. Hand played predominantly in a gap-control scheme throughout his college career and while under former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. During that season, he also had 25 total pressures. Yet, he only has nine combined between the last two years. As Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote about Hand before last season, "He got off to a tremendous start to his career as a rookie in 2018, earning an 85.9 overall grade and contributing as both a run defender and a pass rusher." As Linsey then added, "Hand saw his role shrink in 2019 down to just over 100 snaps." Needless to say, expectations for Hands 2021 season are a bit of an enigma. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Imagn Content Services, LLC And, it's certainly true that bringing out the best of Hands ability could go a long way for not only the defensive line, but potentially for the future of the team, as well. Playing well this season will be ultra important for Hand, as well, considering he is in the last year of his contract. If Hand has one thing going for him, its his athletic ability. In the two-gapping system he was in the first three years of his career, it rarely allowed for him to shoot gaps while utilizing his quickness. In fact, he only has two tackles for loss the last two seasons. In all likelihood, new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will run a much more aggressive scheme, with a defensive front similar to the attacking style of the Los Angeles Rams. Its an unknown at this time where and how Hand will perform in a new defense. But, it sure seems like he has the talent to flourish in the system. Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be Hands ability or lack thereof to remain healthy. All in all, Hand is a bit of a forgotten man on the D-line. However, his potential and a fresh start with a new coaching staff could be the catalysts for Hand having a bounce-back season. Lions Select Quarterback in Daniel Jeremiah's Latest Mock Draft Lions Finish 16-Game Regular Season Era with Worst Winning Percentage | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-dashawn-hand-impact-defender |
Where do Portland Trail Blazers go from here after another loss to a top West team? | The Portland Trail Blazers look less and less like a title contender every time they face a team with legitimate title aspirations. Tuesday night provided yet another example. The Blazers had a chance to get their second win this season against an elite Western Conference team, but fell flat during a 133-116 defeat at the Los Angeles Clippers. It all began with the Blazers cotton soft defense allowing 47 points in the first quarter and then continuing to bleed points into the second quarter. Granted, the Clippers shot the ball extremely well, making 72% of their shots in the first quarter including 7 of 11 threes. But their hot shooting wasnt the only issue. I wasnt as much concerned with how they shot the ball at the beginning, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. After that, I thought the first 16 minutes was, frankly, a little embarrassing. The Blazers (30-20) trailed 62-36 with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter. This after two games ago losing 127-109 at home to Milwaukee (32-18). Between those two games, the Blazers hammered the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-30), by the score of 133-85 on Saturday. And there you have the Blazers season in a nutshell. They can look dominant against weak to solid teams, yet wilt against contenders. Portland is now 1-7 versus the top five teams in the Western Conference and 3-10 against NBA teams with 30 wins or more. That includes two victories over Philadelphia (35-16). The Blazers are still awaiting the Jusuf Nurkic who was dominant at the NBA bubble last summer to arrive this season. Since his return from a broken wrist on March 26, Nurkic has been on a minutes restriction. He missed Tuesdays game with knee inflammation. So, it could be argued that the Blazers are still not whole. The Blazers have issues that Nurkic wont fix. He is a better defender than Enes Kanter, but not enough to single-handedly transform the 29th-rated defense into one capable of ranking in the top half of the league in the second half of the season, as Stotts had hoped. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, scores past Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)AP Especially when the Blazers are sacrificing size by running with a three-guard lineup of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell. Stotts pointed out that he couldnt complain about the teams offense on Tuesday against the Clippers (34-18). The Blazers trailed 73-66 at halftime after roaring back to make it a game. But defensively this team might never be able to match up well against teams with greater length. One positive from Tuesday was the Blazers fight. They in fact got to within 84-82 in the third quarter. To cut it to two on the road against a team like that was a pretty impressive effort, Stotts said. So, that part of it was very encouraging. Whats discouraging is how the good teams are finding ways to disrupt Lillard. The Clippers went after him Tuesday and he finished with 11 points on 2 of 14 shooting. The byproduct was more shots for Powell, who scored 32 points. McCollum scored 24. I think thats whats so special about me being on this team, any given night that three-guard lineup can go off and provide an offensive spark, depending on how the game flow is going, Powell said. But the Blazers arent going to win very many games with Lillard scoring 11 points. In fact, they are 2-4 this season when he scores under 20 points, and both wins were blowout victories against weak teams, Sacramento in February and the Thunder on Saturday. I know he gets frustrated by not having clean looks and being double-teamed, and people taking the ball out of his hands, Stotts said. Because of that, Norman had a very good night. CJ had a very good night. But my biggest concern is that its very frustrating for Dame. Even though the team is scoring, he wants to be involved, and its up to me to help him get quality shots, and its up to the team to help him when teams are doing that. Powell said the Blazers can use him or McCollum to bring the ball up more often to allow Lillard to run off screens to get open for shots. I can make plays off the bounce for myself and other guys, when the defense collapses and kick it out, finding guys, Powell said. Still, as Stotts said, they cant complain too much about the offense overall. The main problem remains the defense. The communication, dedication, commitment and desire that have been talked about over and over this season dont appear ready to magically materialize. According to Powell, Lillard called out the team in the second quarter for not being physical enough and allowing the Clippers to take advantage of them. His words led to the Blazers making the game closer before halftime. Powell added that it shouldnt take the star player to motivate the team to play better. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts talks to the team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) APAP Weve got to have that mindset at the start of the game, Powell said. Thats been said numerous times by several Blazers players this season, yet the same problems seem to pop up. Stotts said execution, effort and communication were issues on Tuesday. Its something that we continue to talk about, its something that we definitely have to get better as individuals and as a team, Powell said. Defense isnt just two guys on the ball. Its everybody helping one another and communicating. Powell, who played on good defensive teams in Toronto before being traded to Portland on March 25, said that the Raptors prided themselves on the defensive end. It was a priority. They used many defensive looks and blitzes to confuse teams and guys bought in and were tied together as a unit. Its just something that we have to continue to do here, especially in the playoffs where games are in a halfcourt, Powell said. We cant have defensive lapses and starts the way we did tonight. So, its something we have to work on. Next up is Utah. The Jazz have the best record in the NBA. They rank second in offensive rating (119.1) and fourth in defensive rating (109.1). Their net rating of 9.96 leads the NBA. Portland ranks fifth on offense (117.43) and 29th on defense (117.5) for a net rating of 0.06, which ranks 15th. Portland lost the first meeting 120-100 to open the season. Theyre a very good three-point shooting team just like the Clippers, Stotts said. Theyre a very good defensive team, just like the Clippers were tonight. So, we have to come out against the Jazz at the very start and play with a certain amount of effort and urgency that it takes to win on the road against a good team. -- Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories | https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/04/where-do-portland-trail-blazers-go-from-here-after-another-loss-to-a-top-west-team.html |
Does 49ers' Nate Sudfeld signing say anything about QB preference? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The 49ers signing of free-agent Nate Sudfeld on Wednesday can hardly be perceived as a tectonic shift as it relates to the teams direction at the quarterback position. Sudfeld becomes the fourth quarterback on the 49ers roster, joining Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson. And, yes, the 49ers will be adding another quarterback on April 29, when they make a selection with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. The 49ers can keep five quarterbacks for a little while, but only four quarterbacks will still be on the 90-man roster at the beginning of training camp. Then, three quarterbacks will remain with the 49ers when the regular season begins. Kyle Shanahan is compiling quarterbacks who generally fit the same style of play. Four years ago, in his first offseason as 49ers coach, Shanahan made a point about why he believes it is wise to have a depth chart of similar quarterbacks. You cant practice everything, Shanahan said in April 2017. You cant be great at everything. Youve kind of got to commit to something and do it over and over and over again. Shanahan said once you commit to a style of play from your quarterback, you have to create consistency so that each quarterback on the roster does not warrant a different style of play. He said it is asking too much for the other players on the offense to be constantly adjusting. Thats why I think it can be harder when those types of guys are going through competitions because even though youre trying to find the best guy, by trying to be fair to those quarterbacks, youre also being unfair to a team, Shanahan said. This is not to say the signing of Sudfeld points toward or eliminates the 49ers from selecting Justin Fields, Trey Lance or Mac Jones in the draft. Sudfeld (6-foot-6, 227 pounds) has spent the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Rich Scangarello, the 49ers quarterbacks coach, spent last season as Eagles senior offensive assistant. Story continues Sudfeld, 27, a native of Modesto, has appeared in just four games in his NFL career, completing 25 of 37 passing attempts for 188 yards and one touchdown. Sudfeld found himself in the spotlight in Week 17, when he entered early in the fourth quarter of the Eagles game against Washington. Then-Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson sent Sudfeld into the game in place of Jalen Hurts. Sudfeld completed just five of 12 passes for 32 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Pederson was widely criticized for the move. If the Eagles had won the game, Dallas would have won the division. Instead, Washington was basically handed the victory and the NFC East title. Pederson was fired two weeks later. Perhaps, the 49ers do not see much of a difference between the pocket-passing abilities of the quarterbacks already under contract and the rookies they are known to be considering. Fields and Lance are far-more accomplished in the run-pass option game. Jones, like the other quarterbacks on the 49ers, presents no threat with his running ability. But if those young quarterbacks provide just as much or more skill from the pocket, the mobility aspect they bring to the table is just a bonus. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-49ers-nate-sudfeld-signing-215521784.html?src=rss |
Are pay-by-the-minute booths the future of work? | The booths are a tight fit and might make some people feel a bit claustrophobic I dont really like working from home. Sure, there are advantages, but I find it isolating. Im sick of sitting in my apartment. I prefer to interact with colleagues face-to-face. I find the endless Zoom meetings draining. Im tired of the lunch options nearby. Also, construction noise is inescapable in Singapore, and Im dreading the day when builders start tearing down the building across the street, or the neighbours start to renovate their kitchen. In preparation for this, I tried out a new type of workspace. Its a pay-by-the-minute desk in a booth at my nearest shopping centre. The pods, which cost less than four Singapore dollars ($3; 2.15) per hour, have been created by a Singaporean company called Switch. They follow similar booths that have been around for a few years in Japan, where a handful of companies like Telecube and Cocodesk have placed them in metro stations, hotel lobbies and convenience stores. However, Switch's main competition in Singapore appears to be Starbucks, or any other coffee shop with free wi-fi. The booths come with hand sanitizer and wipes The booth is a reasonable work space, if a little utilitarian, and very compact. The wi-fi works, and so does the fan. The chair is okay, but unremarkable. The overhead light isnt overpowering. The grey and white colour scheme isnt very exciting, but nor is it distracting. But the main selling point for me is that it's not my living room. Switch's founder Dominic Penaloza agrees. I certainly would agree with the notion that part of the value proposition [of the booths] is that psychological separation that is created by a physical separation between work and home, he says. Then again, if Im sick of my apartment, leaving it is also a hassle. Getting to the booth required a short train journey - and walking half way around a shopping centre in the tropical heat to find an entrance that opened before 10am. Story continues Then I had to check in using a contact tracing app at the centre's entrance, and then at the booth itself, using both the Switch app and the contact tracing app. And once in the booth, wearing a mask was still compulsory. These are not big problems, but they all require more effort than just walking from my bedroom to my living room. Switch has now opened more than 60 of its booths in Singapore. They are in addition to its 3,500 hireable desks in shared co-working offices that are the more typical way of hiring somewhere to work. Switch aims to place many more booths across the city-state. And overseas expansion is on the horizon too. Mr Penaloza says its on-demand flexibility "means you pay only for what you use, and you can use them where and when you need it". While he thinks the firm's booths would have existed without Covid-19, the pandemic made the business case for them more obvious. Typically if an individual wants to hire a working space it will be in an open plan office, such as this co-working space Recent surveys from around the world suggest that a majority of employers will permanently adopt a hybrid working model when the pandemic finally ends - staff will be able to continue to work from home part of the time. However, home working has raised new questions about who pays for what. Switch thinks its booths may offer a solution, and some of its corporate clients already allow their employees to charge the cost of a booth to the company. Remote working expert Prithwiraj Choudhury says Switch's booths take the concept to "the next level". An associate professor at Harvard Business School, he says remote working had already been growing in popularity before the pandemic. He gives the example of Tusla Remote, which started in 2018 and aims to rejuvenate the Oklahoma city by offering remote workers grants of up to $10,000 to move there. Switch also has some slightly larger booths, where two people can work together or have a meeting Another company, MobSquab, helps US tech firms locate international workers who are struggling to get US work visas in Canada, from where they work remotely. It also started out three years ago. Prof Choudhury thinks the booths could create an additional layer of flexibility for such organisations, who often rely on putting the workers in a typical shared workspace. "These pods take this idea to the next level, and create the opportunity for workers who want to work-from-anywhere to do so," he says. New Economy New Economy is a new series exploring how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing fast. UK business psychologist Jess Baker thinks they could be popular with those looking for a cheap alternative to working from home. "Cultural differences may mean that Westerners would have to get used to these compact working spaces," she says. "And while I'm honestly wondering if I'll have to clear up the previous occupant's half-empty coffee cup, I am also looking forward to trying one out." It should be noted that food and drink isn't allowed in Switch booths, and customers are expected to wipe them down after using them, although there aren't any staff on hand to enforce the rule. Switch says the "space provider" is responsible for cleaning, which in the case of the pod I visited was the operator of the shopping centre. Fellow UK business psychologist Stuart Duff, a partner at Pearn Kandola, also thinks they may be popular. "As we increase in our need for private and cheap working spaces, our concern about size and space will quickly be outweighed by the value of privacy and convenience." From my own experience, the booth in a Singapore shopping centre was a good place to get work done for an hour or two. But then the stores began to open. After the staff at the electronics outlet next to the pod finished switching off a seemingly endless string of alarms, they turned on the music. It wasnt so loud that work was impossible, but it was loud enough for the song-identification app Shazam to tell me I was listening to pop stars Demi Lovato and Cardi B. As I left, there was a flustered-looking man checking out of the pod next to mine. He shook his head, complained about the music and then marched off. I felt the same. One reason I came here was to avoid noisy neighbours. Still, the booths seem potentially useful. I would consider using one again, but probably not the same one. | https://news.yahoo.com/pay-minute-booths-future-230759017.html |
