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How should leaders deal with todays great global standoff? | Henry Kissinger is a titan of US politicsas Secretary of State and National Security Adviser in the Nixon and Ford administrations he brokered detente with the Soviet Union and orchestrated a breakthrough presidential visit to China in 1972. Incumbents have sought his insight long after he left the White House. Anne McElvoy asks him about the current threats to world order, how to handle Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping and what he would have done differently in office. Runtime: 42 min Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | TuneIn Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: economist.com/podcastoffer | https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/04/22/how-should-leaders-deal-with-todays-great-global-standoff |
How should Joe Biden handle Vladimir Putin? | VLADIMIR PUTIN has responded to a new US administration with typical thuggery. Russias main opposition leader is in prison and its military is again threatening Ukraine. The Economists James Bennet and Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador who was with Biden when he last met Putin, join the discussion. Plus we hear an excerpt from The Economist Asks with former secretary of state Henry Kissinger. John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Jon Fasman. Runtime: 42 min Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | TuneIn For access to The Economists print, digital and audio editions subscribe: economist.com/USpod | https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/04/23/how-should-joe-biden-handle-vladimir-putin |
What is the legacy of Americas military interventions? | IN 2004 Tammy Duckworth was shot down by Iraqi insurgents while she was serving in the army and lost both legs in the attack. As America withdraws troops from Afghanistan, Anne McElvoy asks the Illinois senator about the legacy of America's interventions abroad and whether President Biden is making the right decision. The first Thai-American woman in Congress says there is "enough pie for everyone" and minority groups in Congress should work together. Runtime: 27 min Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | TuneIn Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: economist.com/podcastoffer | https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/04/29/what-is-the-legacy-of-americas-military-interventions |
How will Latin Americas covid-19 bill be paid? | T HE TIMING could hardly be more awkward. Colombia is suffering a third peak of covid-19, even more deadly than its predecessors. Almost all intensive-care beds in the main cities are full, and oxygen tanks are running short. Bogot, the capital, is under a red alert, with the working week cut to four days and a curfew at 8pm. Yet in April the government of President Ivn Duque sent a bill to Congress proposing stiff tax rises. Although the increases would be phased in, the government thinks it must signal now its intention to raise more revenue, particularly if it is to provide emergency aid to its people until the pandemic is over. Many of the countrys politicians disagree, and the bill was the target of a large national protest on April 28th. Listen to this story Your browser does not support the <audio> element. Enjoy more audio and podcasts on iOS or Android. Colombia is an early example of the fiscal dilemmas Latin American governments will soon face. The region has suffered grievously in the pandemic. Its economy shrank by 7% last year, more than double the average contraction around the world. As lockdowns eased a couple of months ago, there was optimism that recovery might exceed the 5% growth of most forecasts. But then the P. 1 variant of the virus, first detected in Brazil, began to run wild. Like Colombia, other South American countries have been forced to restrict movement yet again. Meanwhile vaccination is happening slowly. The result is that 2021 is shaping up to be another difficult year. Matters would be even worse had governments not been able to soften the blow with aid to poorer households and to firms. Though not on the generous scale of many rich countries, this fiscal stimulus was much more than the region managed in past slumps. According to a study by the IMF, it averaged about 4.5% of GDP . With revenues falling because of the recession, fiscal deficits ballooned and public debt rose last year from an average of 64% of GDP to 72%. That would once have been seen as a dangerously high figure. But low international interest rates make it more affordable. Nonetheless, several governments are scaling back aid even as the pandemic continues. Many economists think that is a mistake. Investors will tolerate deficits and debts provided governments set outand preferably approvecredible measures to curb them once economies have recovered. Its right to spend during the pandemic, argues Alejandro Werner, the IMF s outgoing director for Latin America. But its also right to start thinking about tax and spending reforms. In a typical Latin American country, paying for the better health care and social assistance citizens are demanding while at the same time servicing higher debt requires a rise in government revenue of between 1.5% and 3% of GDP. (Some countries would need instead to trim ineffective spending.) If recovery turns out to be slower, tax rises could be postponed. This is the path Colombias government wants to follow. Its bill raises around 2% of GDP in additional revenue, mainly by widening the net of income tax and removing exemptions in VAT . Mr Duque says that would allow the government to continue to make emergency payments of $44 per month to over 3m poorer households, compensate them for levying VAT on basic goods and continue a furlough scheme. It would also safeguard Colombias investment-grade credit rating, which makes borrowing cheaper for firms and the government. The bill is praised by tax specialists but, with a general election due next year, it has prompted political uproar. Woundingly for Mr Duque the critics include lvaro Uribe, a conservative former president who is his political sponsor. Mr Uribe has submitted an alternative bill that would cut the revenue gains in half. Other countries will soon face similar decisions. The region is not facing a debt crisisor at least not yet. But the credit-rating agencies are flashing an amber light. Joydeep Mukherji of Standard & Poors, one agency, notes that with 13 downgrades since the pandemic began and nine negative outlooks, Latin Americas credit score has been hit harder than that of any other region. If Colombias tax reform is thwarted by short-term political considerations, that sends the wrong message to other governments. The risk is that well end up with not enough stimulus and problems with the financial markets, says Mauricio Crdenas, a former finance minister in Colombia. That would mean Latin America would have to say adis to a robust economic recovery. | https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2021/05/01/how-will-latin-americas-covid-19-bill-be-paid |
Who are Myanmars ethnic militias? | SINCE THE Burmese army enacted a coup in February, almost the entire country has risen in opposition to it. Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, while a mass strike has brought the economy, and much of government, to a standstill. The World Bank predicts GDP will contract by 10% this year, making a mockery of the generals pledge to usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity. Despite all this, the top brass are in no mood to negotiate. They would prefer to shoot rather than give up power; their goons have murdered more than 700 people. Most protests are peaceful, but a growing number of Burmese civilians are fending off attacks with home-made weapons. Some are receiving training from the numerous ethnic militias scattered across the remote borderlands. A group of deposed politicians who have formed a provisional government have approached these insurgents about forming a federal army. Myanmar is hugely diverse. The governments official tally of 135 ethnicities is based on dodgy British anthropology, and does not even include the Rohingyas, a Muslim minority in the western state of Rakhine, who are considered illegal immigrants. But it suggests something of the complexity of the countrys demography. When British conquerors arrived in the 19th century, their divide and rule tactics pitted ethnicities against each other, deepening old rivalries or creating new ones. When Myanmar gained independence in 1948, immigration officers set about determining which of those groups were indigenous to Myanmar before the British arrived and opened the door to vast numbers of migrants. Ethnicity determined citizenship, and became the prism through which politics and society are understood. From the outset, the state favoured the Bamar, the ethnic majority concentrated in the countrys lush central lowlands. Just a year after liberation from the British, the Karen, from the east, began fighting for liberation from the Bamar, kicking off the longest-running civil war in modern history. When the army toppled the civilian government in 1962, inaugurating nearly half a century of military rule, it sought to crush the many insurgencies that rumbled in the far corners of the country and did not shy from committing atrocities against civilians. Today there are some 20 ethnic militias fighting for autonomy. The biggest of these is also the most successful. The United Wa State Army, an ethnic-Wa group, rules over a de facto autonomous territory on the border with China; its 20,000-30,000 troops, revenue from the drugs trade and sophisticated Chinese weaponry have something to do with that. The Arakan Army hopes to carve out something similar for the Rakhine people in the far west. To that end it fought tooth and nail against the Tatmadaw, as the Burmese army is known, for two years until a ceasefire was called last November. Ten other militias signed up to the military governments Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015. But some of them complain that the army has repeatedly broken the terms of the pact. The NCA is not nationwide, a ceasefire nor an agreement, so the joke goes. Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) were elected to power in 2015, in part on the hope that she would end the civil war. But the militias were unimpressed with her lacklustre approach to peace talks. Some minorities came to think Ms Suu Kyi as bad as the generals. This explains why they are wary of the shadow government that the NLD formed after being ousted, and its proposal to form a federal army. Still, the one thing the militias dislike more than the NLD is the Tatmadaw. The ten rebel groups that signed up to the NCA, including two of the biggest with about 14,000 troops between them, have declared their allegiance to the shadow government. More may follow. A rebel alliance would be vastly outmanned and outgunned by the Tatmadaw. But if several insurgent groups start attacking the army, forcing it to fight on many fronts, the Tatmadaw might falter. The economy is already taking a beating, owing to the strike and the flight of investors. If rank-and-file soldiers cannot put food on the table for their families, and are being punished on the battlefield, their loyalty may begin to waver. That, at least, is what the shadow government hopes for. A coup is worse than covid. Ive lived through three | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/15/who-are-myanmars-ethnic-militias |
Why are Western museums giving back their artefacts? | NIGERIA IS MOVING closer to securing the return of some of its most treasured cultural artefacts. The Benin bronzes, sculptures that once decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, now in south-eastern Nigeria, were looted by British forces in 1897, along with thousands of other precious items. They are now scattered across more than 160 museums and countless private collections, mostly in the West. In March a German official travelled to Nigeria to discuss the return of some of the bronzes held in Berlin. The University of Aberdeen, in Scotland, has promised to return one of the bronzes within weeks. And this month the Horniman Museum in London announced it will consider returning its pieces. Some of the Benin bronzes lie in London, behind thick vitrine glass in room 25 of the British Museums Africa Galleries. An inscription describes how the items came to be in the museums collection. It has changed over the years. It used to tell of imperial bravery against bush savages; now it tells a story of colonial violence and expansion. At the end of the 19th century British forces razed the city of Benin to the ground, demolishing the mud-walled compounds, as well as hundreds of houses and ceremonial buildings. On the former palace grounds, officers built a golf course. Then they seized thousands of royal and sacred objects to take home with them. The bronzes were initially exhibited to show the vast reach of the empire. Today institutions such as the British Museum find themselves at an impasse, struggling to come to terms with their colonial legacy, taking some steps to return artefacts but not wanting to lose their prized collections. Restitution also faces legal obstacles. Many Western museums are prohibited from disposing of their collections. In France, for example, all public collections are considered inalienable, making it impossible to remove even the smallest piece, whether to sell it or, more altruistically, to return it. The British Museum Act, a law from 1963, prevents the museum in London from doing the same. The law does set out limited exceptions (such as if the object is a duplicate), but returning the loot of empire is not one of them. Still, there is precedent for governments relaxing such restrictions. In 1998, 44 countries agreed to the Washington Principles of Nazi-confiscated art, a pact to identify and return works stolen during the Third Reich. When Britains High Court ruled in 2005 that British Museum trustees could not return four drawings by old masters stolen by Nazis from a private collection in Czechoslovakia in 1939, the government passed a law to deal with the obvious injustice. Since 2009 trustees of various museums (including the British Museum) have had specific authority to return property stolen during the Nazi era back to its Jewish owners or their heirs. Similar legislation could ensure the return of colonial-era artefacts. France offers an example. As the first president born after the colonial period, Emmanuel Macron has been more willing than his predecessors to consider restitution. He commissioned a report in 2017 which recommended the complete transfer of property to their countries of origin rather than long-term loans (as some museums have proposed). In November 2020, a new law was passed to allow the return of 27 artefacts to former colonies. Hermann Parzinger, the president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, a government body that oversees 27 German museums, has called for international guidelines akin to the Washington Principles to help museums identify and return colonial heritage. But this is unlikely to happen soon, especially in Britain. Colonial history is still a touchy subject in this country, and you would need someone to put forward a test case, says Alice Procter, an art historian and author. According to Ms Procter, one reason that British lawmakers made an exception for Holocaust-era artefacts is the knowledge that Britain had no responsibility for the atrocities. But when it comes to the Benin bronzes, the historical violence being compensated for is a British act, not a German one, making restitution a more delicate issue. Germany faces similar questions. In 2018 its government returned to Namibia the skulls of Herero and Nama people, whom German soldiers sought to wipe out after their rebellion in what was then German South West Africa. Indigenous groups criticised the German government for dragging its feet over the return, and over offering an apology. And the Natural History Museum in Berlin has been dodging requests from the Tanzanian government for years, asking for the return of a 39ft-long (13m) dinosaur skeleton discovered in the early 1900s by German scientists. Legal hurdles may frustrate restitution requests, but politicians and institutions have shown a clear desire to defuse the colonial timebombs sitting in their public collections. Some governments, such as those of Germany and France, are now backing the return of part of their holdings. Others, such as Britains, will probably continue to retain and explain controversial artefacts instead, even though the vast majority are not on public display. The British Museum, for example, has 900 Benin bronzes and displays fewer than 100 in its permanent collection. Correction (April 23rd): A previous version of this article said that the majority of the artefacts from Benin held by the British Museum are not accessible to view. They are, but they are not on public display. Sorry. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/20/why-are-western-museums-giving-back-their-artefacts |
Why does the International Criminal Court not have more support? | THIS MONTH President Joe Biden lifted sanctions on Fatou Bensouda, the outgoing chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Mr Biden also rescinded sanctions, which included asset freezes, on other court officials. The court is investigating whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan. It was a modest victory for the ICC, but under Mr Biden America will continue to oppose the investigation and reject the courts authority. A reminder of the courts limitations soon followed on April 8th when Binyamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, reiterated his view that his country would not accept the courts right to investigate alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. America and Israel are not alone in their refusal to sign up to the ICC. Other major absentees are China, India, Indonesia and Russia. Plainly countries with the worst human-rights records, such as Saudi Arabia, are bound to be hostile to the court. The ICC is still young. It was established in 2002; its first judges were sworn in the following year. But some kind of permanent international human-rights court had long been mooted. A commission set up at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, in the aftermath of the first world war, recommended establishing a permanent international tribunal for war crimes. From the outset there was dissent. America favoured temporary courts run by the countries that might suffer depredations in any future wars; along with Japan it also argued that heads of state should have immunity. The commissions recommendations were shelved. After the second world war the prospect was raised again. A military tribunal, established by the allied forces in the German city of Nuremberg, tried 199 defendants for their role in the Nazi regime and the Holocaust (another, in Tokyo, tried Japanese military and political leaders). But the cold war made a permanent court politically impossible. In the 1990s, the United Nations set up temporary tribunals to try those responsible for atrocities in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and in 1998 the UN general assembly voted by 120-7 in favour of the Rome Statute, the framework for the ICC. It entered into force four years later. At last count, 123 countries had signed the statute, including all western European ones, all South American ones and two-thirds of African ones. The ICC is intended to supplement national courts. It intervenes only as a last resort, when a country cannot or will not dispense justice on its own. It is not a UN body, though it works closely with the organisation. The court investigates and tries suspects for four crimes under international law: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and, since 2018, waging wars of aggression (those not out of self-defence or not sanctioned by the UN Security Council). This year it has a budget of nearly 145m ($174m), which is funded by the courts member states, a slight dip from 2020. Investigations begin with the chief prosecutors office: a case may be referred by the UN Security Council or a member country, or initiated by the prosecutors office itself. A pre-trial phase establishes whether enough evidence exists to build a case. The ICCs 18 judges each serve a single nine-year term. No two may be from the same country. The court and its detention centre are in The Hague, in the Netherlands. But it has no police force and so relies on the co-operation of member states to capture suspects and hand them over. This is by no means guaranteed, as was painfully evident when Sudans then president, Omar al-Bashir, swanned around Africa and elsewhere with impunity while under the courts indictment facing allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity. In February last year Sudans new government suggested it might transfer him to the courts custody, but he is still in a Sudanese prison. In almost 20 years, the court has heard 30 cases and convicted nine people. There have been some achievements. In February judges convicted Dominic Ongwen, a member of the Lords Resistance Army, a rebel group that conscripted child soldiers and terrorised northern Uganda for two decades. He is due to be sentenced in May, and could face life in prison. But convictions have been sparse. All those convicted so far have been African, though preliminary examinations have been initiated to look into atrocities in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Iraq, Myanmar and Ukraine, as well as the Palestinian territories. Some countries who signed up to the court have turned against it. In 2017 Burundi became the first country to withdraw, accusing the ICC of Western imperialism when it sought to investigate atrocities there. In 2018 the Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, said he would withdraw his country from the ICC after the prosecutors office opened an investigation into his bloody war on drugs. Many other countries have never accepted the courts authority: some argue that it infringes their sovereign rights. And many particularly dislike the courts insistence that past and present heads of state and government should not be immune from prosecutionthe ICCs most notable feature. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/21/why-does-the-international-criminal-court-not-have-more-support |
What are nationally determined contributions to curb climate change? | TODAY JOE BIDEN, Americas president, is playing host to 40 world leaders in a virtual climate summit. He kicked it off with a plan to cut Americas greenhouse-gas emissions in half by 2030, compared with their levels in 2005. That is nearly twice the reduction promised by Barack Obama in 2015 (and later cancelled by Donald Trump). Other countries are announcing similar pledges, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are a crucial part of the global framework to tackle climate change. The concept of NDCs was first introduced at COP19, the UNs climate summit in Warsaw in 2013. At first they were vague. Governments that were ready to do so were invited to submit non-binding climate pledges to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the first quarter of 2015. Crucially, these pledges were to be formulated by countries based on their own priorities, needs and prospects. This flexibility was meant to overcome the problems that had plagued the Kyoto Protocol, the UNFCCCs first accord, which came into force in 2005. That had committed only developed countries, such as Britain, to cutting their emissions. Developing countries, including Chinawhich, by 2006, was the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the worldwere not included. The arrangement was deemed to be too rigid and unfair. America ultimately refused to ratify it; Canada withdrew in 2011. A tricky balancing-act ensued: NDCs needed to contain enough wriggle room to make them politically viable, but still meaningfully lower emissions. Hashing out what NDCs should include required careful negotiation. It was decided, at a summit in Lima in 2014, that the poorest and most vulnerable countrieswhich contribute the least to climate change but will suffer its effects most acutelyneeded to commit only to developing in a low-carbon way. All other countries, developed and developing alike, were obliged to make plans to reduce their emissions, though the mechanisms (such as increased use of renewable energy, or carbon sequestration) and speed with which they did so could vary. Countries were also encouraged, but not required, to outline measures to help the world adapt to climate change, including financial support from rich countries to poor ones. When countries signed up to the Paris agreement, negotiated at COP21 in 2015, they committed to a common goal: keeping the worlds average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5C. They also promised to produce NDCs to show how they might get there. These laid out countries targets for reducing emissions over a clearly articulated period of time and the steps they would take to achieve their goals. Letting countries (mostly) make their own decisions on emissions meant that many more signed up than might have done under a more prescriptive accord. Big emitters such as China and India submitted themselves to scrutiny for the first time. But such flexibility meant that no country made commitments large enough to meet the Paris agreements goals: the first tranche of NDCs was expected to lead to global warming of around 3C. Accordingly, the Paris agreement also outlined a ratchet mechanism, by which countries were meant to increase the ambition and scope of their NDCs every five years. Countries were meant to submit their updated NDCs ahead of the COP26, the UNs next climate summit, which was scheduled to take place in Glasgow in November 2020. That plan, like so many others, was scrambled by the covid-19 pandemic. COP26 was pushed to November 2021. Only a handful of countries have strengthened their targets. Britain has promised to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. The 27 members of the European Union have pledged to reduce their emissions by at least 55% across the same period. China has proposed, but not formally submitted, a new target of reaching carbon neutrality before 2060. In announcing Americas new emissions target Mr Biden hopes to galvanise those countries lagging behind. They include the likes of Australia, Brazil and Russia, which have yet to submit higher targets. For more coverage of climate change, register for The Climate Issue, our fortnightly newsletter, or visit our climate-change hub | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/22/what-are-nationally-determined-contributions-to-curb-climate-change |
What is controversial about Joe Biden saying Armenian genocide? | REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAS government have not always minced their words about the fate that befell Armenians in 1915. At the time, Henry Morgenthau Sr, the American ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, called it a campaign of race extermination. In a statement on April 24th Joe Biden described the killing and mass deportation of Armenians as genocide. That is not unprecedentedthe last sitting president to use the term was Ronald Reagan in 1981but it is rare enough to be noteworthy. Mr Bidens words angered Turkeys government. When the Ottoman Empire (out of which modern-day Turkey emerged) entered the first world war in 1914, there were approximately 2m Armenians, a traditionally Christian ethnic group, living within its borders. Many fought for the Muslim empire, but some also enrolled in the Russian army, which bloodied the Ottomans in the east. High-ranking members of the ruling party blamed Armenians for the loss of an important battle the following year against Russia at Sarikamis, now in north-eastern Turkey. Armenian intellectuals, artists and politicians, including deputies in the Ottoman parliament, were arrested and many were later killed. The Ottoman authorities ordered the forced relocation of hundreds of thousands of Armenians to Syria, claiming that Armenian revolutionaries had been helping the Russians. The conditions of their forced march were so harsh that few could have survived, and raids by Kurdish and Turkish armed bands further lessened their chances. Many historians believe that secret orders were given to ensure that they perished. Of the few who made it across Syrias desert, many were put in concentration camps along the Euphrates or simply massacred. Turkey claims that hundreds of thousands of Armenians died of hunger and disease as they were being deported, and that their deaths were the result of wartime conditions that many other Ottoman subjects had to endure. The descendants of those who died insist that they numbered as many as 1.5m, and were the victims of a deliberate campaign of murder that ought properly be called a genocide. Most historians of mass killing, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, agree. The UN convention on genocide gives a broad definition of genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group whether through killing or inflictingconditions of life designed to bring about their destruction. It is easy to see how this would describe the treatment of the Armenians. Turkey maintains that although the deaths may have been a tragedy, they did not amount to genocide. (Its government does however refer to other similar events, such as the massacre of 8,000 Bosniak Muslims in Srebrenica, as genocide.) When Americas House of Representatives voted to call it such in 2019, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, was indignant that a country stained by genocide, slavery and exploitation should lecture Turkey. Mr Erdogan once claimed that there have been no massacres and no slaughters in our history. Turks who contradict the official version of events have in the past suffered terrible consequences. The penal code criminalises insulting the Turkish state, a provision that has been used to prosecute those who suggest that Turkish actions constitute genocide. And in 2007 a newspaper editor was shot dead by a nationalist teenager for publishing articles decrying the Ottomans actions as genocide, including one suggesting that the adopted daughter of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, was an Armenian whose father was killed in 1915. An Istanbul court this year ruled that members of the security forces had been involved. Turkeys refusal to condemn or take any responsibility for the horror creates difficulties for foreign governments. Turkey is a NATO member, and a partner to the West in both strategic matters and on issues such as refugees. Some Western governments argue disingenuously that there is insufficient evidence of mens rea, the intention to commit a crime, to meet the definition. Despite that, 30 countries (including France and Germany) have called it a genocide. So, too, have Pope Francis and the European Parliament. Mr Bidens willingness to do the same is striking, but perhaps less than it would have been had his former boss, Barack Obama, done so in office. Ten years ago recognition would have been a huge blow to relatively cordial relations with a key ally. Today America and Turkey are at odds over a number of regional conflicts and Turkeys defence co-operation with Russia. Rather than spark a new crisis, Mr Bidens words will probably only aggravate a chronic one. Expect Turkey again to protest its innocence, and the bitter dispute over whether the Ottomans committed genocide to continue. Editors note (April 26th): This article was updated after Joe Biden released his statement. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/23/what-is-controversial-about-joe-biden-saying-armenian-genocide |
How do Native Americans get health care? | NATIVE AMERICANS are now vaccinated against covid-19 at higher rates than any other racial or ethnic group in America, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health-research outfit. Effective distribution and a high uptake drove this vaccine victory. But it is a rare success. Native Americans died of covid-19 at nearly twice the rate of white Americans. Their life expectancy is 4.4 years below the American average and they have the highest rates of pre-existing health conditions out of any ethnic or racial group in America. Unlike other groups, Native Americans are entitled to health care from the federal government, but the system is poorly run and funded. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Americas federal government (and the British before it) signed treaties with Native American tribes. Many of them exchanged land for a commitment that the government would protect them, including by providing medical care. Rulings by the Supreme Court in the 1800s established that tribes are political bodies that control their internal affairs. But the tribes remain subject to federal law, and the federal government has a duty to provide for them, known as the trust responsibility. Congress affirmed the duty to provide health care in 1921 with the Snyder Act, which appropriated funds for Indian health care. This obligation covers enrolled members of federally-recognised tribes, which are political bodies, but does not apply to those who merely self-identify as Native American or belong to non-recognised tribes. Tribes themselves decide who qualifies as a member. Today, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is the main federal agency in charge of providing health care, serving about 2.6m of Americas Native Americans. The IHS is one of the core federally-administered health-care systems. Others include Medicare (for the elderly), Medicaid (for the hard-up) and the Veterans Health Administration. Medicare and Medicaid are public insurers, meaning the government pays for services but does not administer them, whereas the IHS is a direct health-care provider that operates some of its own facilities. Native Americans who live on or near reservations can get care from these, or from other facilities run by tribes (usually using some federal funding). But roughly 70% of Native Americans live in urban areas, away from IHS and tribally-operated facilities. For them, there are a small number of urban Indian health centres that provide care. But only 1% of the Indian Health Services budget is directed to these centres. Some cities, like Washington DC, have none. Stacy Bohlen, executive director of the National Indian Health Board and a member of the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, lives in Washington, DC. Because she could not get the covid-19 vaccine from an urban Indian health centre in her city, she took two days to travel to her tribe in Michigan for the jab. The government recommends that those with access to the IHS also have health insurance because the IHS offering is so limited. But many do not. Native Americans have the lowest rate of insurance coverage out of any ethnic or racial group in America, with 21.7% of the non-elderly uninsured in 2019. Critics of the IHS argue the agency is underfunded and provides substandard care. Unlike Medicare and Medicaid, its funding does not grow in line with the size of the population using it. Instead it depends on annual grants from Congress. Doctors and nurses are hard to recruit for positions, as IHS facilities tend to be small and rural. They usually offer only primary and emergency care. For those living on or near reservations, there is money set aside for more specialised care outside the IHS system but it is limited. The IHS estimates that current funding covers roughly 60% of the health-care needs of eligible Native Americans. In 2017, the Indian Health Service spent $4,078 per person, roughly half of what Medicaid shelled out. The success of some tribes vaccine rollout may signal a positive change. Ms Bohlen says the pandemic has been a turning-point, in drawing attention to health care for Native Americans. President Joe Bidens stimulus bill, which was passed in March, included a big increase in funding for tribes. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate majority leader, said that the law takes us a giant step closer to fulfilling our trust responsibilities to all Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The plan allocates an extra $6bn to Native American health-care systems (roughly double the current annual IHS budget). It also tackles problems related to health care, such as broadband access to improve telehealth services. Ms Bohlen says the number-one issue facing Native Americans has been invisibility. People just dont think about us. They don't know that were here, she says, and now they do. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/26/how-do-native-americans-get-health-care |
How can countries such as China tackle falling birth rates? | THE WORLDS population will rise from around 7.9bn today to 9.7bn by 2050, according to the United Nations. But this growth is distributed unevenly. On April 27th the Financial Times reported that Chinas census will show that its population has fallen below 1.4bn, lower than a year ago and the first fall since records began in 1949. The government denied it, but a Communist Party newspaper admitted that a decline is likely by next year. No European country is having enough babies to keep its population stable, which would require each woman to have an average of 2.1 children. In the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries, the birth rate is 1.6. Fertility rates are similarly low in rich parts of east Asia, such as South Korea, and declining in parts of Latin America and the Middle East. Japan, meanwhile, last year recorded fewer births than ever. Education, which encourages women to put off having children in order to work, and the cost of raising a family largely explain why. The covid-19 pandemic may have made the problem worse. This creates headaches for governments, including slow economic growth and a bigger proportion of old people for the state to support. As a result, many are trying to buck the trend, with varying degrees of success. Clumsy approaches can backfire. In Italy, an advertising campaign that warned women their biological clocks were ticking was withdrawn in 2016 after complaints. Carrots are more common than sticks but can be expensive. Poland, for example, gives parents 500 zloty ($135) a month for each child after their second until their offspring reach 18 years old. When the policy was introduced in 2016, that amounted to 12% of the average annual wage. Russian families receive a one-off payment of more than 466,000 roubles ($6,270) when their second child is born, to be spent on housing, education or the mothers pension. Some countries have seen modest increases in fertility after providing cash, but by doing so, governments may be reinforcing the idea that parenthood is hard without state assistance, says Wendy Sigle of the London School of Economics. More sustainable approaches involve helping women to have both a career and children. This means subsidising child care, extending school hours, increasing parental leave and encouraging flexible office hours. Germany has had some success in raising its birth rate through generous parental-leave laws and giving infants a right to nursery places. Employers must also be willing to hire and promote mothers and create family-friendly working environments. And as would-be parents age, more countries may consider subsidising in-vitro fertilisation or even egg-freezing to help older women conceive. In Denmark, women under 40 can have three courses of state-funded IVF. A tenth of Danish babies are now conceived with the help of reproductive technology, the highest proportion in the world. Last year, Hungary nationalised IVF clinics to try to increase births. But boosting births through government policies remains difficult. In Norway, despite family-friendly work hours and extensive welfare, the birth rate is falling. Some factors, such as relationship breakdowns or cultural attitudes to parenthood, remain outside government control. If rich countries cannot raise their birth rates, they will need to consider other solutions. Greater openness to migrants, who are normally of working age when they arrive, could ease the problem. China is unlikely to welcome them in large numbers. Low birth rates will put more pressure on the Communist Party to abandon its birth-control policies (families can still be fined for having more than two babies.) Another alternative is raising the age of retirement, but that would be deeply unpopular. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/29/how-can-countries-such-as-china-tackle-falling-birth-rates |
How Does Former Gators TE Kyle Pitts Fit With the Atlanta Falcons? | Buckle up and enjoy the ride: Kyle Pitts is headed to the ATL. Considered as arguably the best prospect in this year's draft pool no matter the position, Pitts entered draft night as a highly coveted entity and was atop many franchise's big boards. Recruited as part of Dan Mullens first-class at UF, Pitts was a key piece to the puzzle for Floridas return to sustained success. Culminating in what was a phenomenal junior campaign in 2020, Pitts would put the NFL on notice, dominating in the eight contests he participated in. Predominantly utilized as the Gators' number one receiving option, Pitts produced at an astronomically high level, securing 43 receptions for 770 yards 17.9 yards per catch and 12 touchdowns (tied for third-most in the NCAA) on the year. Exceeding expectations for his collegiate career, Pitts quickly shot up draft boards due to his unparalleled physical intangibles and receiving skills. Despite being consistently mocked to Atlanta, there was speculation that the Falcons would attempt to secure their signal-caller of the future with Matt Ryans career slowly coming to a close. However, with three quarterbacks taken ahead of the pick at four, new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot chose to target the best available player on the board. Adding Pitts to the plethora of skill position players on the offensive side of the football for the Falcons, Atlanta is slated to, yet again, be a dominant offensive force next season. As the highest-rated tight end prospect the draft has ever seen, Pitts is more NFL-ready than any individual that has come before him from a receiving standpoint. Ripe for the taking for Atlanta at four, Pitts talent and value outweighed the possible desire to patch a hole defensively. With defense being next on the front office's minds going forward in the draft, the move to add another weapon to the arsenal of pass-catchers shows Atlantas desire to outscore opponents in the early days of the new regime. Doing so with arguably the best group of weapons the NFL has to offer, the Falcons brought in a man that pairs an impressive mix of size standing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds speed and athleticism. As a rare breed of human, characterized as a unicorn for his uncanny physical attributes and skillset, Pitts provides an intriguing nature that centers around his wide receiver-like abilities in a tight end's body. Maneuvering with great fluidity, there is no limit to Pitts route tree, as he moves sharply in and out of breaks to creates separation with consistency. Likely to be utilized across the middle of the field in a large capacity, Pitts will quickly find himself a high volume option for Ryan, who has thrived targeting the middle of the field in his career. As a result, Pitts is positioned to carve out a similar niche in Atlanta as the one he held at Florida as a reliable possession receiver that also carries a propensity for chunk yardage after the catch after the play due to his deceiving speed. Providing excellent body control, length, and high-point ability, Pitts was heavily relied upon to bring in difficult receptions in double coverage at Florida, a facet of his game that will pay dividends for the Falcons when within striking distance. While Pitts is set to see targets at any point on the field, his biggest impact will likely come inside the red zone, an area Ryan has struggled to find his number one playmaker in Julio Jones for years. Adding a big-bodied target to the mix that can win jump balls against any defender that is set in his path, Pitts provides a closer to the Atlanta lineup, patching the one weakness of Jones throughout his illustrious NFL career. In times where he is not getting the ball in the red zone, Pitts similarly serves to make up for Jones struggles, acting as a decoy for the longtime Falcons star to find the promised land with heightened consistency. Despite being a freak of nature all the way around, what impresses most about Pitts is how he can move around offensive formations. For Atlanta, utilizing him as a chess piece brings an unpredictability factor to the table, resulting in a chance to be constantly creative in discombobulating opposing defenses. Taking 409 snaps for the Gators in 2020, Pitts consistently maneuvered his way throughout the Florida offense, seeing 261 snaps at the traditional inline position, 79 snaps in the slot and 69 snaps out wide, playing with utmost consistency in all three positions as nearly all provided mismatches. Winning against corners and safeties with physicality and scorching linebackers with his 4.4 speed, Pitts always found a way to play to the weaknesses of his opponent. Equipped with a superb supporting cast in Atlanta, his reign of terror for opposing defenders could very well continue. Alongside Jones, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst Pitts was a luxury pick for the Falcons offense, a move that will mutually benefit each side. Set to receive less attention than he did at the college level due to the others requiring defense's attention Pitts will be allowed to ease his transition into the NFL while remaining a day one contributor. With his one major weakness coming as a blocker likely due to his lack in relative size as a tight end Pitts was scrutinized as being incomplete. Showing his desire to be a well-rounded player at the next level, Pitts would drastically improve last season, providing enough potential in that department to allow his elite receiving skills to carry his weight into becoming a top-five draft pick. As a 20-year old that will have yet to turn 21 when the 2021 season kicks off, Pitts still has room for development, both from a physical and game-oriented standpoint. However, his youthful presence brings life to the Atlanta offense and what the organization believes to be a foundational piece for new beginnings following Dan Quinns departure. Looking to elevate a Falcons offense that recorded points per game last season sat at 24.8, averaging 368.4 yards per game while holding the fourth-most pass attempts (39.2) and fifth-most passing yards per game (272.5) across the league, Pitts has a lot resting on his shoulders given the position of his selection. However, given his talent, drive and competitiveness, he is up for the task. While there is still room to work for the Falcons to formulate a sustainable roster on both sides of the football, the selection of Pitts is set to bring top tier production at tight end for years to come, with an opportunity for the generational talent to transcend the position as it is currently known to monumental heights. | https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/kyle-pitts-florida-gators-fit-atlanta-falcons-julio-jones-matt-ryan |
Could New Brunswickers receive a vaccine cocktail? | When Quebecers get their second COVID vaccination, or booster, the vaccine could be from a different manufacturer than their first shot. And New Brunswickers are waiting to find out if that could happen here. Quebec has been trying to give people the same type of vaccine for both shots, based on accepted protocols, said Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebecs director of public health, at a news conference last week. But if the same vaccine type is unavailable or the protocols on who gets a particular vaccine have changed, Arruda said he believes that recommendation may also change. And it is possible immunity could be even better with a combination of vaccines, Arruda said, although it is a view experts are split on. Some experts say while more research is needed, even if there isnt more of a benefit, it increasingly looks like there probably wouldnt be a risk, said Dr. Susan Kirkland, head of the department ofc community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University. She said the potential that two vaccines used on one individual could target different elements of the virus is also possible. Colloquially, receiving two different vaccine types is referred to as a vaccine cocktail. In New Brunswick, hundreds of high school teachers and staff, rotational workers and others received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine prior to protocols changing to direct it not to be used for younger people due to rare incidents of blood clots that occurred mostly in young women. Rick Cuming, president of the New Brunswick Teachers Association, said while they dont have exact numbers of how many high school teachers received a first dose of AstraZeneca, upward of 90 per cent of members were vaccinated at high school clinics completed over an approximate one-week period. Teachers are awaiting information on what the next step will be. We dont know what type they will receive for their next dose, he said. Teachers are reaching out to the association, Cuming said, but there is little he can tell them besides to wait and see. Public health has indicated the teachers who received one shot will receive a second within the 16-week period, he said. The province receives all of our guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswicks chief medical officer, and she said NACIs advice thus far has been to match the vaccine given for the first dose. The guidance on the use of AstraZeneca has been evolving since it was approved earlier this year, she said. Discussions are ongoing, she said, as to whether younger people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in their first dose should receive the Moderna or Pfizer as their second dose. Research is emerging from the U.K. on this, Russell said, and Canada is looking at that as it makes decisions. On Thursday at a COVID-19 briefing Russell directly addressed New Brunswickers who had received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Many may be wondering about what happens when it is their turn for a second dose, she said. She said New Brunswick does not expect to receive another shipment of this vaccine type until late May. As NASI has now revised its position, stating AstaZeneca could be used for those as young as 30, New Brunswick will be reviewing information by NASI to determine whether those who received AstraZeneca for their first dose should receive it for their second dose, but results of the U.K. study will be key, she said. There are harms and benefits to every single drug, said Kirkland, but that rules are changing based on the best emerging evidence is actually a good thing. This process always occurs, in this case, were just doing it under a public microscope, she said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... A bigger concern, Cuming said, is that elementary, middle and supply teachers have received no vaccines to date, despite being in classrooms where social distancing is not possible, and often teaching in multiple classrooms depending on areas of specialization. The association wants these teachers prioritized for a first dose of a vaccine before tackling the issue of second doses for high school teachers, he said. Russell said working to ensure all New Brunswickers receive a first dose in paramount. Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/04/30/could-new-brunswickers-receive-a-vaccine-cocktail.html |
What are people doing for the Captain Tom 100 challenge? | This bank holiday weekend is the Captain Tom 100 challenge. From Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May, Captain Tom's family have called on the nation to take part in the challenge in memory of the 100-year-old fundraiser. He raised more than 32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday on April 30 last year. The challenge was officially launched at Lord's Cricket Ground in London as he was a huge fan of the sport. Lots of people have been getting involved and taking on their own unique challenges, take a look! | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56942614 |
Are summer blockbusters back for real? With COVID-19 hanging around, what will moviegoing look like this season? | Last summer, those of us who love going to the movies sat quietly in our homes and dreamed about summer 2021: that mythical post-pandemic time when everything would be back to normal and we could sit in the dark and watch a blockbuster movie on an enormous screen. Well, summer 2021 is almost here, the multiplexes are open and the blockbusters are on their way but things arent quite normal. As of this writing, King County is in Phase 3 of reopening, which means that entertainment venues may operate at up to 50% capacity. Most but not all movie theaters in the area have reopened. And as vaccination rates tick up, more of us may be feeling comfortable returning to in-person screenings. Im looking forward to seeing a movie in a theater later in May, after Im fully vaccinated for the first time in more than a year. (You might see me; Ill be the woman on the aisle who quite possibly passes out from the intensity and the joy of the experience.) What well find, when we return to the theaters, will be different, and not just in obvious ways like mask-wearing, distant seating and whiffs of disinfectant: The strategy for bringing movies to theaters has changed, perhaps permanently. The coronavirus pandemic hit the movie business hard, causing numerous 2020 releases to be postponed (some to as far as 2022) or released for streaming only and some movie studios, worried that people might be reluctant to embrace in-person cinema again, are hedging their bets this summer. Warner Bros., for example, announced last year that all of its 2021 slate would come out simultaneously in theaters and on its streaming service, HBO Max. Disney, likewise, is releasing some of its summer hits simultaneously on its own service, Disney+ (often in the Premier Access tier, which requires an extra rental fee). This means that some of this summers biggest movies In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It for WB; Black Widow and Cruella for Disney can be watched at home instantly, without waiting for the traditional theatrical window. And at least one major summer movie, Disney/Pixars animated adventure Luca, is bypassing theaters entirely, available only on Disney+. This is bad news for movie theater operators, who depend on first-run fare to bring audiences in, but potentially good for those not yet ready to venture out or who may have found, during a pandemic year, that watching movies from home suited them fine. Movie theaters have had to get creative during a time of lost revenue, offering private cinema rentals (which can be surprisingly affordable) or special events like Cinema Week, a six-day event in June designed to encourage moviegoing. Advertising While the large chains AMC, Regal, Cinemark have reopened (theres even a brand-new Cinemark theater in Totem Lake, opened in March), many of the areas locally owned theaters remain closed, and may stay that way for months to come. A representative for the Seattle International Film Festival said the organization would not be opening its theaters, which include the Egyptian and Uptown, this summer, but hopefully soon after. Local independent moviehouses like Northwest Film Forum, Grand Illusion and The Beacon have not yet reopened their doors (except, in some cases, for private rentals). Aaron Alhadeff, operator of the Majestic Bay in Ballard, said in an email that, We are committed to reopening the Majestic Bay in the next few months but could not provide a specific date. For the few that have reopened among them the Far Away local chain (which includes the Admiral and Varsity) and the Ark Lodge in Columbia City its been a challenging season so far. Business has been terrible, said David McRae, owner of the Ark Lodge, which reopened in late February and is now showing movies Thursdays through Sundays. He cited the necessity of having audience members widely spaced (which translated to, in his small four-plex, no more than 15 to 25 people per theater), and a current lack of the kind of movies that would excite large numbers of cinemagoers. For now, private rentals and concessions (which now include chocolate popcorn, in the style of the much-lamented Cinerama) are the bulk of the theaters business. McRae is concerned about the trend of new releases being immediately available for streaming its been a real kick in the gut. But hes invested in pandemic-related updates to his theater (including a new air-scrubbing system), and is hopeful about the upcoming summer season, pointing to a welcome glut of potential blockbusters and to numbers that show more and more people expressing confidence in returning to theaters. (A recent NRG poll showed 64% of moviegoers are very or somewhat comfortable with going to the cinema, a number thats been rising in recent weeks.) So this will be a summer movie season of options. Some of us may stick with whats now become a habit: watching movies at home, and popping our own popcorn. Some may find a middle ground, visiting drive-in theaters (for whom the pandemic brought a surprising surge) or renting cinemas with groups of vaccinated friends. And some of us, armed with masks and full vaccinations, will be heading back into theaters, embracing a little bit of back-to-normal. I dont know about you, but I cant wait. | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/are-summer-blockbusters-back-for-real-with-covid-19-hanging-around-what-will-moviegoing-look-like-this-season/ |
Why settle for boring glassware? | In Stephanie Halls youth, afternoons spent treasure hunting with her grandmother in Holly Hill, South Carolina, often yielded sparkling hauls of vintage glassware in colors like emerald green and amber. All of these trips were about finding beautiful and unique things and then having a place to showcase them, Hall said. Her grandmother Estelle Summerson Williams would display found objects and family heirlooms in two china cabinets. She also loved to entertain guests. A few years ago, when Hall was looking for colored glass pieces for her own home in Summerville, South Carolina, just outside Charleston, she was surprised to find her search limited to the secondary market. There didnt seem to be a modern glassware brand that offered the range of styles and colors she had seen as a child. I just thought that it was really unfortunate that colored glass I felt like it was becoming a dying art, she said. So she decided to start her own. Estelle Colored Glass, which began selling to customers in October 2019 and has since added a wholesale business, offers decanters, wineglasses, cake stands and Champagne coupes in shades that can be mixed and matched into multicolored collections. The expanding line of products is the result of several years of research on Halls part. She searched around South Carolina and across the United States for a manufacturer, but none of them had the capacity or the tools to create what she and her industrial designer had envisioned. She ended up finding her glassmaking collaborators in Poland, a country with a long history of glassmaking. Advertising Just a few months after Hall began her new venture, COVID-19 arrived. In a way, the timing helped give her nascent brand wings. The pandemic inspired a renewed interest in home goods and also caused alcohol sales to rise. Glassware that could be used for glugging down drinks at home, or stored away until entertaining became more realistic, was suddenly in demand. According to Joe Derochowski, the NPD Groups home industry adviser, the housewares category (which includes glassware, kitchen appliances, textiles and personal care) has been extremely hot during the pandemic. The consumer has been spending their money on three places: Its about eating and living at home, its about working from home, and its about keeping yourself active and entertained at home, he said. A summer of protests and calls to support Black-owned businesses led to a spike in sales, too. We got a lot of brand awareness out of the Black Lives Matter movement, Hall said. Advertising About 70% of sales come through the companys website; the other 30% is wholesale, which includes boutiques and e-commerce sites like Food52, West Elm, Goop and Zola. We launched Estelle last November in our annual holiday gift guide. Both the stemless glasses in rose and the cake stand in rose were featured in our hosts gift guide, said Roxanne Marie, the buying director for fashion and home at Goop, who noted that there was a spike in glassware sales on Goop last year. Marie said she was drawn to the femininity and striking jewel tones and beautiful soft pastel colors of Estelle Colored Glass, which she sees as part of a larger trend in tableware. There is definitely a trend around the opulence of added or layered color. When it comes to tablescaping, our customers are gravitating toward a more-is-more aesthetic, she said. During the pandemic, abundance and glamour in the home became something of a pronounced escapist luxury. The idea that the good china should be saved for guests went out the window. The trend is so popular that colorful copycat versions have started to emerge, although many of them are made from acrylic or lightweight polymer substitutes. They arent handblown by a 100-year-old heritage company, as Hall said of her manufacturer in Poland. Advertising In Estelle Colored Glass early days, its core business was event rentals. But, according to Hall, idle fingers scrolling through social media in quarantine coupled with a desire to support a business owned by a Black woman, especially during a time of civic unrest, helped her small brand tremendously. I wouldnt say its been overnight for me, because Ive been in the entrepreneur space for 15 years now, Hall said. But this kind of growth was just definitely off the charts. As the year warms into summer, Hall plans to roll out a variety of new colors and styles just in time for boozy backyard gatherings (which will no doubt become more commonplace as more Americans get vaccinated). A sultry midnight blue option will be added to the mix, along with dressier flute glasses and martini glasses. Derochowski believes that in the summer and fall Americans will begin to feel more comfortable entertaining larger groups. One of the things youre trying to figure out when you entertain is how do you make people feel safe, he said. And one of the ways you could do it is through color. You could say, Ive got a light blue and a light pink one, a light this color and a light that color. And I know by color which ones mine. | https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/at-home/why-settle-for-boring-glassware/ |
