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Which Type of Tortilla Is Healthier? | Soft tortillas are the traditional base for Mexican fajitas or burritosbut, depending on the type of flour or cornmeal used, these thin round flatbreads can vary widely in calories, sodium, and more. Amy Keating, RD, a CR nutritionist, checked out 40 tortillas from five big brands. The three examples below illustrate the nutritional differences among corn, flour, and whole-wheat tortillas. Plus, try our recipe for Chicken and Guacamole Tacos. Corn Tortillas Offering a firm, chewy texture, corn tortillas come out ahead in a side-by-side nutrition competition with other types. Corn is a good-for - you whole grain, Keating explains, and corn tortillas typically contain less fat and simpler ingredients, and are very low in sodium. Mission Yellow Corn (1 ounce) Calories: 50 Saturated fat: 0 g Fiber: 1.5 g Protein: 1 g Sodium: 5 mg Flour Tortillas You may prefer flour tortillas for their mild flavor and pillowy-soft texture. But theyre the least healthy choice in the tortilla aisle: They are made from refined white flour, often contain additives, and can pack a lot of sodiumespecially compared with corn tortillas. Tia Rosa Flour Fajita (1 ounce) Calories: 100 Saturated fat: 1 g Fiber: <1 g Protein: 2 g Sodium: 240 mg Whole-Wheat Tortillas These tortillas have more fiber than white flour ones but have a similar mouthfeel. Still, they are similar to flour tortillas in sodium and processed ingredients. Choosing a smaller-sized whole-wheat (or flour) tortilla can keep sodium and calories in check. La Banderita 100% Whole Wheat Fajita (1 ounce) Calories: 80 Saturated fat: 1 g Fiber: 3 g Protein: 2 g Sodium: 150 mg Chicken and Guacamole Tacos 2 ripe avocados, pitted 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons) 18 teaspoon each, salt and pepper 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 cup jarred salsa 14 cup water 1 rotisserie chicken*, meat removed (about 4 cups) 12 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed 2 cups cabbage, shredded 1 tomato, chopped (about 1 cup) 12 cup cilantro leaves Story continues *Rotisserie chicken varies in sodium content. We used one that has 250 mg per 3-ounce serving to calculate the nutritional information for this recipe. Directions 1. In a small bowl, mash the avocados with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add oil and chili powder. Cook about 30 seconds. Then add salsa, water, and chicken. Heat until warmed, about 10 minutes. 3. Spread warm tortillas with the avocado mixture, then top with the chicken, cabbage, tomato, and cilantro. Makes 6 servings Nutrition information per 2 tacos: 450 calories, 19 g fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, 42 g carbs, 8 g fiber, 8 g sugars (0 g added), 29 g protein, 475 mg sodium Editors Note: This article also appeared in the May 2021 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. | https://news.yahoo.com/type-tortilla-healthier-100001288.html |
Is the row about Jane Austen anything more than a storm in a teacup? | There is an old meme of a wonky coat hook, its fists raised, with the caption drunk octopus wants to fight and, increasingly, when I read yet another story in which historical institutions are attacked for talking about history, this is the image that comes to mind. Put em up, facts. Lets take this outside. After Richard Deverell, the head of Kew Gardens, had to fend off critics accusing him of preposterous posturing for acknowledging Kews roots in colonialism and changing display boards to give more information on the history of its collections, and after the head of the National Trust, Hilary McGrady, had to defend what she called telling really interesting stories about our properties, which includes information about how the slave trade funded the building of some of those properties, now Jane Austens House Museum in Hampshire has been forced to issue a statement explaining that its plans to refresh the displays and decorations did not amount to woke madness or even revisionism, of which it had been accused. We will not, and have never had any intention to, interrogate Jane Austen, her characters or her readers for drinking tea, the museum said, in a statement that sounded more baffled than exasperated. In the words of Cher Horowitz from the film Clueless Emma, as imagined by 1990s Hollywood Ugh. As if! As if the problem is historical accuracy concerning the time in which Austen, an author about whom very little is actually known, lived and wrote. As if providing more information about an era, information that, as Jane Austens House wearily pointed out, already exists in the public domain and has not been dredged up with the specific intention of cancelling Austen, is anything other than adding another layer to another really interesting story. As if anyone wants to cancel Jane Austen, as if the intentions behind this are anything other than cynical and deliberately obtuse. As if, as if, as if. In other Austen news, Netflix has announced an adaptation of Persuasion, starring Dakota Johnson, and directed by Carrie Cracknell, who is moving from theatre directing to her feature film debut. There is another Persuasion in the works, starring Successions Sarah Snook, and this is a good time to argue that, while it may not be the flashiest Austen novel, Persuasion is the best. If you dont agree, then drunken octopus will fight you. Put em up. Lets take this outside. Annie Mac: the life and soul of her Radio 1 party Annie Mac: a friend with really good taste in music. Photograph: c/o Radio 1 Even now, after decades of listening to it, line-up changes at Radio 1 leave me feeling a little unsettled, in the same way that I do when a favoured brand of chocolate tweaks its recipe or a faithful moisturiser is discontinued. But I felt genuine surprise when Annie Mac announced that she would be leaving Radio 1 in September after 17 years. She said that with her debut novel out soon she wanted more time to write fiction, make podcasts and see her children. I also love the idea of leaving the party (and make no mistake, working at Radio 1 does feel like a party) with a huge smile on my face, while Im still having the most fun I can, she added. It has been noted by many that radio has been a perfect medium during the tougher months of this pandemic, that its blend of familiarity and intimacy has been particularly comforting during uncomfortable times. Throughout her tenure at Radio 1, Mac captured that sense that you were listening to a friend with really good taste in music, giving recommendations you could trust, as if you knew her. (That easy intimacy forms the backbone of her podcast, Changes, which memorably gave Kelis the opportunity to air her thoughts on men running the world worth a listen, if you havent heard it already.) Mac also resisted genre snobbery, while the eclecticism of her playlists was magical. Clara Amfo will take over her Future Sounds show, an excellent choice, but I have loved being at Annie Macs party. It always felt like everyone was invited. Tom Kerridge: a veggie fish finger, please Marcus Rashford and Tom Kerridge: cooking up a storm. Photograph: Gemma Bell and Company/PA Marcus Rashfords inspirational fight against child hunger and food poverty continues apace, as the footballer teams up with chef Tom Kerridge to launch @FullTimeMeals on Instagram. The weekly videos will offer recipes and cooking tutorials aimed at helping families make easy and pocket-friendly meals. One will be the ultimate fish finger sandwich, a coup for the humble fish fingers PR, which may have taken a, ahem, battering after the Netflix anti-fish film Seaspiracy. As a vegetarian who likes the taste of meat, fish fingers are the one food I miss. You can get decent sausage and bacon substitutes, but there is no good non-fish fish finger and I have tried many. The risk is that these kinds of initiatives might come across as preachy and therefore ineffective, but this feels different. It is coming from experience Rashford and Kerridge spent last week talking about how their teenage years informed the idea of teaching people to cook without gadgets or expensive ingredients, and without feeling too intimidated to begin, because everyone has to start somewhere. If theyve got any ideas for a veggie fish finger, Im all ears. | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/24/row-about-jane-austen-storm-in-a-teacup |
Could the 2020 NFL Draft Produce a Patriots Pro Bowler? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The Pro Bowl is probably the one live sporting event you really havent missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Selections are subjective, the game doesnt include players participating in that years Super Bowl or many other stars for myriad reasons and those that do play are giving something considerably less than 100% effort. That doesnt mean the game, or at least the idea of it, is completely meaningless. Getting selected to the Pro Bowl is still a big deal for many players, no matter how unscientific the process is of getting there, and seeing which teams rack up the most Pro Bowl selections in a given season tends to provide a good barometer of who the haves and have nots in the NFL are. Patriots Talk Podcast: Thomas Dimitroff goes deep on the 21 draft class and Patriots' approach | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube Even in 2020, uninspiring a year as it was for the Patriots, they still mustered three players who were voted into the hypothetical Pro Bowl that was never played: Stephon Gilmore, Matthew Slater and Jake Bailey. Two special teamers and a cornerback who only played 11 games. The berth was the ninth for Slater, tying him with John Hannah for second in team history, and the third straight for Gilmore, which regardless of how deserving it was, continued to solidify his status as one of the great free-agent signings in franchise history. Baileys selection may have been the most noteworthy, however. Bailey, whom New England traded up for in the fifth round in 2019, snapped a six-year stretch for New England without having drafted and developed a Pro Bowl player. Jamie Collins, drafted in the second round, 52nd overall in 2013, had been the most recent Patriots draft pick to play in a Pro Bowl, doing so in his third season. Put another way: New England made 57 draft picks between the remainder of 2013 and beginning of 2019 without selecting a player who has (yet) made a Pro Bowl. Story continues To be sure, there are plenty of quality players the Patriots have drafted in the interim, guys like James White, Shaq Mason, Joe Thuney, Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon, not to mention the usual undrafted gems such as David Andrews, Jonathan Jones, J.C. Jackson and Malcolm Butler the last of whom even made a Pro Bowl in 2015. Theoretically, others like Isaiah Wynn, Chase Winovich or NKeal Harry still could, too. While Bailey is truly a weapon of a punter, the kind that Bill Belichick has been known to wax poetic about in the past, his Pro Bowl nod was hardly a vindication of whats become a systemic crisis in New England. Baileys berth leaves the Cincinnati Bengals as the team with the longest drought of having not drafted and developed a Pro Bowler, not the kind of company you want to keep. Entering the NFL in 2020 with no offseason programs or preseason games amid the pandemic put rookies behind the 8-ball right off the bat. Thats not to say there werent at least some flashes of promise from a slew of first-year players in New England. Safety Kyle Dugger (second round, 37th overall), linebackers Josh Uche (second round, No. 60) and Anfernee Jennings (third round, No. 87) and offensive lineman Michael Onwenu (sixth round, No. 182) all had their moments in 2020, most notably Dugger and Onwenu. Dugger, the highest-drafted player out of an NCAA Division II school (Lenoir-Rhyne) since 2006, helped offer a dose of optimism in the secondary for life without Patrick Chung. Appearing in 14 games and starting seven of the teams final eight contests, Dugger finished tied for 10th among rookies in solo tackles with 43. He was involved in quite a few plays, but I thought he pursued well, tackled well and gave us some perimeter run force, which was a big part of the game, Belichick said after Duggers first start against the Ravens, in which he had a season-best 12 combined tackles. Dugger is older than the majority of players from his draft class, having already turned 25, which may have given him an edge in adapting to a variety of roles such as playing deep safety or lining up in the box as an extra linebacker. The guy is a special athlete, Devin McCourty told WEEI of Dugger last season. He does some things at practice so far at different times and were all like, Damn, did you see that? Its pretty cool to see and I know hell keep getting better. I cant wait to watch his development the next couple of years. Uche and Onwenu, a pair of Michigan alums, both seem to be firmly in New Englands plans for the upcoming season based on comments Belichick made at the end of 2020. Onwenu in particular was a revelation as a rookie, starting all 16 games on the offensive line at both guard and tackle for the Patriots. Onwenu graded out as the sixth-best rookie in the NFL per Pro Football Focus and gives the team all sorts of options along the line in 2021. He could compensate for the loss of Joe Thuney via free agency at left guard, his primary position in college, or become the long-term answer at right tackle following the departure of Marcus Cannon. Hes opened a lot of doors and opportunities for himself, Belichick said of Onwenu prior to New Englands final game last season. If nothing else, Onwenu is certainly the teams best sixth-round pick out of Michigan since Tom Brady. Uche, meanwhile, started only one game as a rookie, but Belichick had a bright outlook for him as well entering 2021. Well be able to define his role much better next year, so Im looking forward to that, Belichick said. Hes definitely going to be an asset for us. Jennings, who played for noted Belichick disciple Nick Saban at Alabama, appeared in 14 games, making four starts as a rookie. There were still plenty of players trending as misses from the teams most recent draft class as well, though, most notably the disastrous pick of kicker Justin Rohrwasser (fifth round, No. 159). The first kicker off the board in 2020, Rohrwassers career in Foxboro is already over without him ever stepping on the field. Things dont look great for Devin Asiasi or Dalton Keene, either, the pair of tight ends drafted by the Patriots in the third round last year. After combining for five catches for 55 yards as rookies, New England splurged in free agency and signed the top two tight ends available in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Even if the draft class doesnt produce any actual Pro Bowlers, Dugger and Onwenu look like surefire keepers. Remember, Deion Branch, Ty Warren and Julian Edelman never made a Pro Bowl, but Brandon Merriweather made two. Given how paltry the contributions remain from the 2016-19 draft classes, however, its hard not to feel at least somewhat hopeful that 2020 marked a return to form for the Patriots. If they do a good job of approaching it the right way, have the right work ethic, take advantage of the opportunity that they have to boost their career, then good things will happen for them, Belichick said of the teams young players after New Englands final game of the season against the Jets. If they dont, then there will probably be other players that pass them by. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-2020-nfl-draft-produce-160937368.html?src=rss |
When Do Scouts Start Turing Their Attention to 2022 Draft Class? | The Mora Minute: Former head coach and Sports Illustrated analyst Jim Mora Jr. gives his latest take on everything in college football and the NFL heading into the 2021 draft It's crunch time for the 2021 NFL Draft, with teams finalizing their draft boards. Former NFL coach Jim Mora Jr. has been helping BamaCentral sort through it all. Until the draft kicks off April 29 in Cleveland, a Mora video segment will appear every day on BamaCentral+, and also as part of our weekly draft updates and Christopher Walsh's All Things CW notes column. Yes, it's more Mora (sorry, couldn't resist), but the Sports Illustrated analyst has a wealth of information that he's sharing with the FanNation pro and college sites. We've asked him just about everything, including long snappers, and are happy to share it all with you. For example, when asked about what NFL coaches expect when selecting a Nick Saban-coached player from Alabama, Mora shot down the idea that Crimson Tide prospects are too beat up from their college careers to be successful in the pros. "Theyre physically tough players and theyre mentally tough. Its not easy to play at Alabama, where youre always in the spotlight," Mora said. "Its not easy to play for a man like Nick Saban, who is so demanding in every single way and not just in football, but football, character and off-the-field things. I think Nick has done a tremendous job of taking care of his players and teaching them about life. When you get an Alabama player, hes ready to go. Why Najee Harris is a high-value pick, even in the first round Pro Days Go Way Beyond Workouts Scouting Offensive Linemen Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles Mora Jr. Jim Mora Jr. like the Raiders doubling down on Alabama running backs Do Detroit Lions Draft Options at No. Thomas Fletcher Draft Profile The is the 16th segment of the Minute Mora series. Make sure to come back and check out what the former coach says tomorrow on BamaCentral+. | https://www.si.com/college/alabama/community/scouts-2022-draft-classs-start-preparing |
Does Washington Football Team Have A Top-10 NFL Roster? | One can argue a bit up or a bit down on the WFT ranking, but the "fortification'' aspect here is hard to debat The Washington Football Team is just days away from hopefully using the No. 19 overall pick in the NFL Draft to fortify the roster. But it's worth noting that the roster, as is, is already pretty fortified. And of course, the last few seasons of drafts have helped make it so. Pro Football Focus analyzed all 32 NFL rosters, ranking them 1 through 32. And the WFT comes in at No. 8. One can argue a bit up or a bit down, but the "fortification'' aspect here is hard to debate. Guys like Chase Young, Jonathan Allen, Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson, Kendall Fuller and Kam Curl are recent Washingtons standouts acquired through the draft. And signing on an upgrade at QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick and a star-quality receiver in Curtis Samuel helps as well. READ MORE: How WFT Might Rank The Top 10 Safeties We should also note something about the WFT that pops up in conversation every time we visit with opposing coaches, scouts and execs: Coach Ron Rivera's presence is also part of the fortification. As one rival scout told us recently: "Rivera and (defensive coordinator) Jack Del Rio have that team knowing what it is supposed to be doing on Sundays.'' Tampa Bay came in as the No. 1. roster, and they won the Super Bowl because of it. The No. 8 talent helped push the WFT to an NFC East division title in 2020. This offseason can help the push to even greater heights. READ MORE: WFT At 19: What History Says They'll Get | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/does-washington-football-team-have-a-top-10-nfl-roster |
Are cryptocurrencies ready to go mainstream? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening Coinbase, a platform used for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, became the first major cryptocurrency company to go public on the U.S. stock market last week. The listing marks a milestone for the cryptocurrency industry as it takes on an increasingly significant role in the mainstream economy. Cryptocurrencies are, in the simplest terms, digital money. They can be used to buy things online in the same way a credit card might be used. But cryptocurrencies differ from traditional payment methods in important ways. They arent issued by a government and are decentralized, meaning data is shared across thousands of computers worldwide rather than a single network like a credit card database. The most enthusiastic cryptocurrency advocates believe the technology will eventually replace traditional currencies like the U.S. dollar and become the dominant way people around the world pay for goods and services. At the moment, opportunities to use cryptocurrencies to buy things in the real world, though growing, are still very limited. Most of the activity around cryptocurrencies has involved people investing in the currencies themselves, like a stock or a commodity. These types of investments have created enormous returns for early investors. Bitcoin, the most popular and well-known cryptocurrency, has skyrocketed in value over the past few years. Once valued at a fraction of a cent, the price of a single Bitcoin eclipsed $60,000 earlier this month. The total value of all cryptocurrencies is estimated to be more than $2 trillion. Why theres debate The question of whether cryptocurrencies are becoming mainstream depends on how you define mainstream. One area of debate among economists and investors is over how significant a force the cryptocurrency market will be in the broader investment landscape. Optimists say theres little reason to believe the cryptocurrency boom will slow and could even accelerate as the public becomes more aware. Pessimists say the history of wild price fluctuations and uncertainty around practical applications will limit the number of investors who are willing to choose cryptocurrencies over stocks and commodities. Story continues Theres also disagreement over whether cryptocurrencies will even become a true alternative for traditional money that the average person can spend in everyday life. There have been some strides in this area. The electric car company Tesla recently announced that it will accept Bitcoin as payment for its vehicles. Digital payment app PayPal has begun allowing users to make purchases with their crypto holdings. But skeptics say cryptocurrencies have a long way to go before they pose a threat to standard currencies. Others see practical limits on the horizon like increased regulatory scrutiny and growing discontent over the industrys environmental impact that could sink cryptocurrencies future prospects. Perspectives Cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming more mainstream So even if you think bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and the blockchain are weird or confusing, you should expect to see them continue to creep into everyday life. Rebecca Heilweil, Vox As an investment tool, cryptocurrencies are here to stay For the longest time, there were only a few investment choices for people who wanted to go above and beyond a 401(k) or a savings account. Those with extra income typically opted for stocks, bonds, annuities, and real estate. Today, many adults in the United States especially millennials and Gen Zers find those granddad options about as relevant as a phone book. Will Johnson, Boston Globe It will be a long time before they become a mainstream payment option The industrys biggest issue fulfilling the promise that the technology is more than just a place to park money could take another decade to play out. Erin Griffith, New York Times Bitcoin will never be more than an investment tool Bitcoin has no intrinsic value; it never did and never will. It is a purely speculative asset a private fiat currency whose value is whatever the markets say it is. Willem H. Buiter, Marketwatch In specific instances cryptocurrencies can be better than cash As far as digital dollars go, its probably most useful to banks and businesses that send large amounts of money all over the place. But I think it could also make it easier to do that in your own life whether its paying rent or sending money to relatives overseas. Jen Wieczner, New York The crypto market is destined to crash The little guys are aiming to breach the club not by managing other peoples money but by ginning up their own currency and setting the value for it. For a while, it seems, they could get very, very rich. The rigged game will seem as though its finally licked. The crypto market will go up and up and up. ... And then it will come crashing down. Or so the history of the market tells us. Virginia Heffernan, Los Angeles Times Cryptocurrency has advantages over traditional money If you were to design the financial system today from scratch, you would design a decentralized system, a system by which any person can exchange value with any other person without an intermediary. In a nutshell, thats what crypto is. And therefore, it is likely that we migrate to a world where transactions are done without intermediaries because its more efficient, because it costs less, because its faster. Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson, to Marketplace Theres little evidence cryptocurrency can expand beyond its current user base Thing is, Im still struggling to figure out what bitcoin is good for. Bitcoin has been around for more than a decade, yet it remains an inconvenient way to pay for things, inferior to dollars or credit cards in almost every way. Most merchants dont take it, so in the United States its mostly used by devoted hobbyists. Megan McArdle, Washington Post Environmental concerns will limit cryptocurrency unless theyre resolved Many of the complaints about Bitcoin over the years have been overhyped. But the cryptocurrencys increasing use of real physical resources energy and computer chips can no longer be ignored. If Bitcoin wants to avoid government crackdowns, it needs to shift to technologies that dont require constant massive resource consumption just to maintain the currencys price. Noah Smith, Bloomberg Even if cryptocurrency were broadly accepted, it doesnt make sense to spend it I dont think people are looking at it from a spending perspective. People are looking at it as an investment still. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | https://news.yahoo.com/are-cryptocurrencies-ready-to-go-mainstream-190224417.html |
When Healthy, What Are the Rangers' Plans for Khris Davis? | When the Texas Rangers shipped off Elvis Andrus to the Oakland Athletics for veteran slugger Khris Davis, catcher Jonah Heim, and pitcher Dane Acker, they envisioned Davis as a legitimate candidate for the Opening Day designated hitter. However, due to a quadriceps injury, Davis was unable to take the field to start the season. READ MORE: Garca Does It Again...Twice Over the course of his absence, younger players like Willie Calhoun and Adolis Garca have seen increased playing time. They have not disappointed as Calhoun currently sits with a .294 batting average and Garca owns an OPS of 1.010. There have always been high expectations of Calhoun after he arrived as the marquee acquisition in the Yu Darvish trade, however through injury or performance issues he has not yet reached his full potential. Meanwhile, Garca is one player the club is most excited to see get time in the Major Leagues. Now, Calhoun and Garca are doing exactly what the club envisioned of them. Unfortunately for Davis, both Calhoun and Garca play Davis' positions. General manager Chris Young states much of it will be performance-based. "There are a lot of factors to consider with this," Young said. "A lot of it is performance-based. We've said that all along. The decisions are going to be performance-based. Obviously, some aren't perfectly aligned at times, given personnel needs and health issues. "But nonetheless, I think that making these decisions based on performance, both in terms of when the player is ready to rejoin the club and he's in a good position and then secondly, how the performances of the personnel at the big league level." With Calhoun and Garca swinging the bat the way they are as of late, it would seem counter-productive to demote Garca or take away at-bats for the developing Calhoun. Yet, the argument that could be made for the "Ranger Killer," as Davis has become affectionately known as during his time with Oakland, is his veteran presence and consistent track record. READ MORE: Guzmn Out For Season, Top Prospect Suffers Major Setback The Rangers are currently a very young team and the biggest voice in the clubhouse may very well be Joey Gallo who is just 27 years old. Davis could step in and help provide additional veteran leadership and perspective for the rebuilding ball club. The Rangers loved his voice in the clubhouse during the spring, and his bat could help provide protection for hitters like Gallo. In the same vain, the development of younger players is key to seeing this franchise through the rebuild. Taking away valuable Major League at-bats from those players could set the timeline to contention even further back. Texas has been an exciting team to watch this season thus far. Their 9-11 record shows that they are competing and there is significant growth coming from the youth, especially on the pitching side of the house. Inserting Davis into that type of situation may make little sense. However, the Rangers still have a little bit more time before having to confront that situation. Young is well aware of that fact. "All things considered, I think that we'll make that decision when the time comes and we have all the information," Young explained. "But as I said, things happen quickly here, and we'll have to see where we are when Khris is ready." Until then, Calhoun and Garca will strive to ensure that the decision continues to be a hard one to make. Promo photo: Kelly Gavin / Courtesy of the Texas Rangers You can follow Kade Kistner on Twitter @KadeKistner Like 'Inside The Rangers' on Facebook | https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/when-healthy-what-are-the-rangers-plans-for-khris-davis |
Will a LeBron James tweet again deliver new Kendrick Lamar music? | LeBron James tweeted that its time for new Kendrick Lamar music. The Lakers star made his post on Saturday, saying hes in dying need of the Compton superstars art in the midst of rising racial tensions. Man I miss @kendricklamar! In dying need of his gifts/presence right now . LeBron James (@KingJames) April 24, 2021 The last time James tweeted that Lamar needed to drop new music, it worked. In 2016, the Grammy winner was performing a series of unreleased tracks on his television performances. James tagged Lamars label chief executive, Anthony Top Dawg Tiffith, that he needed to release the songs. A week later, Lamar dropped a collection called Untitled Unmastered. Tiffith went on Instagram afterward to share that James request did influence the release of the project. Yo @dangerookipawaa after that @kendricklamar Grammy performance , you have to release those untitled tracks asap!!! Talk to me LeBron James (@KingJames) February 23, 2016 James recent post comes a few days after he received backlash for tweeting about the police killing of 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant. He deleted his post, which called for accountability for the police officer in the same vein as Derek Chauvin, who on Tuesday was found guilty of two murder charges for killing George Floyd. James explained why he deleted the post, saying it was being used to create more hate, and that acting out of anger is not a good idea for anybody, including himself. Advertisement Lamar has been a voice against injustices for several years now and quietly joined the Compton Peace Walk with Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan in June after Floyds death. His 2015 anthem Alright saw a 71% increase in streams last summer as racial tensions rose not only with Floyds death, but those of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. Alright was part of Lamars Grammy-winning album To Pimp a Butterfly and won two awards on its own. The song caused controversy when Lamar performed it while jumping on top of a police car during the 2015 BET Awards. Alright became an anthem for the movement for racial equality as protestors sang it across the country after the deaths of Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Sam DuBose and others. Lamars voice for social justice dates back to songs like Faith off his 2009 self-titled EP, HiiiPower off his 2011 debut album Section.80, and Sing About Me, Im Dying of Thirst off his major-label debut good kid m.A.A.d city. Hes shown the realities of life in the streets of Compton and sends a message of empowerment to the Black community. Lamar hasnt released any new music of his own since 2017s DAMN album, where he sampled the Fox News clip that criticized the BET Awards performance. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his social commentary on the project that included songs like DNA that celebrated the Black experience and Duckworth, the story of how his father thwarted a violent encounter with Tiffith. He did appear on Busta Rhymes Look Over Your Shoulder in October and did some ad-libs for fellow Los Angeles rapper Reasons New Beginnings album, which released the same month. The responses from James tweet expressed agreement with the sentiment that it is time for new music from the illustrious artist. Last time @KingJames tweeted for new @kendricklamar we got Untitled Unmastered, let's hope it happens again https://t.co/AROyveQBvd TaiDuy the Gucci Demon (@250Gmk) April 24, 2021 Need him too drop, it's been too long pic.twitter.com/tnCungA31S Smush Parker (@SmushGoat) April 24, 2021 Need him to drop its been so long pic.twitter.com/KlFQbz7vnj jordan2000 (@jordan200019) April 24, 2021 We do need some new Kendrick Kenny (@Kenny71400v2) April 24, 2021 | https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-04-24/lebron-james-new-kendrick-lamar-music |
Can Australia achieve herd immunity to coronavirus, and what happens if not? | Immunologists and virologists are questioning the ability of populations to ever achieve herd immunity to Covid-19. They say gradually waning immunity to the virus after infection or vaccination, and the impact of variants, mean it is likely annual vaccinations will be required and cases will continue to occur. Prof Miles Davenport, the program head of the Kirby Institutes infection analytics program at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, says the concept of herd immunity is that once its achieved, then you will not have circulation of virus in the community. I think that many scientists in immunology or virology are strongly questioning whether herd immunity is possible at this stage, he says. Its going to continue to circulate. The concept of herd immunity is that when a high enough proportion of the population is vaccinated against a disease, or has been infected with a disease and developed antibodies against it, any one infected person will have the opportunity to infect less than one other susceptible person, halting spread. The proportion of the population that needs to be protected through vaccination or previous infection to achieve herd immunity varies depending on the disease, how it spreads, and the efficacy of vaccines, but it is estimated that between 60% and 70% of the population would need to be protected against Covid-19 in order for herd immunity to be achieved. However, a preprint paper published by Davenport and his Kirby Institute colleagues suggests that both waning immunity and the evolution of new viral variants may make vaccine protection levels drop over time, and annual booster vaccination will likely be required. Importantly, although vaccines may not be strong enough to completely prevent infection with the virus, the study predicts they will still reduce severe illness. A high hurdle Herd immunity was always going to be a high hurdle for vaccination, Davenport says. We dont expect that from the flu vaccine for example. Like flu, the major risk of infection seems to come from your first exposure to the virus. If vaccination can achieve a baseline level of immunity, it will hopefully provide enough protection to prevent severe disease in vaccinated people even if virus continues to circulate causing mild infection. This is essentially what we see with flu and the other common cold coronaviruses. The question is, does the virus continue to circulate in a very mild form so that you no longer need to give vaccine boosters because this very mild infection provides that boost? he says. Along with Covid-19 there are four other strains of coronaviruses circulating that usually cause the common cold, and there appears to be no long-term immunity to infection with these. People are able to be reinfected with the same strain within a year. There is no reason to believe Covid-19 immunity should be fundamentally different to immunity to these other coronaviruses, Davenport says. However, most people are infected with the coronaviruses that cause the common cold as children, and though they can continue to catch colds into adulthood, the previous childhood infection does seem to offer enough protection to make subsequent colds more mild. Because children will not qualify for the vaccinations until further studies about the safety of vaccines in those under 16 are carried out, a significant portion of the population will not be able to be vaccinated in the first rounds of immunisation programs, also making it difficult to achieve the threshold required for herd immunity. Countries are also rolling out vaccinations at vastly different rates. Smallpox is one of the only diseases that immunisation programs have successfully eradicated globally. Even polio has not been fully eradicated after two decades of vaccination programs, and it is still found in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria despite a three-dose vaccine regimen being 99% to 100% effective. Researchers from the University of East Anglia in England examined whether herd immunity to Covid-19 was a realistic outcome of any immunisation program that used the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines as the two main vaccines and also found it was unlikely. Herd immunity to Covid-19 will be very difficult to achieve, especially so for the less effective [AstraZeneca] vaccine, the authors wrote. The possibility of transmission from vaccinated but infected individuals to vulnerable unvaccinated individuals is of serious concern. Davenport says it is unclear what failing to achieve herd immunity will mean for reopening international borders and the end of strict public health measures because that will depend on risk-benefit analyses by governments, and their social and political priorities. The good news is that with vaccination rolling out, we should have significantly reduced transmission occurring in the community and also the severity of the illness should decrease. Vaccines should decrease transmission in a population, but achieving herd immunity or eradicating the virus is probably unrealistic, based on our research. The senior principal research fellow and University of NSW scientia professor John Kaldor says in his opinion herd immunity is more of a general principle than a specific target that could be accurately determined. Mathematical modelling can give insights into possible scenarios, but in a situation of ongoing uncertainty with a mutating pathogen and declining protection, the notion of achieving herd protection becomes even vaguer, he says. In any case, most people do not live in countries where high levels of vaccine coverage can be achieved in short timeframes. Even Australia, with one of the worlds most advanced health systems, is finding it a lot harder than some may have projected. An associate professor in Kirbys immunovirology and pathogenesis program, Stuart Turville, says even small changes in the virus could have an impact on the immune response. With the rollout of the vaccine, there was an attitude by some that the virus could be cornered, he says. Having worked with viruses for a while, one thing is clear. Be prepared for them to surprise you, he says. Covid-19 has already proven this with new variants of concern emerging around the world. We are really just at the start of even understanding them, he says. A lot of the knowledge we have from 2020 may not be applicable with these new variants, for example, the ages they infect, the mortality rates. We need to keep on eye on them. It just means its difficult to get herd immunity, but not impossible Nigel McMillan This is why it is important to ensure countries still struggling with Covid-19 receive vaccines first, Turville says, such as India and Papua New Guinea, because the longer a virus spread, the more chance it has to mutate. The head of the Kirby Institutes biosecurity program, Prof Raina MacIntyre, believes herd immunity in Australia is possible. But only with mass vaccination. In a preprint paper published in December, MacIntyre and her colleagues wrote that using a vaccine with up to 90% efficacy, herd immunity could be achieved by vaccinating 66% of the population. A vaccine with less than 70% varying vaccine efficacy cannot achieve herd immunity and will result in ongoing risk of outbreaks, the paper said. For mass vaccination, distributing at least 60,000 doses per day is required to achieve control. Slower rates of vaccination will result in the population living with Covid-19 longer, and higher cases and deaths. But Prof Nigel McMillan, the director of infectious diseases and immunology at Griffith Universitys Menzies health institute in Queensland, says he is more optimistic. I dont see any logical reason to dismiss herd immunity as a concept here, just because the vaccine might wear out after three years or five years or whatever, he says. Its fine, we just provide a booster. Of course if we dont do that, the herd immunity level drops. It just means its difficult to get herd immunity, but not impossible. | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/25/can-australia-achieve-herd-immunity-to-coronavirus-and-what-happens-if-not |
Will The Indians Finances and Age Be Their Ultimate Downfall in 2021? | 18 games into the 2021 campaign and the Cleveland Indians are sitting at two games under .500 at 8-10. Two games under .500 this early in a 162-game slate is not much in terms of games played, but thus far this team has done little to basically 'knock your socks off' and make you think that they can truly be a contender in the American League. One thing in the favor of the Indians other than it's only been 18 games is the fact that the AL Central isn't exactly a barnburner of a division. The leader right now 11 percent into the season are the Kansas City Royals, a team that was aggressive this offseason in their moves to improve the club. The Royals are 11-7, leading the Indians by 3 games in the division. So at 18 games in, we've seen mostly what most fans predicted in terms of the 2021 Indians. The pitching has been better than okay, though not lights out (other than some guy named Bieber), and the offense has been it's usual ugly self. Today we take a look at some of the other reasons as to why this club is off to an ugly start, and if there's any hope for a turnaround. 1. The Fundamentals Is it me or is it almost a nightly basis where the Indians make some sort of mistake that you look back on and say 'what was that?' You had the debacle in Chicago a few weeks back in which the team lost due to some ugly defense. Even this week Josh Naylor had an error that just made you shake your head while playing at first base. There's been base running mistakes, defensive miscues, and times when the team simply looks like they are completely disinterested. If you're going to be a championship team, you have to stay focused and be consistent, something the team just has yet to be in 2021. 2. Oh So Young When 2021 kicked off the Indians roster was the youngest in baseball and the lowest payroll. It's frankly impossible to think this team would be a world-beater right out of the gate, but at the same time usually young teams get better as the season improves, the amount of at-bats get more consistent, and there's more chances for pitchers to get out on the mound. It's wayyyyyy too early to tell, but the pitching is still strong enough give fans hope. We will see if the offense, defense and run game ever catches up with that pitching. If it does, this team can turn their record around in a hurry. 3. Some Tough Decisions Coming The decision that has to come sooner than later is what is this team going to do with the following players: Jake Bauers - Time after time Bauers has been given chances since he was acquired from the Rays December 13th of 2018. The Tribe sent Yandy Daz and Cole Sulser packing, while in return they got back Carlos Santana from Seattle (and he had an All-Star year and one worth forgetting), and Bauers. Since then it's been a complete struggle to get anything out of Bauers. In 2018 he showed promise with Tampa, hitting just .201 but he pounded 11 homers and 48 RBI. With the Indians in 2019 he hit 12 homers with 43 RBI, hitting .226. Last season with a shortened season, he wasn't able to even get on the MLB roster, and wound up at the 'alternate site' all season. This year has been another struggle despite being handed the first base job in camp. Following Friday's game against the Yankees, he's hitting .129 with a pathetic slugging percentage of .161. You won't last long playing daily in the Majors with those numbers. He was given Friday night off in favor of Yu Chang. A change is on the way if Bauers' struggles keep up. Bradley Zimmer - Last season Zimmer was the talk of 'Summer Camp,' FINALLY showing the promise that the team has been waiting for. Instead, Zimmer was given 20 games at the MLB level, and like he has been the last few years, struggled. He hit just .162 w/ a homer and three RBI, and eventually was shown the door to the team's 'alternate site. Zimmer was again in the mix to be one of the team's 3 outfielders in spring training, but failed to make enough of an impression to even make the final roster, unable to beat out the likes of Ben Gamel. At 28 years old, the clock is ticking louder and louder for Zimmer, and it could be the beginning of the end for the native of San Francisco, CA. Bobby Bradley - Technically despite being at the 'alternate site,' Bradley is playing with the Tribe's AAA club the Columbus Clippers - and is having a very tough start to 2021. Bradley, who it seems like fans are dying to see get a long term legit shot at the MLB level, is again having issues with strikeouts, like two seasons ago when he K'd 49 times and hit .178. Sure Bradley is going to eventually get that shot and get back to the Major League level, but to assume that he's going to come up and be the next Albert Belle is not only not fair to Bradley, but based on prior results it's just not realistic. But mark it down, he will eventually be wearing an Indians uniform. Logan Allen - When the Indians dealt with the Padres for the services of Allen, they had visions of him being a starter long term and were quick to move him out of the pen. It's been an ugly start to the starters career for Allen, who after being beat up by the Yankees Friday is now 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA. Allen has had bad command issues, as you can easily see via the stats. He's walked six, struck out 11, but also has given up four homers in four games. In four starts, Allen has lasted five innings, five innings, two innings and 2.1 innings. The team has other options when it comes to starters, and if Allen struggles in his next start, it wouldn't be a shock to see the team give one of those other starters a shot, sitting Allen. | https://www.si.com/mlb/indians/opinion/will-the-indians-finances-and-age-be-their-ultimate-downfall-in-2021 |
Could the Saints select Emmanuel Sanders 2.0 in Ole Miss' Elijah Moore? | In a perfect world, the NFLs salary cap would have kept on rising at its steady rate and the New Orleans Saints would have been able to hang on to receiver Emmanuel Sanders and see what he could do with more stable quarterback play and Michael Thomas at his side. Perfect world scenarios dont exactly leave room for whatever 2020 was, though, and Sanders release was one of many unfortunate results of the NFLs scaled back salary cap and the Saints position up against it. Ole Miss receiver Elijah Moore doesnt have the prototypical size, but that is about the only place hes lacking when stacking him up against some of this drafts other receivers. Get to know the Ole Miss prospect here. Measureables Numbers are from Moores pro day. Playing in coach Lane Kiffins up-tempo offense, Moore was given ample opportunity to go out and make a play, and more often than not he took those chances and ran with them. Despite only playing in eight games last season (Moore opted out of the final two), he set an Ole Miss single-season record in receptions (86) to go along with 1,193 yards and eight scores. In a year when a wide receiver (Alabamas Devonte Smith) won the Heisman, Moore led the FBS in receiving yards per game. Moore is a fast, explosive athlete who also maximized his opportunities at Ole Miss: According to Pro Football Focus, he had just two drops in 2020 and only 10 drops in 200 catchable targets in his career. Why he fits in New Orleans As was suggested earlier, theres a lot of Emmanuel Sanders to Moores game. Saints news in your inbox If you're a Saints fan you won't want to miss this newsletter. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up As Sanders did in New Orleans, Moore played both out of the slot and on the outside of Ole Miss offensive formations, seamlessly transitioning between beating defenders with his downfield speed and with his underneath quickness and his top-notch start and stop ability. His size disadvantage did not show up when he was beating opposing corners to high-point a downfield throw. The Saints could shift Moore all around the field, much the same way they already do with running back Alvin Kamara. Moore averaged 4.6 yards on 14 carries for the Rebels last year. Why he doesnt fit The only real issue with Moore is his size. Then again, anybody who is worried about his size and whether he will stack up against NFL-caliber players might want to watch what Moore did in games against Southeastern Conference powerhouses Florida and Alabama. Moore burned Florida for 10 catches and 227 yards the most receiving yards put up by one player against Florida since at least 2000 and one of three 200-plus receiving yard days for Moore in eight games last season then two weeks later he torched a talented Alabama secondary for 143 yards on 11 catches. Moment of infamy If youre wondering why the name Elijah Moore is ringing a bell but you cant quite place it, try thinking back to the 2019 Egg Bowl against arch-rival Mississippi State. Moore scored a touchdown in the closing seconds, cutting States lead to 21-20, then celebrated by pretending to urinate like a dog in the end zone. The officials penalized him, Ole Miss had its PAT attempt pushed back 15 yards, and it missed. The Rebels lost that game by one point. In an interview with ESPN a year later, Moore owned up to the mistake and said hed learned from it. "Just working hard and changing people's perspective on me because they don't really know the real me," Moore said to ESPN. "Not even to prove to everyone else, but just to prove to myself that an action like that wasn't myself. Just to learn from it. That's been the best part. Having a lesson like that to be learned and to grow from it and for people to see the growth." Quotable If the Sanders comparison doesnt do it for you, maybe this one from Moores former college head coach will. "I didn't coach him, but he kind of reminds me of the Carolina Steve Smith, Kiffin said of Moore last year. Just the stop and start ability is so explosive. A great route runner. Even though I didn't have (Smith), that would be (who) I would compare him to." | https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_c5ab0062-a3aa-11eb-b826-8bf8984375b8.html |
Should the Jaguars Have Explored a Similar Trade Package for New Chiefs' OT Orlando Brown? | The Chiefs have a new left tackle in Pro Bowler Orlando Brown, and the move for the left tackle didn't cost quite as much as some thought it would. Among the most important decisions the Jacksonville Jaguars have made this offseason was the one they made to franchise tag Cam Robinson in March. In doing so, the Jaguars both accepted the responsibility of finally developing Robinson and balked at every other left tackle option facing them in the mirror. Instead of inching closer to the draft with questions at left tackle, the Jaguars answered their own before free agency began. They didn't want to go into the most important months of the most important offseason in franchise history not knowing who their left tackle would be in 2021. "We feel that the way this free agency is moving is that the left tackle position, as always but even more now this year from hearing from the guys who have been in the NFL, this a tough year for that left tackle position," Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer said on March 9 shortly after the Jaguars placed the tag on Robinson, the team's second-round selection in 2017. "We feel like with whats just out there and with coaching, culture, and development, Cam [Robinson] has a lot of talent. Among the options the Jaguars ultimately passed on is theoretically Orlando Brown Jr., the former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle who is now set to be the Kansas City Chiefs' left tackle in 2021. Brown was never strongly tied to the Jaguars as a trade destination, but he at least made sense considering the Jaguars' then-impending hole at left tackle. Now he is set to protect Patrick Mahomes' blindside, with Kansas City giving up a sizeable selection of draft picks in return. Baltimore traded Brown, their 2021 second-round pick (No. 58 overall) and a sixth-round selection in 2021 to the Chiefs for their first-round selection (No. 31), a third-round pick (No. 94) and a fourth-round selection (No. 136), along with a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. The Chiefs were faced with similar -- but not 100% comparable -- at left tackle entering free agency, but they stayed patient and eventually landed a Pro Bowl left tackle for essentially a trade down from No. 31 to No. 58 and a third-, fourth- and fifth-round pick. Kansas City didn't have the benefit of having a young left tackle with starting experience who was eligible to be franchise tagged, so the situations aren't mirrored exactly. But ultimately the Chiefs had to fill the same hole on their roster, and they opted to swing for the fences after playing the waiting game. As a result, it may be fair to ask whether the Jaguars played their hand correctly at left tackle. It is a hard question to answer right now, but there could be at least some thought to what could have been. There are reasons to back up each side of the argument. On one hand, there is no knowledge of the Jaguars having any legitimate interest in Brown. If they did, they likely wouldn't have tagged Robinson, after all. Then there is the fact that Brown is going to cost the Chiefs a lot more than Robinson is set to cost the Jaguars. As of today, Robinson is only on the Jaguars' books for $13,754,000 over the next season. By contrast, the Chiefs had to pony up several draft picks, taking a 20+ pick tumble in the draft. They will also likely have to franchise tag Brown in 2022 before entering a long-term deal with him at left tackle market level in the years following -- years in which the cap is set to skyrocket. The Jaguars unquestionably went the cheaper and safer route. If Robinson develops in 2021 after several years of starting at left tackle, the Jaguars could get him on a cheaper deal than Brown and still get quality left tackle play moving forward. The Jaguars took a risk on Robinson improving in 2021, so it should at least be considered what could happen if he does. And if he does, the Jaguars will likely look smart for franchise tagging him. But if Robinson doesn't take that next step, then it will become even more important to wonder if the Jaguars should have made a similar move as Kansas City's for Brown. If Jacksonville's major roll of the dice on Robinson improving in Year Five blows up in their faces, then the Jaguars will enter 2022 with a glaring hole in front of their franchise quarterback. Trading for Brown wouldn't have been cheap considering the draft picks and the contract that will eventually be paid out to the offensive tackle. But the Jaguars are a team that could have easily justified it considering their 10 draft picks in 2021 and massive amount of salary cap. Trading for Brown would have given the Jaguars a high-ceiling option at left tackle, but the cost would have been significant moving forward. Still, left tackle is one of those positions that is worth investing considerable resources into. It wouldn't have been a cheap move, but it would have been one made for the right reasons. The Jaguars could coach up Robinson and prove to be geniuses for tagging him. They could also find their future left tackle with one of their nine non-No. 1 overall picks. There is no reason to slam the Jaguars for their decision to commit to Robinson this season. But if they fail as a coaching staff to develop him in 2021, then that time will come. Brown would have been a solid addition and a big step toward improving the NFL's worst team from just one year ago. The Jaguars could have easily justified making the same move the Chiefs did, but the point is now moot. The Jaguars made their decision at left tackle, and now we have 17 games to find out if it was the right one. | https://www.si.com/nfl/jaguars/duval-insider-plus/should-the-jaguars-have-explored-a-similar-trade-package-for-new-chiefs-ot-orlando-brown |