What will the easing of restrictions mean for businesses and the pandemic? | Kemps new order loosens COVID-19 restrictions Thursday across many industries and ends a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. That will have wide-ranging impacts on businesses from restaurants and convention centers to gyms and concert venues. While many businesses across Georgia will take full advantage of the rollback, others told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they plan no immediate changes, concerned that relaxing standards too quickly could allow the virus to sicken staff or customers. Some said theyll wait until more of the public can get vaccinated, including staffers. Others said theyll loosen a little, where they think its safe, but plan to take it slow. Kemp has said loosening the rules is a crucial step to returning to normal life and to help struggling businesses survive. Its time, he said, pointing to the declining number of new infections from the winter peak and the increasing number of Georgians 2.9 million as of Wednesday who have secured at least one dose of vaccine. But cases are again rising in many other states, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden have urged states to pause reopening to buy time to allow more people to get vaccinated. Of particular concern is the rise of new strains of the virus that are more infectious and more deadly, such as the one first detected in the United Kingdom. The strain, known as B.1.1.7, is now the most common one circulating in the U.S., CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House briefing Wednesday. Bob Bednarczyk, assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University, said that while a case can be made for targeted loosening, there should be mechanisms in place to reinstate safety protocols to address potential outbreaks. Health experts also worry that the looser rules will send the wrong message to the public. I am concerned that if many people quickly back down from masking, physical distancing, or other public health measures, the numbers may start to go up again, especially when we consider the increasing spread of the variants, particularly B.1.1.7, said Pinar Keskinocak, a professor of engineering at Georgia Tech and director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, whose work includes infectious disease modeling. No rush to change Under the governors order, many enhanced sanitation rules remain in place. Servers and restaurant staff, for example, still have to wear masks when interacting with customers. The most significant change for restaurants is the reduction in space between tables. Most metro Atlanta restaurant operators, however, say they are not in a hurry to expand seating capacity. Grindhouse Killer Burgers will not be making any changes due to the new law, said owner Alex Brounstein. From Veruni Napoli in Midtown, to Rays on the River in Sandy Springs, to Drift Oyster Bar in East Cobb, the 6-foot safety measure also will remain in place, those operators say. Their decision echoes cautionary sentiments from nearly one year ago when few restaurant owners rushed to re-open for on-premises dining despite having been given the green light. Over the past 12 months, weve forged a layer of trust with the guests. We are going to take a slow, easy approach, said Ryan Pernice, whose RO Hospitality group includes Table & Main and Osteria Mattone in Roswell as well as Coalition Food and Beverage in Alpharetta. Because physical barriers have been an option instead of 6-foot separation since the pandemics outset, the latest order doesnt change much for places like Rays on the River that invested in barriers between booths last year. More recently, Buttermilk Kitchens Suzanne Vizethann placed an order for partitions. Once they are in place, the popular brunch spot will bring back more tables, upping capacity to 80%. For restaurants that do plan to change table configurations, outdoors is where those will be most visible. Most Atlanta restaurant operators, like South City Kitchen, are not in a hurry to increase capacity, as allowed under Gov. Brian Kemp's latest pandemic emergency order. (Hyosub Shin / [email protected]) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Fifth Group, which counts South City Kitchen, Ecco and Alma Cocina in its portfolio, will seat patios at full capacity beginning Thursday, but only if the weather permits raising the enclosure flaps on all sides and if management is comfortable with the decision. We are leaving it up to the GMs, telling them, You know your staff. You know your guests. Do what you think is right, said partner Robby Kukler. El Ponce in Midtown and Talat Market in Summerhill are among restaurants whose indoor dining rooms remain closed and that only recently tip-toed back into on-premises service via the patio. For places like these, even adding a couple tables to the patio is a measured decision. Weve already been planning for the past month of opening indoors and increasing our patio space because the City of Atlanta has granted us a parklet, said Talat co-owner Parnass Savang. The parklet, slated for completion this Saturday, will add another four or five tables to the outdoor arrangement. Were trying to get the maximum seats with whatever is safest. We dont want people to be uncomfortable, he said. Waiting for numbers The governors order also rolls back restrictions on hair salons, tattoo parlors and tanning facilities and limits on the number of customers in a store. Gyms and fitness centers no longer need to assign workers to patrol workout areas to enforce equipment wipe downs. They dont need to space out workout equipment or block off every other cardio machine, but they must still regularly disinfect equipment and group fitness rooms. The executive order also cuts down on the distance required between customers in group workout classes from 10 feet to 6 feet. Alixx Hetzel (right) co-owner, offers a gym member Kelsey Cortez (left) a hand sanitizer as she checks in at VESTA Movement Ponce in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Hyosub Shin / [email protected]) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Movie theaters can similarly reduce the distance between customers from 6 to 3 feet, and they no longer need to assign an usher to each screening room to ensure social distancing at the beginning of each movie. Still, some business owners say theyll wait for local case numbers to decline before unwinding many of the protocols they put in place earlier. Escobar, the Plaza Theater owner, said hes following guidelines from the CDC, the National Association of Theatre Owners and the City of Atlanta. The Plaza resumed indoor screenings last September, five months after Kemp allowed theaters to reopen, capping the number of guests at roughly 28% of capacity and running UV lights between shows to help disinfect the theater, among other safety precautions. It also hosts evening drive-in movies, but Escobar said the venue has still struggled financially, especially during the winter. Escobar said that while he appreciates Kemp trying to get out of the way of businesses, the state should provide more consistency across the board regarding COVID protections. He singled out the lack of state mask mandates, which he said puts undue stress and conflict between businesses and their customers. Thats the role we need the state to play, to have these rules that really make sense across the board, he said. Its not like theres a pandemic in some businesses and not others. Light at the end of the tunnel Concert venues no longer need to provide hand sanitizer stations or screen customers for COVID symptoms at entrances, though venues are still required to train employees on how to identify symptoms. Venues are also still encouraged to install contactless ticket-taking and parking systems and extending breaks and intermissions to cut down on the mass of people streaming to the bathroom at the same time. Ellen Chamberlain, owner of the Red Light Cafe in Virginia-Highland, still plans to take things slow. Her 130-person venue, known for its jazz and Americana concerts and burlesque shows, has stayed alive during the pandemic through a mix of loans and grants. Since July, it has opened only for Wednesday night jazz concerts. About 40 regulars will sit socially distanced at the caf, which borders Piedmont Park, to hear the Gordon Vernick Quartet play several numbers the members of the band are either vaccinated or masked themselves before inviting other musicians on stage for a jam session. I think theyre really grateful to be out, said Chamberlain of her customers. She hopes to check peoples vaccine cards once a larger chunk of the population has been vaccinated. In the meantime, she said, were finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Staff writers Helena Oliviero and Eric Stirgus contributed to this report. Enforcement lax Gov. Brian Kemps order rolling back many restrictions on Georgia businesses also eliminates the ability of law enforcement to shut down an organization for failure to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols. Individuals who violate the order may still be cited with misdemeanors. However, the state has rarely enforced the rules. A spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol said the office has answered more than 3,400 calls regarding possible violations but has issued only 21 citations since the start of the pandemic. | https://www.ajc.com/news/coronavirus/what-will-the-easing-of-restrictions-mean-for-businesses-and-the-pandemic/BQATGPAZAVEP5JB5VVDNHOKMC4/ |
Did Washington Almost Trade For Jets QB Sam Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets, should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negotiations at the time. Washington ultimately settled on Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second- and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. (We don't think the dollars work; see above.) Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold (assuming one thinks he can play)... but New York wouldn't pull the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-trade-for-jets-qb-sam-darnold |
Which teams are in Southwest Baseball Coaches Association's 2021 week 1 poll April 6? | The Southwest Baseball Coaches Association released its preseason poll March 22. Coaches voted with a first-place vote being 10 points, second place being nine points, etc. They conducted the polls by combined Divisions I, II, III and IV. The next poll will be April 2-4 Division I Mason 110 Moeller 80 Lakota East 68 La Salle 61 Elder 59 St Xavier 47 Hamilton 41 Oak Hills 29 Lakota West 25 Turpin 22 Division II Badin 70 McNicholas 44 Batavia 37 Fenwick 32 Indian Hill 30 Taylor 27 Ross 24 Monroe 23 Blanchester 22 New Richmond 19 Wyoming 19 Divisions III and IV Cincinnati Country Day 95 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 71 Roger Bacon 71 Summit Country Day 46 Reading 34 Cincinnati Christian School 29 Madeira 29 Clermont Northeastern 27 Purcell Marian 24 Mariemont 20 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/high-school-sports/2021/04/07/southwest-baseball-coaches-association-releases-2021-week-1-poll/7109281002/ |
Can Jason Robertson become the first Dallas Stars rookie to win a Calder trophy? | No matter the result of this regular season for the Stars, they can take solace in Jason Robertsons breakout season as a rookie. Now, what hardware Robertson might be able to take away is another topic all together. Robertson, 21, has vaulted himself into the Calder Trophy conversation this season thanks to eight goals and 16 assists in 32 games, including a March outburst that featured 16 points in 17 games to lead all rookies. Outside of Roope Hintz (when hes playing), Robertson has been the teams best offensive weapon at even strength. Hes been steady winning pucks along the walls, a constant in both overtime and shootouts, and a magician finding passing seams in the offensive zone. For the third straight season after Miro Heiskanen in 2018-19 and Denis Gurianov in 2019-20 the Stars have one of the leagues top rookies. I dont know why not, Joe Pavelski said earlier this season. Theres a lot of season left and when he stepped into our lineup, hes kind of taken off. Hes gotten better and better. Hes been a big piece thats helping us get some extra points. Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov has been the Calder frontrunner for almost the entire season. He has good reason to be in that position as he leads the playoff-bound Wild in both goals (14) and points (31). Among Minnesota forwards, he plays the most by more than a minute. Hes electric holding on to pucks in the offensive zone and captivating with his skating. His status as the favorite is well-earned. While Kaprizov is the main target if Robertson is to track down the Calder Trophy, there are other candidates. The Islanders Ilya Sorokin, Chicagos Kevin Lankinen and Carolinas Alex Nedeljkovic have all been strong in net. New Jersey defenseman Ty Smith is averaging almost 20 minutes a night for the Devils. Ottawas pair of Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris have been productive, as has Eeli Tolvanan in Nashville. Due to individual production and on-ice impact, Robertson should be ahead of many of those players, though its tough to truly compare skaters and goalies. So lets focus on Kaprizov. Voters (the Calder is voted on by 100 members of the PHWA this season) might have an issue with Kaprizovs age. The Russian winger will turn 24 on April 26, which would make him the second-oldest Calder winner in the last 20 years. The only older winner would have been Artemi Panarin, who turned 24 in October of the 2015-16. Kaprizov was drafted two years before Robertson and played professionally for three years in the KHL before joining Minnesota this season. He was a point-per-game producer in the KHL while Robertson was leading the OHL in scoring. There would be something poetic, though, about an older Russian winning the Calder over a Stars forward, just as 31-year-old Sergei Makarov beat out 19-year-old Mike Modano in 1989-90. Both players rely mostly on 5 on 5 to produce instead of the power play (unlike Tolvanen) and Kaprizov owns slight edges in most categories per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick. Category, Kaprizov, Robertson Goals/60, 1.18, 0.88 Assists/60, 1.77, 1.75 Points/60, 2.95, 2.63 Shots/60, 7.19, 8.46 Shot attempts/60, 12.97, 12.26 Scoring chances/60, 6.48, 7.01 High-danger chances/60, 3.42, 2.92 Expected goals/60, 0.66, 0.59 That type of production from Kaprizov with almost 100 minutes more than Robertson is hard to ignore. But the Stars are a much better team with Robertson on the ice than the Wild are with Kaprizov on the ice. Dallas is a much better possessing the puck and generating quality looks with Robertson. Minnesota, meanwhile, chases the game more but has benefitted from strong goaltending and an outlandish shooting percentage to outscore teams with Kaprizov on the ice. Here are their teams numbers with them on the ice at 5 on 5, according to Natural Stat Trick. Category, Kaprizov, Robertson Shot attempts for, 46.40%, 54.72% Shots for, 46.40%, 53.92% Scoring chances for, 46.52%, 57.18% High-danger chances for, 49.10%, 58.62% Expected goals for, 47.01%, 54.98% Goals for, 58.33%, 58.97% It is true that Kaprizov faces off against opponents top lines, as some of his most common on-ice opponents are Vegas and Colorados top lines, centered by William Karlsson and Nathan MacKinnon, respectively. He draws other teams top defensemen as well, matching up with Cale Makar, Drew Doughty, Alex Martinez and Samuel Girard often. That could affect his possession numbers. Robertson, meanwhile, typically draws third lines to play against (think Yanni Gourde, Jordan Staal and Calle Jarnkrok) but also goes head to head against top defensemen. Jaccob Slavin, Roman Josi and Victor Hedman are three of the four most common defensemen Robertson has played against this season. In a twist of irony, the very thing that has contributed to Robertsons play may be a drawback to his Calder campaign: being healthy scratched five games in a row in February. At the time, Robertson was a nonfactor in the Stars first two games, without a shot on goal. Coach Rick Bowness wanted Robertson to see the game differently and notice the space around him he had. Robertson re-watched his shifts while on the taxi squad and asked questions. When he returned, he took off and now has a stranglehold on a top-six role in Dallas. But while Robertson was watching games, Kaprizov was racking up highlights and turning heads across the continent. He captured the national attention as he deserved, and hasnt lost it since. Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here. | https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2021/04/07/can-jason-robertson-become-the-first-dallas-stars-rookie-to-win-a-calder-trophy/ |