Why does Minnesota test tornado sirens on the first Wednesday of the month? | Curious Minnesota Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Apple Podcasts |Spotify | Stitcher The wail of sirens in the distance means one thing to most Minnesotans: It must be Wednesday. Testing tornado sirens at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month is a local tradition. But reader Andrew Engen wanted to know the origins of this cacophonous custom, which recently startled a New York-based cable news anchor on live television. A siren installed atop a fire department building in Southeast Minneapolis is tested in January 1952. "It's a little excessive seeming having so many tornado drills," Engen said. Why do we do this?" He sought answers from Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's community reporting project fueled by great questions from inquisitive readers. When the Twin Cities first installed large networks of sirens and began testing them in the 1950s, it wasn't to alert people about tornadoes and severe weather. Instead, the concern was complete annihilation from a Soviet atomic bomb. Fears of a large-scale attack loomed large in Minnesota and across the country after the Soviet Union tested its first nuclear bomb in 1949. The Soviet threat spurred the creation of civil defense agencies at the local, state and federal level, which captured the public's attention with complex plans to ward off disaster. The likelihood of Soviet bombers crossing the North Pole to reach America meant that Minnesota was on the front lines, said Dave Kenney, a writer who has researched civil defense in Minnesota. So a public warning system was developed, along with plans to evacuate the urban core if necessary. "Into the mid-1950s at least, there was this belief on the part of the government that we could outrun these things because we would have time," Kenney said. Minneapolis had installed a massive 5,500-pound air raid siren atop the (since demolished) Northwestern National Bank building during World War II, but deactivated it in 1947. In the early 1950s, the city built a network of sirens to alert the public to an impending attack. A siren sounding could mean people should either evacuate or take cover, depending on the type of sound and instructions on emergency radio broadcasts. Siren testing occurred sporadically as the sirens became active, but newspaper accounts indicate that monthly 11 a.m. Wednesday tests began in Minneapolis in 1954. Testing was moved later in the day the following year because many sirens were located on school buildings, and the earlier testing time scared kindergartners, according to a 1955 Minneapolis Tribune article. By the summer of 1955, when statewide monthly tests began, it occurred on the first Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. as it does today. The federal government, which had helped pay for the city's sirens, required the regular testing, Minneapolis' civil defense director Walter Halstead explained in 1955. But the testing also helped detect deficiencies in the system, he said. Civil defense planning shifted away from evacuation in the late 1950s, Kenney said, when the Soviets began testing intercontinental ballistic missiles. Advance notice of a missile attack would be limited, so the public was advised to protect themselves from radiation in fallout shelters. "Planners at that point were hoping that more and more people would be building their own shelters so they could get to them quickly," Kenney said. Civil defense officials announced in 1959 that the sirens would also be used for tornado warnings. The first time Twin Cities sirens were activated for an actual emergency was in 1965, when a severely destructive tornado outbreak descended on the metro area. "Tornado survivors credited air raid sirens and radio news bulletins for warning them of danger last Thursday, and their grateful comments poured into state Civil Defense headquarters today," the Minneapolis Star reported in 1965. Destruction left behind in Fridley from the 1965 tornado outbreak in the Twin Cities. Today, the monthly tests have a dual purpose, said Eric Waage, director of emergency management for Hennepin County. They acclimate the public to the sound of the sirens and help ferret out sirens that have stopped working in conjunction with regular non-audible testing. "The whole idea behind a drill is that you really need to understand how your siren sounds and whether you're going to be able to hear it in different places," Waage said. Outside of the testing period, a siren is a warning to get inside and seek further information about the emergency. Minnesota sees the most tornadoes in the heart of summer, starting in late May and into August, said Todd Krause, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. In recent years, emergency alerts have been increasingly broadcast directly to people's cellular phones. Waage said that is an important but very fragile system, since cellular networks can be easily overloaded in an emergency and towers can be destroyed or lose power. "It may not survive a first wave," Waage said. "And you can get two or three waves of storms that come in." Each county oversees the testing of its emergency sirens. Waage said a recent survey indicates that nearly all counties are testing them on the first Wednesday of the month. The sirens can warn of other dangers in addition to tornadoes. Hennepin County recently activated its sirens for softball sized hail, Waage said. Elsewhere in the country, sirens are used to warn of tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes and other hazardous events, according to a 2017 National Institute of Standards and Technology report. A siren installed on a light pole outside Phelps Community Center in Minneapolis. That report found that the majority of jurisdictions surveyed tested their sirens once per month. Hawaii tests sirens at 11:45 a.m. on the first workday of the month, for example. The Kansas City area tests sirens at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. "We do fire drills they're mandated. In schools, they do the active shooter drills," Waage said. "This is no different. This is just a time to say, ... 'What would you do now if this were real?'" If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below: This form requires JavaScript to complete. | https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-tornado-siren-tests-frequency-monthly-wednesday-1-p-m/600035725/ |
Will the Nursing Home of the Future be an Actual Home? | As Covid spread through the nations nursing homes last summer, Thomas fixated on one idea: We have to push deinstitutionalization further. The vision for the new project hes working on with Signature HealthCare currently called Canopy starts with a cluster of small ADA-accessible houses built close together, with communal greenspace and an intention that residents get to know their neighbors. The idea is that residents have much more autonomy than in a congregate setting, living in their own homes with access to the outdoors. And the goal is to enable them to tap into a tight web of services from help eating and bathing, to physical therapy and nursing care. The specifics are still in the works, says Nick Jacoby, the chief development officer of Signature HealthCare, a long-term care provider. But he says the first community will likely be built in a small town in rural Tennessee, on the grounds of one of the companys existing nursing home campuses. It may include anywhere from eight to 16 homes, roughly 400 to 600 square feet each. Thats roughly the size of so-called small houses, or granny flats, except instead of being built in a backyard, the first homes will likely be built on the grounds of one of the companys full-service nursing homes. Theyre still hammering out what exactly the first homes will look like, both inside and outside, thinking through questions like: Where is the world going in terms of preference and technology and care delivery and how do we create the home for that? Jacoby said. But the idea is that if residents need nursing care and help with daily living, theyll rely on getting those services inside their home, which theyll rent. Thomas and his partners are betting that in coming years, state and federal governments will turn their attention and money more toward whats known as home and community-based services, transforming how the country pays for aging and ending the current regulatory emphasis on traditional nursing homes. That shift is already underway. In the last few years, the Trump administration opened the door to let private Medicare plans begin paying for nonmedical services, such as meal delivery or a ride to the grocery store. States have also started to shift away from paying only for institutional care in nursing homes. Instead, theyre devoting more of their Medicaid dollars toward home-and-community based services, which can consist of everything from home health aides to assistance prepping meals. The larger public has been making clear forever that people who are aging would really want to stay in their own home. Anne Montgomery The pendulums swinging to home and community-based services, said Thomas. And in order to make those services really work, we need better homes and better communities and thats what Canopy is designed to provide. President Joe Bidens sweeping infrastructure plan includes a massive, $400 billion investment in covering in-home care under Medicaid which Thomas called the biggest rebalancing of payments ever for long-term care. And Bidens massive coronavirus relief package passed in March provided the first federal funding boost to home and community-based services since Obamacares passage. But the increase is just for a year, and advocates are already working to push for ways to permanently redirect more money toward the benefit. The larger public has been making clear forever that people who are aging would really rather stay in their own home, said Anne Montgomery, the director of eldercare improvement at the nonprofit research and consulting group, Altarum, and a former senior staffer on the Senates aging committee. Yet, waitlists are still long in many states, and finding care inside the home can still be a frustrating process for many Americans. It will be a challenge, said Montgomery, who first learned of Thomas and Signature Healthcares project when contacted by a POLITICO reporter. Im pretty sure that somebody like Bill Thomas would be thinking hard about that where he's building or hoping to build the small houses, and what kind of services are available in that area, and how do you help organize those services into something that is accessible for the residents of that community. | https://www.politico.com/news/agenda/2021/04/30/nursing-home-future-483460 |
Why have Houston's COVID vaccine rates slowed so much? | After months of climbing steadily, the number of Texans immunized against COVID-19 has plateaued. Now that half of Texans 18 and over have received at least a first dose, the number of people newly vaccinated is increasing as slowly as it did during the agonizing February freeze and power outage. There could be several factors the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, inability to travel to vaccine mega-sites. Some people may have been scared off by stories of long lines and appointments quickly filling up. Others may want to get the vaccine, but lack the technological know-how to sign up. | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/Why-have-Houston-s-vaccine-rates-slowed-so-much-16140429.php |
Did Boris Johnsons easily available phone number pose security risk? | The revelations about Boris Johnsons phone prompted warnings on Friday ranging from the risk of the prime minister being hacked and surveilled to exposing him to doughty impersonators. For a key public figure, being openly contactable is highly undesirable, said Tom Davison, technical director at the cybersecurity firm Lookout. At best they could be bombarded with calls, blocking the ability to use the device legitimately. At worst they may fall prey to call spoofing or impersonation, as happened to Tony Blair in 1998, when Jon Culshaw made a hoax call pretending to be William Hague. Beyond unwanted calls, Johnson may have faced more serious threats. Text messages are a popular route for hackers to launch phishing and malware attacks, since they can frequently bypass corporate or state security teams and get their malicious message directly in front of users. When the number is linked to a known target, Davison warned, highly targeted messages can make such attacks hard to spot. If mobile malware is installed, then potentially everything else on the device is open to attackers. A malicious app can be used to intercept incoming SMS and email messages, or even send messages on behalf of the user, as well as accessing data on the device or enabling surveillance via microphone, camera and location tracking, Davison said. Such attacks would still rely on successfully tricking the prime minister, however, or using cyber weapons so expensive that they could only plausibly come from a state actor. But other vulnerabilities exist at the network level. One attack, called Sim-jacking, can be used to completely take control of a phone number, Natalie Page, a threat intelligence analyst at Talion, said. The technique requires an attacker to deceive a phone operator into releasing a code to the adversary, allowing them to switch a targeted mobile phone number, such as Boris Johnsons, to another Sim, enabling the attacker to take control of the phone number. Such attacks have tripled in the UK in the last 12 months, Page warned. With every corner of our lives now directed to our phones, the tactic presents many possibilities, combined with the reality that phones are now a crucial token for accessing accounts via two-factor authentication, and you have potentially handed over the key to an innumerable amount of privileged accounts. For an attacker to compromise a phone number utilised by the UKs prime minister for as long as 15 years, makes hijacking a phone number such as this one absolute gold dust to all adversary classifications. But others cautioned against exaggerating the risk. If knowing the phone number is sufficient to be a disaster, the control has failed, said Martin Jartelius, CSO at risk management company Outpost24. It is similar to knowing the email address of someone constituting a risk for losing your email account. For someone like the prime minister, the sophisticated threat actors who represent the largest risk would not be deterred by a private phone number. In the case of Mr Johnson, I would be more worried that large amounts of voters feel a need to voice their opinions, Jartelius added. The PM apparently felt the same: after multiple reports on Thursday night of members of the public ringing the number, it now appears to have been disconnected. | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/30/did-boris-johnsons-easily-available-phone-number-pose-security-risk |
When does the stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland end? | Estate agent's window in York People buying homes in England and Northern Ireland haven't paid tax on the first 500,000 since last July. But stamp duty will soon be reintroduced on many sales. Stamp duty is a tax paid on property purchases. The level at which it starts having to be paid was raised from 125,000 to 500,000 in July 2020. The move was aimed at helping buyers whose finances were affected by Covid and boosting a property market hit by lockdown. It has meant a saving of up to 15,000 for people buying homes. Landlords and second-home buyers can also make use of the tax cut. But they still have to pay the extra 3% of stamp duty they were charged under the previous rules. The tax break comes to an end on 30 June. After this date, until the end of September, there is a staggered return to previous stamp duty rates. It means you won't pay any stamp duty on the first 250,000 of the purchase price. From 1 October 2021, rates are due to return to normal: 0-125,000 = 0% 125,001-250,000 = 2% 250,001-925,000 = 5% 925,000-1,500,000 = 10% 1,500,000+ = 12% Use the government's Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) calculator to find out how much you would pay. UK house prices rose 7.1% over the past year - says the Nationwide building society - taking the average property price to 238,381. The stamp duty holiday has affected the timing of property sales, it says. And some first-time buyers are better placed to afford a home after saving money during lockdown. From July, first-time buyers will not pay any stamp duty on property purchases up to 300,000. High Street lenders are also starting to offer mortgages to borrowers with a deposit of just 5%, under a new government guarantee scheme. The policy is designed to help more first-time buyers secure a home. Story continues The new scheme will be available to anyone buying a home costing up to 600,000, unless they are buy-to-let, second homes or, in some cases, new-builds. The government's annual take from stamp duty is about 12bn, according to latest HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures. That's roughly equivalent to 2% of the tax the Treasury collects. In Scotland, the normal rates on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax are: 0% on 0-145,000 2% on 145,001-250,000 5% on 250,001-325,000 10% on 325,001-750,000 12% on any value above 750,000 Scottish landlords pay an extra 4% Land and Buildings Transaction Tax on top of standard rates. Sheffield cityscape In Wales, the normal rates on Land Transaction Tax are: 0% on 0-180,000 3.5% on 180,001-250,000 5% on 250,001-400,000 7.5% on 400,001-750,000 10% on 750,001-1.5m 12% on any value above 1.5m However, the Welsh government also introduced temporary tax relief on some sales. It means that, until the end of June, people buying their main homes in Wales costing less than 250,000 will not pay any tax. Welsh landlords pay an extra 4% Land Transaction Tax on top of standard rates. | https://news.yahoo.com/does-stamp-duty-holiday-england-123544091.html |
What Does Book Publishing Stand For? | There may be an ideological component to publishing Pence and Conway, but it has nothing to do with ideas. It has to do with fetishizing intellectual diversity, in which publishing garbage books from prominent Republicans is an end in and of itself. These deals only underline whats been increasingly obvious for decades now: The commitment to free speech and intellectual diversity is a fig leaf, held up to defend often dubious decisions that are rooted in financial concerns, rather than intellectual or moral ones. If you are building a case for ideological diversity and are basing it on books by Mike Pence and Kellyanne Conway, you have already lost. As all of this was happening, HarperCollins was dealing with a different issue. After disturbing allegations of grooming, harassment, and rape spanning decades were made against Philp Roth biographer Blake Baileyallegations that at least one W.W. Norton executive was aware of years before the book was publishedthe company initially announced that it was pausing promotion and distribution of the book. As the controversy continued to swirl, they went further, announcing that they were taking the book out of print and that Bailey could publish it elsewhere if he so chose (it is currently unavailable as an ebook, though new copies are still being sold on Amazon, presumably until the retailer runs out of stock). That decision was a public relations one: Norton itself had been implicated in the scandal; without this, its highly unlikely the book would have been pulled. Simon & Schuster, meanwhile, found a line it wouldnt cross, announcing that it wouldnt distribute a book written by one of the Louisville police officers who killed Breonna Taylor. (Simon & Schuster had, months earlier, canceled a book contract with Josh Hawley, citing his involvement in the January 6 insurrection.) What you have now is a confused situation in which all kinds of books are deemed not worthy of publication or circulationoften for very good reasonsbut without much consistency or clarity. At the same time, publishers are desperately clinging to anything they can to justify continuing to do whatever they think is in their best interest financially. They are on increasingly shaky ground, however, as Karps canceling email suggests. The old lines about free speech dont quite make sense anymore. New ones havent been concocted. So they are left with empty rhetoric that only shows that these publishers have long since abandoned their roots as plucky free speech warriors championing Ulysses. | https://newrepublic.com/article/162276/book-publishing-pence-bailey-conway |
Why are two Stow Municipal Court judges having one of the most bitter primary elections in Northeast Ohio? | CLEVELAND, Ohio Few races in Tuesdays primary can match the venom in Stow, where two Republican judges are squaring off in one of the regions most contentious campaigns. Lisa Coates and Kim Hoover are longtime jurists whose feuds over the years have reached beyond their courtrooms in Stow Municipal Court, where they are the only two judges. In an unusual move, Hoover, who has four more years on his six-year term, is challenging Coates run for re-election. The winner does not face a Democrat in November, but non-partisan candidates can join the race if they file by Monday. The court handles civil, traffic and misdemeanor criminal cases from 16 suburban communities in northern Summit County. Hoover said he is vying for Coates job because she has been a poor partner. She has tried to undermine me repeatedly. Coates scoffed. Im incredibly disappointed, Coates said of her first primary race in 18 years. Im a longtime Republican, and I feel some in the party have abandoned me. Of course, he has a right to run. I just feel I didnt get the support from some, including the party chairman. Bryan Williams, the Summit County GOP leader, did not return repeated calls on the matter. Hoover said his challenge of Coates stems partly from Ohio law, which prevents judicial candidates from seeking office after the age of 70. Hoover is 67. When his current six-year term ends, he cannot run again. He said by running against Coates, he will obtain a term that is two years longer than his current one. He said it also would prevent Coates from obtaining the status of presiding judge, which, for years, has gone to the senior jurist of the court. Hoover has handled the job, which includes budgeting and personnel matters, since about 2013. He has been a judge on the Stow bench since 1995. If Hoover defeats Coates, he will remain the presiding judge, he said. He also would be able to groom the person who takes his open seat, a candidate chosen by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. If Coates defeats Hoover, she will become the presiding judge when Hoovers current term ends. I also didnt want her to go into a primary without competition, Hoover said. He said their disagreements increased two years ago, when he claimed Coates supported a Democrat, Tania Nemer, in the race against him. Hoover defeated the challenger. That was the final straw, Hoover said. Coates said their relationship had been rocky for years. In 2013, she said, Hoover asked a bailiff to check a law enforcement database as a favor to Hoovers longtime friend, Democratic powerbroker Wayne Jones. The bailiff notified Coates, and she contacted the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which launched an investigation. Coates said she feared the request could be linked back to her, as she had been made aware of it. Hoover, however, said he felt betrayed by Coates, as she never asked him why he sought the request and simply went straight to authorities. He said he did nothing wrong, and the investigation cleared him. He said Jones requested help in figuring out how his girlfriend had her drivers license suspended in Stow Municipal Court. Hoover said he initially didnt recall the matter, and he looked on the courts docket to find the case. When it wasnt there, he said, he asked the bailiff to check the law enforcement database to see how the suspension came about. The womans license was suspended because of a civil judgment in Summit County Common Pleas Court, Hoover said. It was a mistake. [Jones] thought the suspension came from our court, Hoover said. We looked and found that it wasnt true, and that was it. The race has prompted Coates, in her campaign literature, to take the somewhat unusual step of urging Democrats and independent voters to go to the polls Tuesday and request a Republican ballot, a move she hopes will keep her in office. The rift has affected the race and the message candidates have put out. Hoover said he is proud of his work as the longtime presiding judge. Coates said she is most pleased with her initiatives on the mental-health docket, which she oversees. That work, however, is often drowned out over the bickering and in-fighting. Coates, however, said she fears the internal strife could have a more severe effect: It eventually could allow Democrats to gain a seat on the bench. Why would you want to risk that? she said. | https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2021/04/why-are-two-stow-municipal-court-judges-having-one-of-the-most-bitter-primary-elections-in-northeast-ohio.html |
Is Justin Fields the perfect fit to be the Chicago Bears franchise quarterback? | COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is a Chicago Bear after being taken with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Georiga transfer who led the Buckeyes to a 20-2 record, two Big Ten titles and two College Football Playoff appearances will head to a team that finished the last two seasons with an 8-8 record. There are parallels between what Fields situation is Chicago will be and want Baker Mayfield went through as the Browns top pick in 2018. Both teams were looking for long-term options at quarterback after a long run of misses. Their respective drafts finally awarded that option with expectations that theyd be able to start from Day One, even if the decision-makers said otherwise on Draft Day. Andy (Dalton) is our starter, Bears general manager Ryan Pace said. We are going to have a really good plan in place to develop Justin and do whats best for our organization to win games. Mayfield wasnt anointed the starter the moment he got to Cleveland. Tyrod Taylor went through the offseason and training camp with that title. But by the third game of the season, the former Oklahoma Sooner was thrown into the fire and never looked back. Dalton will serve as Fields Taylor: the vet being handed the starting title until the franchise quarterback is ready. If the Browns give us any indication of how that could go, expect Fields to be ready sooner than later to lead an NFL team. Stephen Means, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises discuss Justin Fields as Ohio States latest first-round draft pick on this Friday episode of Buckeye Talk. If youve never listened to Buckeye Talk, try it now. And subscribe to Buckeye Talk on any of these podcast platforms or wherever you listen to podcasts. Buckeye Talk on iTunes Buckeye Talk on Spotify Buckeye Talk on Google Play - Get Ohio State Sugar Bowl champs & CFP gear: Check out shirts, hats and more merchandise commemorating Ohio States Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, as well as gear on the Buckeyes advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game. Could OSU 2022 class provide first No. | https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/04/is-justin-fields-the-perfect-fit-to-be-the-chicago-bears-franchise-quarterback.html |
What time will the Green Bay Packers make their picks Friday in the NFL draft? | We know, all you can think about is Aaron Rodgers today. But there is still an NFL draft going on. Here's what you need to know. Rounds 2 and 3 will begin at 6 p.m. CDT Friday, and the final four rounds will begin at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday. The Packers own picks No. 62 (second round) and No. 92 (third round) during Friday's proceedings. On Saturday, the Packers are scheduled to take No. 135 (fourth round), No. 142 (fourth round), No. 173 (fifth round), No. 178 (fifth round), No. 214 (sixth round), No. 220 (sixth round), No. 256 (seventh round). The NFL draft will air on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network, and the ESPN coverage will be led by first-time host Mike Greenberg, along with Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland and reporters such as Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen and Suzy Kolber. On ABC, you'll find Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Todd McShay, Maria Taylor, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack. On NFL Network, you'll get Rich Eisen, , Charles Davis, Daniel Jeremiah, David Shaw and reporting from Melissa Stark, Kurt Warner, Joel Klatt and Ian Rapoport. Viewers can stream the draft on the ESPN app, NFL mobile app and find it on streaming services like Sling TV and YouTubeTV. This would all be contingent on the Packers keeping their scheduled selections. Green Bay's second-round pick is the 62nd overall. In the past five years, that pick has been made at (Central time), 8:25 p.m., 8:24 p.m., 8:05 p.m., 8:25 p.m. and 8:32 p.m. Outside of a particularly speedy year in 2018, it seems fans could start paying attention in earnest around 8:20 p.m. Green Bay also holds the 92nd pick, which is in the third round. In the past five years, that pick has been made at 10:15 p.m., 10:00 p.m., 9:32 p.m., 9:58 p.m. and 10:01 p.m. Seems pretty likely that the Packers will have a name right around 10 p.m. None of this matters, just tell me more about Aaron Rodgers Check out more coverage on Aaron Rodgers reportedly not wanting to return to the Packers from PackersNews. The last five picks at No. 62: 2020: Green Bay, AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College. You know this guy, the bruising running back who ran for 242 yards in 11 games and two touchdowns as a rookie and now finds himself second on the depth chart behind Aaron Jones. 2019: Arizona, Andy Isabella, WR, UMass. He's had 30 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns in his first two pro seasons. 2018: Minnesota, Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh. He started all 16 games last season at right tackle for the Vikings after making 26 starts through his first two years. 2017: Pittsburgh, JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC. The 2018 Pro Bowl pick has caught 308 passes for 3,726 yards and 26 touchdowns in four seasons with the Steelers. 2016: Carolina, James Bradberry, CB, Samford. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 after snagging three interceptions and forcing two fumbles, with 54 tackles in his first year with the Giants. Over four years with Carolina, he finished with eight interceptions, three sacks and started all but one game in his final three years with the franchise. Notable No. 62: Casey Hayward, CB. The Packers made Hayward the 62nd pick in 2012. He had six interceptions as a rookie and four years with the Packers before Green Bay let him go; the Chargers picked him up and Hayward quickly made two Pro Bowls. The Packers also selected cornerback Quinten Rollins at No. 62 in 2015. Notable No. 62: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB. Drafted by New England in 2014 as Tom Brady's backup, Garoppolo wound up dealt to San Francisco, where he was expected to take over as starter and signed a five-year contract worth $137.5 million before injuries slowed him down. He started all 16 games when the 49ers went 13-3 in 2019 and reached the Super Bowl. The last five picks at No. 92: 2020: Baltimore, Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas. He started three games for the Ravens as a rookie and made 20 catches for 201 yards. He might have been a fit for the receiver-hungry Packers but was taken two picks before Green Bay's third-round selection. 2019: New York Jets, Chuma Edoga, OT, USC. Started 12 games at tackle for the Jets in his first two seasons but mostly has been a backup. 2018: Pittsburgh, Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan. He appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers last year at right tackle (starting 15) after coming off the bench his first two years. 2017: Dallas, Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan. He has four career interceptions in four seasons with the Cowboys, as well as six sacks and four fumble recoveries. He started a career-best 13 games in 2020. 2016: Arizona, Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M. Played for the Giants last season after three years in Arizona, playing primarily on special teams. Missed all of 2019 with an injury and saw action in only six games in 2020, exclusively on special teams. Notable at No. 92: Trai Turner, OG. The offensive guard was drafted by Carolina in 2014 and wound up making five Pro Bowls in his six seasons with the Panthers before joining the Chargers in 2020. Notable at No. 92: T.Y. Hilton, WR. Taken by the Colts in 2012, Hilton went to the Pro Bowl every season from 2014-17 and has 608 career receptions for 9,360 yards and 50 touchdowns. I fell asleep yesterday, so remind me who they took last night Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes was Green Bay's pick with the 29th selection of the first round. It's the first time in five years that the Packers didn't make any draft-night trades. RELATED:What to know about Eric Stokes, Packers' first-round draft pick and Georgia cornerback JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2021/04/30/green-bay-packers-scheduled-two-draft-picks-friday/7385974002/ |
What Are Longhorns NFL Draft Possibilities on Day 2? | Round one of the 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and for the sixth straight season, no Longhorns were selected. READ MORE: Longhorns Miss On First-Round NFL Draft Selection Once Again However, Longhorn fans may very well have something to celebrate on day two of the draft (Friday night). Most recently, ESPNs Todd McShay released his player rankings, which projects two Longhorns being selected in the third round of the draft. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas Following rumors about him being a potential first-round pick, Cosmi's draft stock has risen over the past few days. No one should be surprised to see Cosmi picked in the second round. Heres is what McShay had to say about the prospect: Samuel Cosmi is very polarizing, coming out of Texas because he had great measurables and workouts, McShay said. His tapes not nearly as good. Some teams love him, or I wouldnt say love him. Some teams think that hes worth the investment in the second. A LeBron-Like Impact On Texas Joseph Ossai, LB, Texas Projections about Joseph Ossai have been all over the place lately. Ossai possesses all the physical tools, versatility, and skills to become an exciting draft prospect. In his Texas career, Ossai contributed 165 career combined tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. While Cosmi is projected to be drafted earlier, dont be surprised to see a team snag Ossai early on Friday night. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Sign up for your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook | https://www.si.com/college/texas/football/what-are-longhorns-nfl-draft-possibilities-on-day-2 |
Will the Bengals Trade Trade Up For Oklahoma State Offensive Lineman Teven Jenkins? | That's a question plenty of Cincinnati fans are asking after the star tackle fell out of the first round on Thursday night. The Bengals have the 38th overall pick, which means the Jaguars (33), Jets (34), Falcons (35), Dolphins (36), and Eagles (37) would have to pass on Jenkins at the start of the second round if he was going to end up in Cincinnati without a trade up. He could fall considering top talents at other positions are still available including Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore and Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore. If Jenkins doesn't fall to 38, then he probably won't be coming to Cincinnati. The Bengals will talk about trading up, but it doesn't seem likely. If anything, the Bengals may move down a few spots to gain another pick or two if some of these top guys are still sitting there when they're on the clock. Now if there's a big difference on their board from Jenkins to the next offensive lineman available, then they should try to work their way up and get him. That's the case for a lot of draft experts, but it might not be the case for the Bengals. Related: Five Players the Bengals Could Target in Round Two If Jenkins is the 15th ranked player on the Bengals' board and Radunz is the next best lineman and he's 31st, then it's worth giving up a fifth or even a future fourth-round pick to get the better prospect. But if Jenkins is 23rd on their board and Radunz [or another lineman] is 27th, then it may be better just to let one of them fall to pick 38. When the Bengals took Chase with the fifth pick, they were banking on quality offensive linemen being available in round two. The gamble paid off. Chances are they have similar grades on most of the top linemen left on the board. We'll get the answer tonight starting at 7 p.m. ET. For more on the NFL Draft, bookmark AllBengals and check out our LIVE draft tracker here. ----- You May Also Like: Five Players the Bengals Could Target in Round Two Passing on Penei: Here's Why Ja'Marr Chase Was the Right Pick Watch: Ja'Marr Chase Reacts to Emotional Letter From Parents Here's What National Analysts Are Saying About the Ja'Marr Chase Pick Ja'Marr Chase Makes BOLD Statement on Draft Night Watch Zac Taylor's Call With Ja'Marr Chase Joe Burrow, Other Bengals Players React to Team Taking Ja'Marr Chase at No. 5 Get To Know New Bengals Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase Ja'Marr Chase Has BIG Goals for the 2021 Season Bengals Take Ja'Marr Chase at No. 5 Watch: Film Breakdown of new Bengals Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase Watch: Footage of Joe Burrow Throwing and Planting on Left Leg The Bengals Should "Build Around Burrow" During 2021 NFL Draft Listen: Dave Lapham Talks All Things NFL Draft ----- 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/will-the-bengals-trade-trade-up-for-teven-jenkins |
Why hasnt NYC elected a female mayor yet? | RULING THE WEEK A little less than two months out from the primary, there is still no runaway favorite to be the next mayor of New York. Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang has the largest plurality of supporters according to a recent poll , followed by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, but a quarter of likely voters were still undecided about who theyd vote for in the June 22 Democratic primary, which will likely determine the next mayor of the city. But its clear whos getting the most national media attention: Andrew Yang, who has no New York City government or politics experience, and not the slate of woman candidates with decades of it. This attention vacuum highlights a unique difficulty for women in New York City, which has never elected a female mayor. There are several women in the Democratic primary this year: Maya Wiley, a lawyer who chaired New York Citys police oversight agency in 2016; Kathryn Garcia, a former commissioner for the New York City sanitation department and Mayor Bill de Blasios food czar for emergency food programs during the Covid-19 pandemic; and Dianne Morales, an education nonprofit executive. In the same poll, all of these women had lower name recognition than Yang, Adams and Scott Stringer, a candidate who on Wednesday was accused of sexual misconduct by a former staffer. With the governor grappling with allegations of sexual harassment, it would seem an ideal moment for a female candidate. And everyone knows its about time: In a Tuesday interview, Yang himself said New York was overdue for a woman mayor. There are a few factors at play in New York, some of which are familiar to anyone paying attention to women in politics at any level, and some that are unique to cities and to New York specifically. First, executive-leadership positions are notoriously difficult for women to win, because campaigning for them requires a specific kind of high-wire act. Theres the idea that if you're the chief executive officer, if youre the place where the buck stops, you need to be tough and strong, says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University. And often when women exhibit qualities of strength and toughness, thats seen as an unlikable quality while its admired in men. That paradox has plagued women candidates at all levels, Walsh says, pointing to the criticisms of Elizabeth Warren during the 2020 campaign, which sounded a lot like those of Hillary Clinton in 2016. In female candidates, she says, competence and knowledge is often read as arrogance or lecturing or schoolmarm-ish behavior. OK, but: Other cities have elected female mayors. Chicago has one right now; so does D.C. Many have had several. One of the things about New York is this incredibly strong party machinery that I think makes it difficult for women to break in, Walsh says. She points to a quote from Morales in the New York Times: Machine politics is a machine that was built by and for men. Walsh points to unions, bastions of Democratic voter power, and Wall Street, another crucial source of money and power in New York elections. Both institutions are very male. The fact that one party, Democrats, holds most of the cards in New York further solidifies these structures. And while the female mayor trend has been getting a lot of attention recently, new data from CAWP shows that women are about as likely to hold municipal leadership office as they are state or national office. The report finds that women currently hold 30.5 percent of municipal offices in the country, compared to 30.9 percent of seats in state legislatures and 26.5 percent of seats in U.S. Congress. I think in some places the party machinery is just not as strong, Walsh says. You go to a state like Iowa or Colorado and it's much more transparent and it's much more open and the parties don't exert that same kind of control. Specifically, in recent years, Texas has seen several female mayors in its big cities: Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. Theres something about the political culture [in Texas] thats more open and inclusive and Western states have been better at electing women overall. Of the top 25 largest cities in the country, eight have female mayors: Chicago, Phoenix, Fort Worth, Charlotte, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle and Boston (which has an acting mayor). Five of those are in the West. I think you sort of see this male dominance and culture [in New York politics] right now, frankly with Andrew Cuomo, Walsh says. In some ways, this gives women running in New York a platform to talk about sexism and misogyny. So it might be a moment where a woman could break through. Good noon! (When something goes out around noon, do you say good morning or good afternoon?) Im your Women Rule host, Katelyn Fossett, reporting for duty with my trusty co-pilot, Maya Parthasarathy. Inspired by my conversation with Senator Mazie Hirono, I took a painting class a few days ago, so I am feeling humbled. Reminder: Next weekend is Mothers Day. If you havent started, now is a good time to start browsing for gifts or get started on a craft project, if thats more your style. Send me feedback, tips and any cool projects youre working on for Mothers Day at [email protected] . PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Representative Colin Allred (D-TX) pictured with his newborn son while out on paternity leave. Allred is also on an exercise bike. And also reading briefing memos. Allred is a vocal advocate of paid-leave legislation and was the first member of Congress to publicly admit he was taking paternity leave after the birth of his first child. That seems to be what venture capitalist and author J.D. Vance suggested on Twitter on Thursday, in a series of posts that got everyone across the political spectrum talking. The establishment critique of universal daycare is that it spends too much money, he began. The better critique is that its terrible for children, and that a healthy society should make it easier for parents to care for kids. Writer Jill Filipovic , musician Jason Isbell , and New York Times reporter Cecilia Kang , to name just a few. WHAT RULERS ARE READING WHITE HOUSE WATCH -- Bidens new $1.8 trillion plan largely aims to help working women, by Chabeli Carrazana: If passed, they would all be historic investments: hundreds of billions of dollars to revive the child care industry, a plan to create Americas first universal paid family and medical leave policy, and a path toward universal pre-kindergarten. Each of those pillars of President Joe Bidens American Families Plan ... is aimed at working women most of all. The new $1.8 trillion plan is the latest package proposed by the Biden administration, designed to shore up existing investments in children, families, and low- and middle-class workers while also building out new programs over a decade that would address long-standing Democratic priorities. The 19th -- Biden says 'it's about time' 2 women are behind him at joint address to Congress, via POLITICO ... The misunderstood first 100 days of Kamala Harris, via POLITICO ... Jill Biden leading the way on community college tuition coverage, Biden says, via POLITICO ON THE HILL -- Gillibrand eyes NDAA for military sexual assault revamp, by Nick Niedzwiadek: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Thursday the annual defense policy bill will be the likely vehicle to enact an overhaul of how sexual assault is handled within the military. Usually this type of reform is in the National Defense Authorization [Act], Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in an interview on MSNBC. That is our goal, and it should be done this year. The issue has long been a signature focus of Gillibrands and the effort has recently picked up momentum, including through a high-profile spread in the New York Times. Supporters of the revamp, which would take sexual assault prosecutions out of the hands of military commanders, say that sexual assault remains a pervasive problem within the armed services and previous attempts to address the matter without altering the chain of command have not borne fruit. Under any measurable, things arent getting better, Gillibrand said. That is one reason that some lawmakers previously reticent to support the reforms have begun warming up to the idea. POLITICO -- John Lewis successor in Congress is already used to making good trouble, via POLITICO ... Where the Republican Party stands after Trump, according to Wyoming's junior senator, via POLITICO ... Rep. Liz Cheney fist bumps Biden amid tense relationship with GOP leadership, via POLITICO AROUND THE WORLD -- The rush to help India: How these women are mobilizing coronavirus aid from afar, via The Lily ... Would this have happened if I had worn a suit and a tie?: E.U. president Ursula von der Leyen denounces sexism in sofagate incident, via The Washington Post ... Kuwait: Murder spurs demands for greater safety for women, via BBC ... Devastating for women and girls: UK cuts 85% in aid to UN family planning, via The Guardian ... Saudi Arabia sees a spike in women joining the workforce, Brookings study shows, via CNBC -- Caitlyn Jenner running for California governor, via POLITICO ... Trump backs Susan Wright to replace her late husband in Texas 6th District, via POLITICO WOMEN AT WORK -- Women lost $800 billion in income last year. That's more than the combined GDP of 98 countries, by Jazmin Goodwin: Economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic is having a harsher impact on women, who are disproportionately represented in sectors offering low wages, few benefits and the least secure jobs, said Gabriela Bucher, executive director of Oxfam International. Instead of righting that wrong, governments treated women's jobs as dispensable and that has come at a cost of at least $800 billion in lost wages for those in formal employment. The organization cites the total income loss as a conservative estimate that doesn't account for wages lost by the millions of women working in the informal economy which they describe as domestic workers, market vendors and garment workers. CNN -- I feel like Im drowning: Women business owners keep hitting new barriers to federal loan aid, via The 19th ... Breaking a barrier, women become U.S. Marines after surviving the crucible, via Reuters ... 'Punched-in-the-gut feeling.' Gannett under fire for paying some women nearly $30,000 less than male peers, via CNN VOICES FROM THE BLAKE BAILEY ALLEGATIONS -- Mr. Baileys Class, by Josh Levin, Susan Matthews and Molly Olmstead: Our reporting has revealed a clear pattern. Time and again, Bailey would become deeply involved in his students personal lives. Hed flatter their intellects, or their looks, and win their devotion, only to abuse that loyalty as they became young women. Nearly everyone we spoke to said Mr. Bailey was one of the best teachers theyd ever had. They also described a man obsessed with getting deep inside his subjects psyches. That habit has paid off for Bailey as a biographer. Its also been his tool of choice as a predator. Slate SPOTLIGHT -- The county where Black women hold power a few miles from the White House, by Rachel Chason, Katie Mettler and Amber Ferguson: The hallway was lined with sharply dressed Black women, awaiting the new administrations first cabinet meeting. Who are they, the deputy fire chief wondered that December day in 2018. She had attended such sessions for eight years, but had never seen the foyer look like this. As the women took their seats at the table, she read their names and titles. These women, she realized, were in charge. There was the county attorney, used to seeing the shock in her clients eyes when they learned a Black woman was representing them. The head of community relations, who wanted to touch poor communities like the one in which she had grown up. The chief of staff, who built a high-profile career by pushing past doubts about whether she was ready to handle the work. At the head of the table was County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D), the woman who had brought them there. She was launching a new era in Prince Georges County, Md., as the first woman to lead a suburb known for its concentration of Black wealth and complicated record on racial justice. Alsobrooks, who had also been the countys first female elected prosecutor, knew the loneliness of being a woman in power. She had been lifted by Black female mentors among them Kamala D. Harris, the future vice president and has tried to lift others in turn. WaPo PERSPECTIVE -- My Hijab Has Always Been My Choice, by Amani Al-Khatahtbeh: When I started wearing a hijab at 14, my parents had no part of the decision. In my teenage rebellion, I wanted to make it known that my hijab was my choice and nobodys business but my own, even if my mother didnt wear one. In the hypersexualized and anti-Muslim climate of post-9/11 America, in which it became more socially acceptable to objectify womens bodies than for a Muslim woman to cover in public, my hijab became a tool for self-empowerment. Im reminded of how significant it was for me as a teenage girl to make that choice when I think about the most recent attempt to ban the hijab in France. In a controversial move, the French Senate passed a bill earlier this month outlawing girls under 18 from wearing the hijab in public, and their veiled mothers from accompanying them on school trips. ... French conservatives claim that hijab bans somehow support women and girls freedom by assuming that all those who wear the hijab are forced to do so. But its these systemic attacks on our autonomy that are bigger threats to our freedom and feel like an attack on our religion. Throughout history, it has been these moments that often encourage us to hold onto pieces of our identity even more as symbols that are bigger than ourselves. Thats the heart of the hijab bans purpose not to secularize, but to rip away another choice from Muslim girls under the guise of giving them one. The Cut -- The Tyranny of the Female-Orgasm Industrial Complex, via The Atlantic ... Men are becoming more violent against women around the world. Google shows how, via MSNBC CULTURE CLUB -- Here's why Chlo Zhao's win matters for Asian women in Hollywood, via CNN ... And the Best Oscars Acceptance Speech Goes to via The Atlantic ... An Artist Sketches the Giant Gender Gap on the Moon, via The New York Times HISTORY DEPT. -- The Lost Legacy of the Girl Stunt Reporter, via The New Yorker QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Anita Lane, a founding member of the Bad Seeds along with Nick Cave, died this week at 61. From a Rolling Stone obit : Lane reflected in Bad Seed on how her association with Cave propelled her into a creative life she had not expected. When we met, I was 17 and he was 19, she said. You havent decided on anything at that age. Youre all open and you want the world to show you everything, having rejected what your parents have planned for you. That was the springboard: rebelliousness. You just jump into the arms of whatever comes along and so we did. VIDEO -- Bidens first Joint Congress Address, in 180 seconds WOMEN RULERS TRANSITIONS -- Catharine Cypher is joining the Center for the American Child at America First Policy Institute as a policy analyst. She most recently was special assistant to the president in the Trump White House and director of media affairs for former first lady Melania Trump. Libby Liu is now CEO of Whistleblower Aid, a nonprofit legal organization that provides assistance to whistleblowers within the U.S. and abroad. She most recently was co-founder and CEO of the Open Technology Fund and was president of Radio Free Asia. -- Anas Borja will be a legislative assistant for Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), focusing on energy. She previously was a senior legislative assistant for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). Nicole Wong, former deputy U.S. chief technology officer, is joining the board of the Filecoin Foundation. Kristin Smith, executive director of the Blockchain Association, is joining the board of the Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web. Follow us on Twitter Katelyn Fossett @KatelynFossett | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/women-rule/2021/04/30/why-hasnt-nyc-elected-a-female-mayor-yet-492672 |
Was Tom Brady really joking with Julian Edelman-to-Bucs comment? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston If you're a New England Patriots fan seeking a nervous laugh, you've come to the right place. Fresh off his NFL retirement, former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hopped on the NFL Network's "Draft-A-Thon" coverage Thursday night to join a star-studded group that included his ex-teammate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube Brady's response was eye-opening -- and included a mention of his former boss, Bill Belichick. "We know Julian didnt retire. Lets be honest," Brady said. "Hes just too scared to tell Bill he wants to come to Tampa. Ive been there." Good one, Tom. Edelman did insist recently that he's not healthy enough to return for a 13th NFL season, and he'll turn 35 in May. But Rob Gronkowski also cited health concerns when he "retired" in 2018 only to team up with Brady in Tampa Bay in 2020 and go on to win a Super Bowl. For what it's worth, Gronk gave Edelman a "69% chance" of unretiring to join the Bucs. So, even if Edelman is convinced he's done playing, his former teammates don't seem to believe him. Edelman also didn't exactly douse the comeback rumors. When Kevin Hart asked Edelman on the telethon if this was all a big marketing scheme so he could unretire via a sponsored ad, the former wideout shot back with a joke Hart has heard many times before. "It's always great to have someone who's shorter than you (on the call)," Edelman said. So, yeah. Don't be surprised if Brady calls his fellow Bay Area native a few times this summer to tell him about how lovely Tampa is in the fall. | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-really-joking-julian-170859662.html?src=rss |
Should I skip my COVID-19 vaccine appointment if I have cold-like symptoms? | America is forging ahead in its COVID-19 vaccination effort, with White House officials saying Friday that 100 million citizens are now fully vaccinated against the novel disease. In its pre-vaccination checklist, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says "mild illnesses are NOT [a] contraindication to vaccination." In other words, the federal agency does not consider mild illness to be a reason for a patient to not receive the vaccine at this time. "I think if people are having mild symptoms, especially no fever, it's OK to go ahead and get the shot," Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer of the healthcare website WebMD, told Fox News in an email. That said, "sometimes symptoms of colds and COVID can be hard to distinguish, so you might actually want to get a COVID test to make sure you don't have COVID," he suggested. BIDEN SAYS SCHOOLS 'SHOULD PROBABLY ALL BE OPEN' IN FALL Indeed, "in the current environment where theres so much COVID still being spread, wait until your illness has resolved, just to be safe," Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist, and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, recently said. For those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, CDC recommends waiting 90 days before getting the vaccine. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE "The good news," however, "is right now, there is a lot of vaccine supply so if you have to delay it a few days, it shouldn't be difficult to reschedule. And in many cities, you can just walk right in," added Whyte. | https://www.foxnews.com/health/should-you-skip-covid-19-vaccine-appointment-cold-like-symptoms |
Is there a dynamic duo available who can wipe out COVID-19 the way Elvis did polio? | It takes two shots for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 to be fully effective. Two. And yet, in Arizona alone, a spokesman for the state Department of Health Services says that roughly 93,000 of those who got the first dose have not shown up for the second. Its become a problem throughout the nation. And its puzzling. It would be like going outside on a freezing day with only one glove. Or going to the shoe store with your worn out sneakers and purchasing only one Nike. Not getting the second shot is like ordering biscuits but not gravy, mac but not cheese. The problem for health authorities is how to convince people who may already feel safe, or who have become wary, to get the second shot. They might try the Elvis Presley approach. In 1956, at a time when tens of thousands of men, women and children were being crippled by the polio virus, a life-saving vaccine was developed by the now legendary Dr. Jonas Salk. But then, like now, many people, particularly young adults, were skeptical of the vaccine. Unsure. Distrustful. Then, on Oct. 28 of that year, the rising rock sensation Elvis Presley, who was appearing on that nights Ed Sullivan Show, got vaccinated in front of cameras. COVID-19 needs an inspiring power couple It became a national sensation. The photos appeared everywhere. Prior to Elvis being vaccinated it was reported that fewer than 1% of Americas young adults had received the vaccine. Within about six months that number rose to nearly 80%. Or perhaps two people not known for always using their brains who might convince others the second vaccine shot is a no-brainer: Homer and Marge Simpson. Reach Montini at [email protected]. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/30/covid-vaccine-second-shot-elvis-did-polio/7411553002/ |
Will Wilmington's new bishop give President Biden Communion? | The Conversation Moms and dads have better physical and mental health when they dine with their children despite all the work of a family meal. Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty ImagesFor all the parents feeling exhausted by the cooking, cleaning and planning of a million meals during the pandemic, theres some good news. Commensality, or the sharing of food with others, is beneficial for your physical and mental health. Most parents already know that family mealtimes are great for the bodies, the brains and the mental health of children. More than two decades of studies reveal that kids who eat with their families do better in school and have bigger vocabularies. They also have lower rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders, as well as healthier diets and better cardiovascular health. But what may come as unexpected news to beleaguered parents is that these same shared meals are also good for adults. Across the life span, from young parents eating with toddlers to parents talking about pandemic-coping strategies with their school-age kids and Medicare-eligible adults eating with younger generations, shared meals are associated with healthier eating and better mood. Healthy for all adults, but especially for parents For adults, both with and without children, there are numerous health benefits to eating with others. Even unrelated adults, like firefighters, have enhanced team performance when they cook and eat together as they await the call to action. On the flip side, researchers have found that eating alone is associated with an increased likelihood of skipping meals and the downstream effects lower intakes of nutrients, reduced energy and poorer nutritional health. Regardless of parental status, adults who eat with others tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and less fast food than those who eat alone. Even when a home cook isnt particularly focused on healthy cooking, home-cooked meals lower the odds that adults will be obese. Large portion sizes, the embrace of fried foods and a heavy hand with butter are more common at restaurants than in a civilians kitchen. Adults who park their dinner plates in front of the television may have a greater chance of weight gain, just as evidence from the U.S., Sweden, Finland and Portugal supports the connection between obesity and kids eating dinner while watching TV. Kids may be the healthiest dining companions you can line up for yourself. 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision via Getty Images In addition to these benefits of dining with others, there are additional boosts for adults who eat with their children and they pertain equally to mothers and fathers. When kids are present at mealtime, parents may eat more healthily, perhaps to model good behavior and provide the best nourishment they can to their kids. When there is plenty of conversation with kids chiming in, the pace of eating slows down, allowing diners brains to register fullness and signal that its time to stop eating. For kids, eating more family meals is associated with lower rates of obesity. The act of eating with others does not correlate with reduced weight gain in adults, though unless their dining companions include children. Parents who dine with their kids also tend to report less dieting and binge-eating behavior. Parents may dial back some of these destructive behaviors when they know their kids are watching and ready to imitate. Despite all the work, a boost for mental health It may seem counterintuitive that a process that demands so much time and resources the energy to plan the meal, shop for it, prepare it, serve it and clean up after could also lead to boosts in mental health. Much more obvious is how kids would benefit from their parents demonstrating their love and care by providing nightly dinners. But researchers have found that having frequent family meals is associated with better mental health for both mothers and fathers, despite mothers carrying more of the burden of meal prep. Compared with parents who rarely ate family meals, parents who regularly dined with their kids reported higher levels of family functioning, greater self-esteem and lower levels of depressive symptoms and stress. And mental health benefits dont depend on a slow-roasted pork shoulder or organic vegetables. Since its the atmosphere at the dinner table that contributes most significantly to emotional well-being, takeout or prepared food eaten at home will work nicely too. In an earlier study of parents of infants and toddlers, couples who attached more meaning and importance to family meals were more satisfied with their marital relationship. Its unclear in which direction the causality goes. In either case, the establishment of meaningful rituals, like shared mealtime, during early stages of parenthood may add some predictability and routine at a time of life that can be very busy and fragmented. Just as for children, family dinner is the most reliable time of the day for adults to slow down and talk to others. Its a time to step away from video calls, emails and to-do lists, and instead connect face to face. Dinnertime often allows for a few laughs, a time to decompress and also to solve logistical problems and talk about the days events and what tomorrow holds. Family meals are a COVID-19 habit to keep For parents taking the long view, there is another perk to family dinner. When adolescents grow up having regular family dinners, they are much more likely to replicate that practice in their own homes when they become parents. Adults who reported having had six to seven family meals a week as a child went on to have frequent family meals with their own children. Family dinner and its benefits may be an heirloom you pass along to future generations. Shared mealtime, however, is not equally accessible to all. Frequent family dinners are more common among white Americans, those with higher levels of education, married people and those with household incomes that are middle class or higher. While family meal frequency in the U.S. remained quite steady overall from 1999 to 2010, it decreased significantly (47% to 39%) for low-income families while increasing (57% to 61%) for high-income families. This gap can be understood in terms of structural disparities: Low-income parents often have less control over their work schedules and may need to juggle more than one job to make ends meet. Family meals can be a habit passed from one generation to the next. Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] As people now tiptoe back to living more expansively, many are reflecting on what they learned during the pandemic that might be worth holding on to. There is some evidence that more families ate more meals together during the COVID-19 pandemic than ever before. Some families who didnt prioritize eating together pre-pandemic may emerge from the past year with a new appreciation of the joys of commensality. Of course, others may already be bookmarking all their favorite restaurants, eager to have chefs cook for them after feeling depleted by so much home labor. But parents may want to remember that the science suggests shared mealtime is good for the mental and physical health of each member of the family. In my family therapy practice, it will be a top recommendation.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Anne Fishel, Harvard University. Read more:Science says: eat with your kids5 ways eating in a pandemic is improving your relationship with food and why you should stick with them Anne Fishel is the executive director and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, a non-profit initiative, based at Massachusetts General Hospital, that helps families improve the quality and frequency of their shared mealtime. | https://news.yahoo.com/wilmingtons-bishop-president-biden-communion-182333369.html |