Where's Texans' Roster Rank Vs. Rest Of NFL? | It comes as little surprise that the Houston Texans needed some reinforcements to their roster after the 2020 NFL season. Pro Football Focus analyzed all 32 NFL rosters, ranking each NFL teams' groups based off of wins above replacement (WAR), which is a statistic that analyzes each player and how many wins they are worth to their respective team. According to PFF, Houston is ... well, not in great shape ... heading into the season, as the Texans are currently ranked 31st out of 32 teams in the NFL for roster construction. READ MORE: NFL Mock Draft: SI Team-By-Team - With A Houston Texans Pick Any excitement over the help from the draft that would normally be expected will be dampened as the Texans will not select until the third round. PFF also notes that there remain far too many holes on the roster that require attention, and that even after spending money in free agency but with little draft capital, the odds of improving their roster remain slim. READ MORE: Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson Case: Both Lawyers 'Destroying Evidence' Additionally, franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson is embroiled in lawsuits that allege he sexually assaulted women. Depending on the outcome in the courts and the NFL's own investigation, Watson could potentially face not suiting up for Houston for a number of games this coming season. ... and none of that even mentions the trade rumors that have been swirling around all offseason. The Texans are in the middle of a full rebuild and as PFF suggests, their roster talent reflects that reality. | https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/wheres-houston-texans-roster-rank-vs-rest-of-nfl |
Could 49ers find a tight end complement to George Kittle in the draft? | Two Pro Bowl tight ends on the same team. It sounded so good on paper. But it didnt work out because George Kittle and Jordan Reed were rarely on the field at the same time for the 49ers in 2020: The decorated duo combined to miss 14 games due to injuries and played together in just two games. And now the 49ers wont be able to try it again this season. Last week, Reed, 30, retired and cited the symptoms from the many concussions hes suffered as the reason for his exit. Without Reed, the 49ers are back in a familiar spot. They have Kittle, arguably the NFLs best tight end, and little else at the position when it comes to pass-catching threats. Besides him Reed, no other 49ers tight end has had a 20-catch season since 2018. Plenty of jokes have been made about the 49ers using the No. 3 pick, a selection theyve made clear will be used on a quarterback, on Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, widely regarded as the drafts best prospect. Thats not happening. But after using their first pick on a quarterback, it wouldnt be a surprise if the 49ers tried to find Kittle a running mate at some point in the draft. What the 49ers have: Their No. 2 tight end is Ross Dwelley, a 2018 undrafted free agent who had carved out a role as a steady contributor entering last season. Dwelley had career-highs in catches (19) and yards (245) in 2020, but he was also flagged for four holding penalties and three false starts, and he had some ugly breakdowns in pass protection. The only other tight ends on the roster are Charlie Woerner and Daniel Helm. Woerner, a 2020 sixth-round pick, is a blocking tight end who had three catches in 119 snaps as a rookie. Likelihood of drafting a tight end: Head coach Kyle Shanahan would relish the chance to have two tight-end formations featuring Kittle and another player with a strong blocking and pass-catching ability. And general manager John Lynch has discussed the 49ers wanting to give Kittle an occasional breather, although Kittles brilliance means he rarely comes off the field when hes healthy. Still, Kittle, 27, has absorbed plenty of punishment in four NFL seasons. Last year, he missed eight games with a knee injury and broken foot. In 2019, he missed two games with a cracked ankle bone and popped knee capsule. In addition, hes appeared on injury reports for back, calf, chest, elbow, hamstring and hip issues, and has said hes played with a torn labrum since 2018 that he plans to have surgically repaired after his career. A tight end who would make sense: Boston Colleges Hunter Long, 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds, is an adequate blocker who could provide a massive pass-catching upgrade from the current secondary options on the 49ers roster. Projected as a mid-round pick, Long was a second-team All-American last year after leading the nation in catches by tight ends (57). Long had 685 yards and five touchdowns. He possesses just average speed (4.68-second 40-yard dash) and isnt a dynamic route runner, but distinguishes himself with excellent hands. Last tight end the 49ers drafted: Woerner in 2020. Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Eric_Branch | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/Can-49ers-could-find-a-complement-to-George-16126494.php |
Why Haven't the 49ers Picked up Mike McGlinchey's Fifth-Year Option yet? | If the 49ers loved and believed in Mike McGlinchey, then they would not be letting him hang to dry out there. The NFL Draft is the only topic tied to the 49ers right now. However, once the draft is over, the 49ers will have a decision to make. That decision is whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of Mike McGlinchey's rookie contract. The 49ers have until the May 3 deadline to officially make their decision, so they still have time. Still, the fact that they have not picked up his option is quite revealing. If the 49ers loved and believed in McGlinchey, then they would not be letting him hang to dry out there. Now you could say the 49ers are busy with the draft, so they cannot fully dive into it. At this point, they know who he is and what he can do. I believe they are biding their time. They are not sure if they want to retain him past the 2021 season. If they do pick it up, they will owe him $10.8 million salary that is fully-guaranteed for 2022. After seeing the atrocity that McGlinchey put on display in 2020, that is an overpay. The 49ers probably do not believe he is worth that money. This could be what they are pondering over. Remember, 2022 will assuredly be a significantly relieved salary cap for the 49ers. Not just because the cap will naturally rise, but because they will have Jimmy Garoppolo off of the books by then. So even though McGlinchey would be overpaid, they can afford it and see if he can somehow get it together. Personally, I believe they should pick it up so they do not end up looking for another offensive tackle for a third-consecutive season. Plus, even if they are leaning towards not offering McGlinchey a second contract, they could use his fifth-year as the time to find and groom a replacement. Despite the 49ers taking their time with his option, I do believe they will pick it up once the draft is over. They did take their time near the deadline to decide on Solomon Thomas' option. But that would be indicative of the 49ers that they hold Thomas and McGlinchey in the same breathe since they are treating his option the same. I just find it fascinating that the 49ers have not picked it up yet. Perhaps they are using it as a motivational tool for McGlinchey since they didn't immediately pick it up, he could use it to fuel him. Regardless, it is definitely interesting how the 49ers are going about this. | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/why-havent-49ers-picked-up-mike-mcglincheys-fifth-year-option |
Do Cowboys Have A Top-10 Roster In The NFL? | At the recent press conference to announce the signing of Dak Prescott, reporters asked those sitting at the podium at The Star in Frisco if the retention of the QB meant that Dallas is the best team in the NFC East. Yes, replied Prescott. Absolutely, said Cowboys COO Stephen Jones. READ MORE: Dak & Stephen Brag On Cowboys In NFC East, Want 'Super Bowl Parade' Every season there is a lot of hype, and subsequent hope, when it comes to the Cowboys and their aspirations. Not only will the Cowboys have a mostly healthy roster, but they will also add talent with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With a seemingly gifted roster, it leads the question: Just how talented is the group compared to the rest of the NFL?" According to Pro Football Focus, which analyzed all 32 teams and their rosters, the Dallas Cowboys come in with the ninth overall most talented roster. This list was ranked by predicted wins above replacement (WAR) of each of the players on the roster. As PFF points out, the reason Dallas is ranked so high is because of their potent offense and the return of franchise quarterback Prescott. It is not hard to extrapolate that the offense could once again be high powered with the likes of running back Ezekiel Elliott and receivers CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup. Dallas, the theory goes, has the talent to not just win the NFC East division, but also has the ability to make a deep push into the playoffs. The 10th overall pick in the draft will only further solidify the roster depending on the route they wish to take on draft day. While there is much-ballyhooed interest in Florida's Kyle Pitts, the Cowboys can address some of their biggest holes on defense during the first round, and CowboysSI.com is being told that the in-house debate is largely over cornerbacks Patrick Surtain vs. Jaycee Horn. Either way, this could be one of the most talented offenses in the NFL, and they will be looking to prove what PFF thinks of them come Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. READ MORE: Here's Why Cowboys Might Pass On Sewell & Slater In NFL Draft | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/do-dallas-cowboys-have-a-top-10-roster-in-the-nfl |
Are NYPD officers rushing to retire amid citys anti-cop climate? | More than 5,300 NYPD uniformed officers retired or put in their papers to leave in 2020 a 75 percent spike from the year before, department data show. The exodus amid the pandemic, anti-cop hostility, riots and a skyrocketing number of NYC shootings saw 2,600 officers say goodbye to the job and another 2,746 file for retirement, a combined 5,346. In 2019, the NYPD had 1,509 uniformed officers leave and 1,544 file for retirement, for a total of 3,053. DRIVER DRAGS NYPD OFFICER WITH CAR, WAS OUT WITH NO BAIL AT TIME DESPITE ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE The departures and planned departures of 5,300 officers represents about 15 percent of the force. Already, as of April 5, the NYPD headcount of uniformed officers has dropped to 34,974 from 36,900 in 2019. Through April 21 of this year, 831 cops have retired or filed to leave and many more are expected to follow suit in the current anti-cop climate, according to Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "Cops are forming a conga line down at the pension section and I dont blame them," Giacalone said. "NYPD cops are looking for better jobs with other departments or even embarking on new careers." The flurry of Finest farewells began after the Minnesota police-involved killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, with 272 uniformed cops putting in retirement papers from then through June 24, the NYPD data show. Giacalone expects a "long, hot summer ahead," with the City Council vote to remove qualified immunity from the NYPD making it far easier to personally sue a cop and turning "the job [into] a minefield." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch told The Post, "The Mayor and City Council are absolutely trying to abolish the police. Theyve kept our pay absurdly low. Theyve ratcheted up our exposure to lawsuits. Theyve demonized us at every opportunity. And theyve taken away the tools we need to do the job we all signed up for, which is to keep our communities safe. "Now the NYPD is spending money on slick recruiting ads to replace the experienced cops who are leaving in droves. City Hall should just admit the truth: police abolition-through-attrition is their goal. They wont stop until the job has become completely unbearable, and theyre getting closer to that goal with every passing day." READ MORE AT NYPOST.COM | https://www.foxnews.com/us/are-nypd-officers-rushing-to-retire-amid-citys-anti-cop-climate |
How Serious Is Kawhi Leonard's Foot Injury? | Leonard first missed a game with a sore right foot on April 13 against the Indiana Pacers. He missed three straight games, and then eventually played against Minnesota Timberwolves on April 18. It was then announced that Leonard would be re-evaluated in a week, and he missed the next three straight games again. Clippers head coach Ty Lue said the situation is more of a precaution. "More of a precautionary thing," Ty Lue said. "It is something that he has been dealing with... we just want to be cautious." Sources have confirmed to AllClippers that Leonard's foot injury definitely more on the precautionary side. There is some pain in the lower part of Kawhi's foot, so the team wants to make absolutely sure that Leonard is pain-free going into the playoffs. If it were the playoffs, Leonard would likely play. However, given what we've seen this season's injuries, the Clippers simply don't want to take the chance with Kawhi's soreness. The Clippers have 10 games left in the regular season and they're still missing Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, and Serge Ibaka. There is hope that Patrick Beverley could return sooner than later with his broken hand, but Ibaka has no timetable. One thing is for sure though, the team will need all of them. Related Stories Paul George Hopes to Retire With LA Clippers Nicolas Batum Grateful to LA Clippers for Giving Him Another Chance in NBA Three Takeaways from the LA Clippers' Comeback Win over the Houston Rockets | https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/how-serious-is-kawhi-leonard-foot-injury |
Do Chicago Bears Have Possible Trade Partners Lining Up? | Plenty of options and no one can be sure at this time of the year exactly what any team intends to do until it's actually done. The Atlanta Falcons had said a while ago they were listening to offers for the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly fielded calls from those looking to trade down out of the 10th spot in the draft. The Miami Dolphins have fielded calls from teams interested in the sixth pick. All Lions writer Vito Chirco reported new GM Brad Holmes has had trade talk with other teams about the seventh spot. "Yes, there have been (trade) discussions with other teams," Chirco reported Holmes as saying. "I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions." Vito Chirco of All Lions Carolina has the eighth pick and is willing to trade down for more picks , according to NBC Sports' Peter King. Now, even the Denver Broncos might be willing to trade down out of No. 9 even though everyone expects them to be interested in a quarterback to replace struggling Drew Locke. The reason for this is they might have interest in acquiring Teddy Bridgewater. Basically, every team from No. 4 to 10 except Cincinnati has thought of going back to take advantage of teams trying desperately to get one of the fourth or fifth quarterbacks in Round 1. The Bengals have their own QB and seem less interested, as they have a few needs they'd rather address at No. 5. There could even be teams behind No. 10 looking to go back for picks. Philadelphia at No. 12 seems willing to move all over the draft board and has already. The Giants are at No. 11 and GM Dave Gettleman has never traded back but there's a first time for everything. All of this can only mean the Bears have been involved talking to all or some of these teams since they are known to be among the teams coveting a top quarterback. GM Ryan Pace is scheduled to speak with media Tuesday morning, although it's extremely unlikely he'll offer much about his plans in order to avoid jeopardizing a chance at moving up. It wouldn't be surprising if the Bears had talked to every single team except possibly New England and Washington because they're also looking for a quarterback. The Bears need to make certain who they can turn to for the trade up in case the right quarterback between Mac Jones, Justin Fields and Trey Lance starts to fall. It's simply a case of doing their due diligence. None of this is unique. It doesn't mean the Bears are any more likely to move up more than move back. This goes on every single draft with all the teams earlier in the draft as they get a feel for what extra picks they could gather by going back. It also goes on later and the Bears could actually be one of those teams looking to trade down then if the right quarterback hasn't fallen to them, and they think they'd like a shot in Round 2 at one of the next quarterback group. This would be the group including Davis Mills, Kellen Mond and Kyle Trask. It's just how this game is played. Anyone saying they can read which quarterback in Round 1 is coveted by the Bears, or what they're going to do at this point by their prospect visits, or by something someone else said, is merely fooling themself or biting on subterfuge. Former Bears college scouting director Greg Gabriel summed it all up the best on Twitter: And in between it all are the agents of players who are saying or using any possible angle to get their guy drafted earlier. It's the time of NFL offseason for schemers, liars and spies. Trust no one and triple check everything you hear. It's all a big game of Texas Hold 'Em and you have to love it all. Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven | https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/news/possible-trade-partners-lining-up-but-are-bears-interested |
Can Western brands recover from consumer backlash in China? | H&M has been the main target of a Chinese boycott For many years foreign companies operating in China have faced social media-fuelled consumer backlashes, sometimes over instances of cultural insensitivity and sometimes over political controversies. "Anyone who offends the Chinese people should prepare to pay the price," was the blunt message from China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying when asked recently about a number of Western companies facing a boycott after they expressed concern over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang province. H&M was the main target, but the backlash also hit Nike, Adidas and Puma - all members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a non-profit group promoting sustainable cotton production. The Swedish fashion retailer is blocked on China's major ecommerce platforms and their physical stores have vanished from some digital maps. Twenty H&M stores remain closed. These companies aren't the first to face a backlash in China and almost certainly won't be the last. But the price of these transgressions seems to vary dramatically. The trouble blows over quickly for some companies, but causes lasting damage for others. The President of the EU chamber of Commerce in China Jeorg Wuttke said it was not uncommon for foreign companies to run afoul of Chinese sensibilities. It's a longstanding challenge, and one that has grown with China's economic importance and Europe's changing attitudes. "What has changed is that public perception and public opinion on China has dramatically soured. And that, of course, increases the heat on companies on the home front," Mr Wuttke said. For some retailers like H&M, it's a conundrum. Story continues At the moment, H&M sells 94.8% of its clothing elsewhere, but China's growing wealth is likely to represent a large portion of the company's growth in the coming years. Pragmatic anger Mr Wuttke thinks the goal appears to be to inflict short-term pain to make a political point rather than to put companies out of business. The boycotts are selective and most often target companies with a high-visibility retail presence, an approach which maximises the visibility of the backlash but also minimises the impact on China's economy. The retail giants had expressed concern about the alleged use of Uighur forced labour in cotton production It's fairly easy for a retailer to ramp up their operations again, but the same might not be true for businesses in other sectors, such as heavy industry. "If they were to punish a chemical company, or a company that produces machinery, these guys have assets on the ground. If they walk away, they will not come back," he said. There are a variety of ways that foreign businesses can run into trouble with Chinese consumers. Many have fallen foul of them for being culturally insensitive. Often these controversies blow over, and consumers come back. Balenciaga and Burberry, for example, both offended consumers with clumsy ad campaigns related to Chinese holidays. "There are now a sufficient number of instances to suggest cultural missteps can be healed through thoughtful on-the-ground execution and the passage of time," said Michael Norris from consumer research business AgencyChina. Even so, both companies have run into trouble over other issues as well. And sometimes cultural missteps can also be more serious. Italian luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana felt the wrath of Chinese social media when it released three videos in 2018 showing a Chinese model struggling to eat Italian food including cannoli and pizza with chopsticks. The ad was widely seen as racist, and it led to a backlash with several Chinese retailers pulling the brand's products. The company's results since then suggest it may have had an effect, with the Asia Pacific market falling from 25% to 22% of the group's total turnover for the year ending in March 2019 (even though the company's revenues overall grew 4.9% to $1.54bn). The following year, the company's wholesale and retail takings in Asia, including China and Hong Kong, were down 35%. However, the results made no mention of the boycott and the period in question includes the first three months of 2020, when China's economy was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Politics, on the other hand, presents an entirely different challenge. In 2019, the US National Basketball Association suffered what its chief executive described as "substantial" losses after an online comment from a team executive prompted a backlash in China. "Political stances or commentary can jeopardise a brand's future in China," said Mr Norris. After the Houston Rockets' manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, the state-run broadcaster CCTV and Tencent Holdings, which streams NBA games in China, said they would stop broadcasting Rockets' matches. The Houston Rockets' stance on Hong Kong pro-democracy protests also angered China The Chinese Basketball Association suspended co-operation with the Houston Rockets, as did Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning, and the club's sponsor in China, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The Rockets remain benched. "It took the better part of an NBA season to reinstate the Houston Rockets box-score and ranking to Tencent Sports. However, to this day, Houston Rockets apparel remains unsearchable on Alibaba's e-commerce marketplaces," Mr Norris said. A Lotte of money Korean companies faced perhaps the fiercest opposition in 2017, when South Korea agreed to install a US missile system which Beijing said could be used to spy on China, even though it was intended to defend against North Korea. The Korea Tourism Organization estimated the spat cost the country's tourism operators $6.5bn (4.66bn) in lost revenue. Korea's cosmetics and entertainment industries took a hit too. The central bank estimated that it knocked 0.4% off the country's economic growth for the year. Perhaps the biggest loser was Korean conglomerate Lotte, which provided land it owned in South Korea for the missile defence system. Shuttered Lotte store in China The company sold off its chain of convenience stores to a Chinese company as a result of the controversy. The suffered losses of around $1.7bn in China in the 18 months after the controversy erupted, mostly from selling off its convenience stores in China at a loss, according to the Financial Times. The company's confectionary, beverage, food production and department store divisions all took a hit. However, even Lotte has returned. In 2019 the company resumed work on a $2.6bn real estate project in Shenyang. Mr Wuttke says it rarely seems to be the case that foreign businesses are excluded from China permanently. The key question seems to be how long the boycotts last. "China wants the world to know about its anger. They do so. It's very painful for companies, but it blows over," he said. You may also be interested in... | https://news.yahoo.com/western-brands-recover-consumer-backlash-040912286.html |
Is a quiet revolution edging Wales down the road to independence? | There was a village choir; there was a folk group with a harp that won prizes; there was a chapel. And all that culture just went under the water. What you see here is the graveyard of a Welsh community. More than half a century on, Elwyn Edwards still feels a sense of outrage as he contemplates the valley of Tryweryn in north-west Wales, where the thriving village of Capel Celyn was deliberately flooded in 1965. On the orders of Westminster, the picturesque hamlet was sacrificed to create a reservoir supplying water to Liverpool, 43 miles away. Capel Celyns inhabitants protested, and there was desperate opposition from Welsh MPs in the House of Commons. Edwards, 13 at the time and living a few miles away, went to the demonstrations and remembers the raw anger. After the deed was finally done, he recalls a sepulchral silence, as labourers built the reservoir dam using the bricks of the village and sand and clay from local farmers. There were no sheep, no noise or life. It made such an impact on me. The drowning of Capel Celyn and the brutal truths it exposed about where power lay in 1960s Britain led to the birth of modern Welsh nationalism. In 1966, Gwynfor Evans became the first Plaid Cymru candidate to be elected to Westminster, winning the seat of Carmarthen. Bilingual signs became part of the landscape. Devolution and the idea of a Welsh assembly gained political currency, becoming a reality in 1999. Edwards eventually became a nationalist Plaid councillor in the nearby town of Bala. But Welsh independence remained for decades a marginal and even eccentric aspiration. Not any more. As the United Kingdom charts an unsteady course through the fallout from Covid, Brexit and renewed calls for a Scottish IndyRef2, devolved and local elections next month will offer vital clues to the direction of travel. Waless journey may yet turn out to be the most surprising one of all. In March, one poll put support for Welsh independence at a record level of 39% on a par with Scotlands yes campaign before the 2014 referendum. A mere six years ago, backing for the idea stood as low as 3%. Support among the 18-24s has nudged 60%, with more than 80% in favour of far greater devolution to the Welsh Senedd. Before Covid struck, a trio of Yes Cymru marches in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Merthyr modelled on the 2014 Yes Scotland campaign attracted much larger crowds than expected. Celebrity endorsements of the nationalist cause are becoming commonplace. This month the rugby star, Ashton Hewitt, told a nationalist podcast: Theres more reason to be Yes than No. And to the surprise and delight of Edwards, the fate of Capel Celyn has become a symbol for a new generation. The slogan Cofiwch Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn), can be seen on graffiti, car stickers and posters throughout Wales. Now in his 70s, Edwards says: I probably wont live to see independence, but I know from what I am seeing that it is on its way. A new sense of the possible Wales is still in the foothills of its breakaway debate. The practical challenges for a population a third of the size of Londons would be enormous. But under the radar, as first Brexit and then the pandemic dominated British politics, a cultural revolution has been taking place. Next months Senedd elections will be a crucial, and complicated, test of the new mood. As Plaid has attempted to capitalise, the Labour first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has been making the case for a new constitutional settlement to save the union. Remember Celyn scrawled on a substation. The hamlet of Capel Celyn was flooded to create the reservoir. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer Last month, Drakeford told parliaments Welsh affairs committee that the United Kingdom as it is, is over. A different institutional architecture was needed, he said, reflecting a voluntary association of four nations. When the leader of traditionally unionist Welsh Labour issues a warning that stark over devolution, it might be time the rest of Britain sat up and took notice. In the upcoming elections, Mabon ap Gwynfor is the Plaid candidate for the rural Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency, which includes the town of Bala and the Tryweryn Valley. The grandson of the pioneering Gwynfor Evans, he was born into a nationalist tradition which has its heartland in the region. Bala is about 80% Welsh-speaking. On its high street a Catalan flag flies, next to an independent bookshop offering works on the history of Irish republicanism, and the spring edition of the independence free-sheet, Yes Cymru. The front page is dominated by a photograph of Charlotte Church and the headline: Im backing independence. When it comes to running their own affairs, says ap Gwynfor, the Welsh have been told so often they are too poor, too stupid and too small. But events in Scotland and the high profile of the Welsh government during Covid has opened up a new sense of the possible. On Friday, Drakeford enjoyed another moment in the spotlight as he announced an accelerated easing of lockdown in Wales over the next few weeks. During the Covid pandemic, says ap Gwynfor, people have started to realise there is a Welsh government that has real powers; that has control over health, education, agriculture. Mark Drakeford and his government have shown they can plough their own furrow. With the knowledge that Wales can do things its own way, comes a greater questioning of governance, of the status of Wales and the setup of the UK. People are starting to say: Why cant we do more things our own way? Overwhelmingly, the Welsh public has preferred Drakefords cautious approach to easing restrictions to Boris Johnsons more libertarian instincts. The contrast was exemplified in October, when a circuit-breaker lockdown was introduced in Wales as London dithered. There are so many unknowns now in Welsh politics. Brexit has blown everything up Carwyn Tywyn, writer But the extent to which Welsh Labour overwhelmingly dominant since devolution will reap the political rewards is uncertain. Until last week, its support was falling while Plaids was on the rise. A Sky poll last week pointed to a Labour rebound at Plaids expense, while general support for independence remained at historically high levels. Having finished a distant second in the last Senedd elections in 2016, the best Plaid can realistically hope for on 6 May is a few more berths in the 60-seat assembly (where it currently has 10 representatives). That will not be anywhere near enough to force an independence referendum. But the Brexit-fuelled rise of the Welsh Conservatives, up 9% in the polls, is creating a three-way contest which could shift the dial of the countrys politics in unpredictable ways. To govern, Labour may need to form a coalition with Plaid, which would involve making concessions to nationalist sentiment. The polarisation of politics in Scotland will also have concentrated Labour minds. Roughly half of Welsh Labour voters are sympathetic to independence, while some Conservative candidates for the Senedd have voiced support for reversing devolution. The dramatic implosion of Scottish Labour, which haemorrhaged Yes voters to the SNP and No voters to the Tories, is a cautionary tale. Wrexham, which deserted Labour in the general election and voted Conservative for the first time since 1935, is a prime Tory target next month, but Plaid has also made notable gains in council byelections. Marc Jones is the founder of a flourishing community pub and Welsh language centre in the heart of the town. He is certain the zeitgeist is moving. Thirty years ago I think Wrexham saw itself as a bit of a border town. Honestly, I dont know how to pin it down, Jones says. If I could bottle it I would be very successful in whatever I chose to do. Its about perception and a sense of identity, which is important. The fact that it is happening so close to the border, just a few miles away, is significant. You know I wouldnt even disregard the role of the Euros football in 2016 [when Wales reached the semi-finals]. That was a symbol of Wales as a small nation, punching above its weight. Marc Jones outside the Saith Seren community pub, which is also a Welsh language centre, in Wrexham. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer Jones is hopeful that the sense of frustration with the status quo that led Wrexham to vote overwhelmingly Leave in 2016, and Tory in 2019, may eventually channel itself in the direction of independence. There is a dissatisfaction that is pretty incoherent at the moment, and thats what drove Brexit. Now Brexit is out of the way, people are still discontented and that could coalesce around a positive message of Welsh independence. According to Carwyn Tywyn, a writer on Welsh nationalism and political commentator: What you have is almost a buffet menu of choices opening up for people to kick the British government in Westminster or the Welsh Labour government in Cardiff. There are so many unknowns now in Welsh politics. Brexit has blown everything up. Then there is the pandemic, which has given people a taste of an actual tangible border between England and Wales, with public health being devolved. Then you have the developing situation in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its like a very finely poised chess match. You can have an English identity and be a citizen of an independent Wales Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru candidate Outside the Awen Meirion bookshop in Bala, ap Gwynfor admits that the turbulence of the times, and the sudden emergence of independence as a mainstream debate has taken him by surprise. Things have certainly moved on faster and further that I expected, he says. I would have expected that we would still be debating the merits of independence, but we are actually debating finer details. We need to make sure that we have the right answers over an independent economy. We need in the medium term to reassure people that ours is not a negative campaign. Someone can be British and live in an independent Wales. You can have an English identity and be a citizen of an independent Wales. Our project is to build a new state which is fairer, outward-facing and more progressive. The Scottish model The pitch has obvious affinities with the Scottish National partys presentation of a benign, inclusive patriotism, sitting on the centre-left of the political spectrum. And just as the Yes Scotland campaign mobilised nationalist sentiment beyond party politics, Yes Cymrus appeal seems to be cutting through culturally. Brexit, in a different way, did something analogous in England and much of Wales. The common denominator has been the perception that power, resources and control have for decades been unfairly distributed in the United Kingdom. Dwyfor Meirionnydd is one of the poorest regions in Britain, says ap Gwynfor, but property prices, driven by the second-home market, are sky-high. If you go to a community about an hour west of here called Aberdovey a stunning harbour village more than 60% of the houses are second homes. A flat I saw down there a couple of days ago was selling for over 325,000. The average wages here are 21,000 a year. Local people are forced to leave. What weve had historically is a few wealthy people coming in and extracting the wealth and then leaving. If we carry on as we are, Wales will become a playground for tourists and a battery for the rich. We create energy through water and wind for wealthier parts of Britain and serve as a playground for people to visit and enjoy and then leave. But there are living, breathing communities here, with rich traditions, which need to be respected, valued and helped to thrive. As he departs for the campaign trail, a car sticker is visible in ap Gwynfors back window. It reads simply: Remember Tryweryn. Battle for the United Kingdom Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has said that she wants to stage another referendum on Scottish independence by 2023. The authority for moving to hold one will depend on pro-independence parties winning a majority in the Holyrood election. The most recent poll shows a narrow majority against independence. Northern Ireland By creating an effective border in the Irish Sea, the Brexit agreement with the EU disrupted the fragile checks and balances of the Good Friday Agreement. Recent rioting by young loyalists in Belfast and elsewhere is providing a tense backdrop to the Stormont elections. England Devolution in England has focused on the regions. Seven city-region mayors will be elected on 6 May, including, for the first time, a metro mayor of West Yorkshire. But if greater powers are given to Holyrood and the Senedd, as dissatisfaction with Westminsters power grows, calls for an English parliament are likely to grow louder. | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/25/is-a-quiet-revolution-edging-wales-down-the-road-to-independence |
Will 95% mortgage scheme give generation rent a foot in the door? | It was billed as a way to give prospective homeowners access to the housing market. When the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a mortgage guarantee scheme to encourage banks and building societies to lend to people who can only afford a 5% home deposit, he heralded it as a way of turning generation rent to generation buy. The move, launched last week, has prompted a flurry of new mortgage products on to the market, both within and outside the scheme. But buyers have been warned that they may be paying a higher interest rate for the new loans than if they would if they had a bigger deposit. And then there is the concern that the guarantee may prompt increases in house prices, leaving future generations having to borrow even more. Or they could drop and plunge people into negative equity. Others have welcomed the new scheme. The launch of various 95% options for borrowers is hugely positive and will help many people who could otherwise not have been able to get on to the housing ladder, says Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients. A new market When the pandemic hit, mortgage providers, fearing for the economic repercussions from Covid-19, largely pulled deals where buyers needed a deposit of just 5%. In March last year, there were 378 mortgage products available, according to financial information site Moneyfacts, but these largely disappeared. Last month, Sunak announced the scheme whereby the government would guarantee the 95% loans. Under this scheme, the government guarantees a portion of the mortgage if the borrower goes into default. The news alone was enough to encourage some lenders to return to the market in March Yorkshire building society started offering a 95% deal without using the government guarantee. Last week, lenders using the guarantee started to launch products, most of which are on fixed terms of two years. Figures from Moneyfacts show the best value offering as a Halifax two-year fixed mortgage at 3.73%, with an arrangement fee of 999. Outside the scheme, Barclayss Springboard five-year fixed mortgage offers 3.45% interest, although it requires a guarantor. The best five-year fix without a guarantor is 3.89% from Coventry building society and Metro Bank (both outside the scheme). The rates on the new tranche of 95% products are typically higher than for loans where the buyer has a bigger deposit. Rachel Springall of Moneyfacts says it is important to seek financial advice as some of the deals under the new scheme may not be the best fit. It continues to be the case that if borrowers can afford to stretch their deposit to 10% they will find many more deals at lower rates, but, understandably, this may not be an option for some, she says. There is clearly much more room for improvement in choice for borrowers with just a 5% deposit, but its likely to be a slow and steady process before we start to see product volumes at the levels seen before many lenders withdrew them in 2020. Under the scheme, borrowers cant have an interest in any other property. While the maximum property purchase is capped at 600,000, meaning a maximum loan of 570,000, some lenders have capped the mortgage offer at 500,000. Value, not the price Borrowers should be aware that when a lender offers a 95% mortgage, they are doing so on the lenders valuation, not the price. Sara Williams, author of the Debt Camel blog, says your deposit may not end up being enough to buy the home you want. Say you have an offer of 160,000 accepted on a house, 5% of that is 8,000, so if you have 10,000 saved for a deposit you may think thats plenty, she says. But if the lenders survey produces a valuation of 155,000, they will only lend 95% of that lower amount, which is 147,250. That leaves you having to find 12,750, ie, 160,000 minus 147,250. Questions have also arisen over how affordable it will be to buy a house, even with the new scheme in place. Analysis by the Guardian found single buyers in their 30s, on the UK median wage, will still be locked out of buying in about half of the local authority areas in England and Wales. Coupled with this are fears that the new scheme will result in a rise in house prices, according to Williams. There is a real risk that the government backing for 95% mortgages will simply increase house prices. For the people that can now afford to buy, that may not matter. But it may mean that first-time buyers in a couple of years are looking at needing even larger deposits and larger mortgages, she says. Future threats What the government scheme does not protect against is negative equity, when the property becomes worth less than the mortgage that has been taken out on it. With a 95% mortgage, just a small fall in the value of the home could mean that you are in negative equity. This can result in difficulty moving home or getting another fixed-interest deal when the one that you are on ends. Being trapped by negative equity in a house that is too small can be very difficult, says Williams. So if this is a starter house and you expect to have to move in a few years because of a growing family, this could be a real problem. | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/apr/25/will-95-mortgage-scheme-give-generation-rent-a-foot-in-the-door |
How did the Martin Bashir I knew become TVs anti-hero? | It was amazing television: superstar Michael Jackson sharing his bed with children, blowing a million dollars in a Las Vegas shopping spree and showing us round his weird mancave, Neverland. And I remember exactly where I was when I saw it: in a screening for ITVs Tonight team at a Covent Garden hotel with the man who made it, Martin Bashir. I fancied myself as a scoop merchant back then. Before becoming a playwright I, like Martin, was a Tonight presenter. Unlike him, I wasnt good at getting exclusives. I also tried getting Jackson, but after a few texts to his pal Uri Geller I gave up. I was jealous of Martin that night 18 years ago but also impressed, as I had been by his other great triumph: his interview with Princess Diana. Funny how it turns out: that 1995 Diana scoop is now the subject of an inquiry by Lord Justice Dyson, possibly due next month, and a BBC One investigation by Panorama expected to be aired in May. Its a safe bet neither Dyson nor Panorama will sing Martins praises. The Panorama will be made by the programmes editorial team but wont be billed as such: the BBC dont want it to look like an attack by the show on itself, even though thats exactly what it is. It will investigate Martins Diana interview but is also set to include allegations about his reporting on the Soho nail bomber case of 1999 when he was working for ITV. Its said he misled detectives to gain an advantage over the BBC. Dyson, however, will concentrate on Diana. The omens are not good. Some allegations may remain unproven for example, that Martin showed her a forged receipt proving that Prince Charless nanny had had an abortion. (A claim vehemently and successfully denied by the nanny herself.) However, the central charge that he forged bank statements showing that people in Dianas camp were being paid to betray her is not disputed. Thats because Martin admitted the forgeries in 1996 in an inquiry by Tony Hall, then head of BBC News, who went on to become director-general before retiring last year. Although Martin couldnt explain why he made the forgeries, Hall concluded he was remorseful and an honest man before deciding that Matt Wiessler, the graphic artist who made the documents without knowing what they were for, would never work for the Corporation again. Which is a bit like a judge pardoning a bloke for masterminding a bank robbery but banging up the guy who innocently resprayed the getaway van beforehand. Bashir arrives at court for the Michael Jackson child molestation trial, 2005, in Santa Maria, California. Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP No surprise then, that Martin was reportedly texting BBC colleagues four months ago, apologising for the embarrassment hed caused, saying this is a tragic way to retire. Ive been thinking and talking about him a lot recently for a play Im writing called The Outsider. His story is great territory for a dramatist. Its about how power works. One institution the BBC desperately wanted the interview to happen but another the monarchy didnt. I was friendly with Martin during our five years on Tonight, but not close. He was funny like many journalists, often at the expense of others and we had much in common. We went to Kings College, London, in the 1980s. (He studied theology, I did law.) We worked at the BBC for most of the 1990s. And we loved sport. Especially rugby. Stocky and athletic, he was a competitive scrum-half. Musically, he was surprisingly accomplished, making a reggae album, Bass Lion, in 2010. He even played percussion with my covers band on our version of Walk On By at an Italian restaurant in Wandsworth one Sunday lunchtime. Very good he was too. He was also good at flattery, forever saying, Youre on fire, Jonny! Absolutely on fire! But it was reflexive, not genuine. Former Panorama reporter Tom Mangold recalls Martin telling him about his late brother, who died tragically young. Martin told Tom that his brother had said, before he died, Martin, you must work for the BBC and be like Tom Mangold. Because he is the best. A delighted Mangold told John Humphrys the story. He told me exactly the same thing, replied Humphrys. But he used my name instead of yours. It was that ability to tell people what they want to hear that won him other scoops: interviews with the coughing Major and Louise Woodward, the British nanny convicted of killing a baby. Martin Bashir and Michael Jackson on Tonight with Trevor McDonald, 2003. His upbringing is key, I think. The son of Pakistani immigrants, he was brought up on a south London council estate and went to the local comprehensive. Not, then, your typical white, Oxbridge type to whom the BBCs crown jewels came so easily in the 1990s. He was extraordinarily ambitious but had a problem: he wasnt called Dimbleby and no one had heard of him, pre-Diana. So he was always going to have go the extra occasionally dodgy mile to get ahead. Ive wondered how he justified those forgeries to himself. I think his faith is significant. He converted to Christianity as a young man. So his God is a merciful, forgiving one. Only one Lord can judge him and hes not called Dyson. A comforting if convenient belief system for someone in his position. An ex-BBC executive tells me he thinks Martin is a sociopath. Even if true, thats not as shocking as it sounds. Sociopaths make great journalists. They are charming, manipulative and arent bothered who gets hurt or what people think of them. That got me thinking. If only Prof Anthony Clare was still grilling people for In the Psychiatrists Chair on Radio 4. Clare dissects Bashir. What a show that would have been. Its not just Martin in Dysons dock. The BBC and particularly Tony (now Lord) Hall have serious charges to answer. To call that appointment risky is an understatement. Martin came freighted with risk. After leaving Tonight for America in 2003, he ran into trouble for inappropriate comments about Asian babes, then resigned from MSNBC in 2013 after making crude remarks about Sarah Palin. BBC journalists were staggered when he got the job. They still laugh about the time he collected sponsorship funds in the Panorama office, brandishing a certificate showing hed run a marathon. Is it genuine? one wag asked. The Mail on Sunday broke the news of the forgeries at the time, but its only a scandal now, a quarter of a century later. I think its about trust. We value it more now because of phone hacking, the WMD lies and fake news. There is also a good peg: last year saw the 25th anniversary of the Diana interview, and four C4 and ITV documentaries were made, all of which dug up juicy new snippets. Suddenly, hey presto weve got ourselves a media storm. There is also, perhaps, an anti-BBC agenda at play. Some outlets have a vested interest in bashing the BBC. Especially when its justified. I cant help feeling sorry for Martin. Hes had a terrible year. As the scandal was breaking, he reportedly caught Covid-19 and claimed to have needed quadruple heart bypass surgery as a result. I asked him last week via email, when I told him what I was doing. He said Im not sure I believe him hed talk to me post-Dyson. He also said, proving old habits die hard, Ive always been a huge admirer of yours. My money is on an attempt at rehabilitation a la John Profumo or Jonathan Aitken. Both redeemed themselves by doing good works. Indeed, hes already started, having recently written articles for the Church Times about faith. I suspect hell need it in the years to come. | https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/25/how-did-the-martin-bashir-i-knew-become-tvs-anti-hero |
Who is Rex Tillerson? | Sign Up For Newsletters Police reform legislation has "more momentum" post Chauvin verdict What the Chauvin verdict means for reforms Praise for teen who filmed George Floyd's murder Chauvin convicted of all charges in George Floyd's death 7 deputies on leave after fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. Indonesia navy says missing submarine sunk, killing all aboard Family of Andrew Brown Jr. calls for release of police video Cop seen punching teen and throwing him to the ground What Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict means for the future of policing Biden recognizes mass killing of Armenians as genocide Here's more information about Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Here's more information about Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On | https://www.cbsnews.com/video/who-is-rex-tillerson/ |
How will my three-year-old cope with family weddings? | My lovely sister Fionnuala (pronounced: Fionnuala) got married the weekend before last. We werent able to attend the day itself due to Covid protocols. We saw pics and videos on WhatsApp in which she and her delightful husband Adam (pronounced: Adhanm, I think?) looked gorgeous and almost-but-not-quite-sickeningly in love, tying the knot to an audience of two. Our family weddings are usually quite big affairs, my family being large enough to be seen from space Our family weddings are usually quite big affairs. Besides my family being large enough to be seen from space, Irish people generally consider marriage a great opportunity to conduct a census of every person theyve ever met. As with every wedding, it made my wife and I reflective and emotional about our own nuptials. Admittedly, the emotional reflection we usually share when we see other people getting married is delight that we are no longer planning a wedding ourselves. But now, after four years, weddings are the kind of thing were looking forward to getting back to. I dont know that theyll be the same. I read with horror that finger food and buffets may be a permanent casualty of the coronavirus, since they could be prohibitively difficult to safeguard from transmission. As someone who likes in fact, regards it as his premier skill in life to skulk near wedding caterers so I can gorge myself on canapes with impunity, this is a terrifying prospect. It would deny me the right to stalk their route through the crowd, emerging in front of them like a predator on the savannah, saying: Oh, my, well of course! as if Ive seen them entirely by coincidence, before pulping onion tartlets and mushroom blinis into my cavernous, ravenous mouth. Heaven, in other words. My son is nearly three and has never been to a wedding. Pretty much his entire recorded memory has been spent in Covid times, in small groups of adults and only a few family members at one time. Hes become so used to the rubrics of the pandemic that he will press random objects at chest height and mime washing his hands as if some sanitiser has been dispensed. Maybe his not attending a fully catered, 200-person wedding is good, in that case. If he was handed a mushroom blini hed probably mash it into his paws while singing the Mr Potato song. For now, well take joy from the fact that Fionnuala and Adam (henceforth Fionnadam) have promised us another, more grand celebration of their vows in the future, when the world is ready for large groups of mildly sozzled people to congregate in shiny hats and impractical shoes. If youve ever met either of them, youll see me there. Save me an onion tartlet. Follow Samas on Twitter @shockproofbeats | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/25/the-seamas-oreilly-column-how-will-my-three-year-old-cope-with-a-family-wedding |