Can Beard Lure Texas Tech Transfer Standouts To Longhorns? | Just last week, Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Since Beards departure to rebuild the Longhorns struggling program, Texas Tech is already facing consequences. Following his decision, key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. These players were key contributors to Tech this season. Santos-Silva (senior), averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds, and Peavy (freshman) put up 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Possibly. However, Texas Tech recently hired Mark Adams, who might sway them to stay with Texas Tech. Adams spent the past five seasons as a Red Raiders assistant, so his familiarity might convince them to remain in Lubbock to build upon the last five years momentum. Between Beard building his new staff and players such as Kamaka Hepa entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas will continue its transformation into a new era. As the dominoes continue to fall, stay updated with Longhorns Country for your latest basketball news. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook. | https://www.si.com/college/texas/mens-basketball/three-texas-tech-standouts-enter-transfer-portal-following-chris-beards-departure |
Who Will Be in the LA Clippers' Rotation Moving Forward? | With the Clippers finally starting to turn the corner in terms of health (fingers crossed), Head Coach Tyronn Lue has a good problem to figure out: the Clippers rotation for the rest of the regular season and the postseason. In the last month alone, LA has had games in which they were out four starters. In these situations, players 10-12 on the end of the bench are going to see significant minutes, and for a team with the amount of depth that the Clippers have, this isnt too much of an issue. In fact, it can give Lue insight into who might be able to make a difference moving forward. For example, Luke Kennard and Terance Mann have both made significant strides in the last month. But last night, when Patrick Beverley made his long-awaited return from a recurring right knee injury, both Mann and Kennard played less than 10 minutes, and the majority of the minutes they did play came in garbage time after the Clippers solidified their victory. When asked about the new rotation, Lue made it clear that it isnt set in stone. I think its more of a game-to-game situation, Lue said. You know, I talked to both [Luke Kennard and Terance Mann] and theyre great. They just want to win, and they understand. Just trying to see what we got with our veteran guys with [Rajon] Rondo and [Patrick Beverley] coming back. Just kind of seeing what kind of rotations we are going to make. Like I said, Luke [Kennard] and [Terance Mann] just have to be ready. If anyone else were to have gotten the short end of the stick, its reasonable to assume it would have been Reggie Jackson, considering he was out of the rotation earlier in the season. He also plays the same position as Rondo and Beverley, but Lue decided to slide him up a position and play him at shooting guard alongside Rondo. His three-point shooting makes him a good off-ball threat, but hes not as dangerous as Kennard percentage-wise (41.8% as opposed to 48.5%, though either will be respected by the defense). Mann gives the Clippers an off-the-dribble dynamic that they dont really have off the bench now that Lou Williams resides in Atlanta. His athleticism and speed also make him a transition threat for an LA squad that is extremely half-court oriented otherwise. Perhaps, as with many coaches in the NBA, Lue trusts experience over youth. Outside of Mann, Kennard and Ivica Zubac, everyone in the Clippers rotation has at least 10 years of experience. As Lue clarified, this rotation could be completely different by tomorrow. Lue has always spoken highly of Kennard and Mann, and understands the time theyve put in throughout the season. It can be spot minutes and can be no minutes, but those guys have really earned the opportunity to play, Lue said. Theyve been doing a great job when they get into the game, but right now weve got some other guys that weve got to try to see. Related Stories Paul George Talks idolizing Carmelo Anthony's Game Growing Up DeMarcus Cousins Says He's In Best Shape Of His Career With Clippers DeMarcus Cousins Officially Signs 10-Day Contract With LA Clippers | https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/who-will-be-in-the-la-clippers-rotation-moving-forward |
Does Mixon Get a Boost After Gio's Release? | The 37th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. 30 later this year (in November), Bernard was entering the final year of his contract, one that was paying him like a No. 1 back rather than the pass-catching and blocking specialist No. 2 that he was for the Bengals. He was due to make $3.7 million in 2021, and the release saved the Bengals $4.1 million against the cap. There were rumors teams were calling the Bengals about Bernards availability last month, but that was obviously false and an attempt to drum up interest. The Bengals got nothing for him and resorted to saving the money and freeing Bernard up to seek another job. In Cincinnati, the release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. In the six games Mixon was healthy for in 2020, he averaged 23.3 touches per contest, and that included a pair of 30-touch outings. Coach Zac Taylor had really committed to Mixon as his bell cow dating back to the middle of the 2019 season. Mixons season-ending foot issue could obviously change the way Taylor thinks about his running back moving forward, but the Bengals did pay Mixon $12 million per year with a new extension ahead of last year. They obviously view him as a clear-cut No. 1 back capable of shouldering an offense. By all accounts, Mixon should be ready for a normal 2021. With Joe Burrow back from his torn ACL and Cincinnati adding RT Riley Reiff to gel with previous starting combo LT Jonah Williams-LG Michael Jordan-C Trey Hopkins-RG Quinton Spain, this offense has the ability to take off, and Mixon should be a huge part of it. He has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates. As for Bernard, his best days are behind him, but he will likely latch on somewhere as a tandem back to fill a third-down, pass-catching role. Hes averaged 3.8 yards per attempt or worse four of the last five seasons. But he has shown he can handle 15-18 touches in a pinch if injuries happen ahead of him. Bernard is easily one of the best running backs available, joining James Conner and a couple others. They all may have to wait until after the draft later this month. Story continues Jets Ship Darnold to Panthers for Picks Our very own Patrick Daugherty dove into this trade and its ramifications in a Fantasy Fallout piece earlier this week following the big move, but as you all know, the Jets finally ended their very short marriage to Sam Darnold by flipping him to the Panthers for a 2021 sixth-rounder and 2022 second- and fourth-rounders. With the trade, the Jets made it clear theyre taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall, and the Panthers are committing to Darnold for at least 2021 after they failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, who is now in a whole lot of legal trouble. Its hard to not like the swing the Panthers are taking here. Darnold is still just 23 years old and will turn 24 in June. Hes younger than some of the prospects still coming into the NFL, and he has three seasons under his belt. Darnold was a colossal nightmare in New York, but its hard to put all the blame on him. Ex-coach Adam Gase has never shown an ability to call an offense and only ever received head-coaching interest because he was with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in Denver. Its exciting to see if the upstart Panthers can tap into the potential and upside that made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. His supporting cast is already lightyears better with the Panthers than it was with the Jets. D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson make an exciting one-two combo out wide, and Christian McCaffrey is the best playmaking running back in football. Carolina also added playmakers WR David Moore and TE Dan Arnold in free agency while keeping stud RT Taylor Moton. With the Darnold acquisition, the Panthers have allowed Teddy Bridgewater to seek a trade. Hes not a starter in this league but a very good No. 2. Bears Still Trying to Trade Anthony Miller Last month, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Bears were likely to deal contract-year WR Anthony Miller. Nothing has come of it yet, but NFL Networks Ian Rapoport says the team continues to discuss a deal. No interested teams have been identified, but its clear Millers time is running out in Chicago. Hes set to make just over $1.2 million in the final year of his deal and was leapfrogged on the depth chart last year by late-round rookie Darnell Mooney. Even though they havent added anything at the position this offseason, the Bears seem done with Miller. The former No. 51 overall pick has only caught passes from Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles in his career, so it would be interesting to see what he could do if he can escape this wretched Bears Offense. Miller caught seven touchdowns as a rookie and then had a strong five-game stretch Weeks 10-14 in the 2020 season when he posted a 33-431-2 line on 52 targets. Miller obviously has skill. A change of scenery could do him well. Quarterback & Running Back Quick Slants Rams GM Les Snead sees Matthew Stafford quarterbacking the team for the next 5-8 years. Stafford is 33 and under contract for two more seasons after being acquired from the Lions. An extension could be in the works. Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Deshaun Watson while he fights his legal battles. Coach Jon Gruden continues to hype Kenyan Drakes versatility. Theres word the Raiders will use Drake as a pass-catcher complement to Josh Jacobs. Following their acquisition of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, ESPNs Adam Schefter expects the 49ers to select Alabama QB Mac Jones. The Eagles re-signed RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal. Hell compete for a deep depth job in Phillys backfield. The Niners signed QB Nate Sudfeld to a one-year contract. Sudfeld will look to make the 49ers roster as the No. 3 behind a rookie and Jimmy Garoppolo should San Francisco keep Garoppolo. Wide Receiver & Tight End Quick Slants Free agent Antonio Brown remains unsigned, and theres still no sign he and the Bucs are close to a new deal. AB is really the only piece left for the Bucs to run it back with essentially the same group. New Ravens WR Sammy Watkins expects OC Greg Roman to open up the offense this season. Watkins previously played for Roman in Buffalo. Watkins needs a healthy and strong season if he wants to cash in as a free agent next spring. Many around the league expect free agent Larry Fitzgerald to retire this offseason. | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-mixon-boost-gios-release-023031526.html?src=rss |
Should firms be more worried about firmware cyber-attacks? | A woman using a laptop and using her smartphone for two-factor authentication Computing giant Microsoft recently put out a report claiming that businesses globally are neglecting a key aspect of their cyber-security - the need to protect computers, servers and other devices from firmware attacks. Its survey of 1,000 cyber-security decision makers at enterprises across multiple industries in the UK, US, Germany, Japan and China has revealed that 80% of firms have experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years. Yet only 29% of security budgets have been allocated to protect firmware. However, the new report comes on the back of a recent significant security vulnerability affecting Microsoft's widely-used Exchange email system. And the computing giant launched a range of extra-secure Windows 10 computers last year that it says will prevent firmware from being tampered with. How a firmware attack works Firmware is a type of permanent software code used to control each hardware component in a PC. Increasingly, cyber-criminals are designing malware that quietly tampers with the firmware in motherboards, which tell the PC to start up, or with the firmware in hardware drivers. This is a sneaky way to neatly bypass a computer's operating system or any software designed to detect malware, because the firmware code is in the hardware, which is a layer below the operating system. Security experts have told the BBC that even if IT departments are following cyber-security best practices like patching security vulnerabilities in software, or protecting corporate networks from malicious intrusions, many firms are still forgetting about the firmware. "People don't think about it in terms of their patching - it's not often updated, and when it is, sometimes it breaks things," explains Australian cyber-security researcher Robert Potter. Story continues Mr Potter built the Washington Post's cyber-security operations centre and has advised the Australian government on cyber-security. "Firmware patching can sometimes be tricky, so for a lot of companies, it's become a blind spot." There have been several major firmware attacks discovered in the last two years, such as RobbinHood, a ransomware that uses firmware to gain root access to a victim's computer and then encrypts all files until a Bitcoin ransom has been paid. This malware held the data of several US city governments hostage in May 2019. Another example is Thunderspy, an attack that utilises the direct memory access (DMA) function that PC hardware components use to talk to each other. This attack is so stealthy that an attacker can read and copy all data on a computer without leaving a trace, and the attack is possible even if the hard drive is encrypted, the computer is locked, or set to sleep. "If device firmware has no protection in place, or if the protection can be bypassed, then firmware compromise is both incredibly serious and potentially invisible," explains Chris Boyd, a malware intelligence analyst at security firm Malwarebytes. "Remote or physical compromise which permits rogue code to run can set the stage for data theft, system damage, spying, and more." Big organisations beware The good news is that firmware attacks are less likely to target consumers, but big firms should beware, according to Gabriel Cirlig, a security researcher with US cyber-security firm Human (formerly White Ops). "It is a big deal, but fortunately it only works against big organisations, because you need to target specific types of motherboards and firmware," he tells the BBC. Typically, cyber-criminals tend to attack operating systems and popular software, because they only make money if they can infect the biggest numbers of end users. Firmware attacks are less common and more complicated to implement than other types of cyber-attacks, but unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the problem. The pandemic has led to a sharp rise in devices connecting remotely to critical corporate network infrastructure The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency within the US Department of Commerce, continually updates a National Vulnerability Database (NVD) with new security flaws. The database has recorded a five-fold increase in attacks against firmware in the last four years. Coronavirus lockdowns in multiple countries have led to multiple employees working from home and connecting remotely to work servers. Each one of those computers and mobile devices is an opportunity. Carrying out a firmware attack might be complex, says Mr Cirlig, but if attackers could silently steal critical information from a c-suite executive's laptop, like passwords, they could then use it to infiltrate a company's networks and steal more data. Nation-state hackers would be most likely to use such an attack, he adds. "This is a big operation with big pay-offs - it's not something that a small group of cyber-criminals has the manpower to do." Creeping soon to a network near you Although firmware attacks are not as ubiquitous as phishing scams, malware or other cyber-attacks, the cyber-security experts the BBC spoke to say now is the time for businesses, and the technology industry as a whole, to pay attention to hardware security. Hardware and firmware designers need to be included in the cyber-security discussion, say experts "Firmware attacks are not common on a day-to-day basis, but that's because people don't realise they're being infected by such an attack," says Mr Boyd. "It's like when ransomware first came onto the scene - people didn't know of anyone who was infected by it, and if big organisations were, they wouldn't tell anyone about it, as there was an element of shame, not wanting their clients to know they'd been infected." Mr Boyd adds that a new generation of "budding hardware enthusiasts" who have been learning their way around firmware by "modding video game consoles over the last decade" could well pose additional threats to enterprise cyber-security going forward - a point Mt Cirlig fervently agrees with, since he hacked the firmware in his own car when he was younger. "Microsoft is right to raise this as a major issue, because we need to bring firmware designers and operational technologies along the journey of cyber-security, the way we have with software companies," says Mr Potter. "As we connect more things to the internet, we're connecting a lot more devices that haven't been designed with cyber-security in mind. And if the trend continues, bad guys will go after it." | https://news.yahoo.com/firms-more-worried-firmware-cyber-025220486.html |