Will federal charges, calls for police reform derail Clayton County sheriff? | Many experts say Hill, the self-dubbed Crime Fighter and Batman disciple, faces a dual threat with the latest allegations: legal jeopardy that could strip him of his badge, and political danger that comes with the changing court of public opinion. The death of George Floyd last summer and the video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes helped spark nationwide protests over police violence and renewed calls for reform. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter just a few days before Hills indictment was made public. The bravado and tough-on-crime stance that made the sheriff popular could be at odds with Americas current mood. I think that model of policing is outdated and we need to reimagine what public safety looks like, civil rights attorney Gerald Griggs said of Hill. Former sheriffs office spokesman Jonathan Newton, a one-time friend of Hills who later turned foe during the lawmans 2013 trial, said the sheriff has survived by mastering community relations attending everything from ice cream socials to funerals. But thats not enough in todays environment of police accountability, especially because Black Americans are disproportionately the victims of law enforcement violence, Newton said. Responsiveness from an elected leader is a good thing, said Newton, president of the National Association Against Police Brutality. But Im going to flip it on its head. Would the actions he is being accused of be accepted if he were a white sheriff? Hill supporters dismiss the allegations Clayton, a county of about 300,000, is predominately Black and generally has the highest unemployment rate in metro Atlanta. It is home to Clayton State University and the National Archives and draws thousands of tourists annually for its Road to Tara Museum and Stately Oaks Plantation home based on Margaret Mitchells Gone With the Wind. The sheriffs supporters dismiss the chatter as more of the same anti-Hill propaganda they have heard for years. Pat Pullar said Hill is the best sheriff Clayton has ever had, and that she would continue supporting him. For her, discomfort from sitting in a restraint chair for hours does not merit an indictment. I just dont understand that, she said. Its not punishment like waterboarding. This is someone sitting in a chair, like sitting in a corner. The U.S. Attorneys Office on Tuesday charged Hill with violating the civil rights of four defendants over several months in 2020. The 12-page indictment describes Hill berating the detainees with profanity, telling them that they were in his county and that their rights were limited in his presence. Youre entitled to get the hell out of my county and dont come back, Hill is accused of telling one of the defendants who had asked about being entitled to a speedy and fair trial. The defendants included a recently turned 17-year-old male, and a Butts County landscaper who Hill had arrested by a fugitive squad armed with handguns and AR-15 rifles, according to the indictment. The landscaper had been trying to get payment for work he had done privately for a Clayton deputy. Hill pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday and his attorneys have maintained that he followed proper procedures in the use of the restraining chairs, which are allowed when used to prevent detainees from harming themselves or others. The protocol that is required for the use of a restraining chair was absolutely, unequivocally followed to the T, attorney Drew Findling said. He said the sheriff did not cause injury to any of the defendants, a claim that stands in contrast to the indictment. Seeking to get out in front of the indictments release, Hill on Tuesday posted a short early morning statement on social media, saying: Today I will begin the process of fighting a political motivated federal legal case. My legal team are the only ones authorized to speak on the details of this matter, and they are confident about the facts of this case. Rev. James Woodall, president of the Georgia NAACP, which has called on Hill to resign, said the sheriff is a prime example of the type of behavior that social justice and police accountability movements are trying to root out. The reality is he has demonstrated himself to be a law enforcement official who is not progressive, who continues to use violent methods of doing his job that are not only dehumanizing and against human rights policies, but quite frankly are a danger to our community in more ways than one, Woodall said. Thaddeus Johnson, an assistant professor in Georgia State Universitys department of criminal justice and criminology, said this recent brand of policing that Hill exhibits is a holdover from the post Clinton-era when the drug wars created the no-nonsense, militarized cop. He understands Hills swagger because he was an officer of the era for 10 years in Memphis. I was taught not how to de-escalate, I was taught to dominate, he said. Craig Jones, an attorney who represented dozens of former inmates in civil lawsuits regarding the use of restraint chairs in the Gwinnett County Jail, said Gwinnett authorities at least had some pretense for suggesting their use of the chairs was necessary. That may play differently today, he said. He called it very unusual to see a criminal prosecution arising from something like this. It either means that the conduct is really bad and theyve really got the goods on him, Jones said, or it means that the justice department has decided that theyre going to be a lot stricter on this stuff than they used to be. Crossing the line Hill did more than strap the detainees in restraining chairs. He allegedly cursed them while they sat and promised things could get even worse if they ever returned to the jail. One detainee urinated on himself because he was not allowed access to a bathroom, federal authorities said. The 17-year-old, who had been arrested for allegedly vandalizing his home during an argument with his mother, had been cooperative after being apprehended by sheriffs deputies. While the youth was seated in the back of a squad car, the arresting officer took a picture and texted the photo to Hill. Hill asked the detainees age. 17, the deputy wrote. Chair, Hill replied. Hill also is accused of using the changes to restrain Glenn Howell, a Butts County landscaper who had became entangled in a dispute over work he performed for a Clayton County deputy. The sheriff called the landscaper and told him to stop harassing his employee, who lives in Butts, after the worker sought payment for the yard work. Hill later swore out a warrant for the landscapers arrest for harassing communications. A day later, Hill sent a fugitive squad armed with handguns and AR-15 rifles to Butts County in an attempt to arrest G.H. on the misdemeanor arrest warrant, the indictment said. J. Terry Norris, executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs Association, said most of the states 143 county jails have restraint chairs or something like them. He said the chairs are absolutely necessary in situations where inmates are trying to harm themselves or others. No, probably not. The chairs have shoulder, lap, ankle and wrist straps. Federal law prohibits them from being used as a form of punishment. Atlanta political strategist Fred Hicks, who helped bring MARTA to Clayton, said residents hes spoken with about the indictment are suspicious of its intent. While they believe that inmates should not be mistreated, none felt that this should rise to the level of a federal indictment, Hicks said. Based on those conversations, unless Sheriff Hill is removed from office, I do not think this indictment will cause him much political damage or cause him to lose when he is next up for re-election, he said. Clayton resident Marla Thompson-Kendall, a marketing professor at Life University, said Hill has consistently been the leader the community can count on. He keeps criminals off the street, sends mothers messages on Mothers Day and responds to calls at 2 a.m.. No one can question his commitment to keeping the community safe, she said, wondering why there is not more attention given to the arrests he frequently makes. Others are not so supportive. Robert Hawes, the would-be challenger to Hill on whom the sheriff swore out an arrest warrant in 2018, said the lawman is relic of the past. My initial thought when I first heard about the indictment was that it was inevitable, he said. If Clayton County wasnt predominately African American, he said, Hill would have been run out of here a long time ago. ---------------------------- Whats next in this case Under Georgia law, Gov. Brian Kemp will assemble a panel consisting of Attorney General Chris Carr and two Georgia sheriffs to review the case against Hill. Once appointed, the review panel would have 14 days to make a recommendation about whether or not to suspend Hill from office. If the recommendation calls for a suspension, Kemp could suspend Hill until his criminal case is decided. Georgias Peace Officer Standards and Training council could also issue an emergency suspension of Hills certification. Such an action would not remove Hill from office but would limit his personal ability to make arrests. | https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/will-federal-charges-calls-for-police-reform-derail-clayton-county-sheriff/MKGLZJXSZBBL3I6PQ4XYUI3NLU/ |
When is Amazon Prime Day 2021? | (CNN) Amazon Prime Day typically happens over the summer, though last years event was delayed until October due to the pandemic. If youre wondering what that means for the retailers biggest sale event this year, youre not alone. Of course, its never too early to start preparing and writing up your wish list for the big sale. Read on for what we know about Prime Day 2021 so far, and everything you can do now to make sure youre ready when prices finally drop. Prime Day is Amazons annual sale event exclusively for Prime members. It usually features one or two days of special savings on thousands of items across all product categories. Amazon has yet to announce specific dates for Prime Day, though the company did announce in a recent quarterly earnings report that the anticipated shopping event will take place in June. Last year, Prime Day spanned two days, and its likely that the event this year will also last for two days. In past years, Prime Day took place in July, but the sale was delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic, taking place in October instead. How to prepare for Prime Day First things first: Make sure you actually have an Amazon Prime membership. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial here, after which your membership will cost $12.99 per month or $119 per year. In addition to fast, free two-day shipping, youll also have access to Prime Video ad-free music streaming, unlimited photo storage and unlimited reading. Many of Prime Days best deals, including Lightning Deals (well get to that in a second), are only available to Prime members. Once your membership is all squared away, you should also take some time to ensure your payment methods, including 1-Click settings and default delivery, are up to date so that you can snag your desired deals in a timely fashion. Amazon hasnt officially announced any specific deals, but last year we saw savings that ran the gamut from electronics and major appliances to small household items. We expect similar products to be on sale this year. Look out for deals on Amazon devices, including Fire tablets and TV streaming sticks, Echo smart speakers and Kindles. There also might be a few deals on Apple products; smart TVs; gaming and toys; smart home products, including home security and smart lights; vacuums, including Dyson and Roomba; Instant Pots and other kitchen essentials; and apparel from top brands like Adidas and Calvin Klein to name just a few categories. How to find the best Prime Day deals Youll want to bookmark Amazons deal page, where all the items included in the sale should appear. Be sure to check early and often on the big day; Prime Day deals are known to sell out quickly, and new deals will likely be added throughout the sale event. Youll also find Amazons famed Lightning Deals on the aforementioned page (you can filter your view so that you only see Lightning Deals using the panel on the left side of the page). And dont forget: Amazon Prime Day isnt the only big sale to look out for. Other major retailers, including Walmart and Target, will likely be hosting huge, competing sale events of their own. Finally, be sure to follow CNN Underscored on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and check our site often. On Amazon Prime Day (and every other day of the year), well be highlighting the best deals around the clock that you wont want to miss. For more great deals, check out CNN Coupons. | https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/cnn-underscored/when-is-amazon-prime-day-2021/index.html |
Can President Biden cancel student loan debt by executive action? | This is a rush transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto," February 4, 2021. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): We are here today to introduce our proposal to cancel $50,000 in student debt. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. ILHAN OMAR (D-MN): Nearly 45 million Americans are shackled with student loan debt. SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): Canceling student loan debt is good for you, whether you have student loan debt or not, because it is good for our economy. REP. AYANNA PRESSLEY (D-MA): The momentum is building. The coalition is growing. This is the moment of reckoning. SCHUMER: The easiest way to deal it for President Biden, with the flick of a pen, as has been said by each of us, to get it done. Welcome, everybody. I'm Neil Cavuto, and this is "Your World." And even among big-spending Democrats, the president makes a dramatic departure to say, I don't know about $50,000, $10,000 possibly. Where this money will come from and ultimately how much money we're talking about and who will be eligible, anyone's guess. But it's going to be pricey. And then there is the separate issue we will be exploring with those who have already paid their student debt or are in the process of doing it or their parents are. Let's get Chad Pergram with the very latest right now on this student debt payoff now in overdrive -- Chad. CHAD PERGRAM, FOX NEWS CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Neil. Well, Democrats argue that eliminating some student debt could bolster the economy waylaid by the pandemic. The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, believes reducing student loans could happen by the end of the month. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SCHUMER: President Biden has taken some good steps in the direction of student debt. But we think he has to go much further. We believe, number one, that the American people are strongly behind us on this issue overwhelmingly. (END VIDEO CLIP) PERGRAM: Legislators like Schumer prefer to legislate, rather than relying on the executive branch to do something. The White House agrees in principle with congressional Democrats on student loans, but not on how to go about it. The administration says it's not up to them. Mr. Biden told The Washington Post in December it was questionable he had the authority to reduce student loans. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president has and continues to support canceling $10,000 of federal student loan debt per person as a response to the COVID crisis. He's calling on Congress to draft the proposal. And if it is passed and sent to his desk, he will look forward to signing it. (END VIDEO CLIP) PERGRAM: Now, on January 22, President Biden reauthorized the suspension of student loan payments and interest through the early fall. When introducing Education Secretary Nominee Miguel Cardona, President Biden pushed to cut student loan payments -- Neil. CAVUTO: All right, thank you, Chad, very, very much for that. I want to go to David Burstein on this, Democratic strategist, what he makes of this latest push, Kat Timpf also joining us, FOX News contributor, FOX Nation's "Sincerely Kat," and Gianno Caldwell, FOX News political analyst. I think he has like 78 podcasts or something like that. (LAUGHTER) CAVUTO: So, welcome -- welcome to all of you. GIANNO CALDWELL, FOX NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST: Thank you. CAVUTO: David, I have to begin with you, because this money has to come from somewhere. And even when Joe Biden had said, all right, I could kick around a $10,000 student debt forgiveness plan, but he hasn't gone as far as $50,000. This is getting a little extreme. DAVID BURSTEIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, look, I think we have to look at, Neil, how impactful this is on the economy. You heard the point there from Senator Warren in the intro. We have paid for many, many things, both Republicans and Democrats, without getting a good answer to that question. So, I do think Congress has to find an answer to that question and find some offsets. I think there's plenty of places to potentially do those offsets. But the outsized impact on the economy, particularly in a pandemic, amidst this pandemic, where you're talking about a generation of people who had to go through the Great Recession who are, in some cases, still paying off their student loan debt, and now this. And so it's really, ultimately, about what's going to help the overall economy. And the benefit of that, I think, is much larger than the amount that we're talking about here in the near term. CAVUTO: Well, I'm still looking at the amount and who qualifies for this debt forgiveness. And then let's say, Kat, you have someone or his or her parents who have helped pay off or are helping to pay off a lot of that debt, to find out, wait a minute, I should have just held tight and not paid anything. KATHERINE TIMPF, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, absolutely. I really resent the fact that we call it cancellation in the first place, because it's not cancellation. It's just passing the buck to somebody else. I also wanted to say that, sure, it would add to the economy, but not more than it would take away. At least, there was a recent report for the Committee for Responsible Budget said that, yes, it would add $90 billion, but it would cost nearly $1.7 trillion. So, no, it would not. And I completely agree. I'm someone who decided where to go to college based on the amount of scholarships that I got, rather than going to get my graduate degree. I got into Columbia, so excited to go, and then I said, I could never afford to pay this back. So I didn't go, did unpaid internships, and then also worked jobs waiting tables, sometimes 20-hour work days, OK, to be able to do this without having to take on that loan. And I'm not the only one who's gone through something like that or made those sort of decisions. And to just now have to pay for other people who didn't, I don't see why that's other people's responsibility. It just isn't. CAVUTO: You know, and David does raise a very good point, Gianno. I have no doubt that a lot of these kids are strapped, in percentage terms, much more than the college debt I was looking at when I got out shortly before the Civil War. (LAUGHTER) CAVUTO: So, I understand things have changed. The thing I worry about, Gianno, is the precedent that this sets. CALDWELL: Well, let me be honest, I didn't grow up as rich as Kat did. (LAUGHTER) TIMPF: Super wealthy. CALDWELL: I recognize the fact that there's 1.7 -- super wealthy. Listen, I'm not confused, Kat. I know. We have talked about it on my podcast, "Outloud with Gianno Caldwell." Anyway, there's $1.7 trillion in student loan debt currently, $27 trillion in debt to the United States is in. And the average student loan is between $20,000 and $25,000 in the year 2019. So I recognize that the debt is a real issue, but we got millions of people out of work. We got COVID that has hit the country in a way that we never expected. I do think that there's something that should be done when it comes to student loans. Perhaps you suspend the interest rate during the period of COVID and beyond, and perhaps you enhance the forgiveness programs beyond teachers and federal employees. Something needs to be done, because there's going to be a load that comes on to people that they can't necessarily afford. No one expected COVID. We don't understand how it got here, but something has to be done. And the federal government needs to act. Forgiving in totality isn't something that I necessarily support, because we did sign up for that. Everyone on the screen went to college in some form. So we're responsible for the loan in which we incurred. Therefore, we have to pay something. But the federal government can step in at this particular time. And I'm a conservative saying this. So, that's a question for Congress, which is Democratically-controlled, and a lot of people voted for Biden thinking that their loans would be completely forgiven, which clearly isn't going to happen. And I bear out at the point that you mentioned at the outset that we do have a record of forgiving debt and bailing out large institutions. We did that right after the financial meltdown. Solid point. What I'm worried about here is that student debt loads are significantly greater in many cases than $50,000. BURSTEIN: Right. No, I think it's a fair point, Neil. And I think, as the conversation here just today illustrates, there should be and I hope there will be some room for bipartisan compromise here, because I think there are some conservatives who see some common sense in this idea. And who knows if it'll actually end up at $50,000. That's obviously where it's starting. But I think, to Gianno's point, there is something that has to be done here. Are -- there should be something done about that issue as well. This -- in an ideal world, this would not just be a one-off, saying everyone who's got loans right now, we will give you up to $50,000, and you all go home and get to -- get to do whatever you want. It should be an opportunity for us to look at the broader issue, which we all know is hugely impactful to our economy overall, which is the rising cost of college and how critical a college degree is to be able to succeed in today's economy. So, I hope that that will be looked at as part of it, along with the kind of the question you're raising. There should be some kind of limits on it for people. Maybe -- just to throw something out here, maybe people only have a certain amount left, a very small amount are less eligible. Maybe it's on a percentage basis. CAVUTO: Got it. BURSTEIN: I hope those are the kind of details that Congress will work as they try to move this forward and get bipartisan support on it. CAVUTO: All right. And if you have a podcast or several podcasts, you shouldn't get a dime. (LAUGHTER) CAVUTO: So, we will watch that very, very closely. Guys, thank you very, very much. CALDWELL: "Outloud with Gianno Caldwell." CAVUTO: A couple of things -- here we go. A couple of things we're waiting on here, this vote in the House on the fate of Marjorie Taylor Greene and whether she should continue on some key committees. Senator John Thune, the second highest Republican in the Senate, is very concerned about the message Republicans might be sending on this, conflicting signals, he says, about the treatment of Liz Cheney, vs. Congresswoman Greene. We will be talking to him a little bit later. Why a number of airlines are worried. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAVUTO: All right, we are hearing right now that, though Democrats want former President Donald Trump to testify at his impeachment trial next week, his legal representatives have let them know he has no intention of doing that. He has declined their what an offer/demand to testify. He won't be doing that. We will explore that in a little bit more detail. In the meantime, speaking of Washington, we're following a number of other developments, including what happens to this $1.9 trillion stimulus plan that apparently has airlines worried that it won't include relief for them. And that has already got the likes of American Airlines warning thousands of its employees, we don't get that, a lot of you are gone. Garrett Tenney with more from Chicago. Hey, Garrett. GARRETT TENNEY, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Neil. Air travel simply isn't rebounding the way airlines thought it would. And, as a result, American Airlines is warning as many as 13,000 of its employees they could be laid off, many of them for the second time in six months. In a letter to the company, American's president and CEO explained: "We're nearly five weeks into 2021, and, unfortunately, we find ourselves in a situation similar to much of 2020." They note that, with the extension of federal aid in December, "We fully believed that we would be looking at a summer schedule where we'd fly all of our planes and need the full strength of our team. Regrettably, that is no longer the case." They point to the slower-than-expected distribution of the vaccine and new restrictions on international travel as the major factors in folks not flying to the extent they normally would. American estimates it will fly 45 percent less in the first quarter compared to the same time period in 2019. This comes a week after American posted its biggest ever annual loss at $8.9 billion and a week after United Airlines issued furlough warnings to 14,000 of its employees. The industry is pushing for another $15 billion in aid from Washington to help prevent these layoffs. But, today, the White House cast doubt on that being included in the next package. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PSAKI: As you know, there's a process that will be ongoing on Capitol Hill over the course of the next days and through the course of next week, where there will be amendments put forward to work on committees. But I think the priorities of the president are already in the bill. (END VIDEO CLIP) TENNEY: Those priorities include vaccinations, which would ultimately indirectly benefit the airlines. But the industry says, without direct aid, it could be forced to make additional cuts before things start to turn around -- Neil. CAVUTO: All right, thank you very much for that update. In the meantime, I want to go to Senator Bill Cassidy. He is going to be a very important player in all of this. He sits on the Senate Finance Committee, of course, Republican, beautiful state of Louisiana. SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): I wish my thoughts mattered. We have obviously made an overture to the White House to negotiate with them. They have not been interested, lip service, but not interested. Of course, you want to look at what the -- what the outlook is for the airline industry. You need kind of a sophisticated analysis. I'm open to doing whatever I can to keep people employed in our country. And jobs are a good thing. But you would want to know the facts before making a decision like that. CAVUTO: In the meantime, Democrats are separately pushing to include this student loan forgiveness in the stimulus plan, barring that, to argue it later on. Some want as much as $50,000 of student loan debt forgiven. The president seems to be open to the possibility of $10,000. CASSIDY: Tell me to whom it applies. The neurosurgeon that borrowed $200,000 to go to medical school, but is now making $500,000 a year, and can easily pay it back, the neurosurgeon probably doesn't need that and should not receive it. On the other hand, the person who took a job which was never going to have that kind of compensation may have made a poor decision about the university they attended, but nonetheless is saddled with debt. They may need a little bit of help. That is a discussion to have. Again, you want to have facts. Unfortunately, in this kind of, yes, we want to have bipartisanship, but not really talk about it, not really engage in it, and not really do it, it's hard to make an intelligent decision to know what they're basing that recommendation upon. CAVUTO: You know, Senator, even though it's in the House, you have spoken out about the Marjorie Taylor Greene situation. As you know, the House is going to vote on whether to remove her from some key committees on which she sits. And you had noted the fact that she has discredited the conservative movement. You went on to say: "As far as I'm concerned, she's not in my tent." CASSIDY: I will leave that up to the voters and to the House. I'm a senator. And then when you realize it was said seriously, that person should not be taken seriously. So, the conservative movement is needed now more than ever, as we see what's coming out of the White House. And I think it's time for us to be very serious, not to listen to that which is unserious. CAVUTO: Now, she spoke up and said that she regrets some of the remarks she has made, that, since she's gotten to Congress, she hasn't said any of this kind of stuff. CASSIDY: Well, what I have been told is that she will not publicly disavow them. Regret is different than disavowing. You must disavow. You must condemn. You must say that is not a part of me and is not a part of our movement. And there can be no ifs, ands or buts about it. That smacked of anti-Semitism. That should not be a part of either party. It smacks about -- of lunatics. That is not something which is going to address the nation's problems. That's something which, at worst, makes conspiracy theories. But, nonetheless, the fact that somebody would support it -- we have got some big problems in our country, big problems. And we have got to work together to get them. And we need a conservative voice which is going to make serious arguments about how to go forward, preserving that which is good about our country. To be distracted with that sort of thing, deleterious to our conservative movement, harmful to our country. CAVUTO: All right, Senator, thank you very much. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Fair and balanced now, I want to go to Senator Mark Warner, get his take on these fast-moving developments. First off again, Senator, I will ask you what I asked Senator Cassidy, whether this move in the House to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene of her House committee seats is wise. SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): Listen, I agree with my friend Bill Cassidy. Her comments are just plain wacky. They demean the whole Congress, regardless of which party. I honestly wish that Leader McCarthy had dealt with this within the Republican Conference. But when he didn't take actions, I understand why the majority is going ahead taking the action, because, again, this is not about partisanship. This is about just plain wacky theories, not only what Bill mentioned in terms of laser beams by Jewish families, but denying the Parkland massacres, outrageous, being a firm adherent of this QAnon theory, which, increasingly, law enforcement and intelligence community believes is a threat to our country. You know, if you're a member of Congress, you take an oath to stand up for the rules and laws of our Constitution. This individual seems to be rebuking that oath on a fairly regular basis. For example, Eric Swalwell, who has been accused of having relations with a Chinese spy, still sits on a key Intelligence Committee, where a lot of those secrets are heard. So, the Democrats are very good to heap criticism on Republicans for how they handle one of their own, but not Democrats. WARNER: Neil, if -- I have seen -- I have not seen the stories perhaps as much as you have, but I have seen this reportage. If there was any evidence that that congressman was somehow involved with some Chinese spy ring, that would merit serious investigation. I do not believe that has been the case. We don't know. (CROSSTALK) WARNER: Neil, if you have got evidence about that -- if you have got evidence about that, bring it forward. CAVUTO: Right. WARNER: And their Intelligence Committee, our Intelligence Committee ought to -- ought to look at it. WARNER: Neil, what I'm advocating is, you have an individual that, again, even the Republican leadership said her comments were outrageous, until, again, the Republican leader flipped his position again. But if you feel that these kind of statements are legitimately made by a member of Congress and there should be no sanction, that is a position. It's not a position I agree with. CAVUTO: All right. Understood. I did want to get into that for the breaking news. So, I thank for indulging me that. WARNER: What about, though, on some of the stuff on -- right. CAVUTO: I know. I do want to look at the relief. I want to get the relief measure. I want to get to the relief measure. And Democrats are saying it should be the full $1.9 trillion. Republicans are leery of that. WARNER: Well, and, listen, my friend Bill Cassidy was on earlier. He and I are great friends. I was very proud of the fact that he was part of the bipartisan group where we came together in the $900 billion package that President Trump signed in December. That took a lot of give-and-take. We started with a high number. They started with a low number. We ended up at 900. It wasn't perfect, but we got there. I think -- I still would love to see a bipartisan package on this next relief effort. I think there was agreement on the COVID component. There is less agreement on the need for a large stimulus. I think the administration could do a better job showing the macro needs, not just in the first quarter, but, frankly, this next bill will be all we will spend in the second and third quarter. And I think the economists I have heard have said we need that kind of additional stimulus. And, candidly, again, Neil, you pointed out the airline industry coming back and saying, hey, we thought things were going to get better by now. They have not gotten better. We need additional help. And I think this economy is still on a precipice. It has not fallen off as badly as we'd anticipated, I think oftentimes due to the bipartisan prior relief packages. I do think there needs to be another relief package. The exact component parts, I have got -- I have got some issues with some of the things the president's talked about. I think it can be improved. I think there ought to be potentially some additional small business support. I think there ought to be broadband in a major way in this package. Broadband is both an economic stimulus and related to COVID. And my hope is, we're going through a little bit of the silly business today with what's called vote-a-rama, which is an exercise in futility, where we will vote on potentially 600 amendments. Not all of those get voted on. They don't mean a single thing. CAVUTO: Right. WARNER: It's the kind of thing that frustrates people. But I think we will get back to the kind of serious discussion that Bill was talking about-- CAVUTO: Got it. WARNER: -- later tonight and tomorrow. CAVUTO: All right, Senator Warner, I appreciate your taking the time and to deal with all these breaking news developments. We will see how the stimulus measure goes and what each party gets. In the meantime here, that vote is under way in the House right now, as we were touching on, with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, where Democrats and a good many Republicans seem to agree that she should not have a role on those committees. What that will mean for her future -- she's still very popular in her district -- is anyone's guess. Stay with us. GameStop and a host of those other issues that have been chased all over the place subsiding today. Janet Yellen, the new Treasury secretary, meeting with counterparts from the financial world to discuss what happens next to deal with this -- after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAVUTO: All right, it was a meeting, sort of a teleconference, if you will, of the most powerful financial players in the world. Janet Yellen, the Treasury secretary, speaking with the heads of the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, among a lot of other key players, in what to make of this mania, some would just say a lot worse than that, in some of these stocks that has launched a war between those betting stocks will die, then those countering that by buying the stocks they thought would die. It is a mess. Charlie Gasparino on all of that. CHARLIE GASPARINO, FOX NEWS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, I think we don't know exactly what was said in this meeting. We will find out probably in the next hour or so. But the bottom line is this. The federal government is more than hinting at a role in what happened with the GameStop and those other stocks, the frenzy surrounding it. I mean, let's be real clear. GameStop, amid this wild trading frenzy, traded -- was a penny stock, meaning traded a couple months ago, several months ago, below $5 a share, is then traded as high as $500 a share. And if you look at a chart today, it was getting crushed today. I think it's about $50 a share right now or below $50 and heading lower. So, in order to make sense of that, regulators hate that type of volatility. It scares the average long-term investor out of the market. They're going to have to -- they would like to get their hands around it, and they will probably try to pass some legislation. But it won't be easy. This is a -- you know, this is a complicated story. I mean, it takes probably more time to fully unpack what happened here, a short squeeze, small investors being involved in the market like never before, bidding up this stock, squeezing the shorts that were betting that it would fall, a hedge fund that almost goes under being bailed out by major players. The Robinhood app, which we have been worrying about for years -- for most of the year -- I mean, I did a column in The New York Post about this in the summer about how that was adding fuel to a speculative fire, because you could trade at no cost. And now everybody pointed fingers at everybody about how there's a lot of evil here, including short selling, which, again, bets that prices will go down. The short sellers lost a lot of money, but, somehow, they're getting the short end of the stick here, so to speak, because there's legislation that say, we may not need this speculative behavior in the market. So, I think we're going to know more in the next hour, Neil. It's a complicated situation. It's so besides the point, too, because if you just put your money in an index fund, you will probably do OK, if you know what I mean. This speculation never, never ends well for the average investor, never. It's just -- listen, I'm all for everybody buying stocks. That's a good thing. You want to go out there, do it long-term, if you can do it cheaply. If you want to trade, there's always a -- there is always a time and place for Vegas, not every day, but maybe once a year on vacation. But you see what I'm saying. CAVUTO: Yes, absolutely. The buffet stuff, absolutely. (LAUGHTER) CAVUTO: All right, Charlie Gasparino, thank you very, very much. All right, things are getting a little bit tense between ourselves and China right now. Remember, they were increasing the number of ships around the Taiwan Strait. Now we have a couple of ships in that neck of the woods. After this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAVUTO: All right, things are getting a little tense in the Taiwan Strait right now, the very latest from Jennifer Griffin with a read from the Pentagon. Hey, Jennifer. JENNIFER GRIFFIN, FOX NEWS NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Neil. Well, President Biden just spoke at the State Department about how he views the way ahead with China. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will confront China's economic abuses, counter its aggressive course of action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance. But we're ready to work with Beijing, when it's in America's interest to do so. (END VIDEO CLIP) GRIFFIN: Earlier today, the Navy's Seventh Fleet sent a guided missile destroyer, the USS John S. McCain, through the Taiwan Strait. It's the first transit this year and the first since President Biden took office. It's bound to get Beijing's attention. Shortly after the inauguration, China dispatched two large formations of warplanes, including bombers close to Taiwan. In response, Taipei scrambled fighter jets. The last time U.S. warships transited the Taiwan Strait was New Year's Eve. The USS Theodore Roosevelt sailed through the South China Sea, launching jets in another not-so-subtle message to China. U.S. warships transited the waterway 13 times last year, the most since 2016, during the Obama administration, when U.S. warships conducted 12 freedom-of-navigation operations -- Neil. CAVUTO: Jennifer Griffin, thank you very much, my friend. To Commander Kirk Lippold with us right now, the former USS Cole commander, who knows a thing or two about provocative behavior. But, Commander, this situation in the Taiwan Strait, I mean, there are a lot of ships congregating there and anything can happen. KIRK LIPPOLD, FORMER COMMANDER, USS COLE: Well, right now, Neil, what you're seeing is, the United States is exercising freedom-of-navigation operations. It's continuity between the Trump administration and the Biden administration, that the U.S. is going to sail wherever we want, whenever we want in recognized international waters, and that we are going to do the operations necessary to maintain readiness, but also at the same time send a signal to China that we do not recognize some of their illegal international claims to the South China Sea. I mean, it's made a big deal of interfering in Taiwan in some of the news items coming out of there, including Taiwan's push for total independence and being recognized as a legitimate country, in and of itself. And that was a step too far for the Chinese. LIPPOLD: I actually don't think they will, Neil. When you look at it, China's going to act rather bellicose. They're feeling rather rambunctious right now. They have built a Navy that is larger than the U.S. Navy. They're exercising that capability throughout the region, trying to intimidate our allies over there, from Australia, to Japan, to South Korea, and others, as they exercise their claims. And when you look at Taiwan, they have always viewed it as a renegade province. CAVUTO: Right. LIPPOLD: They're going to continue to push it. It is concerning, though, that, when we sail our aircraft carrier and ships, that they're conducting mock bomb raids against them, just like the Soviet Union used to do back in the 1980s when I was in the Navy on other ships. So, giving that -- given that signal from China, we have no choice but to say, look, let's not get into this, let's not try and create the circumstances for a mistake to occur. But we are ready, willing and able if necessary. If something were to happen, we will respond to will respond quickly and forcefully to defend ourselves. CAVUTO: Real quickly, Commander, I notice nothing has stopped the Chinese from continuing to militarize islands that aren't theirs in waters that aren't theirs, doing actions that are not allowed. And they still do it. LIPPOLD: It's an unfortunate thing, Neil, that, internationally, that has been recognized as illegal activities, but there's absolutely no teeth behind it. If anyone's going to enforce taking out those islands, should something happen, it would be the United States. And the first thing you have to look at is that those islands, which are commonly referred to as the dash-nine line, were -- if a conflict were to start, the first thing that would happen is, we would find a way to take those islands out, which would literally collapse China all the way back to Taiwan in being able to respond to it. And that is a very dangerous proposition for both sides to get into. CAVUTO: Commander, thank you very much. Commander Kirk Lippold on all of that. In the meantime, keeping you abreast of these latest developments on teachers that defy mayors in one city after another, even with the CDC now saying, despite what's going on right now, that they don't need to be vaccinated to get back to class -- after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAVUTO: All right, Chicago's mayor has all but demanded teachers return to the classroom. Here's the thing, though, they're not doing it, even though the CDC director is saying teacher vaccinations are not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools. Let's go to an expert on this issue. Of course, I'm talking about the former acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser with us now. Doctor, good to have you back. So, the mayor in this case, like others in other cities, saying, teachers, go back, it's fine, go back. They're saying no. CDC comes along to say vaccinations might be a good idea, but they're not the be-all and end-all and wouldn't make a difference going back one way or the other. DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: Yes, I mean, Neil, this is a -- it's a really challenging issue. You want everyone to be as safe as possible. And early on in this pandemic, the move was to get schools closed. And that was based on what we knew about flu and how readily flu spread through classrooms. What we're learning, both from studies in the United States and studies from around the globe, is that you can get children back to school safely, safely for the children, safely for the staff and safely for the teachers, if you're able to do those things, distance between children, so decompress some of the classrooms, improve ventilation, make sure you have staff available to do screening. These things work. And what the studies have shown -- there was a great paper that came out just this past week -- is that -- this was in Wisconsin, it was in Mississippi, it was in North Carolina -- that they were not seeing schools as a risk for transmission in communities. They were not seeing -- in these settings, in other settings, they have seen less transmission in schools than they're seeing in the ongoing community. So, I think teachers should be in the group of front-line workers who are given vaccines early. But you don't need to have that to be able to open schools very safely. CAVUTO: All right, obviously, teachers are concerned otherwise, Director, with the fact that they think they might catch it from the kids. BESSER: I mean, it's possible. It's much lower than what we see with flu, if you ensure that staff and teachers and children are wearing masks, that you're able to identify quickly anyone who has symptoms and is sick. Those things work. They really do work. And it's one of the things that I see as, in a sense, a silver lining in this pandemic. As a pediatrician, I know how important it is for children to be in school, in person, learning. And I was very worried, and I was -- early on in this pandemic, I was calling for schools to go to remote because of what we knew from flu, what we knew from the 1918 pandemic. School districts that closed early, they saw a decrease in spread within the community. But what we're seeing here -- and New York showed this very clearly -- is that the rate of positive tests in kids in school was much lower than what they were seeing in the surrounding community. So, you need to make sure that teachers, especially teachers who are at high risk of having severe disease, that they're able to do their teaching remotely. But for the majority of teachers and staff and students, in person learning, you can do it safely. CAVUTO: All right, got it. All right, Dr. Richard Besser, always good. I always learn something. Dr. Richard Besser, the former CDC acting director. We have a lot more we're following on Capitol Hill right now. We will take you live to the House, where they're going through the motions and setting up for a vote on whether -- down the road, whether Marjorie Taylor Greene should be sitting on key committees. Kevin McCarthy, Republican leader, is arguing that point back and forth and a vote that's going to be coming up in the next hour. We're on it with Senator John Thune and the impact this is having on Republicans -- after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAVUTO: All right, you are looking live at the House floor right now, where Congress is debating the fate of Marjorie Taylor Greene, whether she should serve on some key committees here. We have with us right now Senator John Thune. He's the second-ranking Republican in the United States Senate. And he has weighed in on this and criticized the House Republican Conference for failing by choosing the QAnon conspiracy theory over traditional conservative values. He joins us right now. Senator, thank you very much. You were very passionate about this. You warned the House and said that they decide who they want to be, and in their decision Greene, in other words, not to punish her, that the party of limited government, fiscal responsibility and other traditional values falls to the party of conspiracy theories and QAnon. SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): I -- what I fundamentally believe, Neil, is that we have to be a party of ideas and principles and policies. I think that's why people across this country vote for us. They vote for us because we believe in economic freedom, because we believe in fiscal responsibility, because we're the party of limited government. We believe that, to maintain strength as a nation, you have got to maintain a strong defense. Those are fundamental core Republican policies and principles and ideas. And I think, too often here lately, we have gotten caught up in personalities. We have gotten caught up in conspiracy theories. And I want to see a Republican Party that articulates a vision for the future that attracts people and is politics of addition, rather than politics of subtraction. And I think the way to do that is to get out and talk about those ideas, about those policies that can make a difference in everybody's -- in ordinary people's lives on a daily basis. And so that was what I was trying to get across. Obviously, the House Republicans have to take care of their own business. I do think it's a bad precedent to have the majority party-- CAVUTO: Well, they get a little upset. As you know, you have run into some heat back home -- I'm sorry, Senator -- into some heat back home in South Dakota because you simply refused to challenge the electoral vote when that came up in Congress. And, for that, you have suffered the wrath of a lot of Trump loyalists, including the former president itself, who thought it would be a good idea to primary you. (LAUGHTER) THUNE: Well, that's fine. I mean, people in my state, I think, know me well. And what I did, Neil, is, I told the truth. And that's what I'm always going to do. I'm going to speak the truth. And, sometimes, that's uncomfortable for people to hear. There were a lot of people who bought into the notion that the election was rigged, the election was stolen. And I have said all along, look, I know there are irregularities. There are irregularities in every election, and they need to be investigated to the fullest. And there are certainly things that we can do and make changes in at the state level that will ensure that there's more confidence and trust in future elections. But we had to move on as a country. We had an election, and it was investigated, and there were audits and recounts, and there were court cases, and the state certified, the Electoral College voted. It's time to move on. And that's all I was simply saying. And I think, at some point, even though it's uncomfortable for people to hear, you have got to give them the hard truth. And that's all I was doing. If that gets me crosswise with people, so be it. But I'd obviously love the opportunity to convince them and persuade them about the reasons for the conclusions that I came to. And I believe they're the correct ones. CAVUTO: All right, the president, as you know, the former president, is not going to take up testifying at his own trial next week. Very quickly. I'm sorry, Senator. THUNE: Well, Neil, I think that -- I think it's probably -- I think it's in his best interests not to testify. And I think most senators on both sides would like to expedite this. And I -- my own view is that the president and his legal defense team are going to have to decide that. I'm an impartial juror. I will listen to the arguments and look at the evidence. But I wouldn't -- I wouldn't do that if I were him. CAVUTO: All right, Senator, thank you very much. We are going to get you back to talk about the budget and these other issues. These other news items suddenly are dominating events here. We will be following what progress they're making on the budget and the future of that congresswoman. Content and Programming Copyright 2021 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2021 VIQ Media Transcription, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of VIQ Media Transcription, Inc. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. | https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/can-president-biden-cancel-student-loan-debt-by-executive-action |
What are DeVonta Smith's odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia The 2021 NFL Draft is in full swing, and the first round on Thursday evening was all about the signal-callers. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was first off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right behind him were two more quarterbacks -- BYUs Zach Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall and North Dakota States Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3. In fact, the first seven picks of this years draft were offensive positions. Tight end Kyle Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were taken with the next two picks by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, respectively. The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 10 to get another weapon for Jalen Hurts, taking his former Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith. Aside from the first three QBs off the board, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots lucked out when Mac Jones fell to them at No. 15 overall. After going No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herberts massive season earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year QB certainly made a name for himself after his 2020 campaign. In his 15 starts of 2020, Herbert threw for 4,336 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. Herbert finished his first season in L.A. as the all-time rookie record-holder in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight) and games with three-plus touchdown passes (six). It looks like 2021 could be the third season in a row where a quarterback is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After Kyler Murrays honor in 2019 and Herberts win in 2020 and, the top five guys with the best odds heading into 2021 are signal-callers. Lawrence tops the list, with Fields, Wilson, Lance and Jones not far behind. Here is a look at the current odds to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to our partner PointsBet. Trevor Lawrence: +250 Justin Fields: +350 Zach Wilson: +600 Trey Lance: +650 Mac Jones: +1000 Kyle Pitts: +1000 Ja'Marr Chase: +1200 Jaylen Waddle: +1500 Najee Harris: +1600 DeVonta Smith: +1600 Travis Etienne: +1600 Javonte Williams: +2000 Rashod Bateman: +3300 Kyle Trask: +3300 Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. Kelley Ekert contributed to this story. | https://sports.yahoo.com/devonta-smiths-odds-win-offensive-175020891.html?src=rss |
What are Justin Fields' odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago The 2021 NFL Draft is in full swing, and the first round on Thursday evening was all about the signal-callers. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was first off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right behind him were two more quarterbacks -- BYUs Zach Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall and North Dakota States Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3. In fact, the first seven picks of this years draft were offensive positions. Tight end Kyle Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were taken with the next two picks by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, respectively. The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. Aside from the first three QBs off the board, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots lucked out when Mac Jones fell to them at No. 15 overall. After going No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herberts massive season earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year QB certainly made a name for himself after his 2020 campaign. In his 15 starts of 2020, Herbert threw for 4,336 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. Herbert finished his first season in L.A. as the all-time rookie record-holder in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight) and games with three-plus touchdown passes (six). It looks like 2021 could be the third season in a row where a quarterback is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After Kyler Murrays honor in 2019 and Herberts win in 2020, the top five guys with the best odds heading into 2021 are signal-callers. Story continues Lawrence tops the list, with Fields, Wilson, Lance and Jones not far behind. Here is a look at the current odds to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to our partner PointsBet. Trevor Lawrence: +250 Justin Fields: +350 Zach Wilson: +600 Trey Lance: +650 Mac Jones: +1000 Kyle Pitts: +1000 Ja'Marr Chase: +1200 Jaylen Waddle: +1500 Najee Harris: +1600 DeVonta Smith: +1600 Travis Etienne: +1600 Javonte Williams: +2000 Rashod Bateman: +3300 Kyle Trask: +3300 Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. Kelley Ekert contributed to this story. | https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-fields-odds-win-offensive-180816135.html?src=rss |
What are Mac Jones' odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The 2021 NFL Draft is in full swing, and the first round on Thursday evening was all about the signal-callers. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was first off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right behind him were two more quarterbacks -- BYUs Zach Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall and North Dakota States Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3. In fact, the first seven picks of this years draft were offensive positions. Tight end Kyle Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were taken with the next two picks by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, respectively. The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. Aside from the first three QBs off the board, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots lucked out when Mac Jones fell to them at No. 15 overall. After going No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herberts massive season earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year QB certainly made a name for himself after his 2020 campaign. In his 15 starts of 2020, Herbert threw for 4,336 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. Herbert finished his first season in L.A. as the all-time rookie record-holder in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight) and games with three-plus touchdown passes (six). It looks like 2021 could be the third season in a row where a quarterback is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After Kyler Murrays honor in 2019 and Herberts win in 2020, the top five guys with the best odds heading into 2021 are signal-callers. Story continues Lawrence tops the list, with Fields, Wilson, Lance and Jones not far behind. Here is a look at the current odds to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to our partner PointsBet. Trevor Lawrence: +250 Justin Fields: +350 Zach Wilson: +600 Trey Lance: +650 Mac Jones: +1000 Kyle Pitts: +1000 Ja'Marr Chase: +1200 Jaylen Waddle: +1500 Najee Harris: +1600 DeVonta Smith: +1600 Travis Etienne: +1600 Javonte Williams: +2000 Rashod Bateman: +3300 Kyle Trask: +3300 Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. Kelley Ekert contributed to this story. | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-odds-win-offensive-180300685.html?src=rss |