Was King Solomon the ancient worlds first shipping magnate? | King Solomon is venerated in Judaism and Christianity for his wisdom and in Islam as a prophet, but the fabled ruler is one of the Bibles great unsolved mysteries. Archaeologists have struggled in vain to find conclusive proof that he actually existed. With no inscriptions or remnants of the magnificent palace and temple he is supposed to have built in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago, the Israelite king has sunk into the realm of myth. Now British marine archaeologist Dr Sean Kingsley has amassed evidence showing that Solomon was not only a flesh-and-blood monarch but also the worlds first shipping magnate, who funded voyages carried out by his Phoenician allies in historys first special relationship. Over 10 years, Kingsley has carried out a maritime audit of the Solomon question. By extending the search beyond the Holy Land, across the Mediterranean to Spain and Sardinia, he found that archaeological evidence supports biblical descriptions of a partnership between Solomon, who excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom, and the Phoenician king Hiram, who supplied Solomon with cedar timber and gold, as much as he desired. Kingsley told the Observer: Ive spread a very wide net. That kind of maritime study has never been done before. He said: For 100 years, archaeologists have scrutinised Jerusalems holy soils, the most excavated city in the world. Nothing definitive fits the book of Kings and Chronicles epic accounts of Solomons palace and temple. By exploring traces of ports, warehouses, industry and shipwrecks, new evidence shakes up the quest for truth. He explored Andalusian port towns from Mezquitilla to Mlaga and found that the archaeological evidence reveals a Phoenician coast. He visited the site of the great mine of the ancient world, Rio Tinto 70km inland from Huelva which produced gold, silver, lead, copper and zinc and where, crucially, he realised that old maps and historical accounts referred to a particular spot as Cerro Solomon or Solomons Hill. One 17th-century account notes that Solomons Hill was previously called Solomons Castle, and another describes people being sent there by King Solomon for gold and silver. Rio Tinto mining park in Huelva, Spain. Ancient accounts reveal that silver mined here came from a spot called Solomons Hill. Photograph: Gabriel Solera/Getty Images At the site, archaeologists have found ancient mining tools, such as granite pestles and stone mortars used to crush minerals, and remnants of lead slag that held a high proportion of silver. Kingsley said that lead isotope analysis has shown that silver hoards excavated in Israel originally came from Iberia. Recent digs in nearby Huelva have found evidence of the Israelites and Phoenicians, including elephant tusks, merchants shekel weights and pottery. The Near Eastern link can be dated as far back as 930BC, the end of Solomons reign, and Kingsley has concluded that Huelva is the best fit for the capital of the biblical Tarshish, the ancient source of imported metals, which archaeologists have signposted wildly, everywhere from southern Israel to the Red Sea, Ethiopia to Tunisia. He was struck by texts and ruins that support a far more conclusive candidate in this area of the southern Iberian Peninsula, which was known in antiquity as Tartessos, a Greek derivation of Tarshish. A Phoenician script on a ninth-century BC stele found in Sardinia refers to the land of Tarshish, also proving its historical reality. Kingsley, who has explored more than 350 shipwrecks in the past 30 years, will publish his research in the forthcoming spring issue of Wreckwatch magazine, the free journal for maritime archaeology, which he also edits. Solomon is believed to have built the First Temple of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. Kingsley writes that everything historians know about it comes from the Bible, including details such as its inner sanctum lined with pure gold: Building cities, palaces and a flagship temple didnt come cheap. Long-distance voyages to the lands of Ophir and Tarshish brought a river of gold, silver, precious stones and marble to the royal court. Neither Israel nor Lebanon could tap into local gold and silver resources. The biblical entrepreneurs were forced to look to the horizon. The land of Tarshish was a vital source for Solomons silver. As the Book of Ezekiel recorded: Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods. Kingsley added: What turned up in southern Spain is undeniable. Phoenician signature finds, richly strewn from Rio Tinto to Mlaga, leave no doubt that Near Eastern ships voyaged to what must have seemed the far side of the moon by 900BC. When I spotted in ancient accounts the name of the hill where silver was mined at Rio Tinto Solomons Hill I was stunned. Biblical history, archaeology and myth merged to reveal the long-sought land of Tarshish celebrated in the Old Testament. It looks like Solomon was wise in his maritime planning. He bankrolled the voyages from Jerusalem and let salty Phoenician sailors take all the risks at sea. | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/25/was-king-solomon-the-ancient-worlds-first-shipping-magnate |
Can police pull me over for air fresheners hanging from my rearview mirror? | Given the terrible incident in Minnesota this month, I wonder if Canada has a similar law prohibiting anything hanging from a vehicles rearview mirror. C. No province has a law banning hanging Little Trees, or anything else, from a rearview mirror, but they all ban anything that blocks your view of the road. For instance, section 442 of Quebecs Highway Safety Code states that you cant drive a vehicle if a passenger, an animal or an object is so placed as to obstruct the drivers view or to interfere with the proper handling of the vehicle. Story continues below advertisement The other provinces all have similar rules. The fines range from $80 to $110. In the U.S., bans on objects hanging from rearview mirrors in several states have been used as an excuse to pull drivers over, critics of the laws say. A bill was introduced in Minnesotas legislature this month to repeal its law. That move came after Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn. In a phone call, Wright told his mother that he was pulled over because of an air freshener. Police said it was because of expired licence-plate stickers. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) highway safety division, said hes never heard of drivers being pulled over just for objects hanging from their rearview mirrors. No, people mount their cell phones and hang all kinds of stuff, Schmidt said. As long as it does not obstruct the drivers view, I wouldnt have a problem with it. Ontarios Ministry of Transportation (MTO) said there were 441 convictions in 2019 for the offence in Ontario, which comes with an $85 fine. Story continues below advertisement Cpl. Mike Halskov, spokesman for British Columbia RCMP traffic services, said the offence isnt usually the main reason for police to pull someone over. We might stop somebody for speeding, and it might be the secondary offence, Halskov said. Or we might issue a ticket if [the object] was found to be a contributing factor in a collision. In B.C. in 2018, police issued 180 tickets for driving with an obstructed windshield. You have to be able to see out your windshield, so anything that blocks your view whether its snow and mud or fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror is dangerous, Halskov said. You could miss something really important, like a pedestrian, cyclist or other cars, Halskov said, adding that hed probably give a warning instead of a ticket. Specific rules vary by province. In Ontario, section 216 of the Highway Traffic Act says you must immediately come to a safe stop. Story continues below advertisement If you dont, you could face a fine between $1,000 and $10,000 and up to six months in jail. If it turns into a chase, fines could soar to $25,000. Once you stop, you should stay in the vehicle, put your hands on the wheel, turn on the interior light and wait for the officer to approach, the OPPs Schmidt said. While people often start rummaging through their glove compartment to find their insurance and registration papers, its best to wait until youre asked, the RCMPs Halskov said. Some officers will have a heightened sense of awareness when they see somebody moving around in the car, even though what the person is doing may be innocent, Halskov said. When youve been pulled over, youre legally required to show your licence, vehicle registration and insurance. Legally, you dont have to answer any questions beyond that although polite co-operation might get you on your way with just a warning. Story continues below advertisement This is an area where the law is one thing and what one ought to do is another, said Michael Bryant executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. People have a right to remain silent, of course, Bryant said. But sometimes, that silence may provoke more aggressive, illegal action by the police force. Even if you think your rights are being violated, it might be safer to cooperate, since any legal wrong can be remedied later, Bryant said. If you co-operate, you might still end up getting charged with traffic offences and have to hire a lawyer to defend you. But if you dont co-operate, you could face more serious charges, including obstructing justice or resisting arrest, Bryant said. Bryant said traffic stops do go wrong in Canada, but its not clear how big a problem it is. Statistically, we dont have enough information to say how dangerous it is to stand up for your rights, Bryant said. Send it to [email protected] and put Driving Concerns in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canadas a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-can-police-pull-me-over-for-air-fresheners-hanging-from-my-rearview/ |
What's next to fix policing in Michigan after the verdicts in George Floyd's murder trial? | The rare verdicts Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. against a former police officer in the three-count murder trial of George Floyd in Minnesota have prompted calls for police reforms from activists, state attorneys general, and even the president of the United States. What happens next depends on how Michiganders and Americans come together after a year of violent protests and an election in which many people seem so politically far apart. But coming together is part of the challenge, said Watoii Rabii, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Oakland University. But true change, he added, must go beyond policy reforms. Some people also are waiting for Derek Chauvin's sentencing. "I hope the sentencing fits the crime, but I dont believe the sentence is going to," Frederica Turner, a 58-year-old Dearborn resident, said. "Nope I dont. Not in America when it comes to a white cop, killing a Black man." Chauvin's maximum possible penalty is 40 years in prison. Some experts speculate he will get closer to 30, which means that he would likely be out on parole after 20. The recommended sentencing guidelines is even less, 12 years. There have been so many deaths at the hands of police in America and there such a long history of racism that it's understandable why Turner is skeptical. For some, sudden and sweeping changes, even if they feel long overdue, just seem out of reach. Last Monday, a 27-year-old man was killed in a shootout with Detroit police. Video suggested he was attempting to kill officers. The same day as the verdict, Detroit officers shot a man who was armed with a knife. Police said he stabbed an officer. And minutes before the verdicts, an officer in Columbus, Ohio, shot 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant. Police said the teen was wielding a knife and appeared to be putting another person's life at risk. A witness, however, had asked police, "Why'd you shoot her?" From the beginning of the year through last Wednesday, alone, police nationwide took the lives of 319 people, according to Mapping Police Violence, a group that tracks police-related deaths of 16,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Since 2013, when the organization started counting them, police killed more than 8,000 people, an average of more than 1,000 a year, nearly three a day. And of those cases, fewer than 2% have led to charges. Few officers are held accountable, said Jennifer Cobbina, an associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. She cautioned praising the effectiveness of the criminal legal system. "The celebration you see many people having is the absence of injustice," she said. "Because history has not been on the side of people of color getting justice in this country." She said "the soul of America was on trial" in Minneapolis. But whether the verdict signifies the "inflection moment" that Vice President Kamala Harris the nation's first female, first African-American and first Asian-American vice president recently called it in a phone call with Floyd's relatives depends on how committed the reformers are after the spotlight on the verdict fades. An array of proposals In Michigan, activist groups such as Detroit Will Breathe have demanded Detroit and other departments make changes. For weeks, they marched almost daily, drawing white supporters from suburbs. Among Detroit Will Breathe's demands: Defund and demilitarize the police; end the use of facial recognition software in crime-fighting, which the group says is inaccurate and racially biased; and making police officers accountable and accessible. "We have to be aggressive in confronting every individual instance of discrimination, bad treatment, and poor training," Mayor Mike Duggan said. "We have to root out racism aggressively, and we have to be real intentional about it. In addition, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers have pushed for other police reforms, including requirements for officers to intervene if they see colleagues using unnecessary force. Republican state Sens. Peter Lucido and Dale Zorn offered a bill to stop the use of chokeholds and similar moves. Democrats proposed ending the use of tear gas, stop-and-frisk policies and facial recognition software. None of these measures, however, came up for a vote in either the full House or Senate. Read more: Michigan reacts to guilty verdicts of former officer Derek Chauvin trial: 'Justice won' 2017 Free Press investigation: How problem cops stay on Michigan's streets Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also has proposed reforms aimed at increasing accountability, such as the maintenance of disciplinary records, a statewide misconduct registry, and forfeiture of retirement benefits. And Tuesday, the state's top law enforcement officer said it was "time to acknowledge that there are problems with how and who we police," urging leaders at all government levels to support changes. Efforts, for example, to diversify the Michigan State Police have been a challenge. Of the 1,941 non-civilian employees, 90% are white and 82% are white males. The proportion of Black troopers, less than 6%, has languished since 2015. At the federal level, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he would investigate the Minneapolis Police Department, an indication there likely will be more scrutiny of local police force abuses. The verdicts also seemed to add a sense of urgency to pass a national policing reform bill, which, so far, has been stalled by questions about how far lawmakers should go to rein in and punish police. Last month, the U.S. House passed legislation named for Floyd on a mostly party-line vote. The bill proposes sweeping changes, including banning chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and ties federal funds for law enforcement to body cam mandates. It's a bill President Joe Biden has said he is eager to sign. Still, questions persist among many Republicans who have enough votes to block it and among some Democrats about changing standards for what is called qualified immunity, which can shield law enforcement officers from civil litigation. But reform, some experts argue, should involve reallocating resources from police departments and investing in education, affordable housing, jobs and mental health treatment. Other questions revolve around whether Congress should allow criminal charges to be brought against officers for reckless behavior, rather than the higher standard in place now of willful behavior. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who is the only Black Republican in the chamber, last year introduced a policing reform bill that Democrats stopped, saying it didnt go far enough because it relied too much on incentives to make changes. The chamber is split 50-50, and Scott and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., are now among those trying to attract enough votes from both parties to clear the 60 votes required to pass the legislation. Meanwhile, Republicans, including many from Michigan, have called Democrats hypocrites for blocking a vote to censure U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., this week because she called for more "confrontation" if there was an acquittal in the trial. And U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, has said America is at a pivotal point, adding she fervently hopes this would "be a moment we all take a deep breath, think about whats happening in this country and try to bring ourselves together." Same issues, different decades So while Tuesday's murder verdicts seemed to tilt toward reform, skeptics point out that the same issues leaders are trying to address racism and heavy-handed policing have been part of the national conversation before. Some, like Southfield residentCourtney Stribling, also say that while the verdict in Minneapolis was an important step toward accountability, it wasn't justice. "George Floyd should still be here," Stribling, 41, said, reciting the names of others who died in police shootings. "Breonna Taylor should be here. Adam Toledo should be here. Daunte Wright should be here. Aiyana Stanley-Jones should still be here." Stribling, who is an advocate for racial equality, said she "wanted desperately to exhale for a bit." But, she added, she went to sleep the night of the verdict with "the heaviest heart" because police had shot and killed yet another person. Nearly four years ago, in "Disorderly conduct: How problem cops stay on the street," a Free Press investigation revealed Michigan struggled to rid the state of bad cops, and that many were allowed to continue working, despite red flags. Just about 30 years ago, white police officers were on trial in Los Angeles, accused of beating Rodney King, a Black man. America closely watched it unfold, and eagerly awaited the verdict. The officers were acquitted. Decades before that in the '50s and '60s men and women died for civil rights. And a century before that, Americans went to war with each other over ending slavery. "America is a racist place," Stephanie Hartwell, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University, pointed out. But, she added, there has been gradual progress, and "we'd like to believe now is a time for restitution and change." Still, she said, police unions are among some of the groups resisting change And unions are not only influential inside police forces, they also can influence policy through campaign contributions. In an effort to advocate for members, Hartwell acknowledged, unions, at times, have blocked new training mandates, some calls for transparency, and efforts to curb liability protections. Hartwell said there's overwhelming evidence that there are problems in police departments, but she also recognized that police work is difficult. Good officers are putting their own lives on the line to protect the public. And Rachel Harmon, a professor of law and director of the Center for Criminal Justice at the University of Virginia, said police associations and unions can, and should, be involved in reform efforts. But, she added, unions also have interfered in efforts to hold officers accountable. "I dont think that that means that police officers are not going to play a role in moving us forward toward reform," said Harmon, who is a former federal prosecutor. "I think we should expect that they will and that they need to." Still, some police officials have suggested well-intentioned efforts to do good are actually doing harm. Some of the political rhetoric, they argue, has gone too far and is fueling anger against good officers. Detroit Police Chief James Craig has been an outspoken critic of calls to abolish police departments, comments that he felt encouraged police confrontations and violence. "I am unapologetic for my unyielding support for police officers who put their lives on the line every day and do the job professionally, ethically, and constitutionally," he told the Free Press. "This should not be taken in the context of supporting very few police officers who cross the line and engage in acts of criminal misconduct." 'Can we all get along?' Unlike the recent trial in Minneapolis, in 1992, the jury acquitted the officers of beating King. Anger over the verdict turned into rioting in Los Angeles. Shops were looted and buildings set on fire. In Detroit, hundreds of angry residents, including the late City Council President Maryann Mahaffey, who was white, joined in the demonstrations against the jury's decision, the May 1, 1992, edition of the Free Press reported. King, amid violence that ensued in Los Angeles, pleaded with the nation for calm. More than once, he asked, "Can we all get along?" A year later, Kym Worthy, now Wayne County's prosecutor, successfully tried a case she said was "eerily similar" to the recent one in Minneapolis. In it, Malice Green, a Black man, was killed by police officers armed with heavy flashlights. Green was "pummeled and beaten to death," Worthy recalled in a recent piece shepenned for the Detroit Free Press. "At that time, no on-duty police officer had ever been convicted of murder. Never in the history of the United States." Worthy, who didn't have video evidence of the beating, said she relied on her faith in the jury. She also said, looking back, that she thought that case would lead to major reforms. That, she said, didn't happen. But this time, Worthy said, reform efforts seem to have broader public support, including from police, and she is optimistic that proposed reforms, particularly the federal bill bearing Floyd's name, will pass. "I hope that the outcome of this trial invigorates existing movements and inspires new ones to emerge," Arielle Wallace, 24, of Detroit, said. "I hope that our non-Black, especially nonnative, residents are taking note of how to be in community with us." Detroit Police Lt. Kevin Robinson, who has been with the force for 34 years, said "policing is a vital necessity in our community." But along with it "comes a great responsibility" to follow "rules and regulations." Chauvin broke the law and "should be punished" just as anyone else would for killing someone, Robinson, 59, said, adding that sending him to prison "shows that the system is changing and it does need to change." Shooting back with video There's also another factor that is driving reform: video evidence. In fact, some argue, the outrage against Floyd's death and the Minneapolis murder trial might not have happened if it hadn't been for a then-17-year-old bystander, Darnella Frazier, who used her cellphone to record what happened. She uploaded the video to Facebook and, suddenly, the world could see what she did. The Rev. W.J. Rideout III, the pastor of All God's People Church in Roseville, said in a sense, concerned citizens and activists are now using cellphone cameras to "shoot back." Rideout said the emotional video of a policeman putting his knee on the neck of a man pleading for breath forced people to see the reality of police abuse and racism. It forced them to feel compassion. And that compassion drove conversations about justice, race, and change, not just on social media platforms and in the streets, where protesters marched, but in homes, workplaces, synagogues, and churches. Openly talking about these issues allows society to confront them, and now that cellphones and social media are ubiquitous, it will be harder for police departments to hide wrongdoing. "The world is beginning to see that they can no longer allow people to get away with these kind of crimes, racism and discrimination," the pastor said. "The pressure has been turned up." Immediate effects One effect the Minneapolis trial already seems to have had is more transparency. In Detroit, hours after an armed man was shot and killed by police, Chief Craig called a news conference and released video clips of the shooting. He made a point of saying that detectives were still investigating, but he wanted to be transparent. Craig said he supports police reform where it is needed. "When we talk about what reform looks like, reform is accountability, he said. "Reform is building public trust. Reform doesnt start when something bad happens in a police agency, you have to institutionalize building trust with a community." Last Monday wasn't the first time Craig has released a police video, and the news conference was livestreamed on social media. The images showed Craig's officers were under gunfire. In Columbus, police also showed body camera video of the shooting of the teenager hours after it happened. According to new accounts, Bryant appeared to swing a knife at another person and the officer shot her. The Columbus Dispatch called the video revelations there "unprecedented." Some officials are calling for more than just policing reforms. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said "work to dismantle systemic racism, in policing and all its forms, must continue," and noted that one way to do that is by eliminating barriers to vote. To some public officials and activists, the right to vote is key to all reforms because it ensures more people have a voice in electing the officials who are responsible for making laws and setting public policy. The power of protesting And some activists say, the guilty verdicts highlight the power of protest. Ken Reed of the Coalition Against Police Brutality suggested public pressure has a role in bringing about change. Had the video images not been seen on the news and in social media, he said, the former officer might not have been charged at all. Tristan Taylor, a cofounder of Detroit Will Breathe, said he believes people sometimes have to be disruptive to force change. In other words, when protesters chant "No justice. No peace" they mean it. "I think what the trial makes clear, unfortunately, is the only way we get justice is if we show forcefully our outrage," Taylor said. "It's the only way our voices can get heard and we have to do all that just to have just one cop put on trial." David Muhammad, a 51-year-old Detroit resident, went even further. "Last year, our Black youth cried out, and the world finally looked and saw what these people have done and have been doing to Black Americans for the past 466 years," he said. "They had to convict because the powers that be cannot afford or take another like last year." Willie Dechavez a retired Detroit teacher and the chair of the nonpartisan advocacy group APIAVote-Michigan, which seeks to boost civic engagement among Asian American and Pacific Islanders said the verdicts were reassuring, voting is power and protests have impact. But education ultimately makes the biggest difference. "Going forward," he said, "we should start educational campaigns that will teach people, everyone, about what to do to minimize hate crimes and to protect the victims of them." And in a way, the conviction in Minneapolis can be traced back to education in Detroit. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison, who led the state's case against Chauvin, graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. The school, as part of its mission, teaches its students to be "committed to doing justice." "I think," said Leinda Schleicher, "everyone is still holding their breath." Schleicher, 60, of Farmington, is Black and Asian, and grew up in Detroit. She said she seen her share of discrimination over the years and she has seen a lot of changes good and bad. "The last presidential administration made it OK to be bold about your dislikes," she said. "And if you are busy fighting each other, it keeps you distracted form working together to fight what's important. We can all do better." Staff writers Todd Spangler, Paul Egan, Dave Boucher, Jasmin Barmore, Kyla Wright and Angie Jackson contributed to this report. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected]. | https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/04/25/derek-chauvin-verdict-how-to-fix-policing-in-michigan/7329386002/ |
Can a Guy Have a Baby by Himself? | In Together Together, a winning debut by writer-director Nikole Beckwith, Ed Helms plays a lonely guy in his 40s named Matt who no longer fits in among young people but also doesnt fit in with his peers, who are busy raising families. He had a girlfriend (for eight years), but that didnt work out. Its not that he hears his biological clock ticking, but life has become stuck. I need to move forward, and it just so happens that Im doing it by myself, he says. After a bizarre interview with a coffee-shop barista named Anna (a dryly funny Patti Harrison) he asks, Whats the worst thing youve ever done? he hires her to be the surrogate mother of his child. As for the egg, that comes from Donor 45883. What a strange, fragmented, poignant state of human relations. But its funny, too. Ours is the age in which people exclaim Boundaries! to keep others at bay. At the same time, social, cultural, and technological trends are pushing us apart like never before. Matts loneliness is crystallized in his career: Hes the creator of an app called Loner. Its a sort of non-sexual Tinder, and its as sad and funny as his non-relationship with Anna. Anna is equally a loner, by the way: Shes estranged from her family because she made the unusual decision, as a teen, to give birth to a child she didnt want, then put him up for adoption. Because her history seems to hint she might be pro-life. He wants to seem supportive either way, hence his confused and nonsensical cry, Im pro-everything! There is some resonance, perhaps unintended, in that remark: Matt is the typical modern man, open to everything, judgmental of nothing, and yet in a world of limitless choice he is depressed and unmoored, one of the legions of free-floating people who never got around to forming permanent attachments, and now find themselves in a spiritual void. Good for Matt that he at least realizes that having a child will raise his life to a higher and more meaningful plane. Hes a droll male equivalent of a familiar female type the picky middle-aged woman who shops for a sperm donor as though paging through a luxury catalog. Story continues Matt is 20 years older than Anna, and there seems to be no possibility of romance between them. Yet as Matt keeps showing up at her place of employment to annoy her with suggestions that she wear clogs and drink pregnancy tea, his dedication comes to seem sweet and even endearing. As bizarre as the situation is, you can sense a conventional rom-com is knocking on the door, trying to get in. (They decide on Lamp.) At its most contrived, the movie arranges to have the couple share a home platonically, but that leads to a cute shared project almost as daunting as raising a child together: The two of them to decide to watch every episode of Friends. This is a movie made, it appears, by liberals who cant bring themselves to acknowledge the storys conservative implications, and so the ending is a cop-out. At 90 minutes, the film has the structure of a rom-com that ends before its third act. You carry a baby inside you, youre a mother, not an impersonal baby-carrying machine. Thats how it works, and thats how it has always worked. Culture and technology may push us into ever-more-exotic kinds of human relationships, but they cant quite expunge what is obvious. More from National Review | https://news.yahoo.com/guy-baby-himself-103048321.html |
Are the 2021 Oscars doomed? Or will they prove the movies still have a bright future? | In the run-up to the Academy Awards, Hollywood is normally bursting with excitement. Red carpets are vacuumed. Gowns are fitted. Speeches are nervously practiced in front of mirrors. But while much of that preparation has still been happening the show, after all, must go on Sundays Oscars ceremony is taking place against a backdrop that is far from festive. With the film industry struggling to emerge from a pandemic that has upended business models and decimated balance sheets, the overall mood around town heading into the show, which will be held in person at Union Station, the Dolby Theatre and via numerous satellite hookups around the world, is more one of existential anxiety than razzle-dazzle celebration. Starkly punctuating this years undeniably grim awards season, on April 12, just three days before the Oscars voting period opened, news broke that Los Angeles much-loved ArcLight Cinemas theater chain, which includes the iconic Cinerama Dome, was permanently closing, delivering a gut punch to local cinephiles. Amid this gloom, the planners of this years Oscars are not merely looking to honor the current crop of nominees, many of which may be unfamiliar to viewers given that movie theaters have been closed for the last year. They are hoping to give the entire industry a proverbial shot in the arm by reminding people around the globe that movies still matter. The shows tagline Bring Your Movie Love carries a whiff of pleading, as if the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were soliciting prayers for an ailing loved one. Advertisement We do want people to rebuild their relationship with the movies in the sense of going to the movies, director Steven Soderbergh, who is producing this years Oscars telecast along with Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins, told The Times this month. The communal sensation of watching a movie with 350 strangers that sense of connective experience is good for us. Everybody involved the producers, the writers, the presenters is very sensitive to finding this balance so that we dont seem like were diminishing or downplaying whats happened since last March. I dont think thats possible. But we want the show to be joyful. Though last years Oscars took place just weeks before the pandemic closed movie theaters, this years ceremony comes as vaccines are rolling out and theatrical exhibition is slowly coming back to life, bookending a dismal year that most in Hollywood would be only too happy to put in the rearview mirror. The pandemic wiped out last years key fall film festivals, putting a damper on awards season before it even had a chance to begin. Venice went on with temperature checks, physical distancing, designer masks and a reduced slate of mostly European films, while Telluride was canceled, and Toronto was forced to shift to a mostly virtual event with a fraction of its usual lineup. Without the normal methods of building buzz through festival screenings, awards campaigners resorted to virtual events, lining up celebrities, filmmakers and prominent journalists to lead discussions with contenders casts. The tender Korean-immigrant story Minari had premiered before the pandemic at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. But, like most movies, it held dozens of remote screenings for awards season voters, enlisting the likes of Katie Couric, Sandra Oh, Ramy Youssef and Ann Curry to host. A lively one-on-one conversation between Helen Mirren and supporting actress nominee Yuh-Jung Youn drew a huge turnout. Though many of the virtual events were engaging and well attended, they still took place in a digital void. We are based on gatherings, said veteran awards consultant Tony Angellotti. Making a case for a film in a year without premieres, without rooms full of people, was strange. You have no idea how people are responding. With the Oscars delayed by two months in an attempt to expand the pool of contenders and buy time for relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, which seems to have worked and no widely seen blockbusters among the best picture nominees, the Oscars producers biggest challenge may simply be getting people to tune in. Ratings for recent awards shows plummeted to all-time lows, with the viewership for Februarys Golden Globes plunging 60% from last year, and the Oscars are widely expected to follow suit. Most people dont know the Oscars are happening, said J.D. Connor, an associate professor of cinematic arts at USC whos teaching a course on Netflix this semester. Connor noted that while Netflix has a collection on its landing page spotlighting its Oscar-nominated movies, the streamer doesnt direct people toward Sundays show, this despite the fact that it leads the field in nominations this year with 36. They like the prestige, but they dont care if you actually watch the ceremony. Advertisement In the past, Connor said, the Oscars served as something of a ticking clock, spurring occasional moviegoers to go to theaters to see the nominated films. But with studios making fewer prestige movies and streamers stepping into the breach, that dynamic no longer exists. Moving forward, the film academy should adapt to the changing times, he argues, and find a way to honor the sort of long-form limited series programming that is now driving the cultural conversation. Itll be important to give people the sense that the things that theyre passionate about are the things that the Oscars adjudicates, Connor said. At the same time, as Hollywood looks ahead to the critical summer movie season and beyond, some early green shoots have poked through the parched ground, giving the industry hope for a return to something close to normal. A number of big-budget crowd-pleasers that had been pushed back last year, like Marvel Studios Black Widow and the sequels F9" and A Quiet Place Part II, are set to be released in the next three months. There is already a waitlist for passes to Septembers Telluride Film Festival, which has added an extra day. Check out the numbers of Godzilla vs. Kong, said Sher of the recently released Warner Bros. monster mash-up that has grossed $80 million at the domestic box office thus far, a record since the pandemic began, and was simultaneously released on HBO Max. Its headed towards $100 million [in the U.S. alone], and thats with 50% or even 25% capacity in the biggest markets. When you feel safe and are vaccinated and can get back to theaters, I know Im dying to go back. Advertisement Indeed, some die-hard movie lovers never stopped. Nomadland producer Dan Janvey managed to see all but one of the best picture nominees in theaters, including his own film, which he watched with his girlfriend and her mother. They were the only people in the theater. He remembers when Tenet landed in newly reopened movie theaters last Labor Day weekend, asking friends, Will I risk my life to see a Chris Nolan movie? The answer was yes. But even for a hardcore cinephile willing to drive an hour or two from Brooklyn to Connecticut and Hoboken, N.J., to see Netflix titles he could easily stream at home, Janvey thinks that the rise in at-home viewing options which has only accelerated since the pandemic began doesnt signal the death of cinema. Nomadland rolled out simultaneously in theaters and Hulu after a brief, exclusive run in IMAX locations. I think the optionality for people who love movies is a beautiful thing, Janvey said, and we saw a level of flexibility with movie culture that had never happened before in our industry. Im hoping that sense of adventure and weirdness and finding community and finding solitude will continue. Shaka King, director and producer of the best picture nominee Judas and the Black Messiah, can only describe the ups and downs of the last year as weird. His drama about Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton premiered at a virtual Sundance Film Festival before landing, like Godzilla vs. Kong, on HBO Max. The digital platform will be the streaming home to all 2021 Warner Bros. movies the same day they hit theaters. Advertisement King missed connecting with audiences but took solace in stories of people watching the film repeatedly, gaining new insights with each viewing. He bristles at the assumption that big-budget event films will dominate multiplexes in the future, consigning indie movies to the margins, or that young audiences are a lost cause. Good movies were cool to watch when I was a teenager, King, 41, says. That was the culture, growing up in New York. Its all a matter of whether itll be cool to watch good movies in the next five years. And thats marketing. With all these hopes and fears riding on the Oscars, the shows director, Glenn Weiss who has helmed five previous Oscars telecasts knows this year needs to strike a delicate balance. Advertisement Look, Im very much looking forward to what were putting on the air and how were doing it, Weiss said. Im also a human being breathing and living this pandemic as well, with a family and people that I care about. We hope were out of this, but we dont know that were out of this. So I think the big mission is to continue creating hope. Bringing people together safely and letting folks at home be a part of a celebration that feels more normal is just hopefully part of helping the healing process. | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-04-25/oscars-2021-whats-at-stake-hollywood-post-covid |
Will Cincinnati Bengals Fold Under Public Pressure to take Penei Sewell With Fifth Pick in 2021 NFL Draft? | Multiple Bengals legends want the team to take Penei Sewell at No. 5 CINCINNATI The NFL Draft is only a few days away and the Bengals have a tough decision to make at No. 5. Multiple Bengals legends have weighed in on the debate, including Anthony Muoz and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. They would both take Sewell. There are also plenty of national analysts that think the Bengals should take a lineman with the fifth pick. One former general manager thinks the Bengals should be kicked out of the NFL if they don't address their offensive line in the first round. Related: Dave Lapham Weighs in on Sewell vs Chase Debate The pressure to take Sewell is mountingat least outside the walls of Paul Brown Stadium. Former NFL head coach Jim Mora Jr. discussed the pressure coaches and members of the Bengals front office are feeling ahead of the draft. "You feel it. You discuss it, but you really have to find a way to push it aside and make decisions that aren't based on emotion or based on the public perception or really even the wishes of the fan base," Mora said in an exclusive interview with AllBengals. "You have to remember that you're the expert. You have to remember the time that you've invested in this process. The number of people that have gone out and scouted these players, the information they've accumulated. Only you in the room know what's best for your team at the deepest level. There's a lot of people that believe they know what's best for your team and some of them may have a pretty good idea, but you're the expert. You have to tune out the noise, eliminate the emotion and make the choice based upon all the facts that you know about this player or the players you're considering, about your team, the future of the team, where you want your team to go, how you want to get there and then you have to trust that and make the decision that's right for the future of your franchise." There are insiders like Malik Wright who believe the Bengals are going to take Chase. After not signing any wide receivers in free agency and losing A.J. Green, wide-out is one of their biggest needs. If the Bengals like the offensive line depth in this class, then they could ignore the public pressure and take Chase with the fifth pick. The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 29 at 8 p.m. ET. For the latest on free agency and the NFL Draft, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below. ----- You May Also Like: Analyzing the Bengals' Four Biggest Needs Before the Draft Former Bengals Receiver Questions Zac Taylor Watch: Tee Higgins Looks Explosive in Offseason Workouts Bengals Bolster Offense in 7-Round Mock Draft Medical Issues Causing Terrace Marshall to Fall Down Draft Boards Here's the Latest on Joe Burrow's Recovery Joe Burrow Comments on Gruesome Scar The Bengals' New Jersey Numbers Are Here! Former NFL General Manager Believes Bengals Have Easy Decision With No. 5 Pick Duke Tobin Sheds Light on O-Line and Wide Receiver Depth in 2021 NFL Draft Bengals Legend Has Eyes on BIG Lineman to Protect Joe Burrow NFL Teams Expect Bengals to Pick Penei Sewell Watch: Penei Sewell Goes Through Four Stage Workout Longtime Bengals Assistant Endorses Ja'Marr Chase Analysts Simplify Ja'Marr Chase Vs Penei Sewell Debate Scouts Rave About Ja'Marr Chase Following Pro Day Workout Another Big Board Has Sizable Gap Between Penei Sewell and Ja'Marr Chase This is a Great Film Breakdown of Penei Sewell NFL Draft Big Board: Big Gap Between Sewell and Chase This is a great film breakdown of Penei Sewell Penei Sewell vs Ja'Marr Chase: Team May Have Tipped Their Hand One NFL Team Believes Bengals Will Take Ja'Marr Chase at No. ----- 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/news/will-cincinnati-bengals-fold-under-public-pressure-to-take-penei-sewell-with-fifth-pick-in-2021-nfl-draft |
Can Woodson Convince Cowboys' Jerry To Pick Safety In NFL Draft? | If you want a safety and you need to fill the void of playmaker in that position, then you probably have to get one a little early, said Cowboys icon Darren Woodson on the subject of an immediate NFL Draft fix FRISCO - The safety position with the Dallas Cowboys has been a sore subject for what seems like forever, with COO Stephen Jones recently admitting to "our ongoing annual need for safety, which never seems to end, either in terms of draft-pick resource or dollar resource. Its been at the low end of the totem pole, "You can't have All-Pros at every position'' is the mantra the Cowboys organization leans on in explaining why it hasnt invested in the position fully. I think if you want a safety and you feel like you need to fill the void of playmaker in that position, then you probably have to get one a little early, said Cowboys icon Darren Woodson on the subject of an immediate fix. Woodson won three Super Bowls, was a four-time First-Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and is the Cowboys' all-time leader in tackles (1,350) while playing the safety, which makes him more than qualified to speak on the position. He recently joined the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan, and when asked how he could convince team owner Jerry Jones and the organization to value his old position, he was very candid in his answer. If youre looking for a playmaker, go get one early instead of thinking through the process of, I can turn a special-teams player into safety, or I can go in the fourth, fifth round and find a guy thats serviceable to play that position,'' Woody said. "If you want a big-time playmaker, its just part of it. You roll the dice and go early and hopefully, you get a playmaker. The Cowboys did get lucky in 2019, though, when it comes to waiting until late in the draft to pick a safety. Donovan Wilson was a sixth-round selection out of Texas A&M, and after a promising start to his rookie campaign was derailed by an ankle injury, he bounced back in 2020 by registering 71 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 10 starts. However, that doesnt mean the Cowboys should keep that mentality when it comes to the safety position. A decade after the Cowboys drafted Woodson in the second round, they selected former safety Roy Williams with the eighth pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. Woodson talked about how the Cowboys' investment in Williams early in the draft paid immediate dividends. When the Cowboys drafted Roy Williams, early in the top 10 picks, for five years, he gave you Pro Bowls, Woodson said. He gave you one of the hardest-hitting players ever to play the game. He was a turnover factory for the team. You got to go get them early. "Its no different than any other position. If you want to fill the quarterback position, it would behoove you to go early in the draft and find that that spot. Exactly the same thing for any other position. Dallas has a chance to add a playmaker at safety within their first few picks. TCUs Trevon Moehrig, UCFs Richie Grant, Oregons Jevon Holland, and Indianas Jamar Johnson will be there for the taking, and even though the Cowboys will likely go cornerback with their first pick, one of these players will be there in the second round when they pick at 44. (We know Dallas liked Moehrig; we don't think the Cowboys love Grant that high.) READ MORE: WATCH: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Meets Pitts The Cowboys have put some resources into the safety spot this offseason. They signed former Atlanta Falcons safeties Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee. However, both are only on one-year deals, and the former will spent a lot of time at linebacker in Dan Quinns defensive scheme. Woodson was asked how important having a playmaker at safety was. He went into detail, but also mentioned not ignoring the cornerback position as well. When you look at some of the guys over the years, specifically at the free safety position, the guy who can really turn the ball over, youre looking for the Ed Reeds, phenomenal players that have ball-hawking skills and they dont come a dime a dozen, Woodson said. Im a big believer in, if there is a guy at the position, safety or cornerback, and you know you need help on a different side of the ball, theres a difference-maker, you go get them.'' READ MORE: Cowboys Strike NFL Draft Alabama Gold - Surtain & Barmore - In Kiper/McShay Mock | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/can-darren-woodson-convince-dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-to-pick-safety-in-nfl-draft |
What is a Thematic ETF? | InvestorPlace The novel coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the cruise industry globally. Prior to 2020, the industry had been experiencing a years-long boom. There are many factors to weigh in on, but NCLH stock has a lot of hurdles to deal with now. Unfortunately, things do not look as rosy as some may think. Source: Vytautas Kielaitis/shutterstock.com A well-known English proverb says A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner. There is also a popular Greek proverb that says If you cannot catch a fish, do not blame the sea. Both of these relate to the business conditions, challenges and risks that NCLH stock has to face now. A lot and nothing at the same time. But now, politics seem to play an important role in the reopening of the local and global economies. Recent news that the state of Florida sued the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services to allow cruises to begin again, after being halted for more than a year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, is interesting and highlights the urgency of the cruise industry to restart its operations as soon as possible. The CDC has issued cruise-ship guidance due to Covid-19. And as the reopening of the cruise industry seems vague for now, the majority of cruise companies have been complaining. But there is good news on the horizon. 7 Retail Stocks With E-commerce Locked In Richard Fain, the CEO of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) said that The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is engaging in a constructive dialogue with the cruise industry. There is even better news, as Fain highlighted that the CDC has stated that cruising could return as early as mid-July. If this happens, it should be very positive news for Norwegian Cruise Line. But some of the decisions taken during the last year of the pandemic are very bad news. Let me explain more about this pessimistic financial analysis. NCLH Fundamentals: Trouble Ahead and a Lofty Valuation It can be argued that few industries have raised as much money during the pandemic as the cruise-line companies. And NCLH is no exception. The company raised plenty of cash through debt and equity offerings. Most likely yes, as they provided ample cash to ride out the downturn. However, there is a price to pay for the decision. Future investor returns will probably be mediocre due to two main factors: higher interest expenses and a sharp increase in shares outstanding. This makes stock dilution a large negative problem for shareholders. In 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line had 215 million shares outstanding. In 2020, the shares outstanding increased to 254 million, and in 2021 it is estimated that shares outstanding may increase to 355 million. This is a huge stock dilution, which lowers the intrinsic value of NCLH stock. In 2019, the company had long-term debt of $6.05 billion. However, in 2020, the debt level was $11.68 billion, an increase of about 93%. Interestingly, there was a slowdown in both revenue and net income growth in 2019 compared to 2018, as the pandemic was absent then. Revenue growth fell to 6.73% or $6.46 billion in 2019, compared to $6.06 billion in 2018, a growth of 12.21% compared to 2017. In 2019, the decline of net income growth was moderate, reported at -2.58% compared to a net income growth of 25.66% reported for 2018. And 2020 was a year of heavy losses as the company reported a negative net income of $4.01 billion. This heavy and even historic loss at least for the most recent five-year period means that the book value of equity suffered dramatically in 2020, as losses were reflected in the balance sheet and to the shareholders equity. Indeed, according to MorningStar, the book value per share for 2020 was $12.95, or about 44% of what book value per share was in 2019, at $29.44 per share. This decline is too big to ignore from a valuation perspective. And as the NCLH stock has a one-year performance of nearly 175% as of the time of publication, the stock seems too pricey now. To my financial analysis, the answer is yes. Dividends and share repurchases are probably off the table for several years to come, as the company will focus on its debt reduction. And this debt reduction should be made quick, as, according to Gurufocus, the NCLH stock has an Altman Z-Score of -0.03. This implies the company is in distress mode and bankruptcy is a possibility in the next two years. Furthermore, Norwegian Cruise Line had a severe problem with declining free-cash-flow growth in 2019. The company reported free cash flow of $185.44 million in 2019 or a decline of 63.52% compared to 2018. And in 2020, free cash flow took a big hit with a figure of -$3.5 billion. This only amplifies the overall very weak financials of the company now. An Optimistic Outlook for the Cruise Industry The optimistic case is that the cruise lines will benefit from an increase in demand as more people receive vaccines and the economy reopens gradually. There is euphoria due to the reopening and even momentum in investors sentiment now. Research by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) about the outlook of the cruise industry is highly optimistic. It estimates that, despite a challenging year in 2020, two out of three cruisers will be willing to cruise within a year. Furthermore, 58% of international travelers who have never cruised before will likely take a cruise in the next few years. Norwegian Cruise Line CFO Mark Kempa said in the companys fourth-quarter earnings release that there is a focus on financial recovery for the company. Norwegian Cruise Line recently offered to sail ships with fully vaccinated passengers and crew to restart U.S. voyages in July. Norwegians CEO, Frank Del Rio, told CNBC that its time to get back to cruising and that fully vaccinated ships will be among the safest venues anywhere. These are all positive developments. But with the stock dilution history, heavy losses for 2020 and a recovery that seems slow although certain the risks for NCLH stock are too much to ignore for now. It is not a cheap stock, and its rally has been the result of optimism and speculation. It is wiser to avoid NCLH stock for now. With a very weak financials, even more stock offerings may be on the horizon. And this is not good news for the investors of an already lofty stock. On the date of publication, Stavros Georgiadis, CFA, did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. Stavros Georgiadis is a CFA charter holder, an Equity Research Analyst, and an Economist. He focuses on U.S. stocks and has his own stock market blog at thestockmarketontheinternet.com/. He has written in the past various articles for other publications and can be reached on Twitter and on LinkedIn. More From InvestorPlace Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG It doesnt matter if you have $500 in savings or $5 million. Do this now. Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next Potential 500% Winner Stock Prodigy Who Found NIO at $2 Says Buy THIS Now The post Norwegian Cruise Line Is Navigating Through a Hurricane of Problems appeared first on InvestorPlace. | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thematic-etf-130000403.html |
How do NFL Teams Evaluate Injured Players for the Draft? | The Mora Minute: Former head coach and Sports Illustrated analyst Jim Mora Jr. gives his latest take on everything in college football and the NFL heading into the 2021 draft Injured players. They're probably the biggest unknown when it comes to the NFL Draft. Who can't withstand the physical rigors of playing at the highest level. It's crunch time for the 2021 NFL Draft, with teams making the final touches to their draft boards. It's the time for disinformation, starting revelations, and a whole lot of speculation. Former NFL coach Jim Mora Jr. has been helping BamaCentral sort through it all. Until the draft kicks off April 29 in Cleveland, a Mora video segment will appear every day on BamaCentral+, and also as part of our weekly draft updates and Christopher Walsh's All Things CW notes column. Yes, it's more Mora (sorry, couldn't resist), but the Sports Illustrated analyst has a wealth of information that he's sharing with the FanNation pro and college sites. We've asked him just about everything, including long snappers, and are happy to share it all with you. For example, when asked about what NFL coaches expect when selecting a Nick Saban-coached player from Alabama, Mora shot down the idea that Crimson Tide prospects are too beat up from their college careers to be successful in the pros. "Theyre physically tough players and theyre mentally tough. Its not easy to play at Alabama, where youre always in the spotlight," Mora said. "Its not easy to play for a man like Nick Saban, who is so demanding in every single way and not just in football, but football, character and off-the-field things. I think Nick has done a tremendous job of taking care of his players and teaching them about life. When you get an Alabama player, hes ready to go. Why Najee Harris is a high-value pick, even in the first round Pro Days Go Way Beyond Workouts Scouting Offensive Linemen Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles Mora Jr. Jim Mora Jr. like the Raiders doubling down on Alabama running backs Do Detroit Lions Draft Options at No. Thomas Fletcher Draft Profile 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide Draft Profile: Carl Tucker The is the 17th segment of the Minute Mora series. Make sure to come back and check out what the former coach says tomorrow on BamaCentral+. | https://www.si.com/college/alabama/community/how-do-nfl-teams-evaluate-injured-players-for-the-draft |