Are the US and China entering a Cold War? | Your browser does not support playing this file but you can still download the MP3 file to play locally. The US president has promised that, after four years of retreat from the global stage, America is back. Over the past few years, China has continued to expand its economic and political influence and matched its growing clout on the world stage with a bigger military that is flexing its might in the Pacific. In this episode Demetri Sevastopulo, the FTs US-China correspondent, talks to Michle Flournoy of the Center for a New American Security, a bipartisan think-tank in Washington, about how the Biden administration might handle Beijing. Flournoy served in the Pentagon during the Clinton and Obama administrations. Review clips: C-SPAN, CNN, DW, CNBC, The White House, UN See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. A transcript for this podcast is currently unavailable, view our accessibility guide. | https://www.ft.com/content/47526823-2b0a-468f-8571-69b494dd7453 |
Who is Jude Bellingham? | PA Media All eyes were on superstar striker, Erling Haaland, when his side Borussia Dortmund came up against Manchester City in the Champions League last night. But, it was another teenager who stole the headlines - English midfielder Jude Bellingham. The 17-year-old Birmingham born star became the youngest footballer ever to play in a Champions League quarter final during the 2-1 defeat and saw a goal controversially disallowed. Here are five things you need to know about England's next big hope. Birmingham's youngest ever player Getty Images Bellingham joined his hometown club, Birmingham, as an eight year old and became the club's youngest ever player at just 16 years and 38 days old. In doing so, he broke a 49 year old record, held by a player called Trevor Francis. In his first season as a professional, Bellingham became a key player for Birmingham, playing 44 times in centre midfield. Most expensive 17-year-old of all time Getty Images Bellingham's performances attracted interest from some of the biggest teams in the world, and he was tipped to join Manchester United. However, he decided to sign for German side, Borussia Dortmund, due to their development of fellow English youngster, Jadon Sancho. Dortmund paid 25 million for Bellingham, which is the biggest ever transfer fee for a 17-year-old. Retiring the shirt Getty Images When Bellingham left for Dortmund, Birmingham made the surprising move to retire his shirt number - 22 - meaning it could never been used again. This symbolic gesture usually reserved for players who have been legends for clubs and have either retired or died. Birmingham said the move was to "remember one of our own and to inspire others". Breaking records Getty Images Bellingham has been breaking records throughout his career so far. He is Dortmund's youngest ever scorer, he's England's third youngest ever player and he's the youngest Englishman to ever play in the Champions League. Lots of experts have compared him to England legend Steven Gerrard due to the way he plays the game in midfield. Outside chance for the Euros Getty Images England manager Gareth Southgate named Bellingham in his most recent England squad and Bellingham played 45 minutes against San Marino. Lots of pundits are now tipping the midfielder to get a call-up for the Three Lions at the re-arranged Euro 2020 tournament this summer. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56660249 |
Are some COVID-19 vaccines more effective than others? | Its hard to tell since they werent directly compared in studies. But experts say the vaccines are alike on what matters most: preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Luckily, all these vaccines look like theyre protecting us from severe disease, said Dr. Monica Gandhi of the University of California, San Francisco, citing study results for five vaccines used around the world and a sixth thats still in review. And real-world evidence as millions of people receive the vaccines show they're all working very well. Still, people might wonder if one is better than another since studies conducted before the vaccines were rolled out found varying levels of effectiveness. The problem is they don't offer apples-to-apples comparisons. Consider the two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, found to be about 95% effective at preventing illness. Studies for those shots counted a COVID-19 case whether it was mild, moderate or severe and were conducted before worrisome mutated versions of the virus began circulating. Then Johnson & Johnson tested a single-dose vaccine and didn't count mild illnesses. J&Js shot was 66% protective against moderate to severe illness in a large international study. In just the U.S., where there's less spread of variants, it was 72% effective. More importantly, once the vaccines effect kicked in it prevented hospitalization and death. AstraZeneca's two-dose vaccine used in many countries has faced questions about the exact degree of its effectiveness indicated by studies. But experts agree those shots, too, protect against the worst outcomes. Around the world, hospitalizations are dropping in countries where vaccines have been rolling out including Israel, England and Scotland regardless of which shots are given. And the U.S. governments first look at real-world data among essential workers provided further evidence that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly protective -- 90% -- against infections whether there were symptoms or not. ___ The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: [email protected]. I got the COVID-19 vaccine. | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Are-some-COVID-19-vaccines-more-effective-than-16085321.php |
What Kind of Monster Is Matt Gaetz? | Florida Republican Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking, and whether or not he is indicted, investigated for sex trafficking has now affixed itself to his name, perhaps permanently. Whatever kind of monster it is people picture when they hear sex trafficker, his opponents hope it is enough to sink his political career. Still, what we already know to be true about Gaetzthat he pushed the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, that he has employed staff who took policy cues from a conspiracy theoryladen message board and who cheered on the January 6 insurrectionis plenty contemptible and corrosive. Matt Gaetz has quite publicly demonstrated a willingness to abuse power. There is enough here, too, without having to fall back on pernicious myths about sex trafficking in order to portray Gaetz as the kind of ready-made villain that may be, unfortunately, easier to run out of office. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide before evidence against him could be heard in court but who was accused by several young women of having trafficked them for sex, which prosecutors say spanned years of manipulation, deceit, and abuse. But Epstein is an exception: In fact, he evaded prosecution for a long time, in part because he was the kind of person who is rarely prosecuted for sex trafficking. He was white, by his own account wealthy, and he had powerful people to shield himlike U.S. attorney (and future Trump labor secretary) Alex Acosta, who in 2007 kept Epstein out of federal prison through a plea deal. Epsteins story is the kind that fits more comfortably inside a conspiracy theory than the everyday mechanics of our criminal legal system. Gaetz, meanwhile, seems to have come under investigation due to a less powerful associate, a former Florida official named Joel Greenberg, who has already been charged with sex trafficking, among other offenses, and whose prosecution may have exposed Gaetz. According to the indictment, when Greenberg was the tax collector for Seminole County, Florida, he did knowingly recruit, entice, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit a minor between the ages of 14 and 17. The sex trafficking charge was reported in August 2020, but this March, The New York Times connected it to a Department of Justice investigation into Gaetz, which its sources say is focused on whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old and whether he gave her anything of material value. The sugar daddy website SeekingArrangement.com may have been where Greenberg and possibly Gaetz met women; as the Times reported, The F.B.I. mentioned the website in a conversation with at least one potential witness, according to a person familiar with the conversation. After this, Gaetz issued a memorable denial: Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex. Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life. | https://newrepublic.com/article/161981/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-abuse-of-power |
How often do planes refuel? Are airlines prepared to deal with a lithium battery fire on board? | Larry, Nashville It varies by the type of airplane and the distance flown. Normally, an airplane will fuel when it lands. However, if fuel is expensive, it may be possible to avoid fueling at an airport by carrying extra fuel on the inbound flight. This is known as tankering. Many airplanes can carry several hours of fuel, but will not fill up as the additional weight of the fuel causes an increase in the fuel burn. So there is not a simple answer to your question. If the flight is a long transoceanic flight, the airplane will refuel when it lands. If the flight is short, then it is possible that the price of the fuel will determine whether and where fueling is done. As an example, if an airplane departs Charlotte, North Carolina, for New York and plans to fly on to Providence, Rhode Island, the price of fuel in New York may be the deciding factor in opting to carry enough fuel to fly both flights. With everyone carrying mobile devices, including cellphones, laptops and tablets, I'm concerned about fires due to battery malfunction. Howard S., Sturgis, South Dakota Many airlines do have containment devices to hold a lithium battery powered device that has overheated and gone into thermal runaway. I do not know if all airlines have them but the majority do. Sadly, the FAA guidance for flight crews to deal with a device in thermal runaway is outdated, and has conflicting information. This is an opportunity to improve safety by updating the guidance to flight crews. 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/2021/04/08/lithium-batteries-airlines-prepared-deal-fires-board/7120988002/ |
Could these classic cars be resurrected? | "Full House," "Saved by the Bell," "Punky Brewster." All have come back in one way, shape or form. In the same way, the auto industry has been tapping into American nostalgia, too, by resurrected long-dead vehicles that once were beloved. The Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Bronco, Toyota Supra and Chevrolet Trailblazer are among the many that are making a comeback. So, a few weeks ago, USA TODAY wrote about other long-gone vehicle names that could be ripe for revival, including the Cadillac Eldorado, the Chevrolet El Camino, the Dodge Dakota and the Subaru Baja. After all, automakers are finding it hard to identify new real-word names that haven't been used before plus, it's expensive to market a brand-new nameplate. So, if you still own one of those nameplates, that alone gives you some incentive as an automaker to revive it," said Karl Brauer, an analyst with car-buying site iSeeCars. : Chevrolet, Cadillac, Dodge classic cars offer opportunity Volkswagen won't be 'Voltswagen': Misleading marketing is risky, especially for VW What's tougher to figure out is which dormant nameplate to revive and when to do it. For instance, some vehicles were popular when they were first sold, but their body style has fallen out of favor. That can lead automakers to consider turning cars into SUVs, but that could alienate fans. It comes down to how long its been gone, whether it was allowed to fade off into the sunset or what was really happening when they stopped, said Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst for research firm IHS Markit. Without further adieu, here are vehicles USA TODAY readers suggested should be rebooted: Ford Falcon One hundred year-old Rita Doucette leaves her Fairview Estates home and turns onto East Main Street in Hopkinton aboard a 1963 Ford Falcon on Friday, Sept. 25. Daily News and Wicked Local Staff Photo/Ken McGagh Talk about a name that still resonates. The Falcon just rings. And the passenger car's heritage is still cherished by many. "The Ford Falcon was the Mustangs predecessor, and one could argue the name is easily as cool as Mustang," Brauer said. "While the original Falcon was a relatively pedestrian vehicle, easily overshadowed by the Mustang when it arrived in 1964, a modern Ford with the Falcon name could have plenty of consumer appeal." Brauer suggested that Ford could make a Falcon based on the Bronco SUV platform, making a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive vehicle like the Subaru WRX. The Falcon has another thing going for it that shouldn't be taken for granted: The word "falcon" is currently featured in a popular TV show, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney+. That calls to mind how much success automaker Nissan had in marketing its Nissan Rogue SUV when the Star Wars movie "Rogue One" was released. It was a pure coincidence that Disney used the word "rogue" in its movie title, but it paid off big time for Nissan. Chevrolet Bel Air A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air custom convertible. Barrett-Jackson The body style of the Bel Air wouldn't work. It was a large car, and those simply aren't selling well these days. And the Bel Air name might turn off some people given its association with wealth and privilege. Think the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." But the nameplate still carries a cachet that could prove hard for General Motors to ignore forever. "Chevrolet Bel Air might be an interesting one," Brinley said, adding it could be among the classic "names from the '50s that might be able to come back." Volkswagen Scirocco The Volkswagen Scirocco was discontinued in 2017. Martial Trezzini, AP This performance-oriented two-door vehicle dates back to the 1970s. But it actually didn't go out of production until around 2017. Yet it continues to have devoted fans. Much like the Cadillac Eldorado and the Plymouth Barracuda, some of them have clamored to get it back. Brauer said it could be a contender to return, though he acknowledged that the market for small performance cars is limited. Toyota Previa A visitor steps out of a Toyota Previa at an import car expo in Beijing, China, on Nov. 1, 2011. The Toyota Previa was discontinued in the U.S. in the 1990s. Alexander F. Yuan, AP Today, this minivan's design looks pretty funny because of its curvy, almost space-ship-type design. No wonder it never gained much traction in the U.S. and was discontinued after several years of production in the 1990s. Toyota eventually gained much more traction with the Sienna minivan. Yet the Previa has held on as a collector's vehicle. In fact, collector car insurer Hagerty recently compared a Hyundai model to the Previa. "That's a compliment," Hagerty said. Here's a thought: Given the resurgence of #VanLife during the pandemic a trend in which Americans are upfitting commercial vans to use for life on the road maybe it's time for Toyota to custom design a van for just that purpose. Make it a van fit for the road. After all, VW has generated enormous buzz with its forthcoming release of the ... ID.Buzz, a revived version of its famed microbus. Share this story AMC Gremlin An AMC Gremlin. Hagerty More than one reader suggested that the AMC Gremlin could be fit for a comeback. But there are a few problems here. One, it was a cheap subcompact car, and those are just about as rare as a Ford Model T these days. Second, the AMC brand is history. Third, the Gremlin wasn't exactly beloved by everyone. "The Gremlin name might be a tough sell in todays market," Brauer said. "The original Gremlin has a following, but its a small following, and you could likely find as many people with a negative association to the term 'Gremlin' as positive." Even fans of the Gremlin realize it might not work. "Jeep could do something on the Compass and sell it as a Gremlin but that's a bit much," one person tweeted in response to USA TODAY's story. Chevrolet S10 The 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup. General Motors, Wieck Aging versions of this compact pickup can still be seen on the road today. It had devoted fans because, well, pickups tend to generate a lot of loyalty. Which is a clear reason why it could make a comeback. One thing that helps: GM still makes a pickup branded as an S10 in markets outside the U.S. Plus, compact pickups could be coming to a dealership near you soon. Ford is rumored to be considering one, and GM probably would not want to be left out. But it would risk competing with its own Chevy Colorado and GMC midsize pickups if it did one, just as Ford will risk competing with its Ranger midsize truck. "What does it do for you that Colorado doesnt?" Brinley said, questioning whether the S10 makes sense as a returnee. Honda CR-X The 198891 Honda CR-X Si was among the hottest classic cars of 2020, according to the Hagerty Bull Market List. Dean Smith The Honda CR-X was small. Really small. It weighed just over 2,000 pounds in some variations. When the second generation was introduced in 1988, it included an Si variant, ushering in sport features that attracted a legion of fans. "These later-gen cars are the stuff of legend, welterweight stature notwithstanding," Hagerty wrote in 2019. "They were cheap, light, precise, and about as mechanically complex as a screwdriver. To say nothing of the little H badge on the front, which meant they were as reliable as the sun. These virtues also came at a small sticker price, further adding to their desirability." While small cars aren't in vogue, performance cars are. Brauer said the CR-X could be a good fit for a comeback because there's still "a lot of equity" in the name. You can follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. | https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/04/08/classic-cars-ford-chevrolet-honda-toyota-volkswagen/4834938001/ |