What are Rashod Bateman's odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington The 2021 NFL Draft is in full swing, and the first round on Thursday evening was all about the signal-callers. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was first off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right behind him were two more quarterbacks -- BYUs Zach Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall and North Dakota States Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3. In fact, the first seven picks of this years draft were offensive positions. Tight end Kyle Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were taken with the next two picks by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, respectively. The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. Aside from the first three QBs off the board, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots lucked out when Mac Jones fell to them at No. 15 overall. The Baltimore Ravens added another weapon for Lamar Jackson, taking Rashod Bateman with the No. 27 pick. After going No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herberts massive season earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year QB certainly made a name for himself after his 2020 campaign. In his 15 starts of 2020, Herbert threw for 4,336 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. Herbert finished his first season in L.A. as the all-time rookie record-holder in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight) and games with three-plus touchdown passes (six). It looks like 2021 could be the third season in a row where a quarterback is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After Kyler Murrays honor in 2019 and Herberts win in 2020 and, the top five guys with the best odds heading into 2021 are signal-callers. Lawrence tops the list, with Fields, Wilson, Lance and Jones not far behind. Here is a look at the current odds to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to our partner PointsBet. Trevor Lawrence: +250 Justin Fields: +350 Zach Wilson: +600 Trey Lance: +650 Mac Jones: +1000 Kyle Pitts: +1000 Ja'Marr Chase: +1200 Jaylen Waddle: +1500 Najee Harris: +1600 DeVonta Smith: +1600 Travis Etienne: +1600 Javonte Williams: +2000 Rashod Bateman: +3300 Kyle Trask: +3300 Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. Kelley Ekert contributed to this story. | https://sports.yahoo.com/rashod-batemans-odds-win-offensive-183409393.html?src=rss |
What are Trey Lance's odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The 2021 NFL Draft is in full swing, and the first round on Thursday evening was all about the signal-callers. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was first off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right behind him were two more quarterbacks -- BYUs Zach Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall and North Dakota States Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3. In fact, the first seven picks of this years draft were offensive positions. Tight end Kyle Pitts was selected at No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were taken with the next two picks by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, respectively. The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. Aside from the first three QBs off the board, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots lucked out when Mac Jones fell to them at No. 15 overall. After going No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herberts massive season earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year QB certainly made a name for himself after his 2020 campaign. In his 15 starts of 2020, Herbert threw for 4,336 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. Herbert finished his first season in L.A. as the all-time rookie record-holder in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns (31), completions (396), games with 300-plus passing yards (eight) and games with three-plus touchdown passes (six). It looks like 2021 could be the third season in a row where a quarterback is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After Kyler Murrays honor in 2019 and Herberts win in 2020, the top five guys with the best odds heading into 2021 are signal-callers. Story continues Lawrence tops the list, with Fields, Wilson, Lance and Jones not far behind. Here is a look at the current odds to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to our partner PointsBet. Trevor Lawrence: +250 Justin Fields: +350 Zach Wilson: +600 Trey Lance: +650 Mac Jones: +1000 Kyle Pitts: +1000 Ja'Marr Chase: +1200 Jaylen Waddle: +1500 Najee Harris: +1600 DeVonta Smith: +1600 Travis Etienne: +1600 Javonte Williams: +2000 Rashod Bateman: +3300 Kyle Trask: +3300 Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. Kelley Ekert contributed to this story. | https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-lances-odds-win-offensive-173753174.html?src=rss |
Will the Bengals Trade Up For Oklahoma State Offensive Lineman Teven Jenkins? | That's a question plenty of Cincinnati fans are asking after the star tackle fell out of the first round on Thursday night. The Bengals have the 38th overall pick, which means the Jaguars (33), Jets (34), Falcons (35), Dolphins (36), and Eagles (37) would have to pass on Jenkins at the start of the second round if he was going to end up in Cincinnati without a trade up. He could fall considering top talents at other positions are still available including Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore and Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore. If Jenkins doesn't fall to 38, then he probably won't be coming to Cincinnati. The Bengals will talk about trading up, but it doesn't seem likely. If anything, the Bengals may move down a few spots to gain another pick or two if some of these top guys are still sitting there when they're on the clock. Now if there's a big difference on their board from Jenkins to the next offensive lineman available, then they should try to work their way up and get him. That's the case for a lot of draft experts, but it might not be the case for the Bengals. Related: Five Players the Bengals Could Target in Round Two If Jenkins is the 15th ranked player on the Bengals' board and Radunz is the next best lineman and he's 31st, then it's worth giving up a fifth or even a future fourth-round pick to get the better prospect. But if Jenkins is 23rd on their board and Radunz [or another lineman] is 27th, then it may be better just to let one of them fall to pick 38. When the Bengals took Chase with the fifth pick, they were banking on quality offensive linemen being available in round two. The gamble paid off. Chances are they have similar grades on most of the top linemen left on the board. We'll get the answer tonight starting at 7 p.m. ET. For more on the NFL Draft, bookmark AllBengals and check out our LIVE draft tracker here. ----- You May Also Like: Five Players the Bengals Could Target in Round Two Passing on Penei: Here's Why Ja'Marr Chase Was the Right Pick Watch: Ja'Marr Chase Reacts to Emotional Letter From Parents Here's What National Analysts Are Saying About the Ja'Marr Chase Pick Ja'Marr Chase Makes BOLD Statement on Draft Night Watch Zac Taylor's Call With Ja'Marr Chase Joe Burrow, Other Bengals Players React to Team Taking Ja'Marr Chase at No. 5 Get To Know New Bengals Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase Ja'Marr Chase Has BIG Goals for the 2021 Season Bengals Take Ja'Marr Chase at No. 5 Watch: Film Breakdown of new Bengals Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase Watch: Footage of Joe Burrow Throwing and Planting on Left Leg The Bengals Should "Build Around Burrow" During 2021 NFL Draft Listen: Dave Lapham Talks All Things NFL Draft ----- 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/will-the-bengals-trade-up-for-teven-jenkins |
Are U.F.O.s a National-Security Threat? | For generations, U.F.O.s have been in the purview of late-night call-in radio shows and supermarket tabloids, not the Department of Defense. Now the government is publicly acknowledging that mysterious sightings can no longer be dismissed, and a major report is due in June. Gideon Lewis-Kraus explains whats changed, and why. Plus, in a small town in the nineteenth century, three neighbors fought for both abolition and womens rights, at a time when women werent supposed to fight for anything. After more than seventy years, the government is publicly acknowledging that mysterious sightings cannot simply be dismissed. Gideon Lewis-Kraus explains whats changed, and why. Three Women Who Changed the World The story of three small-town neighbors who fought for both abolition and womens rights in the nineteenth centurya time when women werent supposed to fight for anything. | https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/are-ufos-a-national-security-threat |
Are Les and Violet on track for a secure retirement with their ambitious spending goals? | Open this photo in gallery With a house in pricey Vancouver and children, Les and Violet are more than $1-million in debt with competing demands on their pocketbook. DARRYL DYCK/The Globe and Mail Violet and Les have come a long way since their first Financial Facelift in 2012. Back then, they were enjoying their double income, no children status, earning $166,000 a year between them and spending most of it. Today, with a house in pricey Vancouver and children, theyre more than $1-million in debt with competing demands on their pocketbook. Since we last participated, weve had two children, moved twice, I started a company and COVID-19 hit, Violet writes in an e-mail. Les is now age 44, Violet is 39. Their children are 3 and 5. Les, who earns about $100,000 a year in education, has a defined benefit pension plan. Violet, who owns her own communications company, earned about $106,000 last year, but her income is variable. They get another $21,450 a year in net rental income from a separate rental on their property. Story continues below advertisement I feel stressed about money, Violet writes. I wonder if were doing the right things and if were secure. Theyd like to retire when she is 65 and he is 63 with a spending goal of $110,000 a year after tax, indexed to inflation. Between now and then, they want to build a rental suite in their basement, buy a second car, build a deck, pay for their childrens education and buy a bigger house. We asked Wesley Fong, a financial planner at T.E. Wealth in Vancouver, to look at Violet and Less situation. Widow looking to move back to Toronto. Why this hands-on investor wants to switch advisers What the expert says Mr. Fong starts by looking at where the couples income will come from when they leave the work force. If he retires as planned at age 63, Les will get $44,400 a year from his current defined benefit pension plan and $10,550 a year from a previous employer. The amounts will fall to $43,860 and $7,620 from age 65 onward. Violet will get a defined benefit pension of $4,970 a year at age 65. All three pensions are indexed to inflation. In 2047, when Violet is age 65, she will get Canada Pension Plan benefits of $31,780 a year. When Les is 65, he will get CPP of $22,895 a year. They will get Old Age Security benefits of $12,355 for Violet and $11,192 for Les at age 65. By the time they retire, their investments will total about $1,189,875, the planner estimates. The total assumes Violet saves $7,000 a year to her RRSP as well as any surplus cash flow over and above their expenses. By the time Violet retires in 2047, their spending goal of $110,000 a year will have risen to $184,075 based on a 2 per cent inflation rate. Assuming a 5 per cent return on investments a reasonable rate of return for a balanced portfolio they would have sufficient assets to spend $110,000 a year in retirement to their age 98, he says. By 2080, it would leave them with about $1,637,000 of investment assets (equivalent to $508,990 today), plus their principal residence, the planner says. If they chose to deplete their investments, they could only afford to spend an additional $4,300 a year. This indicates they dont have a huge buffer and must continue to live within their budget, the planner says. Their employment income must remain steady, they need to continue renting their existing suite, and if they proceed with the basement renovation, they must rent the basement as well. Story continues below advertisement Using a 3.25 per cent rate of return, which is fairly conservative, their investments would be depleted at Violets age 98, except for the principal residence. This indicates that they should not be too conservative with their investments or they wont reach their goals, Mr. Fong says. With the renovation, the second car and the new deck, their cash flow is very tight and even negative over the next three years until daycare costs go down when their youngest child starts school, Mr. Fong says. Violet is saving $500 a month in her corporation and repaying $1,000 a year to the federal Home Buyers Plan in her RRSP. I recommend that she consider paying out the surplus savings from her corporation as salary and contributing the funds to her RRSP instead, the planner says. For most balanced investors, RRSP investing will likely generate more dollars in your pocket compared to investing in a corporation after all taxes are considered, he says. This is especially true over a longer period of time 30 plus years which would be the case given Violets age. Violet has $75,000 in her corporation. If she has the RRSP room, she could take that money out this year and contribute the entire amount to her RRSP, Mr. Fong says. She will get a deduction for the contribution, offsetting the increased dividend income from the corporation, he says. As to financing the basement renovation, choosing a mortgage over a line of credit would result in lower borrowing costs, Mr. Fong says. A $250,000 mortgage with the same term as their existing mortgage (26 years and nine months at 2.99 per cent) would have monthly payments of $1,130, so rental income of $1,200 would offset the mortgage payments. As long as the rental income continues to exceed the mortgage costs, there wont be much impact on their cash flow, Mr. Fong says. By Violets retirement, the renovation would be paid off, he notes. The basement renovation would likely increase the resale value of their home if they decide to sell in the future. They should discuss with their accountant whether the basement renovation would cause the basement to no longer qualify for the principal residence exemption, the planner says. If it does not, for example, because they made structural changes to the property, the basement (that proportion of the square footage) would be subject to capital gains tax when they sell the home, he says. Story continues below advertisement Finally, the planner looks at the couples education savings plan. They are contributing $2,500 a year for each child to a registered education savings plan in order to get the maximum Canada Education Savings Grant. Based on maximizing the lifetime CESG per child of $7,200 (based on RESP contributions of $36,000 per child), and with a 5 per cent rate of return, they will have accumulated about $150,000 by the time the elder child starts university, he says. The average cost of university for students living at home is $11,330 a year, or $22,730 a year for students living in residence. If the children continue to live at home while they are in university, there should be sufficient assets in the RESPs to fund their undergraduate degrees, Mr. Fong says. If they both live in residence, there would be a shortfall of about $56,000 when the younger child finishes university. Client situation The people: Les, 44, Violet, 39, and their two children, 3 and 5. The plan: Finances will be tight for the next few years so they need to stick to a budget. Violet should consider taking a salary from her corporation and making contributions to her RRSP. Depending on the future income, they may have to rethink buying a larger home. The payoff: Understanding what they need to do to gain some peace of mind. Monthly net income: $15,570 Story continues below advertisement Assets: Bank account $2,440; her non-registered $8,900; his non-registered $6,000; her RRSP $127,290; her TFSA $13,740; her corporate investments $75,000; childrens RESP $28,240; house $1.68-million; half-ownership of rental property $146,250; estimated present value of her DB pension from previous job $2,700; est. PV of his DB pension from previous job $67,290; est. PV of his current DB pension $97,005. Total: $2.25-million Monthly outlays: Mortgage $4,350; property tax $600; home insurance $205; utilities $350; maintenance, garden $350; miscellaneous housing $100; car payment $375; other transportation $635; groceries $1,200; child care $1,730; clothing $725; gifts, charity $400; vacation, travel $400; other discretionary $200; dining, drinks, entertainment $1,070; personal care $125; sports, hobbies $90; subscriptions $25; life insurance $75; disability insurance $295; phones, TV, internet $295; RRSP $85; RESP $335; his pension plan contributions $800. Total: $14,815 Liabilities: Mortgage $966,050; share of rental mortgage $75,515. E-mail [email protected]. Some details may be changed to protect the privacy of the persons profiled. Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/retirement/article-are-les-and-violet-on-track-for-a-secure-retirement-with-their/ |
Why is a second COVID-19 vaccine dose necessary? | The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 55% of American adults now have at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though recent findings estimated 8% of those are skipping their second appointments. Dr. Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinics Vaccine Research Group, told Fox News that the issue is likely less about vaccine hesitancy, and more that people are caught up in their busy lives. "Whenever you require more than one dose, compliance drops," Poland said in an interview. "People are busy, life is busy. I mean obviously, they got the first dose, theyre not anti-vaccine and then a variety of factors" such as appointment bungles related to travel, but also media-driven misinformation that can take a toll on vaccination adherence, he said. Research published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine focused on responses from 1,000 American adults who were asked about the vaccines in February. One-fifth of respondents indicated to the Cornell-led research team that they believed the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, each two-dose shots, provided strong protection after only one jab, while 36% said they were unsure. Less than half said they believed the shots provided strong protection a week or two after the second dose, according to a news release posted to EurekAlert.org. DON'T SKIP SECOND COVID-19 VACCINE DOSE, WARN EXPERTS Poland argues the general public might misinterpret media headlines reporting vaccine efficacy following a single dose. "The media has some culpability of headlines that read, 80% efficacy after a single dose, and so people think Oh OK, 80% is kind of like a lot of other vaccines, Im good," he said. "And the headline belies the reality of the fact that we dont know what that efficacy would be now in the face of new viral variants, we dont know how long immunity would last [after a single dose]." Top White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci during a briefing Friday noted that the percentage of Americans not showing up to their second vaccination appointments falls within whats typically seen for other vaccines requiring multiple doses. "So thus far the 8%, though youd like to see a 100% adherence, 8% is within the realm of what you see with other multi-dose vaccines," Fauci said, later citing a multitude of studies indicating "dramatic differences" in the protection afforded after the second dose, compared to just receiving the initial shot. For instance, Israeli researchers previously found Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine was 57% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 14-20 days after the first dose, while vaccine efficacy ramped up to 94% at least a week post-second dose. Protection against documented infection increased from 46% to 92% after the second dose, per the findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Similarly, separate results published in the same journal on Modernas jab indicated a significant increase in T-cell response to the spike protein following the second dose. "Yet again, another important difference," Fauci said of the findings, which he referred to during the briefing on Friday. PFIZER, MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINES CUT HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG OLDER ADULTS BY 94%, CDC FINDS Fauci also stressed that immunocompromised individuals, such as those battling autoimmune diseases or cancer, complete a full two-dose series if they receive Pfizer or Modernas vaccines. "This becomes really important because organ transplant individuals, particularly on a variety of immunosuppressant drugs and cancer patients, there are a lot of people in society on glucocorticoids for autoimmune diseases that may not get a good enough response after the first dose and we absolutely want them to get the second dose," Fauci said. GET THE FOX NEWS APP Dr. Anne Liu, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Health Care, told Fox News that second doses offer a slew of benefits, like increased antibody levels lending a longer-lasting response, as well as more specific, refined antibodies. "If a few people here and there skip the second dose, it may not have a great impact, but if many people do, then it could hinder the long-term herd immunity we are trying to achieve." Fox News' Alexandria Hein contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/health/why-second-covid-19-vaccine-dose-necessary |
Will vaccine shots on the sands of South Beach increase Miami COVID inoculation rates? | Liz Poppiti, 24, looks on while receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at the Town of Golden Beach, Florida, after the town received an allocation of 150 to 200 doses of from the state, on Friday, April 9, 2021. Special for the Miami Herald Sunscreen, cold water and an RV packed with COVID-19 vaccines will await beach-goers Sunday when the states pop-up vaccination program goes to the sands of South Beach. Starting at 10 a.m., a one-time vaccination site made possible by Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson and the Florida Division of Emergency Management will administer up to 250 Johnson & Johnson vaccines at the 16th Street beach access point. Richardson said the agency told him Sundays event will be the first pop-up at any Florida beach. The goal, Richardson said, is to entice younger people to get vaccinated by making it convenient for them, though people of all eligible ages can receive a shot. I think itll be more younger people, he said. Im excited about trying this to see if it works. The pop-up event is one way city leaders are trying to boost vaccination rates among younger people. Amid low demand at the recently opened state site across from Miami Beach City Hall, Mayor Dan Gelber this week suggested that businesses offer deals to those who show proof of vaccination. He met with the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday and asked that board members brainstorm ways to get customers and employees vaccinated. I dont care if you give out free drinks for people who show up, Gelber told chamber members last Tuesday. The chamber will meet next Tuesday to discuss Gelbers request. Gelber said he worries the state may shut down its vaccination site at 17th Street and Convention Center Drive if demand remains low. The site has a daily supply of 250 shots but, as of Thursday, had administered just 348 shots since opening April 24, according to a city spokeswoman. Its very disappointing that we havent been using our daily allotment, Gelber said in an interview with the Miami Herald. He said he has met with the citys legal department to discuss ways to nudge people to get vaccinated without violating a bill Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign prohibiting businesses, schools and local governments from requiring proof of vaccination for any reason. One idea Gelber had is for businesses to pronounce themselves to be 100% vaccinated once all their staffers get the shots. Vaccine-related marketing may bring more customers through the door, he said. Im hoping the private sector steps up, he said. Im trying to do what we can to get them to do it. Jerry Libbin, the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber invited Florida International University infectious disease professor Dr. Aileen Marty to speak at its upcoming board meeting. His hope is that the board approves some cool incentives and branding initiatives to boost vaccination numbers in Miami Beach. Libbin, a former city commissioner, said even motivating one person to get vaccinated would be a win in his eyes. We can get it out there but we cant make people do it, Libbin said. | https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article251064359.html |
What is (or was) Aaron Rodgers looking for in a new contract? | The unresolved contract situation involving Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was more of a symptom than a root cause of the lingering problems between player and team. However, the two parties had been negotiating a new deal. This implies that negotiations could have resulted in a new contract. Which also implies that, if an agreement could have been reached that ties Rodgers to the Packers for the next three years or longer, then everything could have been resolved. The fact that the two sides have reached an impasse has taken the situation to Defcon 1. If a contactual impasse hadnt been reached, logic suggests that Aaron Rodgers wouldnt want out. At a minimum, Rodgers wanted to shatter the year-to-year flexibility that the Packers currently possess. Whether its a two- or a three-year thing, Rodgers hoped for something that would have removed the uncertainty that necessarily flows from the presence of Jordan Love. But its more than security and commitment. Money has something to do with it, too. And not just for moneys sake. At a time when Rodgers has felt chronically disrespected by the front office, the front office had a way to show him respect. You show him respect by taking his current contract, which carries a new-money average of $33.5 million (same as Jared Goff and Carson Wentz) and you increase it. Significantly. Well, Rodgers was the best player in the NFL last year. And the highest paid player in the NFL makes $45 million per year. And a league source tells PFT that, at one point during the talks, Rodgers representatives asked for Rodgers to be the highest-paid player in football. Pandemic, schmandemic. The Packers enjoyed record revenues in their most recently completed fiscal year, generating $70 million in raw profit for a team with no owner to use it to buy super-yacht. With no owner, the most important person in the entire corporation was been, and still is, Rodgers. Story continues Yes, Rodgers always has agreed to ultra-long extensions when he could have played it like Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott, declining offers, forcing franchise tags, and ultimately squeezing top dollar. Regardless, Rodgers is squeezing now. The fact that it didnt work at the bargaining table means that the squeezing will have to happen elsewhere. And it is, even if he has yet to admit that it is. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-looking-contract-192745875.html?src=rss |
Will new plan for S.F.'s Fillmore Heritage Center revive long-shuttered jazz club and community hub? | The Fillmore community is trying, once again, to reactivate a sprawling event space that promised to bring jazz and blues back to the historically African American neighborhood. The Fillmore Heritage Center, which originally opened as the San Francisco outpost of an Oakland jazz club in 2007, has had a tough run since it shuttered in 2015. Aside from a few popups and temporary tenants, the 50,000 square-foot-community center has been a largely vacant building in the heart of the neighborhood for years. Two nonprofits were granted a temporary permit in 2018, and they tried bringing the center back to life with over 200 events including jazz, blues concerts, comedy shows, salsa dancing, classes and job fairs. But a deadly shooting that shut down the space, and then the pandemic, hobbled attempts to revive it. Now, the same group is trying again. Its really important for hope, and to give us all a chance, said Pia Harris, who is helping lead the effort. Their vision is fit for the times, with a mix of both in person and virtual events. They would offer limited seating for in-person events, a free space where artists can record their performances for a virtual audience, online job fairs and a kitchen for pop-up restaurants. According to an estimate by the community groups, they would need about $420,200 to operate for one year between salaries, insurance and other operating costs. Theyre hoping to get funding through a combination of city grants, and possibly even money through the city budget. Our main priority is helping the small businesses survive through this, because as we know, (the last year) was a really big struggle, said Harris, who also helped create Heritage Market San Francisco, a website that helps the Fillmore Districts Black-owned businesses. The last three district supervisors have promised to reactivate the city-owned center. London Breed District Five supervisor at the time and now mayor and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development tried to find a new operator in 2017, but they said no candidates emerged that could provide a mix of community benefits and entertainment. Then, Supervisor Vallie Brown helped the San Francisco Housing Development Corp. and the New Community Leadership Foundation secure a temporary lease in 2018. The nonprofits were planning to request a lease renewal in April 2019, and the city was strongly considering granting it. But then a deadly shooting occurred outside the center, where a memorial was being held for Ron Newt, a self-proclaimed drug kingpin. In the wake of the shooting, officials questioned whether the nonprofits had enough money to hire adequate security. Majeid Crawford, associate director of the New Community Leadership Foundation, said the nonprofits took time to regroup and re-strategize. Last year there was a lot of pressure from the community, who wanted it back open, Crawford said. Now, current Supervisor Dean Preston said hes determined to find a temporary solution while the city figures out a long-term plan, which he expects to take a few years. There is a level of acceptance in city departments of inaction when it comes to the Fillmore that I think would not be acceptable in other neighborhoods, he said. It is the sad reality. The city has already spent millions of dollars over the years on the center, which was caught up in a lawsuit with a developer and faced other challenges. Crawford said over 150 people attended a virtual meeting Thursday held by the community groups, and the reception was positive. They hope the temporary plan would prove they should take over the space permanently. The temporary reactivation plan would need to be approved by various city departments. David Sobel, who is also helping lead the re-activation plan, said he sees the initial $420,000 as the seed money to get this second phase going. Our combined expectation is that with all of this funding that is meant to support and uplift the Black community in San Francisco, there should be ample resources coming from the city-side to get this initiative going, said Sobel, CEO of the San Francisco Housing Development Corp. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TrishaThadani | https://www.sfchronicle.com/local-politics/article/Will-new-plan-for-S-F-s-Fillmore-Heritage-16142889.php |
Is it OK to exclude nonvaccinated relatives from family parties? | Q: Many people in your family have received the coronavirus vaccine, but there are a few who haven't yet. A: Rather than create divisions within the family by inviting some members and not others, a better strategy is to consider how everyone can meet as safely as possible. If the invitation is extended well in advance, perhaps the promise of a gathering will motivate everyone to seek a vaccine. If the timeline doesn't allow for vaccination, it is useful to consider how many people within the party have been vaccinated, and for those who have not been vaccinated, to consider whether they are at risk of contracting COVID-19. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allow for unvaccinated individuals to gather with vaccinated people in a small group if no one is at a disproportionately higher risk of contracting severe illness. Mercedes Carnethon, vice chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine A: As we navigate this gray zone in the pandemic, the safest and kindest approach is to continue to proceed with caution. Now that vaccinations are starting to become more widely available, it is a time of great hope and optimism. But for those who are still in the queue and those who are afraid that they still won't be fully protected, it can be a difficult and emotional time. With that in mind, I would recommend that people consider virtual get-togethers first, because they likely will be the most inclusive. By keeping things virtual, people won't feel they are being left out because of their health status and people aren't pressured to take risks for which they might not be ready. A second option is an outdoor get-together, with the use of distancing. Keep the group as small as possible. This allows you to still have that connection we've all been craving so desperately, while keeping the friends and family we love that much safer. The good news is that fully inclusive in-person get-togethers with our family and friends aren't far away, and if we treat our loved ones with grace and empathy now, we can all look forward to many joyful and safe reunions in the not-so-distant future. Lisa Orr, etiquette and protocol consultant | https://www.startribune.com/is-it-ok-to-exclude-nonvaccinated-relatives-from-family-parties/600052067/ |
Will Trey Lance be the Starter for the 49ers? | It looks like Kyle Shanahan is still expecting Jimmy Garoppolo to be the starter for the 49ers over Trey Lance. Trey Lance is now the new quarterback for the 49ers. If you judge the draft capital and where he was taken, then starting Lance Week 1 makes sense. The 49ers have to get his growing pains started immediately and help him work through it. Plus, it would be a waste of a year of his rookie deal if the 49ers didn't get a head start with his development. However, Kyle Shanahan made it sound like Jimmy Garoppolo is not only here to stay, but will continue to be the starting quarterback for the 49ers. "I want Jimmy to be here and I want this kid to be brought along," said Shanahan. "I want to see how he does and if it turns into a competition, it turns into a competition. I'd be excited about that if he showed he was ready for it and stuff, but we know where Jimmy's at. He hasn't played football in a year. He hasn't been to an OTA. I'd love to get him out here. It'd be very hard for me to picture a situation Jimmy's not here on Sunday, because that would be, I think, very stressful for us because Jimmy is a very good player and I think we can win with him. So, we'll play that by year, but I expect Jimmy to be here and I'd be surprised if he wasn't." As of now, he is not. Garoppolo is still the starter. Shanahan does make a valid point in his quote. Lance hasn't seen action, whether it is live action or practice action, in eight months. It will be almost a year once he hits training camp, so who knows how he will pan out early on. However, I wan to focus on the "competition" aspect of what Shanahan said. It is not a matter of "if" it will turn into a quarterback competition. I believe it will certainly be that. A quarterback competition makes all the sense in the world between Lance and Garoppolo, especially since any trade market for Garoppolo looks all dried up. Since there is no longer a market for Garoppolo, the 49ers will happily keep him to push their rookie. If Lance looks better, which I expect, or is even on par with Garoppolo, then I bet he will be named the starter. But for now, this is still Garoppolo's job to lose for this upcoming season, which means he has no room for error. 2021 will be Garoppolo's audition tape for any team's looking to inquire his services since he will eventually be shipped or cut from the team. Any errant play from Garoppolo, or the most likely scenario will be he sustains an injury, then Lance will be thrown into the spot and hopefully ready for the bright lights. | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-trey-lance-be-the-starter-for-the-49ers |
Will Micah Parsons Steal Jersey No. 11 From Cowboys Vet? | The No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft is already making an impact ... with the No. 11 jersey On Thursday, night, No. 11 on the Dallas Cowboys was Cedrick Wilson Jr. On Friday, No. 11 seems up for grabs, with first-round draft pick Micah Parsons on he team and with Wilson changing his Twitter bio to include the "#16." Cedrick Wilson Jr changed his number in his Twitter bio, paving the way for Micah Parsons to wear it. As of this writing, our Mike Fisher reports that nothing is yet official. In fact, Fish asked Parsons on Friday afternoon about "ongoing negotiations.'' First, Parsons said, Then, owner Jerry Jones jumped in, with a laugh adding, "What negotiations?'' Wilson, who was drafted by the Cowboys in the 6th round of 2018 NFL Draft, caught 17 passes for a total of 189 yards in the 2020 season as part of the receiving core led by Amari Cooper, Ceedee Lamb and Michael Gallup, Parsons wore No. 11 at Penn State and told 105.3 The Fan that he intended on keeping his jersey number. READ MORE: New Cowboys LB: "I (Haven't) Even Touched My Ceiling Yet" "(The Cowboys) hit me up," he said late Thursday. "I need that 11. They gave me some options and I said ...'I need 11. I'll do whatever it takes." In previous years, Parsons would've had to change his number due to the stipulations the NFL had about jersey numbers. However, the NFL recently changed its policy, which allows linebackers to wear 1-59 and 90-99. Jones made it clear to Fish that the organization, not the players, get involved with high-level matters regarding jerseys. This much we know, via a half-joking team source to Fish regarding the rule change in general: "It's going to be a s--- show.'' READ MORE: Social Media Reacts to Cowboys' Selection of Micah Parsons | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/will-new-lb-micah-parsons-steal-jersey-no-11-from-dallas-cowboys-vet |
Will the end of the COVID-19 pandemic usher in a second Roaring '20s? | Article content THE CONVERSATION This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Author: Agnes Arnold-Forster, Researcher, History of Medicine and Healthcare, McGill University While some places remain mired in the third wave of the pandemic, others are taking their first tentative steps towards normality. Since April 21, Denmark has allowed indoor service at restaurants and cafes, and football fans are returning to the stands. In countries that have forged ahead with the rollout of vaccines, there is a palpable sense of optimism. And yet, with all this looking forward, there is plenty of uncertainty over what the future holds. Articles on what the world will look like post-pandemic have proliferated and nations worldwide are considering how to recover financially from this year-long economic disaster. Almost exactly a hundred years ago, similar conversations and preparations were taking place. In 1918, an influenza pandemic swept the globe. It infected an estimated 500 million people around a third of the worlds population at the time in four successive waves. While the end of that pandemic was protracted and uneven, it was eventually followed by a period of dramatic social and economic change. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The Roaring 20s or annees folles (crazy years) in France was a period of economic prosperity, cultural flourishing and social change in North America and Europe. The decade witnessed a rapid acceleration in the development and use of cars, planes, telephones and films. In many democratic nations, some women won the right to vote and their ability to participate in the public sphere and labour market expanded. Parallels and differences As a historian of health care, I see some striking similarities between then and now, and as we enter our very own 20s it is tempting to use this history as a way of predicting the future. Vaccine rollouts have raised hope for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. But theyve also raised questions about how the world might bounce back, and whether this tragic period could be the start of something new and exciting. Much like in the 1920s, this disease could prompt us to reconsider how we work, run governments and have fun. However, there are some crucial differences between the two pandemics that could alter the trajectory of the upcoming decade. For one, the age-profile of the victims of the influenza pandemic was unlike that of COVID-19. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The 1918 flu also called the Spanish flu predominantly affected the young, whereas COVID-19 has mostly killed older people. As a result, fear probably refracted through the two societies in different ways. Young people have certainly been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: the virus has posed a threat to those with underlying health conditions or disabilities of all ages, and some of the variants have been more likely to affect younger people. A year of lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders has had a damaging effect on mental and emotional health, and young people have experienced increased anxiety. However, the relief of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic might not feel quite the same as that experienced by those who made it through the 1918 influenza pandemic, which posed an immediate risk of death to those in their 20s and 30s. 1918 vs. 2020 Crucially, the 1918 flu came immediately after the First World War, which produced its own radical reconstitution of the social order. Despite the drama and tragedy of 2020, the changes we are living through now might be insufficient to produce the kind of social transformation witnessed in the 1920s. One of the key features of the Roaring 20s was an upending of traditional values, a shift in gender dynamics and the flourishing of gay culture. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content While the prospect of similar things happening in the 2020s might seem promising, the pandemic has reinforced, rather than challenged, traditional gender roles. There is evidence for this all over the world, but in the United States research suggests that the risk of mothers leaving the labour force to take up caring responsibilities at home amounts to around US$64.5 billion per year in lost wages and economic activity. When most people think of the Roaring 20s they probably call to mind images of nightclubs, jazz performers and flappers people having fun. But fun costs money. No doubt, there will be plenty of celebration and relief when things return to a version of normality, but hedonism will probably be out of reach for most. Young people in particular have been hard hit by the financial pressures of COVID-19. Workers aged 16-24 face high unemployment and an uncertain future. While some have managed to weather the economic storm of this past year, the gap between rich and poor has widened. Inequality and isolationism Of course, the 1920s was not a period of unadulterated joy for everyone. Economic inequality was a problem then just as it is now. And while society became more liberal in some ways, governments also enacted harsher and more punitive policies, particularly when it came to immigration specifically from Asian countries. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The Immigration Act of 1924 limited immigration to the U.S. and targeted Asians. Australia and New Zealand also restricted or ended Asian immigration and in Canada, the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 imposed similar limitations. There are troubling signs that this might be the main point of similarity between then and now. Anti-Asian sentiment has increased and many countries are using COVID-19 as a way of justifying harsh border restrictions and isolationist policies. In our optimism for the future, we must remain alert to all the different kinds of damage the pandemic could cause. Just as disease can be a mechanism for positive social change, it can also entrench inequalities and further divide nations and communities. Agnes Arnold-Forster is a co-PI on the Wellcome Trust funded project Healthy Scepticism. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/will-the-end-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-us https://theconversation.com/will-t Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Posted Newsletter Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Posted Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/will-the-end-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-usher-in-a-second-roaring-20s |
What Does Tasmania Taste Like? | Cape Grim -- the northwestern point of Tasmania, Australia Trade Tasmania Tasmania is an island state roughly the size of West Virginia dangling below the southeastern shores of Australia. Here in the US, little is known about this far-flung destination save for perhaps the fact that its home to a rambunctious, carnivorous marsupial of Looney Tunes lore. But Tassie (as the land is known to locals) would love to introduce itself in a more meaningfuland flavorful way. And so its tourism and trade board just launched a novel campaign to give Americans an explicit sense of what it actually tastes like. Experience Tasmanian began in earnest this March with the delivery of 147 boxes of native produce disseminated amongst selected chefs, and other assorted culinary personalities across the USA. The professional tastemakers were introduced to popular delicacies including Cape Grim beefoften regarded as Australias highest grade grass-fed offering; an assortment of local cheeses; the islands celebrated-yet-underrated sparkling wine, as well as its world renowned ocean trout. All of it meant to highlight the pristine nature of this largely undeveloped wilderness. It is a stunning landscape cloaked in crisp, ocean airsome of the worlds cleanest. Its rich and fertile soils lay an enviable foundation not just for fruits, vegetables, and grazing livestock, but for a bounty of grains going into rye and malt-based spirits. No surprises then that some of the most compelling examples of New World Whiskies are also coming out of Tasmania these days. And while were still not currently able to be there in person, eating and drinking our way through this scenery affords a small measure of reprieve. TO GO WITH Australia-lifestyle-whisky-drink,FEATURE BY GLENDA KWEK This photo taken on November 19, ... [+] 2014 shows a bottle of the award-winning Sullivan's Cove single malt whiskey sitting on a cask at their distillery in Cambridge on the outskirts of the Tasmanian city of Hobart. Made with barley and fresh water and matured in barrels in Tasmania off Australia's southern coast, Sullivans Cove is among a new breed of whisky makers in the country's smallest state that is making waves on the international stage. AFP PHOTO/William WEST / AFP PHOTO / William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images To learn more about the genesis of this campaign, andmore importantlywhere to find these flavors here in the US, I talked with Mark Bowles. The Tassie native works for the Business and Trade bureau in his home state and helped spearhead Experience Tasmanian. As an island state, COVID-19 presented hurdles for us in utilising our traditional methods of reaching new markets and expanding existing ones, such as the US. When our 2020 Tasmanian trade mission to the USA had to be postponed we were hearing that buyers and consumers in the US were still eager to try Tasmanian products, closed borders or not. The Experience Tasmanian campaign gave us a way to showcase some of Tasmanias leading producers and premium produce to a network of potential customers and top chefs across the country. What we are hearing is that those we reached out to have a whole new appreciation of just how good Tasmanian gourmet products are. Tasmania has always produced premium food and beverages. As consumers around the world have developed a growing appetite for the finest quality products, recognition of our island for the worlds best produce has also grown. While our traditional sectors of seafood, meat and dairy are still recognised as being among the best in the world, recent years have seen wines, fruit, vegetables, berries, gin, whiskies and ciders further strengthening the Tasmanian reputation for quality. Its quite simple. Tasmania has the worlds cleanest air, most pristine oceans, rich and fertile soil and an irrigation system that complements an abundance of natural rainfall. We are completely GMO free with some of the worlds strictest biosecurity controls. With these ideal growing conditions, a commitment to quality over quantity and investment in production soaring, we are seeing producers bringing innovative ideas to both traditional and new products and taking the premium experience people expect from Tasmanian produce to a whole new level. Tasmanian premium products are becoming much more widely available across the US as demand for quality grows. Brands like Cape Grim beef, King Island Dairy cheeses, Jansz sparkling wine, Petuna seafood and many more are already available through local US distributors and can be found in retailers and restaurants across the nation. Commercial buyers and distributors looking to source Tasmanian products can contact Trade Tasmania to connect directly with suppliers. For the discerning American with a taste for the best, try asking for Tasmanian products at your local restaurant or supermarket and you might just find theyll stock it. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2021/04/30/what-does-tasmania-taste-like/ |
Do We Have To Be Hybrid Workers To Do Hybrid Work? | Hybrid work needs hybrid workers. Report 71% of U.K. workers want flexible work options to stay in a post-Covid-19 working landscape. Additionally, more than a third (37%) are likely to move to a new location in the next year because they can work remotely. Satya Nadella, CEO at Microsoft, stated: Over the past year, no area has undergone more rapid transformation than the way we work. Employee expectations are changing, and we will need to define productivity much more broadly inclusive of collaboration, learning, and wellbeing to drive career advancement for every worker, including frontline and knowledge workers, as well as for new graduates and those who are in the workforce today. All this needs to be done with flexibility in when, where, and how people work. This new way of working places the human at the centre of the enterprise. The How on Earth consultancy defines the human organisation in their report. Report author John Drummond strongly believes the current model of work is detrimental to employees. Job descriptions, approval processes, financial rules all deliberately introduce friction to reduce employee freedom. A Human Organisation is about enabling employees to connect with each other and with customers, opening up to new ideas and collaborating to bring their purpose to life, he explains. From corporates to the smallest freelance enterprise, how we work has been changing for decades, but the pandemic has clearly accelerated this change. As small business owners look to the future, how they organise their workforces and, indeed, their own working week, means a cultural shift is taking place. Paying close attention to wellbeing, mental health and striving for a good work/life balance is now more paramount than at any other time. New ways to work How businesses of all sizes will organise their workforces is still in a state of flux. Says Jonas Prising, chief executive and Chairman, ManpowerGroup: Looking forward the data tells us that most business leaders are planning to bring their people back to the workplace most of the time (51%), 36% will offer a hybrid blend, 5% will offer flexible shift patterns and just 4% will shift to full remote work. We are now beginning to see what some of those plans will look like. Skilled tech and knowledge-workers will be able to enjoy more of the kind of freedom and flexibility that used to be available only to freelancers and creatives, the ability to work when and where they want to a greater degree than before. Jonas Prising, chief executive and Chairman, ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup The ONS recently looked at home working hours and concluded that care must be taken not to create a two-tier workforce. Dr Lucy Davey, a coach for professional women, is concerned that an increase in permanent homeworking may mean more women are at a disadvantage when it comes to career progression. Many businesses are shifting towards more flexible working options which give employees the choice between working from home or the office, explains Davey. The trouble is that despite appearing more inclusive, its likely to result in the complete opposite. A higher proportion of women will take up the offer of working from home to fit around their childcare needs. Ultimately, this means that theyll spend less time in the office, will be less visible than their office-based counterparts (often male) and less likely to be next in line for a promotion. With Julio Taylor, CEO, Hallam also commenting: Freelancers and small business owners have always been flexible. There's a big difference between how you choose to work as a freelancer and how you operate with a large organization that is designed from the ground up to enable remote and flexible working. Julio Taylor, CEO, Hallam Hallam Taylor continues: In my view, there are two different things to consider: firstly, how to evolve beyond the office-centricity of the past and empower employees to work from home or any location they choose. This can be defined as flexible work. Business transformation Across the small business community, hybrid working had been expanding even before the pandemic. Says Steve Jude, CEO of NewFlex: Many small business owners housed in our flexible office hubs have been hybrid working for years. This is why our business model has always been based around short term and flexible contracts which allow small business to scale up or down as required. Even pre-pandemic, many small businesses do not want the risk of 10, 20-year office leases so a flexible working style has always been the preference both in terms of lifestyle and from a financial and risk perspective. Steve Jude, CEO of NewFlex NewFlex Liz Sebag-Montefiore, director of 10Eighty, an HR consultancy, explains her approach to hybrid working: I feel I've always worked in the hybrid model. Pre-Covid I worked four days week, three of which were with childcare and the final day I chose when I put those hours in at times that suited me. Small business owners must be agile and able to react quickly and flexibly when situations arise or circumstances change. I'm a business developer and coach, whilst with my director's hat on I focus on the strategy of the business. A small business owner will find they are drawn in multiple directions and have to develop many skills so its important to be disciplined but flexible and find a good balance. Liz Sebag-Montefiore, director of 10Eighty 10Eighty When and where people work is today a core competence that will shape the success or failure of small enterprises over the short term. The goal for future is to achieve location equity: to be a company that finds the best people, wherever they choose to live and gives them what they need to do their best work, stated Julio Taylor, CEO, Hallam. Whilst work will always continue to be an integral part of our lives, it is not the sole purpose of life. Everyone should have the opportunity to be happy at work, and people will demand it loudly and clearly. Work should exist to make home life better, not the other way round. There's no question the future has to be about freedom for the employee. And ManpowerGroups Jonas Prising also concluded: The workplace will become a destination to collaborate and socialize. Our data found that workers valued the physical workplace to separate work from home, socialize and collaborate with colleagues with less distractions. In our own HQ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as vaccinations become increasingly available, we are planning a phased return guided by what our employees want a blend of work and home with a workspace to collaborate and innovate. The future of small business is to take a measured approach to hybrid working. One size does not fit all in their scenario. Workers want flexibility and crave a physical connection for at least some of the time with their colleagues. Here the small business community can lead. Being Agile and innovating at speed, smaller enterprises will define what a hybrid business and a hybrid worker is as we move into a post-Covid-19 world. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhowell1/2021/04/30/hybrid-work-hybrid-workers/ |
Are We Moving Toward A Cordless World? | Florian Bohn is the CEO and co-founder of GuRu Wireless Inc., technology leader in over-the-air wireless power solutions. getty Most of the 5 billion people who own a mobile device would likely describe the technology that powers it as wireless. Although we can use phones and laptops unshackled for a few hours, eventually all devices must return to an outlet for charging. True wireless does not exist yet. Thats where over-the-air, contact-free power transmission comes in, which would make power as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi is today. As CEO of a company that creates millimeter-wave wireless power, I can attest that a world with noncontact access to power anywhere could be closer than you might realize. In fact, I've observed products that are currently being tested in various industries, including consumer, retail, manufacturing and healthcare. As more wireless-powered products move beyond proof of concept, the obvious advantages of over-the-air wireless power are inspiring major windfalls in many sectors. Magnetic Induction: A Steppingstone To True Wireless Freedom The current industry standard for contact wireless charging is fundamentally the same magnetic induction technology used in electric toothbrushes 60 years ago. When a built-in charging coil in the electronic device is close to a transmitter, such as a Qi charger, the magnetic field it produces resonates with the device coil and induces an electrical current within it, thus transmitting power. The Wireless Power Consortium developed this magnetic technology for inductive charging over distances up to 40 millimeters and called it Qi (pronounced chee). At some point, Qi has been adopted by most major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, which announced AirPower with the promise of simultaneously charging three Qi-enabled devices. It never launched the product, and the project was scrapped in 2019. However, Apples involvement sent a clear message: A more flexible and powerful way to wirelessly charge devices was coveted. Many smartphones, watches, hearing aids and other devices come with inductive charging coils that allow them to charge wirelessly, but only through magnetic induction. Recently there have been a few departures from magnetic induction technology, including experimentation with ultrasound, infrared light or microwave signals, to transmit energy over the air, each with their pros and cons. Similarly, my company is exploring millimeter wave technology that uses a transmitter to deliver electric power through the air to multiple devices simultaneously. The transmitter is designed to be smart so it focuses only on devices rather than flooding an entire office with power. Moving Toward A Wireless World As the benefits of wireless charging technologies become more evident, I'm seeing the potential uses wireless tech could have in various industries. For example, look at the manufacturing space: Wireless power could send energy to select sensors in Internet of Things devices as well as be a safe and cost-effective alternative to replacing or hardwiring batteries. Similarly, in the automotive and transportation industries, wireless charging could deliver power to just about anything within a vehicles cabin. From my perspective, a truly wireless world is within reach. How quickly leaders in the space encourage the adoption of over-the-air technology, however, depends on overcoming early hurdles. For example, the solutions must pass required regulatory agency tests and succeed in the first commercial iterations. There might also be pushback from the contact charging industry that is vested in Qi charging. Finally, it is quite likely for the market to follow a natural adoption curve. Fortunately, in the U.S., I've observed regulators have demonstrated foresight by approving equipment for select applications. Meanwhile, the international community is also working on a unified framework. This framework is shaped using input from many stakeholders, including the over-the-air wireless power industry, existing contact-based solution providers, original equipment manufacturers and governments across the world, proving that a cooperative approach can lead to success. The objections from the incumbent contact-based charging industry such as Qi may be curbed by educating the market on how over-the-air power solutions can enable new functionalities for future devices and products. As innovators and early adopters introduce more products in both concept and testing phases, and as they make inroads in the various industries discussed above, mass market and laggards will ensue. Then, I believe we will be able to ditch all of our cords, cables and plug-in contact pads permanently. After all, innovation spurs innovation. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/04/30/are-we-moving-toward-a-cordless-world/ |