Will Berlin market attack impact Germany's refugee policies? | Sign Up For Newsletters Police reform legislation has "more momentum" post Chauvin verdict What the Chauvin verdict means for reforms Praise for teen who filmed George Floyd's murder Chauvin convicted of all charges in George Floyd's death Oscars 2020: Full list of nominees and winners Crowds gather in Brooklyn to remember DMX Houston chief: Chauvin verdict shows "no one is above the law" Ohio governor: There's a "clear pathway" for police reforms 82 people killed in hospital fire in ICU, official says Coming attractions: Movie theaters are primed for a comeback Terrorism and national security analyst Robin Simcox joins CBSN to discuss the Berlin Christmas market attack, which left 12 dead. Terrorism and national security analyst Robin Simcox joins CBSN to discuss the Berlin Christmas market attack, which left 12 dead. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On | https://www.cbsnews.com/video/will-berlin-market-attack-impact-germanys-refugee-policies/ |
Who have been the last 10 players drafted 52nd overall? | MMA Weekly Though UFC 261 featured three championship fights, that fact was largely overshadowed in the lead-up by the idea that it also marked the promotion's first event since the pandemic struck that a sold-out venue full of fans would be allowed in attendance. With the UFC 261 results now in the books, the fighters stole the limelight back. UFC 261 results: Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal Kamaru Usman wanted nothing but to finish Jorge Masvidal in their headlining rematch. He did just that. Usman opened with a crisp jab, stinging Masvidal throughout the first half of the first frame before Masvidal finally landed. In shades of his fight with Ben Askren, Masvidal launched a flying knee, but Usman caught him and tossed him onto the canvas. Masvidal fought well off of his back, connecting with several hard elbows, and eventually escaped to his feet. Usman snapped his jab, but tried to go big with some wide punches that missed. Masvidal landed some solid leg kicks, but just missed with another flying knee attempt before the round wound down. As round two got underway, Usman again missed with a big, wide swing, causing Masvidal to chuckle at him. Seconds later, Masvidal was eating that chuckle. Usman launched a right hand that rocked Masvidal's head and sent him falling to the canvas. Usman followed up with a couple hammerfists, but Masvidal was already out. Though their first fight at UFC 251 went the distance, Usman did what he wanted to do in the rematch, which was to finish Masvidal in spectacular fashion. "No disrespect, thank you to my man Jorge, you elevated me," Usman said after the fight, holding his daughter in his arms. "He elevated me. He made me go to the wood shop. I'm still getting better. The sky is the limit." https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1386172905839542277?s=20 UFC 261 results: Kamaru Usman sleeps Jorge Masvidal Rose Namajunas reclaims title with stunning Zhang Weili knockout Rose Namajunas fought the perfect fight to reclaim the UFC strawweight title from Zhang Weili. Zhang started strong, landing several inside leg kicks to Namajunas's lead leg. Namajunas, however, was floating around the Octagon, darting in and out at various angles and with an ever-changing rhythm. Though Zhang landed a few kicks to the lead leg, they weren't of the type that were mounting much damage. A short time later, Namajunas timed Zhang moving in on her. She launched a lead-leg head kick that landed flush, sending Zhang onto her back. Namajunas followed her to the canvas, landing a couple of hammerfists before the referee stepped in to wave off the fight. Zhang returned to her feet after the fight was stopped, trying to argue that she should be allowed to continue, but was on wobbly legs as she did so. She was clearly shaken, not in the best form to continue. "I did it again. But God did it. I really depended on Him," Namajunas said after the fight. "I am the best." In the lead-up to the fight, Namajunas had made some comments about fighting against communism. Some of those comments were taken as a personal affront to Zhang. That was not the intent, according to Namajunas. "I never meant to attack her as a person. I love all people from all cultures." Namajunas first won the UFC strawweight title by defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2017. She defended it in an immediate rematch before losing the belt to Jessica Andrade. After Andrade lost the championship to Zhang, Namajuas defeated the Brazilian before then taking the belt from Zhang on Saturday night. The stars may have aligned for a trilogy bout between Namajunas and Jedrzejczyk, even though Namajunas holds wins in their first two fights. https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1386165142103240706?s=20 UFC 261 results: Rose Namajunas reclaims the strawweight title https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1386167442750193664?s=20 Valentina Shevchenko dominates Jessica Andrade, defends UFC flyweight title Valentina Shevchenko looked sharp in the latest defense of her UFC flyweight title. She started fast, snapping out a one-two combination that stung Jessica Andrade before twice taking her to the canvas. Andrade regained her feet, but Shevchenko stung her again with another punch combination. Andrade tried to hold her against the cage, but Shevchenko again planted Andrade on the canvas. She quickly transitione dto Andrade's back and attempted a rear-naked choke. Andrade escaped, but Shevchenko clung to her. Again Andrade regained her feet, but Shevchenko punished her with knees before again taking her to the canvas for a total of five takedowns in round one. Shevchenko quickly clinched and tossed Andrade to the canvas to start round two. Shevchenko worked shots to the body for nearly two minutes before they returned to their feet. Andrade had good position, but again, Shevchenko reversed the clinch and splashed Andrade on her back. Shevchenko locked Andrade in a crucifix, unloading with a brutal onslaught of punches and elbows until the referee was forced to stop the fight. "I like to surprise people. I can do everything," Shevchenko said when confronted with the idea that people were surprised that she chose to grapple with Andrade, who is generally a good grappler herself. Having dominated nearly everyone in her path, Shevchenko is ready for whichever challenger emerges next. "Everyone is asking to fight me. Here I am!" https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1386158826701869059?s=20 UFC 261 results: Valentina Shevchenko dominates in latest title defense Chris Weidman gruesomely snapped his shin, losing to Uriah Hall The world cringed when Anderson Silva kicked Chris Weidman at UFC 168, his shin snapping and wrapping around Weidman's leg. It was shocking to see the same thing happen to Weidman on Saturday night as his UFC 261 bout with Uriah Hall got underway. Before the fight could even start to heat up, Weidman launched a low kick, connecting with Hall's shin. Unfortunately for Weidman, flashing back to the Silva fight, his shin snapped and wrapped around Hall's leg. Weidman withdrew his leg and tried to place it on the canvas. There was no stability to hold him up; his lower leg bones were snapped in half. He crashed to the floor in agony. Shocked, Hall walked to the opposite side of the Octagon and kneeled down. Ringside medics placed Weidman's leg in a compression cast. He was placed on a stretched and wheeled out of the arena. "No matter what my rank in the future, if he gets well, I owe him this fight. I hope he can come back from it. You're still one of the best, Chris," Hall said after the fight, at first struggling to hold his composure. https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1386153535356743681?s=20 https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1386151546338123776?s=20 UFC 261 results: Chris Weidman's leg snaps, Uriah Hall wins by TKO https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1386153164555137024?s=20 Anthony Smith topples Jimmy Crute with crippling leg kick Anthony Smith and Jimmy Crute played a game of chicken from the opening bell. Smith was banking on his stinging jab, while Crute was relying on his low kicks to the lead leg to get the job done. Both men were landing throughout the first round, waiting for the other to falter. Near the end of the first round, Smith landed a kick that compromised Crute's left leg and sent him to the canvas. In an instant, Crute rebounded with a takedown and swarmed Smith with a ground-and-pound onslaught. Smith briefly regained his feet, but Crute planted him on the canvas again before the round ended. Crute was barely able to stand on his left foot as he returned to his corner. Before the second round could begin, the ringside physician asked Crute to walk forward. He wobbled; the doctor immediately recommended the fight be stopped. Of course Crute was upset. He wanted to continue, but Smith, being the sportsman that he is, immediately met Crute across the cage and embraced him. "Even at 32 years old, 51 fights in, I'm still getting better," Smith said after the fight. https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1386145029442396162?s=20 UFC 261 results: Anthony Smith stops Jimmy Crute Jon Jones disputes Dana Whites claim that he wanted $30 million to fight Ngannou UFC 261 Results UFC 261 Main Card Main Event: Kamaru Usman def Jorge Masvidal by KO (punches) at 1:02, R2Co-main Event: Rose Namajunas def Zhang Weili by KO (head kick & punches) at 1:18, R1Valentina Shevchenko def Jessica Andrade by TKO (punches & elbows) at 3:19, R2Uriah Hall def Chris Weidman by TKO (leg injury) at 0:17, R1Anthony Smith def Jimmy Crute by TKO (doctor's stoppage) at 5:00, R1 UFC 261 Prelims Randy Brown def Alex Oliveira by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:50, R1Dwight Grant def Stefan Sekulic by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)Brendan Allen def Karl Roberson by submission (kneebar) at 4:55, R1Patrick Sabatini def Tristan Connelly by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) UFC 261 Early Prelims Danaa Batgerel def Kevin Natividad by TKO (punches) at 0:50, R1Kazula Vargas def Rongzhu by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-26)Jeffrey Molina def Aoriqileng by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)Ariane Carnelossi def Liang Na by TKO (punches) at 1:28, R2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/last-10-players-drafted-52nd-152430772.html?src=rss |
Is DC statehood a chess piece in a broader Democratic political game? | The father of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Tommy DAlesandro Jr., served as mayor of Baltimore. But, to hear his daughter tell it, he was also "mayor" of Washington, D.C. When Rep. Tommy DAlesandro, D-Md., served in Congress, the nations capital lacked "home rule." Congress served as a sort of super city council over Washington, D.C. Congress even set up key committees devoted to overseeing Washington, D.C. DAlesandro chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. Pelosi says her father "did not like" that he was often referred to as the Washington, D.C., "mayor," just because he controlled the purse strings. DEROY MURDOCK: D.C. STATEHOOD VS. TAX FREEDOM -- GOP SHOULD DEMAND LOCAL VOTE Now Pelosi, and many other Democrats, are pushing for the District of Columbia to become the 51st state. "Statehood for D.C. is in my DNA," bragged Pelosi. At a press conference on D.C. statehood, Pelosi even brought a photograph of her father with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she testified about the citys plight before DAlesandros panel in February, 1940. That hearing marked the first time a first lady ever testified before Congress. The House passed a bill last week to morph the District of Columbia into Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. Douglass, as in Frederick Douglass, the famed famed abolitionist who lived in the city. But Republicans view the D.C. statehood bill as a nefarious, Democratic, political gambit. For the GOP, this is pack the Congress. Republicans accuse Democrats of pushing statehood to cushion their congressional majorities. "This is nothing more than an unconstitutional power grab by Democrats to gain two ultra-progressive D.C. Senate seats and force radical far left policies on the American people," charged Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa. TED CRUZ ON DC STATEHOOD, HR1 AND COURT-PACKING: DEMS' TOP PRIORITY IS POWER 'FOREVER' Republicans asserted that Washington, D.C., lacks all sorts of chops to become a state. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., said the city has "minimal manufacturing, agriculture and natural resources." Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., said the city is too small, observing that the new state would be "one-eighteenth the size of Rhode Island." "It was not set up to be a state," argued Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. Roy said the Founders always intended the seat of American government to reside in a separate, federal enclave. Placing the capital in its own, unique, political subdivision would prevent a "host" state from wielding extra political influence. Democrats werent buying it. "Everyone knew that Hawaii and Alaska could not be admitted because they were not contiguous. Everyone knew Texas couldnt be admitted because it was a separate republic and there was no authority to admit a republic to the union. It was said that Utah couldnt be admitted because they were practicing polygamy there," countered Jamie Raskin, D-Md. BRET BAIER: DEMOCRATS' ATTEMPT TO MAKE WASHINGTON DC 51ST STATE "NOT REALISTIC" RIGHT NOW Republicans view blocking D.C. statehood as essential to hindering what they perceive as a left-leaning agenda. "This is a part of the progressive pathway to reshape America into a socialist utopia that the squad talks about," declared Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the top GOPer on the House Oversight Committee. Thats why Republicans view the D.C. statehood bill as a chess piece in a broader, Democratic political game. "Its a pure power grab to give two Democrat senators to the District of Columbia," alleged Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the leading Republican on the Judiciary Committee. Democrats say they just want fairness for D.C. "They dont see taxation without representation," said Raskin about the citys citizens who pay federal taxes without a vote in Congress. "All they see is two, new, liberal, Democrat senators." House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., concedes an additional two Democratic senators would likely come to the Senate from Frederick Douglass Commonwealth. But that may not be the case forever. "When Alaska and Hawaii were admitted not too far apart," said Hoyer, "Alaska was perceived to be a Democratic state and Hawaii was perceived to be a Republican state." The politics of Alaska and Hawaii flipped over time, with Alaska now leaning more Republican and Hawaii long trending toward Democrats. But two more senators from D.C. could tilt the political playing field toward Democrats. Some Democrats contend GOP opposition to statehood for the mostly Black city is steeped in code. "One Senate Republican said that D.C. wouldn't be a, quote, well-rounded, working-class state. I had no idea there were so many syllables in the word White," said Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., during House debate on the measure. At a House hearing on the bill a few weeks ago, Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., incorrectly cited the citys lack of a landfill as a statehood deficiency. Jones didnt let that pass, either. "With all the racist trash my colleagues have brought to this debate, I can see why they're worried about having a place to put it," said Jones. Jones language drew the ire of his Republican colleagues. The GOP tried to have the House sanction the New York Democrat for breaching floor decorum. They aimed to strike Jones remarks from the record. The House could have suspended Jones from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the day. But after a brief protest, Jones withdrew the offending remarks. "On every topic, (Democrats) go to race," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. "And if you oppose whatever radical agenda they're trying to push, they call you a racist." The D.C. statehood bill sailed through the House, 216-208 on a party line vote. The House passed a similar bill for D.C. less than a year ago. But Democrats contend things are different this time around. "First of all, we have a president of the United States who says he wants to sign this bill," said Hoyer. "Secondly, we have a majority leader of the United States Senate who says he wants to see this bill passed. So, were not in the same position we were last year." Its unclear if this bill can score 51 votes to pass the Senate. But the legislation faces a familiar nemesis: the Senate filibuster. Thats the bigger issue. Sixty votes are necessary to terminate a filibuster. HOUSE PASSES BILL TO MAKE WASHINGTON DC THE 51ST STATE Thats why some Democrats are intensifying efforts to unwind the filibuster. House-passed bills important to progressives are starting to stack up in the Senate just like they did when Republicans controlled the body. Legislation on guns. Police reform. Voting rights. And soon, D.C. statehood. This where the D.C. statehood bill fits into the Democrats macro, political strategy. Democrats could use the probable death of the D.C. bill in the Senate as a reason to revamp the filibuster. "We need to make the filibuster an issue that is too hot to handle," said House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP When pressed by Fox about the future of the filibuster, Pelosi steered clear. "I dont get involved in any discussion on Senate rules," said Pelosi. "And I dont welcome any discussion from (the Senate) on House rules." But she doesnt have to. Plenty of liberal Democrats are willing to take up the mantle about the filibuster, sometimes framing the debate around race. "Were leading a letter with Democrats in the House to our dear Democratic colleagues in the Senate so they can feel the urgency in their hearts and so they can feel our support at their backs to do what is right to eliminate the Jim Crow filibuster," said Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. Tommy DAlesandro didnt like presiding as "mayor" of Washington, D.C., because he believed it undercut those who reside there. And his daughter, even though shes speaker of the House, has no interest in meddling in Senate affairs. But if D.C. is going to become a state, the only way to get there is to dismantle the filibuster. And if thats the case, a vote on D.C. statehood could prove to be a lot more than just a vote on D.C. statehood. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-statehood-a-chess-piece-in-a-broader-democratic-political-game |
Can Lloyd Avoid the Pratfalls That UW's Hopkins Has Encountered? | The Pac-12 doesn't often hire assistant coaches to become head basketball coaches. Arizona and Washington are exceptions. Tommy Lloyd, meet Mike Hopkins. You want to be just like him a former assistant coach who took over a Pac-12 basketball program as the head coach. And you don't want to be anything like him have your winning ways shut off suddenly as if you didn't pay the electricity bill. After 20 seasons at unbelievably successful Gonzaga, Lloyd has been asked to lead high-expectations Arizona through a rare coaching change and lingering program malaise, and restock the roster. Four years ago, Hopkins showed up as this coaching apprentice who was asked to take over a far less successful and not quite so demanding University of Washington job after spending 22 seasons as the No. 2 man at Syracuse. Hopkins was schooled by Jim Boeheim, much like Lloyd has learned the game from Mark Few. One is a hall of fame coach, the other will be. Lloyd and Hopkins are the only basketball coaches in the Pac-12 Conference who came to their current jobs after serving as assistants only. Yes, but typically they're head coaches somewhere else before they step into the pressures of the Pac-12. There's a learning curve. Typically a short window of opportunity. Lloyd is the first assistant coach hired to lead Arizona as its full-time basketball coach in 48 years though, in that time, three assistants served as interim leaders during Lute Olson absences. Fred Snowden, a Michigan assistant, took over Arizona in 1973, stayed 10 seasons and oversaw the Wildcats' move into the then Pac-10. He resigned after suffering through losing records in three of four seasons in the new conference. In exactly 100 seasons, the UW has hired 12 basketball coaches, and three previously were assistant coaches who moved up: Art McLarney (1948-50), Mac Duckworth (1964-68) and Hopkins (2017-to date). McLarney and Duckworth were promoted in-house, elevated after serving as Husky assistant coaches, while Hopkins again came directly from Syracuse. Replacing a forced-out coach in Hec Edmundson, McLarney compiled a winning record (53-36) and took the UW to the NCAA tournament in his first season in 1948, but he was fired because he couldn't overcome alcoholic issues. Duckworth stepped in for John Grayson and lasted just five seasons, four of them losing, and he was fired after putting together an uninspiring 53-74 record. Hopkins owns an overall 68-60 ledger at the UW, 34-39 in conference play, again coming off a disastrous 5-21 season, the second-worst in school history. He likely has one more season to right a program now more distressed than when he took over after Lorenzo Romar turned in a 9-22 record in 2017 that was considered a firing offense. While Lloyd's reputation is that of an accomplished international recruiter, much like Hopkins was construed as a top-notch domestic talent scout at Syracuse, he'll have to learn on the job how to use his personnel and manage games. How to be the boss. Hopkins admittedly has gone through his trial-and-error moments, criticized for substitution patterns that appear chaotic and privately and publicly bashed by some of his guys for poor player development. While he was a winner in his first two years in Seattle, Hopkins has had his accomplishments greatly overshadowed by the big falloff. His coaching ability clearly is under a microscope now. Attempting to stop the bleeding, Hopkins just hired Wyking Jones as a Husky assistant coach. Here's hoping the UW doesn't feel the need to promote him to the top job at some point. Jones is the last failed Pac-12 assistant-to-head-coach hire, fired in 2019 at California following 8-24 and 8-23 seasons. It will be interesting to see whose seat is more uncomfortable Hopkins' or Floyd's when the UW and Arizona play next season. Follow Dan Raley of Husky Maven on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven Find Husky Maven on Facebook by searching: HuskyMaven/Sports Illustrated | https://www.si.com/college/washington/basketball/can-lloyd-avoid-the-pratfalls-that-uws-hopkins-has-encountered |
Can the Indians Offense Do Enough to Rebound Into Making Them a Contender? | The Cleveland Indians offense continues to struggle on a nightly basis. They have played 19 games this season, and scored three runs or less in 11 of them. Even if you have the best pitching in the sport, its difficult to win games when you cant score. On April 12th, the Tribe started an 18 game stretch (now 17 games with Wednesdays game being snowed out) in which they were playing teams who figure to contend for the post-season. In that stretch, theyve seen some very good pitchers, guys like Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Gerrit Cole. They were no-hit by Carlos Rodon, and didnt score over nine innings against Giolito, a game in which they won by the way. Cleveland has played 11 of those games, and they are 3-8 so far. They have scored more than four runs (the league average is 4.41) in just two of those contests, last Sundays win over Cincinnati and the following game at home against the White Sox. Of the eight games where Terry Franconas crew has mustered more than three tallies, half of them have come against Detroit, who by the way has the worst ERA in the league. There are people who will claim no one should make rash judgments because the season is just 19 games old, and there is some merit in that, we usually wait until 27 games (1/6th of the season) has been played. However, its not like the Indians were an offensive juggernaut a year ago. They were 13th in the AL in runs per game at 4.13, almost a half run less than league average, which was 4.58. And they let go two of their top five players in OPS a season ago, trading Francisco Lindor and letting Carlos Santana go as a free agent. The only proven bat they brought in over the off-season was Eddie Rosario, so it isnt like the front office looked at a bad offense and said lets address the problem. You can make moves like that if you have a farm system with players going to be ready for the big leagues right away. Most of the Tribes top prospects wont be ready until 2022 at the earliest. No one should be shocked they rank 13th in the league in runs scored thus far. The two guys who replaced him have combined to go 10 for 66, which is a .152 batting average, with no home runs, and four walks. We understand the ownership decided to not just lower the payroll, but take a chainsaw to it, and guys who can hit tend to cost money. Still, the free agents many people mentioned, players like Joc Pederson and Kyle Schwarber, havent produced either. Going back to Santana, he was known to love it in Cleveland. A big hope was Josh Naylor, who came over from San Diego in the Mike Clevinger deal, but he has struggled out of the gate, hitting .241 with no homers, although he has five doubles, and striking out 15 times vs. three walks. We still have hopes he can be a solid offensive player, but hes put up some bad at bats in key situations this season to date. Listening to an interview with Chris Antonetti before last nights game, he sounded confident the bats will turn around, but we are sure thats one of those circumstances where thats all he can say. We dont see where the offense is going to get better with the current roster, and dare we say, with the current coaching staff. We arent a believer in change for change sake, but the dugout personnel has pretty much remained the same as when Terry Francona took over. The only changes that were made (outside of Jason Bere as bullpen coach) came from Mickey Callaway and Kevin Cash getting managerial positions, and of course, because Brad Mills retired. At some point, perhaps the players arent listening to the message anymore. Its still early, yes, but its also starting to get late. A week from today, the schedule will move to May, and that 27 game benchmark will have been crossed. Wed have to say its doubtful they will be a run scoring machine. | https://www.si.com/mlb/indians/opinion/can-the-indians-offense-do-enough-to-rebound-into-making-them-a-contender |
Which 5 Teams Will Most Impact the Jaguars' Draft Board at No. 25? | With the Jaguars set to pick at No. 25 overall during Thursday's NFL Draft, we take a look at which teams picking in front of them that will most impact the Jaguars' draft plans with their own selections. In a few short days, the entire trajectory of the Jacksonville Jaguars will change in a way the franchise has never quite experienced. The Jaguars will pick No. 1 for the first time, take a new franchise quarterback, and embark on a new, exciting future. But while fans will wash away in the excitement over the impending drafting of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars don't have the same luxury. They can't afford to celebrate because 24 picks after they select Lawrence, they will be on the board again at No. 25 overall. But while the Jaguars have worked tireless over the last few months to prepare for picking at No. 25, the simple reality is a lot of the situation is out of their hands. They will control their own destiny of course, but they can't control who is on the board when they are once again on the clock. "First and foremost, trust the board. Thats how me, in the position Im in, have always operated. It all depends on what happens in front of you. You never know whats going to happen, so your plan has to be fluid," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Wednesday. "If were in a situation at 25 where the board says lets trade back two or three spots, and that becomes available, thats an option, you pursue it. If not, you make the pick and you move on to the next pick. So, which teams picking in front of the Jaguars could impact the team's draft plans for No. Using an ideology of matching up similar team needs and schemes, we picked the five we think will hold the key to the Jaguars' second first-round pick. Las Vegas Raiders (No. 17 overall) Few teams picking within 8-10 picks in front of the Jaguars have as many needs as the Las Vegas Raiders. Couple this with the fact that Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock love to make surprise selections in the first round on an annual basis, and the Raiders could throw a major wrench into draft plans throughout the league. The Raiders always hold one of the true wild card selections of the draft, but this year their randomness in evaluations will impact the Jaguars even more than in past years due to the specific needs each team has. Ultimately, the Raiders could justify taking a pass-rusher, defensive back, or offensive tackle in the first round. These are all positions the Jaguars could -- or perhaps are even likely to -- target at No. 25 overall considering their own needs and the strength of this year's draft class. The Raiders could either take a play at any of these positions that the Jaguars are high on, eliminating favorable options at No. 25 ... or they could once again make a Raiders-esque pick, helping talent at key positions fall to the Jaguars' selection. Miami Dolphins (No. 18 overall) Another team who likes to make surprises in the first round, we have some pretty good clarity about what the Dolphins will do at No. 6: either a wide receiver, Kyle Pitts, or Penei Sewell will be a Dolphin in the coming days. What they do at No. 6 will greatly impact what they do at No. 18 as well, which will have a considerable effect on the Jaguars considering the Dolphins' needs. Where could the Dolphins go at No. Like the Jaguars, the Dolphins have needs along the offensive line, at edge defender, and at wide receiver. The Dolphins also are set to run a multiple defense, so it stands to reason the two teams could have interest in similar front seven players. Perhaps the Jaguars get lucky and the Dolphins take a linebacker, but it looks more and more like the Dolphins will likely be drafting a potential Jaguars' target at No. 18. Just who that target is will play a major role into deciding who is on the board at No. 25. Indianapolis Colts (No. 21 overall) It wasn't my intention to pick out any AFC South teams for this exercise, but it is hard not to when you look at the team's picking immediately in front of the Jaguars. Like the Raiders and Dolphins, the Colts are another team set to be on the clock shortly before Jacksonville that has major needs in the exact same areas as the Jaguars. Add in the fact the Colts are a divisional rival and it is easy to slot them here. Both teams need help -- the Colts even more so than the Jaguars. The Colts don't yet have a starting left tackle and the Jaguars' need for improved depth is clear. If the Jaguars want to take a top pass-rusher or offensive tackle at No. 25 overall, there is a good chance the Colts snipe them because, frankly, the Colts' needs at edge defender and offensive tackle are even more dire than the Jaguars' needs at the same positions. Tennessee Titans (No. 22 overall) The reasoning for the Titans on this list is more or less the same as it was for the Colts, just with the Titans having even more similar needs to the Jaguars than the Colts. It isn't hard the imagine all three teams will be looking at similar pools of players in the No. 21-No. 25 range considering each team has overlapping needs, and each team is of course building their roster to beat each other. The Titans specifically could draft an offensive tackle, cornerback, safety, edge defender, or wide receiver in the first round. For a team that has won as consistently as they have in the past two seasons, there are holes all throughout the team's roster. The Jaguars have those same roster holes, unfortunately, and the Jaguars will likely be looking for similar style of defensive backs considering the Titans' similarity in coverage scheme to Baltimore's, where Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen is bringing his scheme from. New York Jets (No. 23 overall) It is truly hard to get a feel for what the Jets will do at No. 23. They have a new coaching staff and a new scheme on both sides of the ball, while they also have countless gaps throughout their depth chart that needs addressing. Plus, they will also be looking to build around a rookie quarterback, just like the Jaguars. The Jets' most pressing roster holes are at edge defender, cornerback, wide receiver, and offensive line -- once again all positions the Jaguars could logically target in the first round. With the Jets having their own rookie quarterback to support and their own new radically different defensive scheme to adjust to, they get the final slot here. Ultimately the Jets get the nod over the Steelers because the Steelers and Najee Harris seem like an inevitable pairing. | https://www.si.com/nfl/jaguars/draft/which-5-teams-will-impact-the-jaguars-draft-board-at-no-25-the-most |
Will Giants selection of Saquon Barkley serve as a cautionary tale? | Did the New York Giants make a mistake selecting running back Saquon Barkley with the No. Depending on who you ask, youll get a different answer. At the time, there was already a debate over positional value and where running backs fit into the mold. The NFL was clearly trending toward more vertical offenses and downfield passing, which arguably devalued certain positions running back being one. After he was lost to injury in back-to-back seasons, questions regarding Barkleys value and general manager Dave Gettlemans decision to take him over a quarterback have grown louder. In fact, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated believes it should be a warning for other teams. Saquon Barkley is probably going to be held up as the cautionary tale, Orr told The DA Show this week. If youre Dave Gettleman, I understood why you did it, and maybe you get another 1,200- or 1,500-yard season out of him and it feels worthwhile. But just look at the effort that is spent not only on that pick, but to rationalize the pick, and all the trade capital that went into getting other offensive linemen, through free agent money to get [veteran lineman] Nate Solder. Youre probably going to go offensive line again in this draft, just to make that pick work and to make it function, when theres been running backs out there that have had better production than Saquon Barkley and will probably have better production than Saquon Barkley over this window. Its just the nature of the position. And I think that might be the last [top pick for a running back]. And look at Ezekiel Elliott that contract is starting to look like a huge albatross for Dallas. Betting on future production or a lack of production out of any player at any position can itself become a cautionary tale, but Orr isnt necessarily wrong in relation to Barkley. The Giants have failed to fix their offensive line despite a seemingly endless slew of investments, which is another cautionary tale. But to his credit, Barkley has been productive despite that, limited only by his injuries. But the game has changed, and the argument that the value simply isnt there for running backs over the first 15 to 20 picks holds water. And although the game will evolve and change more over time, thats reality. I think its interesting. The analytic model, its vise grip on the NFL is tightening, Orr said. And I think that GMs are expected by their owners now [to understand analytics], because analytics are something that is more universal and its something that owners understand. Why are we drafting this guy in the first round when we can get value in the third, fourth or fifth round? And running backs seem to be the ones that have sort of suffered the most. | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-selection-saquon-barkley-serve-150048460.html?src=rss |
Are these the real Celtics or was it just a bad game? | The Celtics cant keep making injury excuses as to why they are so inconsistent and unwatchable at times. The Hornets were without LaMelo Ball and former Celtic Gordon Hayward but yet collected their most assists in seven years and a season-high with 21 3-pointers. The Hornets embarrassed the Celtics on Sunday at Spectrum Center, leading for the final 47 minutes in a 125-104 win. This was supposed to be the easiest of the trio of games that could determine the Celtics playoff seeding, but they responded with a dismal performance despite a nearly full healthy roster. CHARLOTTE, N.C. It seems Celtics coach Brad Stevenss ultra-thick patience with his flawed and inconsistent team is wearing thin. He watched his club get completely outplayed by a team missing two starters and sinking in the Eastern Conference. Advertisement It was here Stevens made a rather significant indictment of his team and its approach and passion. I said this at halftime, Stevens said. I thought we were guarding them like we were expecting to play against ourselves, like we were going to hold it for an extra dribble instead of they just flung that thing around. But 3-pointers are much easier to make when the defense doesnt close out or simply doesnt give enough effort to defend. It would be more understandable if one Hornet went off for a 40-point game or an unusual individual performance. That wasnt the case. Six Hornets scored in double figures and four scored 20 or more, meaning it was an all-around horrible defensive effort. Effort is the key word here. The Celtics just didnt try at times. It was Jayson Tatum looking at his 3-pointer rattle out of the rim and then getting beat back down the floor for a Brad Wanamaker layup or Tristan Thompson doing the old Hey you guard that guy while Cody Martin drove for an uncontested layup. Advertisement Some of these stretches were embarrassing and in front of a nationally televised audience. Just when it appears the Celtics are establishing a more cohesive personality and better fortitude, they revert to old ways. It reached a point where Tatum became so frustrated with the officiating and missed layups that assistant coach Evan Turner gave him some strong words on the bench as he listened. A few minutes before, Tatum knocked down a chair after heading to sit down following another frustrating stretch. Stevens is fresh out of excuses. Only Robert Williams missed this game with injury, so this was pretty much the Celtics team were going to see from now on, and still it fell behind, 23-8, and then never got closer than 7 points, finally falling apart early in the fourth quarter. We got outplayed, outcoached, outhustled, they were the better team today, Stevens said. We were slow on some of these (defensive) reversals, like we were just staring at the ball and the ball was whipping right past us and all of sudden theyre into the shot. The toughest team sets the rules of the game and they set it right from the opening tip and we were on our heels the whole night. Stevens has long understood the limitations of this team and in many instances hes been forced because of injuries and lack of roster talent to put players in positions in which they just cant succeed. The Celtics arent good enough anymore to ease into a game against a hungry team. Perhaps in seasons past they come back and win this game. Advertisement But this season, when the Celtics make questionable decisions, it costs them dearly. Such as Marcus Smart, with the Celtics down 9 in the final possession of the third quarter, attempting to draw a foul on one of those 3-point heaves he gets 10 percent of the time. No call, the ball bounces to Miles Bridges and he hit a 30-footer at the buzzer. Smart was arguing with officials and didnt get back to defend Bridges. In the past we may have been able to get away with a subpar performance, Stevens said. This team hasnt won a game all year that I can remember where we played subpar. Thats a good indicator that we need to be on. We need to be better. Our B game is not going to be good enough, no matter whos available. Jaylen Brown returned from a two-game absence to score 20 points and appeared fine after a shoulder issue. But he again admitted the Celtics werent ready for what Charlotte had to offer. We werent as prepared to play as they were, he said. They came out of the gate with a better energy than ours, but theres nights like that. We think, for the most part, weve been playing good basketball, I just think the Hornets just came out and really got it going and once a team gets going, its hard to stop that. Advertisement But there were no answers to whether this is who the Celtics really are, a wildly inconsistent and underachieving bunch thats heading for a first-round playoff exit. Kemba Walker couldnt answer why they played such a listless game. Brown said its the exception and not the rule. I think you just move on to the next game, he said. Weve played good basketball over the last few weeks. Maybe this game is being held to our past because weve been up and down in the past. Well see [the Hornets] in the couple of days and well see. At this point, its difficult to envision the Celtics flipping the switch and turning into the playoff juggernaut that was expected in December. This is pretty much who they are and the teams faithful has to hope that somehow the players want success enough to fight a little harder for it than they did Sunday. Gary Washburn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/25/sports/is-this-real-celtics-or-was-it-just-bad-game/ |
What Covid vaccines does the UK have and which are in the works? | Vaccines to protect against the coronavirus were designed, tested and manufactured in record time, and several have been approved for use in the UK vaccination programme, with a number of others under consideration. Pfizer/BioNTech The vaccines taskforce secured 40m doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the first coronavirus shot to be approved by the medicines regulator. The NHS vaccine rollout began on 8 December 2020 when 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the jab as part of a mass vaccination programme. This is one of the cutting-edge mRNA vaccines that smuggles the genetic instructions for making the coronavirus spike protein into muscle cells. Coronavirus is covered in spike proteins, so making human cells manufacture it primes the immune system to attack the virus should it invade. Oxford/AstraZeneca With 100m doses on order, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is a major pillar of the national immunisation programme. The first shot outside trials was given on 4 January 2021. The vaccine is based on a virus that causes common colds in chimps. The virus is engineered to ensure it cannot replicate in humans and modified further to include the genetic instructions to make the coronavirus spike protein. NIH/Moderna The second mRNA vaccine to reach the market joined the countrys vaccination programme less than three weeks ago, on 7 April. The government has ordered 17m doses of the Moderna jab. In response to the very rare blood clots seen in some people who receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, people under 30 in the UK are offered Moderna or Pfizer shots instead. Novavax The UK medicines regulator is expected to approve the Novavax vaccine imminently. It is known as a protein subunit vaccine and incorporates a lab-made coronavirus spike protein and an ingredient called an adjuvant that makes the bodys immune response stronger. The UK has ordered 60m doses. While Novavax is a US company, supplies for the mass vaccination programme will be made in Stockton-on-Tees with the final fill and finish step at GlaxoSmithKlines plant in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Janssen/Johnson & Johnson The UK medicines regulator is conducting a rolling review of the Janssen vaccine, which is based on similar viral vector technology to the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot. US health officials lifted a short pause in administering the Janssen vaccine on Saturday after deciding that the benefits outweighed the low risk of blood clots that resemble those seen in small numbers of people who received the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot. A major advantage of the Janssen vaccine is that it requires only one dose while the others need two. The UK vaccines taskforce has ordered 30m doses. Others If it performs well in final stage trials, Valnevas vaccine, which uses an inactivated whole virus and an adjuvant to strengthen the immune response, could be approved for use as a booster this autumn. The government has secured up to 100m doses. Further orders are in for 60m doses of a GSK/Sanofi vaccine and 50m doses of another mRNA vaccine from the German company CureVac. Both are still in trials. | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/26/what-covid-vaccines-does-uk-have-valneva |
Could Rays Rich Hill be tipping pitches with runners on second? | ST. PETERSBURG Rich Hill knows all the tricks of the trade. At 41 and a veteran of 11 major-league teams, hes seen a few things. While dissecting his last two outings, in which he combined to allow eight runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings to the Royals and Rangers, he wondered aloud Sunday whether baserunners at second have been stealing pitches. Hill says he has pitched well but has fallen victim to one big inning in each game. I think its a little bit of runner on second base being able to relay signs from out of my glove, Hill said. So I need to make an adjustment with my glove so Im not exactly showing the runner on second what pitch Im throwing. Because my glove is pretty open towards the second baseman and they can see into my glove, where you know, they can see the grip on the pitch, whatever Im throwing. So then they can relay it to the hitter. Hill pitched a brief bullpen session before Sundays game and hopefully got it ironed out before Mondays game against the recently red-hot As. Catchers provide offense After 21 games, the Rays are getting some solid contributions at the plate as well as behind it from catchers Mike Zunino and Francisco Mejia. Entering Sundays game against the Blue Jays, Mejia was batting .286 with three doubles and a home run. Zuninos average is .190 but four of his eight hits are home runs and he has two doubles. Combined, thats a lot of production with five homes runs and 15 runs batted in. Mejia went 1-for-4 Sunday. Theyve been outstanding, manager Kevin Cash said. Zunino has worked really hard and sometimes the batting average doesnt show exactly. Hes had plenty of barreled-up balls and just a couple of misses, and hes had a handful of balls that have left the ballpark in big situations. And Mejia, a little bit different approach. Its more of a contact-oriented approach. I think our catching position, this early month of the season, theyve done really well. That tandem together, theyve complemented each other well, theyve come up big offensively and theyve done a really nice job behind the plate. Story continues Honeywells short starts may continue Brent Honeywell will continue to be used as an opener with short outings. Honeywell was the opener versus the Blue Jays on Saturday, working on three days rest and needing 30 pitches to get through his first and only inning. He allowed a three-run homer to Randal Grichuk after first baseman Yandy Diaz failed to catch a foul pop that would have been the third out. Given some of his injuries, the Rays want to be careful while building up his arm strength. I think were going to take a look at how he bounces back and if it goes well, I think we all would be open to him coming back on shorter outings, Cash said. I dont think any of us view Brent as a one-inning guy, but it might be worthwhile to test it and see how he does. He threw an inning (Saturday). His next outing could be one or two, a little shorter, condensed, just to see how he bounces back. To his credit, hes been very, very honest. I think hes gotten to the point in his young career, its been all in the terms of his injuries and rehab, of understanding the value of being honest and letting us know. Hes going to impact us but weve got to get there the right way where hes bouncing back good and he feels good every time he takes the ball. Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter to get fresh perspectives on the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the majors from sports columnist John Romano. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-rays-rich-hill-tipping-224400982.html?src=rss |
Should the 49ers Look to Draft a Wide Receiver in the Second Round? | Quarterback isn't the only position of focus for the 49ers. Once the pick at No. 3 is made, they will have to shift their attention toward other needs around the team. The second round is where they will get their first chance at it. One position that could be addressed is wide receiver. Outside of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers do not have any real depth there. Mohamed Sanu is a nice addition, but the 49ers still need more at the position. Plus, injury concerns with Samuel should keep the 49ers on their toes about adding another receiver. Absolutely. Second round is where the wide receiver talent is at its best in terms of value in the draft. It makes perfect sense for them to target one there and I would be all for it. The 49ers cannot depend on the health of Samuel. The same can be said of Jalen Hurd who has yet to take a regular season snap. Of course, there are other needs the 49ers could address in the second round such as interior offensive line or cornerback. Either of these would be feasible positions to take. It is just more likely that the 49ers will maximize the value in the second round by taking a wide receiver, and they have all the reasons to take one. Drafting a receiver early would be pairing that player up with the quarterback the 49ers take at No. 3. Just having that development with two players to be groomed as the years go by is beneficial. It also never hurts to give a quarterback another weapon. | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/should-the-49ers-look-to-draft-a-wide-receiver |
Where Does Evan Mobley Fall In Recent NBA Mock Draft? | The reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Evan Mobley recently declared for the NBA Draft, and is expected to be taken within the first three picks. After leading the Trojans to their second Elite 8 appearance in the last 65+ years, Evan Mobley is ready to take his talents to the NBA. Not only did Mobley win Pac-12 Player of the Year, but he also took home Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, proving he can get it done on both sides of the court. His 95 blocks shattered the freshman record (76) set by Onyeka Okongwu just one year ago. Combine that with his team leading 16.4 points, and it's easy to see why he is considered a monster prospect by so many draft pundits. Of all the draft projections covered on AllTrojans, Parrish has Mobley sliding the farthest...to third overall. This is still an incredibly high spot to be taken, even though other draft experts may argue that he will go higher at No.2 overall. Parrish writes, "The center position has never been less valued in the NBA than it is right now, which isn't ideal for Mobley. But the one-and-done reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year should still go in the top three based on his ability to rim-protect and stretch the floor." Parrish makes a strong point about the devaluing of the center position in the NBA, but the upper echelon bigs playing right now are demonstrating how you can still build a title contender with a center as the focal point of your offense. Just look at the leading candidates for MVP this year. The two players leading the race are Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, both centers. Some would argue Anthony Davis was the best player on a team that won the NBA Finals last year, and he was playing center down stretch of those playoff games. If you're a GM who believes Mobley has the potential to reach the level of the three guys previously mentioned, he has to be taken No .2. He can change the makeup of your team defensively, while having the perfect skillset to play in today's NBA. The debate between Jalen Suggs and Evan Mobley is going to rage on until draft night. Suggs is an elite talent, but their is more potential with a seven-footer who can move like a wing. ---- [Former USC Trojan DeAnthony Melton's Career-Night in Wild Double-Overtime Game] [Analysis: How the Mobley Brothers Translate at the NBA Level] ---- Be sure to stay locked into AllTrojans all the time! Follow AllTrojans on Twitter: @SI_AllTrojans Follow Millard Thomas on Twitter: @creatorthomas24 Like and follow AllTrojans on Facebook For more USC news visit www.alltrojans.com | https://www.si.com/college/usc/basketball/where-does-evan-mobley-fall-in-cbs-sports-mock-draft |
Does Mangapurua Valley have New Zealand's most remote Anzac service? | Anzac Day 2021 Dawn Service. Video / Mori TV This year's Anzac Day gathering in the Mangapurua Valley is a contender for New Zealand's most remote commemoration. Wounded Gallipoli survivors were amongst the 71 returned WWI soldiers who from 1917 took up land in the Mangapurua soldier settlement scheme. Many started families there with wives prepared to build a dream in the harsh remote conditions. Descendants retain a strong connection with the valley and come from afar to meet there on Anzac Day every second year. In this remote valley up the Whanganui River the government offered returned soldiers the chance to clear new farms from the bush. They started with great optimism but faced an arduous struggle against the relentless forces of nature. Over the next 20 years most ran out of money and walked away with nothing to show. In 1942 the government forced out the remaining families and burned down their homes to prevent their return. Descendants maintain their connection with the valley through the Friends of the Mangapurua community group. Four generations of the McDonald family are, from left, Helen Brandon, Muriel Roberts, 94, Neave Brandon, 8 months, and Lucy Bran. Photo / Supplied A history highlight has been the publication by Raewyn West in 2017 of the 360-page history Remembering Them. In the valley, the Friends accomplishments include marking each farm property its family names and establishing an Anzac Memorial. At 11am on Sunday, 80 participants gathered for the ceremony at the Anzac Memorial. Parking their cars at the Ruatiti Rd end they had to journey 8km to the Mangapurua Trig. For most the trip to the site along the steep winding former road route was quite an adventure - whether done by foot, mountain bike or quad bike. This time the youngest was an 8-month-old accompanied by the oldest, her 94-year-old great-grandmother. The Anzac Memorial site offers a poignant panoramic view of the rugged and remote Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka valleys. Photo / Supplied The old road route today is busy with 16,000 visitors each year, of all ages, enjoying it as the Mountains to the Sea cycleway, the Mangapurua Valley hike, the Te Araroa Trail, or access to hunt for pigs and deer in the distant back country. In 2017 the Friends created the memorial site to mark the centenary of the first of the soldier settlers arriving on the land. The inspirational site offers provides panoramic views over the rugged bush lands that were proposed for farms. Travellers gather for the 2021 Anzac commemoration with an array of mountain bikes, quads and tramping boots. Photo / Supplied The memorial includes a striking sculptured monument, a flagpole, and a shelter with story panels naming the 71 soldiers with their photos. At each gathering one descendant family has the opportunity to present a history highlight. This time the McIntyre family featured a letter written in 1925 from their grandfather in the valley to his wife who was in hospital in Whanganui having their second child. Jack said he would be happy with whatever name Irene chose for the baby and that his plan was to go to Whanganui and accompany her back to the valley once he had finished the shearing. That wool clip was important for the new baby; it would be the only farm income for the family for that year. Bev McIntyre read out a 1925 letter written in the valley by grandfather Jack McIntyre. Photo / Supplied In fact, Jack was so fond of babies that there were nine McIntyre children. Paul Mahoney is the senior heritage adviser for the Department of Conservation's central North Island region. | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/does-mangapurua-valley-have-new-zealands-most-remote-anzac-service/UUN6XKU7O3XJRO2VXZZZWZST4Y/ |