Is massive REM structure an eyesore on West Island landscape? | With large concrete columns being constructed along Highway 40 through the heart of the West Island, local mayors say the benefits of a modern transportation system linking the suburbs to downtown Montreal outweigh aesthetical concerns. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video But Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa is among those who doesnt find the REM architecturally inspiring. Its too bad its taken this long for people to actually flag that. I mean, come on, weve all seen it. It aint pretty. The REMs 14.5 kilometre western line will end at Anse--lOrme station in Ste-Anne. It is the only ground-level station in the West Island. Hawa realizes the Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec had little wiggle room in terms of finding space to build a 67-kilometre light rail network across the Greater Montreal area. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Doing it at ground level would have meant a lot of land expropriation. The cost would have been even more prohibitive. I understand they didnt have a million and one options, she said. If there had been a possibility of building it on the south side along Highway 20, that would have been perfect. But no matter which way you looked at it, turning it upside down or sideways, there was no way to get that done. Especially now with more distribution of goods by train. You cant share train tracks. Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson has no qualms about the REMs structural look. He says it will blend into the modern setting of Kirkland. Were a young city, 60 years old, so the buildings we have are not dilapidated . . . that type of structure fits with the surroundings, he said. The Kirkland station will look nice; the actual train on the rail will look nice. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Gibson said he understands why an elevated structure might not be a good fit for parts of the east-end. Its about the surroundings. If you put that in the east-end or in the older sector of Montreal, it could look out of place like the Olympic Stadium. He said the REM is also driving up local real estate prices. The real estate in Kirkland is going out of this world. Its unbelievable. Dollard-des-Ormeaux Mayor Alex Bottausci said the REM will also have a positive effect on local commercial property. The advent of the REM coming in pushed either the demand for our land and older properties on our territories to be revamped. The important thing is to have developer not necessarily develop what they feel like developing but what our community actually collectively needs, and try and find a good balance between the two. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Although there is no REM station in Dollard, there are several in proximity to its borders, including Des Sources and Fairview-Pointe-Claire and Sunnybrooke in Pierrefonds-Roxboro. Bottausci said there are trade-offs for having massive infrastructure built above ground in urban areas. My opinion is that its best if you can keep it on the ground. Anything that gets elevated starts to become an eyesore, but you do have existing infrastructure that you need to work around. And to the REMs defence, and I have questioned them on this in the past . . . they say if you want us to deliver transportation times in other words we want to run this train every five minutes we cant have crossroads or (ground-level) barriers. You cant have that. You need to be able to travel without interruptions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content If thats what brings transportation to a whole new level, along with the expectations of the traveler, then thats what we need to do as a community. The REMs West Island line is slated to be operational by 2024. After the novelty wears off, Hawa hopes West Islanders will still like the look of the massive concrete structure in 2035. It doesnt hurt my eyes so much right now . . . but in 10 or 15 years and I cant see how it will age well. As Ive said before, it will be a graffiti magnet. It wont take long at all. Then what? Gibson shares those concerns about graffiti. In Kirkland, we dont tolerate graffiti. If they dont remove it, well remove it ourselves and send (the REM) the bill, he said. For now though, the look itself doesnt bother me. Photo by Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette [email protected] More On This Topic Ste-Anne mayor says REM traffic "a disaster waiting to happen" Kirkland mayor says REM parking needed at new RioCan development site 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. 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What Will Logistics Look Like After The Pandemic? | Mitch Luciano is President/CEO of #1 Ocean Carrier Trailer Bridge, the #1 Place to Work in Jacksonville and an Inc. Best Workplace for 2020. Getty Covid-19 has challenged transportation professionals to quickly adapt to a dramatically altered logistics landscape. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains, imposed remote work on all but essential workers and completely upended executive priorities. Companies that have transformed themselves are weathering the storm. And while some changes are temporary, many are here to stay. As the CEO of a logistics company that specializes in ocean shipping, I've outlined three of my predictions below, as well as a few best practices logistics companies should keep in mind moving forward: 1. Digital disruption has become an explosion. As countries worldwide put safety protocols in place in 2020, many savvy organizations quickly pivoted to e-commerce and digital transformation. Most executives plan to continue making their companies increasingly digital and virtual, especially if they lead large organizations. McKinsey recently reported that the pandemic has accelerated the rate by which some companies were able to create digital or digitally enhanced offerings by 20 to 25 times. Processes that used to take years such as transitioning to remote work and collaboration, implementing technology in operations and changing ownership of last-mile delivery, to name a few were accomplished in mere days or weeks. Moving forward, digital strategies will need to encompass core business operations and processes, such as serving customers and storing inventory, and diverse tech e.g., the Internet of Things, cloud computing, automation, and digital products and services can be used to do so. I observed that artificial intelligence and robotics were making slow inroads into the logistics arena prior to Covid-19. But with the pandemics global disruption of supply chains, some businesses are taking a closer look at integrating robots and AI into operations, as robots, for example, can help track supply chain issues, sanitize and manage pack-and-ship operations, and more. The pandemic also showed the manufacturing and logistics industries the dangers of just-in-time, one-source supply chain management. Many operations will need to rethink lean manufacturing practices. This might mean using robotic systems or leveraging the IoT. However, since the pandemic has already cost thousands of jobs, replacing more employees with robots is a business decision that should not be taken lightly. Robotics should only be integrated to cover some of the more mundane jobs, such as palletizing, de-palletizing and sorting. This helps provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills, including operating the robots. Companies should consider investing in upskilling to help employees transition to work alongside these technologies. The key is to look at the new technology as a way to help your team enhance their performance rather than as a replacement for skilled workers. The pandemic has unquestionably accelerated e-commerce, and many consumers won't change their habits after the pandemic. That's creating new pressures, in particular for last-mile delivery. Logistics service providers might also consider adopting automated technology like robotics, drones and self-driving vehicles to reduce labor shortages. 2. Work will become more flexible and employee-oriented. Many employees have had to work from home during the pandemic. Research by PwC found that 78% of CEOs believe that remote work and collaboration will remain after the pandemic; 61% felt that low-density workplaces are here to stay, and 58% said supply chain safety would be an enduring issue to contend with, making safety a priority over speed. Work flexibility corresponds with the emerging needs for health and wellness resources, especially if employees work in unusual and unpredictable workplaces where they are more prone to burnout. And while 54% of respondents to the PwC survey felt that the change from traditional employment to a gig economy was here to stay, their employees still wanted stability and employee benefits such as health insurance but with the flexibility that Covid-19 forced upon the global workforce. This tells me that forward-looking leaders should promote employee mental health and overall wellness. 3. Companies will broaden their production bases. Many business leaders have recognized that extended and complex supply chains are vulnerable. As a result, many companies are making plans to shorten supply chains through nearshoring or reshoring and fewer imports. According to a Foley survey, 43% of companies currently operating in China either already have or are planning to move operations to another country, such as the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, Brazil and India, to source goods. Globally, I predict businesses will be looking to expand their supplier bases across multiple production sites and increase inventory levels across the system, all while worrying less about the lowest-cost supplier. Logistics companies that can increase warehousing capacity or dry ports could have an advantage. Logistics is the No. 1 consideration in choosing a region to both manufacture and source goods or services, the Foley survey reported. End-to-end supply chain management was already a concern before the pandemic, and Covid-19 forced a seismic shift. Logistics companies will need to look at digital supply networks to optimize shipping routes, spot unanticipated delays, and facilitate tracking and tracing, mode substitutions and inventory rebalancing. Long-Term Changes To Logistics Today, clients are looking for end-to-end visibility and transparency more than ever. Governments responded early in the pandemic with temporary trade embargoes and export restrictions for sensitive cargo, and all are hyperaware this type of disruption could happen again. As the pandemic recedes and business stabilizes, companies will likely continue to digitally transform at an accelerated pace. But as much as transportation and logistics employees have valid concerns that they may be replaced by this innovative technology, in truth they are needed more than ever. Remember: It is the people of logistics who provide the insight, knowledge of geographical and cultural nuance, and creativity to make the most of these technological advances. I wrote in a previous column about the necessity to create exceptional customer experiences in this more connected world, and it is your empowered, knowledgeable logistics employees who will drive that charge. Equipping them now with access to higher quality data, tools that automate redundant or repetitive tasks, and technology to drive better decision-making is the way forward. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/04/08/what-will-logistics-look-like-after-the-pandemic/ |
What is behind the violence in Northern Ireland? | By Michael Hirst BBC News NI Published 27 minutes ago image copyright Pacemaker image caption The rioting has mostly involved gangs of youths armed with bricks and petrol bombs More than 50 police officers have been hurt and 10 people arrested as a result of rioting over the past 10 days, in several towns and cities across Northern Ireland. The UK and Irish prime ministers have condemned the violence, and Northern Ireland's government met on Thursday to call for an "immediate and complete end" to the unrest. All Northern Ireland's main parties have condemned the rioting, although they are divided over its causes. image caption Since the end of March, there has been unrest on a near-nightly basis, mainly in loyalist areas of a number of towns and cities Violence involving gangs of people as young as 12 started in a pro-union loyalist area of Londonderry on 29 March. Since then, there have been protests and rioting on a near-nightly basis in a number of towns and cities, including Belfast, Carrickfergus, Ballymena and Newtownabbey. The rioting has largely seen loyalist youths throwing bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs at lines of police officers and vehicles. But on Wednesday night the fighting escalated into sectarian clashes over a so-called peace wall in west Belfast that divides predominantly protestant loyalist from predominantly Catholic nationalist communities. A gate that divides the two was smashed open and, during several hours of disorder police officers and a press photographer were attacked and a bus was hijacked and burned. Parts of Northern Ireland are split along sectarian lines, 23 years after a peace deal largely ended Northern Ireland's Troubles - which lasted almost 30 years and cost the lives of more than 3,500 people. Loyalist, unionist communities want Northern Ireland to remain in the UK, while nationalists want to see a united Ireland. While there are no clear indications the unrest is being orchestrated by an organised group, the violence has been concentrated in areas where criminal gangs linked to loyalist paramilitaries have significant influence. image copyright Pacemaker image caption The violence has been concentrated in areas where loyalist paramilitaries have significant influence There is increasing evidence that senior figures in organisations such as the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force are allowing the trouble to proceed. Analysts suggest loyalist paramilitaries of the South East Antrim UDA may have exploited an opportunity to kick back at the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a recent clampdown on criminality in the area around Carrickfergus. The paramilitary group is involved in many forms of organised crime, doing "untold damage to the community and exerting fear in neighbourhoods", say police. Unionist leaders have linked the violence to simmering loyalist tensions over the Irish Sea border imposed as a result of the UK-EU Brexit deal. The new trading border is the result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, introduced to avoid the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland. image caption Unionists say the protocol damages trade and threatens Northern Ireland's place in the UK The protocol means Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods, so products being moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland undergo EU import procedures. It avoids the need for checks on the Irish border, as EU customs rules are enforced at Northern Ireland's ports instead. Unionists say it damages trade and threatens Northern Ireland's place in the UK. In January, graffiti opposing the Irish Sea border was daubed on walls in some loyalist areas, including parts of Bangor, Belfast, Glengormley, and the home of one of Northern Ireland's main ports, Larne. These Brexit checks were temporarily suspended amid reported threats against port workers in Larne and Belfast - although the police later said there was no evidence of "credible threats". In March, a group which includes representatives of loyalist paramilitaries wrote to Boris Johnson to withdraw its support for the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 deal that effectively ended the Troubles. The Loyalist Communities Council said it was temporarily withdrawing its backing because of concerns about the protocol. Some unionist leaders have attributed the violence to the decision not to prosecute leaders of the republican Sinn Fin party for breaching Covid regulations at the funeral of former IRA intelligence chief Bobby Storey in June 2020. image copyright Pacemaker image caption Some 2,000 mourners lined the streets for the funeral of former IRA intelligence chief Bobby Storey in June 2020 The funeral drew 2,000 mourners - including Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill - at a time when strict Covid restrictions were still in place, limiting the number of people who could gather in public. Many people expressed anger at Ms O'Neill for failing to follow the guidance she insisted the public should follow - guidance which had led to loyalist band parades being cancelled last summer. Some have accused police of double standards after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there would be no prosecutions. Mr Byrne said he recognised people were angry, but has refused to step down. Calling for the ongoing street disorder to stop on Wednesday night, Mr Byrne said he was "open to dialogue with anyone who is willing to work with me to resolve the issues facing our community". Addressing the rioters, he tweeted: "Go home before someone is seriously injured. Violence is not the answer." | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56664378 |