Will AI Revolutionize Customer Success? | Shreesha Ramdas is SVP and GM of Strikedeck at Medallia, a Customer Experience Management Company. getty It's hard to turn anywhere these days without someone touting the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. These technologies are positioned as the answer to seemingly everything and as the technologies that will revolutionize nearly every aspect of business. At the same time, more organizations increasingly understand the value and importance of carefully monitoring customer health and gleaning insights and feedback that can provide precision and guidance for change; they understand the importance of having an early warning system and illuminating opportunities. Many companies have been expanding their customer success practices and elevating their importance. Not likely. Customer success is a relationship-based practice that requires many core capabilities that make us human. These include: 1. Active listening 2. Empathy and advocacy 3. Cheerleading and encouragement 4. Instruction 5. The ability to deal with abstractions and irregular data In my experience, none of these capabilities are suited to AI, although that is not to say that AI would not be useful in extending the value of customer success. Understanding Customer Success Goals And Expectations The ability to understand what constitutes success from a customer's point of view is a fundamental necessity. This is often a multi-faceted process that may involve everything from understanding appropriate quantifiable metrics and goals for a customer to meeting emotional requirements, such as creating confidence and trust within the customer's organization (in upper management or other groups). Different customers may have different issues, concerns and plans, and ascertaining success may take some time and work. The results may not be expected or fit a one-size-fits-all pattern or schema. Many companies find it difficult to shift their point of view from how the company may view or expect success to what a customer expects. This active listening and open-mindedness takes some training or personality skill. It may also require some digging and persistence for customer success teams to understand both the more apparent and underlying goals of the customer. It also requires organizational freedom the customer success team should not be tethered to the goals of another group or be saddled with too many transactional responsibilities, such as conducting trainings or resolving support tickets. Customer success professionals need to be firmly planted with their customers to ensure the company's goals and objectives are being met, as well as to ensure that they can be champions or advocates for each customer. Sometimes managing the potential dissonance between these two requires exceptional human capabilities. There is a kind of art involved in this process that is far different than a logical equation that would be better suited to AI. Dissemination Of Customer Information Another key is being able to properly capture information uncovered by the customer success team and getting it to the right teams in the right way as well as making it actionable. Having a system of record or a single-pane view that captures customer insight and can associate it with actions is a major advantage. (Full disclosure: my company offers a solution like this, as do others.) It is here that AI might be able to see trends that might not otherwise be apparent. Of course, your success with this step is also contingent upon getting the information in the first place which, as I already discussed, requires specific human traits and relationships. AI-Powered Customer Success AI is good at finding patterns and locating needles in haystacks. It can often make quantitative sense out of voluminous and sometimes puzzling data. It may also suggest corrective measures or next steps based on particular findings and conditions. This may be part of the future of customer success. The reality is, however, that many companies are nowhere near this point. Many are still grappling with the proper model for customer success in their companies. Some do not have a specialized system of record for customer success. Others have inherently limited the function customer success can play by making it captive to another department and its responsibilities. Most companies I've worked with do not fully understand that the frame of reference for customer success is the success of the customer in other words, it is success as the customer defines it. Many do not fully uncover or capture customer insight that can lead to strategic progress. So, perhaps, AI is a "cart before the horse" when it comes to customer success. It could bring value and even open new frontiers by making insights uncovered by a mature customer success practice more useful. Right now, though, many companies need to progress to the point where AI could be benefiical. This will require maturity and growth, but it is a path many should take to ensure long-term success or even viability. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2021/04/30/will-ai-revolutionize-customer-success/ |
How Much Longer Will It Still Be Early For Francisco Lindor And The Slumping New York Mets? | NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out ... [+] in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field on April 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) Getty Images The positive sentiments expressed by Francisco Lindor before Wednesdays game were believable. The explanations offered by James McCann afterward were sensible. And the in-between disconnect was all too familiar for the new-look Mets, who continued conjuring up the ghosts of the franchises past in a 1-0 loss to the Red Sox. The most recognizable ghoulish spirit presented itself in the Mets wasting another outstanding effort from Jacob deGrom, who has been so stupendously good that allowing one run on three hits and a walk and recording nine strikeouts over six innings qualifies as a subpar start. DeGrom looked as if he might be feeling the effects of his most recent start a 15-strikeout shutout of the Nationals last Friday as he atypically battled his mechanics and was battled deep into counts by the Red Sox, who fouled off 27 pitches. Of course, when a guy has an off-day and his ERA rises to 0.51 and he still has more hits as a batter (six) than walks as a pitcher (four) You didnt know, quote unquote, he didnt have his best stuff tonight, McCann said. But if Jake deGrom doesnt have good stuff and goes six innings, one run, nine punchies, he must be pretty darn good. Another pretty darn good effort yielded yet another bagel in the win department. The loss marked the 33rd time since 2014 when he debuted by allowing one run over seven innings and taking the loss against the Yankees, talk about foreshadowing that deGrom has gone at least six innings, given up one run or less and not earned the win. Such efforts were supposed to be regularly rewarded following a transformative off-season by the Mets under new owner Steve Cohen. Instead of trying to buy legitimacy by acquiring former superstars long past their peak, the Mets are now augmenting their promising young core with fellow ascending talents. But while its still early, nights like Wednesday are far too reminiscent of early-season nights the Mets endured on so many early-season nights the last three decades, when the calendar and the track records of the slumping players warranted extending them the benefit of the doubt. Except, of course, the likes of Roberto Alomar, Bobby Bonilla, Jeromy Burnitz, Mike Cameron, Roger Cedeno, Vince Coleman, Eddie Murray and Mo Vaughn either never met expectations or only did so long past the point where seasons and tenures could have been saved. The strangely supportive boos from the Shea Stadium crowds eventually turned more sinister, ruining the relationship before it could even really begin. And the boos sounded more impatient Wednesday night, when Lindor, who signed a 10-year extension before playing a regular season game with the Mets, and impending free agent Michael Conforto each heard it from the pandemic-era sellout crowd of 8,051 after they sandwiched strikeouts around Pete Alonsos single. The hitless efforts by Lindor and Conforto dropped their batting averages to .203 and .217 and their respective OPS+ of 67 and 90 well below the league average. Lindor and Conforto should be all right, which means the Mets will probably be all right despite ranking last in the majors with 57 runs 18 fewer than the Nationals and Tigers. Confortos already well-established as a middle-of-the-order presence mature enough to handle some boos and catcalls. Lindor is new to the Big Apple, but hes far younger than any of his big-name predecessors and already further down a Hall of Fame path upon his arrival in Queens than everyone except Alomar and Murray. And if every (admittedly distant) press conference interaction with Lindor is any indication, hes much better equipped to handle the New York fishbowl than any of his predecessors except Vaughn. He was quick with smiles Wednesday, when he made a point to refer to every questioner by his or her name, and said he understood the impatient nature of Mets fans. I get it, Lindor said. Its part of the job. People expect results and theyre booing because there arent results. I just hope they cheer and jump on the field when I start hitting home runs and start helping the team on a daily basis lot more than Im doing right now. While itd probably be a bad idea to jump on the field, the Mets should begin providing catharsis to impatient fans sooner than later. Eventually, Lindor and Conforto will hit like they are capable and the Mets will look something like they envisioned in the winter. Alonso already has five homers. The universal designated hitter cant arrive fast enough for J.D. Davis, but hes not going anywhere as long as hes posting an OPS north of 1.000. Imagine how bleak things would look if the Mets replaced All-Star caliber leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo with George Springer, who didnt debut for the Blue Jays until Wednesday due to oblique and quad injuries. Dominic Smith is the unluckiest hitter in baseball, per StatCast. Not the start that youre looking for, McCann said. But at the end of the day, its still very early in the season. The thing that Im trying to preach to each and every guy in the locker room is if you go through a stretch like were going through in the middle of July and August, you dont look up at that Jumbotron and look at the numbers and say thats not where we want to be. But (when) it happens at the beginning of the season when theres not a lot of numbers, it looks worse than it what may look like in July or August. Until, as the Mets of many years prior can confirm, it becomes July or August. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerrybeach/2021/04/30/how-much-longer-will-it-still-be-early-for-francisco-lindor-and-the-slumping-new-york-mets/ |
Is an era of fare-free buses coming to Boston? | The proposal, for now, is light on details, and there is no clear timeline for when the free service could begin. But city officials say they would like to run a pilot program in tandem with the final round of reopenings from the COVID-19 pandemic in parts of Boston that have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus, such as Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. The push for free public transit in Boston, once a seemingly fanciful idea that has gained considerable political traction over the last year, may soon gain a real foothold, as Boston officials and the MBTA are developing a trial of free bus service in parts of the city. Advertisement Our focus is on equitable recovery from COVID. And as part of a larger set of initiatives the city has embraced to help Boston get back on its feet post-COVID, one of the things we are exploring is free fares on the MBTA system, said Vineet Gupta, director of planning at the Boston Transportation Department. Gupta added that the pilot program would likely operate either on specific bus lines or corridors that serve multiple lines. But he stressed that the plan is still early in development and declined to provide more specifics. Still, even a trial would demonstrate the growing salience of the fare-free concept an idea that, if implemented widely, would have major implications for the role of the transit system in Greater Boston and the finances that drive it. It would also be a nod at equity goals in the aftermath of the racial justice protests of 2020, as low-income riders and communities of color are the most dependent on the bus system. And maybe most immediately, it could become a significant factor in the mayoral race this year, as several candidates have been pushing for a free-fare policy including Acting Mayor Kim Janey, as well as City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Councilor Michelle Wu, who popularized the idea amid the MBTAs 2019 fare hike. Advertisement The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, by contrast, has been reluctant to embrace the free-fare idea, even as officials discuss the Boston pilot. But although the mayors office has little direct control over the MBTA, Janeys support for the idea appears to be driving the state-run agency to at least consider a test. I think the city is an important partner of ours, said Lynsey Heffernan, the Ts acting assistant general manager for policy. They are not the first ones to be asking about free bus. So I think we are trying to be open to other ways of thinking. Heffernan said the MBTA prefers the idea of offering fare discounts to low-income riders across the entire system, which the agency has been talking about since at least 2015 but has yet to implement. At a recent public meeting, MBTA board member Chrystal Kornegay suggested that the long struggle to implement that discount may put the agency at risk of getting caught a little flat-footed as the fare-free idea gains ground. The primary issue for both the low-income discounts and the free service has been figuring out how to replace the lost fares. Boston says it is willing to put up some money for the pilot, though Gupta, the city official, pointedly noted the MBTA could also put some of its surplus funding from federal COVID relief packages to the program. Advertisement Heffernan, meanwhile, said the citys willingness to help pay is what will allow us to open up this conversation as a possibility. Transit advocates note that the MBTA already has a free bus: the inbound side of the Silver Line from Logan International Airport. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan, pays for those buses as a way to discourage traffic at the airport. The cost of running free buses is also in dispute. The T spends more than $400 million a year to operate the bus network and says it collects more than $100 million a year in bus fares. But advocates argue the T would lose only about $35 million from free buses, because many riders transfer to the subway and wind up paying fares there. The MBTA has also noted that free fares could have other, less obvious financial effects. More service, for example, could result in more riders, and thus the need for more drivers, buses, and places to store them though the agency is already planning to overhaul and expand bus facilities. An even more subtle but costly effect could come from the agencys paratransit system, the Ride. MBTA officials argue that federal rules may require the agency to offer free door-to-door car and van service for passengers with disabilities if they eliminate fares on buses, a change that could significantly grow the Ts expenses. The per-rider subsidy on the bus has historically been higher than the subway and the ferry, but lower than the commuter rail and the Ride. Advertisement Supporters say free buses would have several benefits if implemented across the network such as providing financial relief to riders, since the bus system has the highest rate of low-income passengers compared to the subway and commuter rail. It could also lead to higher ridership, as seen in Lawrence when regional buses in the city began testing free fares. However, some research has indicated that free bus experiments in other locations draw relatively few riders, and some national surveys of transit riders have shown they value good service over lower fares. Phineas Baxandall, a transportation analyst with the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center think tank who supports free fares, acknowledged that higher ridership could lead to higher costs. But he said that was a poor way to consider the proposal. You can define that as a cost, or you can define that as an enormous policy achievement, Baxandall said. In the face of possibilities of actually increasing transit ridership, it shouldnt be seen as just a cost. Jarred Johnson, director of the local organization Transit Matters, said he would support a free-fare test, but noted that operating some buses without fares while charging on others could strike some riders as unfair. At some point, if youre at Ruggles or Nubian Square [stations], there will be a point where somebodys getting onto a free bus and somebody else is saying, Why do I have to pay? Johnson said. Advertisement Johnson said the biggest benefit of operating free buses would be to speed up service, since passengers would not need to pay while boarding and could enter through any door. Ironically, this is also the main argument the MBTA has made for its ongoing plan to replace its fare system with a new, all-electronic version that would allow all-door boarding on vehicles and end cash payments onboard. That project, called fare transformation, carries a total price tag of nearly $1 billion, has been years in the making, and seems to still have the full support of MBTA management even as it considers a free fare test in Boston. Fare transformation is here to stay, Heffernan said. Were not in any way turning away from that. Adam Vaccaro can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @adamtvaccaro. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/30/metro/is-an-era-fare-free-buses-coming-boston/ |
What Can The Wealthy Do About Bidens Proposed Tax Increases? | President Biden has proposed an increase in the tax rate on capital gains and dividends for the ... [+] wealthy. getty Last July I wrote an article about what to do about the proposed tax hikes if there were a blue wave and the Democrats were to take over the presidency, House and Senate in the November 2020 elections. While it wasnt exactly a blue wave, Joe Biden was elected president and the Democrats have narrow control of Congress. That means tax increases in 2021 are likely. On Wednesday, President Biden announced his American Families Plan, which outlines his agenda of raising taxes on the wealthy. During his campaign, Biden pledged to pursue tax increases so that the wealthiest Americans shoulder more of the tax burden by making investors pay the same tax rates as workers and bringing an end to expensive and unproductive tax loopholes. What Biden proposes in his American Families Plan is consistent with what he presented as a candidate: Raise tax rates on those making over $400,000 from 37% to 39.6% Tax capital gains and dividends at the 39.6% ordinary income tax rate for those with incomes over $1 million, up from the current 20% rate Eliminate the basis step-up at death for gains over $1 million (or $2.5 million per couple) The only surprise in the plan announced this week is the absence of estate tax changes. As a candidate, Biden had stated that the current $11.7 million estate and gift tax exemptions are too high and should revert to the $3.5 million to $5 million range from the Obama presidency. The American Families Plan leaves the $11.7 million exemptions untouched and bypasses other popular Democratic estate planning reforms, such as limiting the use of valuation discounts to reduce estate taxes. Other good news for the wealthy is that the 2% to 3% annual wealth tax championed by Senator Elizabeth Warren is not part of the proposed changes. The American Families Plan is just a starting point for negotiations. Predicting what a new tax law will ultimately contain is tricky because of all the horse-trading that occurs leading up to finalizing the law. For example, under former President George W. Bush, the estate tax exemption was $3.5 million in 2009 and zero in 2010. With the estate tax and gift tax exemptions scheduled to revert to $1 million each in 2011 and President Obamas comments that the $3.5 million exemption level was too high, it was widely believed they would drop. However, in December 2010 President Obama and Senate Majority Leader McConnell announced they had negotiated a new tax package in which the estate, gift and GST tax exemptions would rise to $5 million each in 2011. This shocked the wealth management industry. Nobody had predicted the exemptions would remain at $3.5 million, let alone rise to $5 million. Ive heard from multiple sources that behind closed doors, McConnell said hed have the Senate ratify the START treaty that Obama had negotiated with Russia in return for the higher tax exemptions. I think about this story every time I read a prediction about what future tax legislation might be. So, with the caveat that we wont know what the final tax bill will contain until it passes, it seems likely that the top tax rate will rise from 37% to 39.6% and that dividend and capital gains tax rates will go up to 25% to 28%. Bidens proposals to raise the capital gains rates all the way up to ordinary rates and eliminate the basis step-up is a tougher sell because some moderate democrats have expressed concerns. Even though theyre not part of Bidens plan now, provisions to increase the estate tax by reducing exemptions or limiting the use of valuation discounts could be added into a final bill because of their popularity among Democrats. While a tax law retroactive to January 1 of this year is theoretically possible, the tax law changes will most likely take effect upon the date of enactment or beginning in 2022. None of the tax bills introduced by Democrats so far this year have a retroactive effective date. Further, it would make sense for the government to put some time between the new laws enactment and effective date because it would allow wealthy taxpayers to take gains at lower rates now, providing a short-term boost in federal revenues from the taxes collected on those gains. Having varying tax rates for different periods of a year would also be an administrative nightmare for the federal government, tax preparers, and custodians. No matter what happens, the important thing is to have a plan. Because the current tax proposals are similar to those we anticipated last July, my advice remains the same strategies that I outlined in that article. Those are essentially to: Take gains before your death so your heirs receive full basis assets. The benefit of this planning is the income taxes you owe on the gains will reduce the value of your estate and thus reduce the amount of estate taxes due. The benefit of this planning is the income taxes you owe on the gains will reduce the value of your estate and thus reduce the amount of estate taxes due. Accelerate income recognition. You can do this by converting your traditional IRAs into Roth IRAs, selling appreciated assets now to fund your future spending needs, intentionally taking gains in your irrevocable grantor trusts, and opting not to defer income into your deferred compensation plan. You can do this by converting your traditional IRAs into Roth IRAs, selling appreciated assets now to fund your future spending needs, intentionally taking gains in your irrevocable grantor trusts, and opting not to defer income into your deferred compensation plan. Defer deductions. Pushing charitable deductions into future years or having your closely held business forego accelerated depreciation are two other good strategies. Pushing charitable deductions into future years or having your closely held business forego accelerated depreciation are two other good strategies. Structure your investments to reduce your future tax burden. Using lower tax realizing investments such as index funds or investment managers and investing inside life insurance policies can also provide significant tax benefits. Using lower tax realizing investments such as index funds or investment managers and investing inside life insurance policies can also provide significant tax benefits. Be prepared to give away the unused portion of your $11.7 million estate and gift tax exemption. Even though Bidens tax proposals dont include reducing transfer tax exemptions, tax law bills introduced by Democrats earlier this year slash the exemptions to $3.5 million or less. Therefore, it is possible that reduced exemptions could be part of a final bill. Also, keep in mind that these exemptions are set to revert to an inflation-adjusted $5 million after 2025 so having a gifting plan is essential. Because each taxpayer has their own financial circumstances, theres no universal solution. But having your financial, legal, and tax advisors run the numbers on your situation to figure out what to do now can help you prepare for whatever happens. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnjennings/2021/04/30/what-can-the-wealthy-do-about-bidens-proposed-tax-increases/ |
Is Amazon Building The Next Generation Bank? | Amazon building. (c) Vzphotos | Dreamstime.com Over the years, Amazon has been steadily building a product line that supports its goal of increased participation in the Amazon ecosystem. The company has built, bought, partnered and launched tools that expanded merchant participation and activity, number of customers, increased cart and checkout size and reduced friction on both the buy and sell side. Seemingly unstoppable by regulators or competitors, the company is armed with numerous patents, virtually unlimited cash, a massive, devoted customer base and unending data. With this, Amazon could represent a real threat to traditional banking. However, Amazon remains very focused on building financial services products that support its core strategic goal: increasing participation in the Amazon ecosystem and solving inefficiencies for its 310 million active customers, 100 million Prime customers, 50 million Echo owners and 5 million sellers worldwide (according to company data). Amazon has also made several fintech investments to support its core strategic goals. All of this points to the conclusion that the company isnt likely to build a traditional deposit-holding bank. Instead, it seems focused on taking the core components of banking and using them to best support its merchants and customers. As a CB Insights study summarized, In a sense, Amazon is building a bank for itself and that may be an even more compelling development than the company launching a deposit-holding bank. Still, there are several categories where traditional banks shouldnt rule out Amazon as a significant competitor. With Amazon approaching $1 trillion in market capitalization, it cant be ruled out of any race. The company has long been experimenting with financial initiatives, including partnering with major US banks that offer accounts in the online marketplace. All the while, the company continues to expand and grow its existing financial offerings. As the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency moves to introduce policy that will level the playing field in banking, I believe fintechs, big tech and startup disruptors may have a more competitive advantage. Amazons DNA is to be the platform. The company is rooted in distribution, integration, logistics, convenience and instant gratification. When Amazon applies those roots to financial services, it can help financial institutions process, underwrite and service loans at a lower cost than what banks currently incur while fulfilling a higher demand. The company has no reason to be the lender in this case. It simply takes a cut of the FIs business while offering vertical ancillary solutions like KYC and AML at an additional cost. Beyond banking Just Walk Out, a biometrics payments technology pilot program with Amazon Go stores, allows customers to purchase items from the store without checking out. The company is likely to push the technology out to other Amazon brands such as Whole Foods as soon as Q2. Still, it could also be expanding outside of the Amazon lair to other grocery and retail chains. The company has also started testing Amazon One, which uses palm-scanning technology to eliminate the need for any physical payment method. Consumers can also tell Alexa to Pay for gas, movie tickets and utility bills, through partnerships with fintechs and other companies. According to CB Insights ' Industry Analyst Consensus, the global voice shopping market is poised to grow from $2B to $40B by 2022. AiFi recently partnered with Choice Market on a 5,000 square foot autonomous store. AiFi Amazon isnt the only player in the automated retail technology space. AiFi makes retail stores autonomous with its compelling camera vision platform. Through its unique approach of partnering with retailers, AiFi can provide a hybrid experience tailored to stores existing customer bases (users can still opt for a traditional cashier). For example, just this last week the company announced the opening of a 5,000 square foot autonomous store in Denver, CO, a collaboration with Choice Market. While in total, AiFi has ten live locations to Amazon Gos 29, its delivering healthy competition, and purportedly a better customer experience. Wrapping up While Amazon has had numerous product pivots and failures along its way, it still isnt afraid to iterate as it moves from e-commerce to omnichannel enablement. Probably not. But one way or another, Amazon is likely going to use its vast data, distribution and enablement to change the way its customers experience banking. Disclosure: My firm, Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided research, analysis, advising, and/or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry. I do not hold any equity positions with any companies cited in this column. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2021/04/30/is-amazon-building-the-next-generation-bank/ |
Can The Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay Packers Marriage Be Salvaged? | Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy ... [+] have all met with Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Evan Siegle/Green Bay Packers In most unions, when one person doesnt want to stay married, the divorce lawyers are called. Late Thursday night, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst resembled a man in denial, even though his partner told him, Its over. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers dropped a bombshell Thursday when he leaked information through several media outlets that he didnt want to play for the Packers again. After 16 seasons together twice as long as the average marriage Gutekunst was adamant he wasnt signing divorce papers. Were not going to trade Aaron Rodgers, Gutekunst said. Thats easy to say on April 29. Rodgers has been agitated with management since they traded up in the 2020 draft and selected his expected replacement, Jordan Love. Im not going to speak for Aaron, but I think obviously we have a really good team and I do think hell play for us again, Gutekunst said. Like I said were going to work towards that and weve been working towards that on a number of different fronts. He brings so much to the table not only as a player but as a leader. Hes so important to his teammates, to his coaches, so yeah, thats the goal. That may be Gutekunsts goal, but Rodgers has different feelings. For starters, Green Bay is coming off consecutive 13-3 seasons and back-to-back trips to the NFC title game. If Rodgers, who turns 38 this season, wants another Super Bowl title, his best chance might be in Green Bay. Second, Gutekunst has time on his side for now. Training camp remains nearly three months away, a period the Packers can try convincing Rodgers to return. To date, thats been a futile effort. ESPN reported that Packers president Mark Murphy, head coach Matt LaFleur and Gutekunst have all flown to California to meet with Rodgers. In all three instances, Rodgers has shown no interest in a reconciliation. Weve been working through this for a little while now, and I just think it may take some time, but hes a guy that kind of makes this thing go, Gutekunst said. He gives us the best chance to win, and were going to work towards that end. On multiple occasions, Gutekunst has stood behind his selection of Love in the 2020 draft. On Thursday night, though, he did say communication between the team and Rodgers could have been better. I certainly look back to last years draft and just kind of, maybe some of the communication issues we could have done better, Gutekunst said. Theres no doubt about it. The drafts an interesting thing. It can kind of unfold differently than you think its going to unfold and it happens pretty fast. But certainly I think looking back on it sitting where we sit today there could have been some communication things we did better. Trey Wingo, a former ESPN personality, reported that the Packers agreed to try trading Rodgers this offseason, then changed their mind. Gutekunst said nothing could be further from the truth. Thats absolutely false, theres no truth to that whatsoever, Gutekunst said. Theres a lot of false, false reporting going on right now, and thats particularly one thing that never happened. The greatest drama in Packer history unfolded in the summer of 2008, when Rodgers eventually replaced Brett Favre as Green Bays quarterback. Favre initially retired that spring, then changed his mind and tried coming back to the team. The Packers were ready to move on to Rodgers, and the organization was swept up in a month of drama. Eventually, Favre was traded to the New York Jets. But the circus-like atmosphere that hit Green Bay was tough to overcome and a major reason the Packers went 6-10 in 2008. No one in Green Bay wants to see a repeat of that chaos. Im always concerned about the team, Gutekunst said. To be honest with you, I was here for a brief time (in 2008) and then I was out on the road scouting. Certainly lived through it a little bit but not probably to the extent that some did. But always concerned about our team and thats always whats most important to us. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2021/04/30/can-the-aaron-rodgers-green-bay-packers-marriage-be-salvaged/ |
Can Original Animated Films Still Thrive In Movie Theaters? | THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES - (L-R) Maya Rudolph as Linda Mitchell", Abbi Jacobson as Katie Mitchell", Mike Rianda as Aaron Mitchell, Doug the Pug as Monchi and Danny McBride as Rick Mitchell" NETFLIX The good news is that Mitchell vs. the Machines , a Sony Animation romp which was sold to Netflix, is pretty damn good. Written and directed by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe and produced by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the lively, spirited, bracingly colorful and rollicking family comedy offers endless visual gags, a strong narrative through-line and a refreshingly specificity. Even the character tropes feel specifically personal and/or autobiographical in a way which justifies a well-worn story (concerning technology coming to life and threatening humanity with extinction). Yes, The Simpsons did it first, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines does it just as well. Unlike the vast majority of intended for theaters flicks sent off to streaming amid the global pandemic, this one might have been a true commercial hit. Up until a few years ago, I would have argue a well-reviewed and well-received major studio toon had a shot at breaking out. Even amid a push toward IP-specific franchise fare and a drive toward streaming for non-franchise movies, animated features were among the last bastions for big-budget originality. Five years ago, while audiences were flocking to big superhero movies like Deadpool, Batman v Superman, Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange, they were also showing up for Zootopia ($1 billion), The Secret Life of Pets ($875 million), Moana ($645 million) and Sing ($634 million). Even small-scale toons like Sausage Party ($141 million on a $19 million budget) and sequels to initially-original franchises like Kung Fu Panda 3 ($521 million) were viable hits. However, the market forces challenging the majority of non-franchise live-action flicks have begun to threaten the commercial viability of non-franchise toons as well. We havent had an original animated blockbuster since Pixars Coco in late 2017. That Oscar-winning Mexican folktale earned a robust $210 million domestic, $189 million in China and $808 million worldwide. Since then the vast majority of big-studio toons have been sequels or IP plays. SOUL PIXAR To be fair, some of that was due to the natural lifecycle of franchise filmmaking. The Secret Life of Pets 2 opened in summer 2019 three years after The Secret Life of Pets. Despicable Me 3 earned $1 billion in summer 2017 thanks to the popularity of the initially original Despicable Me ($543 million in 2010). Sing 2 will open this Christmas five years after Sing, which offers another Is five years too late? test yet may break out if audiences want to see Buster Moon, Ash and Johnny in another jukebox musical adventure. Pixar and Walt Disney Animation followed Coco with a handful of sequels, namely Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Toy Story 4 and Frozen II. Yes, those were sequels cashing in on the popularity and goodwill of their respective predecessors, which also nabbed interest via marquee characters. But that was supposed to mark a period of mostly original toons from both animation houses. While Onward was likely to bomb even absent the pandemic (it opened domestically with $38 million in North America, or just below the $40 million pre-release tracking guestimate), Soul and Raya and the Last Dragon would have likely been crowd-pleasing theatrical blockbusters had they opened under conventional circumstances. But since those films opened theatrically (and/or on Disney+ in participating territories) amid deeply challenging and heavily compromised circumstances, Disney lost the chance to show that non-sequel animation could still break big. Luca is joining Soul as a Disney+ exclusive (much to the chagrin of Pixar filmmakers) this summer. Sony Animations Mitchell vs. the Machines debuted on Netflix this morning. Meanwhile, Sony has sold their other big animated original for 2021 Kirk DiMicco and Quiara Alegra Hudess musical fantasy Vivo to the streaming juggernaut as well. Sure, Sonys Hotel Transylvania: Transformania will still debut in theaters this summer. Pixars Buzz Lightyear origin story flick (starring Chris Evans) will likely go theatrical in June 2022. But otherwise, the next hope for a new animated hit will be Walt Disneys Enchanto opening this Thanksgiving. Even accounting for Sonys recent first-pay window deal with Netflix, this is just a little depressing. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixars Luca is a coming-of-age story about a boy and his newfound best friend experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. But their fun is threatened by a secret: they are sea monsters from another world. Luca is directed by Enrico Casarosa (La Luna) and produced by Andrea Warren (Lava, Cars 3). 2020 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. PIXAR In a theatrical environment more and more rooted in marquee characters, the idea of a new/original Pixar movie being an automatic event may have been already on its way out the door, just as DreamWorks Animation found itself unable to automatically presume that its big-budget toons (curse you for ignoring Abominable) would be treated as automatic theatrical events. There were hints that the marquee characters are the new movie stars and the new franchises sensibility which crippled just a movie live-action flicks was taking hold in animation as well. Oh, right, marquee characters... thats the difference between Toy Story 4 and The LEGO Movie 2, the difference between How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and The Angry Birds Movie 2. Audiences didnt care about another Emmitt & Lucy adventure, but they damn well wanted another round with Woody & Buzz, Hiccup & Toothless and Anna & Elsa. While Mitchell vs. the Machines is relatively great, it is an original movie where the main characters are somewhat conventional mom, dad and two kids archetypes. While the film might have merited an I want to see these people on another adventure sequel in less IP-driven era, such a film might have already found itself commercially wanting even with rave reviews and strong buzz. There were hints that the marquee characters are the new movie stars and the new franchises sensibility which crippled just a movie live-action flicks was taking hold in animation as well. As such, I dont blame Sony for offloading the film. I dont know if weve seen the relative end of the non-sequel/non-franchise animated biggie even for such powerhouses as Illumination, Pixar and DreamWorks. This is not a question which will be answered overnight, especially as the pandemic stole several of last year and this years best candidates for breakout originals. But the same challenges facing original or even new to cinema live-action franchises which led Skydance to sell The Tomorrow War to Amazon may be the same variables which led to Disney sending Soul and Luca to Disney+. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/04/30/can-original-animation-from-disney-pixar-sony-illumation-still-survive-in-theaters/ |
What Do The Yearly Pivot Levels Say Now About 2021? | getty One of the most important skills in trading and investing is being able to identify the key levels of support and resistance for a given market. Support and resistance levels are created by supply and demand for a market at particular price levels. When prices fall to a certain support level, increased demand for the issue at such low prices often triggers new buying. When prices rise to high levels, traders are often willing to sell their position in a market, and that increased supply can cause a market to reverse and turn lower. There are many ways to determine support or resistance, ranging from chart analysis to the levels determined by moving averages. One of the lesser-used methods are pivot levels. I often use monthly and quarterly pivot analysis to identify support and resistance levels that are not easily identified by other methods of analysis. In basic pivot analysis, a stock, market average, or ETF is positive if it is trading above its pivot level. In a positive-trending market, the next level to watch is the first resistance level above the pivot, or R1. Conversely, if a market is below its pivot then the focus should be on the first support level below the pivot or S1. All of these values are calculated using the prior period's high, low, and closing price values. The pivot levels determined from the prior yearly or quarterly price ranges are often not on most trader's or investors radar. When looking at monthly pivot analysis, the S1 is often a good buying level, if the technical studies are positive. The R1 can often be a good level to sell, especially when it coincides with prices being near the daily starc+ bands or warnings from other technical indicators. For more information on monthly pivot analysis and calculating these levels, read my article from February. I also monitor the pivot levels every year, and often find that the price ranges during the year correlate very nicely with the yearly pivot levels. The yearly levels for 2021 were provided on the first day of 2021. Now that we're four months into 2021, I figured it's time to review them. SPY 2020 Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com In 2020, the Spyder Trust (SPY) started out well above the pivot level, but the week ending February 21 (point a), the close was below the yearly pivot of 292.64. The S1 level was also broken two weeks later, during the early March plunge. Another two weeks later, the SPY dropped just below the yearly S2 level at $216.19, with a low of $215.52 for the week ending March 21 (point b). It was not until Friday, May 23 (point c) that SPY closed at $300.50, which was back above the yearly pivot. SPY traded above and below the year R1 level at $342.79 during August through early November. The first week in December 2020 (point d), SPY surpassed the R2 resistance at $369.09. Yearly Pivots Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com The table above gives the yearly pivots, S1 and R1 levels for the four major market ETFs in 2021. Based on the close on April 29, all of the ETFs are well above their yearly pivots, led by the iShares Russell 2000 (IWM), which is currently 39.4% above its yearly pivot. To get a full picture of the health of each of these markets, let's take a look at the charts. DIA Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial (DIA) opened 2021 at $303.69 and had a high of $342.43 on April 16, which is just 2.6% below the yearly R1 at $347.97. The rising 20-week exponential moving average (EMA) is at $320.44. DIA is up 8.2% year-to-date (YTD), and has been up six of the past nine weeks. IWM Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) had a high of $234.09 on March 15 and then dropped to a low of $208.03 on March 25. The yearly R1 at $232.45 was exceeded for just three days before IWM turned lower. Given the weekly range, a strong close above $234.09 would have upside targets in the $252-$260 area, and the R2 for 2021 is at $268.84. IWM is up 16% YTD. QQQ Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com The top-performing ETF in 2020, the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), is up just 8.2% YTD after gaining 48.6% last year. As of April 29, the high for the year has been $342.80. If the trading range between $297.08 and $337.76 has been completed, the upside targets are in the $379-$380 area, which is well above the yearly R1 at $364.15. The rising 20-week EMA is a support level, currently at $320.45. SPY Tom Aspray - ViperReport.com The Spyder Trust (SPY) had a high on April 29 of $420.72, which is just 1.4% below the yearly R1 at $426.87. The SPY is now less than 2% below its weekly starc+ band at $427.89. So far it is up 12% YTD after an 18.2% gain in 2020. The SPY is now 30% above its yearly pivot at $321.66. Its 20-week EMA is at $390.84. In terms of a potential correction, it seems unlikely that these market-tracking ETFs could decline back to their yearly pivots in 2021. Any meaningful decline seems very likely to be identified well in advance by the advance/decline analysis. In the Viper ETF Report and Viper Hot Stocks Report, I teach subscribers how to pick stocks or ETFs, and provide specific buy and sell advice along with market commentary. I regularly apply pivot analysis to both the buy and sell decisions. Each report comes out twice a week and is only $34.95 per month. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomaspray/2021/04/30/what-do-the-yearly-pivot-levels-say-now-about-2021/ |
What would Joe Biden call Doug Fords paid sick days? | WASHINGTONHere in the U.S. capital, theres been a lot of debate recently about what constitutes infrastructure largely because President Joe Bidens $2.3 trillion plan to rebuild it includes not just bridges, roads, wastewater treatment and the electrical grid, but also jobs for home-care workers, aid to small businesses, stronger unions and technological research. I started hearing people on the left in Toronto call this stuff social infrastructure at least a decade ago, but American Republicans are not having it. Less than six per cent of the presidents plan goes to roads and bridges. Its a liberal wish list of big-government waste, Republican Sen. Tim Scott said on Wednesday in his rebuttal to Bidens address to Congress. Ive heard that kind of thing before too. In April 2019, Premier Doug Ford tried to cut $1 billion in funding to Toronto Public health as an attempt to eliminate what he called big government waste. At the time, he characterized the whole public health department as folks that go into restaurants and put the little stickers on saying its safe to eat here. He said he wanted to spend on things that matter to people instead of on public health. Two years later, still in the midst of a horrifying deadly pandemic, I think everyone in Ontario has become acutely aware that a well-funded public health department matters. This week, because of the debate in the U.S. and the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Ontario, I started wondering. I dont remember those fighting hardest against the cuts in 2019, such as Councillor Joe Cressy, using that word. But I do remember their argument that even if the services public health provides are sometimes hard to see, theyre essential to allowing the smooth functioning of society. They provide a structure that allows life to proceed without a lot of obstacles. Which is a summary of the definition Biden is using. The U.S. president says that the stuff people need to live, to go to work, to raise their families with dignity, to ensure that good jobs will be there for their kids, no matter who they are or what ZIP code they live in. Thats what infrastructure means in the 21st century. Biden points out that railroads werent considered essential infrastructure until they were built out in the 1800s. Yet they became so obviously essential for so much of societys function, no one would deny what they are. Which lines up with the spirit of the dictionary definition, if not the examples given to illustrate the meaning. The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, is how the Oxford English dictionary puts it. The basic structures needed for the operation of society. Today, that more obviously includes broadband internet something Scott specifically cited in his speech as infrastructure his party supports. Or what about paid sick days another topic that COVID-19 brought to the front of everyones minds this week when Fords government relented to public pressure to (inadequately) provide three paid sick days as a pandemic-fighting measure. It was a turnaround from Fords position last week, and from his position in 2018 when his government eliminated the piddling two paid days that were then guaranteed. That Ford himself has been isolating at his mothers house for the past 10 days due to a potential COVID-19 exposure illustrates that even three days is woefully inadequate a point the doctors on his science table stated plainly. Ford can work from home, and could afford the time off. Maybe stretching the definition of a word gets silly. Whats interesting is the reason Biden wants to expand the definition, and the reason his opponents are fighting him on it: we think of infrastructure as the stuff thats necessary to allow society to function properly and it follows that spending money on things that are necessary is uncontroversial. This week in the New York Times, Binyamin Appelbaum wrote that infrastructure is the stuff we take for granted, that we notice only when it breaks down. That mirrors something Cressy told me about public health back in 2019, that the thing about public health is that if its doing its job you dont notice it. It took a pandemic for Doug Ford, and many other people, to notice that public health departments matter, and maybe sick days do too. Whether you want to call those things infrastructure or not, the break downs of the past year or so across North American and around the world have led a lot of people to notice that the structures that allow society to operate include a lot more than just roads and bridges. The argument about the word infrastructure is really about defining whats necessary. And it appears to a lot of people that includes a broader range of things than they might have thought. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2021/04/30/what-would-joe-biden-call-doug-fords-paid-sick-days.html |
Did Cowboys Draft 'Kick-Ass' Starter In CB Kelvin Joseph? | With Kelvin Joseph joining the Dallas Cowboys in the second round, here's our instant NFL Draft grade on the selection The Dallas Cowboys selected Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday. From a Mike Fisher source from inside The Star: "He can be an immediate starter.'' From our scouting buddy Jeff Cavanaugh of 105.3 The Fan: "He's a kick-ass cornerback.'' Below we provide our instant grade on the selection. CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky, 6-foot, 197 pounds NFL Draft Bible Scouting Overview: Joseph arrived at Kentucky as a transfer after playing in 11 games as a true freshman at LSU. After sitting out 2019 due to the NCAA transfer rules, Joseph burst onto the scene in his one year starting at Kentucky in 2020. Active feet in press coverage that move with excellent quickness on a lateral plane to mirror the release of the wide receiver. Impressive movement skills away from the line of scrimmage when watching him flip his hips on vertical routes to get back in phase. Noticeable burst out of his breaks when driving downhill on the ball whether he is in zone or man coverage. Displays beautiful ball skills that teams will covet to go along with his impressive length at the catch point. Lacks twitch in the short to intermediate area of the field playing away from the line of scrimmage. Inconsistent in his route recognition leads him to be susceptible to double moves and blown coverages, showing his inexperience up to this point in his career. A late Day 2 cornerback prospect who has room to grow into a top-tier starting cornerback as he develops with more playing experience. How he fits: The Cowboys most experienced returning corner is sixth-year pro Anthony Brown. Then theres Jourdan Lewis. The rest are young players or free agents. The ONE player in this group that youre certain will be a starter in 2021 is Trevon Diggs. After that, theres room for Joseph to carve out a role as a starter or consistent contributor right away. What the Cowboys passed on: The Cowboys attempted to trade up ... and later missed out on TCU safety Trevon Moehrig by one pick, as the Raiders traded up in front of them. Our guess is, that must have hurt. Grade: B. All players taken in the second round have something that scouts dont feel totally great about. In the case of Joseph it is probably his lack of experience as a starter (just one year at Kentucky). Oh, and then there are some behavioral whispers as well. But based on NFL Draft Bibles scouting report, it sounds like Joseph has a base of fundamentals to build from. If hes going to start this year, hell need to have a great training camp and preseason. Its more likely hell track like last years second-round pick, Diggs, who by seasons end was the Cowboys best cornerback. - then this grade goes up to an A. You can follow Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard. READ MORE: FIRST LOOK: New Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons Enters The Star | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/did-dallas-cowboys-draft-kick-ass-nfl-starter-in-cb-kelvin-joseph |
Can Derek Chauvins convictions be tossed on appeal? | The unique circumstances surrounding Derek Chauvins trial in George Floyds death could offer the former Minneapolis police officer some chance at winning a retrial on appeal, though most legal experts agree its a long shot. Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyds neck for nearly 9 minutes last May, killing the 46-year-old Black man and sparking some of the largest protests in U.S. history. His conviction on murder and manslaughter charges was seen by many across the country as a civil-rights milestone. Heres a look at some of the issues Chauvins lawyers might cite in their expected appeal, and their chances of prevailing. The defense has said it was impossible for Chauvin to get a fair trial in Minneapolis because of pretrial publicity and community pressure on jurors to convict. That claim is sure to underpin any appeal. Advertisement As they arrived at and left the courthouse each day for testimony, jurors passed clear signs that the city was preparing for renewed protests. The courthouse downtown was encircled by razor wire and guarded by armed troops. Most storefront windows were boarded up. A prime target of an appeal would be key rulings by trial Judge Peter Cahill, including that the trial should remain in Minneapolis rather than be moved and that jurors should be sequestered only for deliberations. Cahill also refused to delay the trial after Minneapolis announced a $27-million settlement with Floyds family during jury selection. The defense says that suggested guilt before jurors even heard evidence. The defense has decried as prosecutorial misconduct remarks by the state during closings, including that aspects of the defense case were nonsense. That claim could make its way into an appeal. Yes, though its rare. A U.S. appeals court in 1999 vacated white Detroit Police Officer Larry Nevers conviction in the beating death of a Black motorist, noting how at least one juror had learned the National Guard was on standby in case Nevers was acquitted and violence ensued. The Court cannot imagine a more prejudicial extraneous influence than that of a juror discovering that the City he or she resides in is bracing for a riot, it said, adding that letting the conviction stand would send the wrong message that rights to an impartial jury do not extend to an obviously guilty defendant. Similarly, an appeals court in Florida ordered a new trial for a plain-clothed Latino officer, William Lozano, who fatally shot Black motorcyclist Clement Lloyd in 1989. A passenger on the motorcycle also died. Protests erupted in Miami. Advertisement At the 1991 Miami trial, jurors convicted Lozano of manslaughter. The appellate ruling overturning the conviction highlighted how some jurors admitted they feared an acquittal would renew protests. At his 1993 retrial in Orlando, Lozano was acquitted. Judge Cahill seemed to think thats at least a possibility. He rebuked U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters on Monday for telling a crowd in a Minneapolis suburb days before deliberations started that, if Chauvin wasnt convicted of murder, weve got to get more confrontational. Cahill called the California Democrats comments disrespectful to the rule of law, saying elected officials shouldnt comment about ongoing trials. Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent, he said. Advertisement But Cahill indicated that Waters comments could be a basis for appeal. Ill give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you [the defense] something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned, he said in court Monday. Mike Brandt, a leading Minneapolis-based criminal attorney who closely followed the Chauvin trial, said Chauvins attorneys have heavy lifting to do before they can argue on appeal that jurors were unduly influenced or pressured. He said appellate courts wont simply let Chauvins lawyers theorize that jurors might have heard Waters comments. Rather, they must offer proof that specific jurors heard the comments and that those comments influenced their votes to convict, he said. Advertisement The same goes for statements by prosecutors allegedly disparaging the defense case and for the contention that jurors found Chauvin guilty because they feared triggering angry protests if they didnt The defense must present compelling evidence typically admissions from jurors themselves that such statements and fears caused them to find Chauvin guilty, Brandt said. The odds are heavily against Chauvin, Brandt and other legal experts say. If the answer is no, Brandt said, they wont toss the verdicts. Advertisement An appeals court may also look favorably on Cahills reasoning in denying a change of venue. Cahill had noted that media scrutiny of Floyds death was nearly as intense across Minnesota, suggesting that any alternate city would have faced the same challenge of preventing news from tainting the jury. Also, higher courts have repeatedly ruled that jury selection is an effective way to counteract unflattering media accounts of a defendant and to ensure even-handed jurors are impaneled. And Brandt said Cahill gave Chauvins lawyers more latitude than usual in questioning potential jurors about biases and in striking ones they thought couldnt be fair latitude appellate courts would likely note. | https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-04-23/explainer-can-chauvin-get-his-convictions-tossed-on-appeal |