How Rich Are Lebron James, Steph Curry And Other NBA Stars? | Sam Wasson / Getty Images NBA superstars are some of the greatest basketball players in the world, able to fill up the box score with eye-popping numbers. The best of the best know how to fill up their bank accounts, too. Did You Know: The Richest NBA Team Owners GOBankingRates compiled some of the top-earning NBA superstars of today and yesterday. Read on and see if you can guess their net worths. Last updated: Feb. 23, 2021 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James entered the NBA straight out of high school, the No. 1 pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. The 6-foot-8-inch power forward, nicknamed King James, was the most-hyped rookie to enter the NBA in years. In 17 seasons with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, James has won four NBA championships in six NBA Finals appearances. Hes on the shortlist of greatest NBA players of all time, and hes still going at age 36. James current contract with the Lakers is a four-year deal worth $153,312,846. But heres where you can find out his total net worth. See the List: LeBron James and More of the Richest Athletes Younger Than 40 Stephen CurrySan Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors, Oakland, USA - 10 Feb 2018Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry sets up for a play against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, USA, 10 February 2018. Stephen Curry, the slender 6-foot-3, 190-pound point guard, is worth more than his weight in gold after signing a five-year, $201,159,790 contract with the Golden State Warriors in 2017. The scoring machine, who has led the Warriors to three NBA championships and five NBA Finals, has averaged 23.7 points per game in his dazzling 12-year career. Hes considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Some of Currys popularity stems from his size because hes not a 7-foot behemoth and therefore is more relatable to the average NBA fan. He has a huge endorsement contract with Under Armour, which factors into his net worth, which you can find out here. Fun Facts: The Richest Athletes in the World Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant drives against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half of an NBA basketball game, in Cleveland Warriors Cavaliers One of the best basketball players in the world right now is Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets. Story continues Durant, 32, won two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon as the Warriors were battling in another NBA Finals, then jumped to the Nets in free agency that offseason. The 6-foot-10-inch small forward was famously picked No. 2 overall in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who then became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant is in the second year of a four-year, $164,255,700 contract. With endorsement deals with Foot Locker and Nike, Durant has all sorts of income off the basketball court as well. Read More: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 6: Anthony Davis of USA Team at FIBA World Cup basketball match between USA and Mexico, final score 86-63, on September 6, 2014, in Barcelona, Spain. Anthony Davis LeBron James superstar teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis, is no slouch in terms of basketball prowess or net worth. The 27-year-old power forward, who is coming off his first NBA title, has a five-year, $189,603,000 contract, all guaranteed. After one college basketball season with Kentucky (when he won the NCAA championship in 2012), Davis was drafted No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played until he was traded to the Lakers in 2019. See how much the Lakers star is worth now. Find Out: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 30: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after a three-point shot. Known as The Beard for his famous facial hair, James Harden has an equally impressive NBA game. Harden, 31, is one of the prolific scorers and best guards in the league. The 2018 MVP and three-time NBA scoring champion has averaged 25.1 points per game over his career, including a dazzling 36.1 average in the 2018-2019 season. Harden started his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to the Houston Rockets. Now hes with the Brooklyn Nets as part of a super team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Harden is in the middle of a four-year, $171,131,520 contract. But heres how much hes worth overall. Read: Pro Athletes Who Have Lost Millions of Dollars DAMIAN LILLARD guard for the Portland Trailblazers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix Arizona USA October 11,2017. Damian Lillard Toiling in the upper-left corner of the United States in Portland, Oregon, Damian Lillard might not be a household name to everyone. But Lillard, 30, is a bona fide NBA superstar with a net worth to match. Lillard is a five-time NBA All-Star and has averaged 24.2 points per game. With a nickname of Dame Time, Lillard is best-known for hitting game-winning shots to close out NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets in 2013 and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. He is in the final year of his five-year, $139,888,445 contract with the Blazers. Heres his total net worth. NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 29: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets drives in an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons on January 29, 2020 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Kyrie Irving Kyrie Irving, 28, is a former No. 1 overall draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers and an NBA champion. The six-time NBA All-Star signed a four-year, $136,490,600 deal with the Brooklyn Nets last season and has his sights set on a championship with superstar teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden, who are also on this list. Check out his total net worth, then try converting it to Australian dollars. Did You Know: Biggest Sports Contracts Ever NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. Russell Westbrook The 32-year-old point guard for the Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook is a triple-double machine, regularly averaging in double digits in points, rebounds and assists. Westbrook, 32, is the only player other than Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season, and his career averages (23.2 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds) are nothing to sneeze at. Hes a nine-time NBA All-Star and won the 2019 MVP award, and he signed a five-year, $206,794,070 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018 before being traded to the Houston Rockets, then the Wizards. Westbrook is part of the Jordan Brand, a Michael Jordan-inspired Nike line, and also endorses Mountain Dew. Find Out: Incredibly Rich Retired Athletes Michael Jordan Michael Jordan Hes not an active NBA player anymore, but during the height of his stellar career, Michael Jordan starred in a Gatorade commercial with the jingle I Want To Be Like Mike. Thats what basketball fans worldwide wanted, because Jordan was hands-down the best NBA player of his generation (and perhaps all time), and also one of the biggest celebrities of his time. Jordan compiled six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was also a sought-after pitchman, with huge deals with Nike, Gatorade and others. The NBA star is now an owner of the Charlotte Hornets and a NASCAR racing team. Fun Facts: The 22 Highest-Grossing Movies Starring Athletes Derrick Coleman, Shaquille O'Neal Philadelphia 76ers' Derrick Coleman, guards against Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal during the first period at the Forum in Inglewood, California, . Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille ONeal has almost as many nicknames as he does scoring titles and championships in his amazing NBA career. The 48-year-old former star was known as the Big Diesel, Big Aristotle or just Shaq in his 19-year NBA career. At 7-foot-1-inch and 325 pounds, ONeal was one of the most dominant big men of all time, winning four NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. ONeals biggest paycheck for a single season was $27,696,430 for the Lakers in 2004-05. Now a broadcaster on TNT, ONeal continues to add to his net worth, which you can find out here. | https://sports.yahoo.com/rich-lebron-james-steph-curry-120000923.html?src=rss |
Should the 90,000 from our house sale go on a new home or to pay off debts? | Q My husband and I have 27,000 worth of debt on loans and credit cards that we pay back monthly. We have never defaulted on these payments but feel like we will never see the back of the debt. We are looking to move and have recently put our house on the market. From the valuation we received, we would be looking at making approximately 90,000 on our property. We both live and work in Leicestershire, are in our late 30s and have two school-age children. GS A If you genuinely can, I would definitely get rid of your 27,000 debt, provided you resolve to live within your means in the future. However, until your debts are cleared, their existence will have a seriously detrimental effect on the amount a mortgage lender is prepared to lend you for your new home. When assessing mortgage affordability, most lenders assume that you make monthly repayments of between 3% and 5% on credit card debt and factor that into their calculations, along with the monthly repayments you make on personal loans. In a lenders eyes, the amount your are spending on your debts reduces the amount left over to meet mortgage repayments. So it could be that you have to put the whole 90,000 rather than the 63,000 you would be left with if you cleared the debt towards your new home because you cant get a big enough mortgage. If this turns out to be the case, you might want to think about transferring the balances on your current credit cards to a credit card that charges 0% on balance transfers for the first two years of having the card (search balance transfer online). That way your monthly credit card payment will actually go towards clearing the debt rather than as I suspect paying the interest on the loan. | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/apr/26/should-the-90000-from-our-house-sale-go-on-a-new-home-or-to-pay-off-debts |
Where will we live as we age? | The concept that Boston could possibly become the Silicon Valley of aging is a fascinating idea. There are, however, questions to be addressed and misconceptions that need to be put aside before we can claim the title. As of July 2019, people age 65 and over represented nearly 12 percent of Bostons population and that number is growing steadily. According to a 2018 AARP survey, 76 percent of Americans age 50 and up stated that they wished to remain in their own homes, or at least their own communities, as they aged. Yet the same survey revealed that only 59 percent felt that they would be able to age in place. Respondents cited obstacles including uncertainty about how to access support and services, and how to maintain a sense of community, with increasing age. Twenty years ago, a group of my Beacon Hill neighbors banded together to address some of these issues. Determined to remain in our own homes and convinced that healthy aging is best realized when we are able to remain in control over our own lives and design how we live, we created a member-driven organization in downtown Boston to support aging in place. Called Beacon Hill Village, it has successfully provided its members with the support, knowledge, and stimulation to age well and safely in their own homes and community. It provides essential services such as transportation and grocery delivery, referrals to service providers, and educational, cultural, and social activities. Advertisement Members of the Beacon Hill Village group at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum pre-COVID. Beacon Hill Village But, as it stands, aging in place is not doable for everyone. Its expensive to live in Boston. According to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, the 2019 median cost of a home in Boston was $690,000 and, at $10.67 per $1,000 of assessed home value, property taxes are higher than the national average. The median cost of a one-bedroom rental unit as of March, meanwhile, was $3,083. Advertisement As a result, many residents find it hard to age in their longtime homes and communities. According to UMass Boston research, Greater Boston ranks among the worst US metro areas in terms of elder economic security; 63 percent of older adults in the region have insufficient income to afford their living expenses without assistance, and many fall into the unfortunate gap between economic sustainability and qualifying for means-based assistance. These questions are worth addressing, if only because Boston has so much to offer its older generations: first-rate medical care, great neighborhoods with local businesses and restaurants, and a vast array of cultural and educational institutions. There are also diverse housing options, including single-family houses, double- and triple-deckers, condominiums, high-rises, and blocks of apartment buildings. Boston is also a walking city with beautiful parks and great shopping centers. The transportation system is largely accessible to an older population. Advertisement Today, the Beacon Hill Village concept has swept across the country. There are more than 300 such ventures in the United States and seven overseas. It shows what can happen when people who are determined to solve a problem come together to do just that. This is an excellent example of age-friendly ingenuity, born in Boston, that has spread around the world. But we have only just begun to see the possibilities of what can happen when not only enterprising older adults but also the government, local residents, and local businesses unite to accomplish a single goal. With hard work and fresh, creative approaches to the thorny issues surrounding housing and ageism, Boston could well become the Silicon Valley of aging and even more important, a better home for all of its residents. Susan McWhinney-Morse is the founder of Beacon Hill Village and a board member. Gina Morrison is the executive director. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/26/opinion/where-will-we-live-we-age/ |
How big is the Browns contention window? | CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns made it to the NFLs Final 8 last season and you could make a compelling case their contention window opened when Chad Henne replaced Patrick Mahomes in the AFC divisional matchup with Kansas City. The Browns were unable to take advantage of Mahomes leaving the game and Kansas City went on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. It served notice, however, the Browns were for real and were certainly a team in the mix for 2021 and beyond. Simply put, if Baker Mayfield is the quarterback it looks like hes trending towards becoming, the windows pretty big. Of course, the Browns will have to build the roster a little differently as more guys start getting paid, but as long as the quarterback situation is stable, they can contend for a long time. Mary Kay Cabot, Doug Lesmerises, Ellis Williams, Tim Bielik and I talked contention windows and more with our Football Insider subscribers in a live roundtable last Thursday night. You can hear the second half of the roundtable as our Monday Orange and Brown Talk Podcast. The first half of the roundtable ran on Friday. You can listen using the player below or, if you cant see the player, by clicking here. You can also listen and subscribe to the podcast using the links below. You can listen to previous podcasts and subscribe on Apple podcasts or on Spotify. Get more info and get signed up here. - Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Heres where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs. Hey, Terry! Jarvis Landry, Lavonte David and Frank Clark: The best second-round NFL Draft picks at No. 59 or later in last decade Browns have big decisions to make at No. 26: Orange and Brown Talk roundtable Trading back in the first round is how the Browns can win the 2021 NFL Draft: Ellis L. Williams Myles Garrett on adding Jadeveon Clowney and others to the Browns defense: Well be very scary | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/04/how-big-is-the-browns-contention-window.html |
Does Tommy Togiais bench press prowess predict NFL success for the former Ohio State defensive tackle? | COLUMBUS, Ohio Tommy Togiai leaned into his signature move at Ohio State footballs Pro Day, making his bench press one of the showcase events of the pre-draft process. That performance was never going to tell NFL teams something they did not know about the defensive tackle. Everyone thinks of me as just strong and big and thats it, Togiai said. But Ive also got the speed to along with it. I can move. I just kind of wanted to put that on showcase, too. Togiai fell short of his goal of 50 bench press reps of 225 pounds to break the previous NFL Scouting Combine record. He only made it to 40, tying with Pittsburghs Jaylen Twyman for the best of the scattered Pro Day performances in 2021. That effort raised over $3,000 for Ohio States LiFEsports program, providing opportunities for youth sports and rec programs. That also was the most crucial outcome of Togiais bench press attempt. Historically, the event has not been a reliable indicator of NFL success. The NFL Combine bench press record Togiai hoped to beat belongs to former Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea. He hoisted 49 reps in 2011, helping convince the Chicago Bears to draft him in the second round. He also played for Washington, the Browns and the Dallas Cowboys in his seven-year career, primarily as a backup. Ohio State defensive lineman Mike Kudla, who put up 45 reps in 2006, never played in the NFL. Norweigan defensive tackle Leif Larsen played 16 games over two seasons with the Buffalo Bills after his 45 reps at the combine. Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus played in the New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI victory during his three-year career, mostly as a backup. Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai achieved 40 bench presses during the Buckeyes' Pro Day on March 30.AP Of the other players who rank in the top 10 combine bench press performances, only two had truly memorable NFL careers. Both, like Togai, played nose tackle. Florida States Brodrick Bunkley played 130 games over eight seasons. Memphis Dontari Poe went a step further, making two Pro Bowls and starting six playoff games with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons over his nine seasons. That is the sort of career to which Togiai now aspires. If he achieves it, some of his other Pro Day numbers will likely lead the way. Togiai ran the 40-yard dash in 4.97 seconds. Eight among players in his weight range or higher and again, none of those players topped 33 bench reps. Togiais 7.20 seconds in the 3-cone drill ranked third among people pushing 300 pounds. His 4.49-second shuttle time ranked sixth. Perhaps most importantly, Togiai converted his athleticism into production. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded among the best defensive tackles in the nation in pass rush win rate, run-stop rate and overall run stop win grade. Thats one of the things that helped me change my mindset I saw Tommy do that last year, defensive end Zach Harrison said. He had goals and he wanted to reach them. You could see at every workout he went hard in sprints. Every practice he would give 100 %, and thats something I tried to incorporate. Togiai has other questions to answer as a pro. He does not have special height and size by NFL standards. He only spent one season as a starter and a pandemic-shortened one at that. The athleticism, though, shows up. Combined with the raw strength he has displayed since high school, Togiai may succeed where other bench press standouts fell short. 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. Buckeyes Recruiting Roundup Safety concerns prompting NCAA football rule changes to overtime and preseason practice Ohio State basketball assistant Terry Johnson to join Purdues coaching staff Julian Fleming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba highlight the different paths 5-stars take on the road to Ohio State football glory Drafting the 12 true freshmen who will help Ohio State football the most this season How Aamil Wagners selfless attitude made him a player too good to not have an Ohio State football offer: Buckeyes Recruiting Watch Quinn Ewers, Ohio State football 2022 QB commit, earn an invite to the Elite 11 competition: Buckeyes Recruiting Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields tells NFL teams he is managing epilepsy: Report 4-star 2022 DE Ernest R.J. Cooper warms up to Ohio State football, says hell visit this summer: Buckeyes Recruiting Roundup | https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/04/does-tommy-togiais-bench-press-prowess-predict-nfl-success-for-the-former-ohio-state-defensive-tackle.html |
Is a shot at prize a shot in the arm for vaccine? | In the scramble to reach herd immunity and return to normal life, some communities and organizations have offered incentives in an effort to persuade some people to roll up their sleeves for a COVID-19 vaccine. Personal-care homes in Winnipeg have held prize draws. Cross Lake and Peguis First Nations have done the same. Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson doesnt know whether to credit the incentive or overall enthusiasm for the vaccine effort, but he said Friday that 55 per cent of the reserves population has had a shot and the community has used all of its available supply. Now that the upside of Wave 3 is here, I think theyre taking it a lot more seriously, he said Hudson. Door prizes arent uncommon at special events in First Nations communities, said Denise Bear, who works at the Peguis Health Centre. Thats nothing new, she said. Recently, provincial jails offered a bag of chips, a bottle of pop, a chocolate bar, a 15-minute phone call to family and a meat and cheese tray to share among any unit reaching 90 per cent of inmates vaccinated. The results were disastrous. Anger toward hesitant inmates at Headingley Correction Centre ended in at least one beating and the suspected intimidation of three others. Regardless of the apparent success or failure of vaccination incentives, they raise many questions. First of all, you need to know what the problem is, said Arthur Schafer, a bioethicist and founding director of the University of Manitobas Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics. The goal of a vaccination program is to immunize enough people in any given community to reach herd immunity. Before considering incentives for getting a shot, Schafer said, you need to know if vaccine hesitancy or vaccine hostility, which he considers a separate issue threatens a populations ability to reach that critical point. Its unknown what percentage of people must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity for COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. Estimates range anywhere from 60 to 90 per cent. For context, it takes about 80 per cent of the population to be vaccinated against polio. The threshold is near 95 per cent for measles. If the results of a recent Doctors Manitoba survey are accurate, reaching COVID-19 herd immunity is going to be a challenge. It found 26 per cent of adults are hesitant about the vaccine. The 74 per cent remainder becomes all the more ominous, because adults comprise just 57 per cent of the provinces population; Manitobans under the age of 18 arent yet eligible for the vaccine. Incentive programs may not strike the core of hesitancy, said Schafer. After all, a number of intrinsic incentives already exist: it protects you from a harmful and potentially fatal virus, it protects your family and friends and if herd immunity is achieved, it allows public-health officials to lift restrictions. The two main problems are access and trust, he said. Obstacles to vaccination will likely cause fewer people to get vaccinated, he said. Three Winnipeg neighbourhoods Downtown East, Inkster East and Point Douglas South had barriers to vaccination removed Friday. The province announced residents and some workers in these areas are now eligible. Were all really excited about it, said Greg MacPherson, executive director at West Broadway Community Organization, which is in the Downtown East neighbourhood. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... This is a great chance to get a lot of people who have other barriers in their life a chance to get vaccinated, he said. The organization has been working with other community groups to figure out how to get services to the people they serve, most of whom are without private vehicles, he said, so accessibility is crucial. He said hed like to see local vaccination sites. In Vancouvers Downtown Eastside, the nucleus of Canadas struggles with the brutal P.1 COVID-19 variant, Guy Felicella, peer adviser at Vancouver Coastal Health, has been working to make vaccinations more accessible to his areas population. What weve found early on was a lot of people have major challenges with poverty and substance-use disorders and homelessness, he said. So asking them to come to our clinic would be rather challenging. Instead, his organization set up clinics at a high-traffic intersection and offered on-the-spot vaccinations. Felicella said the increased accessibility has proved an extremely successful tactic. People who roll up their sleeves are offered $5 to get an injection, but he doesnt believe it played a major part in the overall success rate. There were some people that didnt even take the five bucks, he said. They didnt want it. Vancouvers Downtown Eastside and Winnipegs West Broadway area have a similar demographic of low-income workers. When they have to book time off and face the prospect of lost wages, theres a disincentive to get a shot, Schafer said. Thats a big concern, because low-income workers may be more likely to be exposed to the virus at their jobs. Thats why the provincial or federal government should require employers to offer paid time off to get the vaccine, similar to how employers must provide time off to vote in elections. The other big issue is trust, said Schafer. The long and dubious histories of many Big Pharma companies may have eroded trust in the drugs they produce, he said. A national production site for vaccines, which Canada lacks, he said, could help people get beyond their hesitancy by eliminating companies they feel they cant trust. [email protected] Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/winnipeg/2021/04/26/is-a-shot-at-prize-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-vaccine.html |
Who is the referee for PSG vs Man City? | The first-leg of the Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the French capital on Wednesday night will be officiated by a team of German match officials, as confirmed by UEFA. The first-leg of the Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the French capital on Wednesday night will be officiated by a team of German match officials, as confirmed by UEFA. Pep Guardiola's side will be embarking on their first appearance in the last-four of Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2016, when a Manuel Pellegrini lead squad crashed out at the penultimate hurdle at the hands of La Liga giants Real Madrid. City are in fine form heading into Wednesday's clash, and will be high on confidence after securing their first piece of silverware of the season, after beating Ryan Mason's Tottenham in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of the clash in Paris, UEFA have confirmed the team of match officials to oversee the clash between Guardiola and Pochettino. READ MORE: Pep Guardiola announces transfer of one of his "favourite players" READ MORE: Leaked Man City 2021/2022 kit details Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester City will be overseen by 45 year-old German referee Felix Brych, whose last game involving the current Premier League leaders was against Real Madrid in the last-16 second-leg of last season's competition. Brych will be joined by fellow German officials, Mark Borsch and Stefan Lupp who will be assistant referees at the Parc des Princes. As for the Video Assistant Referees, they will be manned by Marco Fritz with Bastian Dankert as his assistant. Finally, keeping an eye on all the touchline and dugout events, the fourth official will be Daniel Siebert. READ MORE: How Man City players reacted to Carabao Cup win READ MORE: Every word from Aymeric Laporte after Carabao Cup winning goal Felix Brych has taken charge of five Manchester City games in total, with those matches resulting in two victories for the Etihad club and three defeats. Those two victories came in a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid behind closed doors at the Etihad last summer, and a memorable 4-2 away victory in Italy against Napoli in 2017. As for the other three involvements with Manchester City, they featured a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in 2018, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Juventus in 2015, and a 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona in 2015. You can follow us for live updates here: @City_Xtra | https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/who-are-the-referees-for-psg-vs-man-city |
Will Jimmy Garoppolo be traded during the draft? | On Thursday night, well finally learn which of the quarterbacks the 49ers will select with the third overall pick. On Friday or Saturday, well possibly learn the next destination of their current starter. Peter King floats in his Football Morning in America column the notion that the 49ers could make Jimmy Garoppolo more available than hes been. King suggests that the 49ers could lower their expectations of a first-round pick for Garoppolo to a round-two selection. That would essentially become a reimbursement for the second-round pick the 49ers gave up during the 2017 season to get Garoppolo. King also ponders whether the Patriots would give up the 46th overall pick in the 2021 draft or a 2022 second-round pick to get Garoppolo. (Former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins recent commentary regarding the way other New England players viewed Garoppolo could make that destination less likely. Also, weve continuously heard that coach Bill Belichick remains a very big believer in Cam Newton.) The biggest problem with a Garoppolo trade to any team continues to be his compensation package for 2021 of $25 million. Given the current cap climate, thats just too much for a guy who cant stay healthy on a consistent basis. So Garoppolo would undoubtedly be required to take less in order to facilitate a trade. Maybe he wont. Or maybe he will, given that the 49ers could otherwise squat on his contract (none of which is guaranteed) and release him right before the regular season begins, making it much more difficult for him to get properly ensconced (or, in New England, re-sconced) in an offense and to compete for playing time. The other possibility for the 49ers would be to sit tight with their reported request of a first-round pick, placing a bet that a starter somewhere will get injured between now and September. Thats what the Eagles did five years ago with Sam Bradford. Teddy Bridgewaters fluke ACL tear opened the door for Philly to get a first- and fourth-round pick, and then to turn the page to rookie Carson Wentz. Story continues Whether its this week or next month or the month after or whenever, its still very hard to envision the 49ers keeping Garoppolo around, given that so many of the players currently on the team support him. The last thing the Niners need is a quarterback-driven schism; the sooner they unload Garoppolo, the better. If thats going to happen this week, its definitely going to require some flexibility from Garoppolo. It also may require some flexibility from the 49ers, since even a second-round pick seems like too much to expect for a guy who has missed 23 games in the last three seasons. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | https://sports.yahoo.com/jimmy-garoppolo-traded-during-draft-104024941.html?src=rss |
Could Falcons Trade Julio Jones and Take Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase at No. 4? | CINCINNATI The Atlanta Falcons have a big decision to make with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While those appear to be the two most likely options, a third is staying at No. 4 and taking LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. On paper, the Falcons don't need another wide-out, but they're at least open to trading Julio Jones according to Albert Breer. "It wouldnt shock me if Julio Jones gets traded at some point this offseason. Im told the Falcons are listening to offers on the five-time All-Pro as part of a larger effort to clean up the salary capas it stands right now, the Falcons wouldnt even be able to sign their draft class," Breer wrote. "Basically, the new brass told other teams theyd listen to offers on any of the more expensive players on the roster. They got some interest in linebacker Deion Jones, then decided to restructure his contract and keep him. Theyve restructured Matt Ryan and left tackle Jake Matthews as well. Calls have come in on Jones too, but his deal hasnt been reworked yet. My guess is a first-round pick, or some equivalent. Hes 32, but hes still shown he can play when healthy, and the three years left on his deal are reasonable ($15.3 million this year, $11.513 million in 2022 and $11.513 million in 2023). Now, if you look at the makeup of his contract, the Falcons would want to wait until after June 1 to actually execute any sort of deal (which would soften the cap blow). But a deal could be agreed to before then, and these sorts of ideas are always batted around during draft week. So itll be interesting to see if anything on Jones picks up in the coming days." If the Falcons take Chase at No. 4, then the Bengals would likely select Oregon tackle Penei Sewell with the fifth pick. Atlanta may also be willing to deal Jones and still take Pitts or a young quarterback that could sit and learn behind Matt Ryan, but this adds an interesting wrinkle to Sewell-Chase debate. A trade involving Jones wouldn't be able to be finalized until June 2nd for salary cap purposes. That means the deal wouldn't include any picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. This could be something. It could be nothing. Welcome to draft week. For the latest on free agency and the NFL Draft, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below. Here's the Latest on the Great Debate OL Breakdown: A look at the Offensive Linemen That Could Be Available in Round 2 Analyzing the Bengals' Four Biggest Needs Before the Draft Former Bengals Receiver Questions Zac Taylor Watch: Tee Higgins Looks Explosive in Offseason Workouts Bengals Bolster Offense in 7-Round Mock Draft Medical Issues Causing Terrace Marshall to Fall Down Draft Boards Here's the Latest on Joe Burrow's Recovery Joe Burrow Comments on Gruesome Scar The Bengals' New Jersey Numbers Are Here! Former NFL General Manager Believes Bengals Have Easy Decision With No. 5 Pick Duke Tobin Sheds Light on O-Line and Wide Receiver Depth in 2021 NFL Draft Bengals Legend Has Eyes on BIG Lineman to Protect Joe Burrow NFL Teams Expect Bengals to Pick Penei Sewell Watch: Penei Sewell Goes Through Four Stage Workout Longtime Bengals Assistant Endorses Ja'Marr Chase Analysts Simplify Ja'Marr Chase Vs Penei Sewell Debate Scouts Rave About Ja'Marr Chase Following Pro Day Workout Another Big Board Has Sizable Gap Between Penei Sewell and Ja'Marr Chase This is a Great Film Breakdown of Penei Sewell NFL Draft Big Board: Big Gap Between Sewell and Chase This is a great film breakdown of Penei Sewell Penei Sewell vs Ja'Marr Chase: Team May Have Tipped Their Hand One NFL Team Believes Bengals Will Take Ja'Marr Chase at No. ----- 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/news/could-falcons-trade-julio-jones-and-take-wide-receiver-jamarr-chase |
Should the Bears be all-in on trading up to land QB Justin Fields? | The Chicago Bears know all about passing on good quarterback prospects. But perhaps they can rewrite the script in this years NFL draft should the San Francisco 49ers suffer the same fate. For whatever reason, Ohio State quarterback Justin Field has seen his draft stock plummet, which could certainly work in the Bears favor. While many still had hope that San Francisco would select Fields, thats not the belief now heading into the draft. According to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, the 49ers have narrowed their decision down to two prospects Alabamas Mac Jones and North Dakota States Trey Lance, which would leave Fields ripe for the taking. As the #49ers close in on their decision of which QB to take at No. 3, sources say they are down to two prospects and the belief is those two are #Bama QB Mac Jones and #NDSU QB Trey Lance. Several sources say the focus does appear to have shifted to those two. Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2021 Now, the Bears are in no place to draft Fields sitting with the 20th overall pick. But there are some options at their disposable, especially if GM Ryan Pace has deemed Fields his guy. The Atlanta Falcons currently sit at fourth overall, but theyve made it clear that theyre open to trading out of that pick. But if Fields were to fall outside the top five, that would give the Bears a real chance to trade up for him. The Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers have both been open to trading the No. 6 and No. 8 picks, and Chicago should do whatever it takes to trade up and land Fields. But the realistic outcome is that the Bears stand pat at No. 20, where they target an offensive tackle, cornerback or wide receiver, while choosing to wait until Day 2 to target a developmental quarterback. Story continues Although, you can never say never with Pace. And if his job really is on the line in 2021, well see him make an aggressive push to trade up and perhaps land Fields. List | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-trading-land-qb-justin-130057324.html?src=rss |
Could the Raiders land All-Pro WR Julio Jones in a trade? | The Monday morning before the NFL draft is always a wild one. This is typically the day we get a ton of news dumped on us, mostly about draft prospects. But it sometimes will include players that could be moved soon. Today, we learned that All-Pro receiver Julio Jones could be traded in the next couple of months, depending on what the Falcons do with pick No. 4. If they were to add a player like Kyle Pitts or JaMarr Chase, they might need to move on from Jones for cap purposes. In a recent article by Peter King of NBC Sports, he mentioned that Jones could be traded in the next few weeks. Albert Breer of SI also agrees with this idea as he discussed it in his most recent column. King believes that if the Falcons do move Jones, the Raiders could be a potential landing spot: So if such a trade happens, I expect it could involve a future pick or picks, nothing this year. (A future second-round pick as compensation seems fair to me.) Because such a trade wouldnt be official till June, no picks in this draft could be involved. As for the interested team or teams, I would guess Las Vegas; Jon Gruden couldnt resist Antonio Brown, and I doubt he could resist Julio Jones. Adding a likely Hall of Fame receiver to this offense would have to be intriguing to Gruden. While Jones is 32-years old, age has never worried Gruden as he has been able to get elite receiving seasons out of players like Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, who played well into the late 30s (and 40s for Rice). When Jones is healthy, he is still among the best receivers in the NFL. Despite playing only 468 snaps last season, he totaled 771 yards and three touchdowns. But from 2014-2019, he averaged over 1,500 yards per season as no player in NFL history has averaged more receiving yards per game than Jones. The cap part of this would be tricky for the Raiders as the team has just over $5 million in cap space. They would likely need to restructure the contracts of Derek Carr and Darren Waller, but there are ways to make it work. This move would become far more likely if the team can fix their offensive line and defense during the 2021 draft. Still, it feels a bit farfetched, considering the Raiders arent quite in a championship window and given their cap situation. However, nothing can be ruled out for Gruden as he has shown the desire to get a No. 1 receiver. We will continue to monitor this situation as the pick at No. 4 will likely determine Jones future in Atlanta. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-raiders-land-pro-wr-124154557.html?src=rss |
How do people make paper out of trees, and why not use something else? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Beverly Law, Oregon State University (THE CONVERSATION) Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Cooper H., age 6, St. Louis, Missouri Paper is an important part of modern life. People use it in school, at work, to make artwork and books, to wrap presents and much more. Trees are the most common ingredient for paper these days, but people have been taking notes and creating artworks for a very long time using lots of other kinds of surfaces and materials. Humans painted pictures on cave walls during the Ice Age. The oldest known drawing, found on a small rock in South Africa, was made 73,000 years ago. Written language came a long time later. The Sumerians, in what is now Iraq, and the Egyptians used pictures in the first written languages more than 5,000 years ago. These people etched cuneiform and hieroglyph pictures that formed their languages into rock. They also wrote on slabs of wet clay, using a pen or brush made from a reed. Sometimes they baked these slabs hard in ovens to preserve them. The Egyptians pioneered the first paper. Papyrus came from a 15-foot-tall (4.5 meter) plant of the same name that grew in marshlands along the Nile River. They cut the stalk into thin strips, pressed them together and dried them into the long rolls you can now see preserved in museums. They wrote in ink, which didnt smudge or blur on this new paper. Papyrus made it easy to carry their writing with them in rolled up scrolls much easier than carting around heavy clay tablets and rocks. Wood tablets covered in beeswax became a popular writing material in Greece, Rome and Egypt. Children used them in school as you might use notebooks today. Heating the wax made it easy to erase the writing and reuse the tablets. The Romans took the next step, making books with papyrus pages. Special manuscripts used pages made of treated calf skin. In China, ancient writing materials included bone, bronze and wood. But then, a little more than 2,000 years ago, the Chinese invented a different kind of paper. Early on, it was made from the hemp plant, washed and soaked in water until it was soft. Then it was beaten into a gooey pulp with a wooden mallet and smoothed into a flat frame to dry. It took Europeans another 800 years to finally start making paper. They cut up, soaked and treated linen and cotton rags. A half a century later, in 1690, the first rag-paper mill came to the American Colonies. But as people used more and more paper, rags grew scarce. There were more trees than rags, so trees became the raw material. The first U.S. newspaper that was printed on paper made from ground-up wood was the Jan. 14, 1863, edition of the Boston Weekly Journal. Loggers cut trees, load them onto trucks and bring them to mills. Machines slice off the bark, and big wood chippers chop the logs into small bits. Those chips are boiled into a soup that looks like toothpaste. To get out any lumps, it is smashed flat, dried and cut up into sheets of paper. The entire process, from planting a seedling to buying your school notebook, takes a very long time. Just growing the trees takes 10 to 20 years. Making tons of paper from trees can harm the planet. Humans cut down 80,000 to 160,000 trees around the world every day, and use many of them to make paper. Some of those trees come from tree farms. But loggers also cut down forests for paper, which means that animals and birds lose their homes. Cutting forests down also contributes to climate change, and paper factories pollute the air. After you throw paper in the trash, a truck takes it to a dump, where it takes six to nine years to decompose. Thats why recycling is important. It saves a lot of trees, slows climate change and helps protect endangered animals, birds and all creatures that rely on forests for their homes and food. You may use a piece of paper one or two times, but it can be recycled five to seven times. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees. If its recycled seven times, it saves 117 trees. The answer: They do. With computers, tablets and cellphones, people use much less paper than in the past. Maybe a day will come when we wont use paper at all or will save it for very special books and artworks. Hello, curious kids! Ask an adult to send your question to [email protected]. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-do-people-make-paper-out-of-trees-and-why-not-use-something-else-156625. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/How-do-people-make-paper-out-of-trees-and-why-16128895.php |
When LaMelo, Hayward, Monk return, which Hornets roles must shift in playoff push? | Coach James Borrego says he doesnt know whether all three of those guys will be fully healthy by the end of the regular season or even in a possible play-in/playoff appearance. But my best guess as to what would happen leads this mailbag column. Keep in mind, there will be a period for each of these guys when he is available to play, but not yet ready for major minutes and contribution. But heres what I anticipate if everyone on the roster is healthy enough for heavy minutes: Ball and Terry Rozier as the starting guards, Hayward and Miles Bridges as the starting forwards and P.J. Washington as the starting center. That means Graham would be the backup point guard, playing with Monk. While Washington would start at center, I think his minutes would be pretty evenly divided between center and power forward once the Hornets are back to a full active roster. I also think Cody Martin would play a lot off the bench because hes Charlottes best perimeter defender and that matters more in playoff games when easy transition baskets dwindle. This question dovetails the prior one, but its valuable to discuss the 3-guard lineup: Borrego has been pleasantly surprised how well a 3-guard combination (usually Ball and Rozier with either Graham or Monk) has performed. This makes the Hornets smaller and a bit shaky defensively, but having so many playmakers/scorers on the floor creates predicaments for the opposing team. So I do think you would see that. But probably not as a starting group when Hayward is available at small forward. Low -- maybe 20%. Remember that the Hornets already hold tiebreakers over the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards three teams surrounding them in the standings. I think its unlikely the Hornets finish sixth or better in the East, avoiding the play-in. But I also think its unlikely they flounder so much, with eight of their remaining 12 games at Spectrum Center, that they fall out of the play-in draw. I think how the Hornets have played since Hayward suffered that foot sprain April 2 reinforces how badly they need him. No one on this team comes close to his effectiveness at small forward. When healthy, he has provided exactly what they hoped he would scoring, play-making and veteran decision-making. Miles Bridges can play small forward, but if hes playing primarily that position, rather than power forward, hes not in an optimal position to succeed. Jalen McDaniels and the Martin twins are NBA players, but I dont see any of those three replacing what Hayward does. Its reasonable to question whether the last two seasons of Haywards four-year, $120 million contract will look cost-effective. But the month of April has only confirmed how much this team needs a player of Haywards skill set at small forward, and that will be true in the future as well. I dont think Grahams recent performances changes much either way. As I have written before, I think this team will be built going forward around Ball. So the question for general manager Mitch Kupchak might become, Is Grahams value as Balls backup greater or lesser than Monks as a backup shooting guard? That is a close call. Also, it could come down to how much other teams value Graham and Monk, as far as signing one or the other to an offer sheet. Id be very surprised if the Hornets dont make qualifying offers to both Monk and Graham to restrict their free-agency. The risk-reward balance heavily favors the team unless a player has been a huge disappointment relative to where he has been drafted. The qualifying offer gives teams choices: Whether or not to match an offer sheet if one is extended. Also, its not something so irretrievable that it would significantly hinder Kupchak from exploring other ways to improve the roster. I dont think anything is that final now, regarding whether Zeller is still a Hornet beyond his current contract expiring after this season. However, I sure understand why you would ask. If veteran center Zeller is back in Charlotte, it would be in a limited role at a salary dramatically lower than his current $15.4 million. I would guess contenders would be interested if they could get him affordably for limited minutes. So Id guess the odds are 50-50 or lower that Zeller is back in Charlotte. Its on hold probably for the rest of this season with a playoff chase going on. The coaches will spend the summer working with Carey, and Id think hell get the chance to compete for a starting spot next season. But Borrego was clear before Fridays victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that hes leaning toward experience in close playing-time decisions. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article250921109.html |
Will Sen. Kyrsten Sinema scuttle voting rights AND police reform? | Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is the Artful Dodger of purloined publicity, picking the medias pocket of free publicity whenever she wants. Not long ago, for example, she published a photograph of herself on social media wearing a ring with the words F--- off prominently featured on it. We in the press took the bait, reposting the photo and giving Sinema a ton of publicity. When reporters took the next step, however, and asked about the ring, Sinemas spokeswoman said, We do not comment on Kyrstens clothing or physical appearance. Clever. Crafty. And perfectly acceptable when it comes to fashion. But not politics. In politics you must answer for your choices. Sinema ardently supports the filibuster Sinema has elevated her national profile and elevated it even more by adamantly supporting the Senates filibuster rule, an outdated procedure that requires a 60-vote supermajority to pass legislation. (West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin also believes this.) Sinema explained her support by saying, I have long said that I oppose eliminating the filibuster for votes on legislation. Debate on bills should be a bipartisan process that takes into account the views of all Americans, not just those of one political party. Clearly, its something she believes in. But there is a problem. States with Republican-controlled legislatures, like ours, have spent much of their latest sessions pushing ugly, racist voter suppression bills. With it, important reforms are dead This is happening, essentially, because Donald Trump lost the election. And because our democracy is built on sand, which shifts. However, the U.S. House already has passed a bill, now under consideration in the Senate, that would establish a nationwide uniform series of voter protections, a solid foundation for all states. The bill, called the For the People Act, would do things like provide automatic voter registration, restore the Voting Rights Act, protect against purges and inhibit gerrymandering of congressional districts. But because the Senate is now a 50-50 split, and because Republicans in Congress are backing their brothers and sisters in the states, the bill will only pass if the filibuster rule is changed. Thats not only true of voting rights protections, either. It might also be true of law enforcement reform, particularly a proposal called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is under consideration as well. The question Sinema can't duck For an elected official, the choice is not always between what you believe in and what you dont. Sometimes, the choice is between what you believe in and what you believe in more. Whether these democracy-saving pieces of legislation pass may depend on Sinema and Manchin. Last week in the Washington Post, columnist Jennifer Rubin asked, Do they (Sinema and Manchin) really want to cling to the filibuster, the same device used as an extension of the Jim Crow era in the 1950s and 1960s, in the face of all that? Thats a question Sinema will not be able to duck. Although, if Sinema and Manchin stand with the filibuster, and necessary reforms go down the drain, Sinema may not need to speak about it. Well know at whom the F--- off message on her ring was meant for: You. Reach Montini at [email protected]. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/26/sen-kyrsten-sinema-sink-voting-rights-and-police-reform/7377763002/ |
Is Biden too boring for Republicans to beat? | Val Demings, a Democrat from Florida, was police chief in Orlando. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Val Demings, a Democratic congresswoman and former police chief, said on Sunday the officer who fatally shot teenager MaKhia Bryant in Ohio this week responded as he was trained to do. In an interview with CBSs Face the Nation, Demings spoke about the Columbus officers actions and how her time as Orlando police chief informed her perspective on police reform. MaKhia, 16, was shot and killed on Tuesday, about 20 minutes before the former police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. Franklin county, where MaKhia was killed, has one of the highest rates of fatal police shootings in the US. In a departure from protocol, officials released body camera footage soon after MaKhia was killed. The video appears to show her swinging a knife at another individual. Officer Nicholas Reardon shoots at MaKhia, who falls. One of MaKhias close friends, Aaliyaha Tucker, told the Columbus Dispatch her friend was funny, kind, helpful and outgoing. Shell talk about how beautiful that you are, Tucker said. She was just a nice person. On Saturday, a rally was held in memory of MaKhia at the Ohio statehouse. On CBS, the host John Dickerson asked Demings about Reardons conduct, which would still be protected under a police reform bill, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has passed the US House. The bill would restrain police officers from using excessive force unless a third party were in danger and de-escalation was not possible. Everybody has the benefit of slowing the video down and seizing the perfect moment, Demings said. The officer on the street does not have that ability. He or she has to make those split-second decisions and theyre tough. But the limited information that I know in viewing the video, it appears that the officer responded as he was trained to do with the main thought of preventing a tragedy and a loss of life of the person who was about to be assaulted. Dickerson asked what Demings would say to officers who believe they are being scrutinized unfairly because of an increased focus on accountability. She said that when she spoke to officers, she told them to remember their training and that they work with human beings, and to use compassion. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers in this nation are good people who go to work every day to protect and serve our communities, Demings said. I remind them of that. Always stand on the right side. Speak up. | https://news.yahoo.com/biden-too-boring-republicans-beat-123300889.html |