Will travel costs change as vaccines roll out? | By Sam Kemmis, Nerdwallet The cost of travel will slowly rebound from historic lows as more people receive COVID-19 vaccinations and book long-deferred trips, according to industry experts. This time last year, air traffic in the U.S. plummeted, with 95% fewer travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in April 2020 compared with April 2019. This reduced demand led to a corresponding decrease in airfare prices. The average cost of a domestic round-trip ticket in the second quarter of 2020 dropped 28% from the same period in 2019, down to $259, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Few travelers were monitoring these prices at the time since so few were booking flights. But now, with COVID-19 vaccinations opening the possibility of travel to millions more Americans each week, prices are once again set to change. If youre one of those would-be travelers, experts cautiously advise booking your travel soon. Much remains uncertain, but prices are unlikely to return to 2020 levels. Flight demand set to take off Experts who track travel deals and consumer interest say demand for airplane seats is likely to increase, driving prices back up. Domestic airfare prices are expected to rise 4%-5% every month until summer 2021, said Adit Damodaran, an economist with Hopper, a travel search tool. A lot of that is based on the vaccination rollout. And this increased demand might combine with decreased supply. Airlines scaled back routes and flight frequency in 2020, parking aircraft and furloughing staff. They may be slow to return capacity to pre-pandemic levels, even as bookings pick up steam. Airlines are burning so much cash, so what were seeing is that theyre slowly expanding supply, said Jesse Neugarten, who founded the flight deal newsletter Dollar Flight Club. If we have to shut down travel again, they dont want to get caught in a similar situation as they did in 2020. Hotel prices may rise slowly Hotel prices have also dropped during the pandemic, though not as uniformly. Room rates in February in New York City were down 37% year-over-year according to Hoppers data, while small-town hotels saw only a 5% dip. This reflects a larger exodus from crowded cities during the pandemic. This pattern could reverse as vaccinated travelers flock back into metropolitan areas later in 2021, driving prices up. But tourism accounts for only part of travel demand. Business travel, which has all but ceased during the pandemic, will likely be slower to return. This could keep hotel prices low throughout 2021, especially in large cities. It could also suppress airfare prices somewhat, even as more tourists take to the skies. Booking flexibility likely to continue Neugarten, who tracks flight deals, points to a changing travel landscape that extends beyond considerations of supply and demand. The pandemic changed how airlines and hotels handle flexibility, with many eliminating change and cancellation fees altogether. This, in turn, has changed the logic for how and when to book travel. Im not going to book last-minute because I can get a good deal if Im booking three months in advance, Neugarten said. Theres a lot of incentive to book a deal now because of the flexibility. Furthermore, the travel trends that mark a typical year remain in flux. Memorial Day and July Fourth travel could follow unusual trends, especially in terms of when bookings will occur. The traditional events of the year in travel are simply not happening, so there isnt the same best time to book that we would normally see, said Mark Crossey, travel expert for Skyscanner, a flight search tool. And then there is the question of international travel. Many countries have limited tourists, particularly from the U.S., and these restrictions may remain even as more travelers receive vaccinations. Were not expecting an increase in prices for international airfare until May, said Damodaran. And changing prices are unlikely to be geographically uniform, as countries update their policies one by one. Damodaran noted that Hopper is seeing the strongest interest in Caribbean and Latin American destinations. Uncertainties abound. Vaccine distribution hiccups could dampen prices, as could surges in COVID-19 variants. Flexible booking options, although good for customers, could lead to mass rebookings later in the year. And volatile oil markets could impact airfare prices, as they do in normal years. Despite these unknowns, experts remain cautiously confident that those looking to book 2021 travel should do so sooner rather than later. Greater flexibility reduces the risk of changing plans, and increased travel demand is unlikely to drive prices below current levels. I booked a one-way (flight) to Portugal in July for $109, Neugarten says. Well see if I get the vaccination before. If not, Ill push it out. | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/08/will-travel-costs-change-as-vaccines-roll-out/ |
Are Zoom Meetings Reducing Our Collective Intelligence? | getty As the world has shut down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more of us have turned to remote working, with Zoom meetings becoming ubiquitous, whether for work or for more social activities. The almost totally virtual nature of life over the past year has led to growing concerns about "Zoom fatigue" as people grow tired of the lack of human interaction and the unique nature of video conferencing brings unique challenges to our engagements. New research from Carnegie Mellon also suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. The study suggests that whereas we might assume that technology that aims to replicate our face-to-face interactions via video links will be most effective, the reality is that non-visual communication may be more effective, especially when synchronized with audio cues. Boosting our collective intelligence Previous research from MIT explored the way collective intelligence forms in online communities. They reasoned that things like our ability to empathize and interact with others are key to successful teamwork, but both are difficult to measure online as we dont have access to in-person cues. The key is the "Theory of Mind" (ToM), which describes our ability to understand someone else's mental state, and indeed how it may differ from our own. The ToM has been used to explore the collective intelligence of groups in real-life settings, and the authors hypothesized that it could also work online. It emerged that the level of communication coupled with the ToM abilities within the group was a good indicator of the collective wisdom of the team. Crucially, the medium (ie the online chat room) was no hindrance to the ability of the group to interpret the emotions of their peers or to contribute fully to the tasks at hand. Getting on the same page The Carnegie Mellon team focused on non-verbal cues and their role in effective teamwork. They wanted to test how video conferencing tools affect our ability to effectively hold conversations and share ideas. They argue that in real-life, non-verbal cues are crucial in helping to mediate conversations so that we know when it's our turn to speak. The study focused specifically on synchrony of facial expression and prosodic synchrony. While I'm sure we can all grasp what facial expression synchrony is, prosodic synchrony may require a bit more explanation. It basically revolves around capturing things such as our tone, intonation, stress, and rhythm of speech. The hypothesis was that during Zoom calls we have access to both audio and visual cues and that this would encourage us to rely more on facial expression synchrony, whereas if we only have audio cues, we rely more on prosodic synchrony to develop collective intelligence. getty Dumbing down "We found that video conferencing can actually reduce collective intelligence," the researchers say. "This is because it leads to more unequal contribution to conversation and disrupts vocal synchrony. Our study underscores the importance of audio cues, which appear to be compromised by video access." Of course, audio cues don't provide the whole picture. For instance, research from Tampere University, in Finland highlights the importance of eye contact for collaboration, in a similar way to the study from MIT mentioned earlier. The study found that eye contact during video calls triggers the same kind of pscychophysiological responses as eye contact face to face. The findings emerged after the researchers examined the physical reactions to eye contact in a range of situations, including face-to-face and via a live video call. Responses were measured via skin conductance and activation of their facial muscles. Its believed that changes in our skin conductance is a reflection of the level to which our autonomous nervous system is activated. The activation of our facial muscles reflects the positivity or negativity of this effect. Eye contact in a face-to-face setting was found to elicit a heightened autonomic arousal response, which is consistent with previous studies. Where this study is interesting, however, is that similar results were found when people engaged via a video chat. Changing our communication All of which makes it perhaps understandable that our communication style changes when we engage via video conferencing. Recent research from Florida Atlantic University reveals that our gaze is often altered during video conferencing, precisely because we believe the other person can see us, and were highly sensitive to the gaze direction of other people. Indeed, even children as young as 2 prefer it when people look directly at them. Its a phenomenon known as gaze cueing, and it provides a powerful signal to help us orient attention. This is a natural consequence of human history, with conversations always being conducted face-to-face. This assumption has been broken since the invention of the telephone, but video conferencing promises to make virtual communication more personal again. Interestingly, in real-time conditions, it was more common for participants to display avoidant fixation behaviors. The lack of time spent on the eyes of the other person suggests that the extra time spent looking at the mouth during the pre-recorded conversation wasnt done at the expense of eye contact, but rather reduced time spent looking elsewhere. Regardless of the specific mechanisms underlying the observed differences in fixation patterns, results from our study suggest participants were taking social and attentional considerations into account in the real-time condition, the researchers conclude. Given that encoding and memory have been found to be optimized by fixating the mouth, which was reduced overall in the real-time condition, this suggests that people do not fully optimize for speech encoding in a live interaction. This matters because a major factor in our ability to judge the mental state of others is through their eyes. It's something commonly measured in a test to determine our ability to gauge the Theory of Mind, called Reading of the Eyes. The test asks participants to try and judge the mental state of others through nothing more than looking at a photo of their eyes. What's clear is that video platforms are not exactly replicating our communication methods in a face-to-face setting, and it's important that we understand this so don't assume that they do. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/04/08/are-zoom-meetings-reducing-our-collective-intelligence/ |
Who's part of the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Bengals' Ring of Honor? | Paul Brown Stadium opened in 2000. Twenty-one years later, the downtown Cincinnati stadium will don a Ring of Honor. The Cincinnati Bengals announced Thursday the formation of a Ring of Honor to recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the franchises history and tradition. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade inside Paul Brown Stadium. More:Cincinnati Bengals release veteran running back Giovani Bernard More:Chad Ochocinco visits Cincinnati, leaves present in Joe Burrow's locker The first two members of the inaugural class are Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. Brown and Munoz are the two most distinguished names in franchise history. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He founded the Bengals and served as the teams first head coach and general manager. Munoz was an 11-time Pro Bowl tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 in his first year of eligibility. He is to this day the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame. Brown and Munoz will eventually be joined by two other former Bengals in the Ring of Honor. According to the team, season ticket members and suite owners will select the remaining two members from a ballot that will be released in May. The Bengals Ring of Honor is a way to show our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant impact on our franchise, Bengals owner Mike Brown said. We selected Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. They are in the Hall of Fame in Canton and it pleases me to put them out front as our initial inductees. We have a lot great players and coaches to honor and it will be fun to reminisce as we go about this process. Here's a video of the Bengals announcement of the Ring of Honor: | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/04/08/cincinnati-bengals-announce-ring-honor-inaugural-class/7138091002/ |
Why Tho? My friends kid is a sex worker. Should I tell him? | This is the latest installment of The Oregonian/OregonLives advice column, Why Tho? by Lizzy Acker. Lizzys advice first appears in our weekly advice newsletter. Subscribe now. Dear Lizzy, My good friends daughter is a prostitute. Shes 20 and my kid follows her on Snapchat, where she recently said she has sex with people for money. I believe it because Ive seen suspicious posts from her on other platforms for years. Her dad, my friend, doesnt follow her on Snapchat. My husband wants to tell him. My kid emphatically does not. Concerned Friend Dear Concerned Friend, While in general I am a fan of radical honesty, every single way I approach this question, I get to the same answer: No. First, you dont know for sure shes a sex worker, since you have never paid her forsex. Kids lie a lot on the internet. Its sort of a thing now. Dont trust what you see on social media, unless its verified. And in this case, I dont think you should try to verify. Second, even if she is having sex for money, while that is technically illegal in Oregon, its her body and not really your business. Third, if your husband approaches this father about a young woman maybe or maybe not having sex for money ... I am creeped out just thinking about that conversation. Tell him no. If you suspect your friends daughter is hurting herself in some way, or in danger, then you could approach her and ask her how she is doing. It also might be reasonable to talk to your friend and see how hes doing. Its likely he knows more about his daughter than you think, and he might just need a good, non-judgmental friend. Like oh so many people, we had a falling out over what they say is politics and I think is reality. Things have been rocky since 2016, but a few weeks ago, my mother said that I knew Trump really won and the media was to blame and she started talking about Hunter Biden, which was a little alarming because I didnt think she followed politics enough to even know who that is. I think it broke me. It was like a switch flipped. I just have no interest in talking to them now. My husband says I should talk with them about safe topics home improvement projects, funny stories from work, the pets. But I dont think they deserve these stories, and I dont feel like telling these stories and acting like everything is fine. I had a charmed childhood. They were wonderful and loving providers, but they dont think my hurt over this is valid. They are making me feel like Im the crazy one for causing a rift just over politics. They say if I dont have any conservative friends, Im the one whos lost touch with reality. (I do have conservative friends, with whom I can have pleasant conversations, but no, I cannot share an inner circle with people who believe in these conspiracy theories. Maybe my parents and I have different definitions of conservative.) I think Ive made my peace with it. Its exhausting and its emotionally easier for me to not speak to them. I will do short check-in calls on their well-being, but I dont think a relationship will be there. Parent Problems Dear Parent Problems, First no, you arent being stubborn or silly. Second, well, this is the worst and Im sorry. Its not like you dont love your parents. In fact, the problem is you do love them, so its extra hard for you to make allowances for their inability to get with reality. It also doesnt help that they are not acknowledging the validity of your feelings, which is one of the major things we really want from our parents, even when they disagree with us. I come down firmly on your side with this one you arent doing them any favors by pretending everything is okay or that this is just a political disagreement. You want them to accept reality and so far they havent. You actually havent cut them off. Youre still checking in, you still love them. You cant change their minds and youre doing what you need to do now to maintain your own mental health. But I dont think this is permanent. You dont have to decide now that your relationship with them is over forever. I believe that people who raised you with such love are currently deluded, but everyone is capable of change. All in all, this is a relatively new state they are in, during a chaotic time. So only contact them as much as makes sense for you right now, but leave some space in your heart to welcome them back if they change. Email her at [email protected]. Subscribe below to get it delivered every week straight to your inbox. | https://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2021/04/why-tho-my-friends-kid-is-a-sex-worker-should-i-tell-him.html |