Is fear-mongering in the beauty industry out of control? | Whether youre strolling through a pharmacy or scrolling through Instagram, you dont have to wander far in the beautysphere these days before youre utterly terrified. Watch out for the demon paraben! screams one brand. Beware the dread pirate phthalates! intones another. Big beauty is out to get you! they all cry as one, beckoning you over to the safe harbour of the kingdom of clean (a realm whose parameters are as ill-defined as this metaphor is getting overstretched). Gwyneth Paltrows recent viral Vogue video where she applied sun protection like highlighter, cast major shade on chemical sunscreen and intimated conventional moisturizers are made with antifreeze was a tour-de-force of misinformation masquerading as fact, but shes hardly a lone voice spreading dubiously researched claims and anxiety-inducing allegations about what were putting on our faces. Once the realm of the kitchen-made salt scrub vendor at a farmers market, spreading fear about the ingredients in our cosmetics while shilling an alternative, of course has become big business. Fear sells, says Dr. Aegean Chan, a dermatologist who routinely debunks pseudo-science to her patients and more than 16,000 Instagram followers. If you say a certain product is clean, that implies that others are dirty. That creates a self-perpetuating cycle where other brands, even though they know non-toxic doesnt mean anything, feel this pressure to be a clean brand in order to compete in the marketplace. Couple that with a lack of scientific literacy and a growing mistrust in the system, and youve got a population primed to be marketed to this powerful lever. Theres also the fact, Chan points out, that many indie brand founders dont have science backgrounds themselves, so while they may have the best of intentions, theyre just as susceptible to half-truths as any other consumer. Their success, built on no nasties and safe formulations, prods the bigger players to remove those ingredients themselves, even knowing full well theyre not actually harmful or dangerous. To help us wade through the pseudo-science, weve assembled a panel of actual scientists a dermatologist, a cosmetic formulator and a chemistry PhD. Theres really nothing to be scared of. We already have so many things to be afraid of and to be anxious about in our everyday lives, says Chan. This unnecessary fear-mongering is just harmful to peoples psyches, she adds, noting your average consumer doesnt need to be going all Miss Marple on labels, and can trust that the vast majority of products, especially those from large companies, have been tested for safety. Theyre not out to get you, she says. If you step back and think about it, companies want you to continue to buy from them. If you die or are harmed by their product, youre no longer going to be a customer. You might not be able to trust the marketing, but you can trust the market. Fear: If a product isnt clean, its full of harmful toxins and suspicious ingredients that can hurt me Fact: Because the term clean isnt regulated, it can be anything, which can be very confusing for a consumer, says Stephen Ko, a cosmetic formulator whose blog is a fantastic resource if you want to deep dive into actual science and not, say, the scaremongering of the Gwyneth-endorsed Environmental Working Group (EWG). Most brands have their own definition of a clean formula, so it really depends on the organization that the product is being formulated for. It is, essentially, a meaningless term. Ditto free from lists on products, which will often include things like lead or mercury, which have already been banned and were never in the product in the first place. The E.U., in fact, has just passed a law banning the use of those lists as a marketing tactic. Fear: Chemicals are evil Fact: If were being pedantic, lets start by remembering that everything is a chemical. If it exists, its a chemical, because those are the building blocks of all matter. Water is a chemical compound. Air is made of chemical compounds. You are made of chemical compounds. That said: I think it has become shorthand for chemicals and compounds that may present a potential risk to health, says Ko. Consumers should be savvy about what theyre using; however its difficult for a consumer to find researched and scientific information right now, and its hard to separate the fear-mongering from truthful information. When you can, try to find out the context for claims, especially ones that quote studies to back them. Those are important pieces of context that are often missing, advises Ko. Fear: Parabens cause breast cancer and can disrupt your hormonal system Fact: This is a real bee in my bonnet, says Chan. Parabens are a very safe ingredient thats been around for over a century. (If you want to deep dive into the history of parabens, she recommends the Beauty Brains podcast.) Used as an antimicrobial and preservative, parabens are a great example of another important dictum in pseudoscience-busting: The dose makes the poison. Anything can be toxic at a high enough dose, says Chan, pointing to the mouse studies done in the 1980s, in which the rodents were force-fed huge quantities of parabens, as an example of this. Parabens were observed to have adverse hormonal effects in these mice, but that doesnt mimic everyday use, she says. People are not eating their weight in parabens every day. What is happening, however, is that brands are switching out tried-and-tested parabens for other newer preservatives in their formulations, namely methylisothiazolinone (MI) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI.) They are much more allergenic than parabens, notes Chan, putting the rate of contact dermatitis caused by MCI at five times higher than that of parabens, named nonallergen of the year by the American Contact Dermatitis Association in 2019. The more MCI and MI have been formulated with, the more allergies we see being associated with them, she says. This is an instance of the clean beauty movement being actually harmful to consumers. Fear: Some conventional moisturizers contain antifreeze Fact: Thats a hard no, says Michelle Wong, who has a PhD in chemistry and writes about skin care as Lab Muffin Beauty on her blog and Instagram. Antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which isnt found in beauty products. (At least very rarely.) However and heres where confusion can spread there are similar sounding ingredients in many a personal care product, like propylene glycol and butylene glycol, humectants used in a wide variety of formulas, from serums to creams and shampoos. They sound similar, but they behave very differently, says Wong. Its like how drinking a glass of wine containing ethanol, a.k.a. drinking alcohol, is largely fine and may even be beneficial to your health, but drinking the same amount of methanol would make you go blind or kill you. Fear: Youve got to protect your body from toxic ingredients found in beauty products Fact: The word non-toxic gets tossed around a lot in the clean beauty space, but its really just an elaborate bit of misdirection. Exposure is everything, says Wong, pointing to the fact that even water, essential to life, can be a killer in the wrong quantity. Thats why an ingredient that might technically be toxic in one context say, at full concentration can be perfectly safe in another. There are well-established limits to what can be used topically, adds Chan. Youre using it in a small amount, and your skin is keeping out 80 to 90 per cent anyway. Thats a key point, BTW: Theres this deranged idea that your skin is mesh, this two-way passageway. Its a barrier, and its evolved to be really good at keeping things out, and in. If it were as porous as the non-tox brigade would have us believe, she adds, there wouldnt be a whole branch of study devoted to figuring out how to administer medicine through the skin rather than orally. As an aside, its the same reason Chan cant abide being told, say, that a yoga pose will massage your liver and help expel toxins. Theres this idea that we need to help our organs, and its a fallacy. If youre otherwise healthy, your body is very capable of removing harmful metabolites. It contributes to a darker side of the wellness movement, she says, which is the self-blame that can happen when we do get sick. Fear: Theres formaldehyde lurking in your products Fact: Formaldehyde is only commonly found in large amounts in two products, says chemist Wong. Its in nail hardeners and some Brazilian keratin treatments, where its used to cross-link proteins and make them stronger. Once again, the potential danger lies in the amount of exposure youre getting. If youre a nail artist working with nail hardeners every day or a hairdresser doing non-stop keratin treatments, you might want to consider proper ventilation, since breathing it in is the danger, or seeking alternative products if youre actually allergic. Otherwise, the casual user is exposed to such tiny amounts that its not a worry. The amount is really important, says Wong. In fact: Pears actually contain tiny amounts of formaldehyde, and you make formaldehyde inside your body as well. Fear: Fragrance is a menace, unless its from essential oils Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Fact: Unless you have an established contact allergy to fragrance, you shouldnt go out of your way to avoid it in products, says Chan, pointing out that scent is such a huge part of the ritual of beauty. When it comes to essential oils, however, shes less enthusiastic. Essential oils are pretty unstable, depending on the type, she says, using the example of citrus oils, which have a shelf life of less than a year, which is not that long when you factor in production and how long something might sit on a shelf before it even reaches you. Essential oils oxidize, and once they do, they become more allergenic, she says, pointing to a journal article that notes a rise in allergies to the molecule found in lavender, an essential oil added to tons of clean products. Theres this misconception that because somethings natural, it cant harm you but things like poison ivy and arsenic completely refute that idea, Chan adds. Fear: You should avoid silicones in your hair care and skin care Fact: On a related note to Chans comment above: We humans have an inbuilt bias where we assume natural things are safe and synthetic things are dangerous, even though its obviously not true and natural toxins like botulinum toxin [E.D. note: produced by a bacterium and considered the most potent toxin known to humankind. Its also used to make Botox] and pufferfish toxin are far more toxic than the most potent synthetic toxins, says Wong. And silicones mostly get a bad rap because theyre synthetic. Theres also a misunderstanding about how they behave, she says, pointing to a perception that they work like a plastic wrap that suffocates our hair or skin. In reality they form a very permeable film that has gaps for oxygen to escape, she says. | https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2021/04/23/is-fear-mongering-in-the-beauty-industry-out-of-control.html |
Do Texans Have A 'Go-To' NFL Draft Pick In Milton Williams? | Milton Williams has climbed the draft boards. Now, he could be the selection for the Texans at No. None of them were first-round picks. Jarrett left Clemson undervalued when the Atlanta Falcons selected No. 137 in 2015. He went on to a pair of Pro Bowls. Reader was selected by Houston one year later at pick No. 166. He's been one of the league's best in stopping the run. The production speaks for itself with Jones, no denying that. For the 2021 NFL Draft, defensive tackle has unanimously been regarded as the weakest position as a whole. Alabama's Christian Barmore is the lone potential first-rounder while Washington's Levi Onwuzurike might hear his name called in the top 50. A perfect spot for the Houston Texans to add him to the trenches. READ MORE: 'Misleading, Fraudulent, Slanderous': Texans QB Deshaun Watson Lawyer Fires Back Reader walked in free agency to the Cincinnati Bengals on a four-year, $53 million contract. Prior to his departure, the Texans ranked at in the top half twice, finishing No. 3 in run defense for 2018. Dead last. Houston allowed opponents to average 160.3 yards per game on the ground and 5.3 yards per run. Williams isn't the ideal option to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 set. The 6-1, 285-pound Bulldog is considered undersized and limited in the numbers. The last time the NFL doubted an undersized defensive tackle came in 2014. His name was Aaron Donald coming out of Pittsburgh. Seven years later, some believe he's the best player in the game, becoming just the third player to win the Defensive Player of the Year three times. This isn't to say Williams is the next Donald for whoever drafts him, but watching the tape, teams see a competitor who won't quit. Although the Conference USA isn't the SEC, Williams consistently won battles in the trenches and needed to be contained from winning leverage in the backfield. Based on his pro day numbers, there's a valid argument Williams could be a steal should he fall to No. 67 overall. His 4.63 40-time was faster than Donald's in 2014 (4.68). It was faster than Barmore's (4.96) and Onwuzurike (4.85) by over 2/10ths of a second. Williams' vertical jump (38.5"), broad jump (10'1") and three-cone drill (6.96) all were better numbers than Donald as well (32") (9'8") (7.11), respectively. In the Texans' 4-3 front, Williams would be asked to play primarily a one-gap system. During his with with Louisiana Tech, he thrived when manning just one hole. In the final two years, he recorded 104 tackles, 19 tackles for losses and 10 sacks up the middle. UNC's Brown Could be Texans' Answer There's two sides to Williams when looking head on. The player side oozes production and promotes the possibility of All-Pro potential. The weigh-in side brings caution and concern on if his body can handle the inside pressure. Keep in Mind that Donald now is in a 3-4 front and has been playing the outside since 2017. In a thin defensive line class, Williams likely will be the most athletic player of the bunch. The size could have him slipping deeper into Friday evening. If the fall continues, Texans GM Nick Caserio can make it stop at No. 67. Scouting measurables: 6-3, 284 pounds, 31.5-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands, 4.63 40 time, 38.5-inch vertical jump, 121-inch broad jump 34 bench-press reps. 2020 Stats: 10 games, 45 total tackles, 10 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, one fumble recovery. Scout Says: Putting his processing on display, Williams shows great timing to disengage and make tackles in the run game. His pad level is low for the most part, allowing him to win the leverage battle at the point of attack and uproot blockers. In the zone running game, he gets laterally well thanks to his athleticism and balance. When getting his hands inside, he can convert his get-off into power. Arriving at extension is crucial as he is unable to bench press opponents out of his frame and extend." - SI's NFL Draft Bible Quotable: "I knew that I was going to be the fastest defensive tackle in this draft class; no question about it. No defensive tackle anywhere was going to run faster than me. I broke the record three weeks ago, and I broke it again today. That's how confident I am in my work ethic, and I put that on display today." - Milton Williams following his pro day NFL Comparison: Mario Edwards Jr., Chicago Bears CONTINUE READING: Texans Lose NFL Draft Day With Loss of Second-Round Pick | https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/do-houston-texans-have-a-go-to-nfl-draft-pick-in-milton-williams |
Will Dolphins take a quarterback at No. 6? | Dolphins G.M. Chris Grier has done a masterful job of leveraging assets for more draft picks. He could have more moves to make. Or maybe hes already made his moves. Maybe, via the bang-bang trades from four weeks ago that resulted in the Dolphins moving from No. 3 to No. 12 and then to No. 6, the Dolphins still have their eyes on a quarterback. When news broke of the first trade, which saw the Dolphins drop from No. 3 to No. 12, many (me included) assumed that it meant they wont be taking a quarterback to potentially supplant Tua Tagovailoa. That perception didnt change when the Dolphins gave up a future first-round pick to jump back to No. 6. Maybe it should have. Maybe it still should. If the Dolphins have decided that Trey Lance and Justin Fields represent significant upgrades over Tagovailoa, one of them most likely will be available at No. 6. And the Dolphins surely know that. With the Bengals, who most likely wont trade out of the No. 5 spot (they never trade down), not taking a quarterback, at least one of those two quarterbacks will be available, with the worst-case scenario being that Mac Jones will be on the board if the 49ers take, for example, Fields and the Falcons then take Lance. Regardless, the presumption that the Dolphins are out of the quarterback market because they willingly gave up the third pick may not be entirely justified. At the end of the day, they could still get the guy they would have taken at No. 3, plus a free first-round and third-round pick. That ultimately may be the case, regardless of who they choose. When its all said and done, the Dolphins may be picking with the sixth selection the same guy they would have selected if theyd not traded the third pick. One of the benefits of keeping their cards close to the vest is that, if no one knows what they would have done at No. 3, they can always claim that they got the guy they would have taken. None of this means theyll be taking a quarterback at No. 6. The point is that it shouldnt be assumed that they wont, especially if they really like Fields and Lance and if theyve decided based on a year with Tua that the ceiling lands somewhere below franchise quarterback territory. In six days, well know the answer to a question that is far more fascinating than meets the eye. Will Dolphins take a quarterback at No. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-quarterback-no-6-144408834.html?src=rss |
Why have gender reveal parties traded cupcakes for explosives? | I miss the old days when new parents would send out a casual email. Hey, just to let you know, we are having a boy. Or, Hey, just to let you know, we are having a girl. Back then, there was zero chance of getting an email that read: Hey, just to let you know, the TNT was a big mistake, as was the Big Bertha howitzer from eBay. Anyway, the cops are here. Fire marshals are investigating. Do you know a good lawyer? I am so glad this bonkers trend of gender reveal parties arrived after my twin daughters were born. God knows if I wouldve felt peer pressure to set off a dirty bomb next to the hostas: Hey, thanks for coming and, just to let you know, its time to strap on your gas masks and radiation suits because we are having kaboom! Among last years AFP Pictures of The Year, there was a haunting image of a firefighter in California, a hose draped over his shoulders as hes battling apocalyptic flames. The partial caption: A firework at a gender reveal party triggered a wildfire in Southern California that has destroyed 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) and forced many residents to flee their homes Imagine a conga line at a wedding that accidentally triggers a tsunami. Or an earthquake, which is what many thought was happening this week in New Hampshire after a couple detonated 80 pounds of Tannerite to celebrate news they were having a boy. The explosion, according to an NBC affiliate, put cracks in home foundations, disrupted the clean water supply and could be heard from across the state line. Entire towns shook. As one local resident told the station: We heard this godawful blast. It knocked pictures off our walls Im all up for silliness and whatnot, but that was extreme. Yeah. The gender reveal party is now all about the extreme. Last month in Cancun, two people died when an airplane trailing pink contrails for the baby girl news suddenly nosedived into the sea. Previous gender party fatalities now include death by shrapnel and death by improvised device. In a recent story about the body count of these manic birth celebrations, Newsweek cited a February incident from Michigan in which, a couple fired a cannon at a baby shower, but accidentally killed one of their friends. Good lord. Baby showers should be about feigned enthusiasm and questionable finger foods. Thats it. As the mom-to-be rambles on sweetly and incoherently, unaware shes not going to get a good nights sleep for the next two years, all you should be doing is grinning and stealing glances at your watch. What you should absolutely not be doing is fretting about possibly meeting your maker after a merry mishap with 12th century artillery. I dont want to sound like an old man shaking his fist at the clouds, even though thats exactly what I am, but all of our cultural rituals are now totally out of whack. For example, when I was a kid, birthday parties involved chips, pop, hot dogs, games and a slab cake more toxic than a dirty bomb. It was awesome. Parents back then didnt feel any need to recreate The Falcon and The Winter Soldier or go viral on Instagram. But as social media has become the second-hand smoke of an entire generation, parents are now choking on the fumes of their own folly. Gender reveal parties started out innocently enough. New parents wheeled out blue or pink baked goods and everyone cheered. Or parents bought big helium balloons that, once popped, gave way to Trojan Horse streamers in the symbolic colours of male or female. What new parents did not do was succumb to extreme one-upmanship as guests ran for cover and the mushroom cloud spelled out boy or girl. Nobody cares about the gender of your baby. I mean, grandparents care. If you already have kids, they might also care, as is suggested by the YouTube library of Gender Reveal Party Fails in which distraught tykes have meltdowns over news of their impending siblings: I dont want a baby brother! They dont care! A gender reveal is not grounds to host a hare-brained party that possibly leads to an explosion, forest fire, earthquake, tsunami and fatalities. Its not. The sex of your baby is about as exciting as your views on Shakespeare. Nobody cares. If you want me to attend a party in which theres a risk I may be vapourized by a festive direct-energy weapon, your new bundle of joy better be capable of terraforming or interdimensional shape-shifting. Ill take that risk. Boy or girl doesnt cut it. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... When this pandemic is over, we should rethink all of our cultural rituals. All of them. And banning gender reveal parties would be a good start. | https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/opinion/2021/04/23/why-have-gender-reveal-parties-traded-cupcakes-for-explosives.html |
Is the state right to now require cities and towns with MBTA stations to allow multifamily housing nearby? | Andrew DeFranza Leise Jones As a nonprofit affordable housing developer on the North Shore, Im thrilled the state is now requiring communities to designate areas near transit for multifamily housing. Under a newly enacted state law, communities hosting MBTA commuter rail or rapid transit stations are required in their zoning to allow by right multifamily housing with a minimum of 15 homes per acre, in at least one district near the station. If the community has multiple stations, it would only need to have such a zoning district near one of the stations to comply with the law. Advertisement Zoning is the greatest barrier my organization faces as we work to build homes for people who cant afford our areas rents and home prices. Often, we face years of long approval processes before shovels even hit the ground. This lengthy process not only hurts our most vulnerable neighbors, it limits our potential for economic growth, diversity, and a healthier environment. Local businesses are our economys backbone. Current local land use policies restrict development, resulting in escalating home prices that force employees and customers alike to live farther from those businesses. Multifamily housing near transit and town centers is vital to meeting our workforces housing needs and ensuring people dont spend hours in traffic commuting to work or running errands. The new zoning requirement also puts meaningful action behind our Black Lives Matter signs. It removes a barrier that limits access to education, a clean environment, and employment, and can help enable people to live in the communities they choose. Walkable neighborhoods with access to transit reduces our reliance on cars and preserves our beautiful open spaces. Lets make it possible for people to live in places where they can walk, bike, or access transit to get to work, shop at local businesses, and enjoy parks. Advertisement Multifamily housing near transit is also a simple matter of fairness. Substantial tax-funded investment in transit has enhanced the quality of life for residents who live near stations, and raised property values in those neighborhoods. But these are public-funded infrastructure improvements, so all taxpayers should share in their benefits. As we look to a brighter post-COVID future, this new law will move us forward as a Commonwealth, creating new opportunities to strengthen our economy, advance racial equity, develop more sustainably, and maximize our state investments. NO Shawn C. Dooley State Representative, Norfolk Republican Shawn C. Dooley Eric Levin Lets be honest, this move is nothing more than a ploy by big developers to maximize profits and run roughshod over local zoning with little respect for the community. The argument that this is an essential step to help those in search of an affordable home is disingenuous at best. For the last several decades, developers have forced this narrative time and again under the guise of the affordable housing law, Chapter 40B, with scarce regard for anything but their bottom line. Since this path is often messy and expensive, those who are trying to pave paradise came up with this scheme to make a few extra dollars at the expense of silencing the voice of the citizenry. Why our state government wants to take away the rights of municipalities to govern themselves baffles me. This is not akin to historical zoning legislation where there was a need to prevent the tony suburbs from redlining. This move forces communities to change their zoning simply based on the presence of a T station. Building an entire statewide mandate around a transit system that pre-pandemic was, at best, inefficient and now (with the rise of remote working) increasingly unused, proves this change is not needed. Advertisement Lets explore what will happen if this law goes into effect. Existing housing and retail surrounding T stations will begin to be knocked down and parking lots taken over as massive developments rise up, dominating our neighborhoods. Traffic will increase around these already congested areas, schools and other local services will see an unchecked increase in expenses, and a strain on a weakened infrastructure will only further exacerbate the situation. All without any input from the community as these developments will be allowed by right. Every community is different and every neighborhood has unique needs and character. Let us respect the fact that the people know what is needed and allow them to control their towns destiny. One size certainly does not fit all. As told to Globe correspondent John Laidler. To suggest a topic, please contact [email protected]. This is not a scientific survey. Please only vote once. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/23/metro/is-state-right-now-require-cities-towns-with-mbta-stations-allow-multifamily-housing-nearby/ |
Does Massachusetts have one of the strictest mask mandates in the country? | Massachusetts is among 26 states that currently have statewide mask mandates in place, according to the AARP . The current measure requires people to wear face coverings in public both indoors or outdoors, regardless of whether they can stay 6 feet away from others. With COVID-19 cases declining in some states and vaccinations ramping up, a number of states are rolling back restrictions on businesses and mask mandates implemented at the pandemics peak to help stop the spread of the virus. Advertisement A review of the measures in other states found that mask-wearing requirements vary. Last week, New Hampshire joined more than a dozen other states that have lifted mask mandates, and other New England states like Connecticut and Rhode Island have announced plans to drop outdoor mask-wearing requirements next month. Meanwhile those in Colorado and West Virginia currently dont need to wear masks outside. Colorado also has an indoor mask-wearing requirement specific to individual communities COVID-19 infection rates. But Massachusetts is among the strictest in the nation because the state requires face coverings when outdoors, even when people are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. The current mandate has been in place since November, when the winter surge was ramping up. It tightened a mandate implemented at the start of the pandemic last March that required people to wear masks only when they couldnt social distance. The state is not alone in implementing this requirement. The masking requirements in Maine and New Mexico appear to be similar to those in Massachusetts, according to language on those states COVID-19 websites. In Maine, people are required to wear face coverings in public settings regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance, and New Mexicos Department of Public Health advises that everyone is required to wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public except when drinking, eating, or under medical instruction. Advertisement Most states with mask mandates do require masks while outdoors, but note that residents are exempt from wearing masks outside when they are able to maintain 6 feet of social distance. California, Hawaii, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont are among the states with guidance that explicitly states people can remove masks outdoors if they are able to distance. Currently, Rhode Island requires people to wear masks in public spaces, but Governor Dan McKee announced Thursday that as of May 7, residents will be able to forego wearing masks while outdoors. And in Connecticut, the mask mandate will be indoors only on May 19. Some states, like Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee never had statewide mask mandates, while others, like Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota and Texas, had the requirements in place at one point during the pandemic, but the measures have since been lifted. Governor Charlie Baker said last week that he had no immediate plans to change the states mask mandate, even as neighboring statesannounced relaxed measures. But Baker told reporters on Thursday that he may have some stuff to say before the end of April in regards to COVID-19 measures in the state. Advertisement For now, people need to continue to follow the rules and guidance, he added. After Texas and Mississippi announced last month that they would remove mask mandates in the states, President Biden denounced the moves as Neanderthal thinking, and the chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to continue to wear masks regardless of states individual measures. I will also note that, you know, every individual has the power to do the right thing here, regardless of what the states decide, for personal health, for public health, for the health of their loved ones, and communities, CDC chief Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 task force briefing in early March. I would still encourage individuals to wear masks, to socially distance, and to do the right thing to protect their own health. The CDCs current guidance on masks says that wearing them may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with people who live in your household, but noting that some areas may have more strict mask mandates. Public health experts are debating whether masks should be required while people are outdoors. Data show COVID-19 is most transmissible in indoor, poorly ventilated spaces. In an appearance on The Today Show on Thursday, Walensky said the agency is considering updating its guidance on outdoor mask-wearing. This is a question that were looking at, Walensky said about whether people need to wear masks while they are outside and not near others, while noting that the country is still experiencing thousands of new daily infections and hundreds of new daily deaths. Advertisement We will be looking at the outdoor masking question but its also in the context of the fact that we still have people who are dying of COVID, she said. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said on Twitter on Sunday that he thinks outdoor masking mandates will be lifted in more states because outdoor infections are rare and occur when large groups gather in packed spaces, such as rallies. I think its pretty safe to be out and about walking around without a mask, especially in large parts of the country where infection numbers are under reasonable control, Jha said on CNN earlier that day. Indoors, of course, is where most of the infections happen so that needs to remain for a while longer. But I think we really do have to look at outdoor activity and see it as largely a safe thing, unless you have congregations of large numbers of people together for long periods of time, he said. Martin Finucane of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Amanda Kaufman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @amandakauf1. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/23/nation/does-massachusetts-have-one-strictest-mask-mandates-country/ |
What Does the Coinbase IPO Mean For Traders and Investors? | Coinbase went public last week, marking the debut of the first U.S.-listed digital currency exchange platform. Before its IPO, it was indicated at $380 and ultimately saw its first print at $381. Putting that into perspective, the original reference price for the cryptocurrency stock was $250. Compared to when the Bitcoin pandemonium swept the market in 2018, things are much different right now. While digital currencies have been around for quite some time, Bitcoin has always been seen as the "underdog" and a form of payment only used by illicit "business" owners. But the original ethos of crypto is based on getting rid of the middleman and making payment transactions quicker, and in many cases, more transparent thanks to blockchain technology. This year has certainly seen a lot of firsts other than the COIN IPO. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have also grown in popularity, leaving some investors scratching their heads. We're talking about original digital creations with current bids north of $1 million. But if you understand the digital ecosystem's premise, you'll start to understand what's driving love for digital art and trading cards. In my opinion, the only side you should choose is the one that can make you the most money. In this light, diversification is important right now. What's more, having a proper understanding of how trading works and how to actually become diversified is paramount. You've got to be able to make money in multiple asset classes. Certain sectors will be hot and cold at different times, and being able to capitalize is the ultimate goal. Staying diverse and sticking to a strategy is easier said than done, especially when there's so much hype surrounding both markets right now. Whether you're day trading stocks or looking to start investing in cryptocurrencies, staying diverse and developing a real strategy is more important than whatever the flavor of the day is in crypto or stocks. When Coinbase went public, it didn't necessarily change the digital broker's status among crypto traders. We've seen a lot happen over the last four years, with the cryptocurrency industry going through plenty of volatile times. We've seen the crypto crash, dark web marketplaces getting shut down and plenty of scammy bitcoin mining companies closing up shop, leaving millions in lost funds in its wake. But now, the Coinbase IPO could mark a tipping point for cryptocurrency and bring that stamp of approval so many early investors have wanted. The next wave for digital everything Things like cryptocurrency penny stocks remain a hot topic among retail traders. If you look at some of the lesser-known names from last year, their share prices have skyrocketed. Companies like Marathon Patent Group and even Grayscale Bitcoin Trust traded around or below the $5 mark. While there are still plenty of high-flying names that will surely come to light in the stock market, Coinbase has done something that not many other IPOs have done. It has bridged the gap between currency traders and traditional stock traders, and where there's money to be made, people will find a way to capitalize. Related: Cryptocurrencies Will Have Their 'Amazon Moment' After Coinbase Debuts on the Stock Market, Analyst Projects The beginning of the beginning Now, the world of crypto is being put front and center, with some of the biggest money managers in the world watching. As they wait in the wings and monitor the first iteration of the "digitization coming of age," other early adopters are still expecting plenty more evolution ahead, thanks to this latest IPO. This platform remains in its infancy as many new applications are being discovered, developed and implemented. The application in things like NFTs, for example, has become just one of these new ways a DeFi solution has been utilized. Right now, the Coinbase IPO has shaken up both sides of this "coin," and it will surely be something to watch for as it relates to further disruption in the world of investing as time goes on. Related: Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) IPO: 3 Things for Investors to Know | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/does-coinbase-ipo-mean-traders-210000738.html |
Can A Low Energy Smart Bulb Help Consumers Make Smarter Energy Choices? | 23 April 2021, Hessen, Schneck: The sun rises behind wind turbines. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa ... [+] (Photo by Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images) dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images On the heels of Earth Day, National Grid in the UK released new research showing that 38% of UK adults feel worry about the future of the planet and feel a sense of hopelessness about climate change. This data was juxtaposed alongside data that also indicated that 42% of Britons think that only only 10% of the UKs electricity is supplied by zero and low carbon energy sources when the actual figure is 80%. According to the National Grid survey, half said they would feel more hopeful if they understood the steps Britain was taking towards reaching net zero and two out of five five said the want to know the best time ofday to use clean electricity According to Duncan Burt, COP26 Director for National Grid Group, the company as launched Green Light Signal which is a new low-energy smart bulb that shows people the cleanest times to use electricity. The smart bulb is powered by National Grids carbon intensity API that is a forecasting tool with a regional breakdown, The API was built by National Grid ESO, World Wildlife Foundation, The University of Oxford and The European Defence Fund. Bart says smart bulb is part of ther initiative to engage the public on how people can make informed choices regarding their energy usage and to raise awareness on the progress that is being made to cut carbon emissions from the electricity system. Our research found that 70% of Brits believe that individual efforts to save electricity and use greener energy sources can make a difference in the fight against climate change but many dont know how they can help, which is fuelling hopelessness, said Bart. The bulb is a simple tool will glow green when the electricity in your local area is coming from clean energy sources, said Bart. The green glow will help consumers plan energy intensive activities such as doing the laundry at a time you know is better for the environment and feel positive about the progress that is being made towards clean energy. Bart believes that if consumers know that their actions are supported by larger system changes [..] everyone can make a difference. Bart says the company welcomes the ambitious targets by the UK government on 20 April that aims to cut cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. this week. Promoting and spreading understanding into what is being done is key, as we need both big actions and small to make a difference, said Bart. COP26 is also a unique opportunity for us to drive more ambitious change towards that clean energy future in the UK, north eastern US and internationally and show that achieving net zero is possible with the technologies and opportunities we have today. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2021/04/23/can-a-low-energy-smart-bulb-help-consumers-make-smarter-energy-choices/ |
Who can beat Andrew Yang? | Presented by Gilead Sciences, Inc. With help from Renuka Rayasam BREAKING TONIGHT A federal vaccine advisory panel today recommended the use of Johnson & Johnsons Covid-19 vaccine for people 18 and over, more than a week after the Biden administration called its use to be paused over a potential link to rare and severe blood clots. New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang speaks to members of the media along Canal Street in Chinatown. | Getty Images THE NON-YANG GANG People outside of New York City could be forgiven for thinking Andrew Yang is the only person running for mayor. The former presidential candidate and tech entrepreneur is ahead in all the early polls and has sucked up a ton of the oxygen in the race thus far. But there are seven other viable candidates competing for the Democratic nod in the June 22 primary and much of the campaign money has yet to be spent on TV and mailers. So while Yang is the clear frontrunner at 22 percent per a recent NY1/Ipsos poll, roughly 26 percent of voters are still undecided. If the last competitive primary in 2013 is any indication, its still too early to tell who will come out on top. Love or hate NYC, this is the most interesting election this year in America and the winner tends to have a national profile that all but a handful of politicians would envy (even if the office has been more curse than blessing for people with national aspirations; see Giuliani, Bloomberg, de Blasio). Heres who is best positioned to overtake Yang and how theyre maneuvering politically in the crowded primary. Leading the pack is Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who came in at 13 percent according to the latest polling. A Black former NYPD captain and New York state senator, Adams has raised close to $9 million one of the biggest hauls in the race and has yet to spend much of it. Adams is running a more conservative campaign focused on public safety. City Comptroller Scott Stringer is closing in on Adams for second place at 11 percent. The career politician has a comparable war-chest to Adams and has won the backing of younger progressive leaders in New York. The remaining five are battling it out in the single digits. Former City Hall attorney and MSNBC legal analyst Maya Wiley is looking to become the first Black woman mayor of New York. Shes gained some key labor support and political endorsements. Former Citigroup exec Ray McGuire is campaigning on his rags-to-riches story, coming from poverty to become a powerful Black leader on Wall Street. McGuire has been pounding the airwaves but still polled fourth in the recent survey at six percent. Shaun Donovan, the former HUD secretary and OMB director under President Barack Obama, is running on his extensive government experience. Donovan also came in at six percent in the NY1/Ipsos poll. Not far behind them are Dianne Morales and Kathryn Garcia. Morales, a former nonprofit CEO, is running as an unapologetic leftist who would cut the NYPD budget in half. She would be the first Afro-Latina mayor of New York. And Garcia, another possibility to be the first woman mayor, has the most city management experience of anyone. Shes running on her track record as the sanitation commissioner, interim head of the city housing authority, Covid-19 food czar and former executive at the citys Department of Environmental Protection. Adding to the uncertainty of the race is the citywide debut of ranked-choice voting, where voters rank five primary candidates in order of preference. The primary is also being held in June rather than September after a change in state law in 2019, cutting off the crucial summer campaign season as the city is just now emerging from lockdown. So while Yangs the person to beat, the math doesnt add up just yet to him landing in Gracie Mansion. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Were eager to head into the weekend, though maybe not as eager as health care reporter Sarah Owermohles cat was to join her on TV. Reach out with news, tips and ideas for us at [email protected] and [email protected], or on Twitter at @Giambusso and @renurayasam. A message from Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Known to keep pushing. Decades of discovery lie behind every breakthrough. From HIV to viral hepatitis to todays battle with COVID-19, Gilead scientists have been pushing boundaries for over 30 years. So that we can bring tomorrows life-changing therapies forward today. To know more, visit Gilead.com. First In Nightly SURPRISE! ITS A LOBBYING CAMPAIGN! A lobbying onslaught from the health care industry nearly stopped Congress from passing a nationwide ban on surprise medical bills last year. Now, the same powerful groups are racing to sway federal agencies tasked with making the new law work with billions of dollars and promised patient protections on the line, health care reporter Susannah Luthi writes. Health groups and consumer advocates are mounting a lobbying campaign to shape forthcoming federal rules around the ban, which bars hospitals and doctors from sending unexpected, usually large bills to insured patients who unwittingly received out-of-network care. While the practice was widely condemned by Democrats and Republicans, health groups fought bitterly during the laws drafting over who would pick up the costs they could no longer bill to patients. The legislation, passed as part of the year-end spending deal and hailed as a critical consumer protection, charged the Biden administration with hammering out many of the complicated and politically fraught details of how to shield patients from the surprise bills. The outcome will provide an early sign of how aggressively the Biden administration will regulate an industry thats readying battle against Democrats more ambitious health care reforms, including on drug pricing and lowering the Medicare age. The groups that have begun lobbying the administration include large hospital systems and health insurers, major trade associations, air ambulance companies and private equity-backed physician staffing firms, including at least one that was connected to a successful dark-money effort that poured tens of millions of dollars into killing an earlier surprise billing fix opposed by health care providers. Groups have already spent heavily on lobbying and are expected to soon intensify their efforts, putting patient advocates on high alert over whether the new protections could be watered down during the rulemaking process and leave consumers still vulnerable to unexpectedly large bills. AROUND THE WORLD THE BIDEN APPROACH In June, Biden will make his first overseas trip to Cornwall, England, and then onto Brussels, where he will meet with EU leaders and attend a NATO meeting. But first Biden looks poised to upset a NATO ally, Turkey, by declaring the early 20th century massacre of Armenians a genocide, keeping a campaign promise he made a year ago. Nightlys Renuka Rayasam chatted with foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi about what we know so far about Bidens approach to allies and adversaries. This conversation has been edited. Yes. Its a big deal. It will likely deepen the growing rift between the United States and Turkey, which denies a genocide occurred. Turkey is a NATO ally in a very sensitive part of the world, and damaging our relationship with them isnt going to be ideal. In the past, presidents have decided its not worth angering Turkey by using the term genocide when it comes to what happened to the Armenians. Turkey could in theory kick the U.S. out of an airbase called Incirlik. It could use its military and other assets to cause problems in places like Syria. It could stop cooperation on other fronts, like fighting terrorism. Im guessing Bidens calculation is now different than his predecessors, though President Ronald Reagan did use the word in reference to Armenians at least once. Well, he can say he kept a promise. He can escape charges of hypocrisy, especially given his insistence that he cares about human rights. He also can show hes not going to be bullied around by Turkey and its president. One caveat, though: I wont believe that Biden does this until he really does it. Other presidents have promised to use the g word and havent. And even if he does use it, the context in which he uses it will matter. Watch for those nuances. Its a mixed bag. Certainly, Biden and his team have made efforts to reach out to and coordinate with traditional allies, like those in Europe or in Japan and South Korea. Hes heading to Europe. Well, Britain and Europe. LOL. But hes also said hes willing to cooperate with adversaries on issues of common interest, like climate change. What really strikes me as interesting is how despite all of Bidens claims that he cares about human rights and democracy they havent stopped trying to stay friendly with a number of countries, like Egypt, that are run by dictators with horrific human rights records. In some cases, the administration seems to have calculated its not worth losing those partners. Caitlyn Jenner running for California governor: The former Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon turned TV star and activist is officially running for governor in California. Her entry puts a Hollywood-sized spotlight on the GOP-led effort to eject Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office complicating his path, firing up social media and raising questions about just how much of a circus-like atmosphere will dominate the election to determine who will lead the worlds fifth-largest economy. U.S. military sends reinforcements ahead of Afghanistan drawdown: The U.S. military is boosting its presence in Afghanistan and the Middle East region for security purposes ahead of beginning a full withdrawal, the Pentagon announced today. Demings seriously considering challenging DeSantis or Rubio: Florida Rep. Val Demings said shes seriously considering a statewide bid against Sen. Marco Rubio or Gov. Ron DeSantis, boosting Democratic hopes in a battleground state thats growing increasingly red. Demings, a former Orlando police chief, rose to national prominence as a House impeachment manager and as a possible running mate for Joe Biden last year. Your select, lightly edited responses are below: I feel more authentic. A year with little outside influence on how I spend my time and present myself has led me down some weird paths with hair, hobbies, clothes and personality. I feel more comfortable in who I am, which has the added benefit of aiding in my journey to sobriety. Last drink was our last day in the office, and Im hoping I wont need that social crutch anymore when life picks back up, and Ill feel more confident existing as I am. Megan Cowher, project operations analyst, New York City I know I will never take certain things for granted again. From the big things, such as seeing loved ones at gatherings, to the small things that include just sitting at a coffee shop and watching people go by. I know now that I will forever be thankful for those moments when I experience them going forward. Tristan Fitzpatrick, communications, Arlington, Va. I dont know how many people will say this, but I have not changed at all. I am exactly the same person I was before all of this started, except for the fact that I have washed my hands more often during that period than probably during my entire life before them. (Im 60.) Other than that, same old me. Karlis Streips, journalist, Chicago Much more conscious of social interactions, even remote ones (either over Zoom or socially distant), that I mostly took for granted before Covid. Will work hard to maintain them when the pandemic is over. David Liebschutz, professor and executive coach, Delmar, N.Y. Ive decided Ill wear a mask when Im out in crowds during flu seasons in the future. Janis Taylor, retired, Iowa City, Iowa PUNCHLINES A WEEK THAT COULD USE SOME LEVITY Brooke Minters takes us through the latest in political satire and cartoons in the Weekend Wrap, focusing mostly on the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial and the global climate summit. Nightly Number 24 days The number of days of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys hunger strike. Navalny said he is ending his hunger strike after getting medical attention and being warned by his doctors that continuing it would put his life at risk. Parting Words ITS BEEN, ONE YEAR One year ago today, President Donald Trump took to the White House briefing room and encouraged his top health officials to study the injection of bleach into the human body as a means of fighting Covid. It was a watershed moment, soon to become iconic in the annals of presidential briefings. It arguably changed the course of political history, Meridith McGraw and Sam Stein write. Some ex-Trump aides say they dont even think about that day as the wildest they experienced with the conceit that there were simply too many others. But for those there, it was instantly shocking, even by Trump standards. It quickly came to symbolize the chaotic essence of his presidency and his handling of the pandemic. Twelve months later, with the pandemic still lingering and a U.S. death toll nearing 570,000, it still does. For me, it was the craziest and most surreal moment I had ever witnessed in a presidential press conference, said ABCs chief Washington correspondent Jon Karl, who was the first reporter at the briefing to question Trumps musings about bleach. A message from Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Decades of discovery lie behind every breakthrough. For more than 30 years, Gilead scientists have been pushing the boundaries of whats possible. Weve worked to advance the science that has unlocked therapeutics for HIV, viral hepatitis, and even COVID-19. Today, Gilead therapeutics are at work, effectively providing treatment for millions. But were not stopping any time soon. Were committed to the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery. To keep pushing to the next goal. To bring tomorrows life-changing therapies forward today. And then reach farther. To learn more, visit Gilead.com. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter Renuka Rayasam @renurayasam Chris Suellentrop @suellentrop Tyler Weyant @tweyant Myah Ward @myahward | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2021/04/23/who-can-beat-andrew-yang-492570 |
What does new Hornets lineup tell us about Borregos direction to finish out season? | Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego is going back to small-ball with his starting lineup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and also putting more experience on the floor. Borrego said his starters Friday would be P.J. Washington at center, Miles Bridges at power forward, Cody Martin at small forward and Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham at the guard spots. That means rookie Vernon Carey is out as starting center and Jalen McDaniels goes to the second unit at small forward. The Hornets have lost six of their last seven games entering this match-up with the Cavs. With LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Malik Monk still out with injuries, the Hornets have plummeted offensively. They are last in the NBA in scoring over the past 14 games (a 102.6 points-per-game average) and are 28th among 30 teams in field-goal percentage (44.1%) in that same span. Going small, with the 6-foot-7 Washington starting at center, helps offensively. Also, starting Martin puts the Hornets best perimeter defender in the starting unit. The Hornets have dropped in the Eastern Conference standings from fourth to eighth over the past two weeks, and are no longer a cinch to at least qualify for the play-in tournament, for the 7th- through 10th-best records in each conference. Borrego said in this situation -- with 14 games left in a playoff race -- he will lean toward experience over development. There are guys who have been here before, who have tasted this moment. Im probably going to move in that direction right now, Borrego said. Borrego started using a smaller front-court -- with Washington at center and Bridges as a starter -- more extensively before Washington missed two games with an ankle sprain. Initially after the injury, Washington played off the bench, but was getting starters minutes, mostly at center. This new starting lineup could be the norm at least until Ball and Monk recover. Hayward figures to be the last of the three to return. Playing two 6-7 players at center and power forward is problematic in some match-ups, but Borrego is leaning to that as generally his best option for now. Story continues It gives us our best chance to score. and bringing Cody Martin (into the starters) helps us defensively, Borrego said. Weve seen success with the small lineup...Now, I need to go back to this group and see what we have here. Updating LaMelo Balls recovery Balls cast was removed Tuesday, and a CT scan showed his fractured right wrist has healed. The last step is Ball regaining sufficient flexibility in his hand, after a month of inactivity, to be ruled ready to play. From Day 1 to where hes at today, hes made a significant jump, Borrego said. We still need to figure that out over the next week or so, where hes at. But Im seeing progress. There are no setbacks. Vernon Careys role this season Rookie Carey had a spectacular debut as an NBA starter, scoring 21 points against the Brooklyn Nets April 16. He started the following three games, but totaled only 25 minutes in those games -- all losses. Carey had some foul issues, as the Hornets figure out how to use him best defensively. Borrego said he doesnt plan to bury Carey on the bench, but it also sounds like Borrego will lean toward the experience of Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo for reserve center minutes. It doesnt mean Vern is out of the rotation, but Ill take a look at the bigs who have been here, Borrego said. Borrego said hes asked players with minimal NBA experience to play bigger roles lately than they were probably ready to handle. Were asking guys who were out of the rotation to go make plays for us. And make shots for us. And not just for one quarter, for 48 minutes. Borrego said. Weve got guys that were not in the rotation at all playing significant minutes, asking them to make plays over and over again. | https://sports.yahoo.com/charlotte-hornets-starting-lineup-tips-232910126.html?src=rss |
Can the NDP attract young voters in next election with #eattherich? | How much of the social media content is posted by Singh and how much is by his team depends on the platform Photo by Courtesy NDP Article content The federal NDP are heading into the next election betting their strategy to target the ultra-rich will resonate with younger voters. But whether Millennial and Gen Zs online posts to abolish billionaires will translate into votes remains to be seen. A part of that game plan to target youth rests on social media and leader Jagmeet Singh himself, whose embrace of TikTok grabbed attention in the last election campaign, and who has been using the video platform and its memes since to promote his partys ideas. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video Singh said in an interview the NDP is working on building a big team around social media. People want to be reached out to and spoken to where they are, and young people are on social media, and they are frustrated with the injustice going on, he said. Singh said he took it as a personal initiative to double down on social media as a way to reach voters. The effort extends to other platforms popular with younger Canadians. In November, he streamed a game of Among Us with U.S. congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitch. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content How much of the social media content is posted by Singh and how much is by his team depends on the platform. Singh said he is behind most of his TikTok videos, since its a platform I really understand. Its also a platform where hashtags like #eattherich and #abolishbillionaires proliferate, and those posters and viewers would seem to be receptive to the NDPs policies. No, it's out to crush the NDP and shame Conservatives John Ivison: Preposterous NDP policy resolutions suggest the inmates are taking over At its policy convention two weeks ago, the party voted in favour of a marginal tax rate of 80 per cent for personal incomes over $1 million, a one per cent tax on fortunes over $20 million, and a tax on pandemic and disaster excess profit. Singhs line of attack on the Liberals has been to paint the party as being in bed with billionaires, in contrast to the NDP, which would make the ultra-rich pay their fair share. To what extent hashtags translate into political support isnt exactly quantifiable, but that kind of messaging is more likely to resonate with younger voters, pollsters say. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content I wish we had specific data saying X per cent of young Canadians say eat the rich, said Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl. There is a trend where younger people are definitely though not exclusively of the view that either increasing taxes on high-income earners, like $250K-plus, or on corporations or on businesses, is the way to pay for things, she said. These types of eat-the-rich statements have always been popular with youth, noted Christian Bourque, executive vice-president at Leger. But what is new is that younger Canadians are more concerned about fairness, he said. I believe that the way people frame this issue of the ultra-rich needs to be about some form of fairness, he said, giving the example of the governments recent Air Canada bailout that caps compensation for executives. Singh said the notion of making the ultra-wealthy pay resonates among all voters, but youth are more open to it because theyre facing a more difficult reality than their parents did. These types of eat-the-rich statements have always been popular with youth They are the first generation ever that has less opportunities than the previous generation, he said. They saw their parents be able to buy homes and have jobs that supported families and now young people dont have that same opportunity, given how much housing costs have increased in proportion to income, he said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content There is very clearly an extra burden on young people, that theyre feeling that the system is really rigged. Theyre feeling even more frustrated, so young people are certainly even more open to this message, because theyre feeling the impact in their lives right now, that this rigged system means that they cant find a good job that will help them earn a good living, start a family, find a place to live. Singh noted Millenials and younger voters make up a large portion of the electorate and said they could make history in the next election. I see the frustration that theyre feeling. I see how engaged they are politically, how engaged they are on social media platforms, and how engaged they have been in organizing big protests in real life, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a role, Kurl said. She noted it has stressed younger Canadians in a way that it hasnt necessarily stressed older Canadians. One of the reasons the NDP plans to double its campaign spending in the next election is Singhs polling numbers. Mainstreet Research president Quito Maggi said Singhs performance in the last election, in which he came across as authentic and likeable, is the reason the party didnt get nearly wiped out. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Of course, things could shift. The Liberal government outlined more than $100 billion in new spending in this weeks federal budget, which extends pandemic supports and includes a promise to implement $10-a-day child care. I see how engaged they are politically, how engaged they are on social media platforms A post-budget Leger poll also found voter intention for the Liberals and Conservatives remained the same, while the NDPs inched up from 18 to 19 per cent. But Maggi noted, the budget would appear to address most of those economic anxieties that could increase support for those NDP policies. The next election will also come at a time when younger voters may be less enamoured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Young people havent completely abandoned Justin Trudeau but, hes not the bright young thing that he was six years ago, Kurl said. Jagmeet Singh does have appeal among young voters. Bourque said there are opportunities for the NDP to target that demographic, given that the Conservatives are in trouble with younger voters in Canada, and Trudeau no longer has that newness and freshness element he did in 2015. But while there is an opening for the NDP, that spot could also get taken up by the Green Party, he warned. Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Posted Newsletter Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Posted Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/can-the-ndp-attract-young-voters-in-next-election-with-eattherich |