Who could possibly have a worse roster than the Houston Texans? | The Houston Texans finished 4-12 in 2020. Their departing faces of the franchise have been Janus like with J.J. Watt going on friendly terms and Deshaun Watson going in the ugliest way possible. Quarterback troubles. New identity on defense. A bevy of veterans signed in free agency to one-year and two-year contracts. The Texans are in complete rebuild mode, even if they dont want to admit it. Pro Football Focus Anthony Treash considers the Texans to have the 31st-best roster in a league of 32 teams. Houston was one of the more interesting teams in free agency, handing out a plethora of cheap one- and two-year deals to veterans. They were essentially screaming we are rebuilding, which is the correct route. Outside of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, theres nothing to get excited about down in the trenches. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is fresh off ranking inside the top 25 in receiving grade, but hes the lone reliable receiving threat on the roster. In the secondary, they have an above-average outside corner in Bradley Roby (17th among outside corners in coverage grade in 2020) but a full-blown liability opposite him in Vernon Hargreaves III (sixth-to-last in coverage grade among that same group). Theres not enough talent and far too many glaring holes. That means there has to be an NFL team worse than the Texans in terms of their roster ahead of the draft. Enter the Detroit Lions. Treash writes that the Lions dont have any one position of strength, which appears true. However, they do have stability at quarterback with Jared Goff. The Texans have Tyrod Taylor under contract, but they also traded with the Cincinnati Bengals for Ryan Finley. There is also speculation Houston could take a project quarterback in the draft. Where Detroit also bests Houston is draft capital. The Texans are 30th in draft resources while the Lions are No. 8 in the rankings. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-possibly-worse-roster-houston-133557175.html?src=rss |
Where Does Longhorns Offensive Depth Chart Stand Following Orange-White Game? | With the Texas Longhorns annual Orange-White spring scrimmage now in the books, its time to take a look at where the depth chart could stand heading into the 2021 season The Texas Longhorns have just finished their first spring football camp under new head coach Steve Sarkisian, and with that, multiple position battles have gained some clarity. With such a high amount of turnover, including at some of the most important positions on the roster, Sarkisian has had his work cut out for him over the last few weeks. However, the Longhorns are still loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball and will enter the 2021 season complete with their very own Heisman Trophy candidate, as well as a plethora of weapons to feed the ball to all over the field. READ MORE: Longhorns Spring Game: Card and White Team Win 20-12 Over Thompson's Orange Team With that in mind, it's time to take a look at LonghornsCountry's post-spring depth chart projection for the offense. Quarterback QB 1) Casey Thompson, JR. OR Hudson Card, Soph. Arguably Steve Sarkisian's toughest and most important decision of the spring, the quarterback battle between Casey Thompson and Hudson Card may be less clear now than it was before the Orange-White game. Thompson entered the camp on the heels of a dominant showing in the Alamo Bowl, in which he threw for 170 yards and four touchdowns while completing 8/10 passes. On Saturday, however, Thompson was inconsistent at best, showing flashes of brilliance, but also making mistakes in critical moments, such as his pick-six interception to D'Shawn Jamison to close the first half of play. Card, meanwhile, did not do much to separate himself while Thompson struggled. Though he did make some impressive throws, including throwing his receiver open on his lone touchdown pass, Card also looked very uncomfortable in the pocket and made plenty of his own mistakes. Suffice it to say, this battle is far from over. READ MORE: WATCH: Longhorns Star QB Commit Maalik Murphy Tears Up Jr. Season Running Back RB 1) Bijan Robinson, Soph. RB 2) Roschon Johnson, Jr. RB 3) Gabriel Watson, Sr. Without a doubt the Longhorns' strongest position heading into the spring, Texas will enter 2021 with one of the top running back rooms in all of college football. Bijan Robinson, who exploded onto the scene as a true freshman, is a legitimate Heisman Trophy favorite. Roschon Johnson is arguably the best number two back in the country. In the spring game, Johnson and Robinson did nothing but emphasize the importance they will play in the Longhorns game plan next season. In an unexpected turn of events, senior Gabriel Watson also proved to be an effective weapon in the Longhorns offense and could give the team a three-headed monster at the running back spot going forward. Wide Receiver (X) WR 1) Troy Omeire, Soph. WR 2) Al'vonte Woodard, JR. Troy Omeire nearly started last season as a true freshman were it not for an unfortunate injury. In the spring game, Omeire showed glimpses of how special he can be, but until he is cleared to practice at full contact, it will be difficult to know how effective he is as a while. Al'vonte Woodard also impressed on Saturday and throughout the spring, and should provide quality depth for Omeire moving into the fall. Wide Receiver (Z) WR 1) Joshua Moore, JR. WR 2) Marcus Washington, JR. OR Kelvontay Dixon, FR. Joshua Moore finished as the team's leading receiver last season, catching 30 passes for 472 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He showed glimpses of his explosiveness on Saturday and should be in line for a breakout season in 2021. Washington will provide solid depth at the position as well, however, freshman Kelvontay Dixon fits the Sarkisian mold of speed at the wideout spot, and will have an opportunity to steal some playing time for himself. Both players performed well on Saturday. Wide Receiver (Slot) WR 1) Jake Smith, JR. OR Jordan Whittington, Soph. WR 3) Kai Money, JR. Jake Smith was one of the more reliable receiver for the Longhorns last season and entered the Spring as the top contender to fill the starting slot position. However, following a foot injury, the door to that starting spot may have been opened to sophomore, Jordan Whittington, who had arguably the best spring camp of any wideout. Whittington has worked his way back from a pair of injury-plagued seasons and finally looks to be fully healthy heading into 2021. Another unexpected difference-maker on Saturday, Kai Money was Hudson Card's safety blanket throughout the game and looked dependable as a slot option. He should contribute next season. Tight End TE 1) Cade Brewer, SR. TE 2) Jared Wiley, JR. OR Gunnar Helm, FR. TE 3) Ja'Tavion Sanders, FR. Tight end was an interesting position to watch heading into the spring, where returning starter Cade Brewer had the inside track to keep his position. Where things got interesting is in the backup position, where Jared Wiley and Gunnar Helm both emerged as contenders to actually unseat Brewer. This battle will likely continue into the spring. Incoming freshman athlete Ja'Tavion Sanders could also end up making an impact in the fall, however, and during Saturday's telecast, Steve Sarkisian revealed that he will likely start on the offensive side of the ball. Should he be able to get accilmated and learn the playbook quickly, the Longhorns crowned jewel of the 2020 recruiting class could make some noise here as well. READ MORE: Five Takeaways From Longhorns Orange-White Spring Game Left Tackle LT 1) Andrej Karic, Soph. OR Christian Jones, JR. LT 2) Jaylen Garth, Soph. With the exit of Sam Cosmi to the NFL, the Longhorns left tackle spot is one of the biggest questions heading into the spring. After the opt-out of Cosmi in November, Andrej Karic filled in as Sam Ehlinger's blindside protector and was solid in that time. However, the position looked fragile during the spring game, with both Longhorns quarterbacks constantly facing pressure throughout the day. Left Guard LG 1) Junior Angilau, JR. LG 2) Logan Parr, Soph. Returning starter Junior Angilau will have the obvious inside track to keep his starting job heading into 2021, and is arguably the team's top returning starter along the front. That did not change this spring. By all accounts, Logan Parr has had a solid spring and looks to be in line to get a serious look from Sarkisian and new offensive line coach Kyle Flood going forward. Center C 1) Jake Majors, Soph. C 2) Rafiti Ghirmai, JR. Jake Majors slid into the starting center spot last season following the injury to Derek Kerstetter and impressed in his time there. He will likely hold on to this spot entering fall camp. Right Guard RG 1) Denzel Okafor, SR. RG 2) Isaiah Hookfin, Soph. Denzel Okafor enters the spring as the team's returning starter at right guard, but after an inconsistent 2020 as well as a less than stellar showing at the Orange-White game, he will have likely have to compete to keep that job from a couple of other candidates. Sophomore Isaiah Hookfin could be his top competition there, but Logan Parr might also have a chance to get some looks here heading into the fall Right Tackle RT 1) Derek Kerstetter, SR. RT 2) Andrej Karic, Soph. OR Christian Jones, JR. He did not participate in the spring, so obviously, health will be a major factor here, but if he is able to return to form by the fall, Derek Kerstetter is the likely favorite to take the right tackle spot in 2021. Before his season was cut short by a brutal injury, Kerstetter was one of the team's top offensive linemen. Kerstetter did say during an in-game interview that he is feeling 'great', which bodes well for a team whose offensive line largely struggled in his absence. If Kerstetter does start on the right side, either Andrej Karic or Christian Jones will likely slide in as the back or swing tackle, depending on which player wins the battle for the left tackle spot. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook. Get your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! | https://www.si.com/college/texas/news/where-does-longhorns-offensive-depth-chart-stand-following-orange-white-game |
What Will Happen to These Cities If Remote Work Becomes the Norm? | ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com Due to the pandemic, for many companies, remote work is part of doing business at least for now. Buffers 2021 State of Remote Work report, which includes responses from over 2,300 remote workers, found that of the 45% of respondents who reported being in remote working situations due to the pandemic, 46% of those said that their companies were planning to permanently allow remote work. Read: States Whose Economies Are Failing vs. States Whose Economies Are Thriving To be more specific, some companies, like Microsoft, have implemented hybrid models, which require employees to work in the office part of the week and allow remote work the rest of the time. Others are more flexible, leaving it up to their employees to choose whether they want to work in the office or remotely. While there are many positive benefits to allowing employees to work remotely on a permanent basis like gains in productivity, performance, engagement, retention and profitability, according to a statistical analysis by Forbes some downsides exist, too, such as companies reducing their physical footprints, which means less foot traffic from workers in the urban areas these companies are located. The last 12 months have seen a seismic shift in the preferences and demand of businesses looking for office space, said Teresha Aird, managing director at Offices.net. It depends on the circumstances. To give you an idea, heres a look at two cities that serve as homes to major companies and the future impact a shift to remote work may have. Seattle: Microsoft In Seattle specifically, major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft are looking to institute hybrid work solutions that allow employees to work remotely or in office depending on their own personal preferences, Aird said. Expect to see Seattle remain as the major hubs for these companies, despite the increased number of remote workers. A lot of the businesses I have had discussions with since the start of the pandemic are eager to retain their physical spaces (albeit downsized) as a space to meet, train, socialize and collaborate moving forward. Story continues Check Out: These 15 Billionaires Got Richer During The Pandemic In October 2020, Kathleen Hogan, the executive vice president of Microsoft, offered this insight to Microsoft employees, according to a post on The Official Microsoft Blog: We recognize that some employees are required to be onsite and some roles and businesses are better suited for working away from the worksite than others. However, for most roles, we view working from home part of the time (less than 50%) as now standard assuming manager and team alignment. So while Microsoft is shifting to remote work as a standard, employees would still go into the office more than 50% of the time. More: When These Big Companies Are Planning To Return To the Office New York: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Seattle isnt the only location where big companies are decreasing the amount of real estate theyre utilizing due to remote working situations. In March, Bloomberg reported that New York-based bank JPMorgan Chase & Co. was making moves to sublet approximately 700,000 square feet of office space in the Financial District and more than 100,000 square feet in the Hudson Yards area. And in an April 7 letter to shareholders, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, stated that the bank will significantly reduce its need for real estate by allowing some employees to split their work time between office and home, while a small percentage, around 10%, would be allowed to work from home on a full-time basis. According to Dimon, for every 100 employees, only 60 desks will be needed on average. Of course, Dimon also included in the letter that the decisions like having a certain percentage of employees work from home or embracing a hybrid model depend on what is best for the company and if that perspective shifts, then so may the decisions. So how this will all work out remains to be seen. Stacey Kane, business development lead at Easy Merchant, had this insight on what a shift to working remotely and reducing real estate footprints (such as in New York and Seattle) may do: The longer big corporations realize the irrelevance of real estate in running a business, the more likely it is that implementing remote work setups will set off a chain of immense impacts on the global economy, Kane said. These giant businesses and firms collectively employ a significant number of workers; their employees are the foot traffic that powers smaller enterprises within the area. Their permanent shift to remote working can seriously cause a decline in performance and sales of food establishments, transportation, etc. even hotdog vendors and burger stalls that solely rely on customers that come out of corporate buildings will most likely be put out of business. But Airds outlook isnt quite so bleak: See: 18 Restaurant Chains That Have Filed For Bankruptcy Ultimately, whilst notions of a typical workspace may be changed forever as a result of the pandemic, we expect larger businesses to retain their spaces in major cities such as Seattle, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, she said. With hybrid workspaces becoming more and more common, dont be surprised to see workplaces shift more toward a flexible model that allows employees to come and go as they please depending on whats required on the day. For now, speculation overrides any certainty about the future of these cities, but hopefully, any permanent remote work shifts wont take a devastating bite out of their economies. | https://news.yahoo.com/happen-cities-remote-becomes-norm-150023741.html |
Will 49ers trade to No. 3 limit other top-10 moves? | Every year, more teams seemingly want to trade down than trade up. This year, a major trade up could make it harder for others to do the same. Peter Kings Football Morning in America column raises the question of whether San Franciscos major trade from No. 12 to No. 3 will have a chilling effect on other trades in the top 10. The 49ers ruined the market by trading two ones to move nine spots, an unnamed General Manager told King. In all, the 49ers gave up two first-round picks (2022 and 2023) and a third-round pick, along with the 12th overall pick, to get the third overall selection. But they did that to get a specific player (or one of two, apparently), not a specific slot. Other players or slots arent necessarily worth the same amount. The Dolphins already chased their trade from No. 3 to No. 12 by springing back to No. 6, by giving up a 2022 first-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick. Miami also got a 2021 fifth-rounder from the Eagles. So the Dolphins basically gave up a first-round pick and a one-round, mid-round downgrade to move up six spots. The last comparable pre-draft trade happened nine years ago, when Washington packaged the sixth overall pick, two future first-rounders, and a second-round pick to move up four spots, to No. 2 in 2012. That didnt keep other draft-day, top-10 trades from happening. First, the Vikings and Browns flip-flopped the No. 3 and No. 4 picks, with Minnesota adding only fourth-, fifth-, and seventh-round selections for falling back one spot, so that the Browns could take running back Trent Richardson. Second, the Jaguars moved up two spots that year with Tampa Bay, giving up only a fourth-round pick to climb to No. 5, so that Jacksonville could take receiver Justin Blackmon. Third, the Cowboys moved from No. 14 to No. 6 eight spots in all for only an extra second-round pick, so that Dallas could take cornerback Morris Claiborne. Story continues Those trades didnt seem to be influenced by the premium Washington paid to get quarterback Robert Griffin III. Thus, the premium San Francisco paid to get the first quarterback after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson arguably shouldnt influence other movement lower in the top 10, in theory. Far more relevant to the question of whether teams should give up other draft-weekend lottery tickets in order to move up is the fact that those moves up back in 2012 targeted Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon, and Morris Claiborne. Although it violates pre-draft media etiquette to point out that a large percentage of the players hopefully drafted and breathless hyped on Thursday night wont pan out in the NFL, Griffin, Richardson, Blackmon, and Claiborne definitely didnt pan out in the NFL, especially considering the investments in draft capital that were made to get them. So maybe its better to stay put, and keep as many of your own lottery tickets as possible. Will 49ers trade to No. originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-trade-no-3-limit-134937467.html?src=rss |
Could former Miami DE Quincy Roche revitalize the Texans edge defense? | When the Houston Texans have brought dominant edge defenders into the fold, they have done so with a first or second-round pick. In 2011, a first-rounder secured J.J. Watt. In 2014, the No. 1 overall pick netted them Jadeveon Clowney. Watt and Clowney are both long gone, as is the Texans edge defense. Houston wont have anything to do about it until Round 3 with the No. 67 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. However, there is some value that could be had at that late within the first 100 picks. Texans Radio play-by-play voice Marc Vandermeer released his latest seven-round mock draft, and he had Houston going with former Miami defensive end Quincy Roche. Ok, He looks a little more like a 3-4 OLB than you might like for a 4-3, but hes going to put on a little weight and be a situational player to start out. He was a double digit sack guy at Temple and not quite there in his one year at Miami but he still logged 14.5 TFLs in 2020. Some players have a knack for getting into the backfield. Hes one of them. Plus we need to replenish the supply of Canes around here (I need to put this in my contract). Roche left Temple after the 2019 season with 13.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss. When he came to Miami, he provided the Hurricanes with just 4.5 sacks through 10 games. He did get a pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. If the Texans were to take Roche, he wouldnt be a disruptive player right out of the gate. In fact, he might need another season to fully develop as the Texans war daddy on the edge. Nevertheless, new general manager Nick Caserio needs to work with his scouting and personnel staff to rebuild the Texans once formidable edge defense that was once the envy of the league. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-former-miami-quincy-roche-145929460.html?src=rss |
Could Titans have interest in trade for Falcons Julio Jones? | One of the biggest needs the Tennessee Titans have ahead of the 2021 NFL draft comes at the wide receiver position and a certain potential future Hall-of-Fame wideout now appears to be available for trade. That player is none other than seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. Both NFL Networks Ian Rapoport and MMQBs Albert Breer report the team is taking calls for the veteran and could look to officially move him after June 1 for salary cap reasons. In his latest Football Morning In America column, NBC Sports Peter King logically speculates that the Titans could be an interested party given their need at the position. As far as what it could take to land Jones, Breer believes a first-round pick would do it, while King suggests a second-rounder is enough to land him. Because of the Falcons need to move him after June 1, any pick used to acquire Jones would be a 2022 selection at the earliest. As much as were a fan of Jones career and would love to see him lining up opposite A.J. Brown in a receiving corps. that also includes Josh Reynolds, this isnt a deal Tennessee should make. For starters, Jones is 32 years old and on the tail-end of his career. Hes also coming off a season in which he played in nine games, and as someone who is routinely on the injury report, staying healthy doesnt figure to get any easier moving forward. Money is another factor. Jones is due base salaries of $15.3 million in 2021, and then $11.5 million in 2022 and 2023, all of which the acquiring team would be on the hook for, as far as we understand it. The Titans have just a shade over $5 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, and still need to sign their 2021 NFL draft class on top of having more holes that could potentially be filled with more free-agent signings. As much as were salivating at the thought of Jones and Brown being healthy and in the same receiving corps., there are just too many hurdles preventing the Titans from bringing Jones to Nashville. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-titans-interest-trade-falcons-132429192.html?src=rss |
Whats Behind Skyrocketing Lumber Prices? | Author: Alison Coughlin, CME Group AT A GLANCE Pandemic shutdowns meant people had nowhere to go, so they bought bigger homes or tackled home renovation projects Last year was our busiest in 10 years of business and we expect 2021 to continue on that trajectory, says one home builder The lumber market in 2021 continues to reach new highs that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Historically, lumber traded in the $200 to $400 per thousand board feet (mbf). However, since 2018, supply and demand factors have caused unprecedented volatility and soaring prices. Source: Bloomberg (LB1 Comdty) Limited Supply, Exceptional Demand The current lumber market is a confluence of limited supply both long term and short term and exceptional demand. There are three main sourcing points for spruce, pine, and fir western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and eastern Canada. While production has been relatively consistent in the latter two, western Canada has faced events in recent years that have led to diminished production. According to Michael Almond, a General Manager of Canfor, long term availability of raw timber has been decreasing in recent years. Prior to 2015, forests were susceptible to the mountain pine beetle. Once the mountain pine beetle epidemic had been placed under control in British Columbia, a sustainability plan was put in place to regrow impacted forestland. This has led to lower annual harvests over the past couple of years a plan that will continue for another decade. Coupled with less timber availability, 2019 saw lumber prices so low that it cost sawmills more to produce and export boards than they could sell them for, which led to the closure of a number of sawmills. Mr. Almond estimated that approximately 3 billion board feet were taken out of production between 2019 and 2020. When demand started to ramp up in mid-2020, the sawmills were already producing at capacity and are unable to increase the amount of lumber coming to market. Demand for lumber skyrocketed in the summer of 2020, bolstered mostly by demand for housing and DIY housing projects. The shutdowns that occurred as a result of the novel coronavirus meant people had nowhere to go and less places to spend their money, so they started to look for bigger homes or began to tackle home renovation projects. Existing home inventory levels are low, and housing starts continue to rise, signaling a steady demand for real estate. Stinson Dean, owner of Deacon Lumber, says he is watching interest rates. Mr. Dean emphasized that even though rates are increasing, they are still significantly lower than average, which is helping to drive demand. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LIRA from JCHS As shown, demand is not just increasing for new housing it is increasing for home renovations as well. Overall, the net demand for renovations feels very strong with so many people spending the majority of their time at home. People arent spending money on vacations, restaurants, and events, so it seems they are putting into their homes, said Jeffrey Mayra, owner of Relevant Homes. While Mr. Mayra reports that some colleagues have had clients hold off on projects in hopes that raw material prices come down, he also noted that last year was our busiest in 10 years of business and we expect 2021 to continue on that trajectory. Through the Roof The tumultuous nature of the lumber market over the past year cannot be overstated. As seen below, lumber prices over the past two decades have tended to stay within a relatively firm range, with little intra-year movement. However, three of the last five years have bucked that trend completely. Source: Bloomberg (LB1 Comdty) So far, 2021 prices have already ranged from $650/mbf to over $1,000/mbf. Similar patterns were observed in 2018, with housing demand skyrocketing until interest rates grew and cooled the market. Ultimately, 2021 has set multiple pricing records and the continued inverse of the forward curve indicates that demand isnt diminishing yet. Examination of pricing data also unearthed some other interesting pricing trends. Over the last two decades, the highest prices of the year have occurred most often in the first quarter. From 2000 through 2020, about 40% of the highest price observations of the year took place in the first quarter. Additionally, from 2000 until the housing crash in 2008, the second half of the year almost always had lower than average (for the year) prices, but that trend has not held true since the recovery. Since 2010, the seasonality has not been as consistent, with lower than average prices occasionally occurring at both the beginning or end of the year, or during the summer months. The wild swings in lumber prices during the past year could not have been anticipated either by sawmills closing due to diminished supply, or by those demanding real estate and home renovations. Past price trends may be able to provide context, but the confluence of these factors has been historically unmatched. Read more articles like this at OpenMarkets | https://www.reuters.com/article/sponsored/skyrocketing-lumber-prices |
What is the Covid row between Cummings and Johnson about? | Amid a furious row, the prime ministers former chief aide is expected to accuse Johnson of allowing the death toll to rise in the pandemic, leaving the UK with one of the worse death tolls among all major economies. Cummings is thought to blame the prime minister for blocking proposals to close Britains borders early last year and for delaying the introduction of a second England-wide lockdown in autumn. Cummings is due to evidence to MPs as part of an inquiry into the UKs Covid response on 26 May. Cummings is said to have supported plans put forward by the home secretary, Priti Patel, in March 2020 to reduce the risk of travellers bringing the virus to the UK by halting daily flights from Covid hotspots such as China, the US and Iran. At the time, many European countries were considered less risky because domestic lockdowns were in place. Between January and mid-March, travellers from designated high-risk countries such as China, Iran and Italy, but not Spain, were issued non-mandatory advice to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. That guidance was withdrawn on 13 March. Four days later, the EU announced it was banning nearly all travel from outside the bloc for at least a month. Sage discussed the value of travel restrictions on 3 February 2020. They stated that halving imported infections would delay an epidemic in the UK by five days, while cutting them by 75% would push the epidemic back 10 days. The committee advised that only a month of additional preparation time for the NHS would be meaningful but that this would require draconian and coordinated measures that blocked at least 95% of imported cases with knock-on effects for supply chains. The Home Office went back to Sage on 22 March, the day before the first national lockdown, and asked if the advice on borders should change given the coronavirus response had moved from containment to delay. The following day, Sage minutes reiterated the message that closing borders would have negligible effect on spread, adding that the number of cases arriving from other countries was estimated to be insignificant at about 0.5% of cases. Discussions around border restrictions continued throughout the lockdown and the Home Office went back to Sage on 28 April to see if the advice should be updated. In a letter to the committee, the Home Office noted that Sage had previously concluded there was little scientific justification for implementing any measures at the border at that point. In response, Sage advised that as cases fell in the UK, the proportion coming in from other countries might rise. Measures at the border could change the level of risk and these were reviewed. The UK had a poor understanding of the state of the outbreaks in European countries, and failed to detect tens of thousands of infected people who entered the country, largely from the continent. Of the 18.1 million people who arrived in the UK by air in the three months before lockdown, only 273 were quarantined. In May, the governments chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, revealed that in early March that year the UK had seen a big influx of thousands of infections that seeded right the way across the country. Genetic analysis of the imported cases showed that about a third came from Spain, another third from France, and about 14% from Italy. The percentage of cases from China was minimal, at about 0.1%. In August, a damning report from the home affairs select committee branded the governments failure to impose border measures, such as mandatory self-isolation before the lockdown, a serious mistake. Following a leak, a number of newspapers reported on 30 October that Boris Johnson was to order a second lockdown in England after denying that another would be necessary and resisting calls for an earlier circuit-breaker as was introduced in Wales. Johnson did so the next day. Sage documents show that ministers were warned more than a month earlier, on 21 September, that the country faced catastrophic consequences unless they took urgent action and brought in a two-week circuit-breaker and other measures to stem the surge in cases. At the time, cases in England were doubling every week after an August of limited restrictions and the eat out to help out scheme which filled cafes and restaurants. Instead of a circuit-breaker, Johnson brought in a tiers system for local lockdowns on 12 October. This imposed tough restrictions on places with the highest case numbers but allowed infections to rise everywhere else until those too came under the most stringent measures. Immediately after Johnsons announcement of the tiers system, Sage released the September document in which it urged ministers to move fast. Between Sage calling for the circuit-breaker and the tiers system coming in, UK reported daily infections rose threefold to nearly 14,000, and were more than five times higher by the time the second lockdown came into action. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/26/what-is-the-covid-row-between-cummings-and-johnson-about |
Will this weeks Minnesota Twins series give the Cleveland Indians a chance to get well on offense? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio Minnesota limps into town this week with a 7-13 record, just behind the Indians in the American League Central standings. The Twins are dealing with COVID-19 issues, injuries and an under-performing pitching staff in a season that had them picked to be among the contenders for the division title. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga look ahead to the matchup between the Indians and Twins and what it could mean for Clevelands slumbering offense on Mondays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. Buy Indians gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, Lids More Indians coverage Breaking down Josh Naylors terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week for the Cleveland Indians One big hit keeps eluding Cleveland Indians offense Cleveland Indians bullpen, defense crack at wrong time in 6-3 loss to Yankees An extra bullpen arm for the weekend and 4 other things to know about the Cleveland Indians CC Sabathia to join MLB Networks non-traditional telecast of Indians-Yankees game Cleveland Indians May promotional dates released Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees series preview, pitching matchups | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/will-this-weeks-minnesota-twins-series-give-the-cleveland-indians-a-chance-to-get-well-on-offense.html |
Is it disrespectful to go running in a cemetery? | For the past year, west-end Toronto resident Lindsay Groves has started most days off with a five-kilometre run through Prospect Cemetery, a west-end resting place that runs from St. Clair Avenue to Eglinton Avenue. Running is relatively new to Groves, who picked up the habit during the first lockdown to help cope with stress and isolation. Since the closest track was often full of other people with the same idea, she started running through the cemetery instead, which, it turned out, was better anyway since it had greenery and shade. Plus, it turned out to be a good place to get a little fresh perspective in these dark times. I think running in the cemetery reminds you to be grateful for being alive and able to run and reflect on all the positives, she says. Still, not everyone is convinced this hallowed ground is an appropriate place for exercise. Recently, Ben Kaplan, general manager of iRun.ca, an online running community and magazine, was asked about the practice by a reader and, since it piqued his interest, he decided to poll the groups members. Although a majority expressed support for cemetery runs, there was a solid block of holdouts, many of whom used the word disrespectful. I realized that, despite having run through some myself, its something Ive struggled with a little, says Kaplan. I mean, cemeteries are a big part of the running culture and I know its done, but Ive always found it a little bit uncomfortable. And, although the shuttered fitness centres might be responsible for more people exercising in the great outdoors, this isnt a new trend. Legendary Canadian runner Ed Whitlock famously trained at the Evergreen Cemetery near his home in Milton, Ontario, which Kaplan thinks has helped people get over qualms over graveyards. Ed really was a saint so, for a lot of people, it was like whatever Ed does is okay by me. Still, as the poll shows, tensions persist. I can understand peoples objections and thinking that its disrespectful, says Toronto poet Susan Glickman, who, herself, used to run in Prospect Cemetery several decades back. And Ive worried about disturbing people who are sleeping quietly. So when I would run there, I would do a little sort of prayer of gratitude and say thanks to the people reposing there and say I hope Im not bothering you but I just needed to get some green space and some fresh air. Glickman wrote about this tension roughly 30 years ago in the poem, Running in Prospect Cemetery, which was published in 1995 in Hide & Seek by Montreals Vehicule Press. Its a remarkable poem about grief and the challenge of honouring the dead and vitality. It was written because of the confluence of two events having to do with the bodys successes and failures, recalls Glickman. One was the death of a very dear friend, the poet Bronwen Wallace, who died in her forties in 1989, and I was having fertility problems, so it was about what the body can and cant do. And, of course, the name of the cemetery itself is paradoxical I mean everybody is running in Prospect Cemetery, she adds. Because our prospect is death and we are all running and thinking were going to keep ourselves really fit were going to live a long time and do all the things we want to do, when in reality we have no control. Were all facing the prospect of death. Although Glickman doesnt think the dead mind the runners, they arent the only consideration cemeteries are also used by living people. She points out that, although cemeteries are (sort of) public places, they are often full of people having very private moments. One of my friends, who lost his father last year and visits the grave regularly, remarked to me that, when someone goes by huffing and puffing it messes with his visitation. I can tell you that weve always welcomed people to use the cemetery properties for passive recreational use, says Rick Cowan assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Mount Pleasant Group. Running, of course, is popular, but obviously theres a lot of walking, too. I think we could trace this as far back as 1876 for Mount Pleasant Cemetery, specifically where the landscape design was done with the idea that cemeteries are as much for the living as they are for the dead. Mount Pleasant is striking, in that it has actually mapped out one, three and five-kilometre running routes. But theres a challenge that comes with balancing that because we are an operating cemetery company and, of course, the primary publication we have is those individuals that have their loved ones in our care for those individuals who are mourning a loss, says Cowan. Kaplan says there are different ways of running and different types of runs and that the cemetery would be more appropriate for quiet, solo runs. Its a question of decorum but also, perhaps, common sense. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... If there was a service or anything I would turn around and go a different way, says Lindsay Groves, But usually Im doing it early enough in the morning that theres nothing happening. As long as youre not bothering anyone, I think its a lovely way to actually respect the place by going through there and enjoying the beauty of it. Cowan, whose company manages both the Prospect and Mount Pleasant properties, would likely agree. The main takeaway is that, yes, we absolutely want people to come and enjoy the cemetery space and we recognize how important that is, he says. But please be mindful that it is an active cemetery and there are people there who are grieving a loss, so show proper respect and let those individuals have their space to grieve in quiet contemplation. Cowan continues: If we all, for a moment, step back and just remember that were not in this world all alone and everybody around us has a reason for being where they are, everybody gets along just fine. Good advice that applies just as well to life outside the gates of the cemetery. | https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2021/04/26/is-it-disrespectful-to-go-running-in-a-cemetery.html |
When will super low tides happen on the Oregon coast in 2021? | If you want to safely and reliably explore all of the low tide wonders on the Oregon coast, you should probably wait for a super low tide. In 2021, the lowest tides of the year are happening between April and July, when low tides are predicted to go below two feet at points up and down the Oregon coast. This years super low tides will take place around April 29, May 27, June 25 and July 24, according to predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. The dates in May and June offer the lowest tides of the year. While those dates will feature the lowest tides of the month at most spots, the one or two days before and after will also feature significant low tides. Tides vary from location to location, so be sure to check the tide tables for the area youll be in. Tide predictions can be found online at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov. Intertidal areas that become exposed during super low tides can reveal hidden treasures, unseen worlds or offer temporary access to normally inaccessible places. They can also be treacherous to navigate, with many slippery spots, sharp rocks and pools of standing water. Those treading into intertidal areas also need to take great care not to injure or destroy the plants and animals that live there. Only step on rocks and dont disturb any creatures. Youll also want to make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you go exploring at low tide. Start as the tide is receding, and head back as it starts to rise. It can be dangerously easy to get trapped in intertidal areas, an experience that can turn deadly once the tide is back in. Check these out: Ghost forest emerges from the sand in Neskowin Shipwrecked boiler a hidden treasure near Depoe Bay 12 great tide pooling spots on the Oregon coast Walk all the way around Haystack rock at super low tide Low tide etiquette: How to stay safe and respectful around tide pools --Jamie Hale; [email protected]; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB | https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2021/04/when-will-super-low-tides-happen-on-the-oregon-coast-in-2021.html |
Could Houston Texans Get Into First Round Of NFL Draft With Cleveland Browns Trade? | We say: It would be cocky of Caserio to "bet on himself'' in 2021. It would be foolish to give away to the Browns a future top-three pick. Texans fans need no reminders of how we arrived at this point. Nor, given the fact that Houston has been devoid of first-round picks in recent years, is this year's cupboard-bare circumstance all that unusual. In his latest piece for ESPN, Bill Barnwell proposes swaps for all 32 teams ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. He maybe has to stretch it a bit to include Houston, but ... He gets it done. In Barnwell's scenario, Houston uses a third-rounder (67th overall) in tandem with a 2022 first-round pick in order to jump into this year's Round 1, getting from the Cleveland Browns picks No. 26 (first round) and 89 (third round). This, for both teams, represents a fun gamble. ... and some fun speculation. For the Texans, as Barnwell writes, "What if somebody they have as a top-five or top-10 talent in a weird year falls to the 26th pick?'' This would be a bet that they would be spending No. 26 on a super-lotto ticket - because if we're playing "what-if's,'' we should speculate on the possibility of Houston being so bad in 2021 that its first-round pick is a uber-premium one. And there is the problem for the Texans. They frankly face a season in which they are likely to be among the poorest three or so teams in the NFL, meaning their 2022 first-rounder could be the No. 1 overall pick, or so. It would be cocky of Caserio to "bet on himself'' in 2021. It would be foolish to give away to the Browns a future top-three pick. Barnwell is the first to admit that "fun'' is part of this exercise, as he writes, "I try to construct a trade that makes sense for two or more teams given their respective needs and team-building styles. These trade ideas, all of which are created in good faith, almost always make fans angry. Not a single one has actually come to fruition.'' All true. But the brainstorming is nevertheless helpful, as it at the very least helps us pinpoint thoughts on the value, in this case, of Houston's present picks, Houston's 2021 wins, and Houston's future picks. READ MORE: Texans GM On NFL Draft Patience: 'Staring Contest And Bean Bag Toss' | https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/could-houston-texans-get-into-first-round-of-nfl-draft-with-cleveland-browns-trade |
What are the current COVID-19 restrictions and closures in Mass.? | Baker told reporters last week that he may have some stuff to say before the end of April in regards to COVID-19 measures in the state. Massachusetts is currently in Phase 4, Step 1 of the states reopening plan, which involves capacity limits on businesses and indoor and outdoor gatherings and restrictions on restaurant operations. It has also kept certain businesses like bars that dont serve food and nightclubs shuttered. As COVID-19 vaccinations ramp up in Massachusetts and cases and deaths due to the virus are significantly lower than the winter peak, Governor Charlie Baker is suggesting he may announce changes to some of the current restrictions in place in the state. Heres a look at the measures currently in place. Indoor and outdoor gatherings Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards are capped at 25 people, and indoor house gatherings are limited to 10 people. Gathering limits for event venues and in public settings are at 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Business restrictions and capacity limits Businesses with capacity limits are operating at 50 percent capacity, excluding employees. Restaurants do not have a percent capacity limit, but tables must be spaced 6 feet apart and tables are capped at six people. Diners have a 90-minute limit at their table. Musical performances are allowed. Movie theaters are open at 50 percent capacity with no more than 250 people. Indoor performance venues like concert halls and theaters and other indoor performance spaces are open at 50 percent capacity with no more than 500 people. The states stadiums, arenas, and ballparks are currently capped at 12 percent capacity. Higher-contact, indoor recreational activities like laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, and obstacle courses are open at 50 percent capacity. Advertisement Massachusetts mask mandate requires people to wear face coverings in public both indoors or outdoors, regardless of whether they can stay 6 feet away from others. Travel advisory Massachusetts travel advisory urges people arriving in the state, including returning residents, to quarantine for 10 days if they have been out of the state for 24 hours or more. Some venues are still closed under Phase 4, Step 1 of the states reopening plan, but can reopen under the next step, according to the state. Still closed are: Bars, nightclubs, dance clubs, or venues offering entertainment, drinks, or dancing that dont provide seated food service prepared at the venue. The measure also applies to beer gardens, breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms at fitness centers and health clubs. Amusement parks, theme parks, indoor or outdoor water parks, and indoor or outdoor ball pits. Street festivals, parades, and agricultural festivals. Road races and other large, outdoor, organized professional or amateur group athletic events. Dance floors not at events. Amanda Kaufman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @amandakauf1. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/26/nation/baker-teases-reopening-announcement-heres-reminder-about-current-covid-19-restrictions-closures-mass/ |
Do the Steelers have to draft Najee Harris in the 1st round? | Before you all come at me with pitchforks and torches just hear me out. I am in no way saying former Alabama running back Najee Harris is a bad football player. Quite the contrary. I think hes a tremendous football player and my second favorite running back in this entire draft. However, being the first or second at a given position shouldnt mean they are automatically a first-round pick. This is especially true of a position like running back, which is grossly undervalued by the NFL as a whole. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a clear and distinct need to improve their run game. They have been on a steady decline the past three seasons but pinning down the cause is problematic. There is a huge chunk of the Steelers fanbase who feel like a running back, and specifically, Harris is the only answer to the problem. But if Harris is truly a transcendent player at his position, how is he still going to be on the board at No. Looking at the first round, there are several teams who need to upgrade their running back position. But they are all going to pass on this elite guy for a different position of need, probably several players deep in that given position. But I want to pass the question off to you. List | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-draft-najee-harris-1st-152216888.html?src=rss |
Is it really the end for Steve Bells penguins? | The time must surely have come for Paula Vennells to be stripped of her ordained status in the Church of England, not to mention her appointment as a CBE (Court clears 39 post office operators convicted due to corrupt data, 23 April). Margaret Silverstein London We both cried out No! Say it isnt so when we read in Steve Bells If strip (26 April) that it is about to breathe its last. Joy and Nick Murphy Finstock, Oxfordshire We hunt the Guardian (Letters, 25 April). Our delivery person hurls it in the general direction of the house. On a good day, it might end up in the front porch; otherwise it might be anywhere on the path, in a flowerbed or behind a bush. Francis Bowdery Loughborough, Leicestershire | https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/apr/26/is-it-really-the-end-for-steve-bells-penguins |
What is the difference between a State of the Union and joint address? | The Guardian From Mesopotamian irrigation to McDonalds, the bestselling food writer tells Oliver Milman that his new history of food is his most important work Cheap food has had a terrible impact on public health, says Mark Bittman, author of Animal, Vegetable, Junk. Photograph: Richard Beaven/The Guardian The global, industrialized food system faces increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, given its voracious appetite for land is linked to mass deforestation, water pollution and a sizable chunk of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. The implied trade-off has been that advances in agriculture have greatly reduced hunger and driven societies out of poverty due to improved productivity and efficiencies. But Mark Bittman, the American food author and journalist, argues in his new book Animal, Vegetable, Junk that these supposed benefits are largely illusionary. In a sweeping deconstruction of the history of food, spanning the past 10,000 years of organized agriculture, Bittman takes in everything from Mesopotamian irrigation to the Irish famine to the growth of McDonalds to posit the rise of uniformity and convenience in food has mostly benefited large companies, fueled societal inequities and ravaged human health and the environment. Al Gore, the former US vice president, has called the book a must-read for policymakers, activists and concerned citizens looking to better understand our food system and how to fix it. series links The Guardian spoke to Bittman about the book his comments are edited for length and clarity. Many people will know you for the cookbooks youve written. I think it is the most important piece of work Ive done. I guess the obituary writers decide that or something. I dont know. But How to Cook Everything was really important to me and my career. And obviously, its done very well. But this was the book I wanted to write, I think, for the last 20 or even 30 years. I cant imagine doing anything bigger or more important. You say that the advent of organized agriculture could be one of the most disastrous things we ever did. Jared Diamond is, I think, the first guy to say the agricultural revolution is not all peaches and cream. The population 10,000 years ago was a fraction of what it is now. Agriculture has enabled billions of people to have been alive, and be alive, than would be possible without agriculture. So if you think thats beneficial, thats really great. On the other hand, one could argue that the quality of life did not go up, but went down when agriculture became common. And you could certainly argue that agriculture is damaging to the environment, the public health and so on right now. But that is fixable. Its changeable. So, I dont think you could say agriculture, which just means growing food or growing stuff, is a bad thing. The book contains quite a harsh critique of how free market capitalism has caused great problems in our food systems. Yes. We should qualify, so called free market capitalism, since its socialism for big corporations and dog-eat-dog for everybody else or whatever. Yeah, theres a zillion examples in the book and elsewhere of capitalism and its impact on agriculture. You could certainly argue that agriculture, agriculture slavery and capitalism are all tied together. And thats something that developed from the 15th to the 18th century. The Irish famine was the first well known one and I guess you could say the first politically caused famine as opposed to more environmentally caused famine. Theyre all complicated, but the Irish potato famine can definitely be laid at the feet of the English who had converted most of Irelands peasant farmland into grazing lands for both animals, the meat of which was destined to be sent over the Irish Sea. And then followed famines in Bengal and in West Africa. Of course, Stalin and Maos famines, its not all the UKs fault. The famines of Stalin and Mao are very much politically induced. They were about a lack of food, but how they were treated was very much political. Stalin wanted to erase the peasants, Mao wanted to erase the landlords. And they were both successful to some extent. They used food as a weapon. Corn and soybeans grow on a farm near Tipton, Iowa. There was a time that almost everyone farmed and grew food for themselves and their neighbors and or trade, local trade and so on. But at some point, surplus became more important than feeding people. Growing food, or growing crops in order to sell them and make money became more important than growing crops to feed people. And that process accelerated since 1500, or whenever you want to say capitalism began. To the point where, in the States at least, 95% of crops are basically grown as cash crops. What can I grow thats most nutritious that will damage the land as little as possible? Those are not questions that are being asked. Growing food, or growing crops in order to sell them and make money became more important than growing crops to feed people The questions that are being asked or the question thats being asked is How can I make the most money possible with this land? Sometimes that means just selling the land for development. But often, it means growing one crop at a time. And its a crop thats either directly or indirectly subsidized, like corn or soybeans. And its a crop that mostly goes into junk food or animal feed, or even ethanol, which is obviously not food at all. I really think the enclosure of the commons was a big deal. When the nobility started dictating to peasants what should be grown and how it should be sold and to whom it should be sold. And peasants began to run out of land to grow food for themselves and their families. That was one of the driving factors in the industrial revolution. And weve just seen that accelerate. One of the most damning statistics is that close to 50% of the food thats available is in the form of ultra processed food. So ultra processed food is what I call junk food. What many of us call junk food. And it means food that contains non-food ingredients; food that your grandmother, great grandmother, maybe at this point wouldnt have recognized as food. Food that you cant cook yourself. Food that you dont find in your own kitchen in the normal course of cooking and eating. A food that didnt exist before the 20th century. Its important to recognize that because ultra processed food is cheap and its fast and its widely available; people without time and without money, are more likely to buy that kind of food. But everybody eats junk food. And it also poisons the environment for everybody. The answer is to increase the availability and affordability of real food. Its not lets make better personal choices, because they go back to that statistic. And thats why I think its so important that you can only buy, you can only eat what there is. Since actually no one is growing food, were all on the market. And if the market is 50% junk food, thats what people are eating. The American diet, which we have to take full responsibility for, is spreading worldwide. Its spreading worldwide because its profitable for big food. It absolutely is engineered to taste good. It hits the pleasure centers in your brain and it stimulates dopamine and so on. If its not, strictly speaking, addictive in the way that caffeine or opiates are addictive, its very, very close. The sun rises over chicken houses on a farm in Virginia. We really have to change agriculture what were growing and make a real effort to grow real food. Transport real food, market real food. Have farmers who steward the land. All of those cliches. But on the other hand, we have to make sure that people have the income or the ability to buy real food. We have a choice. We are subsidizing junk food. It may well be that as societies grow, as populations grow, as societies become more technologically inclined, that it may be that food agriculture just is an expensive enterprise. And needs to be supported by government. It needs to be subsidized. But we do have a choice between whether we subsidize bad agriculture or subsidize good agriculture. Whether we subsidize the production of junk food or subsidize the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. The world is going to have a population close to 10 billion people by the mid-point of this century and those who support the intensification of monocultural farming say this will be the only way to feed this number of people. No ones asking us to feed them. In many cases, people are just asking us to leave them alone. So that, in a way is a PR ploy for big ag: We need to increase yield forever, so that we can feed the world. But the world does not want us to feed them. The world wants us to stop stealing their land and stop poisoning them and so on. At least, thats my perception of the world. Cheap food has had a terrible impact on public health. As every country switches from a traditional diet to a more American diet, their rates of chronic disease go up. And yet we cannot get government to consider this a crisis As for producing cheap food that Americans can afford, yeah, thats a trade off. Thats an industrial revolution era trade off. Workers were paid, it was assumed that womens labor was free. So you didnt have to pay workers enough to worry about child care or cooking or any other domestic chores. And then if you made food cheap, you could pay them even less. So that was a trade off of the early Industrial Revolution. But theres a price for cheap food. And the price is not only environmental damage and heavy resource use. There are other prices as well. But the one I want to focus on just this moment is the public health costs. And if you look at a chart of health care costs versus food costs, its perfect like this. As food costs go up, healthcare costs go down. And as food costs go down, health care costs go up. So cheap food, thats a direct correlation. Cheap food has had a terrible impact on public health. As every country switches from a traditional diet to a more American diet, their rates of chronic disease go up. In every single instance. And yet we cannot get government to consider this a crisis. So we are paying for the food one way or the other, sometimes with our health. Yeah, exactly. The society is paying the costs. Just like every aspect of food that you want to examine carefully has hidden costs. Economists call them externalities. Hidden costs that arent included in the cost of the product. So, Walmart pays its workers badly, you get cheap stuff at Walmart, including food. And some huge percentage of those workers are on food stamps. Youre also paying for those. Youre subsidizing Walmart employment costs. Its not just cash, were paying with our own health. Im not saying we have to go from industrial farming back to farming the way it was in the 1600s by any means. But Im saying there are steps we can take to reduce the use of pesticides. To make life better for farmers, to improve the quality of soil. To remove antibiotics from the food supply. To teach our children what real food is and so on down the line. I think some limits on marketing junk food to children, along with teaching children where food is from and what food is about is really important. Because if youre going to allow marketers to target kids, they will convince them that Tony the Tiger is their friend and that Coke is the best beverage to drink. And that McDonalds is the most fun place to eat. If youre going to let kids become convinced of that then youre going to have generation after generation of adults who were saddled with food preferences that are dictated by big food. And we all know how difficult it is to change our food preferences. We all know that. Especially in the last year, everybody saw that: Im so scared of Covid. Im so bored with being locked up. Im going to order in pizza and have ice cream. Or whatever their favorite childhood food is, we would all turn to that. I saw this in myself and everybody I talk to sees it in themselves. So, we have to raise generations of healthy children if we want generations of healthy adults. But that means making good food available, affordable to everybody. Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bittman is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | https://news.yahoo.com/difference-between-state-union-joint-141146149.html |