Why Is The Amazon Union Vote Count Taking So Long? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Jay Reeves/AP Jay Reeves/AP The results of the 2021 election that everyone has been awaiting with bated breath are taking a while. Blame it on mail-in votes. Yes, this one, too. The results of the historic Amazon union vote in Alabama, which ended more than a week ago, are still a few days away. A potential reveal is on the cards for Friday at the earliest. Here's what we know so far. It's a really large mail-in election. The National Labor Relations Board has received 3,215 ballots from workers at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. That's according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is looking to represent this workplace. It's also a remarkable turnout of more than 50%. The vote-tally process done by hand includes several lengthy steps. On Wednesday evening, NLRB agents completed the first part of the process. It involved opening letters and calling out each voter's name so that Amazon or union representatives could object to that voter's eligibility. For example, the worker may no longer be employed at Amazon or the Bessemer warehouse. Hundreds of ballots have been challenged, the union says, mostly by Amazon. These ballots are then set aside and may play a huge role if the tally of uncontested votes produces a result that's so close that these set-aside votes could sway the outcome. For now, the vote-count moves on to the next step. Inside that first letter is a second sealed envelope containing the anonymous ballot. NLRB agents open those second envelopes and make sure to shuffle them properly to prepare the ballots for tallying. Only then will the hand-counting of yes and no votes begin possibly as early as Thursday afternoon. This tabulation of anonymous ballots will be streamed online for pre-registered members of the media and the general public. In short: Mail-in ballots take a while to process. The NLRB ruled to hold this election by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some overviews of what's at stake: Editor's note: Amazon is among NPR's recent financial supporters. | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985306190/why-is-the-amazon-union-vote-count-taking-so-long |
Who did the Colts take in CBS Sports 7-round mock draft? | As the 2021 NFL draft approaches, now officially three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts will be a team to watch. Given their history of finding gems throughout the draft, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for Indy. Without any trades going down, which is unlikely for Chris Ballard, the Colts found their new left tackle, an intriguing edge rusher a new pass-catching weapon that feel mightily. Heres how the mock draft went for the Colts: Round 1 | No. 21 overall Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech Author's snippet: "As stated earlier, look for the Colts to select either the best available pass rusher or offensive lineman with the 21st pick. Based on the needs of the 20 teams drafting ahead of them, there's a good chance that Darrisaw is still available with the Colts are on the clock. A dominant run blocker at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw could blossom into a Pro Bowl caliber player at the next level if he continues to improve in pass protection." Round 2 | No. 54 overall Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas Author's snippet: "This could be a stretch, but it's certainly possible for the Colts to steal Ossai with the 54th pick. Ossai made a habit of getting in opponents' backfields during his time at Texas, with 29 tackles for loss over the past two years. He also has untapped potential as a pass rusher. If Ossai is off the board, Pitt pass rusher Patrick Jones II would be another option if the Colts wait until the second round to bolster their pass rush." Round 4 | No. 127 overall Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: TE Brevin Jordan, Miami Author's snippet: "Speaking of untapped potential, Brevin Jordan, one of the nation's top-ranked tight ends coming out of high school, could be the pass-catching tight end the Colts' offense has been lacking. While his college stats weren't gaudy, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Jones did catch seven touchdowns last season while averaging 15.2 yards per catch." Story continues Round 5 | No. 165 overall Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: WR Whop Philyor, Indiana Author's snippet: "The Colts may wait a little longer to take a receiver, but I have them scooping up Philyor in the fifth round. A productive slot receiver his time at Indiana, Philyor was given the nickname "Whop" for his affinity for Burger King Whoppers as a kid. Philyor started to show his potential in 2019, when he caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 14.3 yards per catch. He would serve as a nice complement alongside T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal and Michael Pittman Jr.." Round 6 | No. 206 overall Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: S Mark Webb, Georgia Author's snippet: "In Webb, the Colts would get a hard-hitting defensive back who can line up at both safety and corner. Webb should make an immediate impact on special teams as a rookie." Round 7 | No. 248 overall Rick Bowmer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU Author's snippet: "Tonga, the last pick in the Colts' 2021 draft, would give Indianapolis some much needed depth on the defensive line. A good run defender, Tonga was a tough one-on-one matchup for opposing linemen during his time at BYU." 1 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-colts-cbs-sports-7-143950766.html?src=rss |
Should the Miami Dolphins consider trading down from No. 18 pick? | The Miami Dolphins need to have themselves a difficult conversation about this months 2021 NFL Draft. Every decision you make regarding players to invest in is challenging. There are a slew of dynamics at play for every selection that cause ripple effects throughout the rest of your roster; so no decision should be taken lightly. But the Dolphins have an even more unenviable decision to make with the No. Miami wont have to wait too long for their next scheduled pick at No. 36 overall, but theres a reasonable chance that the teams preferred target at either spot will not be there the next time they come around in the queue. If the Dolphins are committed to upgrading the pass rush, theyd likely be wise to stay put at No. 18 and make the pick be it Kwity Paye, Jaelan Phillips or Azeez Ojulari. The demand for pass rushers will get turned up quite quickly in this draft and the Dolphins currently have the proverbial high ground against a potential run. But if Miami wants to draft a running back, exploring a trade down situation may be in the best cards for Miami. The Dolphins roster overhaul is well underway and while the team is unlikely in a position to cater to an addition 12+ player rookie class this season, Miami is currently sorely lacking in Day 3 selection. The Dolphins, who own four top-50 picks and five in the top-100, have just three selections the rest of the way: one in the 5th-round and two in the 7th-round. A trade down from 18 would be a prime opportunity for the Dolphins to manufacture additional picks to get more swings of the bat in this years draft class. And, best of all, if you trade don from 18 and still manage to ensure you land your running back of choice, the Dolphins will presumably have finessed their draft positioning twice in the 1st-round given that the Dolphins presumably traded back up in the draft order after trading out of the No. 3 overall pick to ensure theyd be in position to draft the same player they coveted at No. 3 overall anyway. Securing the same players youd draft at No. 3 and No. 18 overall but getting both in later slots while adding more picks is one heck of a way to open an NFL Draft. Well see if Chris Grier and the Dolphins have an appetite for such an approach here in the coming weeks. | https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-dolphins-consider-trading-down-144212778.html?src=rss |
What Will the Panthers Do at No. 8 Following the Sam Darnold Trade? | Earlier this week, the Carolina Panthers traded a 2021 6th round pick, a 2022 2nd round pick, and a 2022 4th round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for 23-year-old QB Sam Darnold. With GM Scott Fitterer making this deal, it seems very unlikely that Carolina will still consider taking a quarterback in the first round of this year's draft. So, all of those mock drafts that I've put out over the last month or two...yeah, you can forget about them. This completely changes the team's approach at No. 8 and will now look to address other areas of the roster aside from quarterback. Let's take a look. Fix the offensive line Carolina will be working to get a long-term deal with right tackle Taylor Moton done over the next several months and now, have the opportunity to draft one of the top tackles in this year's class to really solidify the two tackle spots. Penei Sewell (Oregon) and Rashawn Slater (Northwestern) are going to be the top two tackles off the board. The question remains if they'll still be there when Carolina is on the clock. The Bengals are sitting at No. 5 and will almost certainly take one of the two. If they don't, they're just asking for something bad to happen AGAIN to their new face of the franchise, Joe Burrow. I like both Slater and Sewell but if I had my choice, I'd side with Sewell although Slater is probably the more polished of the two. Stabilize the secondary Carolina is extremely thin at corner once again but made a big signing on Wednesday with the addition of A.J. Bouye. He's 29 years old and is coming off a season in which he dealt with injuries and a suspension so it's hard to tell what he's really going to bring to the table. There are two corners in the first round that I think can be difference makers - Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) and Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech). Choosing Farley at No. 8 is a bit of a reach, so if they stay at eight, Surtain II should be the choice if they elect to go with a corner. South Carolina's Jaycee Horn is flying up everyone's draft boards but I'm not as sold on him as I am the other two. Give Darnold another weapon Picking a wide receiver, running back, or a highly skilled tight end always excites the fans because they are more exciting picks than say an offensive lineman or a defensive tackle. A week ago, drafting a skill position player wouldn't have made much sense. Now with Darnold on board, it could open up that possibility. Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (LSU), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), DeVonta Smith (Alabama), and tight end Kyle Pitts (Florida) are all very intriguing options that could make an already explosive offensive attack even more dangerous. Trade down This would actually be a good idea if Sewell or Slater are not available at No. 8. In that case, I would heavily consider the thought of trading down and gaining an extra pick. Someone like Minnesota, New England, or Washington may want to make a move up to get a quarterback and by doing so, will likely have to give up their first-round pick and then some. If they were to trade with one of those three teams in the middle of the draft order, they could still snag CB Caleb Farley. 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 Schuyler Callihan at @Callihan_. | https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/what-will-the-panthers-do-at-no-8-following-the-sam-darnold-trade |
Does the Kremlin want Alexei Navalny to die in prison? | V LADIMIR PUTIN may have hoped that locking up his main political opponent in a harsh penal colony would finally put him out of sight and out of mind. Instead, Alexei Navalny continues to torment the Russian president, exposing the cruelty and lies of his regime. Deprived of his freedom and of any public platform, Mr Navalny is fighting back with the only instruments he has left: his body and his life. Since March 31st he has been on a hunger strike in his cell in Pokrov, some 100km (60 miles) east of Moscow. He is protesting against the appalling conditions of his confinementhe is being deprived both of sleep and of medical care. He has a fever and breathing problems. Three men in his barrack have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, which is common in Russian prisons. Mr Navalny, who survived after being poisoned with Novichok, a nerve agent, last August, is also suffering severe back pain and numbness in both legs. Nonetheless, he has been denied access to a doctor of his choice, to which he is entitled under Russian law. Russias prison service has labelled him an escape risk, even though he voluntarily returned to Russia to face Mr Putin. This label means he can be woken every hour during the night by a prison guard shining a torch in his face. There is a real prospect that Russia is subjecting him to a slow death, tweeted Agns Callamard, the incoming head of Amnesty International, a human-rights group. She has written to Mr Putin calling for his release, noting that he is in jail only because he is an outspoken critic of the Russian authorities. She also demanded that Mr Navalny be granted access to a doctor he trusts. Instead of a doctor, the Kremlin sent a television propaganda team to taunt Mr Navalny. For the assignment it chose Maria Butina, a celebrity Putin supporter who was jailed in America for infiltrating American political circles as part of Russias attempt to influence the election of 2016. Swaggering into Mr Navalnys barrack with a TV crew, she yelled that the prison was more comfortable than a hotel in the small Siberian town where she grew up. (No matter that it has no hotel at all.) When Mr Navalnys doctor and political ally, Anastasia Vasilyeva, arrived at the prison gates to demand access a few days later, she was detained, along with several journalists, including one from CNN . Few things illustrate the pettiness of Mr Putins regime as clearly as its treatment of political prisoners. Mr Navalny asked for a family photo album; it was denied. While he is on hunger strike, he says, the prison governor had sweets planted in his clothes and gave his cellmates an electric stove on which they grill chicken and bread. This is the essence of this regimes [belief]: why would anyone want to defend his principles or fight for his rights if there is tasty grilled chicken nearby, Mr Navalny said in an Instagram post via his lawyers. While the Kremlin tries to crush Mr Navalnys morale, his team has mounted a campaign to free him. It hopes to persuade at least 500,000 people to sign a protest against his imprisonment; as The Economist went to press, it had already gathered over 400,000 signatures. Various artists, scientists and journalists have sent messages of support. Every day that Mr Navalny spends in prison, he risks losing his health or worse. But he is gaining moral and political weight. | https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/04/10/does-the-kremlin-want-alexei-navalny-to-die-in-prison |