Is it cultural appropriation, or merely great artists using their imagination? | Publishing historically has been an industry run by white men promoting the work of other white men. Bernays herself states that in the 1970s, she submitted a book about a male protagonist under a pseudonym with initials, and the publisher assumed she was male. She uses this as an example that she was able to write a male character authentically, and therefore, so too can any skilled writer take on a life unlike their own. Where do I send the check? In her op-ed Throw Shakespeare from the train (Opinion, April 16), Anne Bernays is really missing the point. Each of the four authors she lists in the opening, from Herman Melville to J.D. Salinger, who wrote works different from their own experience, and about which no one made a fuss, arent just all white they are all white men. This isnt just about authenticity its about representation. Its about giving a voice to people who historically havent gotten these opportunities because either white people were already writing their stories, or because white people making the decisions didnt believe that anyone wanted to hear their stories. Publishing has a long way to go not just in championing stories about non-white characters but also in hiring writers and editors of color. Advertisement Lucy Keating Watertown Good for writers to stretch, as long as they dont take up all the space I agree with Anne Bernays (Throw Shakespeare from the train) that the mission of writers is to delve into their imagination and create interesting stories about all types of people. Writers are certainly capable of depicting lives quite different from their own. We would have missed out on many valuable and unique narratives if writers had not stretched the boundaries of their worlds to portray all manner of people and points of view. Advertisement The issue of cultural appropriation arises when books by white authors who explore cultures other than their own get published while talented multicultural writers who address their own experiences are passed over for publication. This state of affairs is gradually changing; there are plenty of eager readers of all sorts of narratives in this world, as long as we all respect each other and offer equal opportunity for expression. Robin Stein Newtonville Critics of Styrons Nat Turner novel have a point in fact, many points We are puzzled by Anne Bernayss nearly hysterical defense of appropriation by authors. At the center of her complaint is a heavy-handed and erroneous rant against critics of William Styrons 1967 novel The Confessions of Nat Turner. She argues that their opposition, based on the idea that only Black writers could know what a slave would have felt, was loathsome. She added the adjective pernicious. In fact, Styrons misappropriation of this historical figure was criticized because it perverted the clear-headed rebel found in the 1831 Confessions of Nat Turner, transcribed by lawyer Thomas Gray. It differed significantly from Styrons own historical look at the Turner story in his 1965 essay This Quiet Dust. And it conflicted with Bernayss trust that fiction writers rely upon better-than-average knowledge of how the human psyche operates. This platitude does not tell us anything about Styrons understanding of Turners psyche. Styrons novel begins and ends outside American history with his Nat Turner dreaming of a mysterious temple-like structure of pure whiteness and, more basely, a final dream satisfying both spiritual and physical needs of sexual and intellectual fulfillment freely given by a white girl. Advertisement We submit that Styrons was a pernicious text in 1967, and Bernayss defense may be even more pernicious in 2021. Allan D. Austin Amherst Paul M. Wright Boston Austin is a professor emeritus of English and Black studies at Springfield College, and Wright is a retired editor at the University of Massachusetts Press. The examination of cultural appropriation, which seeks to distinguish, among other nuances, appropriation from cultural exchange or appreciation, represents a much-needed disruption of white hegemony over the monetized presentation of Asian, African, South American, and Indigenous cultures, histories, and art in the Western world. The critique of cultural appropriation is not, as Anne Bernays would have it in the caricatured version she paints in her op-ed, requiring that Winnie the Pooh be written by a stuffed bear or Alice in Wonderland be penned by a prepubescent girl. Rather, fighting against cultural appropriation is fighting for racial equity and representation as well as authenticity. Asking whether a work by an artist appropriates anothers culture opens doors and listens to the voices of artists from that other culture. Bernayss failure to acknowledge racial inequities in the arts highlights the necessity of continuing the demand for equitable representation inherent in the critique of cultural appropriation. Advertisement Vivian Tseng Concord Liberal excesses can go too far This is the first letter to the editor in my life for this 73-year-old retiree. I would like to applaud the Anne Bernays op-ed Throw Shakespeare from the Train decrying the modern concern with appropriation. While reading, I found myself nodding and muttering, You go girl under my breath. I was unhappy when I read that poet Amanda Gormans Catalan translator was dumped because, he presumed, he was not a young Black woman. Bernays deftly skewered the thinking behind that decision by the publisher. I consider myself a liberal, but I feel that many current liberal excesses are, well, excessive. Rick Barnes Acton Let those imaginations create freely, whoever the artists are Those who argue that you should write only what you have lived have no idea what the art and craft of fiction are. The greatest writers possess the gift of transporting imagination. The exercise of the imagination led us to the moon first, thanks to Jules Verne, long before we launched rockets, and then in reality. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has worked with science fiction writers. What would it look like? Advertisement Imagination, not cultural appropriation or personal experience, defines the great writer, actor, or musician. We all have an imagination. It is the gift born in childhood. Unfortunately, too many of us tuck it away as adults. I completely agree with Ann Bernays. Those who have the greatest imagination, and are unafraid to exercise it in their chosen art form, have every right, and even a responsibility, to do so. Marilyn R. Stern Pittsburgh The writer is a retired professor of literature and humanities at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Demands for cultural rectitude are often a one-way street I totally agree with Anne Bernays about the foolishness of requiring artists to share the background of their creations. What particularly bothers me is that this attitude is a one-way street. When, with Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda made a hip-hop version of the white Founding Fathers story and cast actors of color, instead of criticism that as a Latino creator he couldnt understand the Founders experiences, his production was hailed as groundbreaking. Its called acting for a reason. Steven Brooks Whitman | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/24/opinion/is-it-cultural-appropriation-or-merely-an-artist-using-their-imagination/ |
How do I apply for an accessible parking permit? | For those with mobility issues, having an accessible parking permit for their vehicle makes it easier for them to park closer to stores, businesses or services they need to access. These spots are identified and are traditionally closer to main entrances or accessibility points, like ramps, and are wider than traditional parking spaces, which allows for more room to maneuver when getting in and out of a vehicle. The ServiceOntario website notes an accessible parking permit is issued to a person, not their vehicle. There are actually two types of permits, a P permit, where the holder can be a passenger only, or a P/D permit, where the holder can be a passenger or a driver. The permit must be displayed on the dashboard or the sun visor of the vehicle when it is parked, and only the person named on the permit can use it. It also needs to be renewed after a set amount of time. These cost-free permits are issued for a variety of health conditions, including the inability to walk without assistance (a cane, wheelchair or prosthetic lower limb are some examples), lung disease or the need for portable oxygen, some cardiovascular diseases, visibility limitations and other conditions that limit a persons ability to walk, like arthritis. There is a full list of health conditions on the ServiceOntario website. Applying for a permit has two parts. An application form, which can be obtained from a ServiceOntario location or downloaded from its website, has a section that needs to be completed by the applicant and one that is certified by their health care practitioner. The list of health professionals that can be used include physicians, chiropractors, occupational therapists and some registered nurse practitioners, among others. Permits can be issued for permanent and short-term disabilities. There are also permits for travelling outside the province, if you run a company or non-profit that transports people with disabilities, and for motorcycles, all of which have specific application processes. As mentioned, the permit is issued to a person, so their full legal name needs to appear on it. If the person dies, their health condition changes and they are no longer eligible, or if the information on the permit is incorrect, it needs to be returned to ServiceOntario within 30 days. Anyone caught using a permit registered to another person can face a fine of up to $5,000. | https://www.thestar.com/autos/advice/2021/04/24/how-do-i-apply-for-an-accessible-parking-permit.html |
Can our passion for pets help reset our relationship with nature? | It was the carefree summer of 2019, and I was on a beach in San Francisco surrounded by a thousand corgis. Sand is not the natural environment for dogs whose legs are only as long as ice lollies. But this was Corgi Con, possibly the worlds largest gathering of corgis. It was weird. It was glorious. There were corgis in baby harnesses and corgis under parasols. There were corgis dressed as a shark, a lifeguard, a snowman, a piata and Chewbacca from Star Wars (the latter two were overweight). There were stalls selling sunglasses and socks for dogs. I overheard two people considering whether to buy a corgi-emblazoned cushion, but decide against it on the basis that they already had one. If a Martian wanted to understand the depth of humans obsession with their pets the commoditisation of animals and the merging of our social lives with theirs Corgi Con would have been an ideal first stop. In California, such pet-wackiness is not unusual. San Franciscos newest doggy day care was charging up to $25,500 (18,500) a year, more than the state minimum wage. Google declared dogs an integral facet of our corporate culture. Marc Benioff, founder of software firm Salesforce, had appointed his golden retriever as the companys chief love officer. But pet worship is worldwide: the archbishop of Canterbury says that pets can go to heaven, while Japanese architects have designed a ramp to help dachshunds sunbathe alongside their owners. Our love for them is easily dismissed as frivolous or private. But in a way, its revolutionary. Our pets represent our closest ties to another species. If they can sensitise us, and make us care for other sentient beings, they could change the course of history. For the last two years, I have investigated how we treat other animals including working in an abattoir and a pig farm, and visiting fish markets and zoos. Pets are truly the exception. We push slaughterhouses to the back of our minds. We delay turning to the destruction of forests and coral reefs on which wild animals depend. Compare that with domestic dogs and cats, for which were always on emotional speed-dial. Pets are animals whose lives we value, whose emotions we appreciate and whose flesh we wouldnt dream of eating. Wild parrots often live in huge flocks, but as pets they are mostly kept alone. Wild blue-headed parrots in Trinidad. Photograph: CheSampson/Alamy Lockdown has seen a pet boom. Deprived of the company of other humans, we looked for the company of animals instead. Britains dog population exploded, rising by an estimated 2 million. There were complications. Soaring prices fuelled unscrupulous breeding and thefts. New owners found themselves unable to socialise their puppies in a time of social distancing. They struggled on, hoping that their pets would help their mental health, although therapy sessions might have been cheaper. Over a lifetime, a dog costs a minimum of 4,600 to 13,000, depending on size; care costs can take the total above 30,000, says animal charity PDSA. Americans pet spending has surpassed $100bn a year for the first time. Meanwhile, shelters are preparing for a wave of unwanted animals. Like many parents, I hoped that having a pet would help to teach my children about nature. I grew up with a terrier, which I fondly remember as the source of my internet passwords. We now have a cat, which generally lies on my laptop whenever I try to work. Yet I wonder if pet ownership is not a missed opportunity. We needed a new relationship with nature, instead we ended up with feline Instagram accounts. We love pets, yet accept factory farms and extinctions. The first stumbling block is that our love for pets is not as pure as we would like to think. Pet ownership is so ingrained that we rarely question its implications. But thats not the whole story. We have a perception that being owned is an inherently positive experience. I am not convinced it is Heather Bacon, University of Edinburgh By owning animals, we take control of their lives. We decide who they live with, when they socialise with others of the same species, and whether they can have offspring. Often we feed them into obesity. Often we decide when they die. The extent of our control only hits us belatedly: one colleague admitted that taking his dog to be neutered was some serious Handmaids Tale shit. In Chile, many dogs roam the streets in packs. They have more freedom, and perhaps more fun, than their pampered cousins. In Europe and North America, many pets arguably live in a form of lockdown: they are well fed and safely homed, but lack social interaction and autonomy. This lockdown lasts their whole lives. We love our pets deeply, we want them to be happy, but we struggle to know what they are thinking. (I generally assume my cat is judging our choice of furniture.) We also expect them to fit in with our schedules and needs. In reality, many rabbits dont want to be cuddled. Pet fish and tortoises probably dont value our company at all. Wild parrots often live in huge flocks, but as pets they are mostly kept alone; one study found that American owners spent only 15 minutes a day interacting with their parrots. Modern human societies may not be easy places to live: nearly three-quarters of dogs show at least one anxiety-related behaviour, such as sensitivity to loud noises. Theres some evidence that free-roaming street dogs, which have more control over their lives, are less excitable. We have a perception that being owned is an inherently positive experience. I am not convinced that it is, says Heather Bacon, an animal welfare expert at the University of Edinburgh. Theres some evidence free-roaming street dogs, which have more control over their lives, are less excitable. Stray dogs in Varanasi, India. Photograph: Jason Bazzano/Alamy What we love about dogs, in particular, is that they offer us unconditional love. Yet this has almost made us lazy about meeting their needs, Bacon says. Nowhere is this more evident than in breeding. Dogs were probably domesticated more than 20,000 years ago. Breeds, as we understand them today, have existed for under 200 years. They were standardised, often on arbitrary, aesthetic criteria, based on dogs from small gene pools. This was the Victorian age of empire and of social hierarchy. Ideas of pure bloodlines and racial improvement were acceptable. London Zoo was trying (unsuccessfully) to domesticate wild animals. Dog breeders ability to manipulate a single species into very different shapes and sizes helped to inspire proponents of eugenics. Breeding has had indefensible results. Some of our most popular pets are brachycephalic dogs, such as pugs and French bulldogs, whose flat faces affect their airways and much else. Brachy dogs are three times more likely to have respiratory problems. Some cannot close their eyes. Many cannot give birth without caesarean sections (that is, they would not be able to breed without us). Yet people find flat faces cute and loving. Some owners also believe that brachy dogs are low maintenance because they dont require much exercise (in fact, the dogs just cannot breathe properly). So one-fifth of dogs in the UK are flat-faced. In March Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward after her French bulldogs were stolen. Its weird to value your dogs company so much, but value breeding for health so little. Our unethical breeding also affects cats too: Scottish fold cats, which Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran have helped to popularise, suffer a cartilage defect. Most Persian cats have at least one health disorder. Put a cat in a wheelie bin and you become a national hate figure; create a cat vulnerable to eye disease and you become a wealthy breeder. As Dan ONeill, a companion animal epidemiologist at the Royal Veterinary College, puts it, pets health problems are actually human problems. We could start to solve these human problems. Right now, pet-buyers often seem to be acting on a whim like the hapless narrator in Taffy Brodesser-Akners novel Fleishman Is in Trouble, who panic-buys a miniature dachshund to turn his life around, but wakes up to find the dog peeing on his head. We could do our research, and stop trying to make fashion statements through animals. We could also try to offer our dogs choice (when Bacon walks her dogs, she let them help to choose the route: Its their walk, not my walk). Advertisers could stop using French bulldogs and other unhealthy flat-faced dogs. Another option is to push breeders to cross-breed diversifying the gene pool, even though it breaks the supposed purity. This is being trialled in the Netherlands, where the government has restricted the breeding of purebred bulldogs and pugs. We should start prizing mongrels. We need to think less about how our pets look, and more about how our world looks to them. The problem isnt that we think of pets as almost human-like; its that we dont think of them as human-like enough. Even if pet owning is done well, it only brings us close to a small slice of the animal kingdom. At least 1,300 species of mammals, including both species of African elephant and 1,400 species of bird, such as snowy owls, are endangered. Few of these animals would live happily in our homes. To save other animals, humans must shrink their footprint on the natural world by eating less meat, creating more protected areas, and so on. The difficulty is that our love for our pets increases our footprint. We need more chickens, cows and fish to feed our pets: US dogs and cats eat as many calories in a year as 62 million American people, according to the UCLA geography professor Gregory Okin. Pets no longer just eat our offcuts, because we want them to have the best. As a result, feeding an average size dog can emit more than a tonne of greenhouse gases a year. Theres more: in the US, cats have been estimated to kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds a year, and between 6.2 and 22.3 billion mammals each year. Its not clear how big a chunk of the bird population this represents, or whether the cats are taking mainly weaker birds that wouldnt have survived anyway. I find this tricky: I love cats and birds. Having shared more nights on the sofa watching Netflix with cats, I value their individual existence over most birds. I also recognise that cat and dog populations are doing well, while those of birds are not, and that this puts our ecosystems off balance. Our cat has rarely brought anything back into the house, but I have to admit that our garden is not full of birds. Owners can try training their cats or attaching bells to their collars. Yet the failsafe way to protect birds is to keep your cat indoors: something that affects the quality of a cats life. Dogs, too, impinge on wildlife as shown by the sad recent incident on the River Thames where a pet dog savaged a seal known as Freddie Mercury. Farmers complain about dogs disturbing nesting lapwing and other birds. Other pets can be even more disruptive: Floridas Everglades have been overrun by Burmese pythons and green iguanas, which have escaped or been released by bored pet-owners. Perhaps we could match every pound we spend on pets with a pound given to conserve wild animals This is not an argument against pets. Its a call for balance. There are, on a back-of-an-envelope calculation, as many parrots in captivity as in the wild. The world has close to a billion dogs and several hundred million cats. Meanwhile, some of their closest wild relatives such as dholes, a species of Asian wild dog, and African lions are losing their habitats. Britain has found space for tens of million of dogs and cats, but no wolves or lynx and ever fewer Scottish wildcats. If we truly love animals, we should make sacrifices for them, whether or not they curl up on our sofa. If pets represent our deeper love for the natural world, perhaps we could match every pound we spend on them with a pound given to conserve wild animals. Maybe we could use our love for pets to reconsider where our food comes from, too. Farm animals exhibit many of the same emotional and social behaviours as pets. Right now, we exaggerate pets abilities Barbra Streisand thought her dog Samantha could speak English and ignore farm animals instincts, such as dairy cows desire not to be separated from their calves after birth. Before lockdown, half of UK adults had a pet, but only one in 20 was vegetarian. We are outraged when dogs are killed in China or South Korea, but not when 11 million pigs are killed every year in the UK. We should think about why we wouldnt be happy for our pets to live on farms, or be put down in slaughterhouses. Our pets can sensitise us. Jane Goodall said that her dog had taught her about animal emotions, long before she carried out her ground-breaking observations of chimpanzees. The American activist Henry Spira said that taking care of a friends cat pushed him to become interested in animal rights: I began to wonder about the appropriateness of cuddling one animal while sticking a knife and fork into another. For the Victorians, who laid the groundwork for our modern pet-keeping, the natural world was a vast treasure chest to be explored and tamed. Things have changed. Our challenge now is to live on a finite planet, without jeopardising our own existence or the animals that we love. It requires a shift from a mentality of hierarchy to one of humility. In San Francisco and beyond, conscientious humans often refer to their pets as companion animals, and themselves as guardians, rather than pet owners. This phrasing doesnt quite work for me. It implies that animals are only our companions if we keep them in our homes. Yet the birds in our cities, the beavers in our rivers, the pine martens in our forests these are our companions, too, and our wellbeing depends on their survival. I take more joy from the ring-necked parakeets in the park (presumably descendants of someones escaped pets) than I would do from a parrot living mate-less in my home. Our cities and countryside should have space for wildlife, not just dogs and cats. Corgi Con hasnt decided whether to go ahead this year. I hope it does, but I also hope we pet owners look beyond it. There is more to loving animals than owning them: our pets should be the beginning of our love for other animals, not the end. | https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/24/can-our-passion-for-pets-help-reset-our-relationship-with-nature |
Why is Chinese leader Xi Jinping so afraid of Hong Kong and Jimmy Lai? | On April 16, 2021 a Hong Kong judge placed more nails in the coffin of freedom in Hong Kong. Nine pro-democracy leaders, including Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai, Albert Ho and Margaret Ng, were sentenced to prison for peacefully demonstrating in August 2019. They had been participating in protests that had ballooned to unprecedented proportions over the Hong Kong governments attempt to impose an extradition law, which would have enabled the transfer of Hong Kong citizens and foreign nationals to courts in mainland China. In October, Hong Kongs chief executive, Carrie Lam, withdrew the legislation. But she made no attempt to close the gap with the millions of people, especially the youth, who had protested the injection of mainland Chinese legal authority into Hong Kongs prized rule of law. Instead, the government undertook to punish those who had peacefully demonstrated. Since then, the fabric of Hong Kongs one country/two systems framework has been shredded. In its 1984 Joint Declaration with the United Kingdom on the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, Beijing committed to a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong and to the preservation of Hong Kongs capitalist system and distinct way of life for 50 years until 2047. Silencing the pro-democracy old guard Early in 2020 the Chinese Communist Party apparently concluded the Hong Kong authorities were incapable of controlling the restive Hong Kong populace. General Secretary Xi Jinping rolled the historical dice, effectively taking control of Hong Kong through imposition of a National Security Law, the broad reach and vague terms of which subject anyone in Hong Kong, Chinese or foreign, to potential charges of threatening Chinese national security based on the dictates of special security authorities and courts. The law gives the Communist Party the writ to replace the rule of law the foundation of Hong Kongs way of life and status as an international finance center with Beijings political rule. The Communist Party is now dismantling the Hong Kong political system to make it loyal to China, gutting the prospects for democratic influence in political life, and scouring education to ensure it is patriotic. Story continues A pro-democracy supporter shouts at riot police during an anti-national security law rally in Mongkok district on June 12, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. Protesters heeded online calls to gather as the city marks the one-year anniversary of the major clashes between police and pro-democracy demonstrators over the controversial extradition bill. The April 16 sentences are designed to silence the pro-democracy old guard, in parallel with the persecution and intimidation of younger generations of democratic leaders like Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow (imprisoned), and Dennis Kwok and Nathan Law (in exile) and their fellow protesters. But there is a special place in Beijings pantheon of enemies of the people for Lai, the wealthy publisher and champion of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. Despite his age (73), Lai was sentenced to serve more than a year in jail. He is also being charged with multiple civil-disobedience and other bogus offenses. Much more ominously, he faces years and possibly the rest of his life in prison as the first high-profile figure arrested and charged under the National Security Law. In August 2020 hundreds of police swept into his offices, shackling and parading him as if he were a violent terrorist. Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.: Ukraine crisis may be Putin's test for the Biden administration When the judge at his first bail hearing granted bail under the most stringent of controls, Chinese state media labeled Lai a traitor and pronounced his guilt. Hong Kong prosecutors immediately appealed, arguing that Lai was too dangerous to be free under any circumstances. A second judge helpfully rectified the previous judge's mistake and remanded him to custody, where he will remain until trial on the national security charges (two more of which were also levied on April 16). It now seems that his trial on the new charges may be put off until, oddly enough, well after the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. Turning the page of history Ironically enough, on April 15 Lai was honored by the Freedom Forum in Washington. Many in Hong Kong merit such recognition of their own commitment. The Freedom Forum is dedicated to the foundational freedoms guaranteed in U.S. Constitution: freedom of the press, speech, religion, peaceful assembly and the right to petition the government. Hong Kong, the pro-democracy movement and Jimmy Lai instill fear in General Secretary Xi and the Communist Party because they represent this vision of freedom. These are rights for which Americans continue to fight every day. Under one country/two systems, they were recognized until recently as key elements of Hong Kong's distinct "way of life." Intimately linked to this value-driven vision of society is the notion that these freedoms, to speak and demand and object, are the means by which citizens hold their government accountable. But the guiding principle, as Margaret Ng eloquently reminded on April 16, must be that the law must serve the people, not the people the law. Otherwise, it is the people who are accountable to the government. That challenge is the crux of Beijings fixation with Hong Kong. That competition of values will dominate the relationship between China and much of the rest of the world in the 21st century. Jimmy Lai and the other prisoners of conscience already in Hong Kong jails, and those being repressed and intimidated and weeded out as unpatriotic, represent that battle over freedom and accountability. Xi is a strongman acting from insecurity, fearful of accountability, mired in a dynamic where repression begets further repression. Biden on China and Russia: Joe Biden is right to be blunt with Russia and China, but wrong on what to do next China, facing daunting economic, environmental and demographic issues, needs international cooperation. Its repression of Hong Kong, abrogating its 1984 commitments, is already among the leading obstacles to the international engagement China needs, and currently believes it can have on its own terms. But the page of history is turning. Beijings behavior is rapidly becoming an obstacle to China taking the place Xi envisions for it on the world stage. Only a decade ago, Hong Kong proudly touted itself as Asias World City. Today, it is taking political prisoners, generating exiles and being drained of its reputation for political and economic freedom. A truly international city and center of finance cant crush the rule of law, and it cant hold political prisoners. James B. Cunningham is board chair of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong and former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Israel, the UN and ConsuI General in Hong Kong. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to [email protected]. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong democratic protesters, and Beijing's oppression | https://news.yahoo.com/why-chinese-leader-xi-jinping-080011473.html |
Is 2021 the year to venture back to Americas national parks? | For most of the last year, Dan Stark has been cooped up in his home in south-west Portland, Oregon. But with spring upon us and Starks first vaccination shot he and his family have been dreaming of summer vacation. Weve been talking about what our Covid freedom trip is going to be, he says. The family settled on plans for an RV trip the first week of July, by which time, they reasoned, theyd all be vaccinated. Stark began looking into parks the family had yet to experience and set his sights on Montanas Glacier national park, known for its dramatic mountain views and stunning alpine lakes. As the weather warms and more people are vaccinated, many Americans are making similar plans. Visitors to Mount Rainier national park walk toward a sledding area. Photograph: Ted S Warren/AP The answer depends on what youre looking for from the experience, and which park youre planning to visit. Glacier, for instance, is one of the more popular national parks; between 2014 and 2019, Glacier was the 10th most visited national park, bringing in between 2 and 3 million visitors annually. In early April, the National Park Service announced that Glacier, along with Yosemite and Rocky Mountain, two other busy parks, will require visitors to obtain a day use pass before entering the park beginning in late May. Stark says that once he began researching a trip to Glacier, he also saw signs of high demand: other planners, posting in online forums like Reddit, discussed the competitive permit application process and closed campgrounds. Visitors looking to make firm reservations and avoid the hassle of permits may be better off traveling to smaller, less thronged parks. If permits and reservations seem like a fair trade for popular parks beauty, local communities are likely to be eager for your business. In Montana, the visitors are already beginning to trickle into the Glacier national park area, says Robert DesRosier, Blackfeet Nations director of emergency management. The tribe, whose lands are located near the parks eastern entrance, is preparing to ramp up everything from law enforcement to solid waste processing over the summer. Were expecting, just by the indicators and discussions we see, Glacier national park is going to be a huge draw. That will be a big change from 2020. Last year, the Blackfeet Nation closed several roads on the western edge of their reservation, which borders the park, in efforts to protect the community from the spread of Covid. But now that 95% of the Blackfeet Nation has received at least one dose of vaccine, the tribe reopened those roads in March. DesRosier hopes that visitors will aid in the economic recovery of the community. [Covid] really devastated our nation, and were still having a hard time, he says. As far as tourism goes, we are wide open right now but we do reserve the right, if we had another wave or a variant that causes a lot of cases, wed consider locking down again. Joshua trees are seen near Joshua Tree national park in California. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters Katie Griffith, a climbing guide living in Joshua Tree, California, is also hopeful that more park visitors means more business. Every job Ive had living here depends on people coming here, says Griffith. The more people who came over the holidays, the more money I was making at the cafe I worked at, and the more people who come and hire guides, the more work I have. Lately, she says, Joshua Tree national park has seen a bounty of tourists for spring break season. As long as people are being respectful of the town, and practicing leave no trace principles, and following Covid protocols, I dont personally have a big issue with people visiting. If you do plan to visit a national park, be prepared for changing conditions and dont expect your visit will look like your pre-pandemic trips. Glacier, for instance, has not yet finalized decisions about which campgrounds will be open this summer, or whether the parks shuttle buses will be in operation. In other popular parks, like Yosemite, shuttles, tours, and some visitors attractions will be closed for the summer, while dining areas will operate with Covid precautions, including social distancing. Others are learning from last summer. After a busy 2020 season, Washingtons Rainier national park plans to use the same system it did last year: providing visitor information and maps outside instead of in ranger stations, limiting capacity of buildings, and keeping concession stands take-out only, says Terry Wildy, the parks chief of interpretation, education and volunteers. If you are set on visiting a national park especially a well-trafficked one know that Covid precautions will probably make operations a bit different from your pre-pandemic visits. Yosemite Valley in November. Photograph: Eric Paul Zamora/AP Another change you might notice: fewer employees on hand. Yosemite, for instance, has cited decreased personnel housing as a reason for eliminating tours and facility availability. On a recent weekend trip to Yosemite, Levi Gadye of Oakland, California, says, he noticed that no employees checked his national park pass on their way in or out of the parks gates. On a Saturday, thats highly unusual, he says. He also didnt see any rangers while hiking the Mist Trail, one of the parks most visited. Gadye says he realizes the parks employees are overloaded but that the result is that the park feels a little less regulated. That, he worries, might mean less enforcement of national park no-nos like littering. (The National Park Service did not respond to the Guardians request for comment.) As for Stark, he and his family have decided to scrap their plans for Glacier. The more I read, the more difficulties seemed to pile up, he said. Instead, theyre considering quieter parks, such as Lassen Volcanic or Redwoods national park, or even just parking their RV at a lake for the week a place to enjoy the serenity away from throngs of people. There are literally thousands of beautiful uncrowded spots with just as much beauty that we could be more than happy settling upon, he said. | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/24/us-national-parks-tourism-coronavirus-pandemic |
Is Micah Parsons the Most Versatile Player in the NFL Draft? | At Penn State's Pro Day, Micah Parsons was asked to make the case that he's a top-10 pick. The former Penn State linebacker did the question one better. "I just feel like Im the most versatile player in this class," Parsons said. "I can play middle linebacker, I can play outside, and I can pass-rush. I dont think theres a place I cant play in the linebacker spot or whether it's defensive end on the field. Im going to utilize my skill and Im gonna just make plays happen as I did at Penn State and show these guys why Penn State breeds the way we do. We always do this. We show up in big-time plays and big-time moments. We're trained for this." Parsons is poised to be Penn State's highest defensive draft pick since defensive end Aaron Maybin was selected 11th overall in 2009. And he will be the Lions' highest-drafted linebacker since LaVar Arrington went second overall in 2000. Penn State has had 60 linebackers drafted in the modern era but none in the first round since Arrington. Draft experts might agree with Parsons' assessment. NFL Draft Bible ranks Parsons as the fifth-best overall talent in the draft, behind Trevor Lawrence, Kyle Pitts, Penei Sewel and JaMarr Chase. He is the site's top-ranked defensive player. "Parsons is a generational type of talent who could arguably play any position, but he forecasts as a true [middle] linebacker, given his comfort level breaking down the huddle, making the calls on the field and leading his men into battle," NFL Draft Bible said in its evaluation. "... It's hard to fathom that Penn State, which used to be known as Linebacker U, has failed to produce a linebacker chosen in the first round since 2000. But Parsons is destined to end the drought. Theres not much this kid cant do." Jim Mora, the former NFL head coach and current analyst, suggested that Parsons has years of All-Pro potential ahead of him. "Whoever gets him is going to figure out a way to use all the great things that he can do," Mora said. "And I think he's poised to make a great jump. There are guys like that who are just rare. If you turned on the film and didn't know who he was, by the third series, you'd know who he was, because he just jumps off the film." Parsons said he will continue doing that in the NFL, despite not playing last season. "My versatilitys going to come in handy," he said. "I played defensive end growing up and pretty much my whole life, so rushing the passer has never been a problem. And obviously what I showed at Penn State, going sideline to sideline has never been a problem. A lot of teams are talking about first and second down going sideline to sideline and [on] third down going at the quarterback. "... And once I get to OTAs and minicamp, I'll be able to get better and better. It will come over time, but I think by the season, I'll be ready." Pat Freiermuth's 'All-Pro' potential | https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/is-micah-parsons-the-most-versatile-player-in-the-nfl-draft |
Are we ready for social media influencers shaping politics? | Gen Z is the most online generation in history. They also have increasingly radical political views that arent always reflected in traditional media. Its no surprise that online influencers who run highly popular social media channels are dominating political discourse in Gen Zs online spaces. Young peoples politics are being shaped by popular YouTubers, livestreamers, podcasters and other influencer personalities, who debate political positions and educate viewers on what political engagement looks like. At first glance, this might seem comically absurd. But in the past year, most universities, institutions and political organizations have transformed into Zoom meetings. Today, the gap between a college education and a Twitch stream has significantly narrowed. There have been a number of recent events which further blur these distinctions. In January of 2021, Riley Grace Roshong, a Baltimore-based law student and YouTuber, livestreamed her testimony before the Maryland congress in support of House Bill 231, which would eliminate the panic defense laws, a legal strategy that allows defendants who attack or murder LGBTQ people to claim that the gender identity or sexual orientation of their victim caused them to enter into a gay or trans panic. Roshong researched and drafted her testimony in collaboration with key contributors from her community of followers during a Twitch stream. Roshongs testimony was one in a chorus of local activists and organizations including FreeState Justice and the ACLU. Another high-water mark for influencers flexing their political muscle was the Georgia Senate runoff a key race which would determine the outcome of the 2020 election, in particular whether Democrats would enjoy a majority in both houses of Congress. In December and January, Destiny, a professional gamer turned political commentator on Twitch, led one of the larger door-knocking campaigns of the election. Using his enormous fanbase and platform, the gamer managed to mobilize his followers to knock on an estimated 17,500-20,000 doors in Columbus, Georgia, with approximately 140 volunteers. By comparison, local groups like the Mijente Pac had 200 paid canvassers and the New Georgia Project was seeking 200-300 volunteers. These recent events seem to indicate something larger on the horizon. In each of these instances, influencers took a tiny bit of time out of their usual entertainment programming to make a few political asks before switching back to their regular content (influencers are in the business of making videos, after all). However, as online media encroach further into real-world politics, there is a mounting competitive pressure for content producers to get more politically involved. If youre going to talk the talk, youve got to walk the walk. Its not enough to sit home and criticize. Its worth mentioning that the Proud Boys were founded by the Vice co-founder, comedian and former YouTuber Gavin McInnes in 2016. The broadcasters Cenk Uygur, of The Young Turks, and Kyle Kulinski, of Secular Talk, are among the co-founders of Justice Democrats in 2017. Just a few years before, it was difficult to imagine that online personalities could help to shape offline organizations. Most troublingly, the terrain of social media seems to definitively advantage rightwing politics. While conspiracy and disinformation circulates across the whole of the political spectrum, the far right is uniquely able to manifest offline in the form of gangs or stochastic violence. On the extreme end of this trajectory we find Tim Gionet (AKA Baked Alaska) livestreaming and taking selfies from inside the Capitol riot on 6 January 6. The attention economy incentivizes new and dangerous levels of violent spectacle. Its worth theorizing how these forces could be harnessed for something other than conspicuous political stunts. What we know for sure, is that large online audiences, numbered in the hundreds of thousands, do not translate to the ballot box. In 2016, the civil rights activist and Twitter influencer DeRay Mckesson finished a Baltimore mayoral run with only 2.6% of the vote. In 2019, the rightwing YouTubers Carl Benjamin (AKA Sarkon of Akkad) and Mark Meechan (AKA Count Dankula), both ran for MEP, winning just 3.2% in Englands south-west and 1.9% in Scotland, respectively. In 2020, the Gen Z trucker turned TikTok star Joshua Collins earned less than 1% of the vote in Washingtons 10th district. If election outcomes were purely a product of follower counts then political parties would just recruit Kendall Jenner. The key difference between mainstream celebrities and niche influencers, is the potential for social media to form hyper-specific and hyper-dedicated communities. Viewers feel a strong connection to the content creators they follow and to the communities they participate in. These audiences yield higher than average conversion rates when called upon to take action. Today there are no casual fans everything is a cult following. In most cases, these political influencer channels are unearthed over the course of months (or years) of exploring. Social media are forming accidental pipelines to political education and its time to start thinking about what these pipelines lead to. Fandoms are beginning to resemble political affiliations. Crowdfunding approximates membership dues. At their core, organizations are a list of names and addresses. Swap out newsletters for episodic content but the actionable items remain largely the same: voting endorsements and invitations to canvas. On an annual basis, it costs more to support a podcast than to join the DSA. Social atomization and economic precarity are sending increasing numbers of people out on to the web in search of answers Clearly, magazines did not replace political parties and social media channels wont either. But it does create room for something like an Upton Sinclair of the digital age. In an era defined by elite corruption and institutional failure, listener-funded counter-hegemonic narrators are thriving. Young viewers trust alt-media figures like Contrapoints because she doesnt seem to work for the elites. Critical voices can only be trusted when they arent attached to big donors. Bloomberg couldnt buy a successful meme while Bernie supporters made thousands for free. Social atomization and economic precarity are sending increasing numbers of people out on to the web in search of answers. But in the post-political era, most organizations have withered or dissolved. Perhaps members of generation Z are flocking to online fandoms because of the lack of real-world organizations. Further compounding this, is the repellent quality of activist culture which is largely out of touch with the needs of most people. Meanwhile, online communities are fun and cool. Until organization becomes a normal aspect of everyday life, we should expect for online communities to grow at comparatively faster rates. One indication could be novelty fundraising. In November of 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, along with a team of other players, including the Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh, political streamers the Serfs and video game streamers including xQcOw, DisguisedToast and others, raised a combined $200,000 for eviction defense and food pantries while playing the popular online multiplayer game Among Us. But this particular model seems reminiscent of celebrity fundraisers in the cable TV era and could easily be repeated by the political establishment. On the nationalist right, political influencers have taken to forming their own parallel events to compete with establishment parties. Inaugurated in 2020, and now in its second year, Afpac, America First Political Action Conference, is an annual event, intended as an off-site alternative to the Conservative Political Action Conference, a Republican stronghold. Throughout 2019, this same group of young American nationalists coordinated to heckle and undermine public events including those which featured Donald Trump Jr and congressman Dan Crenshaw. Small hyper-dedicated groups are ideally suited for specific and targeted interventions. Influencers are not organizers. But they might be soon. Perhaps they require their own distinct category. Online communities might become a new type of crowdfunded special interest group or thinktank with a built-in spokesperson (like Peoples Policy Project, founded by Matt Breunig in 2017). At the least, these overlapping fields are becoming more structurally similar. The key difference seems to be what the community members are asked to do. Soon, content producers might ask for much more. If fierce online competition is driving these channels to become politically active, this can be harnessed as effective advertising and recruitment into organized political life. Its worth thinking about these emergent pipelines now, so that in 2028, we find ourselves surrounded by a new rank and file rather than sensationalist livestreaming from the barricades. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/24/social-media-influencers-shaping-politics |
Should Hurricanes goalie Alex Nedeljkovic be in the Calder Trophy conversation? | OK, a few have been named the leagues rookie of the year. Goalie Steve Mason won the Calder with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009. Andrew Raycroft won with Boston in 2004, and Evgeni Nabokov with San Jose in 2001. Thats the list of goalies and the Calder since 2000. Its a short one. Which brings us to Alex Nedeljkovic of the Carolina Hurricanes, and his chances of being in the Calder mix for 2021. Nedeljkovic has the numbers: a 1.87 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and three shutouts. He stepped in when goalie Petr Mrazek went out with a thumb injury in late-January and has been ever valuable for Canes coach Rod BrindAmour as the Hurricanes have put together a big season. Alex has undoubtedly been one of the leagues best rookies, NHL analyst Matt Larkin of The Hockey News told the News & Observer on Friday. On top of the three shutouts, he leads the league in five on five save percentage and goals saved above average per 60. When hes played, hes been as good as any goalie in the league. What will hold him back in the Calder discussion is being Binningtoned, in that the sample size might be too small to win Nedeljkovic the Calder because his role was smaller to start the season before Petr Mrazek got hurt. But it wouldnt be a surprise to see him get some votes along with Dallas Jake Oettinger. Jordan Binnington had a huge role as the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup. The goalie was called up from the AHL in December 2018 and went 24-5-1 in the regular season with a 1.89 GAA and .927 save percentage. He then won 16 playoff games in the Blues run to the Cup. Binnington was second in the 2019 Calder vote, finishing behind forward Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks. Pettersson had 151 of the 171 first-place votes. Nedeljkovic, a former second-round draft pick by Carolina, has played 18 games this season after his 32-save victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday. He has a 12-4-2 record, teaming with goalie James Reimer while Mrazek was out. Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) waits for a face-off against the Nashville Predators during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Or such forwards as Josh Norris (Ottawa) and Tim Sttzle (Ottawa), or defenseman Ty Smith (New Jersey). I think his body of work is not quite there yet to include him in with all those guys, Canes coach Rod BrindAmour said Thursday. Hopefully by the end of the year. Well have to see how many more starts he gets. Certainly his play has warranted it. Its tough when you look at the other guys who have played all year. But thats where those awards get tough to really say, Hey, you should be in there when your body of works not quite there. But definitely by how hes played, for sure. Canes captain Jordan Staal, asked if Nedeljkovic should be in the Calder conversation, quickly replied, Absolutely. Hes biased toward his guy, of course, but made some good points about the goalie the players call Ned. Every time hes started hes given us a very good chance to win, Staal said Thursday. You ask our D, hes been amazing moving the puck, so it just takes more stress of our D zone. He does things that other goalies cant do. Obviously hes made some big saves at key times. Nedeljkovic had to make some high-quality saves Thursday to help pull the Canes past the Panthers 4-2 in the matchup of Central Division leaders. He was the backstop on the penalty kill as the Panthers went 1-for-9 on the power play and scored only on a 5-on-3. He faced 19 shots in the third as Florida had 16 scoring chances in the period (naturalstattrick.com.) With 3:20 left in regulation and the Canes leading 3-2, the Panthers Jonathan Huberdeau had an open net during a scramble in front of the Canes net. But Nedeljkovic made a quick push to his left to get a piece of the puck with his glove. Hes been a gamer for us, Staal said. All our goalies have been really good this year and Neds no different. Him being in that conversation should be a must. OF NOTE: BrindAmour said forward Jordan Martinook was not great Friday after being hip-checked into the boards in Thursdays game. BrinAmour said the hope was it would not be a long-term injury but said Martinook would not play Saturday against the Panthers. Forward Teuvo Teravainen (concussion symptoms) took part in the limited team practice Friday and but probably will not play Saturday, BrindAmour said. He looked really good today, though, he said. Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers When: Saturday, 7 p.m. Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla. TV: BSSO (Bally). | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article250895434.html |
Have We Really Come That Far Since Rodney King? | It cant be said enough: This weeks resounding guilty verdicts in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd are a good thing. At a crucial moment, the people have prevailed, and this time people means more than African Americans, who have disproportionately carried the concern about police abuse; many people of other colors and even other countries are claiming the victory, too. This is progress. And yet the progress shrinks in comparison with the breadth and depth of the oppression weve tolerated for the last generation and a half. Im a native Angeleno who got my start in journalism in 1992, the year Los Angeles erupted in protest after the acquittal in the criminal trial of the four police officers who nearly beat another Black man, Rodney King, to death. All four officers participated in the savage free-for-all that the world saw on videotape, captured by an onlooker in a nearby apartment building. Not decades of dismantling police culture that had produced crises like the Rodney King beating and countless other undocumented assaults and deaths, but something almost opposite: escalating law-and-order policies that viewed Black anger, however justifiable, as something to be contained, and criminalized. The fundamental tragedy of Rodney King led not to more justice for the Kings of the world, but to far less, in the form of draconian drug sentencing, three-strikes laws and mass incarceration. The tremendous human costto say nothing of the actual costof all this is something we have only now begun to deal with, as Floyds murder in 2020 opened up big questions about racism and criminal justice that engaged the public in an unprecedented way. But the awakening is not quite a year old. The previous 30 years weigh on us very heavily, and it will be some time before we can get out from under that weight. The good news is that more people want to get out from under it. This has not always been the case, and it certainly wasnt the case 29 years ago, on the April afternoon when the verdict for the cops in the King case was announced. But I didnt realize that at the time. While the unrest in Los Angeles after the trialfive days of protest, curfews, fires, looting and the deaths of 50 peoplewas tragic in one way, it was energizing in another: a rare, galvanizing civic moment that proved beyond any doubt how frustrated Black people were, and how essential it was to acknowledge and address that frustration. Rodney King had forced us all together, had us all considering the same questions, which to me felt hopeful. Story continues My hopefulness was also fueled by the fact that the Los Angeles Times, which underwent some quick soul-searching after the unrest, had expanded its coverage of L.A.s urban core and hired me to write for one of the new sections it launched that year. My excitement was tempered by historyI had grown up with detailed stories about the massive unrest in L.A. in 1965 and how it, too, had been fueled by a Black encounter with law enforcement gone south. I knew that in the 27 years between that event and 1992, too little progress had been made, that Black people were more economically stratified than ever, more thwarted than ever and therefore still targeted by police. Still, after Rodney King, I felt this time would be different. It had to be. It wasnt different enough, by a long shot. The L.A. Times gig should have clued me in. The section I wrote for circulated in the inner city, with stories only occasionally going into the main paper. It was the very model of marginalization, albeit a benevolent kind that had the sheen of progress. Meanwhile, California went into punishment mode, spurred by the crack epidemic and the specter of gangs that occasionally spilled over into more pristine L.A. neighborhoods and triggered fears of crime and mayhem anew. The real takeaway of 92 became clear: The line had to be drawn more firmly than ever, and the police continued to draw it. This despite the fact that the city always seemed to be on the hunt for a reformer police chief, and even though certain reforms were implementedcommunity policing, for onethey felt like experiments that never took. The Los Angeles Police Department was shaken by scandal and exposs of rogue policing that led to a federal takeover in 2000. In Inglewood, a mostly Black and brown city where I live that borders South Central L.A., four fatal police shootings happened in two months in 2008. The blue wall of silence around all of it was deafeningbut expected. Its how things were. Its how things are, we know now, that has to be reformed, and it goes well beyond any single program or policy. It goes to Americans seeing each other as equally worthy of empathy from and protection by police. And yet throughout our history, whenever we seem to approach this realization, there is backlash. During Donald Trumps presidency, too much of the country followed him sharply in the direction of racism and xenophobia, in the process valorizing police (and military) as keepers of true American valuesthat is, guardians of the ancient social and racial order on which this country was founded. Republicans by and large have acquiesced to such sentiments, acquiescence that turned violent in the white riot/insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 that featured the participation of, and the desecration of, law enforcement. Thats the national picture. At the local level, where most policing happens, things are much more encouraging. The city of L.A. is hammering out compromises with the Peoples Budget, a coalition led by Black Lives Matter that seeks to increase social service spending, and has already reduced police funding by $150 millionunthinkable as recently as a year ago. We are not there yet, but at least it feels like a real fight, a more equal fight. With the philosophy of Black Lives Matter gone mainstream, critics of police abuse at least dont have to be defensive about their cause. Thats progress, too. But the backlash is also local. Blue Lives Matter, a message I read every day on lawn signs in Southern Californias tourist-friendly beach cities, pits police against Black humanity, with never the twain meeting. This is not a new paradigm, just affirmation of an old one, but its disheartening nonetheless. Recently, a White Lives Matter rally was staged in Huntington Beach, a surf town in Orange County. It fizzled, but the disturbing thing is that it happened at all. A more recent effort among extremist Republicans in Congress to form an America First caucusdescribed in a memo as supporting Anglo-Saxon traditionsfizzled, too. But its worrisome for the same reason. The intensifying crisis of police abuse parallels another intensifying crisis: climate change. In both cases, we have spent too many years doing too little or doing the wrong thing entirely, assuming that we always have more time to get our act together before things really fall apart. The whole police abuse problem is indeed a crisis of climatethe racial atmosphere of the country is dangerously poisoned, perhaps irreversibly. In the shadow of the Chauvin verdict, the deaths of Black people by cops continues everywhere in the country. During the trial, 20-year-old Daunte Wright, who was Black, and 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was Latino, were killed by police gunfire; neither was armed. And almost at the same moment the verdict was being read, we learned about the fatal police shooting of 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant, also Black, in Ohio. The victory is real, but it hasnt solved anything. It has only officially acknowledged how bad the atmosphere is, how much more we need to do to clear it. Daunting as all this appears, I am optimistic that substantive change will happen. My late father was a racial justice activist of some local renown who drilled into me the idea that, for Black people, optimism is the only choice, because the only other choice is cynicism, which is a dead end. Its why I believe that even at this late date, there is still a path to change, fraught though it might be, narrow as the window of opportunity might feel. Not an ideal scenario, but when it comes to police reform, weve never had one. Which means that we are getting closer. This time, it will happen. We really have no other choice. | https://news.yahoo.com/really-come-far-since-rodney-060036478.html |
Is femtech the next big thing in health care? | By Farah Nayeri, The New York Times Company Women represent half of the planets population. Yet tech companies catering to their specific health needs represent a minute share of the global technology market. In 2019, the femtech industry software and technology companies addressing womens biological needs generated $820.6 million in global revenue and received $592 million in venture capital investment, according to PitchBook, a financial data and research company. That same year, the ride-sharing app Uber alone raised $8.1 billion in an initial public offering. The difference in scale is staggering, especially when women spend an estimated $500 billion a year on medical expenses, according to PitchBook. Tapping into that spending power, a multitude of apps and tech companies have sprung up in the last decade to address womens needs, including tracking menstruation and fertility, and offering solutions for pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Medical startups also have stepped in to prevent or manage serious conditions such as cancer. The market potential is huge, said Michelle Tempest, a partner at the London-based health care consultancy Candesic and a psychiatrist by training. Theres definitely an increasing appetite for anything in the world which is technology, and a realization that female consumer power has arrived and that its arrived in health care. She said one reason women-related needs had not been focused on in the field of technology was that life sciences research was overwhelmingly tailored to the male body. In 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration excluded women of childbearing age from taking part in drug trials. Since then, women have been underrepresented in drug trials, Tempest said, because of a belief that fluctuations caused by menstrual cycles could affect trial results and also because if a woman got pregnant after taking a trial drug, the drug could affect the fetus. As a result, she noted, we do lag behind men. The term femtech was coined by Ida Tin, the Danish-born founder of Clue, a period and ovulation tracking app established in Germany in 2013. In an article on the companys website, Tin recalled how she first had the idea for the app. In 2009, she found herself holding a cellphone in one hand and a small temperature-taking device in the other and wishing she could merge the two to track her fertility days, rather than manually having to note her temperature on a spreadsheet. Clue allows women to do exactly that with a few taps on their smartphone. Today, the company has a lot of competition in the period- and fertility-tracking area. And plenty of other women-specific tools have come onto the market. Elvie, a London-based company, has marketed a wearable breast pump and a pelvic exercise trainer and app, both using smart technology. Another strand of femtech known as menotech aims to improve womens lifestyles as they go through menopause, providing access to telemedicine, and information and data that women can tap into. Finally, there are medical technology companies focused on cancer that affects women, such as cervical cancer and breast cancer. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer among women around the world. In 2018, about 570,000 women had it, and as many as 311,000 died. The WHO in November announced a program to eradicate the disease completely by the year 2030. MobileODT, a startup based in Tel Aviv, Israel, uses smartphones and artificial intelligence to screen for cervical cancer. A smart colposcope a portable imaging device that is 1 1/2 times the size of a smartphone is used to take a photograph of a womans cervix from a distance of about 3 feet. The image is then transmitted to the cloud via a smartphone, where artificial intelligence is used to identify normal or abnormal cervical findings. A diagnosis is delivered in about 60 seconds compared to the weeks it takes to receive the results of a standard smear test (which, in developing countries, extends to months.) In addition to this screening, doctors still use smear tests. The technology was recently used to screen 9,000 women during a three-month period in the Dominican Republic as part of a government-led campaign, the company announced last month. Another 50,000 women are expected be screened in the next six months. Leon Boston, the South African-born chief executive of MobileODT, said the privately owned company was selling into about 20 different countries including the United States, India, South Korea and Brazil, and is going into a fundraising round to build on its initial seed money of $24 million. But the leading cause of cancer among women all over the world is breast cancer. One French startup is focused on dealing with its aftermath. Lattice Medical has developed a 3D-printed hollow breast implant that allows for the regeneration of tissue and is absorbed by the body over time. How it works: Post-mastectomy, the surgeon harvests a small flap of fat from the area immediately around the womans breast and places it inside the 3D-printed bioprosthesis. That piece of tissue grows inside the implant and eventually fills it out. In the meantime, the 3D-printed shell disappears completely 18 months later. So far, tests on animals have been encouraging, said Julien Payen, the companys co-founder and chief executive. Clinical trials on women are expected to start in 2022, with the aim of getting the product into the market in 2025, he added. Asked why the global femtech market was so small for technology companies, Boston said it was partly because of the high level of regulation involved in medical technology. If your technology is incorrect and comes up with the wrong result, a woman who thinks shes not positive for cervical cancer is actually positive, he said. As a result, the world of medical technology is slow to move. Still, prospects are favorable, according to Boston. Its very rare to have a totally barren market open for full potential as we have today in medical technology, he said. The data forecasts appear to back that up. According to a March 2020 report by Frost & Sullivan, a research and strategy consultancy, revenue from femtech is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2024. Payen explained that for the femtech market to expand and develop, there have to be many more tech companies offering genuine health benefits to women, not just well-being apps crowding the market and adding little in terms of health or medical value. He cited the example of Endodiag, a French medical technology company that allows early diagnosis of endometriosis and a better management of the condition. Either way, said Payen, the industry showed promise. Over the last 10 years, thanks to #MeToo and other movements, women are being listened to and heard more than ever before, Payen said. And more and more women are running companies and investment funds, he added. In 10 or 15 years from now, as a new generation takes over, things will have changed even more radically, he said. Femtech is clearly poised to grow. | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/24/femtech-health-care/ |