Will Cowboys Let Leighton Vander Esch Go Free? | Three factors FRISCO - If you are a Dallas Cowboys follower who lived through the organizational anguish in 2018 over whether to pick up the fifth-year option of Byron Jones, you are not surprised at a similar in-house debate unfolding right now regarding Leighton Vander Esch. Well be discussing that after the draft, COO Stephen Jones said on Monday on 105.3 The Fan. The Cowboys have a week - with May 3 as the deadline - to decide whether they will exercise their option on the linebacker's contract for the 2022 season. Picking up the option would guarantee Vander Eschs $9.145 million salary. Three factors: 1) Vander Esch suggests he's better than ever following neck surgery. But his injury history is a concern. Not that Dallas can do anything about it, or learn any more, in the next week, but ... there is cause for pause. - LVE might suddenly less of a priority. 3) "Deadlines Make Deals.'' The Jerry Jones-led organization simply lives by this credo. It sometimes causes frustration for the public, sometimes causes issues with signings (see: "Prescott, Dak''), but mostly does not alter much about the decision. So it will be with Vander Eschs future. (He could, of course, have his option passed on and remain a Cowboy - though he'd be a free agent next spring and would be free to negotiate anywhere.) In our conversations with Dallas, Vander Esch - the 19th pick of the 2018 draft who has missed 13 games due to injuries in the last two seasons - seems very much in the Cowboys' long-term plans. But that doesn't have to be decided for another week. So, it likely won't be. | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/will-dallas-cowboys-let-leighton-vander-esch-go-free |
Would Patriots Trade For Julio Jones Make Sense? | Somehow the Patriots spent a couple hundred million dollars in free agency this offseason and didnt wind up with a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver. Now theres a chance one could become available via trade. The Atlanta Falcons apparently are open to the idea of trading Julio Jones, based on reports Monday morning from SI Senior NFL Reporter Albert Breer and Peter King of NBC Sports. Breer wrote: it wouldnt shock me if Julio Jones gets traded at some point this offseason." And King also wrote it would not surprise him if Atlanta got together a framework of a trade, which would have to be held from becoming official until June 2 so the Falcons could split Jones' cap charge between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Of course, when considering teams that would want in on a Jones deal, the Patriots were mentioned by pretty much every pundit. Lets take a look: Durability Jones turned 32 this year and he was limited to nine games by a nagging hamstring injury in 2020. Still, he caught 51 passes for 771 yards and three touchdowns in those games. Production In 2019, Jones was fifth in the NFL with 99 catches and second with 1,394 yards. He led the NFL with 1,677 yards receiving in 2018. Hes been a first-team All-Pro twice and a Pro Bowl selection seven times. This is the type of receiver, assuming hes not on a downward trend, who not only makes mediocre quarterbacking better but also takes the heat off returning receiver Jakobi Meyers and free-agent imports Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor to produce like a number 1. NKeal Harry also would become more expendable or be given the luxury of developing as a lesser-used option. Cost Jones has three years left on his deal at $15.3 million this season and $11.513 million the next two. Whether Jones would be willing to keep playing at the number is another story. If he has a big year and then asks for a raise, something he did with Atlanta three years ago, that could cause trouble for the Pats cap-wise. Thats why New England would have to be careful with what theyre willing to give the Falcons. Breer says a future first-round pick gets the deal done. King estimates itll take a second-rounder. Thats probably too rich for a guy coming off injury and someone who might be executing a cash grab this time next year. The Pats have all their picks in 2021 except a fifth-rounder. They might want to spend some of those picks to move up and grab a quarterback in the draft. If theyre not as hot for a quarterback as some are reporting, though, dealing their 2022 second-rounder might be worth it for one year of adding Jones to an already deep wide receiver group. Whether Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham or a rookie quarterback is under center this fall, the Pats are going to need plenty of targets. Jones is the type of difference-maker theyll have to at least consider. | https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-has-to-consider-julio-jones-trade |
What is electoral college and what are the pros and cons of the voting system? | Trump speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 28 March 2019, where fact checkers recorded 62 inaccuracies (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Looking towards the 2020 presidential election, democratic candidates vying to take on Donald Trump have apparently learned a valuable lesson from November 2016 when he shocked the world by winning the election by winning the electoral college but fell millions of votes short in the popular vote. Top democratic presidential candidates have come out against that electoral system which has delivered the presidency to two men in recent memory even though they failed to gain support from a majority of voters. If it sounds funny that a candidate could earn less votes than their competitor but still win, read on. Heres what you need to know about the electoral college, the calls for its elimination, and why it exists in the first place. When voters cast their ballots on election day in America, theyre technically not voting directly for the candidates themselves. Instead, under the electoral college, they are essentially casting a ballot for their preferred candidates electors. These electors are often party loyalists, or the individuals close to the campaigns. In all but two states, the winner of the popular vote receives all of that states electoral college votes no matter the margin of victory. All told, there are 538 electors in the electoral college: one for each member of the House of Representatives, one per senator, and three allocated to the District of Columbia through the 23rd Amendment. So, after voters cast their ballots (and after governors of the states certify the tallies and electoral lists), the electors then meet in December in their respective states. At that point, they then officially vote for president and vice president. Members of the House and Senate then meet in January to take an official tally of those votes. The electoral college is a compromise solution dating back to the origins of the country, when considerable concern existed that urban centres would dominate elections to the detriment of less populated areas. Story continues Because the number of electors a state has is tied to number of representatives, more populous states have an edge because they wield more by virtue of having greater representation in the House. But, in order to offset that, the founders of the country determined that two electors would be allocated per senator which each state has two of regardless of size so less populous states are inherently given an extra boost. The procedure is detailed in the 12th Amendment of the United States Constitution. In the two most recent elections in which candidates lost the popular vote but won the election anyway, the candidates were Republicans. George Bush won in 2000, while Donald Trump won in 2016. Generally speaking, republican support is found in rural areas of the country, while democrats find their support in urban centres. If you look at a map of nearly any election, the vast majority of the country will be painted red for republicans no matter the vote and that is because republicans dominate in very sparsely populated areas of the US in the centre of the country. Meanwhile, urban centres are concentrated on coasts and in relatively few states. A pretty sizeable number of democrats have come forward with a forceful call to eliminate the system in favour of the popular vote, or have signalled a willingness to changing the system. Those who have supported eliminating it are: Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Michael Bennet. Meanwhile, two candidates still in the race have said the system should not be eliminated: Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang. It is not clear where Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Deval Patrick and Tom Steyer stand on the issue. Changing the system would require a constitutional amendment, which would is a drawn out process that requires an overwhelming amount of support across the country. In some states, though, governors have taken action and are pushing for laws that would award all of their electors to whoever won the popular vote, no matter what the result was in their state. This article was amended on 26 April 2021. It previously stated there were two electors per senator, when there is one, and said the number of electors for the District of Columbia related to the 22nd Amendment, when it should have been the 23rd. Read More Nicola Sturgeon discusses implications of a border between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK Ilhan Omar jumps into GameStop controversy and hits out at Wall Street: If they cut off the public, send them to prison Amanda Gorman reveals what Michelle Obama whispered to Barack at Inauguration | https://news.yahoo.com/electoral-college-pros-cons-voting-171156036.html |
Who gets to live in a new Holyoke Soldiers Home? | But thats not the way the current facilitys admissions process appears to work. The facility takes no account of financial need, and who-you-know has long been whispered to carry weight in deciding who receives the heavily-subsidized care. And the racial demographics of the facility are striking. According to data provided by the Department of Veterans Services, nearly all are white men. The answer, of course, should be that any Massachusetts veteran who needs the kind of care that soldiers homes provide ought to have a fair shot at admission. Advertisement The demographics at Holyoke can be partially explained by the age and World War II-era of service of many of the facilitys residents. Some advocates believe that its better to deinstitutionalize care, and instead utilize small home designs across the state. Those questions have rightly become part of the debate over a new facility. The Massachusetts House approved a $400 million bond bill earlier this month. Last week, the Senate reported a version that adds $200 million for regional equity for expanded services in other parts of the state. Its scheduled for debate in the full Senate on April 29. According to Masslive.com, the state would be eligible for up to $260 million in federal funding from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. An Aug. 1 deadline for submitting plans, along with encouragement from US Representative Richard Neal of Springfield, about the availability of federal funding for a new facility, is driving the action on Beacon Hill. Governor Charlie Baker is also pushing for the bond bill. As lawmakers rush to finalize the bond bill, the legislative oversight committee that is looking into governance and management issues at the Soldiers Home after at least 77 veterans died last year of COVID-19 has not yet issued its final report. The committee expected to hear testimony from Paul Moran, the chief of staff at the Department of Veterans Services, but he suddenly rescinded his offer. The committee was also hoping to hear from Francisco Urea, the former Secretary of Veterans Services who resigned in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis at the soldiers home. The committee thought their testimony was important to their mission. We were disappointed, said state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell of Methuen, who co-chairs the oversight committee, about the failure so far to get that testimony. Advertisement Campbell, who is a veteran, also said the oversight committee is concerned about access to care for all veterans. Besides the Holyoke facility, the state also runs the Chelsea Soldiers Home. Its important to ensure that veterans all over the Commonwealth are aware that these two homes belong to everyone, said Campbell. Noting that all veterans can apply for admission to either facility, a spokesperson for the Baker administration said via email that the Department of Veterans Services has strengthened outreach efforts... to reach more veterans with information about our programs, services and eligibility. As for the current demographics at the Holyoke facility, the spokesperson said the breakdown is comparable to the overall Massachusetts veteran breakdown. Advertisement But of about 305,000 veterans living in Massachusetts, close to 12 percent are minority. According to state data, 107 of 114 residents of the Holyoke facility or 93.9 percent are white. Seven or 6.1 percent are Black or Hispanic. Age no doubt accounts for some of the disparity. Geography might account for some too state officials claim that more resident applications come from proximate towns. But the states overall veteran population is far more diverse than the Holyoke homes; diversifying Holyokes population should at least be an explicit goal for the future. Meanwhile, as Jesse Flynn, the legislative director and assistant adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans, points out, Hampden County is home to two of the most diverse cities in Massachusetts Springfield and Holyoke, where the soldiers home is located; and the veteran population in Hampden County is 13.1 percent minority. State Representative Russell Holmes of Mattapan said he voted for the bond bill, on a promise he said he got from House Speaker Ronald Mariano that reforms to admissions would be put in place. To Holmes, reform should involve means testing to make sure veterans with the greatest need would have access to the home. But approving funding for a new facility before reforming how its run and veteran services across the state are distributed seems backward and risky. To that, state Sen. John Velis of Westfield said You can say were putting the cart before the horse. But we have to put the cart before the horse or miss the federal funding opportunity. Velis who also serves on the legislative oversight committee, describes the bond bill as phase one and governance and equity issues as phase two. As a veteran and major in the US Army Reserves, Velis said getting it right is personal; and he is committed to putting Massachusetts on the path to making sure every veteran has a place and has an option where they can obtain long term care services. Advertisement Its up to lawmakers to make sure that happens. That means making expanded access to long-term care for all the states veterans a priority. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us on Twitter at @GlobeOpinion. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/26/opinion/who-gets-live-new-holyoke-soldiers-home/ |
Will the Supreme Court Let Americans Carry Guns for Any Reason? | Thomass frustration reflected a growing discontent among gun-rights advocates with the courts silence on the matter. Those advocates achieved two major victories with Heller in 2008 and then with McDonald v. Chicago in 2010, which applied Hellers ruling to the states. In the decade that followed those landmark rulings, however, the court declined to hear challenges to a variety of gun restrictions. The justices brushed aside challenges to concealed-carry laws, assault-weapon bans, trigger-lock requirements, age restrictions for purchases, and more. As a result, the legal landscape after Heller and McDonald largely resembled the one that came before it. The first sign of movement from the justices came last term, when they agreed to hear a challenge to an unusual New York City ordinance on handgun ownership. But the city, fearing defeat in the courts, moved instead to repeal the policy in question. The justices accordingly ruled last April that the case had become moot. Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, and Samuel Alito wrote that they would have struck down the ordinance anyways, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh signaled that he would be interested in hearing more Second Amendment cases in the future. The court does not reveal how each justice votes on individual petitions before the court. Since any four justices can compel the court to hear a case, most observers assumed that Chief Justice John Roberts or Anthony Kennedy before his retirement were responsible for the courts decade of inaction. Either way, Justice Amy Coney Barretts confirmation last fall likely changed the calculus in the conservative blocs favor. Barrett indicated while serving on the Seventh Circuit that she held an expansive view of the Second Amendments protections. She suggested in one dissent, for instance, that state and federal laws banning gun ownership by felons may be overbroad and thus unconstitutional. If the Supreme Court is willing to interpret the Second Amendment more broadly for the foreseeable future, it could severely undermine efforts by gun-control activists to pass new restrictions at the state and federal levels. But all hope is not yet lost for them. The court already signaled on Monday that it would be unwilling to go as far as gun-rights groups want them to go. In their petition, the plaintiffs asked the court to consider whether the Second Amendment allows the government to prohibit ordinary law-abiding citizens from carrying handguns outside the home for self-defense, setting the stage for a sweeping ruling on concealed-carry restrictions across the country. | https://newrepublic.com/article/162183/barrett-gorsuch-new-york-concealed-carry |
Does anyone believe Arizona didn't grow enough to earn a 10th congressional seat? | Thats just crazy. But officially that just happened, meaning Arizona will stay with nine House seats for the next decade. The initial results of 2020 U.S. Census stunningly showed Arizona will not gain a House seat. Instead, the power is shifting to Texas, which will gain two House seats while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain one seat. There was a huge undercount Arizona was widely expected to gain one House seat, but somehow population growth stagnated or too many people didnt fill out the Census form. Estimates from earlier this year had suggested Arizona might be the fifth-fastest growing state, but it ranked eighth in the initial Census tally. Arizona had 6.4 million residents in 2010 and 7.1 million in 2020. Its not that difficult to figure out what happened here. Former President Donald Trump clearly succeeded in politicizing the decennial Census to keep an undercount. Trump scared the heck out of those living here illegally by trying to add a citizenship status question. Add to that other factors like lack of internet in rural communities and the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and my guess is you end up with an undercount. But the Census, which is conducted every 10 years, isnt just a headcount. The government gathers tons of data, such as peoples income, home values and health insurance coverage. That wealth of information is then used to draw congressional political districts and to distribute an enormous amount of federal money for all sorts of programs and services. This isnt just a political setback. Arizona also stands to lose an incalculable amount of money for the next decade. Elvia Daz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1. Subscribe to get more opinions content. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/elviadiaz/2021/04/26/arizona-didnt-grow-enough-earn-10th-congressional-district/7389333002/ |
Did Below Deck Just Tease Dani's Pregnancy in a New Trailer? | On Monday, April 26, Bravo released the dramatic midseason trailer for season two of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. While the just-released footage promised plenty of crew drama, including the ongoing love triangle between Gary King, Alli Dore and Sydney Zaruba, it was Dani Soares' baby wish that caught our attention. As Below Deck fans well know, Dani's fling with deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux has just started to heat up on the show. And, from what Dani declared in the new trailer below, she was open to taking things to the next level. "The more I get to know you, I like you more," she told Jean-Luc. "Let's have sex tonight. And if I get pregnant, that's God's will." Yet, it wasn't Jean-Luc who Dani brought into a guest cabin to hook up with. Instead, the stewardess asked Alli to "lick my vagina." This trailer couldn't have been better timed as, on Sunday, April 25, Dani took to Instagram to share that she is pregnant with her first child. | https://www.eonline.com/au/news/1262915/did-below-deck-sailing-yacht-tease-dani-s-pregnancy-in-the-dramatic-midseason-trailer |
What will the QB the 49ers take with the No. 3 pick say about Kyle Shanahan? | Its nice to have great play calls, but they wont work if you dont have talented players to execute them. Just how much 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan subscribes to that saying will become evident Thursday night. Thats when Shanahan either uses the No. 3 pick to draft a system-fit pocket passer, Alabamas Mac Jones, or two other quarterbacks, Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance, who could elevate his offense while joining a wave of successful young, mobile QBs such as Kansas Citys Patrick Mahomes, Buffalos Josh Allen and Houstons Deshaun Watson. Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Ravens, Browns and Eagles, says a selection of Jones will make a statement that Shanahan, when it comes to quarterbacks, isnt all about the Jimmies and the Joes. He would be saying I believe so much in the Xs and Os, said Jeremiah, an NFL Network draft analyst. I need somebody that can just see the game through my eyes and make those decisions. NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlosvky observes that Fields and Lance will make more out of bad plays or plays when you lose the rep because of their physical talent. And theyll be able to go above the Xs and Os more than Mac Jones can. Mac will execute that offense at a high level more consistently. On March 26, the 49ers trade with the Dolphins, a blockbuster that allowed them to move up nine spots for a QB, revealed how they felt about incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo. Now, how they use that pick will reveal much about Shanahan. If the 49ers traded two future first-round picks and a third-rounder to ensure they could get Jones, it would be clear Shanahan views him as the quintessential quarterback to run his offense. At the price the 49ers paid, Shanahan couldnt view Jones as just the next Kirk Cousins, the Vikings effective-if-not-elite QB who is often invoked as Shanahans ideal. Rather, Shanahan would have to see Jones as a pocket-passing machine, a quarterback closer to perennial Pro Bowl picks such as Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. Orlosvky didnt invoke those names. But he said the social-media conversation about Jones, a pick that would make a segment of the 49ers fan base apoplectic, is wildly inaccurate. Mac Jones gets talked about like hes just average, Orlovsky said. And I dont think that. I think hes really good. The tape shows that hes really good. And I think his traits project him to be a really good player at the next level. I think San Francisco, if they take Mac Jones, they will win a lot of games with Mac Jones. And [Jones] does that really, really, really well. Jeremiah acknowledged that there are some in the NFL who believe it would be an arrogant decision if Shanahan selected Jones, because it would suggest hes gotten carried away with confidence in his own system. But even though Jeremiah thinks Lance should be the 49ers pick, he disagrees with that characterization of what picking Jones would represent. Because of the success of Shanahans often-imitated offense, which he views as the NFLs best. Instead, Shanahan has two excruciating near-misses. The 49ers squandered a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead in February 2020 against the Chiefs three years after the Falcons with Shanahan as their offensive coordinator lost a 25-point, third-quarter lead against the Patriots. The thing that's interesting is Kyle has that recent history of saying, I've been in two Super Bowls, probably should have won two Super Bowls, running this offense and operating it with this style of quarterback, Jeremiah said. And if Garoppolo doesn't miss a throw, if (Atlantas) Matt Ryan doesn't take a sack, then maybe he's got two Super Bowl rings to verify that this is the right type of guy to run this offense and win the ultimate prize. Of course, Garoppolo did miss the throw, overshooting wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on a well-designed, would-be, 49-yard game-winner in the final minutes of Super Bowl LIV. Less than six minutes earlier, Mahomes began Kansas Citys comeback by launching a 44-yard completion to wide receiver Tyreek Hill while under heavy pressure on third-and-15. The crunch-time contrast between Mahomes and Garoppolo was striking. To Orlovsky it symbolized the value of a QB who can go above the Xs and Os. And I wonder if Kyle kind of has that memory in his head going, Wait that team made a good play call and their player just made it a great play, Orlovsky said. I made a great play call and my player didnt make it. And I wonder if theres that interest from him to go, Im really good. And my play calls and designs are great. But I want a guy to take them to the next level. Shanahan has admitted he didnt study Mahomes closely enough in 2017, when the 49ers had the No. 2 pick, because his plan was to sign Cousins in free agency the following year. Mahomes went No. 10 overall and Watson was selected two picks later. Jeremiah thinks Shanahan could have regrets, even if Jones leads the 49ers to a title. When you pair those up -- an elite play caller and a good quarterback, you can win a Super Bowl, Jeremiah said. You can become a dynasty. Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Eric_Branch | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/What-will-the-QB-the-49ers-take-with-the-No-3-16130371.php |
Can Notre Dame's offense be built around tight end Michael Mayer? | Tyler James South Bend Tribune Tommy Rees knows what an offense looks like when its go-to receiver plays tight end. When Rees was a junior quarterback for Notre Dame in 2012, tight end Tyler Eifert led the Irish in receiving yards (685), receiving touchdowns (4) and tied for the team high in receptions (50). Changes to college football in 2021:NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel announces new overtime rules So if tight end Michael Mayer becomes Notre Dames best receiving option as a sophomore in 2021, the Irish offensive coordinator should know how to make that work. I dont see why it should be any different in terms of being able to feature someone, Rees said Thursday following Notre Dames 12th spring football practice. Even as a freshman, Mayer wasnt far off from being quarterback Ian Books preferred target. He tied wide receiver Javon McKinley for a team-high 42 receptions but for significantly fewer yards (450 to 717) and one fewer touchdown (2 to 3). An increased role for Mayer that results in him outgaining Notre Dames wide receivers this season might not be a stretch, but its far too early to predict how his production will stack up with the rest of Notre Dames offense. Thats because Rees is still working to identify the identity the offense will adapt in his second season as a play caller. What is clear, though, is that the 6-foot-5, 249-pound Mayer needs to be heavily involved. For us, its all about trying to isolate matchups for Mike, Rees said. It really doesnt matter if its a corner, then hes going to have a size advantage. If its a safety or a linebacker, hes going to have an agility advantage. Were going to do as many things as we can to try to isolate him where they cant help with a second player. With Tommy Trembles early entry into the NFL Draft, the Irish will need another tight end to develop if they want to utilize multiple tight ends. Senior George Takacs (6-6, 245) is making the right strides to provide that option. Hes a guy whos owned that role right now, Rees said. Hes done a real nice job of being our Y tight end in some of our 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) packages. Hes been able to go in there as the single tight end in 11 (personnel). Hes continued to develop his passing game. In terms of being at the point of attack, hes done a really nice job of being a lead tight end. The Irish are counting on sophomore Kevin Bauman (6-5, 240), who Rees described as having a steady spring with an extremely high ceiling, to also have an expanded role in 2021. Freshman tight ends Mitchell Evans (6-5, 248) and Cane Berrong (6-4, 235) are getting plenty of reps too. Mitchell Evans, a kid who really hasnt played tight end, has shown some extremely raw ability to be a really good player, Rees said. He is a big human being that has good subtle movement skills that is able to be fluid and catch the ball and stretch the defense with his length. And then Cane Berrong right now if you look at what he does best, its getting him the slot, into some removed situations to really be a receiving tight end. So the groups exciting. Were going to continue to build in a good direction. Obviously, its led by Mike but we definitely have a strong group again. Scouting quarterbacks Rees said Wisconsin grad transfer Jack Coan and sophomore Drew Pyne have both been taking the majority of their reps with Notre Dames No. 1 offense as they split the work evenly. The 6-3, 220-pound Coan has impressed Rees with his combination of arm strength and accuracy. The thing thats shown up over and over is his ability to stay calm in the pocket and see things downfield, stay in there, deliver some critical throws, whether it be a third-down situation or an opportunity for a play-action shot, Rees said. Hes done a really nice job there. The 6-0, 194-pound Pyne is still working through a learning curve, but Rees said he brings an efficiency to the offense as well as a burst of energy to the quarterback unit. The joy to play this game is evident every time you watch Drew. Hes a steady player, Rees said. He understands the most important thing to do as a quarterback is to put the offense in good plays and to move the ball. Thats his strength right now. Thats something that were going to continue to build on. It feels like hes a veteran, but hes only been here a year. Touted freshman Tyler Buchner (6-1, 207) has shaken off the rust from not being able to play his senior high school season this past fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His raw talent and ability has shown up, Rees said. His ability to make quick decisions has shown up. The ball comes out of his hand as quickly as anybody we have. Hes able to drive the ball to different areas of the field, which allows us to stretch it not only vertically but also the width. The added bonus there is hes an elite athlete. There have been some opportunities to get him out in space and thats really been exciting to watch. Buchners reps have primarily come with Notre Dames backups as Rees wants Buchner to use this spring as a launching pad for fall camp. Nobody expects you to come in spring ball right now and be a finished product, Rees said. We are trying to build something towards the future, and thats where our focus has been with Tyler. Keys and speed Notre Dames coaching staff wanted to put senior wide receiver Lawrence Keys III in position to make plays down the field this spring. Hes delivered so far. Lawrence Keys has probably had as good of a spring as anybody on offense, Rees said. Hes shown the ability to stretch the field and make explosive plays. Keys struggled to make an impact in eight games last season and missed time following a concussion. He totaled just five catches for 51 yards. Rees acknowledged the need to find explosive plays in the passing game this season, but he emphasized that it doesnt simply fall on the quarterback throwing deep. Wide receivers can make plays happen after the catch too. Speed is required in both instances, and Rees sees that in the wide receiver group. We have a bunch of guys that can stretch the field, a bunch of guys that can run, Rees said. We can pair some of those packages together to get the ball down the field and create space with the width of the field to get them into the open field and one-on-one opportunities. | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/2021/04/26/can-notre-dame-build-offense-around-covington-catholic-grad-michael-mayer/7390571002/ |
Why Do We Forget Pandemics? | EDITORS NOTE: This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch. Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Get The Nations Weekly Newsletter Fridays. The best of the week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Fridays. The best of the week. Thank you for signing up for The Nations weekly newsletter. Join the Books & the Arts Newsletter Mondays. The best of The Nations Books & the Arts, in your inbox biweekly. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Mondays. The best of The Nations Books & the Arts, in your inbox biweekly. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Sign up for our Wine Club today. The second Moderna shot made me sickas predicted. A 24-hour touch of what an alarmed immune system feels like left me all the more grateful for my good fortune in avoiding the real thing and for being alive at a time when science had devised a 95 percent effective vaccine in record time. To distract myself from the fever as I tried to sleep, I visualized strands of synthetic messenger RNA floating into my cells to produce the alien spike protein that attracted my warrior T-cells. I drifted off envisioning an epic micro-battle underway in my blood and had a series of weird nightmares. At about 2 am, I woke up sweating, disoriented, and fixated on a grim image from one of the studies I had consulted while writing my own upcoming book, Virus: Vaccinations, the CDC, and the Hijacking of Americas Response to the Pandemic, on the Covid-19 chaos of our moment. In his Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicines Greatest Lifesaver, Arthur Allen described how, in the days of ignorancenot so very long agodoctors prescribed hot air baths for the feverish victims of deadly epidemics of smallpox or yellow fever, clamping them under woolen covers in closed rooms with the windows shut. Mildly claustrophobic in the best of times, my mind then scrabbled to other forms of medical persecution Id recently learned about. In the American colonies of the early eighteenth century, for example, whether or not to take the Jenner cowpox vaccine was a matter of religious concern. Puritans were taught that they would interfere with Gods will if they altered disease outcomes. To expiate that sin, or more likely out of sheer ignorance, medical doctors of the day decreed that the vaccine would only work after weeks of purging, including ingesting mercury, which besides making people drool and have diarrhea, also loosened their teeth. Inoculation meant three weeks of daily vomiting, purges, sweats, fevers, Allen wrote. To clear my thoughts, to forget, I opened my window, let in the winter air, and breathed deep. I then leaned out into the clean black sky of the pandemic months, the starlight brighter since the jets stopped flying and we ceased driving, as well as burning so much coal. Silence. An inkling of what the world might be like without us. The Glorious Dead When America reached the half-million-dead mark from Covid-19 at the end of February, reports compared the number to our war dead. The pandemic had by then killed more Americans than had died in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War combinedand it wasnt done with us yet. But the Covid dead had not marched into battle. They had gone off to their jobs as bus drivers and nurses and store clerks, or hugged a grandchild, or been too close to a health-care worker who arrived at a nursing home via the subway. Current Issue View our current issue Every November 11th, on Veterans Day, our world still remembers and celebrates the moment World War I officially ended. But the last great pandemic, the influenza epidemic of 1918-1920 that became known as the Spanish flu (though it wasnt faintly Spains fault, since it probably began in the United States), which infected half a billion people on a far less populated planet, killing an estimated 50 million to 100 million of themincluding more soldiers than were slaughtered in that monumental warfell into a collective memory hole. When it was over, our grandparents and great-grandparents turned away and didnt look back. They simply dropped it from memory. Donald Trumps grandfathers death from the Spanish flu in 1919 changed the fortunes of his family forever, yet Trump never spoke of iteven while confronting a similar natural disaster. Such a forgetting wasnt just Trumpian aberrance; it was a cultural phenomenon. That virus, unlike Covid-19, mainly killed young healthy people. But there are eerie, even uncanny, similarities between the American experience of that pandemic and this one. In the summer of 1919, just after the third deadly wave, American cities erupted in race riots. As with the summer of 2020, the 1919 riots were sparked by an incident in the Midwest: a Chicago mob stoned a black teenager who dared to swim off a Lake Michigan beach whites had unofficially declared whites-only. The boy drowned and, in the ensuing week of rioting, 23 blacks and 15 whites died. The riots spread across the country to Washington, D.C., and cities in Nebraska, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas, with Black veterans who had served in World War I returning home to second-class treatment and an increase in Ku Klux Klan lynchings. As today, there were similar controversies then over the wearing of masks and not gathering in significant numbers to celebrate Thanksgiving. As in 2020-2021, so in 1918-1919, frontline medics were traumatized. The virus killed within hours or a few days in a particularly lurid way. People bled from their noses, mouths, and ears, then drowned in the fluid that so copiously built up in their lungs. The mattresses on which they perished were soaked in blood and other bodily fluids. Doctors and nurses could do nothing but bear witness to the suffering, much like the front-liners in Wuhan and then New York City in the coronavirus pandemics early days. Unlike today, perhaps because it was wartime and any display of weakness was considered bad, the newspapers of the time also barely covered the suffering of individuals, according to Alex Navarro, editor in chief of the University of Michigans Influenza Encyclopedia about the 1918 pandemic. Strangely enough, even medical books in the following years barely covered the virus. Medical anthropologist Martha Louise Lincoln believes the tendency to look forwardand away from disasteris also an American trait. Collectively, we obviously wrongly shared a feeling that Americans would be fine, Lincoln said of the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. I think thats in part because of the way were conditioned to remember history. Even though American history is full of painful losses, we dont take them in. Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland argues that pandemic forgetting is a human response to seemingly pointless loss, as opposed to a soldiers death. A mass illness does not invite that kind of remembering, he wrote. The bereaved cannot console themselves that the dead made a sacrifice for some higher cause, or even that they were victims of an epic moral event, because they did not and were not. Instead, to die of Covid-19 is just rotten luck, something for all of us to forget. Given the absence of dead heroes and a certain all-American resistance to pointless tragedy, there are other reasons we, as Americans, might not look back to 2020 and this year as well. For one thing, pandemic profiteering was so gross and widespread that to consider it closely, even in retrospect, might lead to demands for wholesale change that no one in authority, no one in this (or possibly any other recent US government) would be prepared or motivated to undertake. In just the pandemic year 2020, this countrys billionaires managed to add at least a trillion dollars to their already sizeble wealth in a land of ever more grotesque inequality. Amazons Jeff Bezos alone packed in another $70 billion that year, while so many other Americans were locked down and draining savings or unemployment funds. The CEOs of the companies that produced the medical milestone mRNA vaccines reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in profits by timing stock moves to press releases about vaccine efficacy. No one today dares ask such rich men to sacrifice for the rest of us or for the rest of the world. The pandemic might, of course, have offered an opportunity for the government and corporate leaders to reconsider the shareholder model of for-profit medicine. Instead, taxpayer money continued to flow in staggering quantities to a small group of capitalists with almost no strings attached and little transparency. A nation brought to its knees may not have the resources, let alone the will, to accurately remember how it all happened. Congress is now investigating some of the Trump administrations pandemic deals. The House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis has uncovered clear evidence of its attempts to cook and politicize data. And Senator Elizabeth Warren led somewhat fruitful efforts to expose deals between the Trump administration and a small number of health-care companies. But sorting through the chaos of capitalist mischief as the pandemic hit, all those no-bid contracts cut without agency oversight, with nothing more than a White House stamp of approval affixed to them, will undoubtedly prove an Augean stables of a task. In addition, looking too closely at the tsunami of money poured into Big Pharma that ultimately did produce effective vaccines could well seem churlish in retrospect. The very success of the vaccines may blunt the memory of that other overwhelming effect of the pandemic, which was to blow a hole in Americas already faded reputation as a health-care leader and as a society in which equality (financial or otherwise) meant anything at all. Forgetting might prove all too comfortable, even if remembering could prompt a rebalancing of priorities from, for instance, the military-industrial complex, which has received somewhere between 40 percent and 70 percent of the US discretionary budget over the last half century, to public health, which got 3 percent to 6 percent of that budget in those same years. The Most Medically Protected Generation For most Americans, the history of the 1918 flu shares space in that ever-larger tomb of oblivion with the history of other diseases of our great-grandparents time that vaccines have now eradicated. Until the twentieth century, very few people survived childhood without either witnessing or actually suffering from the agonies inflicted by infectious diseases. Parents routinely lost children to disease; people regularly died at home. Survivorsour great-grandparentswere intimately acquainted with the sights, smells, and sounds associated with the stages of death. Viewed from above, vaccines are a massive success story. Theyve been helping us live longer and in states of safety that would have been unimaginable little more than a century ago. In 1900, US life expectancy was 46 years for men and 48 for women. Someone born in 2019 can expect to live to between 75 and 80 years old, although due to health inequities, lifespans vary depending on race, ethnicity, and gender. The scale of change has been dramatic, but it can be hard to see. We belong to the most medically protected generation in human history and that protection has made us both complacent and risk averse. The history of twentieth-century vaccine developments has long seesawed between remarkable advances in medical science and conspiracy theories and distrust engendered by its accidents or failures. Almost every new vaccine has been accompanied by reports of risks, side effects, and sometimes terrible accidents, at least one involving tens of thousands of sickened people. Children, however, are now successfully jabbed with serums that create antibodies to hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussisall diseases that well into the twentieth century spread through communities, killing babies or permanently damaging health. A number of those are diseases that todays parents can barely pronounce, let alone remember. Remembering Is the Way Forward The catastrophe of the Spanish flu globally and in this country (where perhaps 675,000 Americans were estimated to have died from it) had, until Covid-19 came along, been dropped in a remarkable manner from American memory and history. It lacked memorial plaques or a day of remembrance, though it did leave a modest mark on literature. Pale Horse, Pale Rider, Katherine Anne Porters elegiac short story, for instance, focused on how the flu extinguished a brief wartime love affair between two young people in New York City. We are very likely to overcome the virus at some point in the not-too-distant future. As hard as it might be to imagine right now, the menace that shut down the world will, in the coming years, undoubtedly be brought to heel by vaccines on a planetary scale. And in this, weve been very, very lucky. Covid-19 is relatively benign compared with an emergent virus with the death rates of a MERS or Ebola or even, it seems, that 1918 flu. As a species, we will survive this one. Its been badit still is, with cases and hospitalizations remaining on the rise in parts of this countrybut it could have been so much worse. Sociologist and writer Zeynep Tufekci has termed it a starter pandemic. Theres probably worse ahead in a planet thats under incredible stress in so many different ways. Under the circumstances, its important that we not drop this pandemic from memory as we did the 1918 one. We should remember this moment and what it feels like because the number of pathogens waiting to jump from mammals to us is believed to be alarmingly large. Worse yet, modern human activity has made us potentially more, not less, vulnerable to another pandemic. A University of Liverpool study published in February 2021 found at least 40 times more mammal species could be infected with coronavirus strains than were previously known. Such a virus could easily recombine with any of them and then be passed on to humanity, a fact researchers deemed an immediate public health threat. In reality, we may be entering a new era of pandemics. So suggests a study produced during an urgent virtual workshop convened in October 2020 by the United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ISPBES) to investigate the links between the risk of pandemics and the degradation of nature. Due to climate change, intense agriculture, unsustainable trade, the misuse of land, and nature-disrupting production and consumption habits, more than five new infectious diseases emerge in people every year, any one of which could potentially spark a pandemic. My inner misanthrope says no, but certainly the odds improve if we dont delete this pandemic from history like the last one. This, after all, is the first pandemic in which the Internet enabled us to bear witness not only to the panic, illness, and deaths around us, but to the suffering of our entire species in every part of the globe in real time. Because of that alone, it will be difficult to evade the memory of this collective experience and, with it, the reminder that we are all made of the same vulnerable stuff. | https://www.thenation.com/article/society/spanish-flu-pandemic/ |