How About Employee DISengagement? | Research shows that allowing employees to step away and unplug can pay off in dividends when it ... [+] comes to engagement and productivity. Paul Hanaoka, Unsplash A few times every year, a major company is in the crosshairs of a larger work culture and burnout debate. Its been Goldman Sachs many a time before, and it appears to be them again13 first-year analysts in Goldmans investment banking unit surveyed themselves about their work hours, which can reach 110 per week, and then organized those concerns into a detailed PowerPoint presentation that has since spilled onto social media. The report even includes bar charts showing the analysts deterioration from job stress. Before they arrived at Goldman, the analysts rated their mental and physical health on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the healthiest, at 8.8 and 9, respectively. Since then, those numbers have plunged to 2.8 and 2.3, respectively. Also worth noting that, at the same time as this presentation leaked, the head of Goldman was publicly rejecting work from home as the new normal, indicating his people would be coming back in droves. Now, while salary is an obvious elephant in the room hereyoung Goldman analysts are handsomely compensated, and many look at that and say Well, that comes with more working hourstheres a bigger discussion around engagement to be had. Employee engagement scores on major surveys did increase a bit during COVID (in some industries, and predominantly white-collar work), but in the last 10 years those scores haven't really budged; sometimes they've gone down. In the same time, weve had enough thought leadership on engagement (and its cousin, employee experience) to circle the Earth several times, but until a once-every-100-years-and-white-collar-work-got-shifted-big-time pandemic hit, those action items didnt seem to be working. Some of this rests on the shoulders of vocabulary. To the top of the hierarchy, work is about being in sixth gear, shipping products, and beating your rivals. They know one definition of "engagement," which is when they got down on one knee, or when their children headed towards the altar. And many things that make employees more engaged, such as the ability not to burn out in a job, go directly against how upper management thinks, where answering emails at 12:03 AM is a badge of honor. Maybe instead of embracing employee engagement models, we should consider employee DISengagement models. Place more emphasis on actual leisure To wit: But to make this a reality, organizations need to place more emphasis on actual leisureallowing workers to leave the office entirely to refresh. Workplaces that attempt to build leisure opportunities into the workspace itself to keep their employees on-site may be doing themselves, and their employees, a disservice. Because even though amenities like food trucks, foosball tables, and extensive schedules of social events may seem really cool, they are still at work. The key for organizations is to get away from needing to control employees at all times and let them disengage, Waytz says. One of my colleagues actually relayed this story: they had a job in 2018-2019 where one of the managing directors told the repeatedly "I'm not big on desk time" and/or "You're not a slave to a clock" but then 75 percent of the time you tried to work from home or a coffee shop, someone balked or you got an email from another manager saying "Your teammates are concerned about your collaboration ..." The fact is, work is largely about control and relevance to most people. That is what makes this idea hard. So does vocabulary If you went to a decision-maker and said "Hey boss, I want my employees to be more disengaged this year," said boss would automatically worry that productivity was going to drop. The word "disengagement" would get people riled up at most jobs, as would the word "leisure." Again, work is about grinding, hustling, being in 10th gear, shipping, being relevant, and beating rivals. That is how people who build companies and employ others tend to look at work. As a result, any proposals around "Hey, give these people more leisure time" are typically met with "But my productivity! I need them here hitting targets!" So, broadly speaking, these terms would never work. Wed need another word for it. Quite a bit, actually: From 2010-2014, Boston Consulting Group was the subject of a study about uninterrupted time off. Before we get into the results of that, you need to think about how consultants are branded; its a very always on profession. In fact, when the study began, 94% of the participants said they were working 50+ hours a week, and 50% said 65+ hours a week, while not counting time on email. Thats quite a bit of work. Indeed, we found that when the assumption that everyone needs to be always available was collectively challenged, not only could individuals take time off, but their work actually benefited. The senior leaders of BCG went ahead with a predictable time off model after the experiment concluded. As many people were bullish that COVID would finally scale the idea of a four-day work week, one study that kept coming up was Microsofts Japan offices, which tried itand saw worker productivity increase 40%+. To be clear, the 40 hours was still being met, usually on a 4x10 model, or a 9/80. Patagonia has done similar over time, being called a company that profits as it pampers workers by The Washington Post in 2014. Research by Stellan Ohlsson and Mark Beeman (a pioneer in neuroscience research into insight), both mentioned in my book Your Brain At Work and summarized in this 2009 Psychology Today article, show that new ways of thinking are needed for insightful, impact problem-solving. If youre spending 65+ hours a week on conventional work tasks and emails, those insights and A-Ha! moments are not coming as frequently. There is much value in a rested mind. Increasingly train managers that it doesn't really matter where a person is, per se, so long as the work is getting done. You hire people for the work to get done. That's why we still hire off bullet points. We might claim we are hiring innovative, curious people, but we're usually not. We are hiring so the work gets done. But we have Wi-Fi at scale in the first world. And we have suites to organize info and forms (Google!) and suites to video-conference (Skype! Zoom!) So none of the control stuff really matters. Managers hang onto it for their own sense of relevance and concerns that someone not in front of them might be on a beach, or looking at Facebook. The beautiful irony is that often the person right in front of them is still looking at Facebook, but somehow the idea that the person is right in front of them comforts said manager. You just need to explain to managers more and more that human beings have lives outside of their deliverables, and sometimes they need to go live those lives at the vet, the dentist, the dry cleaner, or sushi lunch with their significant other. Also explain to managers that disengaged time boosts cognitive capacity and cognitive load, which means employees get back to the KPI sets refreshed with a different perspective. Their solutions and ideas are better. The bottom line, logistically: If the work is getting done, this should be allowed. We do this with sales guys all the time. If they're top performers, no one ever questions where they are. If the work isn't getting done, fire the employee. It's probably legally justified, if you even live in a place where you might need to justify it. (At-will states, etc.) This isn't complicated: Let people disengage (don't use that word) from work if they're performing their tasks at the right level. If they're not, feel free to clamp down on them like most managers do anyway. But instead of jamming the square peg of employee engagement into the round hole of the actual psychology of work, maybe we should consider this disengagement idea a little bit more. And letting people have elements of their life back is a form of talent regeneration, whereby you leave your people better than you found them. It might not ultimately work for Goldman, but it could for you. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrock/2021/04/08/how-about-employee-disengagement/ |
When will huge crowds return to California convention centers? | The San Diego Convention Center hosted about 135,000 visitors two years ago for Comic-Con, the four-day celebration of comic books and pop culture. The National Assn. of Music Merchants drew 115,000 musical instrument dealers and distributors to the Anaheim Convention Center early last year. The Los Angeles Convention Center welcomed 66,100 visitors to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in 2019. With California aiming to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15, convention center operators who have had to cancel hundreds of events, worth billions of dollars in spending, say they are anxious to once again host conventions and trade shows that draw visitors from across the country and around the globe. Advertisement But even when state restrictions lift, experts acknowledge, it may be a year or more before California convention centers host the kind of mega crowds that flocked to Comic-Con, NAMM and E3 in past years. We anticipate that shows will be smaller starting off and getting back up to speed hopefully next year, said Ellen Schwartz, general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. As we get into the last quarter of this calendar year and start the new year were hopeful that the business will come back to closer to where it was before the pandemic. Among the reasons for the smaller events: State officials say COVID-19 protocols for large-scale indoor events will still require testing or vaccination verifications, which may disqualify some would-be attendees. The state has yet to release details of those requirements. Advertisement Also, surveys show that many business travelers still dont feel safe meeting face-to-face indoors with thousands of strangers. Some elements of future events are likely to be conducted via streaming video, accommodating virus-cautious attendees who want to stay home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommend against attending large indoor gatherings, saying they increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Rachel Kiko Guntermann, a professional costume maker who previously attended five or six conventions a year, including Comic-Con, said she would not feel safe returning to a large convention even though she has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Conventions were a center of my life for a while, and now the idea of being in a vendor hall with that many people makes me want to dry heave, she said. Advertisement In addition, restrictions on international travel may also limit the number of exhibitors and attendees for some conventions and trade shows. Some of the large organizations also need time to hire staff to arrange such large events. There will definitely be a ramp-up period after being closed for a year, said Barbara Newton, president and chief executive of the California Travel Assn., a nonprofit that promotes tourism in the state. We are convinced we will get there eventually. Even in states that have allowed conventions for the last several months, such as Nevada, Arizona and Florida, the events have been much smaller than those of the past, with safety protocols limiting attendance to only several hundred guests. Advertisement We are not back to the mega conventions yet, said Brynne Frost, chief executive of Destination Concepts Inc., a San Diego company that before the pandemic managed about 250 events a year nationwide. The pandemic has delivered a hard hit to the nations convention and trade show industry. In 2020, such events generated about $20 billion in direct spending in the U.S. down from about $100 billion in 2019, the industrys best year ever, said David DuBois, president and chief executive of the International Assn. of Exhibitions and Events. Los Angeles Convention Center has had 134 events canceled and 45 postponed, costing the city nearly $600 million in spending at the center and nearby restaurants, hotels and shops, according to Schwartz, who based the spending estimate on pre-pandemic attendance. The Long Beach Convention Center has had 121 meetings and conventions canceled since the start of the pandemic, losing that city more than $157 million in spending, Long Beach officials said. Advertisement The Palm Springs Convention Center has had more than 400 events canceled, losing about $279 million in spending in the region since the start of 2020, Palm Springs officials said. Some of those events are now being held in states with laxer pandemic rules instead: Two rebooked in Arizona, one moved to Georgia and one moved to Missouri. Its been very frustrating, said Scott White, president and chief executive of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. The American Public Transportation Assn., a nonprofit that advocates for public transit, announced last week before California declared its goal of rolling back restrictions in mid-June that it had canceled its Aug. 31-Sept. 3 gathering at the the Anaheim Convention Center and rescheduled the event for November in Orlando, Fla. The decision to relocate was necessary due to current California restrictions on large gatherings and the unpredictability of planning such a large event when it is unclear when these restrictions will ease, the group said in a statement. Advertisement A coalition of convention center operators has been pressing the state for months to allow larger-scale events. Last week, the state issued guidelines that allow indoor venues located in counties in the orange tier the third-strictest rung of Californias color-coded reopening road map to hold up to 150 people if all attendees test negative for the coronavirus or show proof theyre fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In counties in the yellow tier, the least restrictive rung, the cap on attendance rises to 200 people. All of Southern California is in the orange tier, with the exception of Santa Barbara County, which remains in the more restrictive red tier. If vaccination and virus transmission rates remain on pace, then on June 15 the tier system will become moot as restrictions substantially relax throughout the state. Large-scale indoor gatherings such as conventions would be allowed with virus testing or vaccination verification, among other common-sense public health policies, the state said. Advertisement New coronavirus cases have been dropping in California and in many other states, but theyre rising in some other states, and surveys show that some Americans still feel uncomfortable attending indoor conventions and trade shows. A March survey of about 1,000 Americans by marketing research firm Ipsos found that 59% believe returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles would pose a large or moderate risk to their health. Of those surveyed, 29% said they would return to in-person gatherings once they or everyone in the circle of friends and family are vaccinated. Meanwhile, 30% said they already had returned to in-person gatherings; 21% said they would do so when officials say its safe and 20% said they didnt know. A survey of 1,000 technology professionals by association management company Innovatis Group last fall found that 60% said they would feel comfortable attending an in-person event in the second half of 2021, but just over half of those surveyed said the size of an event would affect their decision to attend even if appropriate safety precautions were taken. Advertisement People wearing Spider-Man costumes dance in front of the San Diego Convention Center for a YouTube video during Comic-Con on July 20, 2019. The in-person convention has been rescheduled for December this year. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Mega convention and trade shows have yet to come back even in states that already are allowing mass gatherings. Las Vegas, one of the nations most popular convention destinations, recently confirmed the citys first large conference and trade show since the start of the pandemic. The gathering of concrete and masonry professionals World of Concrete is planned for June 8-10. The event was originally scheduled for January and had been expected to draw about 60,000 attendees. Nevadas Department of Business and Industry approved a permit to allow up to 50% of the building capacity 24,500 attendees over the course of the three-day event in June. Advertisement The organizer of the event, Informa Markets, commissioned a survey of past attendees, finding that 80% said they were likely to attend in June. In November, the National Oil Recyclers Assn. held a conference and trade show in Tucson attended by 120 people, down from as many as 400 attendees in the past, according to organizers. Organizers said they limited the number of attendees so that people could sit six feet apart during seminars in the exhibit halls. The number of exhibitors for the trade show was also reduced from 50 to 16. The event eliminated break-out sessions to reduce interaction between conference attendees. The gathering was not as profitable as it has been in years past, but it was still worthwhile, said Scott Parker, president of the event organizer, Amber Ridge. Id rather make something than nothing, he said. | https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-08/california-reopen-convention-centers-trade-show-demand |
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