Can fast-growing Formula 1 become mainstream in the United States? | Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes his sport has the entertainment value that American sports fans are drawn to. The challenge is configuring Formula 1 so it can make a bigger splash in the U.S. where other sports are already dominating the entertainment scene. "The DNA of Formula 1 is all about entertainment," Domenicali told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. "The show, the technology, the passion and personality of drivers, the rivalries, it's all part of the menu and falls in line with the ingredients of what American sports fans love to see. With respect for other (U.S.) sports, we want to connect with potential American fans and promote who we are on the loud speaker." Part of that promotional effort starts with putting more racing on display stateside. While Europe is the sport's traditional base, the nearly year-round world championship operates globally with 13 of 23 Grand Prix races in the 2021 season slated to take place outside of Europe. Formula 1 is staging the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and now is slated to have a race in Miami in 2022 with a race around Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins. "Miami is the perfect destination for a Formula 1 race," Domenicali said. "It's a multicultural city with high energy." The single-seat, open-wheel race cars of Formula 1 have broad appeal internationally but F1 hasn't made a major impact in the U.S. yet, as racing series like NASCAR and IndyCar (also open-wheel) stand in the way. Formula 1 cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world, owing to high cornering speeds achieved through the generation of large amounts of aerodynamic downforce. Domenicali said the goal is not to replace NASCAR or IndyCar, but to complement them by offering something both have personality and rivalry while also offering a different appeal. "We only have 20 elite drivers who have beaten out others to be among the 20 best," Domenicali said. "That creates the rivalries and drama and then it's our duty to show off their personalities to the U.S. audience. They are stars with incredible personalities of different cultures." One of those stars is Lewis Hamilton, the defending Formula 1 champion and current Drivers' Championship leader. Formula 1 holds titles for both the drivers and then a World Constructors' Champion as well. The constructors' title is given by the FIA based on the most successful F1 car designers over the season based on a points system. Mercedes is the reigning 2020 champion. NASCAR:Opinion: Bubba Wallace continues confronting racism, but fellow drivers falling short | Opinion One silver lining to COVID-19 delaying Formula 1's March 2020 start last year to July was the series gained greater understanding of how to reach potential fans through digital platforms. Formula 1 in 2020 showed the greatest increase of any professional sporting entity in engagements across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Formula 1 had a 99% increase, with the next closest (UFC) at 48%. "COVID-19 really showed us the possibility to stay connected to fans and make new ones," Domenicali said. "We discovered that the quality of content makes the difference and so we used time (off) to work on the fundamentals of marketing our sport. We believe in the U.S., we can connect with millennials and younger generations. Part of that means promoting the faces of our drivers to them to show how they can be an inspiration from a different country." Formula 1's season is two races in, with the third one, the Portuguese Grand Prix, slated for May 2. The U.S. Grand Prix will be in Austin in October. But Domenicali is already looking ahead to Miami in 2022 and is not in any way taking his foot off the gas. "We don't want small headlines on the side of the newspaper," Domenicali said. "We want the big ones in the middle of the page. That is a big (goal), but we need to think big." | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/formula1/2021/04/24/formula-1-popularity-growth-united-states/7335811002/ |
Why Would A 50-Year-Old Want To Join Medicare? | "Young seniors" could enroll in Medicare under a Senate Democratic proposal. getty A proposal by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and other Senate Democrats would allow people between the ages of 50 and 64 to buy into Medicare (the Medicare at 50 Act). If the proposal is revenue-neutral, new enrollees would have to pay actuarily fair premiums. Currently Medicare spends $11,582 a year per beneficiary. Thats a lot more than anyone in the private sector is paying. The actual costs are likely to be a bit lower because health care costs for young seniors are less than costs for seniors currently in the program. Right now, Medicare doesnt discriminate on the basis of age all seniors pay the same premiums, regardless of how old they are. But even with an age adjustment, a fair premium for young seniors on Medicare is likely to be a lot higher than for privately purchased health insurance. It may be in fact it is almost a certainty that the Senate Democrats plan on charging the new enrollees a lot less than actuarially fair premiums. For example, Medicare currently charges enrollees 25 percent of the real cost of Part B (doctor services). If young enrollees got the same deal, the other 75 percent would be a gift from Uncle Sam. But if that is what the Senate Democrats have in mind, the young seniors should make a counter offer: Send us the subsidy in the form of a check we can deposit in our bank account and let us stick with the insurance we already have. There are several reasons why the counter offer makes sense. Lets take a brief look. Medicare is lousy insurance. Anyone who leaves an employer plan to join Medicare will immediately become aware of some stark differences. To begin with, Medicare doesnt have any cap on catastrophic costs for the patient something all private insurance is required to have. If a Medicare enrollee stays in a hospital long enough, eventually she will have to pay 100 percent of the bill, no matter how high the costs soar. Medicare Part B has a 20 percent coinsurance, also with no cap. And core Medicare doesnt even cover drugs. It is illegal for a private insurance company to sell a plan like this. If they tried, the executives would run afoul of the law, and maybe face criminal penalties. To fill the holes in Medicare Parts A and B, most seniors purchase Medigap insurance and to obtain drug coverage they purchase Medicare Part D. As a result, seniors on Medicare end up paying three premiums to three plans an arrangement all health economists recognize is terribly costly and inefficient and something nonseniors never have to do. After all that, Medicare enrollees still dont have the protection that nonseniors have. Under Obamacare legislation, virtually all private insurance is required to cap the out-of-pocket costs of the enrollees. By contrast, seniors on Medicare (after paying all three premiums) still face a 5 percent coinsurance exposure on their drug costs and there is no limit to how high those costs can be. Access to virtual medicine and other patient services is uncertain. As I pointed out in What You Need to Know About Medicare for All, Medicare has been the last insurer to cover virtually every innovation in health care that improves access and enhances the quality of care. In 2003, the benefit structure of Medicare looked pretty much the same as it did 40 years earlier. But in 1965, drugs were relatively inexpensive and their impact on care relatively modest. Through time, they became more expensive. They also became the most cost-effective medical therapy. When Medicare began covering drugs (through Part D) in 2004 it started providing coverage that virtually all private insurers and all employers had already offered years earlier. Medicare has also been slow to adopt technologies that are becoming more common in the private sector. It wont pay for Uber-type house calls at nights and on weekends, although the cost and the wait times are far below those of emergency room visits. Nor will it pay for concierge doctor services, now available to seniors for as little as $100 a month despite the potential to improve access and reduce costs. Amazingly, when Covid hit, it was illegal for Medicare doctors to consult with patients by means of phone, email, Zoom, Skype, Facebook and other electronic means. Medicare did pay for telemedical services that linked hospital specialists with patients in rural areas. But it wouldnt pay for those same services in urban areas where most people lived. The only reason seniors can get doctor consultations in their own homes today is because of three years of preparation by the Trump administration (which believed in telemedicine) and a temporary suspension of the regulations by Congress. None of this deregulation is permanent, however. It could easily go away when Covid goes away. No more employer subsidy. Most employees get health insurance through their employer, and employers typically pay 75 percent of the cost. As noted, this is much better insurance than Medicare offers. Economists are convinced that employer payments for health insurance are a dollar-for-dollar subsidy for wages. Thus, employees are earning their benefits in the same way they earn their wages. However, the economists conclusion applies to employees as a group, not as individuals. If one employee turned down an employers health plan offer and enrolled in Medicare instead, the employer would not raise the employees wages by paying in cash what was previously paid as a benefit. In fact, it is illegal under the tax law for employees to cash out their benefits receiving as taxable money income what would have been paid as a nontaxed in-kind benefit. No more tax subsidies. Although Medicare enrollees pay premiums that are only a fraction of the real cost of their insurance, what they do pay is with after-tax money. Almost all non-seniors, by contrast, get tax subsidies that lower the cost of their coverage. At work, the employers premium payments are not included in the employees taxable income. Often, employees can pay their share of the premium with pre-tax dollars as well. Obamacare subsidies are all tax credits. Self-employed people who earn too much to get an Obamacare subsidy can claim a tax deduction for their premiums. No more Obamacare premium compression. In a free market for heath insurance, premiums for people in their 50s and 60s would exceed premiums for those in their 20s by a factor of 6 to 1. Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act) limits the difference to 3 to 1, however. That means insurers are forced to overcharge younger buyers so they can undercharge older buyers in the market for individual insurance. This is just another of the many ways that health insurance for older buyers is subsidized in the current system. No health savings accounts. Seniors are the only people in our economy who are not permitted to have a health savings account allowing them to manage some of their own health care dollars. It seems almost certain that this same restriction would apply to younger people who enroll under the Medicare at 50 Act. Counter offer: give us the money instead. The government subsidy to current enrollees in Medicare is in the range of $8,000 to $9,000 a year. It appears that Senate Democrats would like to extend a similar subsidy to people age 50 to 64 although why individuals age 49 or 48 get left out of this largesse is unclear. There are many details that are yet to be pinned down. Yet it is hard to image a scenario under which young seniors would not be better off if they got their proposed subsidy in the form of a check to be deposited in a bank account instead of being enrolled in a clearly inferior health care plan. At a minimum, young seniors should be given a choice: take the money and stay in the current system or use the money to pay an actuarially fair premium and buy into Medicare. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2021/04/24/why-would-a-50-year-old-want-to-join-medicare/ |
Can Derek Chauvin get his convictions tossed on appeal? | The unique circumstances surrounding Derek Chauvin's trial in George Floyd's death could offer the former Minneapolis police officer some shot at winning a retrial on appeal, though most legal experts agree it's a long shot. Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 1/2 minutes last May, killing the 46-year-old Black man and sparking some of the largest protests in U.S. history. His conviction on murder and manslaughter charges was seen by many across the country as a civil rights milestone. Heres a look at some of the issues Chauvin's lawyers might cite in their expected appeal, and their chances of prevailing. The defense has said it was impossible for Chauvin to get a fair trial in Minneapolis because of pretrial publicity and community pressure on jurors to convict. That claim is sure to underpin any appeal. As they arrived at and left the courthouse each day for testimony, jurors passed clear signs that the city was preparing for renewed protests. The courthouse downtown was encircled by razor wire and guarded by armed troops. Most storefront windows were boarded up. A prime target of an appeal would be key rulings by trial Judge Peter Cahill, including that the trial should remain in Minneapolis rather than be moved and that jurors should be sequestered only for deliberations. Cahill also refused to delay the trial after Minneapolis announced a $27 million settlement with Floyds family during jury selection. The defense says that suggested guilt before jurors even heard evidence. The defense has decried as prosecutorial misconduct remarks by the state during closings, including that aspects of the defense case were "nonsense." That claim could make its way into an appeal. Yes, though it's rare. A U.S. appeals court in 1999 vacated White Detroit police Officer Larry Nevers conviction in the beating death of a Black motorist, noting how at least one juror had learned the National Guard was on standby in case Nevers was acquitted and violence ensued. "The Court cannot imagine a more prejudicial extraneous influence than that of a juror discovering that the City he or she resides in is bracing for a riot," it said, adding that letting the conviction stand would send the wrong message that rights to an impartial jury "do not extend to an obviously guilty defendant." Similarly, an appeals court in Florida ordered a new trial for a plain-clothed Hispanic officer, William Lozano, who fatally shot Black motorcyclist Clement Lloyd in 1989. A passenger on the motorcycle also died. Protests erupted in Miami. At the 1991 Miami trial, jurors convicted Lozano of manslaughter. The appellate ruling overturning the conviction highlighted how some jurors admitted they feared an acquittal would renew protests. At his 1993 retrial in Orlando, Lozano was acquitted. Judge Cahill seemed to think that's at least a possibility. He rebuked U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters on Monday for telling a crowd in a Minneapolis suburb days before deliberations started that, if Chauvin wasnt convicted of murder, "weve got to get more confrontational." Cahill called the California Democrats comments "disrespectful to the rule of law," saying elected officials shouldn't comment about ongoing trials. "Their failure to do so, I think, is abhorrent," he said. Cahill indicated that Waters comments could be appealable. "Ill give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you (the defense) something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned," he said in court Monday. Mike Brandt, a leading Minneapolis-based criminal attorney who closely followed the Chauvin trial, said Chauvin's attorneys have heavy lifting to do before they can argue on appeal that jurors were unduly influenced or pressured. He said appellate courts won't simply let Chauvin's lawyers theorize that jurors might have heard Waters' comments. Rather, they must offer proof that specific jurors heard the comments and that those comments influenced their votes to convict, he said. The same goes for statements by prosecutors allegedly disparaging the defense case and for the contention that jurors found Chauvin guilty because they feared triggering angry protests if they didn't. The defense must present compelling evidence typically admissions from jurors themselves that such statements and fears caused them to find Chauvin guilty, Brandt said. The odds are heavily against Chauvin, Brandt and other legal experts say. If the answer is no, Brandt said, they wont toss the verdicts. An appeals court may also look favorably on Cahills reasoning in denying a change of venue. Cahill had noted that media scrutiny of Floyds death was nearly as intense across Minnesota, suggesting that any alternate city would have faced the same challenge of preventing news from tainting the jury. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Also, higher courts have repeatedly ruled that jury selection is an effective way to counteract unflattering media accounts of a defendant and to ensure even-handed jurors are impaneled. And Brandt said Cahill gave Chauvins lawyers more latitude than usual in questioning potential jurors about biases and in striking ones they thought couldnt be fair latitude appellate courts would likely note. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/derek-chauvin-convictions-tossed-appeal |
How can I upload photos without restarting computer in Safe Mode? | Q: I recently attempted to upload photos to Costco. Everything worked fine until I got to the copyright pop-up. When I accepted it, the pop-up closed, then opened. When I again accepted, the upload page opened and I was able to select photos, but when I attempted to upload them, nothing happened. I tried numerous things including uninstalling my anti-virus programs, etc. with no luck. In desperation, I restarted my computer in Safe Mode (with network) and was then able to upload photos. Richard Finger A: What Safe Mode does is boot Windows with only a very limited set of system files and device drivers. Actually, there are two versions of Safe Mode, one with network drivers and one without. You say that you launched the version with network drivers, which explains why you were able to upload the photos. It means that some system file, program or device driver that is blocked from loading by Safe Mode is causing your problem. Now all you have to do is figure out which one of those things is preventing your uploads Id start by uninstalling any programs and devices that you no longer use, then reboot the computer and see if the problem is still there. Next, make sure that all the remaining programs and drivers are up to date. Then load Device Manager from the Control Panel. Right-click on each device in the list and click on Scan for Hardware Changes. Device Manager will check each device driver for conflicts and changes. If there are any conflicts, youll be able to click on Troubleshoot to have the system further check the problem. Advertising If the problem remains, disconnect any remaining devices. If the problem goes away after rebooting, add the devices back in one by one until the problem recurs. If none of these steps expose the culprit, Im afraid you face the chore of starting from scratch reinstalling Windows and then adding programs and devices back in until the problem recurs. I do hope you find the culprit before it gets to that point. Related Tech Q&As Read more from Patrick Marshall here >> Q: I purchased an HP Z4 desktop a few months ago. Instead of installing my ancient Microsoft software, I signed up for Microsoft 365. It looked on the surface to be preferable. For some reason, the search box is missing from Outlook. I have checked the net for solutions. Some mention ways to recover the search box, others state it is a bug of some kind. The only function remotely related is Search People, which seems restricted to the address book. I can no longer search out a word or name and instantly have a dated queue pop up with all emails associated with or containing that subject. This is extremely exasperating in that it seems a glaring omission of a very useful feature that was always in Outlook before. Jeff Howard, Redmond A: Actually, I also use Office 365, including Outlook. And the search field is in a different location than it used to be. Its now in the blue bar at the top of the window when youre viewing a mail folder. If you dont see the search field there, heres how you should be able to get it back. In Outlook, click on File in the menu bar, then click on Options. In the window that pops open, click on Customize Ribbon. Next, youll see two panels. On the left-hand panel select Choose commands from and then select Tool Tabs. Next move to the right-hand panel and make sure its set to Main Tabs. Next, go back to the left-hand panel and highlight the Search option. Finally, click on the Add button that is between the two panels. Save the changes and you should be back in business. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/how-can-i-upload-photos-without-restarting-computer-in-safe-mode/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
How does Revens trade impact Dolphins early 2nd-round outlook? | The Miami Dolphins and the rest of the NFL have some last minute adjusting to do. The 2021 NFL Draft order has been set since the close of the season and, before yesterday, the only needed adjustments to the 1st-round were prompted by the Miami Dolphins themselves after a pair of trades with the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. But upon the news of yesterdays Orlando Brown Jr. trade, the Miami Dolphins are going to have to be ready for some different dynamic to be in play between their scheduled pick at No. 18 overall and No. 36 overall. The Kansas City Chiefs need as a team was prominently at offensive tackle (as evidenced by their trade for Brown). The Ravens are getting a returning Ronnie Stanley at left tackle and are expected to sign Aljandro Villanueva to replace Brown Jr. at tackle which will push the team into other positions that could potentially clash with what the Dolphins are interested in drafting in the early second round. Baltimores top needs include wide receiver, pass rusher and interior offensive line. Ironically enough, those are each of the Dolphins perceived top needs as well. So with the Ravens now owning picks No. 27 and No. 31 in the draft order, Miami will need to be wary of Baltimore double dipping at positions that could be of the same priority that Miami is interested in pursuing. The Dolphins have plenty of NFL Draft capital at their disposal if theyre looking to aggressively pursue an individual player so theyre more than capable of slamming the door shut on Baltimore if they perceive the Ravens to be targeting the same player. The domino effect is something to be wary of here for Miami given their overlap of needs with the Ravens. But based on the Dolphins past trends, theyll likely trust their board and let the available players dictate what direction to go at No. 36 instead of panicking into action. That is one of the most consistent dynamics of Chris Griers tenure as the unquestioned general manager he doesnt make desperate moves and overpay. | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-revens-trade-impact-dolphins-130102489.html?src=rss |
How does Orlando Brown Jr. trade compare to Dolphins Laremy Tunsil deal? | The NFL has seen their latest major NFL offensive tackle trade, with the news breaking yesterday that the Baltimore Ravens were sending Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs amid a slew of exchanged draft choices. But the gold standard of trade compensation for offensive tackles was defined a few years back when the Miami Dolphins traded tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Houston Texans. The Dolphins trade of Tunsil netted the team multiple 1st-round draft choices and was decidedly lopsided: Houston received: OT Laremy Tunsil WR Kenny Stills 2020 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) 2021 sixth-round pick Miami received: 2020 first-round pick (No. 18 overall) 2021 first-round pick (No. 3 overall) 2021 second-round pick (No. 36 overall) DB Johnson Bademosi OT Julien Davenport The trade, if you omit the fringe players in the mix (Davenport, Bademosi and Stills) and total all of the true values of the draft choices involved, valued Tunsil as over 3,500 points on the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart. That total in value exceeds the value of the No. 1 overall pick by over 500 points. Below, youll find the full terms of Baltimore and Kansas Citys trade featuring Brown Jr. Kansas City gets: OT Orlando Brown 2021 second-round pick (No. 58) 2022 6th round pick. Baltimore gets: 2021 first-round pick (No. 31) third-round pick (No. 94) fourth-round pick (No. Kansas City received assets valued at approximately 336 points plus Brown Jr himself. Baltimore received assets valued at approximately 772 points. The full values cannot be calculated until the 2022 NFL Draft order is finalized at the end of the 2021 NFL season. 436 total points approximately the value of the No. 46 overall pick in the NFL Draft. So while Baltimore should be pleased with their returns for Orlando Brown Jr, one thing is abundantly clear. The Ravens and Chiefs both unanimously agreed that Brown Jr. is a fraction of the value that Tunsil was worth on the trade market. | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-orlando-brown-jr-trade-122923155.html?src=rss |
How many funds should I own to save for retirement? | This article provides information and education for investors. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. The decision to invest to build long-term wealth is complicated by the plethora of choices. Ideally, you should be able to count your mutual funds with the fingers on your hands, says James H. Lee, a certified financial planner and founder of Delaware-based investment advisory firm StratFI. We asked financial advisors to answer some common questions about selecting funds such as mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds to build a retirement portfolio. While its possible to build a diversified portfolio purchasing individual company stocks or bonds, most investors dont have the time, experience or cash to build a broad portfolio on their own. Purchasing shares in funds can be a cost-effective way to invest with instant diversification. If you build your own portfolio, you could be overweighted in certain industries, certain themes, certain investing styles, Lee says. Mutual funds are a great way to easily diversify and spread risk around. The first thing to note is that when [financial advisors] say funds, there are usually two kinds were referring to: mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, says Scott Schleicher, senior financial advisor at Personal Capital, an online financial planning company. These funds come in many varieties, but in general mutual funds can be actively managed attempting to beat average market returns or follow an index such as the S&P 500, in which case the fund will rise and fall in value as the index does. Funds that track an index are known as index funds. A close cousin of index funds are ETFs. ETFs mostly follow an index, are usually cheaper, more tax-efficient, and as the name implies, can be traded throughout the day like a stock on an exchange, Schleicher says. That depends on the fund. Sometimes it is enough to have just one fund. Balanced funds and target-date funds are fully diversified and are built to manage risk, Lee says. Alternatively, you might have just one fund if you are just starting out. Target-date funds are a type of mutual fund designed to be a one and done option geared toward retirement savings. These funds also known as life-cycle or target-retirement funds make automatic portfolio adjustments to grow more conservative the closer you are to retirement age. If you contribute to a 401(k) retirement plan through your employer, theres a good chance you may be investing in this type of fund. A 2020 report from investment company Vanguard shows that 78% of participants in retirement plans it manages contribute to a target-date fund, and 54% solely use target-date funds for investment. The question is less about the number of funds you should use to invest for retirement and more about the range of funds you need to be adequately diversified. For example, robo-advisors online investment firms that create automated portfolios for investors typically use at least eight to 10 ETFs to diversify each clients account, an analysis by NerdWallet shows. Each ETF contributes to the total portfolio by focusing on a specific asset class. Common fund asset classes include U.S. stocks by size of company (such as large, midsize and small public companies), stocks of international companies in developed or developing countries, and bond funds that hold U.S. Treasurys, corporate debt or municipal bonds. Whats key is to know whats under the hood of your existing funds and how new fund purchases might increase your exposure to new asset classes. For example, you could hold three ETFs that all partially consist of large-cap U.S. tech stock holdings, potentially leading to overexposure in that area, Schleicher says. Just watch out of overlap between your funds, Lee says. If you are not careful, you may be less diversified than you think. More From NerdWallet Kevin Voigt writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]. originally appeared on NerdWallet. | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/04/how-many-funds-should-i-own-to-save-for-retirement.html |
What makes a plant a weed? | A: Perhaps they compete in a small way with the mother plant, but I usually let the smaller plants fight things out undisturbed. If you want lots more Lenten roses, scoop up a shovelful of soil and seedlings and carefully separate them. Plant 4 inches apart in loamy soil in slight shade and fertilize with liquid plant food in May. Feed again in August. Repeat next year. Plants will be big enough to bloom two years from now. Q: Sitting in traffic, I saw an oak with a base 10 feet around that splits into two trunks 5 feet from the ground. Charles Youngs, e-mail A: No, the two smaller trunks have a few less rings than the base trunk. The two probably resulted from equally vigorous sprouts that occurred at the 5-foot level of the seedling oak several decades ago. The base of the tree has rings that formed when it grew from the original acorn. The two trunks began forming rings when they started extending. Q: I want to purchase a weeping cherry tree this spring. I know there are grafted ones and ones started by seed. Tara Levine, DeKalb County A: Grafted weeping cherry trees maintain about the same height they possess when planted. Seedling trees, like 'Higan' weeping cherry, can grow to 30 feet tall. Both can be attractive in a landscape of appropriate size. The grafted cherry will sometimes send up straight shoots that originate below the graft, but they are easy to prune out. Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to www.yoursouthern garden.com for details on his TV show or visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com. | https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/home--garden/what-makes-plant-weed/V6GucYEpyzaeWcGDRlLbeL/ |
Why do Christmas cactus buds fall off? | A: That's funny I got a different question a few days ago: "A bumper crop of large acorns have landed in my lawn. Why are there so many?" The size of an acorn crop depends mostly on the environmental conditions of the current and previous year. If you have a lot of acorns, there was good rainfall, moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine in the past. If your acorns are sparse, things were not so pleasant for the oak. Tell your squirrels to stick around and see what happens next year. Q: I'd like to plant several Rainier cherry trees just to see what happens. I LOVE them.John Miller, Tucker A: So, I see you are a gambler! Sweet cherry trees have a tough time bearing fruit in metro Atlanta. Temperature swings in winter usually cause them to flower out of season. The resulting cold damage leaves few flowers to develop into cherries. The trees themselves may survive for several years but you may only get enough cherries for one pie in that time. If you think peaches are prone to disease and insect damage, cherries are even worse! Leaf spot, fruit rot, trunk canker and Japanese beetles can do tremendous damage. If you decide to go ahead with your project, remember that Rainier cherries require another cherry variety blooming nearby at the same time to provide pollen. Let me know how it goes! | https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/home--garden/why-christmas-cactus-buds-fall-off/9v6l0Is6eFqUz1liqCmHSO/ |
When to trim beautyberry and crepe myrtle? | A: As many have discovered, holly has a will to live that conquers most herbicides. Glyphosate (Roundup) is slowly absorbed by holly leaves and it doesn't travel far from the point of application. I've applied glyphosate to a Chinese holly in my landscape twice a year for two years yet it still persists. I think you'll discover root sprouts for a couple of years after using either method. However, if you are persistent about removing the sprouts, the holly will gradually starve and disappear. Q: I've always known yellow jacket nests to have two openings. The second opening helps ventilate the nest while serving as an emergency exit. Greg Brett, email A: UGA insect expert Paul Guillebeau said sometimes they have multiple holes by chance. They make nests in existing holes like rotted out tree roots or under logs. Paul said he's seen a nest with four exit holes, but doesn't think they made more than one hole on purpose. Q: We are looking for an evergreen tree to provide shade in our front yard. Susan Huguley, email A: I cant think of anything evergreen that provides effective shade other than a pine tree. My guess is thats not what youre looking for. I think youd be better served by a couple of deciduous trees that cool your house in summer but allow the winter sun to warm it. I have a list of fast-growing shade trees at bit.ly/fasttree. | https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/when-trim-beautyberry-and-crepe-myrtle/zfjFmehQ3cdROphIJvSX3L/ |
Could the Bears realistically land Justin Fields in the 2021 draft? | The Chicago Bears are one of the top teams rumored to draft a quarterback this year in the 2021 NFL draft. There are rumors of them trading up in the draft, along with rumors of them standing pat at 20 and taking a quarterback on Day 2 or Day 3. .With Andy Dalton promised the Week 1 starting job, any quarterback drafted by the Bears is likely going to redshirt their rookie season. That is going to help out any young quarterback, a lot. In the month of April, quarterback Justin Fields has seen his draft stock plummet. At one point, Fields was a lock for the second overall pick. Now, Zach Wilson is a -2000 favorite to be the second overall pick by the Jets, which means Fields out of that spot. The next quarterback off the board will come from the 49ers with the third pick in the draft. Theyll have a choice between Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance. If Fields isnt their choice, he might have to wait a decent amount of time before he finally hears his name called. Whether he plummets out of the top 10 or not, teams like the Bears wont likely take any chances. Though the Falcons have rumored to be interested in trading out of their spot, at No. 4, the Bears would have to give up a lot to move up 16 spots. It doesnt seem realistic. Teams like the Broncos and even Eagles, (if theyd like to draft another quarterback) have more pulling power than Chicago, as they hold the 9th and 12th spots in this years draft. If Chicago is going to trade into the top 10, the two realistic options for them are the sixth pick and the eighth pick. The Dolphins dont need a quarterback, neither do the Panthers. The Bears shouldnt give up more than this years first-round pick and their 2022 first-round pick. There will likely be a mid-round pick or two added to the trade as well. Even if Fields were to fall out of the top 10, teams like the Patriots and the Washington Football Team have expressed interest in Fields. The only way the Bears get Fields is by jumping both teams in the draft via trade. Story continues Here are the likely options for the Bears to get in a position to draft Fields: With Miami Bears Receive: Sixth overall pick (Justin Fields). Dolphins Receive: 20th overall pick, 52nd overall pick, 2022 first-round pick With Carolina Bears Receive: Eighth overall pick (Justin Fields). Panthers Receive: 20th overall pick, 83rd overall pick, 2022 first-round pick We are five days away from the 2021 NFL draft. Itll be interesting to see which decision(s) Ryan Pace makes on Day 1. Whether its Fields or not, this draft is pivotal to the future success of this team. They have to figure out a long-term quarterback plan. Andy Dalton doesnt have a long-term future in Chicago. List | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-bears-realistically-land-justin-135716396.html?src=rss |
What do Greater Grand Forks police do with their body camera footage? | Apr. 24When uniformed Grand Forks Police Department officers interact with the public, they can turn their body cameras on or off at their discretion but GFPD Lt. Derik Zimmel said he rarely, if ever, goes looking for footage of an incident only to find it doesn't exist. In the years since the department adopted the technology around 2014, he said no Grand Forks officer has ever been investigated for improperly turning off a camera. The same is true in the East Grand Forks Police Department, which has used body cams since 2018. Very rarely is an incident not recorded, said Police Chief Mike Hedlund. When it does happen, it's generally because the camera's battery died at the end of a 12-hour shift, or because an officer thought it was turned on but mistakenly did activate it while rushing to an incident. If an officer was found to be intentionally not recording incidents, Hedlund said it would trigger an internal investigation that could result in disciplinary action, up to termination. As the trial for Derek Chauvin wrapped up this week in Minneapolis, there has been renewed attention to body camera footage. Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty on Tuesday, April 20, of kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, in an improper use of force that resulted in Floyd's death. Hedlund said that body cameras aren't perfect, but they have come to be a significant benefit, both for officers and for the community at large. "I mean, it's one view of something," Hedlund said. "The officer could be looking with their face one direction, and their body could be pointed in a different direction, so the camera isn't going to get everything the officer is looking at, but it's giving you a better idea, obviously, than if he didn't have it all. It's at least going to give me some documentation of these situations." The Grand Forks and East Grand Forks departments differ slightly in their approach to body cam usage. In Grand Forks, department policy outlines when cameras should and should not be used, but officers' decision as to when to activate their cameras is largely up to their own best discretion, Zimmel said. On the East Grand Forks side, officer discretion has largely been taken out of the equation, Hedlund said. Story continues According to Grand Forks police policy, body cameras should be activated to record all traffic and pedestrian contacts, all crimes in progress and other enforcement actions, and any other situation the officer believes should be recorded. Body cameras may be deactivated at the officer's discretion to protect the dignity of others, during non-work-related personal time such as break periods, and to protect conversations with other employees who are unaware they are being recorded while they are not performing official duties. Cameras also may be turned off, unless the footage is considered to be evidence, when recording victims of sex offenses, confidential informants, undercover officers, innocent bystanders, and places where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. Unlike GFPD's policy, East Grand Forks' Police Department does not detail when a camera may be turned off only when it is expected to be on, and when it is prohibited from running, such as in medical facilities, during body searches when the subject is asked to display any private areas, or during casual, informal interactions with the public that serve no evidentiary purpose, to name a few. Policies in both communities are continuously evaluated and updated to reflect best practices, Zimmel and Hedlund said. According to Lt. Dwight Love, who oversees the Grand Forks Police Department body camera program, the department has 60 cameras. All uniformed officers are issued a body camera to wear during their shift, but the cameras are also available for detectives to use when they wish. Camera footage is uploaded into an evidence-storage system. Then, all footage that is determined to be of minimal interest in any potential criminal or civil trial is held for up to 30 days before being purged from the system to make space for more files. Footage that does depict actions that could become relevant in trial are held for up to a year or longer. On a recent Monday, there were about 10,300 videos from body cameras and dashboard cameras stored in the system, Love said. He estimated they make up some 5,300 hours of video. In East Grand Forks, per Minnesota state statute, footage from inactive cases is held for 90 days, and footage showing officer use of force or actions referenced in a formal complaint is held for one year. In those latter situations, and in other serious circumstances like large crime scenes and officer-involved crashes, it's department policy for a supervisor to respond to the scene to ensure body camera footage is properly documented. Like any public record, anyone may request the footage from their encounter with police, although Zimmel cautioned that because the videos would be subject to redaction, such requests could quickly become pricey. He added that because of the record retention schedule, any requests should be made in a timely manner. Prior to releasing the footage, department staff would need to review the video minute-by-minute to ensure nothing confidential is released, Zimmel said. "It's not just the encounter with the person, it's anything else that that camera captures, including extraneous radio traffic," he said. "Maybe panning and a juvenile is seen in the background, or if you're going into somebody's house or on a traffic crash scene and someone's receiving medical treatment. All of those things need to be redacted under state law. So, it can get fairly complex, and at times expensive." Both Zimmel and Hedlund agreed that officers have come to rely on body cams, and they don't see them going away anytime soon. Zimmel noted that since GFPD adopted the cameras, the number of outside complaints against officers has gone down, and officers often are exonerated by body cam footage in complaints that are made. "I think officers find it to be a bit of a safety net for them," Zimmel said. "It's going to show our officers going out there, engaging with the public in ways that we expect them to, and performing the job that they're supposed to be performing. I think officers are far more reluctant to go out on the street without an active body cam, at this point. ... "I think we'd have a fight on our hands if we try to get rid of them at this point." | https://news.yahoo.com/greater-grand-forks-police-body-143100300.html |
Has the condensed 2020 season caught up with major leaguers in 2021? | Those players are all expected back. Dexter Fowler (Angels), James Paxton (Mariners), and Kirby Yates (Blue Jays) have had season-ending surgeries. If Eloy Jimenez (White Sox) and Trevor Rosenthal (Athletics) return from their injuries, it wont be until late in the season. Chris Archer (Rays), Cody Bellinger (Dodgers), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Lorenzo Cain (Brewers), Carlos Carrasco (Mets), Johnny Cueto (Giants), Max Fried (Braves), KeBryan Hayes (Pirates), Dinelson Lamet (Padres), Lance Lynn (White Sox), Anthony Rendon (Angels), Juan Soto (Nationals), George Springer (Blue Jays), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), Luke Voit (Yankees), and Christian Yelich (Brewers) are among the notable players missing from their teams. Advertisement Meanwhile, Tyler Beede (Giants), Mike Clevinger (Padres), Chris Sale (Red Sox), Luis Severino (Yankees), Noah Syndergaard (Mets), and Justin Verlander (Astros) are in varying stages of recovering from Tommy John surgery, as are nine other pitchers. Derek Rhoads, who tracks injuries for Baseball Prospectus, ran the numbers. If you exclude absences related to COVID-19, Rhoads found that injuries were up 12 percent from 2019 (MLBs last full season) over the first 18 days of the season. Thats not enough of a jump to say baseball has a crisis on its hands. But its enough to be worried about what will come next as the season progresses. There are a lot of unknowns out there, said Dr. Stephen Fealy, an orthopedic specialist with the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan who also consults with the Players Association and is a member of MLBs medical advisory committee. The 2020 season was unlike any that came before. Players prepared as usual before spring training came to a sudden stop in mid-March when the pandemic hit. The game was shut down until early July when players came back together at their home ballparks to prepare for a 60-game season spread over 67 days. Advertisement The Dodgers then played 18 games in the expanded playoffs and the Rays 20. Other teams, including the Red Sox, didnt play any. To what degree the start-stop-start-stop schedule of 2020 will have on knee and elbow ligaments this season is to be determined. Its something teams spend the winter researching and trying to prepare for. But without a similar event to look back on, it was a lot of guesswork. The usual cadence of training was disrupted, Fealy said. It seems like there are more sprains and strains, but its too early to officially say that. Were seeing a lot of oblique and hamstring strains but havent seen MCL strains increase. Theres no playbook for this. Fealy labeled what happened last season as de-training. Team doctors and athletic trainers were split on how best to handle it. Initially, all teams instructed their pitchers to remain on a regular schedule. But as the pandemic worsened, some teams cut way back on throwing programs. Hitters quarantining at their homes were left swinging at balls off a tee into a net in the backyard, while pitchers searched for somebody to play catch with. Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez said the increased possibility of injury has been an ongoing topic of conversation among players since the start of spring training. A lot of guys were concerned about it, he said. Any time you just shut it down and then you ramp it up again this game is very demanding. You need that long spring training to get your legs under you. Advertisement Fealy, who pitched at Columbia, said there were some discussions about limiting innings or pitches early in the season, but the decision was made to let individual teams set their own limits. Through Friday, starting pitchers were averaging 5.06 innings, about an out less than the same time period in 2019. The 26-man roster has made it easier for teams to go to their bullpens earlier. There were only five complete games through Friday, two of them the no-hitters thrown by Joe Musgrove and Carlos Rodon. How best to protect arms is something thats always evolving, Fealy said. These are finely tuned athletes across the board and the demands on them are hard to maintain. For pitchers especially, this is new. Their cadence is off. Everybody I speak to on the medical side of this is watching to see what happens. The other issue is how many pitchers are bent on throwing 100 miles per hour. Fealy doesnt believe that leads to injuries as pitchers are better prepared and conditioned for the physical demands. But the human body has a limited capacity, he said. It all plays into it. The Red Sox were among the teams that prioritized building roster depth to counter the expected injuries. The Sox have used six starters in the majors this season and have five others being stretched out in Worcester with what will soon be their Triple A team. Advertisement VALUE PLAYERS Arroyo and Andriese showing their worth Matt Andriese has a 1.80 ERA in seven appearances this season. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press If you were drawing up a list of the most valuable Red Sox this season, Matt Andriese and Christian Arroyo would have to be in the top 10. Andriese has faced as few as three batters in a game and as many as 11. Hes become the teams best option to hold a lead in the seventh inning and could soon move up to the eighth inning if Adam Ottavino doesnt get straightened out. Andriese, who was signed for $2.1 million in December, rarely gives up hard contact despite a modest fastball. He succeeds by having a four-pitch mix that includes a confounding changeup. They were quick to sign him. Chaim [Bloom] knew him from Tampa and how valuable he could be, a rival executive said. Everybody needs a pitcher like that. Arroyo, a waiver claim last season, was signed for $581,500 this year. He has played nearly 60 percent of the innings at second base. That has allowed Kik Hernndez to play the outfield more than was expected and improve what otherwise would be a glaring weakness. Arroyo also went into the weekend hitting .364 with a .927 OPS. That is unlikely to last, but hes made lineup building much easier for Alex Cora. Cora said before the season that his plan was to move Hernndez to second base late in games to help protect leads. But Arroyo has played well enough defensively to take that need away. Christian Arroyo has performed above average at second base and at the plate. Hannah Foslien/Getty A few other observations about the Red Sox: Advertisement MLB instituted the tiebreaker rule for extra innings last season as a coronavirus protocol so games would finish faster. It doesnt seem likely to go away any time soon. Managers and players almost universally like it, and many if not most fans do, too, based on feedback. Its one of those things you want to dislike at first but come around to after watching games. It forces the action by starting extra innings with a runner on second. Cora wants to expand it. Hed like to see the 11th inning start with runners on first and second and the 12th inning start with the bases loaded and one out. I saw that as an announcer in a qualifier for the WBC in Mexico and thought it was amazing, Cora said. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. You could soon see the Sox bunt in extra innings on the road. Cora firmly believes the road team needs to do everything it can to score first rather than face losing on a single. The average temperature at Fenway Park through the first 13 home games was 53.5 degrees and most of the night games were played with a brisk wind coming in from center field. Thank God I am [a DH], J.D. Martinez said. I feel bad for those guys being out there. I know how I feel and Im out there from the on-deck circle to the batters box then I go back inside. Its cold. Youve got the wind blowing in your face when youre hitting. Your eyes are getting all watery. Its freezing. Every pitch that goes by, your hands get more and more numb and your eyes more and more dry. Its not fun. It really isnt. Its not baseball weather. Eduardo Rodriguez, who starts Sunday, has pitched at least five innings in 31 consecutive starts going back to May 4, 2019. Only Shane Bieber of the Indians (36) and Justin Verlander of the Astros (33) have longer such streaks. The Sox are 25-6 in those games with Rodriguez 20-4 with a 3.39 ERA. These are not glory days for Fenway Sports Group. It gifted the Dodgers a World Series championship (and probably more to come) with the Mookie Betts trade in 2020, and has now lost its standing in Europe by joining the failed attempt to start a lucrative Super League of soccer powers. Only two days after it was introduced, the Super League collapsed as FSG-owned Liverpool bailed out along with the other conspirators from the English Premier League following howls of outrage from fans. The media reaction in England made Dan Shaughnessy look like Miss Manners. FSG are supposed to be custodians of the club. So, after such a cack-handed, failed money grab, how can they be trusted ever again with handling something so precious to so many? wrote Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo. Cack-handed means clumsy, by the way. Doyle predicted the debacle would cost team president Mike Gordon or chief executive Billy Hogan his job and questioned whether John Henry or Tom Werner would be able to attend games at Liverpools stadium. This is the beginning of the end for FSG at Anfield, Doyle wrote. ETC. Not with Burnes Corbin Burnes is pitching like the Brewers' ace this season. Gregory Bull/Associated Press Corbin Burnes opened the 2019 season in Milwaukees rotation and was demoted to the bullpen by May 1 after going 0-2 with a 10.70 ERA in four starts. The Brewers tried the 26-year-old righthander as a starter again last season and hes been one of the best pitchers in the game since. Burnes has thrown 24 innings without a walk while striking out 40 this season. No starter has done anything like that since 2013, when Adam Wainwright struck out 35 before issuing his first walk. On Tuesday, Burnes faced the Padres at Petco Park and threw six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. He has allowed one earned run all season with opponents hitting .098 with a .300 OPS. Burnes is the first pitcher since at least 1901 to strike out 40 without a walk in a four-game stretch. Minnesotas Byron Buxton homered off Burnes on April 3. He has thrown 18 scoreless innings since. Brewers manager Craig Counsell doesnt see Burnes as being an early-season fluke. Hes earning those numbers because of how well hes pitching, Counsell said. The data backs that up. Burnes throws a heavy two-seam fastball and a curveball he has yet to give up a hit on. Hes as good as anyone weve seen so far this year, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. Extra bases In 1991, Brewers outfielder Dante Bichette met his future wife, Mariana, while working out at the Golds Gym on Lansdowne Street behind Fenway Park. She was a student at Boston University who had only started working there that day. Bichette returned to the ballpark saying he met somebody special but hadnt asked her out. Don Baylor, who was Milwaukees hitting coach, prodded Bichette to go back across the street and try again. Thirty years later, Bo Bichette hit a home run for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night that landed just a few feet from where his parents met. The Golds Gym isnt there anymore, but the memories are. Blue Jays director of baseball media Richard Griffin retrieved the ball for the family . . . Albert Pujols, 41, has stolen at least one base in 20 of his 21 seasons. He became the oldest Angels player to steal a base when he took third against the Rangers on Monday. Of the 27 players with at least 500 home runs, Pujols is 13th in stolen bases with 115. Barry Bonds is first with 514 and Mark McGwire last with 12 . . . The White Sox went into the weekend 18-1 against lefthanded starters since the start of the 2020 season . . . Julio Urias, who closed out the World Series for the Dodgers last fall, started 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA. The 24-year-old lefthander is part of the reason David Price has been pitching in relief . . . MLB Network is trying something different on Sunday afternoon for the Yankees-Indians game. Instead of having traditional announcers, CC Sabathia, John Smoltz, and Carlos Pena will join host Stephen Nelson for a casual conversation during the game. The group will be at the networks studios in New Jersey. It was Sabathia who came up with the idea, and he might be onto something. At some point, viewers dont need to watch a single to left field on a big-screen, high-definition television and have the announcer say, Theres a single to left field. The Red Sox telecasts on NESN shine when Dennis Eckersley and Jerry Remy are unguarded and candid. This format could work . . . Spend any time around White Sox manager Tony La Russa and youll hear about his commitment to rescuing dogs and cats. He founded the nonprofit Animal Rescue Foundation in the Bay Area in 1991, with his wife, Elaine. The organization, now run by professionals, has been in turmoil in recent months. An announcement this past week said La Russa, his wife, and their two daughters had resigned from the board of directors. But La Russa then released his own statement a day later, saying he was staying on and he hoped his family members would reconsider their decision . . . Condolences to the family and many friends of former major league player and hitting coach Tom Robson, who died Tuesday after a long illness. He was 75. Robson coached with the Rangers from 1986-92 and with the Mets from 1997-2000 and again in 2002. He was one of the first hitting coaches to make regular use of video as a teaching tool. Robson also hit 56 home runs for the Double A Pittsfield Rangers from 1972-73 . . . Happy birthday to Ken Tatum, who is 77. The righthander pitched for the Red Sox from 1971-73, appearing in 59 games. Tatum had a dominant rookie season with the Angels in 1969 but wasnt the same pitcher after hitting Paul Blair of the Orioles in the face with a pitch on May 31, 1970. Tatum was less inclined to pitch inside, and his statistics suffered. Tatum was part of some notable trades. The Red Sox obtained him from the Angels in 1970 in the deal that sent Tony Conigliaro to the West Coast. Then in 1973, Tatum and Reggie Smith were traded to the Cardinals for Bernie Carbo and Rick Wise. Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/24/sports/has-condensed-2020-season-caught-up-with-major-leaguers-2021/ |
Did Washington Almost Trade For All-Pro Tackle Orlando Brown? | The trade price for the WFT was, in the end, viewed as prohibitive, and so the two-time Pro Bowler and Baltimore native Orlando Brown has been shipped by the Ravens to the Kansas City Chiefs. Inarguably, Orlando Brown Jr. would've looked handsome in a Washington Football Team uniform, and the move from Baltimore to D.C. would've been an easy one. But the trade price for the WFT was, in the end, viewed as prohibitive, and so the two-time Pro Bowler and Baltimore native has been shipped by the Ravens to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs sent the Ravens draft picks this year in the first round, third and fourth, as well as a fifth-round pick in 2022. That is a bonanza, and as John Keim of ESPN was first to note, something Washington kicked around before coach Ron Rivera and company decided the price of acquiring Brown would be too much. So the relative hole at left tackle remains. Brown, a third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2018, is 6-8, 355 pounds and just 24 years old. It is his desire to play left tackle, and he'll get his wish with the Chiefs, who have cleverly revamped their O-line in a high-profile way as to protect QB Patrick Mahomes. They paid a price - but keeping Mahomes upright might prove to be worth it. Washington, meanwhile, continues on with its desire to find a long-term answer at left tackle. Trent Williams, now with the San Francisco 49ers, is but a memory. Brown would've been near-perfect on the field, though as he is soon due a fat new contract, he becomes expensive in both ways. READ MORE: WFT At 19: What History Says They'll Get Washington's flirtation with the Brown idea, though, does hint at what the WFT might do in the upcoming NFL Draft. Four offensive tackles could go in the first round. Will Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw - a D.C. kid - be available when the Washington Football Team picks at No. Washington has desires and needs at linebacker and at QB, where an heir to Ryan Fitzpatrick would be nice. But the Brown idea might have just given us the best idea as to which way the WFT will lean next Thursday. READ MORE: How WFT Might Rank The Top 10 Safeties | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-trade-for-ravens-all-pro-tackle-orlando-brown |
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