Is there a lane for a 'get sh-t done' candidate? | Presented by Equinor Kathryn Garcia is increasingly everyones favorite in New York Citys Democratic mayoral primary for second place. The six-year sanitation commissioner under Mayor Bill de Blasio, with a get sh-t done campaign slogan, is well-regarded within government and political circles as a problem solver, with a commanding grasp on the levers of the citys vast bureaucracy. But despite having what supporters say is among the best rsums to lead the city on day one, Garcia is polling in single digits and would-be endorsers have been reluctant to lend their unqualified support. Her relegation to second place has led many to conclude that if she were a man she wouldnt be struggling to break out of the pack. New York Citys mayoral history lends some credence to the theory: The so-called progressive bastion has never had a woman as mayor. I think first and foremost, that is so sexist its mind boggling, said Alicia Glen, who as de Blasios former deputy mayor mayor for housing was once one of the most powerful women in the city. I dont think if you had a man who had been a commissioner and served in many different roles and were running as the candidate who actually knows how things work, that the press or cognoscenti would be saying, Thats a great idea; theyd make a great deputy mayor. Garcia tends to agree. Men arent being asked the question on viability, she told POLITICO during a recent interview. But she also contends that, for better or worse, the fact that shes seen as a strong No. 2 means shes doing something right. So far, the odds arent in Garcias favor. Every poll released thus far has the newcomer Andrew Yang leading the pack, usually followed by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Garcia said the general plan now is to peak when the most people are tuned in. We intend to make sure we are popping when they are paying attention, she said. ITS MONDAY, APRIL 26: Welcome to PM Playbook, an afternoon check-in to spill the days tea as we know it thus far during one of the busiest seasons in New York politics. Its the email version of the sweet caffeine that carries your brain from lunch to dinner. Shoot an email to [email protected] in Albany and [email protected] in NYC or send a shout on Twitter. SAID TODAY: To put it very simply, no, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today when asked whether numerous accusations of sexual harassment were true. Asked whether he would resign if a forthcoming investigation from state Attorney General Tish James office found evidence otherwise, Cuomo said that would not be the case. We believe it can. At Equinor, were planning to power more than 1,000,000 homes in New York with homegrown, renewable energy. But we can do more. As a broad energy company with an ambitious net-zero target for 2050, were pursuing the development of offshore wind projects in the US and quickly becoming a leader in the countrys growing offshore wind industry. The Race for City Hall ADAMS focused on public safety during his appearance on The Brian Lehrer Show this morning, as he sought to persuade listeners he is the mayoral candidate best equipped to address the rise in shootings across the city. "I have started to see how the erosion of public safety is taking place in our city everything from a real gang problem in the city to the over-proliferation of handguns, and so I am going to talk about our city being safe because if we're not safe ... we will never be the city we want to be," Adams, who retired from the NYPD as a captain in 2006, told Lehrer. Adams is banking on support from New Yorkers worried about the rise in violence outweighing those demanding a complete overhaul of the department, though he, too, is calling for reforms. On the Lehrer show, he said he would enact "precision policing" and would look to stop the flow of illegal guns into the city through "large takedowns of handguns that are arriving in the city probably daily." And he said has been meeting with members of gangs to try to "dismantle the gang climate" and halt "retaliatory shootings." On a separate subject, Adams defended his decision to continue taking real estate donations, arguing that receiving the money is not inherently corrupt. Later in the day, Adams got the endorsement of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Sally Goldenberg MAYA WILEY picked up an endorsement from Amplify Her, a group dedicated to electing more women in New York City, which launched a political action committee to close the money gap between male and female candidates. ...The independent expenditure [IE] group is aiming to counterbalance political spending that so far overwhelmingly favors male candidates in what is arguably New York Citys most consequential election in a generation. With no women currently holding citywide office, there are over 150 female candidates running for various seats, including three out of the eight major candidates for mayor. Marti Speranza Wong, the executive director of Amplify Her, said she recognized PACs were controversial they have wide leeway to pump money into races as long as they dont directly coordinate with individual candidates and their campaigns but, as long as they were influencing elections, it was critical to compete. Gothamists Brigid Bergin YANG today unveiled his vision for the citys park system, with a focus on adding more green space in Queens. He specifically backed the QueensWay, a proposal to convert a 3.5-mile abandoned railroad track in Central Queens into a park like the High Line. Why is it we can do that in Manhattan but not in Queens? he said. Yang added he would also restore the parks budget to its previous levels before the pandemic and allow the department to pocket money generated by concessions, which currently trickle back into the city budget. But his funding vision falls short of other candidates, like former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who have both said they would dedicate 1 percent of the city budget to the parks department. Danielle Muoio YANG took a veiled swipe at New York Knicks owner James Dolans leadership over what he characterized as years of an abusive relationship and one of the reasons why he switched his fandom over to the Brooklyn Nets during an interview with ESPN radio today. I think a lot of Knicks fans can relate to some version of that. I'm someone who does not mind at all rooting for a bad team, said Yang, referring to infamously poor decision-making regarding players like Eddy Curry and Michael Sweetney. But, eventually, it just got to a point where I was like, Man, this team's culture and ownership and management style is just not for me. Yang has suggested Dolan should relinquish ownership of the team and has also called for the elimination of property tax breaks for Madison Square Garden. In January, the conservative Dolan formed and funneled $4 million into the Coalition to Restore New York political action committee in an effort to influence the mayors race. While the ESPN hosts werent thrilled with Yangs reasoning, guest host Allen Hahn hit at de Blasio, saying, Ill take a Nets fan over a Red Sox fan any day. Jonathan Custodio RAY MCGUIRE is still fighting to catch on despite a big warchest and some key endorsements . Commercial Observers Aaron Short HERE are the New York Times five takeaways from the week. MAKING MOVES: David Brand, whos been breaking scoops and taking names over at the Queens Daily Eagle is leaving the publication for what he said was a citywide reporting gig. Good luck, David! Melinda Katz will miss you... STILL TO COME: Our own Sally Goldenberg is moderating the Met Councils mayoral forum at 6 p.m. Hope you did your homework, hopefuls! POLITICO will be co-hosting three NYC debates in June with NBC 4 New York/WNBC and Telemundo 47/WNJU in the races for mayor and comptroller. Moderators include City Hall Bureau Chief Sally Goldenberg, WNBC political reporter Melissa Russo, WNBC news anchor David Ushery and WNJU morning news anchor Allan Villafana. More info here. On the Beats Budget: De Blasio is rolling out his $98.6 billion executive budget today. The spending plan is nearly $10 billion higher than last years executive budget, an increase propelled by an influx of funds from the federal government, the state budget and better-than-expected tax revenues. De Blasio plans to use that cash to pay for a number of new initiatives, including 3-K for All. Revenue projections have increased $1.5 billion since January as the de Blasio administration catches a fiscal tailwind on its way out of office. The federal stimulus plan will deliver a total of $5.9 billion in local aid and $7 billion in education money that must be used before 2024, the budget documents showed. Changes to the state budget will also deliver $1.1 billion in education funding annually. Using those funds, de Blasio plans to significantly expand his signature early-education policies by making 3-K available to every family by September 2023. The budget also lays out expenditures on a vaccination program and a beefed-up summer education program for students. Joe Anuta Council: De Blasio joined Speaker Corey Johnson in calling for the resignation of Council Member Chaim Deutsch, who recently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax fraud. (h/t @emmagf) A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining challenge opportunity of our time. Without energy, the world would simply stop. Today, 80% of energy comes from fossil fuelsand the energy system has to change. The world needs energy but it must be affordable, reliable, and accessible. By accelerating the energy transition. At Equinor, were growing our portfolio in renewable energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Were already planning to power more than 1,000,000 homes in New York with homegrown, renewable energy. But for us, thats only the beginning. By the time the global population reaches 9 billion in 2050, our goal is to have net-zero emissions. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA. AROUND NEW YORK Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Courage to Change PAC may make endorsements in some City Council races. Republican state Chair Nick Langworthy sent emails to party members asking them who the GOP should back in next years governors race. Lawmakers are looking further into issues involving construction of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. A bill would bar police who have been fired or are in danger of being fired in other jurisdictions from being hired in New York. . Elementary school students in several Western New York districts are returning to in-person learning five days a week. SUNY New Paltz will be mostly in-person in the fall. GlobalFoundries is moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Malta in Saratoga County, At least two Native American nations in New York plan to get into the marijuana business. Follow us on Twitter David Giambusso @giambusso | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2021/04/26/is-there-a-lane-for-a-get-sh-t-done-candidate-492601 |
Has Rivera Talked To Landon Collins About Washington Position Change? | "That,'' Rivera answers when the DC media asked if Collins was speaking for himself or for the organization when he said he wasn't switching to linebacker, "was Landon." There is a tendency to think this is some sort of "gotcha'' thing involving Landon Collins, when really, the idea of the WFT moving him from safety to linebacker, or at least using his versatility to play a sort of "hybrid'' of the two - an idea we've written about this offseason - makes simple football sense. Even though Landon himself did not, at one early stage, see that sense. Earlier this offseason, Collins, via his Instagram story, was asked a question by a fan about the rumors of him being switched to linebacker. So we knew that clearly Collins did not want to move positions from safety to linebacker. Next step, a recent media visit with coach Ron Rivera, helping us also know that the coach isn't exactly running a democracy when it comes to the subject. "That,'' Rivera answered when Washington Football at SI's Chris Russell asked if Collins was speaking for himself or for the organization when he said he wasn't switching to linebacker, "was Landon." And now this update: It is our understanding that the football coaching staff has officially conducted the conversation with the player about such a move. This doesn't have to be about anybody "getting their hand caught in the cookie jar.'' It's just about a flexible concept. Then maybe Collins is fine. Then maybe ... everyone involved needs to be open-minded. Washington has Kam Curl, Jeremy Reaves, Deshazor Everett (coming off season-ending injury), Troy Apke and Collins (also coming off an injury) as its top five safeties at the moment. Collins' base salary is now largely guaranteed. So he's going nowhere, in terms of being on the roster. Collins has registered his vote. Ron Rivera is in position to veto that vote. And for now, the involved parties have talked, hopefully resulting in them voting together. READ MORE: Rivera And Mayhew Reveal Pre-Draft Thoughts | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/has-rivera-talked-to-landon-collins-about-washington-position-change |
What Makes Penei Sewell a Generational Talent? | The 2021 NFL Draft is just three days away and the Ducks are slated to have a strong presence. Penei Sewell headlines the list of Oregon players that should see their name called Thursday. That list also includes safety Jevon Holland, as well as cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham Jr. Other players like Hunter Kampoyer, Austin Faoliu, Brady Breeze, Jordon Scott and Nick Pickett are also NFL Draft hopefuls that could find a spot on an NFL roster, but aren't projected as highly as the aforementioned Ducks. Sewell was recently in Eugene to participate in Oregon's annual Pro Day, where he displayed his elite athleticism that he possesses even at 6'5", 331 pounds. He turned in impressive numbers inside the Moshofsky Center in front of multiple NFL scouts and executives. Penei Sewell's Pro Day Results -30 reps in the bench press (225 pounds), -5.06 40-yard dash time -9-foot-1 inch broad jump -28 inch vertical jump -7.76 3 cone drill time Penei Sewell at Oregon Pro Day The Ducks top draft prospect solidified his case as the most athletic offensive lineman in the NFL Draft. 12 Gallery 12 Images Sewell was an instant-impact player for the Ducks, taking over the left tackle spot his freshman year on an otherwise incredibly experienced offensive line. During his sophomore year the Oregon offensive line was in heavy consideration for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's best offensive line. In just two years at Oregon Sewell would also win the Outland Trophy Award, given annually to the nation's best interior lineman (offensive or defensive). He sets his game apart from other offensive linemen with his quickness, physicality and ability to get to the next level of the defense on run plays. Former NFL and college head coach Jim Mora joined Ducks Digest to talk about what makes Sewell such a special talent in the above video. More from Ducks Digest [Football]: Rod Chance talks cornerbacks in Oregon spring football [Recruiting]: Oregon OL target Cameron Williams nearing decision [Basketball]: Oklahoma transfer De'Vion Harmon commits to Oregon [New]: Get your premium membership for exclusive Oregon Ducks content and much more -- Stay locked into Ducks Digest and don't miss a beat of our future Oregon Ducks coverage. Also be sure to like and follow us on social media to get the latest news and updates. Follow Jim Mora on Twitter: @jim_morafb Follow Max Torres on Twitter: @mtorressports Follow Ducks Digest on Twitter: @Ducksdigest Like and follow Ducks Digest on Facebook: @DucksDigest Subscribe to Ducks Digest on YouTube: @DucksDigest | https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/what-makes-penei-sewell-a-generational-talent |
How concerned should the Cincinnati Reds be about Eugenio Surez's slump? | It was a weekend where nothing went right for Eugenio Surez in the batters box. Surez struck out in seven of his 13 at-bats and left 10 runners on base. He started three at-bats with a 3-0 count and they all turned into outs. The only time he made it to first base was on a fielders choice after St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman made a diving stop. It hasnt been limited to one weekend. Its been a prolonged slump. Surez is hitting .141 with three homers and seven RBI in 20 games. Hes tied with Javier Bez for the most strikeouts in the Majors (35). Hes searching, trying. Its normal, Reds manager David Bell said. All of our hitters, Major League hitters, really great hitters like Geno go through this. Hes showing signs, hell have a game here and a game there where hes seeing it better and its just a matter of time. Hes too good of a hitter, too good of a player. It turns around. Its just a matter of how you handle it when youre going through it. Hes doing everything in his power to turn it around as fast as he can. Its going to happen. The Reds lead the Majors in runs per game (5.57), but Surezs slump became more noticeable when the team fell into a seven-game losing streak. Surez, the primary clean-up hitter, has only three RBI since April 11. Two of those RBI came on a two-run homer last week. In the last 10 games, entering Mondays series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Surez is 3-for-43 with two walks and 21 strikeouts. Teams are attacking him with low-and-away sliders and waiting for him to punish them for it. One of the reasons why the Reds were comfortable moving Surez to shortstop was the offensive advantage. Hes a below-average defender there, but it created an everyday spot for Jonathan India in the lineup. Bell said Sunday morning that Surez has shown that he can handle shortstop, but maybe it has played a part in his slump. I think playing a new position and the fact that its shortstop, hes had to put so much of his focus and so much of his energy on that position, Bell said. I do think there could be something to that. When Bell wrote his lineup card Monday, he kept Surez in the clean-up spot. It wasnt a surprise with lefty Julio Uras on the mound for the Dodgers. Surez has crushed lefties throughout his career. Surez occasionally hits third to deter opposing teams from using a lefty reliever with the three-batter minimum rule against the top of the lineup. If Surez continues to slump, Bell said dropping him in the batter order is something they would evaluate. But Bell hasnt reached that point. Not in April, Bell said. Ive just seen it too many times, especially with good players and really good offensive players. It really is just a matter of time. Each and every day that goes by that he doesnt feel great at the plate, its one day too long for him, I know. We hate to see any of our players go through it, but it is part of the process. I think we have to remind ourselves, even more this year, how early it is because last year was so short. The main thing is hes doing everything he can. Hes working at it. Hes looking to make any adjustment he needs to make. It truly is a matter of time for him. When Surez hit a two-run homer in the Reds 14-11 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, the Reds were hoping that it wouldve marked a step forward. For the Reds to be at their best, they need Surez producing in the middle of the lineup. I mean, its no secret how talented he is, man, Nick Castellanos said. So anytime you see him gaining any sort of momentum, thats huge, because hes one of our most dangerous offensive weapons. AKIYAMA DEBUTS: Shogo Akiyama played in his first rehab game at the alternate site in Louisville on Sunday. Akiyama played five innings and went hitless in three at-bats. He lined out to left field in his first at-bat and then grounded out in the other two at-bats. It was his first time playing in a game since he strained his left hamstring trying to beat out a ground ball in the infield on March 13. The Reds are hopeful that hell be ready to return to the big-league roster next week once he accumulates more at-bats. CY BAUER: Trevor Bauer will receive the 2020 National League Cy Young Award before Tuesdays game against the Reds. Bauer, who wont face the Reds this series because hes scheduled to pitch Thursday, was the first Reds pitcher in club history to win the Cy Young Award. He owns a 3-0 record and 2.53 ERA in five starts this season, striking out 45 in 32 innings. | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/04/26/cincinnati-reds-roster-eugenio-suarez-shogo-akiyama-trevor-bauer/7378672002/ |
Why didnt police intervene when a Tillsonburg golf course reopened? | Its complicated, experts say. While the lack of enforcement no tickets, no charges, no consequences as of Monday afternoon against the Bridges at Tillsonburg might undermine public faith in the rules, its not as simple as police slapping down a fine and calling it a day, they say. In any public health crisis, whenever weve used enforcement, it hasnt worked, said Western University sociology professor Laura Huey, who studies criminology and policing. Policymakers have to come up with a different approach to this. There are some businesses and some people, you give them a fine, its going to have zero deterrent effect. She said most police forces in Ontario are opting for an educational and engagement approach to lockdown restrictions, rather than jumping straight to enforcement that she said should always be the last resort. Though that could be one reason the golf course wasnt shut down, theres also the issue of limited police resources and the potential for backlash that could make the situation worse, Huey said. As for why no tickets or charges have been issued, Huey said turnaround time between the time of an offence and a charge being laid is common. It takes time to actually make a case stick, especially if you want to proceed through the courts, Huey said. You have to do your due diligence. That stance was echoed by Oxford OPP that serves Tillsonburg. When police enter into any investigation, background information and further legwork are often required for it to be thorough, Const. Patti Cote said in an email. Legislation offers police time periods so that any potential charges can be laid after the investigation is initiated. Cote said she was unavailable for an interview about the golf course opening. It is important for the public to understand there are consequences for individuals who choose to defy the (rules) while emergency orders are in force, she said in the email. Police made no clear public statement about possible enforcement against the Bridges at Tillsonburg, whose course was fully booked Saturday and Sunday amid stay-at-home orders designed to slow COVID-19s spread. Hueys suggestion to increase compliance among businesses is simple: pull the licences of offending businesses. We react really well to rewards and punishments, but a fine is not, in and of itself, likely to be a deterrent, she said. If you want businesses to comply, start looking at things in terms of licensing. If you want individual people to comply, look at what actually matters to them and then target that. Enforcement discrepancies among jurisdictions also shouldnt be unexpected, with more than 50 different police forces in Ontario all taking different approaches to crack down on emergency law scofflaws. Law enforcement has a lot of discretion about how they approach a range of behaviours that might contravene a law, said Abby Deshman, criminal justice program director with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. We do hope that law enforcement will keep some room for constitutionally protected activities, like protests, that are done in a way that do not significantly prejudice public health. She said jumping to punishments shouldnt be the first approach, and in many instances, such as protests or business opening in defiance of lockdowns, likely wouldnt have much impact. A lot of these people are doing this knowing what the potential punishment is and knowing theyre engaging in civil disobedience, and in many cases, I would imagine thats the point, Deshman said. Its better treated as an opportunity for education, engagement and risk mitigation. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Earlier this month, the Ontario government banned organized outdoor recreation, including golf and tennis, in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor recreation is set to remain closed until at least May 20. Although the province has the authority to order different closings and enact restrictions, that doesnt necessarily mean the laws will stand up in court, said Western University law professor Sam Trosow. It might be that they (police) are hesitant to actually issue sanctions against the golf course because theyve been advised by a cooler head or someone who is looking at this more critically that they might lose it, a court might not enforce it, he said. Just because were in an emergency and in a pandemic doesnt mean that the government can issue arbitrary and unreasonable regulations. If an individual golfer who played on the weekend were to be charged, Trosow said, they could likely argue they werent causing the kind of harm the provincial laws were designed to guard against. I just dont think a lower-level judge is going to be all that excited about upholding the charges against golfers, he said. Still, a lack of enforcement of provincial rules does cause concern for the public, undermining peoples confidence in both the government and legal system, Trosow said. But calls for greater police enforcement of certain lockdown rules could create murky waters, Huey said, with a double standard for what types of protests and activities ought to be allowed amid lockdowns. It might be golf today, but it might be climate change (protests) tomorrow, she said. [email protected] | https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/04/26/why-didnt-police-intervene-when-a-tillsonburg-golf-course-reopened.html |
Did Kyle Shanahan's Drew Brees answer signal 49ers' QB pick? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea Everyone seems to want the next Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. Coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday suggested he is just fine with landing a quarterback out of the mold of Drew Brees or Philip Rivers. The 49ers own the No. 3 overall pick and are set on choosing the top quarterback on their board after the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets make their selections. Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Zach Wilson of BYU are expected to be the first two players selected on Thursday during the 2021 NFL Draft. There's lots of different ways you can do it, Shanahan said Monday during a pre-draft video call with reporters. I don't look at it as in trends of the league. I look at it as there's some special players or special people. The 49ers choice will come down to the dual-threat quarterback skills of Ohio States Justin Fields and Trey Lance of North Dakota State, or the traditional pocket play of Alabamas Mac Jones. I don't care when Drew Brees comes out, whether it's 30 years from now, 30 years ago, or today. Drew's going to be pretty good, Shanahan said. So was Philip Rivers. So is Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes. They would have been good 40 years ago also. Really good. Theyre going to be good for years in the future. Youve got to take guys you believe are good enough to do it, whatever way that is. It was easy to interpret how Shanahan reframed the question about mobile quarterbacks as a signal that Jones could be the answer for the 49ers. On March 26, the 49ers traded swapped first-round picks with the Miami Dolphins to move up to No. 3 overall in a trade in which they also parted with first-round picks in 2022 and 23, as well as a third-round pick next year. Ultimately, the 49ers will select the best individual for their system the one Shanahan determines has the best chance of being a top quarterback for a long time. But he made it clear he is not looking for a clone of a particular style of quarterback. Story continues To make this so black and white is not right. It's, who's the best quarterback and why? Shanahan said And there's lots of different ways and whatever those whys are. That's what was so exciting about this year. I do see five guys. No one's ever a slam dunk. When the 49ers made the trade last month, they had three quarterbacks in mind. With additional research and examination, Shanahan said he believes each of the five Lawrence, Wilson, Fields, Jones and Lance have the capabilities to play high-level football for long periods of time. Quarterbacks can come whatever way you want them to, just like receivers, but there aren't 32 people in this world who can play quarterback at an acceptable level for a fan base, for a coaching staff, for a GM, Shanahan said. There's not. So when you find a guy who can play at that level, however it is, then you compare them to the next guy and see which one you get one more, and you roll with it. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-kyle-shanahans-drew-brees-234953374.html?src=rss |
Did the Saints blundering 2018 draft set back the franchise? | The Saints were riding a high going into the 2018 NFL draft, having revitalized the team around a stellar rookie haul the year before. Its time for our 2021 NFL draft countdown to look back on a class that, well, hasnt quite met expectations. Here are the previous entries in our series: The context Nov 5, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) and New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43) celebrate a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won, 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports New Orleans rebuilt itself on the fly by nailing early-round picks on Alvin Kamara, Ryan Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore, and Marcus Williams, which helped lift the Saints to a promising playoff run. If not for a last-second loss to the Vikings, they might have gone even further. So it was paramount for the Saints to reinforce areas of strength while doing some planning for the future. To start, they reloaded on offense by bringing back Benjamin Watson and Jermon Bushrod while adding Demario Davis to the defense. Vonn Bell still hadnt won a starting job, so they brought Kurt Coleman in as veteran competition for him. It all set the Saints up well to go into the draft and select the best player available, though questions surrounding their plan at quarterback lingered. The picks New Orleans Saints draftee defensive end Marcus Davenport on air with SiriusXM host Pat Kirwan Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Brandon Wade/AP Images for SiriusXM) Round 1, Pick 14: DE Marcus Davenport, Texas-San Antonio Round 3, Pick 91: WR TreQuan Smith, UCF Round 4, Pick 127: OT Rick Leonard, Florida State Round 5, Pick 164: S Natrell Jamerson, Wisconsin Round 6, Pick 189: CB Kamrin Moore, Boston College Round 6, Pick 201: RB Boston Scott, Louisiana Tech Round 7, Pick 245: G/C Will Clapp, LSU The grades Story continues ESPNs Mel Kiper understood why the Saints traded up, but he couldnt endorse the strategy, grading New Orleans with a C-plus: The Saints had one of the best immediate-return draft classes of the past 10 years this past season. Marshon Lattimore. Ryan Ramczyk. Marcus Williams. Alvin Kamara. Alex Anzalone. Add that much talent in one shot, then factor in a 39-year-old quarterback, and you figure you might be willing to take a risk or two. Well, I get it. They have a big need, and they're going for it. I also have to grade these in a vacuum, and by that measure this class is a big question mark. The Saints gave up a whopper of a package -- next year's first-round pick and a 2018 fifth-rounder -- to move up to take Marcus Davenport, a pass-rusher out of Texas-San Antonio. The kid's got upside, but that's serious value. This after they were already down a second-rounder in this draft due to a previous trade. -- and Rick Leonard (127) is an interesting bet at tackle. Kamrin Moore (189) has the chance to stick in this secondary, though it's not nearly as thin back there as it was a couple of years ago. The Saints are a Super Bowl contender. It's clear they feel added pass-rush help could be a difference-maker in that pursuit. If Drew Brees gets another Lombardi, it'll all be worth it. If not, they gave up a lot. Andy Benoit at Sports Illustrated was more optimistic, rating them with a B-plus: New Orleanss grade gets boosted a notch for the same reason New Englands did: instead of drafting a replacement for a still-dominant legendary QB, the franchise drafted players who can immediately help their Super Bowl-ready team. If Marcus Davenport, who provides a much-needed edge-rushing threat opposite All-Pro Cameron Jordan, pans out, New Orleanss long-awaited defensive surge from 2017 will stick for years to come. The only downside is Davenport cost this years AND next years first-round pick, which is a huge haul. The rest of this draft provided depth, with third-round wideout TreQuan Smith presenting the option of letting wideout Brandon Coleman soon leave in free agency after this season. Smith, like Coleman (and like recently signed ex-Bear Cameron Meredith), is built for the seam balls and dig routes that define the Saints passing game.. The results New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) pulls in a 14-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Drew Brees during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio) So, few observers expected this draft to bomb as badly as it did. Davenport has not developed from his rookie year; if anything, hes regressed, posting a pass rush productivity rating of 7.7 in 2020 after hitting 8.9 in 2019. Hes not a bust, but hes also not the elite edge rusher the Saints expected. And none of the players the Saints picked in rounds four, five, and six are still on the team, including their bewildering selection of Leonard at No. 127 overall. He didnt have a draftable grade from most scouting services and quickly washed out of the Saints practice squad. They dropped the ball. But one player who has caught more flak than he deserved is Smith. Hes been a good complimentary receiver doing much of the dirty work as a blocker and critical-down target, while scoring four or six touchdowns each year hes played in the NFL. Thats a nice return for someone picked near the end of the third round, even if he wasnt the game-breaking deep threat fans had visions of upon his selection. Maybe he uncorks that ability now that the Saints have changed quarterbacks. 1 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-saints-blundering-2018-draft-224036570.html?src=rss |
Who is Andrew Brown Jr., the man involved in officer-involved shooting? | Authorities in North Carolina are bracing for possible protests and unrest over the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., by sheriff's deputies last week. Brown, 42, was shot in Pasquotank County but authorities have offered few details about the April 21 incident, which occurred during the execution of a search warrant. His family viewed snippets of bodycam footage Monday and later said only 20 seconds of video from one camera was all they were allowed to see. Brown's death comes amid a series of fatally police shootings involving Black victims, reigniting protests that were sparked after George Floyd's death last year. Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten II said that multiple deputies fired shots. Seven deputies are on leave pending a probe by the State Bureau of Investigation. During a news conference in which Brown's family was present, their attorneys blasted local officials over the bodycam footage. Browns son, Khalil Ferebee, called the shooting an execution. "My dad got executed just by trying to save his own life," Ferebee said. "He got executed. It aint right." According to a copy of the search warrant and other records, Brown was described as a drug dealer who had a criminal history 180 pages long dating back decades. During an investigation into Brown, authorities said he would sometimes sell small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine to an informant for over the course of a year. Other offenses include multiple convictions for assault, drug crimes, and domestic trespass. the Carolina Public Press reported. Jamaul Riddick, Brown's friend and bail bondsman, told the outlet he never lost money bailing Brown out and never had to look for him. "Ive never known him to resist any officer or anybody. I mean hes not that type of person," Riddick said. "Hes never been a violent person in his life. He doesnt carry a gun," he added. "Hes never had a gun, never carried a gun, and hes just not violent." Amid protests over Brown's death, Elizabeth City Mayor Bettie Parker declared a state of emergency in anticipation of more demonstrations. Danielle McCalla, who grew up in Elizabeth City before recently moving to Virginia, joined demonstrators who came to watch the news conference by the family attorneys. She said it left her in tears. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "As soon as they started going into details, I started crying," she said. McCalla, 30, said she met Brown and had several conversations with him, making her sad about whats happening in her hometown and about police shootings elsewhere. "Its the same thing that keeps happening," she said. "Its a bigger monster than we think it is." The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/andrew-brown-jr |
Should Dolphins Make a Play for Julio Jones? | The Miami Dolphins could use a wide receiver like Julio Jones, but the question is whether pursuing a trade for him would make sense Three days before the start of the 2021 NFL draft, perhaps the biggest news on this Monday was talk that the Atlanta Falcons could be ready to trade seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones. The speculation was widespread Monday, with reports from Peter King of NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated Senior NFL Reporter Albert Breer, and NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport. Before we get to how the Dolphins figure into all of this, let's just set up the Jones situation as it relates to the Falcons. The most logical reason the Falcons would even consider trading someone with Jones' resume at 32 years old is a nightmarish salary-cap situation, which isn't helped by the contract they gave Jones in September 2019. The extension was for three years and $66 million, with all but $2 million guaranteed, per overthecap.com. That's a pretty heft contract for any team to take on, but Jones immediately makes any offense better. Yes, he missed seven games last season because of hamstring issues, but he had missed only four games the previous six years combined. So it might be a stretch to suggest he's breaking down. What's also undeniable is that acquiring Jones will represent a significant financial commitment, and that's where it gets tricky. And then there's the issue of compensation, with King suggesting a second-round pick was fair and Breer throwing out the idea of a first-round pick as compensation after writing the Falcons already have been listening to offers. Because of the cap implications for the Falcons, any trade involving Jones likely would be consummated after June 1 and involve future draft picks, not anything from the 2021 draft, as pointed out by King, Breer and Rapoport. Of course, taking on Jones' contract would mean cap room would need to be created, and the Dolphins did add Will Fuller V in free agency. But Jones at his peak is a top five wide receiver in the NFL, if not top three. Heading into the draft, there's been a lot of speculation that the Dolphins will look to add a blue-chip wide receiver, whether it be Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith. If we're talking blue-chip wide receivers, Jones definitely fits the definition. But, like anything else, the price would have to be right for the Dolphins to consider making this move. That's an awfully big if. | https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-and-the-julio-jones-trade-speculation |
How do we honour our heroes? | To make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in." So said British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, days after the signing of the armistice that ended WWI. "I cannot think what these men have gone through," he said. "I have been there at the door of the furnace and witnessed it, but that is not being in it, and I saw them march into the furnace. There are millions of men who will come back. Let us make this a land fit for such men to live in. "There is no time to lose. I want us to take advantage of this new spirit. Don't let us waste this victory merely in ringing joybells." On Sunday, for the 106th time, thousands of New Zealanders gathered at cenotaphs and in halls to honour those who served and died at Gallipoli. They also remembered those who served, and died, in WWII, in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, and other armed service abroad. We did this to honour the memory of those who did not come home, and, fittingly, those who did come home but in many cases paid a price that fell little short of the ultimate sacrifice. We honour the men and women who came home broken in body and spirit. We do this on April 25 every year. New Zealand in 1918, and even more so in 1945, was already close, much closer than Britain in 1918, to being a land fit for heroes. But how it has changed. In June every year, like clockwork, we are told by the Minister of Police, whoever that happens to be, that reported crime over the previous 12 months has fallen. There is a reason for that. We have redefined crime. We now tolerate behaviour that would once have been punished. And many people have stopped reporting it, because nothing happens, or they have lost faith in the so-called justice system. Meanwhile we have people shooting and stabbing each other. Gang members shooting at other gang members in Auckland's CBD. Wellingtonians, men and women, afraid to go into their CBD at any hour of the day or night. We have a health system, once the envy of the world, that is failing, not just Mori, as we are told repeatedly, but New Zealanders. Our education system, once arguably the best in the world, is now demonstrably one of the worst. We hear of first-year science students at university who would be unlikely to pass a Year 9 exam. University students attending remedial reading classes. School absenteeism rates are outrageous. Some schools are reporting regular attendance rates of 20%, a few even lower, 10%. We have schools in this country where 9 out of 10 children do not attend regularly. Nothing. Well not quite nothing. We explain abysmal attendance rates by accepting that the education somehow failed these kids' parents, so their parents see no value in sending them to school. One thing we are not short of in New Zealand is excuses. I don't know why my father volunteered in 1939. It might have been to defend our way of life, but I doubt it. Our way of life wasn't directly threatened by a war in Europe. More likely it was because he, like many of his generation, were loyal to Britain. But even if he wasn't offering to die for our way of life, he clearly believed in it. He believed in the family. Mum, dad and the kids. He believed that parents should be married. He believed in commitment. He believed in community. He raised his children to work hard, to take the opportunities that presented themselves, to respect their elders, to be polite and honest. To be true to their word. To avoid accepting charity, another word for social welfare. He believed that everyone had to make their own way in the world. He believed that everyone made their own bed, and had to lie in it. Dad believed in the value of a good family name. He was not alone in that. In our final days at Kaitaia College in 1970, my friends and I were told by one of our teachers, Bill Wilson, that when we left Kaitaia, no one would care who our parents were. And he was right. In Kaitaia, people did care. I would tell them who my parents were, and would be judged accordingly. Bill Wilson was right. In Auckland no one gave a toss about our families and what they had or had not contributed to their community, or how they had behaved themselves in the past. For the first time in our lives, we were judged as individuals. That came as a revelation to me. I had grown up, never talking about it, but understanding that the worst thing I could do was to bring our family name into disrepute. Now we seem to have lost the capacity for shame that was once such a powerful moderator of our behaviour. Our right, as individuals, to do as we please, has superseded our obligations to our community. Dad died in 1980, and in the 40 years that have passed since then this country has changed beyond all recognition. For too many of us now, life is just too hard. Social welfare has evolved from a proper, humane response to genuine need into a poison that has filtered down through every level of society. It has become toxic. It is destroying this country. Dad left for Egypt in 1940, leaving behind a farm he was still in the process of buying, a wife and two small sons, who spent the war at Ahipara. I suspect he had every expectation of coming home, but that obviously could not be guaranteed. I know he didn't expect to be gone for six years, four of those spent in a prisoner of war camp, and I very much doubt that he expected to come home as broken as he was. He and my mother had already endured a depression. They spent the rest of their lives enduring the effects of a war. Dad was 67 when he died, with very little, in a material sense, to show what he had achieved. Mum died 16 years later, aged 83, her reward for a lifetime of work being a modest house, a collection of tupperware and some much-loved cats. Now life is so tough in this country that thousands of us can't feed our children. Even if we can, the state will feed them anyway. Thousands of us can't clothe our children properly. Thousands of us don't have the wherewithal to teach our children how to brush their teeth, and why they should do it. Thousands of us don't bother sending our kids to school. We should honour these men and women, but we should do that every day, not just today. The best way we can do that is to live our lives, and raise our children, in a way that would make them proud. A way that would have them believe that their sacrifices were not made in vain. We should live according to the principles that they fought and died for - for family, respect for others, responsibility for our own lives and for the wellbeing of those who depend upon us. Making New Zealand a land fit for heroes is not the job of politicians. They wouldn't know where to start. It is a job for us, as individuals, as families, as communities and as a country. We should never forget what others have done for us, and show our gratitude for that in the way we live our lives. | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/how-do-we-honour-our-heroes/NEZ5FWAFMWXT7G642GQ3NC5W34/ |
Would better training prevent police killings? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The case of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, as well as several other high-profile officer-involved shootings, have once again intensified the debate over how to reduce the number of people killed by police. Commonly suggested solutions range from incremental measures, like new laws to increase police accountability, to more radical responses, like defunding or even abolishing the police. One of the most frequently proposed reforms is changing the way police are trained so they are less likely to respond to incidents without using deadly force. There are no nationwide police training standards in the U.S., so the length and content of training programs vary based on local rules. On average, prospective officers spend about 840 hours, or 21 weeks, in basic training, according to the most recent data from the Department of Justice. These training periods tend to focus on teaching recruits how to defend themselves and use their firearms than on strategies for responding to domestic violence or mental health incidents. We need each and every police department in the country to undertake a comprehensive review of their hiring, their training and their de-escalation practices, President Biden said last summer in the midst of a wave of racial justice protests across the country. During the campaign, he promised to invest $300 million in a program that would include training aimed at reducing the adversarial relationship that sometimes exists between police officers and the communities they serve. House Democrats last month passed a new version of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Among its many reforms, the bill would require all departments that receive federal funding to hold mandatory anti-discrimination trainings. Why theres debate Advocates for reforming police training, who include some current and former members of law enforcement, say current programs overemphasize the violent aspects of policing at the expense of other critical skills that officers need. They call for more time spent teaching recruits how to handle things like de-escalating situations before force becomes necessary, responding to people experiencing mental health emergencies and recognizing how racial bias affects their perceptions. Others call for more comprehensive changes to eliminate the military-style training used in many academies, a strategy they argue instills a warrior mentality in officers. Story continues Skeptics say training is unlikely to make a substantive difference in officers behavior as long as the broader system of policing remains intact. As evidence, they point to cities like Minneapolis, where the police department implemented a broad range of new training programs in the years preceding George Floyds murder. Police reform advocates say the only way to prevent police killings on a nationwide scale is to fundamentally reconfigure the role that law enforcement plays in society. Whats next The conclusion of Chauvins trial has reinvigorated calls for Congress to pass substantive police reforms. Its unclear, however, whether the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act can garner the support of the 10 Republicans needed to avoid a GOP filibuster. Perspectives Optimists De-escalation training would prevent normal interactions from turning violent Police chiefs across the country should be prioritizing better training and de-escalation tactics to prevent the next minor traffic stop from becoming a deadly encounter, further eroding the already-damaged image of the American police officer. Editorial, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Military-style police training must end The nation must jettison paramilitary approaches to policing. That means moving beyond shallow critiques of police militarization, most of which focus narrowly on federal programs allowing the transfer of military equipment to police, and looking at subtler and more entrenched aspects of police culture as well. Rosa Brooks, Atlantic Police need more help learning how to communicate with the communities they serve Police officers have dangerous jobs, but a large share of their work depends far more on effective conversation and problem-solving than how to fire a gun. Officers need more instruction on communication and critical thinking skills, which are vital to their everyday interactions, and their own safety. Michael Nutter and Cynthia Lum, Philadelphia Inquirer Training reform is already making a difference As America grapples with tensions between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve, particularly minority communities, better training and procedures for de-escalating conflict are important steps. That work has been going on quietly for years. Editorial, Post and Courier Police departments need more money for training, not to be defunded The notion of defunding the police has things inside out. If were going to solve the problem, chances are part of the answer will involve better training. Which will cost money. Stephen L. Carter, Bloomberg The U.S. needs national police training standards Any effort to improve police education will have to contend with the reality that Americas system for training officers is a complex patchwork of hundreds of different programs that operate with virtually no standardization and little oversight. Caroline Preston, Hechinger Report Skeptics We need to reimagine policing, not reform it I dont have confidence that the existing members of the larger law enforcement community today are able to be retrained out of how theyve been socialized into policing. We need to give them less to do and diminish the publics exposure to them. Or we need to start over with a different set of safety actors who have not been socialized into this punitive legal culture. Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Harvard Kennedy School, to NBC News Past efforts to reform trainings have had little impact I honestly dont know whether policing can be reformed or not. Multimillion-dollar legal settlements. Consent decrees. Public shaming. Promises to do better. Firings. Hirings. Racial bias training. De-escalation requirements. Nothing has worked. Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times Training on its own is useless Training only works when combined with other structural initiatives, like instituting effective, transparent systems of accountability and oversight, carefully reviewing formal and informal incentives and establishing joint community-police opportunities for meaningful contact and relationship building. Peter T. Coleman, The Hill The only way to stop police killings is to reduce the publics interactions with the police The alternative is not more money for police training programs, hardware or oversight. It is to dramatically shrink their function. We must demand that local politicians develop non-police solutions to the problems poor people face. Alex S. Vitale, The Guardian The root causes of police shootings run too deep Anyone familiar with American history can see that more money and more training wont lead us to fewer killings of unarmed Black citizens at the hands of police. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | https://news.yahoo.com/could-changes-in-training-prevent-police-killings-150547775.html |
Who wants to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the recall election? | Candidates who are running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the recall election or considering it include, clockwise from top left; former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, businessman John Cox, former Rep. Doug Ose, retired adult movie actress Mary Carey, billboard model Angelyne and Caitlyn Jenner. (Los Angeles Times; San Deigo Union-Tribune; Associated Press; Getty Images) As the effort to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom heads to the ballot, a key question is whom would voters pick to replace him. Heres a look at how that part of the election would play out. Once the recall election is set, voters will be asked two questions on the ballot. The first is whether they want to get rid of Newsom. If more than 50% of voters support ousting Newsom, then the top vote-getter in the second question automatically becomes governor, regardless of how many votes that person gets. Candidates have until 59 days before the election to file papers to run. The date of the election is not yet certain but is expected to occur in late fall, possibly November. Candidates must be American citizens who are registered to vote, or qualified to vote, at the time they obtain nomination papers. They cannot have been convicted of offering, giving or taking a bribe, embezzling public money, perjury or related crimes. They cannot run if they have served two terms as governor since Nov. 6, 1990 (so, no, Jerry Brown cannot run again). They must also pay a $3,916.12 filing fee or turn in at least 7,000 valid signatures, according to the secretary of states office. The target of the recall Newsom is barred from appearing on the replacement section of the ballot. So far, four prominent Republicans have announced that they are campaigning to replace Newsom: Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. The 54-year-old served as a San Diego City Council member from 2006 to 2014, and as mayor from 2014 to 2020. The fiscal conservative and social liberal frequently touted his ability to get elected in a Democratic city; San Diego was the largest city with a Republican mayor during his tenure. He is tight with mainstream Republicans such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, which could potentially give him access to a trove of wealthy GOP donors. Businessman John Cox. The multimillionaire, 65, made his fortune in real estate, investments and property management. He used his wealth to fund several unsuccessful runs for office Congress in 2000, Senate in 2002, Cook County (Ill.) Recorder of Deeds in 2004, U.S. president in 2008 and governor of California in 2018. In that last contest, he spent $5.7 million of his own money on the race, and lost by a historic margin to Newsom. The Rancho Santa Fe resident has also unsuccessfully pushed quixotic ballot measures such as vastly expanding the size of the Legislature and requiring lawmakers to wear the logos of their top 10 donors on the floor of the Capitol, as NASCAR drivers display the logos of their sponsors on their cars during races. Caitlyn Jenner. The Olympic decathlete turned reality TV star announced Friday that she is running, a move that invites immediate comparisons to Arnold Schwarzeneggers successful run during the 2003 recall that ousted Gov. Gray Davis, though the action star had greater involvement in California policy before running for governor than the reality star does. Jenner, a transgender woman and lifelong Republican, has described herself as an economic conservative and social liberal. The 71-year-old flirted with running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018 but did not. Former Rep. Doug Ose. The multimillionaire made his fortune in real estate and represented a suburban Sacramento district in Congress from 1999 to 2005. When Ose was in the House, he supported efforts to make President George W. Bushs tax cuts permanent and to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress. He pledged to serve three terms, but then unsuccessfully ran for Congress again in 2008 and 2014. Ose also briefly ran for governor in 2018 but dropped out after seeing little interest from GOP donors or in the polls. The 65-year-old lives in Sacramento. Other lesser-knowns are also emerging, such as: Story continues Sam Gallucci. The 60-year-old Republican started his career in technology, ultimately becoming the executive vice president and general manager of PeopleSoft. The company was acquired for $10.3 billion by Oracle in 2004. Gallucci then turned his attention to nonprofit and spiritual work, becoming the senior pastor of Embrace! Church in Oxnard. He also founded efforts to help at-risk women and children and migrant workers. Ric Grenell. Among the most prominent gay men in the Republican Party, Grenell served as President Trumps acting director of national intelligence in 2020 and ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020. Now 54, Grenell previously served in the George W. Bush administration, and briefly worked on 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romneys campaign. It was unclear whether he was ousted from the last role over derogatory social media posts or evangelical unhappiness with an openly gay man serving in a prominent role. And then there are the publicity-seeking repeats from the 2003 recall: Billboard model Angelyne and retired adult movie actress Mary Carey have both announced that they are running. Expect more the 2003 recall campaign attracted more than 130 candidates, including politicians, publishers and pornographers. Not yet. Newsoms allies want to present a united Democratic front, which allows them to paint the recall as a GOP power grab to accomplish through a special election what they cant through a regular campaign. That also avoids a repeat of the 2003 recall, when Davis allies believe Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamantes decision to run as an insurance option in case the recall was successful cost the governor Democratic votes. Some strategists argue that it is imperative to have a prominent Democrat on the ballot on the chance Newsom is recalled. Some potential candidates are reportedly eyeing the race, notably former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and billionaire hedge fund founder turned clean energy warrior Tom Steyer. A decision to run could make them Democratic pariahs if they are unsuccessful or their partys savior if Newsom is recalled. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. | https://news.yahoo.com/wants-replace-gov-gavin-newsom-224936267.html |
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